I feel like my last post was a lifetime ago; so much has changed!  Most of those photos were taken on Sunday, April 21.  On Monday, I served my last shift EVER at the Cheesecake Factory.  For the first time since 2005, I am not on their payroll!  On Tuesday, the 23rd, Grandma, Grandpa, and the kids accompanied Anthony and I to our anatomy ultrasound to make sure that the baby was healthy and growing well.


On Wednesday, I brought doughnuts in to both kids' classrooms to celebrate their last day of school in Utah.  Here's Alaina explaining to her class that she is moving to "Tolowado".




She's loved preschool this year since she had a great set of teachers and asks me every day when she gets to start kindergarten.










In Connor's classroom, Mrs. Oborn brought him to the front of the class and asked where he was moving.  "Colorado."  "Why?"  "For my Daddy's new job." "What is your Daddy going to do in Colorado?" "Make lots of money."  Not the answer we were expecting, but I'll take it! :)




On Thursday, Connor and Alaina went to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa (I still can't thank you enough, Mom and Dad!) while Anthony and I picked up our moving truck and started the process of moving out of our apartment.  Anthony's dad and brothers were there to help by early afternoon and we were 99% done by dusk.  I tried not to think too much about the emotions present.  All of these changes are happy and things that we've looked forward to for years, but it's hard to say goodbye to a place where so much positive growth and improvement happened.  Moving into our little townhome was such a great day for us, and while it was small, it was a happy place.  I hope I never forget how it felt to have a full day with the kids, work a physically exhausting shift at the Cheese, and come home at midnight or 1:00 AM to find Anthony working on homework four or five times a week.  It's been the only place that we've lived that our children actually called home, and we formed great relationships with some of our neighbors.  I knew we had something great waiting for us on the other side of the move, but our little home in Bountiful will always be dear to my heart.




We spent a very unrestful night at a nice hotel in Ogden, then headed to the Dee Events Center for graduation.  You know that feeling when you know it's a huge day, but it's hard to process anything because you can't believe that it's actually here?  I felt out of all week, especially upon seeing Anthony in a cap and gown!










The project that Anthony and his team had been working on for two semesters was featured in the graduation program.




It was even more surprising to hear John Huntsman Jr. mention their team of eight students by name in his speech!




You can view the speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB0T5xgAsC8.  Even without my husband's mention, I really enjoyed the address (if you don't want to watch it all, skip to 14:10).  I'm a little disappointed that you can't hear my shameless cheering!


Officially graduating, moving his tassle from right to left.




Applauding those that supported him along the way.







After commencement, Anthony showed us around campus to his most visited venues.













After the campus tour and a banquet with Mom and Dad, we went back to the events center, met up with Anthony's family and the kids, and watched Anthony receive his diploma!
















I wish I could take all of the credit for this idea, but thank you, Mary Ann, for saving me with your idea when mine didn't pan out!




We said a sad goodbye with Mom and Dad, and I tried to remain as aloof as possible, when all I really wanted to do was cry.  I could say "thank you" a million times and it wouldn't begin to describe the gratitude I feel for them being the catalyst that we needed to make such big changes in our life.  After graduation, the last thing I wanted to do was go back to the apartment and clean the place from top to bottom, but Alaina and I went together.  I'm glad that she got a few more hours to play with her best friends, and I'm glad that I had some quiet time to say goodbye to the place.  The next morning, we got on the road bright and early.  The kids rode with Papa and Anthony drove the truck, so I had a lot of time to think and absorb all that was happening.  We made it to Fort Collins by late afternoon, met Nana at our new house to have a quick walk-through, then had dinner and spent the night at Nana and Papa's.




Sunday morning, we unloaded the truck and began the settling in process.  The first few days here were harder than I expected them to be.  I thought everything would feel like sunshine and rainbows, but seven days is pretty short to experience so many chapters closing and opening simultaneously, so I think I just needed some time to let it sink in.  Now that we're unpacked, the familiarity of our stuff and our family routines is comforting and the newness of our new life is exciting.




Even though it was 80 degrees when we moved in, Wednesday brought with it a foot of snow.







Anthony has his first day at Telvent tomorrow!  A part of me still can't believe that all of this is happening!