Graduation

Thursday & Friday was my graduation from Brigham Young University. My wonderful family came out to celebrate with me, and everything was perfect. I feel so blessed to have made it to this point, I know it wouldn't have been possible without the love and support of so many incredible people. Chad and I look forward to the future and all that it holds for us.

Unfortunately I don't have the greatest of pictures and most are right after Commencement, but here are a few of my favorites.

My amazing and incredibly supportive husband

The two most incredible guys ever!

My parents - I couldn't have done it without them

After almost a year without any classes and nearing the end of my first year teaching the best second graders ever, I am officially graduated! It was such a neat experience to have my dad with me on the stage when they handed me my diploma.

Thanks to Kristi's for another one of her awesome creations

Tons of great food and company afterward, and apparently you have to cut the cake at your graduation too. :-) Thanks again to everyone for coming and making it such a special day.

Presenting....FINALLY

Abigail Grace Pehrson

Abby has so much personality and spunk. It is so obvious from the moment you meet her. I had her giggling like crazy, and she is just so much fun!

Of course Abby loved her Uncle Chad! Who wouldn't, look how handsome he is?!

We got to play a lot that night.

&

Eleanor Brooke Pehrson

Ella is equally as adorable but so much different. She is super chillaxed and cuddly.

Ella with her cute Aunt Cassandra

Me and three of my nieces...how lucky am I?

It wasn't easy putting them down but they were so cute hanging out together.

This handsome little man is their big brother. I took this on the girls blessing day. You can hardly recognize him since he's grown up so much, and is so good looking! Unfortunately, once the girls came out I didn't have a free hand to take pictures. It was a wonderful day and the girls did great! We are so lucky to have these beautiful girls in our family, we have waited a long time for their arrival, and we couldn't love them more.

First Round of the Season

A few weeks ago, I got off work and couldn't believe what a beautiful day it was so the second I got home we just back in the car and headed out to golf. The weather wasn't quite as friendly these past two weeks but we were able to get out Monday as well, though I had to call it quits after 9 because I just couldn't warm up. It may be a stupid and frustrating game (Chad said it first...I just completely agree) that I'll never be good at, but it sure is beautiful and I love just being out there! I'm looking forward to a fun golf season, maybe I'll even learn to not slice the ball every time. We'll see...I wouldn't want to exceeds Chad's ability level TOO quickly. Happy golfing!

Hallie's Night With Us Nuts!

Hallie spent the night with us yesterday and boy did we have fun. Since the school year has started we really don't see her very often and with it being Spring Break we decided we needed a good dose of little Miss Hallie Mae (aka Monkey).

I forgot about my camera the first day but we got to do lots of coloring and painting.

We even made a book of the different colors she knew.

We made yummy cupcakes as a surprise for Chad...he LOVED them!

...so did the cute little helper monkey!

We played at the park the previous day, but when we went to play in the backyard we didn't have much luck. I know this broken little slide looks sad, but Hallie assured me that "It's ok, Chad can fix it!"

Three hours into her nap and still going strong. I guess I wore her out or something!

We had a lot of fun with our favorite little Monkey Pants! She kept us laughing the entire time and even still we are repeating her comments and laughing about them. We sure love this little one. I wish we had more time to spend time with our favorite kids!

It's Official...Almost

On Friday, April 22nd, 2011 I will officially graduate from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. It is a little weird to think that although I have already spent a year with my very own class and having been doing what I love, that I still need to graduate. It is also a little strange having to go through the interview process again for another job, but I'm looking forward to the different opportunities available. Chad and I are so excited to see where the future will take us.

FIVE YEARS!!

No, five years is not how long since my last post, at least not quite. Chad & I were married March 3, 2006. I can't believe it's been 5 years since this wonderful day! I have been so very lucky to have an incredible husband who loves me and supports me in everything I do. I look forward to another great year and the many many yet to come.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

So it's been a long time, but as I have been relaxing, catching up, watching Christmas movies, and spending time with friends and family, I cannot help but reflect on how very very blessed I am! I have an absolutely incredible husband who is more supportive, kind, and loving than I could have ever dreamed possible. I am blessed with 27 amazing kids who can make me laugh so hard my sides hurt, keep me crazy busy, teach and shock me, and that manage to touch my heart every single day. I have a job and coworkers that I love! I have wonderful family and friends that are always there for me and love me no matter what. I have a nice home to keep me safe and warm, and I have been blessed with the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives me hope and brings peace to our chaotic lives. Of course there are a million other things, and I don't deserve any of them but how grateful I am! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and we can always remember how very blessed we are!

Introducing...Hughbert Nuttall!

Meet Hughbert! He is a Mississippi Map Turtle and about three months old! He joined our family July 13th and it took me all of three minutes to fall in love with him! I got this cute little guy so he could be my classroom pet, but now I'm not sure what I will have to do when I have to leave him at school all by himself at night. :-( I don't wanna talk about it!

The black ridges or knobs on his spine and the circular rings on his shell are a couple of the distingishing features of a map turtle.

He's got beautiful lines!

Hughbe is just a little guy, but he is definitely growing. (Even if Chad and Eric don't agree, Kylie and I are sure of it!) Because he's male (I'm like 75% sure ha ha...we won't know for sure until he's older) he'll only grow to be about 4 1/2".

He had a little bit of a struggle with the photo shoot he just wanted to be swimming and you can see he's trying to push his way out of my hand here...he's a strong little guy too, it almost worked!

I'm still getting to know him, but so far this is what I've learned:

He LOVES to swim.
He loves to dig in my rocks and pull up all my plants.
He loves to hide in the plants.
He loves floating with just his head above water.
He loves walking across his log on his back legs, and it's hilarious.
He loves to eat, and again it is very fun to watch.
He has a HUGE mouth that you only see all of when he yawns (it entirely freaked me out when I saw it)!
He does yoga when he climbs out of the water to bask.
He loves it when I sing to him!
He's a little scared of Chad. Probably because he doesn't sit on the floor and just hang out with him like I do...or sing to him, it really bonded us...or because he calls him crack head :-).

He's got a lot of spunk and personality and we love this little guy, even Chad will admit it! Welcome to the family Hughbie!