And we're moving to...

PHOENIX!  We are so excited.  While there were great things about all the places Erik interviewed, we felt really good about Phoenix.  Beautiful weather most of the year, biking, hiking, swimming, lots of family nearby, not too far from family in Utah, we're already familiar with it, and they have a gorgeous new hospital.  There is just so much to be excited about (the part where we start making money instead of paying it sounds nice too).  While we can't guarantee much space, we would love to have visitors!  We'll keep you posted once we start learning more.

Recent happenings

First and foremost, we matched!  We found out Monday that we matched - somewhere - and will find out Friday where we will be moving for residency.  We're pretty giddy this week, just knowing that Erik has a job and won't be in limbo next year.  I've heard a few stories about med students who didn't match for whatever reason, and the stress it brings is incredible.  Then hopefully they can find an open program to accept them, but the program won't know them and it won't be a place that they want or know much about.  How grateful we are that we will be going to one of the places we want and that wants us back.  We're not too concerned about where we're going - we know that any of our choices will be good places to live, and where God wants us to be. It's just such a cool feeling after all these years of schooling that we are almost done, and that we have a job and income in just a few months.  We are finally grown-ups...

In Morgan news: she's an interesting mix of funny and frustrating.  She's pretty enamored with Disney movies/books right now, especially the princess stories.  She dances around the house singing the songs, and quoting lines from her favorite movies.  She'll often play dead (Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) and she believes that the Salt Lake City Building is both Rapunzel's tower and Cinderella's castle.  One of my personal favorites is when she grabs a "dress" (dishtowel, blanket, one of my shirts), drapes it across herself, and says "What a beautiful dress! And look, glass slippers!  It's like a dream!  A wonderful mumble mumble..."  She believes that Daddy is her prince (because all princesses need a prince, of course) and tells him that she loves him.  Erik was a little disconcerted when they were dancing the other night, and she started singing "So This is Love" from Cinderella.  He sat her down to explain that Mommy is his princess, and someday when she's older she'll find her own prince.  She doesn't believe him - she often calls me the evil queen or the mean stepmother.  We've realized that there aren't any good mother/queen role models for her - either the mother is dead, missing in action, or an evil stepmother.  All the fathers, of course, are kind and dote on their daughters.  If any of you can think of a princess movie where there is a kind mother, I would appreciate it.  I'm tired of being the bad guy.

(Dancing at the Church History Museum in a flamenco skirt for hours)

Here's Sam, our mellow happy little guy:

His blessing day was really sweet - so many friends and family were able to be there, including Erik's brother Mark and his girls from across the country, and my dad and brother.  And the tasty brunch afterward made it an extra good day. :) 

And look, he's smiling!

Not the best pictures of it yet, but they're hard to capture.  The smiles and the gurgling sure make it all worth it.  Unless it's 4 in the morning, and then I just want him to stop cooing and go back to sleep.

Merkley, party of four.  Amazing.

See you on Friday, when you find out which of you lucky readers gets to live by us. :)