Easter

What else could we fit into this week, how about a major holiday? Easter was celebrated on both Saturday (with the Schauers) and Sunday (with the Barretts). Wendy invited the Easter bunny and his wife over to her house which was a special surprise for the kids! We colored and glittered eggs and had an egg hunt. Jared had also made me dinner and others pitched in too so we had a graduation celebration with the Schauers also. Sunday we enjoyed a nice ham dinner and egg hunt and special Family Night lesson by mom. Whew! What a great week!

GRADUATION part 2

After I walked and was sitting there realizing I had to sit through the whole rest of the undergraduates' walking, I texted Jared and offered to sneak out early. He was all for it, so I made my way through the bowels of the Marriot center and outside where my family greeted me.



That's Wendy Snow, this is the only picture I got of her, but she is also my inspiration!










Holly had brought her nice camera and was ready to take pictures. She did a great job capturing the moment. I was so grateful for everyone who came and supported me, and they were all grateful I left early! My kids were so sweet and hugged me a lot, so did everyone! I was SO FULL of JOY. It was truly a wonderful moment in my life I will never forget. I had completed my masters degree and all those there were part of making that happen, especially Jared, my kids, my parents, and my sister Karli. Love you all.



I sure love my Jared, he has taken the brunt of all my stress and work, I couldn't have done it without his support and love.




After the picture session we went to Carrabbas for dinner. My mom got me a gift card for my graduation there and called ahead for us. We got right in and it worked out perfectly! My kids were so well behaved the whole night. And on the way home savanna asked if I really never have to go to class again, and she started crying. Its been the hardest on Savanna I think, and I really appreciate her. I love my family!


And what now you ask? Well, I am taking my time job hunting. It is more tricky than I thought it would be to find a CSW part time position, those who are hiring are looking for full time. So I am stepping up to the House Mom plate and enjoying my time with my kids and time to myself in the interim.

GRADUATION! part 1

Wednesday began the graduation celebrations. I felt so honored and wonderful putting on a master's hood. We have all been debating what the significance of the hood is, I still have to research that, but it was cool. We had a MSW banquet and program at the Marriott hotel in Provo. My parents and husband came to celebrate with me. We had a less formal and nice time just the cohort and close family members and it was a nice evening. Thursday was commencement and Elder Scott spoke, I heard it was wonderful but I was in the temple with my family at that time.

Friday was Covocation time, aka, the real graduation! Friday morning a friend of ours Eric Westover made and brought over a cake for my graduation that morning. It was a complete surprise to me and the most adorable cake
I've ever seen. Perfect for me and the occassion.




The celebrations started when Jared's brothers made lunch for me at his office, Neil Schauers made a point to have lunch with us and bestow his congratulations. I went to my Grandma's to take her and my mom to the cookie reception prior to covocation. Grandma gave me $100!!! She was so proud and I got teary eyed when I hugged her thinking how much I am trying to be like her and how much her example has influenced me.






I took many pictures of friends and faculty at the reception. And they displayed this plaque that is to be displayed in the social work office with my name on it because I won the social justice paper contest! That was pretty neat.

(Me and Dr. Marrett, director of the field practicum and Marriage Family Theories)
(Me and Dr. Seipel, Policy and Community Organization)
(Me and Dr. Limb, director of the MSW program and Leadership)

(Me and Dr. Norman, child and adolescents and HBSE, and Dr. Spaid, DSM-IV)

Dr. Seipel profusely complimented me to my mother, which made her feel very proud and me feel very surprised! I had no idea Dr. Seipel thought so highly of me. A lot of people mentioned that I look like my mom. We are both ok with that. :)


My friends Kim Brimhall and Shannon Young. Kim's husband bought flower leis for me and her and Shannon, we were the three muskateers in this experience, studying for the ASWB and most all other exams together. I will miss these two!

I was involved in the musical number during convocation so I got to sit up on the stand. The speakers were less than rivoting and the procession long, but the musical number was fantastic, in my biased opinion.

