HE PASSED!!!!!!!

Clint passed this afternoon. His thesis will be printed and bound and placed in the college library. He will graduate on May 3 (you're all invited to come), and he's also been asked to pray at graduation. Life is good, now if we could just find a job....hopefully we'll get a call on one of the 24 applications we've sent out. Thanks for the well wishes and prayers, Julie and Jennifer, you girls are the best.

Today's the day

Clint defends his thesis this afternoon at 4:30. Not only does he have to defend and explain his study, it's also a verbal quiz of everything he's done in his Masters Program. They can ask anything. He's worked so hard, and it all comes down to this afternoon. The silver lining (to all the worrying) is that they'll tell him if he will graduate or not at this meeting this afternoon. If you can spare some prayers or good thoughts this afternoon, we'd appreciate it!

Our Easter

We had a great weekend! We had a fun visit from our friends Jared and Crystal Bangerter. Jared and Crystal went to school here 3 years ago, and then after graduation they got a job and moved away. We miss them a lot, we used to hang out several times a week. They have Anya, who is just older than Emery, and McKenna who is just younger than Chani. They also have Kasey, a foster son, who is ten. We had such a great time hanging out. They arrived Friday night, and we visited far too late into the evening. On Saturday morning we went to look at the new addition to our church, which is coming along so well and should be done by May. The boys went shooting on Saturday afternoon, and then we all went out to dinner. We all kept commenting on how different it was to go out to dinner with 5 kids in tow. On Sunday morning we went to church together (in the Fine Arts building at the college, since the church is under construction), and then after a quick lunch of leftovers we had a fun little Easter egg hunt in the front yard. We had a very yummy Easter dinner of ham, potato salad, fruit salad, scalloped pineapple, and asparagus. They rolled out Monday morning, headed to Cabela's. We were sad to see them go, it was awesome to have them here!

Emery is binky free!!!!!

I know, for most people not such a big thing. But, for us this is huge! We've been joking for some time that Emery would go to kindergarten still sleeping with is binky (which, by the way, was the only time he was allowed to have it, when he was in his bed, napping or sleeping). Spring break was a couple of weeks ago and we decided it was time. Most of the students were gone, so Emery could mourn without keeping the whole building awake. We talked about it all day Sunday, and by dinner Emery was saying "No binky, I'm big." That worked pretty well until bedtime. There were lots of tears and coaxing, and daddy even promised Emery a new car and a soccer ball if he would go to sleep without the binky. He finally fell asleep and only woke up 4-5 times throughout the night. There was a lot of crying, but we were firm and stuck to it. At 7 AM on Monday, Emery was ready for a trip to Wal-Mart for a soccer ball and a new car. Daddy took him, as promised, and he was thrilled with his new big boy toys. We had rough nights for about a week, and this week things are going great. He goes right to bed with very little fuss and most nights he sleeps straight through. Potty training is next, but quite a ways off. I am not tackling that task until we move. Emery's already talking about the rocket bike he wants when he doesn't wear diapers......the joys!

A description

This one is for my new friend Jen who made me an amazing apron! Thanks again for that!

I am a 27 year old mother of two. I grew up in a (I used to say little, but then I moved to Nebraksa) smaller town in Eastern Idaho. I have 4 brothers and 6 sisters and amazing parents. I married a boy from that same small town a year after high school, and we have been living in a little town in Western Nebraska for the past 7 (in July) years. I competed in Speech and Debate in High School and that activity also paid for my college education. While in Nebraska, I have worked as a live in Residence Hall Director (think dorm mom) for almost 6 years now. I enjoy my job and love interacting with college students. Emery, my two year old, and Chani, who is six months old, are wonderful kids and I thourougly enjoy being a mother. It is awesome and I look forward to the day (soon) when I get to stay at home full time, so that we can play and read and clean and cook without the constant crazyness of college life. I don't have much spare time, but when I have a moment I love to read, cook, bake, sew (not too well), visit with my siblings and parents, and be crafty.

My husband is a great guy. Clint is working his tail off this week to finish his thesis and portfolio for his Masters Degree. It's all due this Friday and his orals are in 3 weeks (March 28 at 1:00 PM). Clint ran cross country and distance track in high school and in college. He was plauged with illnesses, and didn't get where he wanted to be in college, but worked so hard. He worked part time at Albertsons in High School, and for a year when we were first married worked days and nights at competing grocery stores to pay for us to live while I finished my Associates Degree. Clint enjoys reading, hunting, fishing, mountain and road biking, and being with his family. He comes from a family of 5 kids and has awesome parents.

There you go, Jen, that's us in a nut shell. Sorry I didn't post this before, but you did great. The green you used is one of my favorite colors!!!

the box

Remember a few posts ago I talked about the large cardboard box that Emery was using as a toy? Well, the box has migrated into our home and has been many things in the past two weeks. Not only has it been Emery's House and a road, today it was a cave. Emery wanted to explore the cave, but it was too dark. He gathered his flashlight and shimmied in on his belly. Once he got in there he said, "A bear, roooaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrr!" Then a minute later he said "The bear eat me." Now, he's on his stomach at the opening of the cave screaming "Go away, bear!" I love my two year old with an imagination.