The Big Apple!

Congratulations are officially in order to the most adorable ward clerk and your favorite dentist! Peter got the position in Brooklyn! They called this morning to offer him a one-year internship. Here we come NEW YORK!!! The internship begins July 1, so we'll move in June. Finding a place to live will be a major challenge, but we'll figure it out. There are 17 oral surgery residency programs in New York, so our chances of staying there even after the interhship are high. Residencies last either 4,5, or 6 years, so Peter will re-apply for a residency program next year. Although our chances of staying in NY for 5+ years are good, I'd get a visit in to your fun friends living in the Big Apple this coming year if I were you, because life is crazy and things are constantly changing and you just never know...

Os Trigonum

Well, its nice to know that all of these foot problems are not in my head!? ...or are they? I had an MRI last week and the diagnosis is that my "os trigonum" (pronounced OZ-TRY-GO-NUM) has to be removed. Its a tiny little "extra" bone on the back of the foot. Sometimes it becomes detached, which mine must have done last summer sometime. Not everybody has one, so its not a big deal to remove it. So, I'll have to have a minor surgery to remove it, which means I'll be on my way to exercising again soon! Peter said that the 'ol "os trigonum" is the medical code word for "basket case" and then he asked me if the doctor winked at the nurse when he told me the diagnosis. Hmmm...? *Note, this picture is looking down on the foot, so the heel is on the bottom of shot, whereas the toes would be at the top.

Interview in Brooklyn

Friday, February 20 Peter has an interview for an internship in BROOKLYN. He's flying out early Friday morning and he'll be back the next morning (all night lay-overs, etc.). So, we hope this will be a successful interview. We still haven't heard much from other programs... so everything is still up in the air. Stay tuned...!

Let's play!

Anybody that knows me well, knows that I love board games. Its such a great way to spend quality time with people. You get to know them by engaging in a random activity that can make memories or cause a big family fight (you gotta be careful, or at least the Reynolds do).

I'm so grateful to my dad who cultivated this tradition in our family. As a teenager, I remember playing Backgammon after I got off work at Ned's Krazy Sub or Pretty Party Place. At 9:30pm on a school night, after Dad picked me up from work, and the day still had time for games. We'd talk, laugh, and bond over this simple ritual. Now, I'm secretly, or not so secretly, infiltrating my new family with the joys of board games. Peter has even joined the movement - initially against his will. He's even competitive at times - a true manifestation that he's not just doing it to appease his wife! On Sunday mornings, we play Carcassonne, the new board game that my parents gave us for Christmas. Its fantastic! Doesn't take long, best for 2 people, and plenty of intrigue. I sound like I'm trying to sell it, I know. Just a shout out to the virtues of board games and the the families I love playing them with!

The Master Cleanse

Wow, I did it. I still can't believe I did it!!! I've been living off fresh-squeezed lemon juice, pure maple syrup and cayenne pepper for 10 days now. Its called The Master Cleanse. Tomorrow I get to transition back to real food with orange juice (fresh squeezed!) then Sat and Sun I can have vegetable soup and salad. I haven't been as hungry as I thought I would be, and I have plenty of energy - surprisingly. I actually went to the gym and worked out twice, hard core! and was fine. Weird, but true. My dad, mom, and sisters did this with me (not all of them), and we called each almost daily to offer support and encouragement. The only times I had trouble were when I started letting my mind wander into forbidden paths... pulled pork sandwiches, spaghetti, doughnuts... I had to stop myself from peeking at recipe websites today. What was I thinking!? I actually borrowed Peter's snicker power bar the other day, just so that I could smell it. That was a mistake. It only gave me more food dreams. So, I digress. Truly, it has been a magnificent feat in self-discipline. I've lost 8 pounds and I'll keep them off if I continue to eat healthy and exercise. I feel clean, mean, and in control! Hopefully my inner organs are cleansed of many toxins and are grateful to me. AARGH. I can't wait until Monday when I can go to Chipotle.

Here are a couple of links if you're interested: http://healthandlight.com/TheMasterCleanse.pdf

and http://therawfoodsite.com/ and here's a NAYSAYER site: http://www.thedietchannel.com/master-cleanse-detox-diet

One of many fans

Jake is a fan of the AZ Cardinals. Dad is a fan of the Master Cleanse and the Super Foods. I am a fan of my nephew named Theron! I enjoyed the weather and visiting my family and friends in AZ last week, Theron being among the highlights. I especially enjoyed teaching him to say, "oh-yay-UH!" Is he adorable or what!? I know I am among many fans.

Running Bear.... loved little White Dove

My husband is fabulous. He danced shirtless in front of the extended family, with war paint on his chest, a feather on his head, and a mock loin-cloth over his jeans. Why? Because I thought it would be fun to perform a 50's song "Running Bear" at the Cope Family Variety Show a week before Christmas (mostly becase of an inside joke with his brothers). Peter was indeed a good sport, infact he was the star of the show, after 3.5 year old Caleb, of course. I appreciate his willingness to make a fool of himself, all for the sake of creating memories. And I'm grateful to Cassie who took the pictures to remember it by!
The next day, he went to a Triathalon with his brother Patrick and the so-called "war paint" was still on his chest. Naturally, he got a few interesting looks, smirks, and comments from fellow swimmers. When he told them it was for his wife, the looks got even more interesting.