Reunited

Well, we knew the time would come that we would have to say goodbye to Houston, Texas. However, that did not make the day any easier! We grew to love the people in Texas and all the friends we made in Houston. Sure it's humid, filled with west nile mosquitos, and the traffic would make anyone pull their hair out... but it was home and we were sad to go. The worst part was that I would be sending Jerrick off to start medical school in Las Vegas and I couldn't follow him for 4 months! Yep, I had to finish off my program in Houston.

Those last months consisted of me living in a tiny town (population smaller than my high school) called Glen Rose, Texas for two months for my family medicine rotation. I did grow to love the simplicity of life and people. (It was the only rotation where they laughed when I asked them if parking was an issue.) Then, I was blessed to be able to do an elective rotation in Vegas to be near to Jerrick for a month. The last month I was back in Houston finishing up research.

I was able to make a few trips out to Vegas while I was away. Especially to see Jerrick at his White Coat Ceremony! The beginning of medical school is no picnic, but he is working so hard! I am so proud of him!

 

Then, he headed off to Houston to see me Graduate. I can't believe that I am done with the PA program at Baylor College of Medicine. Time flies! What a wonderful 2.5 years full of a lot of frustrations, hard work, sweat, tears, friends, laughs, and smiles. That's what life is all about! I had to present my research at a poster presentation and my research actually won first place (hey, I am excited about ANY sort of extra income!) Then, Jerrick and my amazing parents were there for my graduation. I definitely could not have done it without those three amazing people!

 

 



My parents took us out to eat at Eddie V's. It was super fancy and absolutely delicious! Some pics of the happy couples:

Well, after graduation I spent many evenings joining Jerrick in his studies to prepare for the PANCE. I took that dreadful test today and I am relieved that it is over. Now I just have to wait for the results... and try to RELAX for a few weeks before I start work. For the record, I am excited that I will no longer (perhaps ever) be joining Jerrick in late night studying. Am I really not a student anymore?! I am just thrilled that we are now reunited and living in Henderson TOGETHER!

Real Live Tennis

Jerrick informed me months ago that a professional tennis tournament was held yearly in Houston and that we had to go! Luckily, Flemings was able to get us some tickets to go a few times together and Jerrick even got to go during the day a couple of times. We were excited that some bigger names would be there such as Mardy Fish and John Isner (who I love mainly because he recently beat Djokovic). We were able to see Feliciano Lopez play an I have to say tennis is much more exciting in person! The ball moves faster than TV makes it look. It was a lot of fun to see them play on clay courts. Jerrick kept saying, "this is the absolute best free date ever". He has basically been on cloud nine all week. I am hoping that since he had so much fun he will take me to London for Wimbledon next... Only time will tell!

My Hardworking Man

Jerrick has been working so much and so hard lately. We feel like we hardly get to see each other! I think he is working so hard so that we can save up money for the move to Las Vegas where we will both be in school without jobs for 6 months. Yeah- student loans are not fun by the way. So, he has been working at Fleming's Steakhouse since we moved to Houston. He picked up another job as a substitute teacher (which can be a little difficult with some of the kids here in Houston). He also teaches tennis to some local kids with 3 clients. Needless to say, his days have been packed with occasionally leaving the house by 7:30 to teach school followed by a quick tennis lesson and then off to Fleming's where he doesn't get home til 11 pm some nights. Then he does it again the next day! I am amazed and grateful for the efforts he is making for our family. I usually am the person who bites off more than I can chew and I am finding myself telling him to take it easy and relax a little!

Well, as if 3 sources of income isn't enough Jerrick just sold his first painting! I was actually a little sad to see this abstract piano go!

I am glad that he finds time for this hobby and am so proud of him! If anyone is interested in some Jerrick Robker artwork I believe he would enjoy painting a request :) I hope e gets a little break when school closes so e can be rested and ready for the start of medical school!

CRAWFISH BROIL

A few weeks ago Jerrick and I were at the local H.E.B. (awesome TX grocery store) watching a lady scoop up a bunch of those live crawfish into a brown paper bag. We decided to take a closer look and thought that we had absolutely no idea what we would even do with one of those if we got it home. Well, a friend from my program invited us to their annual crawfish boil. These Texans are serious about the crawfish! I think one of them downed 30 in a minute. Anyway, they cook potatoes, corn, sausage and a TON of crawfish in a pot, which comes out looking something like this:

After I was formally instructed on how to rip off the tail and eat them, I dove right in!

I actually enjoyed them, somewhat of a cross between shrimp or lobster, spicy style (this is southern cajun after all). Jerrick was repulsed by the idea and could hardly even watch me eat them. Oh, and the broil in the above pic is just one of about 8 batches they made throughout the day! Like I said, they like their crawfish! Anyway, now I can chalk that experience up on my list! I feel like I have slowly been oriented more and more to the south the longer I am in Texas. I have to say, it is a lot of fun! Next time though, I will have to get Jerrick to try one :)

Houston Rodeo

So, Houston is pretty crazy in the month of March. There are 3 weeks of non stop Rodeo craziness! I mean cowboys with real cowboy boots and hats and semi trucks full of livestock coming in every day. Every day there is a little Rodeo competition followed by a concert. The concerts are amazing too! Every night is someone big or pretty big- Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Enrique Iglesias... you name it and they just might be there! Last year we saw Rascal Flatts and this year we went to Train. We had a blast before the show checking out all of the livestock including dozens of tiny piglets, 2 hour old horses (which can already stand up... crazy!), Texas Longhorns, and hatching chicks. I am sure this is more for the kids, but I really enjoyed it! Then we went to the actual Rodeo and watched a bunch of CRAZY cowboys. They will get bucked off of a bull and turn around and do it again if they get the chance. One of my favorite parts is the "mutton busting" which is watching a bunch of 5 year olds try to stay on sheep. Hilarious! Afterward, Train was a really good concert. Getting out of the giant stadium (Reliant Stadium, where the Houston Texans play) was not fun at all. I know that next March when I am no longer in Houston, I will for sure be missing Rodeo Season!

