Graduation!!

I DID IT!! ITS OFFICIAL!! I GRADUATED!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!! I can now proudly say I have my masters in reading!!! YEA!!

Aren't these tulips beautiful? Meg, Bill and Linda sent them to me. I love them!! Thanks again guys!!

I didn't want to participate in walking across the stage. Been there done that....didn't feel the need to do it again. It isn't the same. I didn't know anyone else graduating with me. So its not like I would be cheering friends on too. Plus it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon so Matt would have to take off work and the boys would have to miss preschool. Which they would have gladly done if it had mattered to me. But I figured in a big crowd they wouldn't see me anyway. So my idea (which is WAY more fun) is that I wanted to walk across Coldstone instead. But then I started boot camp earlier this week and that didn't seem like a good idea anymore. I did not get up at 5:30 AM for three mornings this week to ruin it all with a really super yummy delicious ice cream snack. *drool* What I did for real was go out to eat with my family.

Larry (Matt's dad), Josh, Zach, me, Matt, Ronna (Matt's mom) and Alex all went to Red Lobster to celebrate. And to answer the two questions you may have: No Ronna and I didn't color coordinate. It just worked out that way. Great minds think alike right? And Josh and Alex have bears with them because they have the Adventure Bear this weekend from their preschool. They have to take this bear everywhere and then write about (I do that part) what they did all weekend. Cute idea...but Alex's class has some MAJOR mom overachievers!! His little book looks like a scrap-booking event took place. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE being creative but this seems a little much. Especially when Josh and Zach both had moms or dads writing a sentence or 2 and the kids drew a picture. Which personally is way cuter. I love seeing kids drawings! And aren't the kids supposed to be doing this? Anyway...back to my graduation....

I ordered a yummy, delicious margarita. A boot camp no-no- but how many times do I graduate? I guess this is technically my third graduation...but its my LAST graduation!! I felt a little guilty since our boot camp instructor was all like "NO POP! NO ALCOHOL! NO EATING OUT- for a whole week." But like I said it was MY GRADUATION!! Plus I ordered the small one. Its all about compromise. Right? And after a few sips all the guilt melted away.

We ate lots of delicious shrimp. It was so great to celebrate with my family. Without Ronna and Larry I wouldn't have gotten through my masters program. They baby sat while I had class sometimes. Plus they took the boys while I worked on my comps- and brought me chocolate and donuts to make it a little better. Ronna and Larry you guys ROCK!! Thanks so much for all your help!!

My graduation was all that I wanted it to be. To spend it with the people I love, eat a ton of shrimp, and not have to cook!! Plus all the "atta girl" I have gotten from my friends! It was perfect!!

Day 7 of Seven Days

Seven Days has come to an end and I have to admit I am a little sad. To be honest when Bethany, Joe and Kassie first told me about this cool photo project, I thought they were a little weird to want to take a picture of themselves for seven days in a row. And who would want to see it if I did? It sounded really vain to me. But as I got into the project it isn't like that at all. Kassie explained it BEAUTIFULLY and pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. If you are interested read here to see how cool 7 days really is. (Hope its ok I am stealing your awesome words Kassie). Its like peeking into someones life for 7 days in a creative way, not to mention documenting your own.

Here is my 7 of 7 days shot:

It is me checking our mail at the mailbox. I am anxiously awaiting a letter to see if I passed my comprehensive exams (comps). Still not here yet so that is why I am sad. I hope it comes soon because the longer I am waiting the more I am convincing myself that I didn't pass!! I am going to have a nervous breakdown soon if I don't get this letter!! :) nah- not really- but SHESH come already!!

This morning was super cool because my friend Erica and her two adorable kids came over to play. Erica and I taught first grade together at Bancroft and became friends. We always have a nice time together, but today was extra cool because our kids (minus Gloria because she is still a baby) actually played together instead of around each other.

The trains were a huge hit! As was playing outside, but didn't get around to taking pictures of that.

And even if Gloria didn't play with the boys, the boys enjoyed having her around. She is so cute!! All smiles!!

I wanted to get all the kids lined up on the couch but somehow the morning got away from us, so this is the best I got! I also wanted to do my seven days shot but forgot about it with all the fun going on around me. :) It was great hanging out with friends that morning!! Can't wait til we get together again!!

