merry christmas!
Click here for the little elfs
11.25.2007
10.16.2007
Kennedy's Haircut
So, here's the story. This last week Kennedy had a friend of hers over to play. The time came and went for her friend to go home. Having already yelled into Kennedy and her friend to wrap things up, Danielle ended up having to go into Kennedy's room to excuse her friend face to face. With her friend now gone, Kennedy was sent out to the yard to pick up some things.
This is where things got interesting.
10 minutes, 15 minutes past and Danielle hadn't heard from Kennedy. She wasn't in the backyard, she wasn't over at her friend's house, she wasn't answering Danielle's yelling into the backyard.
Danielle went back into the kitchen, looked out the window and right in front of her was Kennedy receiving a haircut at the hand of her friend. A look of absolute horror flashed on Kennedy's face before she dashed out of sight.
The pictures seen below are not the sole product of Kennedy and her friend. As her hair was very uneven in the back and her bangs all catywompus. She required some professional intervention. As Kennedy has wanted her hair cut short for quite some time, she is quite pleased with the end result, as evidenced by the pictures below.
As for Danielle and I, this has been another trial of parenthood - our first major one in fact. I'm sure when Kennedy is married with kids of her own, past the trials and temptations of growing up, we'll all look back at this and laugh. Until then, all we can do is hope for the best in the years ahead.
This is where things got interesting.
10 minutes, 15 minutes past and Danielle hadn't heard from Kennedy. She wasn't in the backyard, she wasn't over at her friend's house, she wasn't answering Danielle's yelling into the backyard.
Danielle went back into the kitchen, looked out the window and right in front of her was Kennedy receiving a haircut at the hand of her friend. A look of absolute horror flashed on Kennedy's face before she dashed out of sight.
The pictures seen below are not the sole product of Kennedy and her friend. As her hair was very uneven in the back and her bangs all catywompus. She required some professional intervention. As Kennedy has wanted her hair cut short for quite some time, she is quite pleased with the end result, as evidenced by the pictures below.
As for Danielle and I, this has been another trial of parenthood - our first major one in fact. I'm sure when Kennedy is married with kids of her own, past the trials and temptations of growing up, we'll all look back at this and laugh. Until then, all we can do is hope for the best in the years ahead.
10.11.2007
Seth and the Dogbite
Here are some pictures of Seth at Dogwood Crag in Big Cottonwood.
Due to some negligence on behalf of his father, the rope was setup to act as a perfect pendulum should anyone fall while climbing.
Seth gave a great climb and when it was time to descend, I instructed him to walk along the wall before rappelling down. He took two great steps, perfect form. On the third, he trip and rolled the rest of the way across the wall. The resultant injury can be seen below.
I felt horrible, that I had ruined this experience for my son. Somewhat sheepishly I asked Seth if he'd like to come climbing some other time, almost certain of his answer. To my surprise, he said,"Yes, I'll be more careful next time."
What a great kid.
Due to some negligence on behalf of his father, the rope was setup to act as a perfect pendulum should anyone fall while climbing.
Seth gave a great climb and when it was time to descend, I instructed him to walk along the wall before rappelling down. He took two great steps, perfect form. On the third, he trip and rolled the rest of the way across the wall. The resultant injury can be seen below.
I felt horrible, that I had ruined this experience for my son. Somewhat sheepishly I asked Seth if he'd like to come climbing some other time, almost certain of his answer. To my surprise, he said,"Yes, I'll be more careful next time."
What a great kid.
Kennedy and the Dogwood Crag
We took the kids camping and climbing a couple weeks ago, on the last perfect day of the summer (or so I thought until it started to rain during the climb).
We drove up to beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon and set our rope upon Dogwood Crag, the prettiest bit of fossilized sea floor, carboniferous rock and wind-eroded quartzite this side of the Mississippi.
Kennedy, fearless as ever did a great climb.
We drove up to beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon and set our rope upon Dogwood Crag, the prettiest bit of fossilized sea floor, carboniferous rock and wind-eroded quartzite this side of the Mississippi.
Kennedy, fearless as ever did a great climb.
