Ice Day Paintings!

Yesterday, Sarah's school was closed due to the ice storm, so along with building Lego houses, reading, playing doctor, baking, and vacuuming, (which she really does love helping with!), we painted a couple of canvases.

This is one that Sarah made for me.

It's a picture of her picking flowers as the sun sets. I LOVE it and can't wait to hang it up!

I made this one for Sarah.

It actually didn't turn out how I wanted it to, but Sarah likes it and that's all that matters, (since it's for her--haha!). I added glitter to the words and polka dots to make it even more girly!

Reading Sarah

Sarah just loves to read! Beginning in preschool, between us and her great teacher, Ms. Hayley, she learned a handful of sight words. And now that she's in Kindergarten, she has learned alot more! Each week, she comes home with a little book to read to us as part of her homework. Bryan and I have been amazed at how great she's doing thus far!

The following are all of the sight words Sarah knows:

• the
• have
• is
• a
• I
• little
• am
• to
• like
• we
• my
• he
• she
• for
• me
• with
• see
• look
• they
• you
• are
• of
• that
• do
• go
• it
• no
• yes
• in
• not
• can
• and
• come
• said
• will
• did
• at
• dad
• mom
• love
• this
• on
• off
• has
• here
• zoo
• dog
• cat
• bear
• was

 We are so proud of her!

Wedding Fun!

Yesterday, we went to the wedding of our dear friends, John Michael and Kate. The wedding was at a church in Keller, and the reception was held at the Omni Mandalay hotel in Las Colinas. We all had a blast! All week Sarah had been looking forward to eating two kinds of cake at the reception, but after dinner, all she wanted to do was "bust a move" (as she put it!). She had so much fun dancing with everyone! And when she wasn't with just one person, you could find her dancing in the middle of a large group shakin' her bootie. All of the adults would do whatever move she was doing. It was too funny! Occasionally, she would even run across the dance floor and then slide!

Sarah enjoying her punch in a fancy wine glass.

This is the start of Sarah's night o' dancing. Sarah LOVED dancing with her Daddy. Shakin' it up! Sarah following Trisha, Kate's sister and the maid of honor, during a line dance. She did a great job! *Notice the shoes are long gone! One of them actually flew across the dance floor while Daddy was swinging her during the first dance. After that, her shoes stayed at the table! Sarah dancing with the beautiful bride. Sarah, Kate, and the sweet little flower girl. They had so much fun together. Slow dancing with Daddy.

I love this one--a dance and a kiss.

Slow dancing with Mommy.

Interview Praise

As the interview season draws to a close, (only 1 more to go!), Bryan has a lot to think about in regards to each program before he ranks them. On our way back from the Wichita, Kansas interview this weekend--we had a blast!--we wrote down pros and cons for each program...all 14! Some of the big things we're considering are: cost of living in the new city, how nice the faculty and residents are, insurance costs, and call schedules. He will find out for sure where we're headed on "Match Day" which is March 19th.

Bryan's received a lot of praise in the interviews, but here are two of the best compliments: "Out of the thousands of personal statements that I've read, yours is one of the best." --Lexington, Kentucky Program Director "What would it take to get you out of Texas?" --Wichita, Kansas Program Director

*His personal statement is an essay he had to write as part of his residency application about why he wants to be an anesthesiologist. And it really is awesome!!

As I've said several times before, I am so proud of Bryan!

A Bonnet From Daddy

Fridays are Show and Tell in Sarah's class, and she took her bonnet that Bryan got for her a few months ago while in Amish country in Philadelphia. When I picked her up from school she was wearing it to keep the sun out of her eyes, and I had to take a picture once we got home because it was too cute!

Praise Board

Well, Sarah did get a 100 on her test on Friday! I said, "Sarah, I am so proud of you!" Then, Sarah said, "I am a natural, ya know?!" And that's where her humble heart comes in to play yet again!

I put her most recent test on our new Praise Board. I put it up to proudly display Sarah and Bryan's accomplishments. It also contains all of her "Star Student" awards, her first report card, and one of Bryan's Dean's Letters, (I say one of his Dean's Letters, because he received one for each semester of the "classroom" portion of medical school! He rocks!). They are both too smart for their own good!

Test Today!

This morning, Sarah and I were driving to school, and she said she was so excited that Mrs. McDaniel's was going to be back today. (They had a substitute yesterday.) Then she exclaimed, "And we're having a test today! I'm excited, because I always get 100's on my tests!" 

Only 5 More!!

Today marks the official countdown to the end of Bryan's residency interviews! I say the end because due to the holidays he didn't have any interviews scheduled, and over the next 8 days, he will go on 4 of the 5! This morning, he flew from Houston to Indianapolis. From there, he drove to Louisville. Tomorrow, he will interview at Louisville, then he will drive back to Indianapolis to interview there on Tuesday. On Thursday, he will interview in Galveston; then next Saturday, he will interview in Wichita. (That's the one that we're driving to together, and I can't wait!) At the beginning on February, he'll interview at his final program in Kansas City. I am so glad it's almost over! All of the travelling has been really hard on him. He's enjoyed each of the different programs and cities while there--some more than others--but all of the driving, flights, and packing is tiring. (I'm personally looking forward to not having so many button down shirts to iron so frequently! Teehee!)

I am so proud of him!

Christmas

Daddy showing Sarah the Silly Putty that he thought would be a perfect stocking stuffer! Sarah with her new Fancy Nancy book.

I made her this tu-tu.

You can't really tell by the picture, but the colors are light blue, pink, and purple.

Sarah so excited about her Science Kit! She only asked Santa for this and books for Christmas.

A new bed, outfit, and sunglasses for her Build-A-Bear animals.

"Thanks, Daddy!"

Playing her accordion from Santa at Nana and Grandpa's house.

Sarah helping pass out presents at Nona and Grandpa's house.

The Nutcracker

Sarah and me in front of one of the huge trees at Bass Hall before seeing The Nutcracker.