Graduation Pictures

First of all, I need to apologize to those who even really care about this blog for the giant lack of any pictures. I think I have just been so stressed with school and everything graduation that I haven't really thought about really taking the time that it takes to update this blog with pictures. And this blog has really become my journal, which is extremely evident, I'm sure. But, finally, here are some pictures!!! You will still have to read my words, if you wish, but at least there is something interesting to finally look at!

I was actually able to finish up most of my assignments, tests, and papers just before my parents came into town. They flew into Idaho Falls and I was able to take Michael and pick them up. It was so nice to be able to see them again. We always go too long before we're able to see them. We'll try and work on that!

Graduation day started with me attending my last day of classes (yes, classes were still held and assignments due on the DAY of graduation.) It was the beginning of the most stressful, busy, crazy, and tiring day of my life!

At 4:00 we went to the graduation Banquet. Here are some pictures of us there:

Nathan and I at the table waiting

My and Nathan with my mom and dad

After the dinner was over at 5:45, I had to race over to the Clark building where all the graduates were lining up for the "graduation march". Eventually we were able to finally get out of the heat and sit in the Hart auditorium for graduation. Too bad it was cooler outside than it was in the Hart building!! It was soo hot and I felt pretty bad for the speaker, Julie Beck. You could see from the screen that her top lip was totally shiny! She must have been soo sweaty and hot standing under all the lights and talking to the graduates. She did a good job, though.

I'm in here somewhere!!!

I was finally done in the Hart Auditorium at about 7:45 with another set of ceremonies to attend. This was the time that I would actually get a hold of my graduation cover. The problem? It was scheduled to start at 8:00 and was in a building on the other side of the campus.
Michael and I walking from the Auditorium to the Taylor building for Commencement

Finally it was all over at about 9:00 and I was able to start relaxing!!!

Can you tell Michael is about to fall apart from such a LONG and CRAZY day?
Me with my Diploma cover
My favorite part about this picture is Michael's face. I believe he's saying "cheese"
I'm so grateful that our children (if we are EVER allowed to have any more!) will be blessed with both parents having College Degrees!! And maybe even graduate degrees...we'll see...

The next day we all went up the temple to walk around it a bit and enjoy the reverence of the grounds.
And then on Sunday afternoon we went back up to campus to take pictures next to the buildings that we spent most of our time in at BYU-Idaho

Nathan and I both had commencement in the Taylor Chapel

The much needed picture in front of the sign

Nathan in front of the Spori building
Me in the Clark building entrance

These are just some random pictures of Michael that I found on our computer from the last month
I LOVE bathtime pictures!! Michael is the happiest in the bath

This was great! Nathan gave Michael a "snack bowl" and let him watch a movie. A few minutes later he turned around and Michael was OUT! Michael was fast asleep and Nathan was able to lift him up and carry him into his bed. He never even moved! I love it when that happens!

I also thought this picture was pretty cool. Michael loves, loves, LOVES his "Duddles"!!! This is a two in one bubble! Michael is starting to use the pedals on bikes!!! This is so fun and exciting to see him figure this out! He's been trying since last summer, but he's finally tall enough to reach them and still touch the pedals as they circle around!!! He gets caught going back words A LOT but he's making progress!! It's so fun being the mother of a young child!! I love it, I really do.

ETA:

My grades also came in and they weren't bad. They were better than I had thought in some classes and worse than I was hoping for. I got straight B's....So pretty good, but there was definitly one class that should have been an A and would have been but for a few short percentage points...oh well. At least I'm done!!!!!!!

Gratefullness

I actually did it!!! I can't believe it, but I did it! It was even a bit anti-climatic at the end. I think I had been stressing myself out by just thinking that the last 2 weeks of school were going to be stressful!!! I know realize that I had no need to stress that much!! I was able to complete each of my assignments about 2 or 3 days before they were due and I turned them in no problem. I don't have my grades just yet, but I'm thinking I did pretty well. Probably not as well as I had done the last few semesters, just becuase I wasn't taking any child development classes. I was taking boring psychology classes that were quite a bit more difficult than what I was used to. Still, though, I think I made it through with probably 1 C+ and 4 B's, with maybe one of them being an A. I hate it when it's on the borderline of being either an A or a B!! Hopefully I'll find out my official grades soon.

