We've arrived!

Yes we have arrived--done with med school, safely in Texas, ready for a real job, and (drum roll please) we have high-speed internet! We have "dipped our toes" into the ocean of 21st century technology. Cool ring tones, ipods, all the other stuff are still way ahead of us, but now at least we can be online and answer the phone! YES! Another plus is that I can catch up our blog on all the great moments of our last few weeks. SO here goes:
May 23rd was the day of Aaron's graduation ceremony. When all the graduates walked solemnly in to Pomp and Circumstance it hit me that this was it. This is what we have been working toward all 4 years and from here we would all move on to different programs and different cities and would be "those old friends from med school" and not the neighbors close by who would swap babysitting and meet at playgroup while our husbands talked "nerd talk" (ie medical lingo). I may have shed a tear, but not for long since Jacob was urging me to take him to the kid's play area. We were happy to have Aaron's parents there with us who held a sleeping Samuel during the whole ceremony. They were also a big help during the week--taking the kids out so that we could pack pack pack! Thanks Gary and Diane!
Our move was a little stressful. Tantrums in the airport and a missed flight for starters. We did get vouchers for Jacob and myself though! Wa-hoo! Aaron drove by himself and was exhausted and terrified that our car would fall off the car transporter. What we learned: never do that again. I'm sure some of you are saying, "Duh." Jacob, as you can imagine, LOVED "daddy's big truck." He was in high heaven helping the men load (and unload) it. I loved to watch him working away, humming to himself (just like Grandma Betty does) as he bustled around finding things light enough to carry and load himself. He'd gather up armfuls of clothes, stacks of newspaper, blankets, and the like. He was a BIG help!

Here are some pictures of our visit with Gary and Diane. Jacob and Samuel loved spending time with them!

Showing us where his "pokies" are. Jacob slipped while jumping out of the car, hit his head and needed a couple of staples. Our first kid-related trip to the ER.
On our last night I dug up some of the tulips and irises that Marianne had given to me. I had so many that I passed some along to a neighbor who had come to say good-bye. Jacob and Sam adore her two children so I took some pictures of them helping replant in front of their house.











Some more images from our last days in Iowa!

And so ends our time in Iowa. I'll miss the ward (we had some great wards!) but we are both excited for the adventure that awaits. We really like our situation in Texas--with Alan and Natalie close we finally live near family! and the Fullers are our Iowa connection. Where we live we are close to lots of different stores, parks and libraries. Now we need to find a pool! We have been introduced to some of the Texas critters already. Sam, Jacob and I have been bitten by fire ants in our grass and just today I saw the NASTIEST centipede scurry across our utility room. It was HUGE. I knew beetles got big, I did not expect to see such a huge centipede. I won' t go into details, just be glad if you have never seen one before!

Well tomorrow is Samuel's first day in nursery! Wish us luck!