Let the Residency Fun Begin!

Kolby started his family Practice Residency at ISU in Pocatello about 3 days after we moved to Idaho. Talk about jumping right into something. We were lucky to have my parent's house in Malad as a crash pad while we looked for a suitable rental closer to the hospital. But the 40-minute drive to and from work was a killer for the month of June.

Here's the new residency crew. They had a special "white coat" ceremony to present all the newbie doctors with their long coats. True to form, Kolby ended up with a women's coat, just like when he started med school. It must be his dainty form that keeps landing him in the ladies' department. Don't worry, the residents were smart enough to swap around and get their real coats.

We're excited to start residency in Idaho. Even though Kolby had his heart set on emergency medicine, he's decided that this residency suits him like a glove. Because it's the only residency program in the area, he will be trained to do everything - including family practice, emergency, OB, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery and pretty much everything else medicine has to offer.

About a week into training, the residency sponsored a retreat to Island Park. We hadn't done any camping in Oklahoma (unless you count tenting it in the back yard) so it was such fun to get out in the cool mountain air and enjoy nature . . . minus the bugs and sweltering heat of the mid-west. AWESOME!!!
We decided our fellow attendings and residents are going to be the coolest. We filled the night with good hearty food and conversation, activities for the kids, giant smores and campfire karaoke. So fun!

It was Klive's first camping trip. He thoroughly enjoyed the mesmerizing fire and playing in the dirt. I don't think he enjoyed the girly kitty hat we stuck him in to keep him warm.

My mom didn't think it was a good idea to try and fit all five of us in a two-man tent in bear country, so she sprung for a room at the local lodge. Thanks Mom. The girls spent the morning eating oatmeal on the porch and watching the fishermen hard at work on the river.

It was an awesome, relaxing trip. I even got to take the girls to my old stomping ground - Rigby, Idaho. It was a hoot to take them into Kings, where I spent my high school nights behind the cash register in the toy department. They both agreed, it is the greatest toy store EVER!!! Just chalk up some more cool points for mom.

And on our way back through, we spent a night with Grandma Ivie, Aunt Taryn, Uncle Mike, Uncle Ryan, the cousins and a chocolate cake. We even slipped away with a few extra jars of choke cherry syrup. Isn't it nice living so close to family?!