Update

Erik with his dad

Cousin Mariah and I enjoying a Sunday dinner feast

Here's a quick rundown of what's going on for us right now.

Erik finished up his first year of med school in the beginning of June! Thankfully, he still wants to be a doctor and he's doing well in his classes. I know that the coming years will be more intense, but I'm proud of how well he's balanced his classwork with family and church. Immediately after his last finals he started work as a medical assistant at a clinic on campus. He works there 40 hours a week and comes home with interesting experiences, like taking out his first stitches and being exposed to the swine flu. He's still serving in the elder's quorum presidency at church, which has given us opportunity to meet and befriend more of the ward.

I'm finishing up work at the elementary school. The kids have been gone for a few weeks now, but there has been so much to catch up on. It seems like you can never get more than the day to day stuff done when the phones are ringing and kids are bleeding. At the end of school, the faculty and staff presented the Teacher Talent Show, and I got roped into a few numbers. I sang a duet about "My Least Favorite Things" (think Sound of Music) that happen at school in front of the whole school - definitely my biggest audience ever. Thankfully they were all under 12. Now I just have two more days left of work before I take on the summer and everything that comes with it. I know I'll be doing a lot of canning and preparation for our baby, and hopefully some trips and boating in there too. I'm in the primary presidency at church, which has made me pause... I found work at an elementary school, I'm working with young children at church, and I'm having a baby in October... clearly I'm supposed to be learning something.

Baby is quickly growing outward. It's been interesting to feel the pull and stretch of stomach muscles as they're forced to expand. I'm not thrilled that she's taken over my bladder or disturbed my sleep patterns, but it sure is a miracle to feel her kick. Erik talks to her just about every day, and he likes to play with her when she's kicking. She'll kick, and he'll tap a response, and then she'll kick again. They keep this up for a while without seeming to realize that I'm the one getting kicked! Sometimes I wish he wouldn't rile her up, but I don't have the heart to stop something so cute. I just tell myself that she's training to be a soccer player or gymnast.

We're all doing well and happy with life. Next post: our flying visit to Great Basin National Park!