Kali and Justin sealed in the temple

The week of my graduation also happened to be the week Justin and Kali Barrett went through the temple and were sealed to their son Dextin. It was wonderful to be in the temple with all my endowed family members and to share this special day with Justin and Kali. They were sealed on April 21st, 2011. Poor Dextin was hungry and cried through the whole thing, but Kali and Justin were so graceful and patient about it. We all went to their apartment afterwards and blessed little Dextin, and he cried for that too. But he was an angel all the rest of the time!!!

Remains of the MSW program

The month of April flew by like a bullet. We wrapped things up in our classes and had parties and finals and whatnot, and we took a class photo. I thought it turned out nicely and bought an 8X10 for myself. My group class was especially wonderful this last semester, I experienced a lot of personal growth and developed so much love and respect for my class mates. What an amazing experience this program has been for me.

My group-work class members with our instructor John Stewart, about half the cohort.

Leaving the prison was weird. My supervisor took me to lunch my last day and when I handed over my badge, I realized I can't just come back and visit anytime I want. I am no longer under clearance to enter the prison. The ladies gave me a card with everyone's signature. It was bitter sweet. Too bad I couldn't take any pictures of my clients there. I will miss that job, you couldn't pay for a better internship.

Welcom Ethan Isaac Schauers!

While I was birthing my ASWB exam April 7th, my sister in law Shawna Schauers was giving birth to a new member of the Schauers family--Ethan Isaac. He was healthy and beautiful and is doing well. We are so happy for Justin and Shawna, they struggled with infertility so this was a great blessing!

No Dessert or Candy Contract

I started gaining weight this past 2 months, I'm sure stress had something to do with it, but its also my intake. On April 17th I had had enough of the problem I have with controlling my sugar intake, so I decided to use the behavior contract on myself that I use with my clients. I set a goal and sign the contract and if I keep the goal I earn an incentive--a new swimming suit. Well, Savanna thought this was cool, I was using her as the person I was held accountable to so she wanted to do it as well. We decided to stay off candy and dessert for 1 month, so on May 17th, her birthday, we would be done with the contract. She is going shopping with me and will get a swimsuit and toe socks as her incentive.

The funny thing is, as we were having Fiora sign as a witness she adamantly insisted on being part of the contract as well. We none of us thought this was possible for Fiora, she is the family's infamous sweet tooth. But whe wanted in, so we printed out a contract for her also. The even more funny thing is, the next day as Fiora and Savanna were explaining to Weston that they are "off sweets" he decided he wanted to do it also! So we have 4 contracts on the fridge now, and Weston has proven to be the most valiant of all of us. They are all doing well, they give their desserts at school lunch to their friends, they save their candy in a bag in the freezer, and they dutifully tell everyone who offers them candy or dessert that "they are off sweets for a month." They are keeping me strong. I can't believe the bags of candy they have already saved up, its worse than halloween. Oh the pounds of sugar I have spared us all from processeing by starting this contract!

A little about Weston

Weston and Fiora got to meet their cousins at the Mayan and have a farewell dinner for Seth Snow who is leaving for a mission on Wednesday. Savanna and I were at her soccer game which was at the same time. Weston has some pretty amazing moves. He does roundoffs and gets down on his arm and spins around and kicks in the air like a break-dancer. Its pretty entertaining to watch. He tries to Beat-box too. He is a delightful boy. He loves giving me big hugs and saying,"I love you so much! I love you more than you love me. I love you more than infinity!" He had to give up gymnastics to do soccer, because it was on the same night at the same time. But he is such a great gymnast, I may put him back in after soccer is over. He has a strong core and a determination to do all the tasks just right. He got a goal in his soccer game yesterday, he doesn't have the aggression some others on his team has, but he does have determination to keep trying. Sometimes that pays off in a goal! Weston is a great son, I am eternally grateful we were blessed with him in our family.