Wow, how time flies. I can't believe it has been over 5 months since I have updated our blog. I'll catch everyone up a bit on what has been happening in our lives over the past few months.
I moved out to Montana in March to start work at an orthopedic physical therapy clinic. Damon graduated from law school in May!!! (yahoo honey - such hard work and dedication - so proud of you). I went back to VA in May to help pack up the house and to say good bye to our wonderful friends. We never thought the day would come where we would dread saying good bye to Grundy, but in our three short years in VA, we met so many wonderful people and despite some of our crazy stories, we have some great memories. Damon drove the U-Haul and I followed behind in my car. It took us about 4 days to cover 2200 miles. Man was Missoula a welcomed site!
Missoula summers are hands down the best. Great weather (no humidity!!!), fun cultural events all the time downtown, close hiking trails, farmers market, local restaurants (a novelty after living in VA for 3 years), and being back close to family. We are living up in the Rattlesnake area which is literally within minutes of a lot of great hiking and biking trails. Igor is loving the ability to now walk on the roads/side walks and we take him to the creek a couple times a week to run and play. Damon and I bought new mountain bikes so we can commute more with these than our cars. My goal is to commute to work on my bike 2 out of 4 days. In August, Damon and I took tennis lessons for two weeks and really enjoyed the instruction and learning the formal technique. This is probably the most "low key" summer I have had in years. It is so nice to not have plans for traveling every weekend and to just enjoy being together doing local activities. We hope to get a trip into Glacier National Park and maybe float the river a few times before the summer is up. It is still in the 90's here, but it will soon turn to fall and snow will be upon us.
As far as work, I am really enjoying my job and the team I work with. I'm seeing a lot of post-op orthopedic patients as well as musculoskeletal injuries. Damon continues to look for work that can fill his time until he takes the Bar exam in February.
My great friend Melissa from my work in VA - sure do miss all of my co-workers there!
My new clinic in Missoula
Sports room with basketball hoop in our clinic
Snow drifts back in Valier in April when I went home to visit.
Graduation party at the Mossor's. Sure do miss these guys!!! Congrats to Damon, Joey, Matt and Ashley for getting their Juris Doctorate. Congrats to Mollie and I surviving law school as well. :)
Damon "proudly" wearing the graduation hat.
Saying goodbye to Lovers Gap Road. Great memories were had by all here.
Miss Lippy traveling in style across country. She did surprisingly well for having to be in the car for 40+ hours!
Damon thinking his back is broken. Since the seats don't move backwards, he drove with his knees touching the dash board for the entire trip across country.
The famous pug club down at the Bark Park in Missoula. On some Sundays, there can be as many as 75-100 pugs that congregate together to play. Igor isn't very social, and would rather wonder around sniffing stuff.
The new Martin garden that was erected out at Tanner and Wayne's new house in Florence.
Foo Fighters concert. This was my first rock concert, and my ears were wishing I would have brought ear plugs. Fun concert though!
Rock climbing class - we had a great time and learned a ton.
Igor loving the creek by our house to cool his little paws off.
VandenBos branding back in the spring
Trever and Tanner VandenBos
Jordan and the newly born colt
Mom and her horse Kale'a - what a proud mamma
Easter egg dying with the VandenBos'
Luke and Taren Wellman's wedding
Farmer's Market downtown Missoula
Mom and Kale'a in the Homesteader's Parade
My little cousin Cameron doing the barrel races by himself!
First Friday in Missoula - Art Walk
A little hop scotch for our evening entertainment
Missoula River Walk and Brenan's Wave - man made wave for kayakers
On our trip back for the Choteau Rodeo. I got out to take some scenery pictures and couldn't resist this picture, especially with Boba Fett looking on.
View from the top of the mountain right behind our house. We walk this hiking trail often. You can see both the "L" and the "M" from up there.
Drive back from my friend Hanna's babyshower. This was in June - love the snow and the green trees.
My co-worker Callie and I volunteering for the Missoula Marathon.
Our friends/land lords, Petr and Jenny, finishing up the marathon.
Damon's 32nd birthday party
Got to love these two - never a serious picture when it comes to these brothers..
