A Day for Celebration!

 

We did it!  

 Apparently the ceremony was a tiny bit boring for these three!  They had to entertain themselves somehow!

 

This is my good friend Jimmy.  We did the whole program together, he teaches fourth grade in another school district and is an outstanding teacher.  We mentored each other through the whole thesis process.  His wife is the one who decorated our cars on the last night of class.

 

Tim surprised me with a party after the ceremony.  I thought we were going out for a family dinner, but I came home to co-workers and friends.  What a fun night!

 

Another chapter completed!  

If you would have asked me a few years ago if I was going to pursue further education, the answer would have been a definite "No"! I was content staying home with my babies and being a mom.  But plans change, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn, now that it is complete!  I am definitely walking away a much better teacher!  And yes, I am going to pursue further education at this point.  Not for a few years, but I do plan to go through another graduation and eventually complete my Ph.D.  Yikes!!!!  It is even scary to admit that.

Done!

On April 21st we officially completed our Master's Degree!  It was a bitter-sweet night as we met for the last time as a class.  There were 18 of us that endured the whole two years together and what friendships we made.  I, for one, am definitely walking away a better teacher with many friends whom I dearly treasure.

 

A spouse of one of my classmates decorated our cars in honor of the big night!

 

 

Of course we had to go out and celebrate! 

 

Lori and Laurie!

 

And, here she is!!!  Waiting to be bound, handed-in, and graded. That's a lot of trees!  Professors should really take that into consideration when assigning these outrageous assignments!

This is an A paper, my grade came in the mail today!!!!!  Now it is really official.  Tonight was the first Thursday in a very long time that I did not sit in class, but was a normal person.  I came home from school, did laundry, cooked dinner, laid on the couch with my husband and watched TV!  Wow, so this is what it feels like to relax and not have to feel guilty that I'm not reading a textbook and getting started on my next assignment, I LOVE it!!!!!

They Just Kept Multiplying...

 

We are Almost Back!!!!

 

Two more weeks before my Thesis is due, and then we are going to be back in business!  I can be a normal person and possibly enjoy some of the things I have had to neglect for way too long!  My apologies for neglecting our blog and you missing out on our winter adventures.  Here are a few highlights to get started...

Our family enjoyed a ski trip to Seven Springs Resort in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago.  It rained most of the day which was a big bumber, but hey, they made memories together while my laptop and I had a hot date in the lodge.  Needless to say, they were drowned rats after a couple of hours, we left early!

 

Dallin turned 12!!!!!  How can that be?

 

My beautiful princesses were escorted to the Princess Ball by their father!

 

Brent and Annie came for Dallin's Priesthood ordination.  Annie was able to experience snow for the first time, she wasn't impressed!

 

Dallin received the Priesthood.  What a handsome Deacon he is!

 

What an important day! 

 

Brent made a new friend!  

It  was so wonderful to have him here to be part of Dallin's ordination circle.  Thanks for all the sacrifices that were made to be here!  And I got to spend some quality time with my little Annie.

Many more memories to come, I promise!!

I just have to get through these next two weeks and I am home free!  My Thesis is due next Thursday and I defend it on April 21st............The light is finally at the end of the tunnel, we are going to make it!!!!!

Hugs and love and kisses to you all!

Warm and Cozy...

As Taylor and I were leaving at 5:40 this morning for seminary, the phone rang.  It was our school informing us that school was canceled due to the frigid temperatures outside.  What a pleasant phone call!  So we went to seminary and then came home to share the good news with everyone else!  The girls have bundled up in Nana's blankets on the couches for the majority of the day while our furnace has run  non-stop!

 

I love these days!

 

This one is for mom!  You would be so proud of her!

 

And this is our newest member of the family!  I didn't want a puppy, but trained labs are toooooo expensive!  On the way home his name was Duke, then Carley changed it to Spook because he sneaks up on her and scares her to death.  I just yell "puppy" as he chews or tries to escape to the carpet.  Poor little guy is going to be so confused when it is all said and done.  He may never have a name!  He is inside right now until the temperatures get a little warmer.  He is training nicely and is only allowed on the tile, so far, so good!

 

He is a great help in the kitchen, unless they are clean dishes!

 

And he has grown so much since we brought him home.

 

This little guy has big shoes to fill!  But he is growing on us.

 

Love you Kodi!!!

Freeeezing!!!

 

It is absolutely frigid here!  We wanted to go skiing on Saturday, but 2 degrees is just a little ridiculous!  So we hunkered up indoors and drove each other crazy instead!

Christmas Highlights

 

Since it was exactly one week before Christmas, we decided we better carve out some time to go get a Christmas tree.  We bundled up and headed for StoryLand Christmas Tree Farm.

 

It didn't take long to find the one!

 

What a transformation!  Ready and waiting for Santa!

 

Christmas morning!  They were up at 6:00am, but let us sleep a little longer.

 

She sat on Santa's lap and told him she wanted Kit Kitteridge.  When Santa asked, "Do you want anything else?"  her reply was, "No, just Kit."  Wow!  Easy job for Santa this year!  He made her dreams come true.  Now she wants to travel to one of the American Girl Doll stores.  We will have to see about that!

 

Cousin Time!

The girls spent the week after Christmas with us.  We went roller-skating, sledding in the woods, to the matinee, and had many late-late nights.  But that is what Christmas vacation is all about!

 

This gem is all he wanted for Christmas.  They are out on the driveway target practicing.

 

Pretty good for his first day!  Mine would have ended up in the woods or up in the trees! 

We  hope each of you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year celebration.  Here's to 2011!!!!!  We are headed back to school tomorrow and lesson plans are not even sketched-in!  YIKES!!!  It has been such a relaxing vacation, but the time has come to jump head-first back into the routine...so here we go.

Love you!!!