First of Many (I hope)

To my family:  We are all living very busy and hurried lives.  I wanted to try and find a small way for us to stay connected.  Mackenzie help me create this blog so that we can have a little idea what is going on in each others lives. 

 Brandon, Kim and Oliver will be leaving this coming Saturday for Disney World.  I do not know who is more excited...Brandon or Oliver.  Kim will have her hands full with those two boys!  I will be waiting for Disney pictures to arrive Brandon!   Eve has decided not to go and is staying with her Grandma without the cat (Emily).  She no doubt will be very spoiled when her parents return.
   
 Brandon and Kim celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary today. (October 2nd)  It is just hard to believe that seven years has gone by that fast.  Congratulations you two!!

 Garrett and Mindy have been in Cochabamba, Bolivia for ten days.  They should be returning tomorrow October 3rd.  I am very excited to hear about their trip and what the orphanage was like that they visited.  Hopefully I will have much more to share with you soon.  Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America.  It is also home to the Andes Mountains.  Sounds absolutely beautiful!! 
  
Mackenzie and Ivan have been very busy with work.  Mackenzie finally completed her last rotation in ICU.  It was a rather tough one for her and she could not have done it without her husband.  Ivan has completed everything for medical school entry.  He had his interview last week which I heard went very well.  The process is that every month I.U. selects candidates for their 2012 first year med students. 
  
Mackenzie will be deciding soon as to where she plans to work next year after graduation.  She has done various interviews including Bloomington Hospital.  So far I do think that Bloomington is top on her list!  That would be so wonderful to have her in town. 

 All is going well with the folks on Swartz Ridge.  Steve was very excited to hire a landscape architect.  It is the first time he has needed to hire someone in a few years.  Hopefully this is a good sign for the economy!!
We are planning a trip to Hilton Head in November.  I think we are going to play golf so we actually went to the driving range to practice.  It has been at least 5 years since I swung a club!!

 I hope this first blog makes you feel that you are a little more connected with each other.  I will try to post once a week and just let you know the "family news".