Graduation

It's been four years and four months since I started graduate school. It's kept me crazy busy which I didn't actually mind. I actually felt like I was starting to find direction for my career. 

In April, I passed my e-Portfolio. I had to use evidence from my classes to prove that I met all of the competencies of what a graduate of the program should be able to do. Once I got into the rhythm, it was easy and I realized how much I had learned. 

The first week in May I submitted my last paper for my program and received my last grade (an A if you were wondering). 

I hadn't thought about walking at graduation, but then I decided I wanted to celebrate my accomplishment. So I bought a plane ticket and headed to California to stay with one of my brothers.

First of all, I loved mandatory afternoon nap time. My sister-in-law was pregnant and her two girls still take naps so for two hours every day I was there, we had nap time. I took advantage to work from home or take a nap myself. 

The day of graduation arrived and I put on the cap and gown. (If you really want to see me walking across the stage, getting hooded and all that, I've cued up the youtube video just for you. 

After graduation, I had the obligatory photo shoot with my brother acting as photographer.

As my nieces probably couldn't stand sitting for 2 hours, they stayed at home and helped my sister-in-law to make a cake to celebrate this momentous occasion:

Immediately following graduation, I started considering what changes I should make now that I am a master (of Library Science, but a master nonetheless).

Before the reunion

Here's the thing... if I'm going to use my vacation hours, I might as well do something fun. Especially if it's at a point where I'm about to "use or lose". So I took an extra day off and went to visit my friend Michelle and her family. Big thank you to them for letting me crash and interrupt plans. 

I arrived on Tuesday at about noon. Michelle graciously picked me up. We dropped my stuff off at the house then went to the fruit farm nearby to get some peaches and whatever else that place had. We also wrangled the three kids and got them to the community pool for the two older ones' swimming lessons.

Cute cute Michelle and her daughter at the pool.

Tyler, Michelle, and I played games that night. I forgot how much I love playing games with these two. 

The reunion started on Wednesday evening with dinner, so in the morning Michelle and I packed up the kids and went out to a berry farm and picked berries. I don't think I've ever done that before! It was so fun! We got strawberries and olallieberries. Delicious!

These would be the olallieberries...

They don't look like that in Utah. Yet another reason....

Weighing them out and paying. YUM!

Afterwards, we ran back home and got the kids ready for another pool time and then ditched Tyler and his mom with the kids so that Michelle could drive me the hour to Santa Cruz (basically Michelle and Tyler are the best people ever because no one should have to drive me an hour one way to my family reunion). 

Family Reunion

This was another family reunion year. Although I sometimes dread using my precious vacation days at family functions, I do love getting together with the family for a few days. 

Luckily, this year the reunion was in California. I sure do love going back to my home state. It was in Santa Cruz so somewhere I hadn't been before is also a plus. 

There was a lot of beach time and fun time. I loved working on my tan and I have a pretty awesome one on my legs. And I also got to cross something off my bucket list!

So here's the recap:

Day one started off at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

J&H were kind enough to allow me to tag along with them and their adorable girls because let's be honest, it's lonely wandering the aquarium by yourself. 

Also, I may be a little obsessed with sea otters. The co-workers are enjoying that.

After that, we headed out to the beach to relax and have some fun.

Kids dug in the sand...

Moms took pictures...

I discovered that this little girl has some serious personality. She is adorable.

Big brothers played frisbee.

Most of the adults relaxed under the shade.

Then they played some organized games... and things got a little rough. 

Because we Teuschers are pretty competitive, if you hadn't noticed yet.

But seriously.

And that night as I watched the sunset, I wondered why I'm still in Utah and started to make the plans that I always talk about but am starting to seriously consider. Because... well... I mean, look!

Day 2:

We celebrated this little girl's 1st birthday (YAY!!!)

We headed to the Boardwalk and then took a train through a redwood forest up to an old mining town. The train ride was pretty cool and was a nice relaxing journey up.

Let's stop for a minute and bask in the cuteness of this little girl...

The forest. So shady. So cool. So nice.

So... Hansom Jack was pretty darn handsome. I swung around to check him out. *sigh* But he was pretty much like 18 years old so there was no hope.

I'm not sure what we ended up doing that night. I can't for the life of me remember. I know we hung out at the Boardwalk for a little longer and ate tons of awful food.

Day 3: 

This is it! This is when I marked sea kayaking off the bucket list. Sadly, I have not pictures of me actually *in* said kayak but I was there. I promise.

Yep... another beautiful day with lots of cloud cover.

We had the option of putting on wetsuits and such. Unfortunately they didn't have enough for the little guys. I opted out. I had a sun shirt and shorts. I was good.

After kayaking, we found a foster's freeze. Oh my heavens! I forgot how much I love root beer freezes. YUM!

Then to another beach to hit up the tide pools. 

And finally family pictures. Here are the majority of the nieces and nephews (with a few exceptions).

And that concludes the 2013 festivities of the Teuscher gathering. There will hopefully be one in 2015. And possibly a gathering of the adults in 2014 to celebrate the parents' 50th anniversary. Who knows? 

Annual Vacation

There are few things that I can count on these days:

1. A paycheck every 2 weeks

2. At least 1 good dating story per week (I think I may have 2 from this week and it's only Monday!)

3. Meeting up with my family for the 4th of July

Yep. It seems that 4th of July and Christmas are when some of the Teuschers gather together and have a grand time. And that we did.

Beach time.

Pool time.

Communicating in Spanish to the guy at McDonald's who got me ice.

Sunburn (which will become a tan...)

Shopping.

Having the car break down while shopping.

Babysitting.

Cuddling with a sweet six month old niece who is never sad.

Having small nephews randomly come up and give me a hug.

Napping in the middle of the day.

Homemade ice cream.

Fireworks from the backyard.

Late night conversations.

Going through grandma's jewelry and discovering the treasures.

Watching two nephews down manhole sized pancakes.

Yep... it was a good trip.

My mother has always wanted a girly girl. It only took an extra generation.

Good thing I remembered that darn "Pretty Pretty Princess" game. She was in love!

Happy baby!!!!

She lives for the water. She was sad every time someone took her away from the water.

Still a happy baby!!!

Searching for sand crabs.

And for a bit of Instagram magic:

That is a pancake... it's bigger than the plate.

(And I can't wait for the 27th when I can order a new phone with a better camera...)

Maybe I sent this to my boss... told him that I was thinking about him...

The top ring is my great-grandmother's wedding band. You can barely see the details but it had bells and flowers in it. I almost want a copy made for my own wedding band. 

The bottom ring is my grandmother's wedding ring. Also a gorgeous ring.

So... now I'm back into reality. And it's only Monday but I'm knee-deep into projects and getting new assignments. I don't know what it all means, but I'm trying to keep my sense of humor about me (and my boss says that my sarcasm is becoming less than subtle lately).