YES! I am alive....

SOOO I haven't exactly been the BEST blogger since the move to....

HOUSTON!!!

(A view from our apartment building)

But, I am going to give a lil update because... I just need a break!!! School is definitely overwhelming, and just as hard as everyone says. I don't know why I thought it somehow might not apply to me, but it's rough and I've never studied close to this much in my life!

Despite that... I am still so grateful to be here in TEXAS where everything is bigger and better, and I have an opportunity to study what I have wanted to for years! Our ward has been so great and I have made a lot of really special friends in my program at school already. So, now that the hurricane season is wearing off, we have actually been able to enjoy the weather. Up until about a month ago, the humidity and heat were, once again, just as bad as people say! We somehow managed through it and now, I feel like it is just the end of summer, but it's actually NOVEMBER! CRAAAZY! I seriously do NOT know where the time goes...

We are enjoying the new addition to our family: CISCO!

I seriously don't know what we did before we had her!! She seems to be the life of the party around our house lately! We love her so much!

We celebrated my b day last week! It was a really fun day. I had my Pulmonology exam that morning, but no worries because I did fine and got it over with so I could enjoy the day! I was pretty lucky... I have an amazing husband who made me a beautiful cake, and got me flowers. Then, I got to eat Chipotle and go to Benihana's with some great friends. It was all in all a pretty great day, and exactly what I needed!

Basically, what I'm trying to say, is that we miss our friends and family, but we have been so blessed so far in Houston. School is going well, Jerrick has a job and we have our little puppy to make us smile on Houston's rainy days...

Ciao Italia

Jerrick and I had the absolute greatest trip to Italy! I spent awhile planning it and although there were a few hiccups along the way, I think we did pretty good for not even speaking Italian. Jerrick was such a great photographer/videographer on the trip so I had way too many pictures to choose from. Therefore, there are many pictures to see! We went to Rome first...

This is us at the Vatican outside St. Peter's Basilica. We went to the Vatican Museum on Day 1. It was amazing.

Above is a courtyard in the museum and below is another shot of St. Peter's Basilica.

Rome was amazing! We found so many unique buildings and pretty streets around the city. Below is the Castel San Angelo.

We loved spending time in Piazza Navona for the artists and awesome gelato! mmm we had gelato at least once every day!

On day 2 we went sight seeing to the ancient Roman ruins. Above, the forum blew our minds with the history that took place there! There were so many buildings used for many different things. It was the center of ancient Rome and a very important place in ancient times. Below, the Colloseum, does it really need an explanation for how amazing the architecture is? I still can't believe a 2000 year old structure is standing today.

So, the shots that follow are due to a CRAZY scooter ride I convinced Jerrick to take through Rome. Yeah, don't rent a scooter in Rome if you value your life. BIG mistake! I really wanted to see the ancient road with catacombs though and we had a good time getting a little outside of Rome for a bit.

I mean seriously, there is a castle in the middle of this hay field with like... goats...

We left Rome on day 4 for Tuscany. ahhh, it is just so beautiful. The views and countryside made me want to literally give up my life and move there to just sit and sip wine (well, :) sparkling grape juice?) without a care in the world. First, we visited Cortona. It was the only day it rained but I didn't care because it seemed to add to the quint character of the cute city.

The next day, we went to Sienna. It was a really fun city! Below is the main piazza in the background. They have horseraces here twice a year just in the piazza! Also, James Bond Quantum of Solace shows the races in the beginning of the movie.

Below is the ADORABLE little villa that we stayed in in Tuscany. I was referred by some coworkers and I'm so glad they shared the place with me! The owner was hilarious and so wonderful! He made us eggs and got us all situated in a cute little cottage. It is called Casale del Marchese and I would highly recommend it. I only wish we could have spent more time there!

Here we are at the top of Montepulciano. Another adorable city in Tuscany, not far from where we stayed. This was serious wine country. NO VINO? Yeah, we heard that phrase a lot at dinner!

Here's our tiny little rental car! We loved it!

Florence was so artsy and awesome! Their Duomo pretty much says it all...

Below is Ponte Veccio. This bridge is completely lined with Jewelry shops! It was crazy!

We finally made it to Venice on Day 7. We just loved this city and still don't exactly know how and why the city was started in water! It is so magical!

We went to a few Venetian islands. Below is Murano where they are famous for glass blowing. It was cool to see the factories and pick up some really awesome pendant lamps!

Then, we went to Burano. I will never forget the brightly painted houses that make this little island so dang cheerful! We loved Burano!

Ah, sadly we had to say Arrivederci a Italia and come home. We were actually relieved to be back in our comfort zone. It was so amazing though! I think I may have made a traveler out of Jerrick finally because I think he may have loved it as much as me :) Well, now it's back to the real world of moving and starting school! I'm so glad we were able to go on the trip while we still could!