9.21.2007
Papa and the Kids
I love this video. If you turn off the sound on your computer (or have a speakerless computer like the ones at the hospital) it is reminiscent of the old 8 mm B&W films, like the ones featuring my Dad as a child.
I like this not only for the aesthetics but for how it shows the love my Dad has for his grandkids. He took this car off of the Stake float from the Days of 47, put wheels on it, cut a door, place two, count them, two steering wheels and made a trunk that goes behind the seats. All this only to find that we can in no way get this into our house.
All for the love of his grandkids.
I like this not only for the aesthetics but for how it shows the love my Dad has for his grandkids. He took this car off of the Stake float from the Days of 47, put wheels on it, cut a door, place two, count them, two steering wheels and made a trunk that goes behind the seats. All this only to find that we can in no way get this into our house.
All for the love of his grandkids.
7.08.2007
6.03.2007
Danielle's Updated Website
Danielle's photography website is new and updated.
Check it out! at http://danielletaintor.blogspot.com
Check it out! at http://danielletaintor.blogspot.com
Our Funny Kids
Adam and I think we've finally categorized our kid's personalities.
Kennedy is the outgoing one, she can and does make friends everywhere she goes. She loves to plan events and coordinate activities and parties.
Caleb is our happiest kid. He is always smiling and loves people's attention. We picture him, when he's older, being the one to get the parties (that Kennedy has planned) all hyper and having fun.
Seth, although not as flamboyantly outgoing as our other kids, is definitely the funniest. He just has a quick whit. The other day he was sitting on the counter helping Adam make pancakes and took a taste of the dough. Kennedy says to him, "Seth, we don't eat the dough," to which he quickly sings in response, "DO, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do!"
Another Seth story as a side note: Last month there was a graduation party for all the Resident Assistants and Community Advisors who work up at the University. My family and I were invited because I'm a Community Advisor. We got there late and all the students were sitting at tables eating. The usually quiet Seth goes running in to the room first and throws out his arms and announces loudly, "We're here everybody!" He's a crack-up!
Kennedy is the outgoing one, she can and does make friends everywhere she goes. She loves to plan events and coordinate activities and parties.
Caleb is our happiest kid. He is always smiling and loves people's attention. We picture him, when he's older, being the one to get the parties (that Kennedy has planned) all hyper and having fun.
Seth, although not as flamboyantly outgoing as our other kids, is definitely the funniest. He just has a quick whit. The other day he was sitting on the counter helping Adam make pancakes and took a taste of the dough. Kennedy says to him, "Seth, we don't eat the dough," to which he quickly sings in response, "DO, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do!"
Another Seth story as a side note: Last month there was a graduation party for all the Resident Assistants and Community Advisors who work up at the University. My family and I were invited because I'm a Community Advisor. We got there late and all the students were sitting at tables eating. The usually quiet Seth goes running in to the room first and throws out his arms and announces loudly, "We're here everybody!" He's a crack-up!
Kindergarten Signup
Although we are still in the throws of moving into our new place in Bountiful; Kennedy, Seth and I went to sign Kennedy up for Kindergarten at Oak Hills Elementary.
Seth found a pencil outside and I told him that he could keep it. The principal walked by us into his office and I explained who he was - how he was the boss of the school.
Ever the pretender, Seth put the pencil behind his year and said, "Look Kennedy, I'm the principal !!"
To which Kennedy responded, "That's okay, Seth. You can be the principal, but I'm the QUEEN-able"
Hilarious.
Seth found a pencil outside and I told him that he could keep it. The principal walked by us into his office and I explained who he was - how he was the boss of the school.
Ever the pretender, Seth put the pencil behind his year and said, "Look Kennedy, I'm the principal !!"
To which Kennedy responded, "That's okay, Seth. You can be the principal, but I'm the QUEEN-able"
Hilarious.
5.12.2007
Preschool Graduation
Today was Kennedy's preschool graduation!
For the last two years, Danielle and several other medical school wifes have taken turns teaching preschool. Kennedy has learned about her numbers, farm animals, the planets, classical musicians, different genres of art and the list goes on.
