Yea! He's done!

John graduated with his Master's degree on May 6th, 2011.  We are so excited that he is done and we can have our Dad/Husband back.  John was asked to only bring 4 people with him (which in my opinion is totally lame--most of those getting their master's degrees are married, so if they invite both sets of parents or their children they are already over the 4 seats. I know why they do it, but still...) Thankfully we didn't have to have tickets, so we invited both sets of our parents. :)  We left the kids home (except Lindey) with John's brother and sister-in-law. 

John's mom is a huge BYU fan and was threatening to wear her BYU Blue to graduation.  John told her she better not, but she got some blue in anyways on her necklace. LOL 



Mom's true feelings about the University of Utah



John and his parents



John and I (Lindey is in the sling)

John's graduation was held in Kingsbury Hall.  This was the first time my dad had seen Lindey, so he snatched her from me and held her through the graduation.

Have I said recently how much I love the zoom on my camera??  I was able to get this shot of John from clear up in the balcony where we were sitting. (Melinda is next to him) Pretty amazing! :)

We had to laugh at the speaker for the graduation.  He kept looking down at his papers and his tassel would fall into his face and his cap would slide forward on his head.  He kept pushing the cap back, and tucking the tassell behind his ear or throwing it over the top of his cap.  By the end of his talk he had taken his cap off.  I don't really remember what he talked about.  I think everyone was too entertained watching his tassel to pay attention to what he was saying. LOL

Recieving his diploma

John and Melinda--the graduates. (yea!)

John bought a couple of "Stohls of Appreciation" with his cap and gown for his mom and dad and me.  He wrote thank you messages to us on them and then gave them to us to wear after he graduated.

Me and my hubby--so proud of him!

John, Lindey, and I

Daddy and his little lady--isn't she so cute in her U of U red??

Congratulations sweetheart!  I am so proud of all the hard work you did to get here.  Thanks for being the amazing man that you are. :)  Hugs and kisses!

We've escaped!

For a couple of days at least. :)  John's big Praxis test he has to take for his Administrative Master's Program is this morning (It starts in about 10 minutes--good luck honey!).  So we originally were going to make a family weekend out of it, but that didn't work out so well when we couldn't find a place with a room that would allow all of us to stay for less than it cost for John to take his test ($400!).  The kids are still a little small to have some in their own room away from us, although Ian would probally tell you otherwise. :)  Our plan B was to farm the kids out to two or three families in town, as 5 kids is a lot to add for 2 or 3 days.  When our good friend offered to come stay with her daughter at our house for the weekend so the kids could be in their own environment, we were a little shocked, but extrememly grateful. (Thanks Cindy and Kelsey!)  So plan C it was. We feel very blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends who are willing to help us out.  The kids are in good hands.  When I called to talk to Cindy last night, I asked her how the kids were being, and she said, "They are so good they are a little boring!"  We'll take that as a compliment.  I'm glad the kids are behaving. :)  Makes me feel like I'm doing something right in raising those five little hoodlums! 
  I can't remember the last time that John and I have been away from all the kids for more than one night without it being my mom taking the kids for a week because we have a new baby, or taking the baby with us and leaving the rest of the kids.  It seems like there is always at least one in tow.  We were talking about that on the way up and I honestly think it was when Ian was 9 months old and we left him with my Aunt Bonnie in St. George (we lived in Cedar City at the time) and we went away for a couple of nights for our Anniversary.  That was 10 years ago! LOL  We've enjoyed our time away so far--although we haven't done much but get lost on the U of U campus (trying to find the Guest House where we are staying and the Education Building where the test is held) and go to dinner.  John and Melinda (the 4th grade teacher/principal who is in the Master's program with John) spent last evening studying a little and we visited.  So, when their test gets out at noon we may go see a few things--temple square, find Morgan's baptism dress since we are down to the wire there, and just enjoying our quiet time away from the children.
  I'm going to spend my morning scrapbooking--I know shocking huh?  I brought a project with me I can get almost complete. :)  I've got to do something to pass the next 4 1/2 hours by myself. LOL  It might be nice to work on something without being interrupted with daily life for a few minutes!  I"m looking forward to it! :)