Christina has been asking me to write a short review of what happened in 2009. This would essentially be the little letter in our Christmas cards, if we had ever gotten around to actually sending Christmas cards...
2009 began and ended at the same place: at the Meiers' cabin in Island Park, Idaho. The journeys between reached much further.
We were living in Blanding, Utah, where I did research for Recapture Metals. Christina worked part time as a substitute for the elementary school and Head Start preschool, when she wasn't taking care of our new puppy Bella. We were still processing the news of our new addition, who popped onto the radar in early November, 2008.
Bella, January 2009I was also in the process of applying to medical schools. This process took us to Denver in February, where I was accepted to Rocky Vista College of Medicine. Even though we didn't have anywhere else to go yet, it didn't feel right and we declined the opportunity.
Christina at the aquarium in Denver, February 2009
In March, we passed through Denver again, this time on the way to Des Moines, Iowa, and Kirksville, Missouri, for more medical school interviews. During the trip, we slipped over into Illinois to see the Mississippi river and briefly visit Nauvoo. This little detour meant we passed through eight states in a nearly-week-long road trip (Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas). The results of the road trip (no acceptances) were more frustrating (especially considering the declined acceptance at Rocky Vista), is was a good bonding time for Christina and I, and the closest thing to a vacation we've taken since being married.
Michael and Christina at the Mississippi River, March 2009
My final medical interview didn't happen until late April, which meant I didn't hold out much hope, figuring most spots had already been filled. It was at Midwestern University in Phoenix, Arizona. We again loaded up and took a road trip, visiting my SUU friend Jeff David during our stay. I felt the interview went well, but the school's response came slowly, which meant only one thing: the wait-list.
Seeing that I didn't have seat in any school in the fall, we found a new apartment in Blanding and settled in for a longer stay than originally expected. We got an offer to attend a Master's of Public Health program in Philadelphia, with a scholarship, and that tugged at our conscience for a while, but again, it just didn't feel right.
We spent July getting ready for McKay's big debut, which came right on schedule: July 20 at 12:37 a.m. (and after only 6 hours of labor for his Mommy). He gave us a little scare at first, coming out looking limp and blue with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and it took Dr. Curtis Black a very long minute or two to get the little bugger to scream (and since then, he hasn't stopped... just kidding!)
McKay, July 2009
Other than an unexpected move from the Blanding birthing center to the Monticello Hospital (space concerns, not medical reasons), all went well and we packaged up our little bundle and headed home on July 22. A quick check of the answering machine changed our plans again: Midwestern University had offered me a seat for the upcoming school year.
This decision wasn't as easy as most people expect. We had a lot to comprehend at that time. We had just moved, and just settled in for more time Blanding, and we had a brand new baby on our minds. Nonetheless, after some startling quick deliberations (we had 24 hours to make the decision), we jumped in with two feet and accepted the offer. Class started less than two weeks from that day.
A few days later we loaded our tiny baby into our tiny car and headed to Phoenix. We didn't get far -- just far enough to be stranded -- when the car quit. Two hours, a car ride with a stranger and an awkward call to my parents later, my amazing mom and dad showed up with a trailer and we loaded the car and headed back to Blanding.
We were able to get the car fixed, but we didn't make it back to Phoenix before school started. We followed a recommendation from some new-found friends and landed at the Canyon Ridge Apartments in Surprise, Arizona.
As time can often do, the months slowly dragged by very quickly, and I finished my first quarter. I was proud of my performance and enjoying medical school more than I expected too. Trips to Utah for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then to Idaho for the week after Christmas topped off an eventful 2009.
I am still enjoying school, Christina is still trying to love Phoenix, McKay is still growing faster than the national debt and Bella is still chasing a tennis ball like a river chases the ocean.
We are health and happy and waiting for all the excitement a new year may hold.
Happy 2010!
Michael winning us stuff!!
McKay playing
Ready for the beach!!
Crab bum!!
I'll just chew it open!
Ms. Nosey!! 
Snuggle puppy!!
Looks pretty good!! I think to myself.
This is hard work.
Pat, Pat, Pat
McKay even did some toe painting.
He even painted Bella, I guess she got to close to the table.
And he got mommy too. I guess thats what I get for trying to help.
McKay and Christina enjoying the warm weather. 
McKay meets his first calf, who actually seemed interested in meeting him. This was at the Phoenix Zoo. It seems weird for us to meet a calf at the zoo (zoo means lions and tigers and bears to me), but we were hiding from the rain in the barn and the calf was feeling friendly, so we snapped some cute pics!
Merry Christmas!
McKay in the snow. This is less than a week after the picture of McKay in the green grass. (notice the similarity in the pose)
McKay and Michael snowshoeing.
McKay all ready for his sled ride with Christina.
He spent the first stretch of the ride sitting up and taking in the sights, but at some point it got overwhelming, so...
McKay closed his eyes and enjoyed the ride in his sleep!
And, of course, snow means sledding!
