Chris's First Day & Back to School at the Mall

August 23rd was Chris's first day of dental school! The 23rd and 24th were orientation days. His first day of real classes was August 27th. Orientation was long from what I understand. They talked a lot about safety, which was huge. A dental student was shot in the stomach last year because he wouldn't give his iPhone to a juvenile. They were taught to not talk on their phone while walking around the school. Don't give anyone money and don't be nice or apologize when you say "no." Don't check your watch if someone asks you for the time. Pretty much just be on alert ALL the time. Last week there was a murder a couple blocks from his school. It happened at 2am, though, so the hours when Chris is going to and from school are much safer. Anyway, here is Chris on his first day as a dental student!!

I am so proud of him. He has been doing so well. He found out today that is the only one in his class that has kids. During lecture today his professor asked if anyone had kids. Chris was the only one to raise his hand. Where much is given, much is required I suppose! He wakes up at 5am and runs/exercises. He makes himself a breakfast and a lunch, takes a vitamin, reads, spends time with Matthew, and then heads out to the shuttle from our complex that takes him to the train station around 7:10am. His train ride is about 15 minutes and then he walks to campus. He is there until 5:00ish on most days and is home by 5:30. Then he spends time with the family until 8:00, when he starts studying again. Saturdays are spent studying as well, but Chris usually takes 2-3 hours out of the day to spend with us. Sundays he takes off until after the kids go to sleep, then he studies more. It's been 2 weeks and his routine seems to be getting quite solid!

The Saturday before school officially started we went to the Neshaminy Mall for a Kids Day. There were tons of booths and giveaways. It was pretty fun. We'd never been to that mall before. It's no Cherry Hill mall, but it's nicer than Franklin Mills which is the closest one to us. Aaron shot a nerf gun at a booth and hit the Target, so he won $5! He was so proud. We let him use it to ride this silly little ride in the mall.