Oh the Places You'll Go!

Well, he did it!

He is DONE and DONE!

This past weekend Todd graduated from MIT with two degrees...

an MBA and a Masters of Engineering.

I couldn't be more proud of him.

Seeing him in his cap and gown brought out more emotion for me than I had expected!

Graduation was like a cumulation of all the sacrifice for our family, for me, and of course for Todd.

Seeing him walk in the procession with his class beaming from ear to ear got me all choked up!

It brought to my mind all the late nights when I would go to bed and Todd would stay up until the wee hours of the morning doing assignments and projects and eventually his Thesis.

It brought to mind the FOUR moves we have made including all the packing, downsizing, and stress.

It brought to my mind the 6 month internship in Kentucky, and all the great memories we mad there.

It brought to mind living in 600 sq. feet of a storage unit (which I lovingly nick named "The Hostile"), with no dishwasher, washer or dryer, and where two little boys would drive me literally crazy bouncing off the walls during the long New England winter months.

It also brought to mind the playground at Westgate where the boys and I would would spend our days outside during the Summer and Fall with wonderful, wonderful friends.

It brought back the memory of the day we found out that Todd got accepted to the LGO program, we were so excited, and so happy.

It brought to mind all of Todd's hard work, his diligence, and all that he has sacrificed to get here to MIT which was his goal and dream.

and as I saw him except his degrees looking so and handsome in his Cap and Gown for just a moment in my mind I saw this kid...

The boy I once knew, who was also very diligent, has grown up into an amazing man, and has accomplished so much...

I am so grateful and blessed that I have been at his side along for the ride, hopefully being a support to him as he has taken on his challenges.

It has been wonderful, and we will remember this experience for the rest of our lives.

Congratulations to Todd, I am SO proud of you (have I said that enough?)

and I look forward to the rest of our lives witnessing all the very diligent and amazing things you have yet to do!

Todd's "Ocean" the group they divide all the Sloanies into.

Todd and the classmates of his that were nominated for Best Thesis.

Welcome...

...to the world little Abigail Ruth Monson. My brother Jon and sister in law Rebecca have the most darling little girl and we finally have a NIECE! I have already nicknamed her Abby-lou. She is just too precious and I can't wait to snuggle this little doll and spoil her silly!

We love you to pieces already Abby and can't wait to meet you!

Just watch out for your crazy older cousins....

Mark and Kristin get hitched!

We were happy to go to "fabulous Las Vegas" for Mark and Kristin's Wedding!

Four days in Vegas and we never even set foot on the Strip.

It's just not our bag I guess.

But we did get to spend lots of time with Todd's siblings and family, we got to know Kristin and welcomed her to the family, made sure to go to Cafe Rio and In and Out (yum!), took in a session at the Las Vegas temple TOGETHER! (so nice!), spoiled our nephews, and had a great time!

Congrats to Mark and Kristin!

A Sneak Peak...

Our new home...

Currently being built, finishing middle of July.

We are VERY excited.

"Oh Boy...I've Got JOY!...I Do, I DO!"

Thatcher and Tagg graduated from Joy School! We have LOVED being able to be apart of two wonderful Joy School groups this past year. Both of the boys have grown so much from what they have learned in Joy School and I have loved being apart of this great program with them. Thatcher's little group had been together for two years, and it is so fun to see how much these cute kiddos have grown in those two years! Thatcher is now going on to Kindergarten, and Tagg will be attending a Preschool in Frisco in the Fall. Both boys are getting SO BIG I just can't handle it!

Me and You...

6 years ago today...

Todd took me the the temple and made me a Bishop! :)

Happy 6th Anniversary to us...

I'll love you forever and ever Bidwi tieghi.

I wouldn't change a thing
as happiness you bring.
You are my soul mate.
A marriage made by fate.

--Catherine Pulsifer

Grad Gala

We had a blast last weekend at MIT's Grad Gala.
It was basically just like Prom.
Except for the fact that I had a really hot date that I could go home with after.

It was really, really fun.
I forgot how much I love dances like this.

As you can tell from these pictures I felt like I was 16 again.
All I have to say is it is a good thing I don't drink,
cause frankly I don't need it to have a good time, and let loose.

The first thing I said when I saw these pictures was,
"who are those two old people?"
Especially Todd.
I am married to a man.
Wow.

Christine and Brigham, showing off their masquerade masks.
Yes, this Gala did have a theme.
If it wasn't enough like Prom.
The whole night I had that blasted song from Phantom stuck in my head.
"Masquerade, paper faces on parade..."

A far cry from yoga pants and hoodies, our typical playground attire.
We clean up good, my friends.

Here is when it all went down hill for me.
My brother said I look drunk in this picture.
Like I said, it is a good thing I don't drink.

Westgate group.
Love these guys.
Don't worry, I promise I did have shoes.
Dancing in heels = no go for me.

LGO Class 2010

It was a great night.
I may or may not have gotten sentimental looking around at all these wonderful faces.
So hard to say goodbye, but so happy for everyone's futures!

Bring on graduation.
We are ready.

Unlimited.

7 years ago today,

while walking down a road almost identical to this one,

I heard a still, small voice whisper...

"He's the one."

I knew at that moment that I was going to marry Todd.

But really, more than the fact that I was going to marry him,

with that prompting came a flood of knowledge.

Somehow at that moment I learned

that with him by my side,

I would be taken care of, happy, and loved.

And that I would become the best version of myself,

with him.

And he would be the best version of himself,

with me.

It would be together that we would succeed.

Over the years that we have been together I have realized that this is true.

So to my Bidwi on this day of Anniversary of sorts,
I am grateful that it all worked out.
I am grateful in a way that we beat the odds.

I am grateful that I get to be by your side for eternity.

Together, to quote two of our very favorite witches,

"we can be the greatest team there ever was.

Dreams the way we plan them,

when we work in tandem.

There's not a fight we can't win,

you and I."

Together we are unlimited.

I am so proud of all that we have accomplished together over the last 7 years.

Thanks for always believing in me and "giving me wings to fly, I have always loved you for it."

Easter in an Eggshell...

We had a wonderful Easter weekend spent down at my parents house in Rhode Island.

It was a lovely Spring weekend, with wonderful weather and everything here is blooming.

My Aunt Julie and Uncle Jeff from California came for Easter Sunday with their cute family.

They are taking a Motor Home vacation around to all the Church Sites for 2 weeks!

Such a great idea!

Their youngest child Ethan is Thatcher's age.

Thatcher was blown away by the fact that someone his age was MY cousin.

That's Mormon families for ya.

I am just lucky my Mom wasn't pregnant at my wedding.

It was wonderful to see them and spend time with them.

It was also wonderful to watch General Conference and be spiritually fed.

Can I just say,

Hello Julie Beck, I love you.

I think we are long lost BFF's.

I was on a spiritual high after hearing all the amazing talks.

And thanks to the Easter Bunny the kids were on a sugar high that they are just coming off of.

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

More than anything our family was grateful to remember on Easter our Savior.

We celebrate the empty tomb and all that that means.

We know that He is risen.

We know that because of Him we can say,

"O death, where is your sting?

O grave, where is your victory??"

We know that we will be together forever through Him.

And for that we are truly grateful.