Con-GRADUATION!

This weekend was amazing! It all started last week on Monday, when Nam arrived. She came to my classroom and made the most adorable quilt with my kids. My kids still ask, "Is Nam coming back??" :) Everyone else started arriving Thursday and others on Friday. Thursday, my dad, Becky, Kait, Jayson, Granny, Papa and I went to The Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner. To me, there is nothing in the world better than family, so I was THRILLED to see everyone!!

I feel very lucky to have had the day off on Friday (thanks to my principal - so nice!) for graduation. I walked in the convocation for the McKay School of Education. I wasn't too excited about graduation, but I am SO glad that I did it. It was great to really realize that graduating from college is an accomplishment that I worked hard to achieve. It feels great to have that VERY long-term goal under my belt! The ceremony really was fun. It was also fun to see all the girls from my cohorts at BYU. :)

That night, we all (all 17 of us) went to the Macaroni Grill to celebrate. Thank you to ALL of you who were there!! I love you all - Dad, Becky, Kaitlyn, Jayson, Karley, Kameron, Auntie, Uncle Kent, Granny, Papa, Nam, Lisa, Grandma Bryson, and my sweet hubby Bryson. :) AND, even though we were all STUFFED after dinner, we still managed to squeeze in a little Farr's Frozen Yogurt. :)

In between all of the celebrating, I had interviews at schools for next year. Nam helped me on Friday and drove me all around Spanish Fork, Salem and Payson to elementary school after elementary school so I could turn in my resume. Whenever someone would say, "Congratulations on graduating," I would say, "Thanks! But the REAL celebration will start when I get a job for next year." :) I am very hopeful and excited about the possibility of teaching next year. My DREAM would be 2nd grade again!

On Monday, Granny, Papa and Auntie all came down to my school for the morning. Papa did his magic tricks, and surely had a captive audience as they "ooh-ed" and "ahh-ed" over his magic tricks. Granny and Auntie gave the kids their class shirts that Uncle Dickie made for them. They absolutely loved the shirts! I'm telling you, if you are in need of an ego-boost, come down to my 2nd grade class - kids really do know how to make you feel like a rock star. :) They LOVED Granny, Papa and Auntie. :)

Monday evening, Karley graduated from the Utah College of Dental Hygeine! It was SO great to watch her with her little purple tassel. She has worked SO hard the last 2 years and I am so proud of her. It was neat for Kaitlyn to be there, since she will start attending UCDH next week. I am so excited for both Kait and Kar! Congratulations, Karkar!! :)

After Kar's graduation, we all headed up to Provo Canyon and had a bonfire. Auntie did such a great job of decorating with Christmas lights and with the food. We roasted hotdogs and marshmallows, and I even learned how to make a banana boat from Uncle Kent! Delicious! :) We all had a great time! Bryson and I decided that we want to go back with some friends and have a bonfire, because it really was SO fun! Good idea, Kar!

Since then, almost everyone has left. The Jorgensens are still out here for awhile, and Auntie and Kamron came back down to my classroom this morning. It wasn't too hard to say goodbye to my family this time, because I know that we will be in Colorado in less than a month! :)

Really, life is WONDERFUL! Thanks for such a fantastic weekend!! :)