The kids and I made our way back to Pennsylvania after being in Utah for 2 weeks. Darin had one more week left of residency and then it was graduation time.
I think my favorite part about medical school and residency graduation was finding out where everyone would be going next....
Back L to R: Darin (PedsEM Fellowship, GA), Quincy Gerrald (SC), Lindsey Newcomb(WV), Josh Morrison (NH), Tom Stauffer (?), Mary Sibley (PA), Justin Arnold (Toxicology Fellowship, GA)
Front L to R: Kevin Vong (CA), Nick Dowling (SD), Jenn Sears (FL), Erin Ricart (PA), Inna Massaro (PA), Kayla Long (EMS Fellowship, PA), Megan Urquhart (NJ), Katie Fischer (OK), Ellie Salinski (PA)
Our families were not able to attend so it was great to have the Brinton's join us for the night. We have only known them a short while but they have been great friends and we are thankful for all they have done to support us! It was nice sharing the table with the Dowling's as well. It was nice having another LDS family in the program as well as living in the same ward.
Since no one on our table drank Nick gathered all our champaign glasses and presented them to Kayla who NEVER turns down a drink....or 6! ;)
Kayla was a good sport about it.
The boys were pretty good through the dinner. They got a little bored and Asa babbled a little TOO loud but he was sure good at flirting with everyone in the room.
I need to find a way to add the video of Darin being presented his diploma. Because of course he did his usual scream to shock the audience....sigh....
His smile says it all! Congratulations Darin you deserve to be so happy!
After the diplomas were given out they had a bit of a roast on the attendings and graduating residence. Most of it was tasteful but of course there were those moments.
HA Dr. Warlow REALLY does look like Ned Flanders!
Each of the residence had a beer named after them and an explanation of why. Here are a few...
There was a running joke about Darin because he did not correct people when they called him Jon, so the residency thought there were two Dr. Willardson's but no one knew who Dr. Jon Willardson was. LOL
It was a good night with yummy food and great company. Thanks again Brinton family for coming with us!
Lizette (in the middle) was my first friend in the residency. Her husband started with the group but did not like PA all that much and transferred to Texas. They came back for the graduation. It was so good to see her!
Isn't our family good looking! :)
This is Allie she is married to Quincy. Allie was Nash's food specialist when we were having issues with him eating certain textures. She then was Asa's therapist in the NICU. It was fun having her care for our boys. She was just days away from having her first baby. :)
Again our first year of residency was spent a lot with these two families. Back then there was only 3 kids between all of us.
Through out the residency the Dowling and Long families were our good friends that we had Christmas, Thanksgiving or any other lonely holiday spent without family. I often took care of their kids, and they helped out with mine.
Pennsylvania was a great place to live. We enjoyed the 4 years we lived there, and cherish so many of the friendships we made. Darin received awesome training at Lehigh Valley. We felt our boys benefited from all the programs available to us in the valley immensely. But in all reality we could feel as a family that it was not our final home and it was time to move on to the next step. So on to South Carolina/Georgia for the Willardson family!
