One Down, Three to Go

We had what Mike and I called a "parental payday" this past week as we got to see Karen get her bachelor's degree in nursing from BYU.  The last time she attended a BYU graduation, she was underneath my gown, in utero and ready to make her appearance in less than three months.  Needless to say, time has flown, and she is now a grown-up, articulate capable woman who will be a great nurse.  I'm excited to watch her and Andrew as they move forward to the next phase of their lives--JOBS (we hope!).

We were doubly excited that Andrew and Karen got to walk together in Karen's convocation.  That's right:  Andrew was getting his master's, and he wanted to walk with Karen in the nursing convocation and be awarded his master's there.  Now if that's not love, I don't know what is.  I am amazed at how quickly I have come to love Andrew like a son.  I certainly don't feel the same accomplishment of having raised him, but I do love him just like a son and feel so proud of him.  I'll have to admit to getting more than a little teary when I watched the two of them walk in together.  Can't imagine how I'll feel when the last of my kids (and or kids-in-law) makes the trek down the graduation aisle.  One down, three to go. . .

We also got to see Rachel while we were in Utah and even got to bring her home with us.  She is just here for a week because she starts her job at Aspen Grove on May 4th, but we are grateful to have her home for even a short while.  She is busily working away on a couple of independent study classes she needs to get into the accounting program, but we steal her away for some fun every once in a while.  She is so close with both of her brothers, and it is fun to hear the three of them laughing and having fun together (even if it does make me miss Karen and Andrew a little more than usual).

Matt had fun at prom and all of the other activities on Saturday.  Since Matt is on Student Council, Mike (and Adam) got to help with set-up in the morning.  Mike also got to go back that night and help pour water and check tuxedo jackets in and out of the coat check.  I probably should have been there too, but I had just gotten back into town a couple of hours before and was exhausted.  (Mike came back on Friday night.)

I've learned that there are times as a parent when you see your kids growing up and your breath just gets taken away.  How in the world did my little baby boy grow up to be this handsome young man so quickly?!  He will leave me too soon, and I'll still be trying to catch my breath.  However, I am grateful for the whole maturing process and feel privileged that I've been able to watch two of my children leave the nest and succeed and suspect that Matt will enjoy the next phase of his life as well.  I'm just glad he still has his senior year here at home.

On a less philosophical note, it's always fun to see the boys get cleaned up and into tuxes and the girls all glammed up in their evening wear.  Matt and his date went with a big group, and they were quite an attractive bunch, if I may be so bold as to brag a little.  The boys' transformation always stuns me the most because these are kids that Matt plays soccer with and goofs off with regularly.  The soccer kids look dramatically different when they're not all sweaty and grass-stained.  Seriously, sometimes I have to look twice to make sure I know whom I'm looking at.

Last, here is one final picture of the group to enjoy.  They are a smart-looking bunch, no? 

We're ba-ack. . .

. . . to the world of blogging (and technology), that is.  My love/hate relationship with computers turned to 99 % hate and 1% love about two and a half weeks ago.  We've been having some irritating but manageable computer glitches for months now, but recently, the problems escalated exponentially.  Mike was spending hours and hours and hours trying to get the stupid thing fixed.  It would work for a day or two, then explode with viruses, malware, and whatever heinous thing those malicious computer hacker losers could come up with.  Seriously, people, what's the point?  I'm reminded of the disgust I feel whenever I drive by some graffitied public property.  There must be some feeling of victory for vandals and computer hackers, but the whole mindset befuddles and escapes me. 

Anyway, after one particularly infuriating computer debugging session, Mike decided to go buy a new computer and printer.  "It's my birthday soon.  Let's just consider this my birthday present and call it good."  At that point, I simply wanted a functioning computer, so I agreed.  I'll have to admit that it did make birthday shopping quite a bit easier.

When I last blogged, I was anticipating the next night's national championship game between Duke and Butler.  Oh, how hopeful I was!  I know the source of Adam's love of the Blue Devils, though I still think his obsession has far outstripped mine.  To say that we were excited about their victory is a wee bit of an understatement.  Adam was alive for their 2001 championship but not cognizant enough to care.  This year he was over-the-moon excited and fully engaged in all of the hoopla (pun intended).

We, of course, had our annual party again, and I explained to him beforehand that he had to try and control himself, and he did. . . for the most part.  There was one time when I was sitting at the nook table with Mike's cousin, half-watching the game and half-talking to her when Adam leaped off of the arm of the couch and nearly hit his head on the ceiling.  Mike's cousin's eyes got big, and I think all she said was, "Wow!"  (Since her husband loves the Denver Broncos with a similar intensity, she did mention that she had seen such displays before.  However, I suspect she was just being nice.)

