It has been a whirlwind of a month that I haven't especially wanted to write about, because if there's one thing I'm angsty about, it's uncertainty.  At the end of February, Anthony contacted the company that he interviewed with last year after seeing some online job listings.  A few weeks later, he had a phone interview with them, and they told him they'd like to fly him to Fort Collins to interview in person at the beginning of April.


Here he goes!




After feeling like the interview went very well and returning home, day after agonizing day passed without any contact from the company.  We tried to stay busy, doing our day to day things, but being tortured by the fact that graduation was approaching as quickly as my belly is expanding.  Going to Dollar Tree is still one of the kids' greatest joys, and the fact that Alaina picked out fruit loops with her dollar brings back memories of me receiving fruit loops for Christmas and hoarding them in my closet.




Connor is serious business with his police gear.




We spent a lovely afternoon with the Eyrings, and the kids loved playing with their ducks.













Sean enjoyed a tasty snack of mealworms.




After a few ambiguous phone calls and emails with the company, we were going absolutely crazy.  Mom came with me to pick up the kids from school and go to Costco to order a graduation cake for Anthony.  I tried to be content with the fact that though we still didn't have any resolution, Anthony was still going to graduate, so I tried to focus all of my efforts into that, while packing a box or two "just in case".  A few minutes after getting home, Anthony received "THE CALL".  He ran upstairs to take it sans children's yells, and came downstairs saying, "I have good news and bad news."  I figured that they had offered him the job but perhaps at too low of a salary for us to take.  He turned to Mom and said, "The bad news is...we're moving!  I got the job!"  We all jumped up and down together!  This big day that we'd worked the past four and a half years for had finally come!  WE GOT THE JOB!


I tried to savor my last week at the Cheesecake Factory (the past month has definitely been more enjoyable than normal with family visits every week!).  Every little detail was followed by, "This will be my last time..." from ironing my whites to clocking in to driving out of the parking garage.  Pretty much all of my adult life has been accompanied by Cheesecake!  At the end of my last shift, my favorite manager called me up to the front desk and had me close my own section.  THAT was a cool feeling.  I'm sure there will be some things that I will miss, but I truly believe that the benefits will far outweigh any sad feelings that may come!




We're supposed to use a sheet of paper for every 1-3 tables, but that last sheet of my server pad was so symbolic for me that I squeezed about 70 tables onto it.  My chicken scratch papers had become somewhat of a joke around th restaurant, so I found it only appropriate to fill in the last two square inches with my official resignation.  That felt good, too.




Throwing these awful things in the trash was delightful.  All of that wear is from only a year of use.  Who wants to take bets on how much weight I will gain now that I don't have an 8-mile exercise regimen built to my daily life?  I'm still in shock that I am no longer a Cheesecake Factory employee but I am so ready this new chapter!




On Sunday, we had a little graduation party for Anthony.  Thank you to everyone that showed up!  Anthony told me on the way home that he felt so honored by our family, and we can't thank you all enough for that!




That hand on the hip is for you, Mary Ann!




It's hard to believe that Connor was 1 and Alaina was seven months old when we moved here.  We've only experienced good things while living in Utah, and the past four and a half years have been transformative in amazing ways.










Dad upgraded to a wagon that would hold all of the grandkids at once. :)




Spring is finally here!  Thank goodness!  It's still been cold here, but I won't complain for the sake of our snowpacked Minnesotans.  These plum blossoms smelled wonderful!




Why use your feet to swing yourself when you can employ child labor?




As a thank-you for all of their support over the years, we got Mom and Dad a picture frame that we all can upload photos to from anywhere.  I think they'll enjoy it!







My sisters surprised Anthony with a beautiful frame for his diploma.  He was completely surprised and so grateful.












We missed you in this picture, Mary Ann!


Mom and Dad gave Anthony a nice pen.  Won't he look astute using this? :)




Cake time!




Alaina was over pictures at this point. :)




It was pretty cool that Mike could take an iphone shot outside, and have it pop up on the picture frame seconds later!




Preview of Friday!




After all of these pictures, we decided the men in the family might need some posing tips.  After some suggestions given by the ladies, this is what we came up with!




On top of all of the goodness that has happened in the past two weeks, we got to see a healthy little baby at our anatomy scan today, and we got word that we are approved to move in to the house we had our eyes on!  I was already feeling fortunate before sitting down to write this post, and afterward, I am amazed by all of the good in our lives.  Onward and upward!