!!Con"Graduations"!!

The excitement for this trip is what got me through this last year-- pushing to finish independent study courses and making it through my first trimester of sickness! It was fabulous, everything I had expected!

Here is a tid-bit of what Dan wrote and sent out to several news papers in Utah (which was picked up by The Daily Universe):

"My wife, her mother and her sister will all be graduating from the BYU College of Family Life with a B.S. in Marriage, Family and Human Development this April. While it is extremely unique to have three family members graduate at the same time and in the same program I am sure it is much more unique for it to be a mother and her daughters, especially ones who have each worked hard for a long time to graduate..."

So, Dan and I left Jacob and Tess with his sister in Virginia and spent 3 full fabulous days in Provo celebrating!

We arrived late Tuesday night and were greeted by my mom and brother, Ken came all the way from CHINA just for me (well mostly for my mom :).

On Wednesday we spent the morning at the Missionary Training Center with my parents. This is their third mission together and the start of their third year at the MTC. Though I cried when Dad told me in December that they were asked to stay for another 2 year mission, I am truly happy for them and SOOO proud of them. I couldn't resist making them pose for this picture.

After a yummy meal in the cafeteria Mom, my sister Lizzie, Dan and I picked up our graduation costume and then hit the mall to find me a graduation dress and comfy shoes. (Dan was so good to me this trip, it was truly all about me!) Then Wednesday night all my Utah family came up to the house to enjoy the scrumptious dinner made at my request (truly complete with rice krispy treats for dessert and the fun suprise of another unexpected brother!!).

Thursday morning we decided to go to the temple. I am so grateful to have all my family members endowed! After a quick lunch we got ready and headed out the door for commencement! It was SOOO fun to wait in line, walk in line, and just be goofy and happy with my sister and mom. During the processional in we wore 2009 HOT PINK glasses I found at Target. The best part was when we paraded in front of the BYU President/Administration and PRESIDENT UCHTDORF! My mom quickly took her glasses off when she saw President Uchtdorf....which made Lizzie and I and President Uchtdorf laugh! After commencement we met up with my Uncle Pete (my mom's brother who works for BYU with the best job EVER!) and the rest of the famly for pictures.

I thought it was appropriate to put numbers on our hats: Mom #1, Me #2, and Liz #3!

It made it easy for the family to spot us!

Emily and Ben with their 4 kids, Brad, Dan, Aimee, Dad, and Ken

Lizzie, Mom, and Me

Dan has been so supportive and has believed I could do this every step of the way! Thank you for helping me finish and making this trip a special one!!

I thought the gown did a pretty good job at hiding my pregnant belly.

After taking a ton of pictures we headed out to eat at Los Hermanos. My sister Emily thought ahead and reserved us a private room! By this time in the trip all 8 kids had flown in! My favorite part of this short trip was enjoying ALLl of my siblings, for the first time in 5 and 1/2 years! Two of my brothers completely suprised my Mom by coming (one from CHINA, the other came from Arizona but after his wife just had their 6th child!!!) I missed seeing two of my sister-in-laws (Ali, and Dona) and all my nieces and nephews but LOVED being together with those who could come.

Friday was Convocation! Unfortunately I was not feeling too well all morning so I was VERY happy to have my mom and sister taking care of me, fanning me, during this part of graduation.
Here is a picture of us waiting to walk in. Notice the medal around my sister's neck. Let me just tell you how incredible she is. Out of 4,000 bachelor degree graduates my sister was one of about 50 to graduate with HONORS! This requires a ton of extra work, including publishing a thesis, on top of a great GPA! She truly is amazing! This is not the end of school for her either. She is hoping to get into LAW SCHOOL next year. She has high hopes of being a JUDGE one day!

Look at that gorgeous, SINGLE, honors graduate!

Here is a video of us walking across the stage to recieve our "diploma's".... Of course the Dean of our college, who was conducting, said no individual cheering and told everyone to remain "reverant" until the end. Sure enough during the first half of the "walking" no one clapped or cheered. Well, anyone who knows my husband or my family knows that that is impossible at a CELEBRATION like this!! The background music was so boring! Lizzie made me laugh when she commented that it sounded like what they would play at our funerals! We agreed that someone need to add some excitement to the place...okay, now watch the video! I walk first, then Liz, then Mom.

From that point on everyone cheered, clapped, hooted, and hollered!

Some of the gang after convocation.

After convocation we had a little party up at the house and ate lots of yummy food. It was so fun to see most of my aunts and uncles and grandparents. I know my mom felt so loved by her siblings support!

After the extended family left we had yet one more surprise for mom. My sister Emily had the great idea of awarding mom with "honorary doctorate degrees". We gave her 10 degrees and went into some details about why she earned each of them. ( Doctorate in Theology, Psychology, Travel and Tourism, Culinary, Communications, Masters in Fine Arts ect.)

My Dad and brother Steve getting us started on the Honorary Doctorate Ceremony.
Dad has a graduation gown on with a TOWEL to make him look like a "dean" at Breinholt University.

We had a great time honoring mom, telling her how much we appreciated her efforts throughout the years, and expressing our love to her. Dan perfectly explained my moms accomplishment when he wrote, "So, after 20 moves, two wars, 3 missions, 8 children, 20 grandchildren (soon) and about 40 years, her life has come full circle and she is finishing what she started. Susan has truly been an example of the BYU motto "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve". We are so proud of her....."

Each night while we were out there we played games, talked and laughed together. (I didn't want to miss out on all of the fun so I laid on the floor and listened with my eyes closed at times:) I love my family so much, they are a ton of fun!

(Between all 8 kids we have a ton of fun pictures. I will post more later once I get them!)