Testing the water...

I know its been a long time... But this year will have me blogging again. I will start posting some real material soon, but for today I wanted toh try out the blogger application I downloadeed to my phone.
Anyone who read/reads blog probably already knows this, but a lot has changed since the last time I wrote. Maya is pushing 3, and we have a baby boy on the way, due around her birthday. Im finished with my orthotics residency, and am just starting prosthetics while I continue to see my orthotic patients.
So, anyhow... Like I said, short and sweet. Here is a picture from earlier today. I was trying to teach tic-tac-toe to Maya... Admitedly a bit beyond her attentions span/interest level. Still, we had fun.
Alright then... Lets see if this App works! Thanks for reading.

-Branch

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Yeah... Im Really Writing.

Don't have a heart attack or anything, though it should be a big surprise that I am finally blogging. I guess I really didn't feel like it for the last few weeks before leaving Dallas, plus there's the fact that we only just got internet in our home today (I tried to "borrow" a neighbors wireless signal, but they all have passwords). It was hard leaving Texas, but it didn't take much to make me happy we moved. The friends and city were great, but being so close to family and the lack of humidity wins. tomorrow I start my Orthotic residency for the next year, and I couldn't be more excited. A few days ago, I took Emily and Maya down to the office to introduce them to my co-workers. Em is really excited for me, and she can't believe how nice of a place this is. I have been in a few P&O offices in Dallas, and there is only one that holds a comparison. *Funny Story* Ok, background info first. Someone had told me that If I was serious about applying for a residency at Shriners, I should learn to speak Spanish, so my mom offered to buy the Rosetta Stone (spanish obviously) so I could learn. I found a used set (ended up being a copy) and never got serious about trying to learn. My mom has given me some crap (rightfully so) about not putting in the effort. I didn't get a residency at Shriners, but by the time I went for interviews, I had realized that I didn't want to work there anyhow. OK... now the story. After taking Em & Maya down to my new workplace, a few hours later Phil (the residency director) called to ask if I can speak Spanish. He paused for a few seconds "..... you still have a job either way...... but it would be really great if you spoke Spanish". I told him I would dust off the Rosetta Stone CDs and see what I could do. So anyway, soon I will hopefully be able to speak spanish. Typing that story out made it not sound nearly as interesting or funny as I thought it was before... sorry. Anyhow, Im going to study some spanish and then head to bed. Talk to you all later!

Branch

Wow...Im a Sucky Blogger

WARNING: This is a random blog, and I started it about a week ago, so the date is wrong. I actually I know you are not interested in my apologies, but I'm sorry for going so long without writing anything. Time keeps getting away from me, and school is almost over. The fact that we are moving in about 3 weeks was a vague concept to me until just the other day. We decided we could start packing some things that we don't have to have handy. We started with all the pictures and decorations in the whole house. Looking around, it looks like someone sucked the soul out of our apartment. Anyhoo.... time for an undate of everything going on here. 2 weekends ago, we went a couple hours south to Clifton, Tx for a class retreat. We stayed in a little bunkhouse, got tons of fresh air, cooked over a fire, relaxed and just enjoyed each others company. My friend Alan brought his bow for some target practice. Here is Emily's first shot...


Last week Himaya turned 1! I can't believe how fast the last year has flown by, and I can't believe how much she has grown and changed. Of course we had to let her go crazy with a cake, so here is another video of that.

Yesterday we finally took some traditional pictures of Maya down in Ennis, Tx. Probably every kid who grows up in Texas has pictures taken out in the bluebonnets. Thanks to the Doyle family, we had an ideal spot to take the pice, so here they are.

What a Week!

What a great week! Spring break finally came and I was able to fly back to Utah/Wyoming to see Em and Maya. Em is way too thin, and Maya was grown so much, but I couldn't be more happy now that we are back together. Maya is now amazing at walking around, dancing and she is getting a decent sized vocabulary for an 11 month old girl. Though I didn't think it was possible, she has gotten even cuter. I have some amazing pictures of her, but I can't post them yet. Em took her to a friend from Rock Springs who took super-cute pics of Maya in her tutu. We have gotten the proofs, but I won't put them up until we order the prints... you will all say "awwwww" when you see them.
While in Utah, I had the opportunity to have an interview at Hanger Orthotics and Prosthetics (which I felt went really well), and I was able to visit Shriner's Hospital. Shriner's wouldn't let me have an interview, because not all applicants can go for an interview in person. So they only do interviews over the phone to elliminate bias. It was good sitting down with the residency director though (interview or none). Em said that while sitting there, I should have pulled out my phone, asked for the number to his office, called and requested an interview right then(technically over the phone).
Wednesday night we headed to Wyoming for a short trip to see more family, and so I could go fishing with my dad and my brother Keelen. We went to the Flaming Gorge Resevior, and had a great time. There were times we had to reel in to allow large floating sheets of ice to drift by, and it was a bit chilly every now and then, but it was a great day. In case you were concerned, yes... I did catch the biggest fish. The true trick is a secret I have taken an oath not to divulge, but it is effective. I had so much fun, especially since I never get to hang out with just my dad and brother. We totally bonded.
Friday we headed back to Utah, though it took us 4 hours to really get on the way. My brother got a flat tire about 12 miles out of Green River (my home town). Having preformance tires and no spare, it took a long time, and 3 trips to the car/town to get everything together. Once we had the tire and the right jack, it only took 5-10 minutes to actually change the tire. Under normal circumstances this would have been really annoying, and everyone would have been at each others throats, but we laughed at it and made it fun.
Saturday night Emily and I got to go on our first date since Maya was born. My mom and aunt watched her and her cousins while Em and I went with my sister, her husband, my brother, and our cousins with their husbands to a comedy show (crappy sentance structure... I know). We went to a place called Comedy Sportz, which is an improvizational show that has locations all over (can't wait to go to the one in Dallas). It was hillarious and wasn't crude/vulgar. We all had a great time.
Yesterday, we came home and just relaxed. Today I had to go to school and then to clinic rotation. While there I recieved a call from the resident liason for Hanger P&O, and she offered me a position at the Hanger in Salt Lake City, UT! I am so excited!!! My first day will be June 1st. It was a HUGE weight off my shoulders, because there were only 2 places in Utah I could possibly go. We celebrated with seafood, capping the day off on a high note.