Step 1 Boards + Tornado = Worst Day Ever

 

(picture taken from the internet)

Todd was scheduled to take Step 1 Boards for Medical School on June 25th. This is pretty much the BIGGEST test of medical school. He had been studying 12+ hours a day for weeks for this test. So the test day came and so did a tornado. Yes, a tornado! We live in Virginia! I had no idea Virginia even had tornados. He was on section 6 out of 7 and was almost done with the test when the tornado came through Richmond. It was the craziest storm. Blue skies one minute and then they turned black and so did his computer screen at the testing center. The power went out. And it didn't look like it was coming back on any time soon. 

 We (and a few of our's friends that were taking the test that day) all had flights booked to fly out the next day. We had booked a trip to St Kitts (an island in Todd's mission) for a nice and relaxing post boards vacation. Well after a lot of phone calls, emails, and not knowing what to do, Todd's professor told him we should still go on the trip since we probably wouldn't find out for a few days what was going to happen. 

Long story short... We found out that Todd has to retake the test. Yes, the whole thing. The school is being as helpful as they can and rearranging their schedule for third year so they can have another crunch month prior to taking it. We should find out this week his new test date, which will probably be sometime in August. 

So to sum it up... Step 1 Boards + Tornado = Worst Day EVER!!! 

However, we did go on our trip and still had a great time! (post coming soon...)

 Also, since we've lived in Virginia, we have experienced hurricanes, an earthquake and now a tornado. Who knew the weather was crazy here! 

Go USA!

May 30th, 2012

USA vs Brazil

Fedex Field in DC

We were so excited to go watch this game.  Thanks to Devin for getting us tickets.  It was a lot of fun to be there and to cheer on the US!  It was a good game even though Brazil won 4-1.  It made us even more excited for the Olympics this summer.  We were among lots of crazy fans, witnessed a fight between crazy fans, and watch another crazy fan run out on the field and get tackled by the police.  You've gotta love soccer games! Good times! :)

Girls Weekend

My sister and my niece came out to visit us over Memorial Day weekend.  I was so excited to have them come. Todd has been studying like crazy for boards so it was nice to have them here for a little girls trip.

Obviously, we had to plan most of our activities to please a two year old, but we didn't mind at all. Lenna is an awesome traveler and is easily entertained.  

We tried to fit in as much as we could.  Some of the highlights of their trip included... Busch Gardens, Lunch with Elmo and Friends, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg Outlets, Maymont, and the Richmond Zoo.

 

Thanks for visiting Erika and Lenna.  Come back soon!

Busch Gardens

This year, we got season passes to Busch Gardens!  We were able to go a few times before Todd started his crazy study schedule for boards.  Its a really fun park and has been voted the world's most beautiful theme park for years. There are lots of awesome roller coasters and the first night that we went, we were able to walk on to almost every ride.  Some of our friends got passes too so it's been a lot of fun to go with them. 

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!