Half Way.

Todd completed his second year of medical school last week.  I can't believe we are half way done.  To celebrate, the Olson's hosted a barbecue with some of our fellow classmates.  Now, we just need to make it through the next 5 weeks! Todd takes Step 1 boards on June 25th.  Wish us luck! 

Eric O - Stephens - Stewarts - Brockbanks - Vanhilles - Olsons- Gilberts - Eric I

(the Larsen's couldn't make it)

 

Cassidi - Alyse - Lara - Me - Paige - Katelyn

Eric - Kurt - Todd - Dane - Derek - Ben - Nick - Eric 

Service...

On April 21st, our ward had a service project at Hollywood Cemetery.  Hollywood Cemetery is a famous cemetery here in Richmond and is the resting place of two US presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, and the Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis.  It's a beautiful place and it overlooks the James River.  For the service project, we were asked to clean it up and uncover some of the headstones that had weeds and plants growing over them.  Not too bad right?

Well I didn't think it was bad either until a week later when a red rash started showing up all over my body.  It turned out to be poison ivy.  It was horrible.  It was all over my arms and legs, some of my neck and my stomach! (Yes, my stomach- I have no idea how it got there! I was wearing my yellow, helping hands shirt the whole time!!) And just for the record, I wasn't the only one who got it.       My arms got it the worst.  They were so swollen and red.  It was miserable.  I tried so many different things to get rid of it.  Todd and I were looking up and asking people daily for different remedies to try.  It's now been a month since the service project and my skin is almost all the way healed.  Just a few dry spots and red areas to go.
 A word to the wise... Leaves of three, let them be! 

"I think I'll go to Boston..."

March 29th- April 1st

Todd's parents came out to visit us during the end of March.  Todd's dad, Bryan had schedule to help administer and grade the dental board licensing exam in Boston so they came out early to spend some days in Richmond.  We love it when family comes to visit and we were definitely spoiled.  I was lucky enough to have the weekend off of work when they were heading to Boston so I was able to tag along.  While Bryan was at the school all day, Ann and I were able to explored the city.  I loved Boston.  It's a fun city full of American History.  The weather was cold unlike a few weeks later when they ran the Boston Marathon.  That didn't stop us though.  Thanks to the Old Town Trolley we were able to see just about everything!  

Fenway Park  Baseball season hadn't started yet but we were able to tour the park.  Fenway Park is celebrating their 100th year anniversary this year.  
Boston Public Garden

Home to Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their 8 ducklings from the book, Make Way for Ducklings
The Freedom Trail
The Old State House, Faneuil Hall, and the site of the Boston Massacre
Paul Revere and the Old North Church "One if by land, two if by sea..."
Granary Burying Grounds
Bunker Hill Monument   We were able to climb the 294 steps to the top of the monument.  It left us both very sore for the rest of the day.  USS Constitution- Old IronsidesThe oldest commissioned warship still afloat today We were able to go aboard and see what life would be like as a sailor.  I learned that I wouldn't have made a good one.  The living quarters were so small.  Luckily for my mother-in-law, being 5 foot even was the prefect height for down below.
 Harvard Square

Thank you Bryan and Ann for such a fun trip!