A Whirlwind Trip (Part 1)

Hello!  Michelle here.  We just got back the other day from what was probably the busiest vacation I've ever had.  It started out with Afton's first birthday.  I put that in italics and bold just to remind myself that it really happened.  We have a one-year-old.  You know, I've had several people ask me if that special day made me sad at all.  I think I can honestly say it didn't.  However, I'd be willing to bet that if we didn't have another baby coming close on her heels, I might have had a different answer.  Instead, I find myself wanting her to speed the grow-up process a little bit so I'll feel a bit more ready for the next one.  I know, I know, I'll regret it later.  Oh well.

She woke up in the morning to a delicious breakfast on the Special Plate.  I sat at the edge of my chair, ready to use my cat-like reflexes to pounce should she try to swipe it off the table like she does everything else.  But alas, she was acting more grown up already.

Next, we rushed her to open her presents.  We had a plane to catch.  She got some really sweet cards in the mail, including a $5 McDonald's card for a Happy Meal.  And Ty and I got her a rocking horse.  She seemed to love it in the 30 seconds that she got to ride it before being whisked out the door.

Then, we were off!  Afton got to take her first ride in her new big girl car seat.  She got a lot of smiles and attention at the airport and on the plane because of her birthday girl shirt.  She was pretty good on the plane, except that half an hour when she just screamed.  But being a little girl that has only been walking for about a month, I'd be frustrated too.

Eventually we made it to Salt Lake, rushed down to Provo to have dinner with my dear friend and roommate Shawney.  She had made one of my all-time favorite meals like the gem she is.  We had a blast and laughed pretty much the entire time we were there.  Of course we didn't take any pictures.  In fact, I'll admit it right now, pretty much every picture from our trip from here on out is most likely taken by my mom or Ty's mom.  So if neither of them were there, it likely wasn't documented.

And that was the end of Afton's birthday.  It is a little bit hard to believe that she's gotten this old already (hard to believe and sad are different).  Next thing you know, she'll be riding a bike, asking questions about everything, eating with a fork, and telling me jokes.  Some of my favorite jokes as a kid were the "Yo Mama" variety.  I can just picture it.  One day Afton will be standing around with some of her little buddies and say, "Yo mama's so fat, I tried to drive around her but I ran out of gas."  Her friends will laugh, then another one will say, "Yo mama's so dumb, it takes her two hours to watch 60 Minutes."  Laughter again.  Then another friend will say, "Well, yo mama's so dumb, it took her eight years to finish a four-year college degree."  Afton won't get that joke though.  Or she'll get offended.  Because that's what her mama did.

That's right.  I finally graduated!!!

Aaaaaanndd..... this is the part where I wrap up this post.  I don't have a whole lot to say about graduation except for that I. Am. DONE.  That's the best part.  No more homework, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks... right?  

And there is one more thing that I absolutely have to say.  Yes, this was difficult and I'm so glad I did it, and I do feel like it is an accomplishment.  But something that I feel has not been given justice (mostly my own fault) is how much Ty did to make this possible.  He didn't do my homework for me, but he picked up my slack everywhere else, he encouraged me, he put his own work aside and just squeaked by when possible, he cleaned, he cooked, he played with Afton, he stayed up late, and the list goes on.  He really sacrificed just as much, if not more, than I did for this to happen.  

There was a moment during graduation where the graduates were asked to stand up and turn around to applaud their families.  This was the most emotional moment for me, and it doesn't quite do justice to how I feel.  I am so grateful for a husband who is loving and supportive, who encourages me and believes in me.  I am grateful for a husband who is willing and does sacrifice to do what is best for our little family.  He is a great man, and this big event made me even more grateful for him.  

P.S.  Now I have time to do cool things.  Like write blogs.