Road Trip to Michigan

Catherine and I realized that it might be the only weekend that we could head to Royal Oaks, Michigan to check out neighborhoods for our move this spring. In that spirit, I loaded up my 35 week pregnant wife and 21 month daughter into the Corrolla and started off on a 375 mile drive around Lake Michigan.

After 200 miles, we hit some bad weather. The snow wasn't coming down hard, but the roads were slick!! We saw semi's jack knifed and trucks flipped over. I looked at my beautifully pregnant wife and daughter and pulled off at the first hotel.

The ECONO Lodge in Paw Paw, Michigan is a keeper. Just one tip- they don't have pack-n-plays. Therefore Elizabeth slept with Mom and Dad in the king sized bed. She was excited and let us know it.... every 20 seconds...... that she was getting to sleep with "Momma" and "Dadda"....... throughout the entire night (it seemed!). Somehow, we awoke the next morning and made it safely to Royal Oaks the next morning.

One of the best parts of the trip was spending time with Carmen and Alan Hillstead. It was great hanging out with them and their two boys, Dallin and Peyton. Thank you for letting us stay with you! Carmen makes some pretty mean tacos!

We spent two days driving around the area, checking out neighborhoods, meeting with realestate and mortgage agents, and becoming aquainted with our soon to be new home. Catherine's mother called and let us know that she just read an article naming Detroit as the worst / least desirable areas to live in the nation! Although southeast Michigan is being ravaged economically, we found the area about Royal Oaks quaint and lovely. Catherine and I are looking forward to our next phase of life there.

William Beaumont- Royal Oaks, Michigan- Here we come!!!

Catherine, Elizabeth, and I will be moving to Royal Oaks, Michigan this June. I matched into an ophthalmology residency program at William Beaumont! We will be living there for at least the next four years. With a little boy coming near the end of February and looking to start residency, we are excited to start a new phase of life.

Good News too! Detroit is warmer than Milwaukee! By 4 degrees!

Milwaukee, WI
Mean 18° 24° 34° 44° 55° 65° 71° 68° 62° 50° 38° 24°

Detroit, MI
Mean 25° 27° 37° 48° 60° 68° 74° 72° 65° 54° 42° 30°

Ophthalmology Residency Interviews

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Here are the places that we've heard from so far! We're very excited and are glad that we have a shot!

BOY OH BOY are we excited!!!

We are having a BOY! This little guy will join us around March 5th.
I will give an update on the comings and goings of September in another post.

Pics from Utah: July/August

It's been a long time comeing... Here are some pics from when we were in Utah. We had a fabulous time visiting with family and friends. After looking through the pictures I have realized that we did not take enough! We will make up for it next trip!!!

Elizabeth's new friend

At Catherine's parents, they have a big stuffed polar bear that has become Elizabeth;s best new friend. Catherine says that she laughs and runs over to the bear and gives him a hug every time she comes into the room.

I miss my girls and am looking forward to joining them in SLC this Saturday.

Elizabeth Scalley Lever