Utah

The beginning of July, Stephen and I drove up to Utah for a few short days to see my family.  My parents had just come back from Germany and driven across the country from Maryland.  So we had a few family BBQ's, ate at our favorite restaurants, had a picnic up the canyon and played some croquet.  And... I FINALLY got to climb Suicide Rock, a giant painted rock at the mouth of Parley's Canyon that I've driven by loads of times.

Not to mention I got to see this cute girl!  I love being an aunt :)

California Adventures

Random adventures of the last couple of months...

I helped to plan and organize a park cleanup/planting for Mormon Helping Hands.

Hike to Aztec Falls with some cliff jumping.

Exploring Lake Arrowhead.

Walking around Balboa Island-- have to have a frozen banana from the banana stand!, and drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna Beach.

Day at Knott's Berry Farm with Stephen's family, my first time!

Day in LA-- Griffith Observatory and hike in Runyon Canyon Park.

Fourth of July boating and picnicking with friends at Big Bear Lake.

Day at the Orange County Fair.

Beach day at Santa Monica with Sariah.

Thatcher

The beginning of June, I drove home to Arizona for a few days since Sonya and Tyler were going to be there for a week and my parents are moving so it was my last chance to go home, ever...

On the way, I stopped at Goldfield Ghost Town, just 10-15 minutes off the freeway in Phoenix.  I can't believe we had never been there before as a family on MANY of our day trips to Phoenix.  It was a cute little tourist attraction with restaurants, shops, and mine tours.

The next couple days in Thatcher were spent eating at our favorite restaurants-- R&R Pizza and Casa Manana, as well as going to Frye Mesa-- man made lake at the base of Mt. Graham and on the top of a giant mesa.  We spent the afternoon swimming and jumping off the wall of the dam.

And PLENTY of time was spent sorting through junk, getting rid of stuff, and packing up the memorable items.  Goodbye Thatcher...

Pomona Valley Hospital

Beginning in May, I did a 4 week rotation through the ER at Pomona Valley Hospital, a small community hospital.  WOW!  It's nice to know not all ER's are as crazy as Arrowhead's, where I'm doing my residency.  People actually have insurance and a primary doctor to follow up with.  And the nurses set up all the materials you need to do suturing and other procedures.  It was an eye opener and I LOVED it.  Not to mention there are no medical residents so you don't have to fight for procedures.  All the doctors, PA's, and nurses were so nice.  Can I go back please??  On my last day the lead PA told me they would definitely like to have me work there (lots of positive feedback from the other staff for me), AS LONG AS there is an opening.  I definitely want to work at a community ER that's for sure.  County hospitals are just a bit too crazy for me...

Oklahoma City

My sister's husband, Tyler, graduated from dental school back in May and I was lucky enough to get 3 days off to fly out for the weekend.  I was lucky enough to be with my whole family too!  It was one of those rare times when all 6 of us can get together, which doesn't happen very often.  Sonya and Tyler have been in Oklahoma for FOUR years and it was my FIRST time there visiting.  Gulp, I feel bad I hadn't been before so it was fun to finally see where they are living.  And what can I say but, I really like Oklahoma!  It's a slower pace of life, green, wide open, and good BBQ!  Sonya was THE best host and party planner around!

Like I said, I wasn't there very long but still managed to see the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.

Mom was also lucky enough to have all of her kids present for Mother's Day that Sunday.  And.... even luckier that I was on her flight back to Phoenix (on my way back to California).