I have soo many people to thank for helping me through these last 6 1/2 years!!! The first being my husband, Nathan. He has been such a strength and support for me in the last 5 years! I honestly belive that I would NOT have done this if he hadn't believed in me so much! When we met, I was still pursuing Elementary Education but I did not have the Grade Point Average to be accepted into the program. I was spending all of my time trying to retake classes that I not taken seriously, all in hopes of raising my GPA. Finally he convinced me to just get on with my college career and finish up the basic classes. It was through his pushing in that area that I took my first Child Development class. It was just an introduction course, but I fell in love with it. Now, 2 years later, I have a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and am working for a wonderful program that is enabling me to continue learning about children and also allowing me to do what I had been trying to do for so long: Teach!

I also need to thank Michael. (I feel like I'm doing an acceptance speech or something!) He has done so well through all this!!! There were only a few times when I would have to tear him from my legs inorder to get to class on time. Seriously, maybe 10 times in 2 years!! Most of the time our routine would go like this:

Me: Bye Michael

Michael would run to me with his lips pursed and waiting for a kiss and a hug. I would lift him up and give him his kiss and hug, and then put him down.

Then, I would walk to the door all the while with him RIGHT behind me saying

"Dye, Mommy!" "Dye, Mommy!!" over and over again. (seriously, it was like one long sentence of 5 words one right after the other!)

As soon as the door was closed, he would have Nathan lift him up to the window to watch me get into the car. If Nathan wasn't available for that, he would run to the window facing the street to wait for the car to drive by.

Then when I would get home, if he wasn't napping, I would hear an immediate Mommy!!!! When the door would open. Then he would jump out of his chair (usually he would be eating lunch) and come running to me. Then the next 10 minutes would consist of:

Michael: Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.....until I would finally answer! Seriously, he can go on for minutes if I don't recognize him!

Me: What?! (kind of annoyed with the CONSTANT mommy's!)

Michael: HI!!!!

And then it would start all over again. Cute and funny, but quickly annoying!

Anyway, Michael has been such a great help to me in not showing any ill effects in my basically neglectful parenting (I know, I wasn't being neglectful, but I sure felt like it at some points!) He has always been so happy and such a blessing to me.

I also need to thank my parents and my In-laws. They were such a help and support to me as well. I know there were many prayers on Nathan, me, and Michael's behalf and those thoughts and prayers really supported me and pulled me through the hardest times. It was so great to talk on the phone or visit in person with them and to know that they really cared for me and my education. I appreciate their support and enjoy knowing they will continue to support me in anything I choose to do.

And last, but certainly not least, I need to thank our friends David, Val, and Claire LeMieux. I don't know how many times they got roped into watching Michael for us. Sometimes even last minute, but they were always sooo willing and able to watch him! Michael really loves going over to their house and he loves Claire! They play together so well most of the time and we feel so blessed to have had them as our neighbors! I'm secretly hoping they don't ever have to move!!!! I have enjoyed their company so much in the last year and a half and it has been so fun getting to know their family!! Val is one of my closest friends right now and I'm so grateful for her and her support. I don't know what I would have done without her near me in these last few years!

I also want to thank you all out in blog world for all the support and encouragement you all gave me!! I'm sure my blog has been quite boring while trying to finish up, with all the to-do lists and all! Don't worry. I'm not offended if you agree with me!

I'm just so grateful that I'm finally done and feel so blessed with the opportunity to have a college degree!!!

Nathan's Graduation Slideshow

Here is a slide show of Nathan's graduation pictures. I feel horrible that it has taken 5 months to get them up here, but at least I finally did it!! This was such a fun and busy night. It was soo great to get see Nathan down with all the other graduates and finally see the proof that the past 3 years were well worth it!! Way to go, Nathan!! We're so proud of you!!!!