It has been a great experience for her and her closest friends Eben, Malena, and Julia. It's amazing how the things that she has learned have become a part of her daily life. On numerous occasions she has told me that she looks forward to meeting Mozart in heaven so she can thank him for his beautiful music.
Kennedy is looking forward to starting Kindergarten in the fall and for her fifth birthday on May 26th (she asked me to add this part).
I am constantly amazed on how fast life goes. It seems only yesterday that she was a little girl eating dirt by the handful.
For the last two years, Danielle and several other medical school wifes have taken turns teaching preschool. Kennedy has learned about her numbers, farm animals, the planets, classical musicians, different genres of art and the list goes on.
It has been a great experience for her and her closest friends Eben, Malena, and Julia. It's amazing how the things that she has learned have become a part of her daily life. On numerous occasions she has told me that she looks forward to meeting Mozart in heaven so she can thank him for his beautiful music.
Kennedy is looking forward to starting Kindergarten in the fall and for her fifth birthday on May 26th (she asked me to add this part).
I am constantly amazed on how fast life goes. It seems only yesterday that she was a little girl eating dirt by the handful.
5.10.2007
Ballet (or gymnastics) is for everyone
"Ta Da!" Seth and Kennedy say with hands held up, as they run into our room in their "gymnastic outfits" that Kennedy helped them into. Kennedy started gymnastics this week at the University of Utah. As with everything else, Kennedy has taken this and is running with it.
For the next hour the two of them do amazing tricks on my workout ball, our couch, and a gymnastic pad. These two play so well together and Seth is always up for whatever Kennedy can dream up... too bad all I could think of was, "these will be great pictures to show Seth's fiance some day."
3.18.2007
The Skinny on "The Match"
Check out this article on the match.
Although it is an interesting take on the process, discounting the reasons why some applicants decide their future career, it is accurate on the whole.
Although it is an interesting take on the process, discounting the reasons why some applicants decide their future career, it is accurate on the whole.
3.15.2007
Match Day!
The day that we've been waiting the last four years for has finally arrived. Match Day!
Adam is just finishing up his fourth year of medical school and has spent the greater part of this year applying for dermatology residency. After ranking the nine programs he interviewed at from most preferred to least and waiting six weeks to have a computer decide our fate, we went to the match day event today with baited breath. As hokie as it sounds, on the stroke of 10 AM, a ribbon was cut and everyone went running to the envelopes that contained our "match".
We're very happy to announce that following an intern year next year at LDS Hospital, we'll be headed to the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee for three years of dermatology training! Here we come.
3.12.2007
Gluten-Free Recipes
Just added Danielle's favorite gluten-free recipes to the side bar on the left under "Celiac Disease". The Farmhouse Bread Recipe is especially good. Another good source of recipes is the Gluten-Free Gourmet series by Bette Hagman. They have been a life saver. Enjoy!
Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me A ...
I matched!!! After weeks of ulcer forming, acne inducing stress, that day has finally arrived
We were supposed to get an email at 10AM today. I recently found out that the school got a list of unmatched applicants at 9:30 this morning and that they often contact people shortly after that time. My emails are forwarded to my pager, so when I felt a slight buzzing at my hip at a quarter to ten, my heart dropped, only to look at my pager and read the words, "Congratulations, you have matched."
Although we don't yet know where we are going, we know that we are going somewhere. Thursday is the big day that we'll find out what the future holds in store. Wish us luck.
3.08.2007
Countdown to Match Day - 7 days and counting
Well,so here we are, one week out from Match Day. My match list has been in for a couple of weeks, which is to say, in spite of second thoughts regarding my first couple of choices for residency - the die is cast and the only reconciliation is the belief that divine providence will send us where we are supposed to go.
We got back from a cruise on Sunday, the Mexican Riviera (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, keep your eyes peeled for a highlight video). It was a wonderful trip, a chance to soak up the sun (appropriately smoothered in SPF 80, of course), relax with my wife but most importantly to take my mind off the inevitability that is the Match.