I told my family before the tournament started that if Duke won the national championship that I would buy everyone some celebratory t-shirts.  I really didn't think they had much of a shot this year, but I was thrilled to make good on my promise.  When the t-shirts and hat came, I lined them up on the couch so Adam could see them when he came home from track practice.  The look on his face and the screams of delight when he came home were priceless.

On a side note, I also discovered how smart my son-in-law was as a direct result of Duke's success in the tournament.  Andrew (and Karen and Rachel) were at a Utah family gathering at Mike's Aunt Diane's house.  One of my brothers-in-law was talking about the tournament and happened to ask Andrew, "Do you even like Duke?"  His quick and brilliant response?  "I do now."  Just another reason to love my son-in-law. . . .  I always knew he was smart, and this just confirmed it.

Speaking of my son-in-law, he and Karen both graduated on Friday--Karen with her bachelor's in nursing and Andrew with a master's in biology.  Tomorrow I'll blog about that and Matt's prom experience.  (I'm guessing everyone's tired of reading by now.) 

Tonight I'll close with a picture or two of Mike on his 45th birthday.  As a kid I hated when my birthday fell on a Sunday.  Now when Mike or I have a birthday on Sunday, it feels like a gift.  Mike even had minimal meetings today, so we got to take a nap and have lots of family time.  That, to me, is the perfect day.

I am grateful for Mike and feel "lucky" to be married to him.  (Family joke.)  He is one of the most selfless people I know.  He always thinks of others before himself, a trait that, to this day, still blows my mind.  What also surprises me is how the candles seem to have multiplied so fast.  As Rachel noted, "Dad, you're only three candles away from being a three-boxer."  (Didn't candles used to come in packs of 36?!  That would make me feel way younger since I'm precariously closing to needing that third box of candles as well.)  Anyway, I love my husband and was glad we could celebrate him today.  I'll blog some more tomorrow.  

My Bracket is Busted. . .

. . . and I couldn't be happier.  I'll admit that I went against my heart and actually picked Kentucky to win the NCAA tournament, but I am thrilled to be wrong.  Duke is playing for the national championship tomorrow night, and I'm almost as excited as I am on Christmas Eve. 

I know the world loves to hate the Blue Devils, but I have been a fan for a couple of decades now.  I just love the way they play as a team and how Coach Kzryzewski gets the most out of just about every single player who comes through the program.  No, they don't have a superstar this year, but they do have a bunch of guys who have bought into the idea of team and who play tenacious defense and hit the boards.  They also execute the offense with precision and discipline.  I just love to watch them play.  Of course, if Butler were to win, it would be a pretty cool Cinderella story. . . but I hope the slipper doesn't fit tomorrow night.

I also love to watch General Conference twice a year.  It seems like a gift to just sit in the comfort of my home and feel inspired and taught.  There seemed to be a running theme through all the sessions of Conference of improving parenting, and I came away with renewed resolve to be a better mother and to grab every chance I get to teach my children.  I hope it's not too late. . .

It's also neat when Easter falls on Conference weekend.  The confluence of those events reminds me of what's important in life, and I feel more grateful than ever for the plan of happiness and for the part that the Atonement plays in that plan.  As I listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing that glorious hymn, "He is Risen," I felt to exult right along with them.

Mike and I are getting to be old and stodgy and actually forgot about the "fun" parts of Easter this year.  We usually give the kids a combined Easter basket on Saturday, and both of us just completely spaced it.  Fortunately, Mike ran to the store and got some stuff to give to the boys on Saturday night.  He also got an Easter egg coloring kit, and we had fun being artistic today.  No Easter egg hunt this year, but it was fun to sit around and color together.

In other news, Matt has started spring club soccer, and his team is starting to come together.  They went to a tournament in Las Vegas and were kind of manhandled, but they have played since then and managed to tie the best team in the valley.  That was super fun to watch.  I'll be even more excited to watch his games when spring arrives (and stays!) in the Treasure Valley.  We had spring break and snow this week--AWESOME!

The girls are doing well in Provo. Karen graduates in less than three weeks, and Andrew is on his way to Oregon tomorrow for a teacher's fair.  He hopes to find a teaching position in Salem.  Rachel is going to stay in Utah for the summer and work at Aspen Grove, as well as take a couple of classes she needs for her accounting major.  Yup, you heard it here!  She's back to accounting.  We'll see if it sticks this time.  I predict it will.

Oh, and just in  case any of you thought I was nuts about Blue Devil basketball, there is at least one person IN THIS VERY HOUSE who is even more obsessed about the Dukies than I am.  If he can even fall asleep tonight, it will be a miracle.  I think he is more excited for tomorrow night than he is for Christmas.  I hope they win. . . just for Adam's sake, of course.