OFFICIALLY Brendan, MD & Andrea, M2

I figured it was high time I updated!! I am officially done and still alive! It has been a busy, busy month though! I finished finals on Friday, May 15th. Finals week was truly something else! By Friday we were ALL half dead. It was definitely the most ragged i've ever seen any group of people! But, I do have to say we bounced back pretty quickly! We had our neuro final on Tuesday of finals week and then Friday was HOS. It was a 4hr exam, and it largely took the whole 4 hrs. It was definitely a behemouth of a test, but it was good to end on that one. It was quite the feeling leaving that test! It was exhaustion mixed with elation mixed with more exhaustion! Anyone who saw me that weekend could see how tired I was! Friday night (after a quick, quick nap!) it was Med School Graduation time! Even in my exhausted state it was very, very exciting! And as of May 15, 2009, Brendan is OFFICIALLY Dr. Brendan. YAY!
Dr. Brendan (& lil bro, Paddy)

Saturday of that weekend Brendan and some of his doctor friends had a graduation reception. Iowa's weather meant we had to have it inside (bc it was windy and chilly!), but it was nice to see family and friends. Mom, Dad, Mal, & Alex came for the event, so did the Shaw's and many other friends from town, so it was really nice to see everyone. That night the whole clan went out to eat at Blackstone. It was DELICIOUS!! The rest of that weekend I SLEPT SLEPT SLEPT!

Wednesday, May 20th we headed to Seattle. I won't go through all of the details of the trip, but we had a GREAT time! We saw Vancouver, my fam in Chilliwack, and Seattle. We were blessed with GLORIOUS weather - no clouds to speak of the WHOLE time! Not too usual for the great northwest! We started in Vancouver, had a great visit, great food, etc.
Us down at Canada Place in Vancouver (it's a bit windy by the water!)

Then we went to stay with Krystal & Trevor for a day. Got to meet Miss Angel, Linden. Friday we got to go see Kyle & Lisa's new farm and learn all about the egg business, then grilled out and hung out with the cousins. It was just wonderful to relax and spend time together. It was especially nice to be able to say "Bye" followed by "We'll see you in a few months!" Yay! As you can see, the kids are so big! And they are all just as cute and sweet as can be, so I know Smiens 09 is going to be a blast!! After that we headed down to Seattle and met up with a number of friends. There are so many pictures! I will post a few of the best, but I will try to find a way to post a link to the album, too! We just had such a blast... it was so nice to get away! We went to a Mariner's game, went kayaking, went to Pike's Place (OMG LOVED IT!!!!), walked around, had great seafood... ahhhh. And to end it all we celebrated with his friend/classmate, Jeff, at his wedding. It was such a great vacation!

Krystal & Linden


Family resemblance anyone??


























Last but not least, the week we got home was my bestest med school friend, Rebecca's, birthday. They aren't our best photos (due to lots of mango drinks and sake bombs) but we did have lots of fun getting dolled up and going out with the group! Ok, that's all for now! Tah Tah!



Me & Rebecca
















The girls!
Me, Kelsey, Rebecca, Trisha