Nothing to Report...but Blogging Anyway

So not much has been going on with us lately. But I feel like writing a blog so that is what I am going to do.

I have turned in my comps. What a relief that is!! When I turned them in two professors and one secretary cheered and clapped for me. It was a little embarrassing but cool. Now I wait to see if I pass. UGH! I HATE waiting!!

Nothing going on with the house. We had a ton of people coming through a couple of weeks ago and now it has really slowed down. Matt and I saw a few episodes on HGTV about staging your house to sell. That was a mistake. It freaked me out more than it helped. I called our realtor to see if we should paint, remove furniture, take down all pictures, etc. He assured me that our house was fine and we just need to find the right person. So now we wait. UGH I HATE waiting!! Did I mention that before?

My class at UNO is good. I am finding it really interesting. So that is good. Only 5 more classes to go and I am DONE! (assuming I pass my comps that is...waiting to find out. Maybe I should have titled this blog Waiting!...but I hate waiting so that is a yucky title for me)

I have also started to apply for jobs this fall. This is NOT a fun process! All the forms and paperwork to fill out. Plus writing a resume and cover letters. These are all things I have never done before. When I graduated from college we had this portfolio that we sent out to apply for a job. This time....I do it the real world way I guess. I found a job that would be my dream job....but don't want to jinx it too much by writing about it. So I am waiting, AGAIN, to hear from them. But they are probably waiting on my resume and cover letter. :) hahaha For someone who doesn't have a memory, it is VERY hard to list a history of what I have done!!

The boys are good. Matt is good. I am good. All is well. hmmm....I just realized this is my first post that I haven't added any pictures!! Interesting....

Unbalanced

I feel like I haven't blogged in quite a while. For some reason I feel really unbalanced this month. I just can't seem to get my barrings. Is anyone else feeling that way? I don't know if it is because of the endless snow days we had or what. I just thought after Christmas life would calm down and get back to normal. Whatever that is. :) January is already half way over and I don't know where it went. Sure, time passes quickly sometimes, but not usually this fast for me. I wonder why, but then when I think about all that is going on right now, its no wonder I am feeling so unbalanced!!

Its official- our house is for sale!

I am trying to not think about all the what ifs - like what if it doesn't sell? What if it does sell? etc., -and just go with the flow. I keep telling myself what is meant to be will be. I have stopped looking at other houses because I become too attached. Until this house sells it doesn't matter how good of a deal it is or how perfect the house is. It is also really hard to keep a house "show" ready with 3 five year olds. I am not a messy person, but man its hard keeping things perfectly clean and decluttered. I am stressing about things that normally I wouldn't give a second thought to. We did have our first house showing this week. So that was exciting. At least we are moving in the right direction. Hopefully!

I also started my LAST class in my masters program. I saved an "easy" one for last- Language Arts. Keep in mind its not exactly easy, as its still a masters course, but it wont do me in like research about did. In fact, last class we went over what makes a research article. I could have taught that lesson! :) Plus the professor brought in Eileen's Cookies. So it was off to a good start. Until we went over the syllabus. Hmmm...a little more work than I thought it was going to be...but still doable. I get my comps (comprehensive exam) on Wednesday and then I believe I will have entered "Comps Hell." :) I have 5 weeks to get that exam done and then I can worry if I passed. If I don't pass I don't get my masters.

Each of those things don't seem too stressful, but when you put those together and then add my normal life to it, I guess I can see why I feel unbalanced. So what have I been doing to destress? Eating. So then that stressed me out. Every morning I would wake up and be happily surprised that my pants still fit. Well, this past week or so my pants are tight now. And now I am stressed about that. :) hahaha. So I have added going back to the gym and getting my routine down again. And am feeling better about that.

I also have been crocheting like a maniac. It is very zen like for me. I crocheted some cupcakes. These don't have any calories! :)

I made Alex a blanket.

And I made Zach a blanket.

Today I am going to start on Josh's blanket. After that, I will probably feel lost as to what to do next. Although I did find this cute little alien pattern to do. But then again, hopefully I will be busy moving and doing my comps.

I think that this year might be hard for me. I don't do well with change. No matter if its good or bad- change is hard for me. This is going to be a YEAR of change! This year we are moving (hopefully), I am getting my masters (expectedly), the boys start Kindergarten (definitely), and I go back to work (possibly). I just hope I don't feel unbalanced this entire year! eek!