GRADUATION

I've had a difficult time trying to sit down and write this post because it's really difficult for me to try to find the words that describe how I feel about graduation.

First and foremost, I am so, so incredibly proud of Gordy. Graduation was  HUGE milestone for him and for our entire family.  I am so proud of how diligently he worked throughout law school and how he always tried to live a balanced life by still spending as much time at home with the kids and I that he could. Over these past three years, Gordy not only completed law school, two internships, participated in law journal, served as an admissions fellow, and had a stint as the J. Ruben Clark Law Society President, but he also graduated cum laude. Words cannot express how proud I am to be married to him. He is such a hard worker, and as such, I have never doubted that I won't be taken care of. I love him. 

It is also such a surreal feeling to be closing such a significant chapter in our lives. I remember when we pulled into Bloomington on July 2, 2010. I was 22 weeks pregnant with Jack, and scared that we were going to be living in a corn field. It was such a weird feeling to pull into out apartment complex (the first time I had ever even seen it, let alone been in Bloomington) and realize that we were going to spend the next three years of our lives there. At the time, it seemed like an eternity, but man did our time there go by so quickly. Our lives changed so much too. 

Our apartment in Bloomington is where we brought home our first two babies. It's where we made life long friends that we came to depend on as family. It's where we learned to rely more completely in our companionship as a married couple, being so far away from both of our families. It's where our little baby was healed from his congenital  heart defect. It's where we hoped and wished and worried and prayed about finding internships/jobs. In short, Bloomington really and truly became our home. So you might be able to understand that for us, graduation time is exciting, but it's also sad. Graduation meant saying goodbye to our friends who became like family, and to our home. 

Graduation was also a heckuva busy two weeks. Not only were we trying to pack up our entire apartment, but we were also packing for a 5 month stay in Utah AND preparing all of our other things to be in storage for that time. Meanwhile, trying to keep out all of the necessities we would need for our guests: Gordon, Sandy, Stevey, Mom and Dad. It was chaotic, but a lot of fun. We went for ice cream at Chocolate Moose, watched trains, and went to the park to fly a kite!

But, graduation time loomed near. The night before graduation, my parents stayed home with the boys so that Gordy and I and his family could attend the law school graduation party. The most exciting part of that was watching Gordy receive an award for doing like a hundred hours of pro bono work. So proud. Gordy and his dad coincidentally matched for the party, and actually they ended up matching quite a bit, which I thought was pretty cute/funny. We all went home and tried to rest up for the big day we had ahead of us. 

The morning of graduation was spent playing with giant water balloons (which everybody loved) and packing, packing, packing. We are the most terrible hosts ever because we seriously put our guests to work. If someone wasn't packing, then they were on kid watching duty. Everyone had a job. 

We put a hold on packing, changed our clothes, and headed to the law school graduation luncheon. Once again, the guys all matched. The food was really good. Charlie didn't seem to think so though; as he threw up all over the table and into my mom's purse. So gross. Poor guy. It's kind of funny in hindsight though. 

After the luncheon, we went home, put Jack down for a nap, and got changed. If you're wondering why Jack isn't in any of the pictures before graduation, it's because he was asleep. Charlie, not so much. 

It was extremely difficult to get pictures because it was raining all day long. Go figure.  It looks like I'm smacking Gordy in the head right here, but really I was just showing that it's all bout the accessories (courtesy of Lindasy and Sandy).  

We then headed straight to the ceremony, where I spent probably 3/4 of the ceremony outside walking with Charlie in the hallway. He was hungry and tired and he did not want to be there at all. I did get to see Gordy walk across the stage and receive his diploma. I teared up. For those of you who know me, that's sayin' something. 

After the graduation ceremony was over, it was pandemonium trying to find Gordy through all of the crowd. There were SO many people and of course it had to be raining so everyone was bottle-necked into the foyer. Nightmare. 

But eventually we found our law school graduate! I wish so bad that we could have found everyone from our little group to take a picture, but there was just no way. It was all so crazy. 

The whole thing seemed so surreal. Almost like it didn't even happen. Because, as soon as it was over, we all loaded up into our cars and went straight back to packing. I think I forgot to mention that we were leaving for good the morning after graduation, so there was still SO much to do. 

That night, Gordy requested Chili's takeout for his celebration dinner, and we ate while we packed and packed some more. We did as much as we could and then went to sleep. The next morning, we woke up while it was still dark outside, shuffled the kids into the car, and headed for the airport. 

I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. It was a weird feeling to be pulling out of our drive for the last time. Exciting and sad all at the same time. 

Gordy took these pictures after I had already left with the boys, so I didn't even get to see it empty...

We sure will miss Bloomington, our friends, and our time we spent there.