Although next Thursday is hyped as "Match Day" at which point you recieve the ultimatum regarding your place of residence and training for the next half decade, the most important day for us dermies (as well as those applying to other competitive specialties id est plastics, radiology, etc, etc.) is next Monday when you get one of two emails: "Congratulations ..." or the devastating alternative. 10 AM Monday.
I keep telling Danielle how nervous I am for the big day and she tells me:
1)That she's supposed to be the worrier and I'm traditionally the one with the Buddhist mentality that everything always works out the way that it is supposed to and that God knows how to make us happiest. If our lives had worked out the way that we had planned we would be extremely unhappy.
2)I need to have more faith. Elder Bednar said in conference a year of two ago that God will micromanage our lives if we allow him to. We've tried to turn this whole thing over to him knowing that there are lessons to be learned and lives to impact whereever we go and that He knows where we are most needed. If this means that we have to reapply a second time, so be it.
In theory, the above makes a lot of sense and they are beliefs that Danielle and I have at the foundation of our lives. In practice, it is somewhat more difficult.
So, with Monday comes relief and Thursday, destiny.
We got back from a cruise on Sunday, the Mexican Riviera (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, keep your eyes peeled for a highlight video). It was a wonderful trip, a chance to soak up the sun (appropriately smoothered in SPF 80, of course), relax with my wife but most importantly to take my mind off the inevitability that is the Match.
Although next Thursday is hyped as "Match Day" at which point you recieve the ultimatum regarding your place of residence and training for the next half decade, the most important day for us dermies (as well as those applying to other competitive specialties id est plastics, radiology, etc, etc.) is next Monday when you get one of two emails: "Congratulations ..." or the devastating alternative. 10 AM Monday.
I keep telling Danielle how nervous I am for the big day and she tells me:
1)That she's supposed to be the worrier and I'm traditionally the one with the Buddhist mentality that everything always works out the way that it is supposed to and that God knows how to make us happiest. If our lives had worked out the way that we had planned we would be extremely unhappy.
2)I need to have more faith. Elder Bednar said in conference a year of two ago that God will micromanage our lives if we allow him to. We've tried to turn this whole thing over to him knowing that there are lessons to be learned and lives to impact whereever we go and that He knows where we are most needed. If this means that we have to reapply a second time, so be it.
In theory, the above makes a lot of sense and they are beliefs that Danielle and I have at the foundation of our lives. In practice, it is somewhat more difficult.
So, with Monday comes relief and Thursday, destiny.
1.19.2007
The Interview Trail
So, here I am on the "interview trail" in Chicago (Stood on the 99th floor of the Sears Tower today).
I have a dermatology residency interview tomorrow at Rush. "Dermatology?" you say, "as in 'pimple popper,' ' zit picker,' or 'anti-ezcema extraordinaire.' "Yes, yes and yes," I answer, smiling at the simplifications of such a wonderful profession.
Tomorrow will be my 8th of 9 derm programs that I'll be interviewing at. Following is the list these programs, one of which (hopefully) I'll end up at next year.
In no particular order:
Utah
Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Rush, Chicago, IL
University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
Geisinger, Danville, PA
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
The "Match List" (ie. the ranking of above programs in order of preference) will be turned in mid-February and then we find out March 15th where we'll end up (as stated before, provided we match this year).
Anyway, wish us luck. Quite a crazy adventure
I have a dermatology residency interview tomorrow at Rush. "Dermatology?" you say, "as in 'pimple popper,' ' zit picker,' or 'anti-ezcema extraordinaire.' "Yes, yes and yes," I answer, smiling at the simplifications of such a wonderful profession.
Tomorrow will be my 8th of 9 derm programs that I'll be interviewing at. Following is the list these programs, one of which (hopefully) I'll end up at next year.
In no particular order:
Utah
Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Rush, Chicago, IL
University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
Geisinger, Danville, PA
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
The "Match List" (ie. the ranking of above programs in order of preference) will be turned in mid-February and then we find out March 15th where we'll end up (as stated before, provided we match this year).
Anyway, wish us luck. Quite a crazy adventure
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