This year has been an amazing one and filled with so many things to be thankful for. Here's a quick summary.
January
Eleanor Grace was born. She weighed in at a healthy 9 lbs 6 oz and is much loved by her siblings. With three January babies and an anniversary too January is a month we CELEBRATE.
February
After six weeks of being colicky Ellie becomes a happy mellow baby and starts sleeping through the night. With Dad studying for his final radiology board exams and mom Young Women president all feel like prayers have been answered. We also went to Utah for a funeral that was heartbreaking. Grateful for the gospel, for a brave sister, and amazing nieces and nephews. A trip to Moab provided a little balm for the soul and some great pictures.
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| being a "rock star" |
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| Cousin love |
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| "I can do it" |
March
Quite frankly this month is a bit of a blur. I'm sure baby and board studying took up much of it. Dell and I did get to take a quick trip to Boston over spring break to try and find a place to live. While we couldn't find a place to rent we did fall in love with the area which made the upcoming move even more exciting.
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| swimming in the guadelupe river |
April
Dell traveled for half of this month. Presented at a conference in Vancouver BC (where Dell got to hang out with his parents) and had a review course in North Carolina where he got to see a brother and a bunch of friends. (And study like a madman.) We also put our home on the market and had it under contract in 3 weeks-- without a realtor. Wahoo! And since nothing stresses Anna out like selling a house, we are really grateful it sold quickly and that the buyers were fine with not closing until after graduation.
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| Eating a 3.5 lb cinnamon roll at Lulu's in San Antonio |
May
Dell took and passed his oral boards. Imagine hours of being grilled by brilliant people in mulitple specialties with any minute detail of radiology considered fair game. This is a brutal test. So thankful it is over. And in a complete miracle we found the perfect apartment at the last minute in our dream area. Whew. I was starting to really worry about being homeless through fellowship.
June
Dell graduated from his Radiology residency (yay for Dell!!! but how we miss the wonderful people he got to work and learn with), Anna was released from YW president (sob), we loaded up the moving truck with 12,000 lbs of stuff, (How did we ever get so much stuff?) and we said good-bye to San Antonio and all our dear friends and family there.
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| Dell's residency graduation. The center 8 are classmates outside four run the program. |
We took a long meadering path to Boston visiting friends and family along the way. Once in Boston we had to spend two more weeks in hotels waiting for our apartment to be available. If anyone ever wants Anna's "how to live out of your car for three weeks" tutorial let us know. We used our time without a home to explore a little of Boston but were so grateful when on June 30th we could move into our new apartment. We are also grateful for military housing and military discounts which allowed us to have a roof over our head at prices that made our 3 weeks of homelessness more affordable.
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| Little Air Force recreation area on the coast. |
July
Dell starts work and we finally get unpacked. Nothing like being without your stuff for three weeks to make you appreciate all your stuff. And to realize you don't need a lot of it. A second purge takes place. And Anna starts trembling at the thought that this whole move has to happen again in a year and so decides not to unpack a third of the boxes. Which considering the new home is a 1/3 the size of the old is probably a good idea.
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| Make way for ducklings statues in Boston Public Gardens |
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| Walden Pond /Thoreau's house |
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| Pirate girls |
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| Red Sox Baseball |
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| Swimming Lessons for Henry and playing for Ellie and Lizzie at the lake down the street |
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| Wingaersheek Beach-- best sand ever! And the smile's pretty good too |
August
Relish summer in New England. Beach, forest, Berry picking...so much to do!
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| Blueberry picking at Blueberry Hill Maine |
We also discover that our street is full of boys Henry's age when everyone returns from summer camps the last week of August. Enjoy concerts and a movie at the park across the street every friday. Anna's family comes to visit and historical sights are enjoyed by all. Also get to visit Dell's brother in Philadelphia. So fun to have family close by. We load our entire family on our new kayak to explore the concord river and get many a funny look. What you never saw five people on one kayak? And since Ellie hates the kayak and has to be bounced by Dell the whole ride Anna does all the paddling.
We also... (see pictures)
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| Militia drills at Minute Man National Park |
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| Kennebunkport Maine |
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| Peach Picking (or peach smooshing as Lizzie is doing) |
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| We drive to the Berkshires for Boston Pop's summer kids concert. There's a tent where kids can try different instruments. Lizzie loves the violin. |
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| Ellie at Tanglewood. Ellie really did love the music. I just love this face she's making. (the back of the performance hall opens up to the lawns) |
September
Henry starts second grade at his new school. His new school is a 5th the size of his old school with only 300 students.
Dell's parents come to visit and we bike and fish at Cape Cod and ride the battle road between lexington and concord.
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| Fishing Cape Cod at Sunset |
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| Henry at the old North Bridge |
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| Apple Picking |
October
Fall in New England. Enough said. It is really as magical as everyone says it is.
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| Lizze and the lake (ok pond) |
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| Yes, Ellie is asleep in the backpack. And yes, she can breath like that. And this picture just doesn't do the colors justice. Just amp everything up a bit. |
November
Grateful for all of the wonderful people in our life. As we put together our holiday cards this year it was wonderful to think about each of you and how you have touched our lives for good. THANK YOU.
Much love
The Dunns (Dell, Anna, Henry, Lizzie, Eleanor)
