The light at the end of the tunnel

I didn't think it would ever happen! I can finally see the light at the end of the graduation tunnel. After 5 straight semesters I am finally seeing the day of graduation! As of now, I have one computer test (which is a comprehensive test for the last 3 semesters...a little bit of stress), one final, one more presentation, and two days of class! WOW! My poor family is so excited to "have Mom back". They have been troopers. And, the best part, they've learned to do dishes, clean bathrooms, do laundry (okay, not up to my standards, but clean is clean, right?), and even do some grocery shopping. Now comes the hard part....finding a job!
Graduation is May 11th. The only downside is that I have to speak at the pinning ceremony. Not so sure that's a great thing....
I'm so excited! My mom and Nana are coming for my graduation, and will be here for a week. We plan to do a 5 generation picture while they are here! Yay!
Then, on the 22nd of May, Heath will be graduating from middle school. On the 27th, Jeff will be graduating from high school. Big partying will be going on at the Hansen's house!
Cedar Badge will be filling the month of June, as usual. Then, Jeff goes off to boot camp. Maybe I should have quit while I was ahead! I can't see the light at the end of that tunnel yet! :(

The circle of life!

This Sunday evening we welcomed the newest member of the family! A little 7 pound 3 oz, 19 1/2 inch pink bundle of joy! Our little Hannah already has her numerous uncles and aunts wrapped around her beautifully perfect little fingers! And, her grandparents are even more excited than the uncles and aunts, if that is possible. It seems not so very long ago that Kerry and I were welcoming Hannah's mom into our family....I can't believe that our baby has had a baby. The memories that come rushing back are incredible. I have been remembering things that her mama did as a baby and young child that have made me laugh and cry for the last two days. I'm sure that our little Hannah will bring at least as much joy to her mom and dad as our perfectly beautiful children brought into our lives. It's so much fun to look forward to the next generation growing up! By the way, our little Hannah is to be the fifth generation in upcoming photo shoots. I wonder if my Nana had any idea what she was starting? Probably not. I know that I didn't have a clue about what the future would hold the first time that I held that sweet little hand of my first baby. I only knew that I loved her with all of my heart before she even arrived. Now, we look around and see our six children, two sons-in-law, and our first grandchild. The circle of life continues on! :D

I miss four seasons!

When I moved to Idaho all those years ago, from a warmer place in the south, I kept hearing how much I was going to love the beauty and the four seasons (which, presumably, I had never seen). Well, I've lived here for going on 11 years (gasp! I can't believe it has really been that long!). So far, I've only really seen two seasons, winter and road construction. You see, it's so blasted cold here at the north pole, that they cannot fix potholes or do any other kind of road construction without a certain temperature. That is usually found during the month of July. Last year, it snowed on June 16th. I think that was the last snow that we had. Today (well into what should be spring) I shoveled 4 inches of snow off of the walks and driveway when I got home from the hospital. I had a patient that really wanted to go home today. I opened the shade in her window, and told her to have a look. She is staying an extra day. I don't blame her. Seems we go straight from Winter to summer here...I really wish I could see these four seasons the locals keep telling me about!