Graduation

Celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Lyla and limes

 and Parker leaning like a cholo

 He literally reminded me to stop and smell the flowers (on our way out of the police station retrieving a police report because someone was using my name for fraudulent accounts), which was much needed as we were preparing to move back home and go to and from California to graduate. Such a sweet boy.

 So dang excited to pack up and leave. Oklahoma wasn't exactly our favorite rotation. A lot of frustrations and circumstances we'd prefer not to remember or deal with again, and just anxious to be done and move on to the next chapter of our lives. The missionaries were probably our favorite people there and the closest thing we had to "friends", but that was nobody's fault but our own. We didn't spend many weekends there and again, had one foot out the door since the minute we arrived. It was nice to not have many responsibilities other than each other and focus our energies on just that.

 Temper tantrums are in full-swing over here BTW, incase you were wondering.

We packed up our stuff and left it in the front room of our tiny little apartment, packed our bags for California into our car, and drove home to my parents' house. Spent the night, finished going through our things to grab for California, realized Spirit airlines' weight limit was 40 lbs instead of the usual 50, reorganized and purged, ate a bite, and flew out the door to catch a plane to California. The flight went well, and we arrived in time to catch a bus to the car rental place. Parker was stoked out of his mind we were on a real bus, his first experience. He demanded we sing "Wheels On The Bus", so we did.

 We drove straight to Jason and Geri's for dinner and to celebrate Jason's birthday. Mikey joined us and it was as if we were all 1st years again, totally naive to the upcoming journey optometry school would bring us all. What a ride it has been for all of us!

Soon we had to leave to get the kids down, so we headed to our friends', the Dallas and Anna, where we were staying the first part of our trip. After catching up, we finally headed to bed. The next day we lounged around, Steve played golf with Jason and Mike, then we packed up and headed to my favorite place ever, the beach!

Parker was obsessed with the ocean, and loved running in and out of the waves, jumping into the crashing ones, and playing with Addi. I think they heart each other.

These girls are some of my favorite. Fellow optometry students, running partners, Bachelor nights, Bunco nights, beach buddies, and, well, just best buds.

Parker learned how to jump spin off of the neighboring pits into the sand, probably one of his favorite things ever.

The next day we got to go to our old church ward and see everyone. After being there for 10 minutes, I turned to Steve and told him it felt as if we had never left. California feels like home, when nowhere else does. We'd spent the most time there of our married lives so far, and we both ached missing it. That evening we went to Brian's parents' house with Jason and Geri and Mike for some grilling and reminiscing in the beautiful weather. And ice cream.

 Parker getting some Geri time

 Lunch with Erica...going to miss her and the palm trees!

Met Steve on campus after a day of lectures for some In-and-Out after one of the students' dads had a truck come to the school for the students to celebrate being the first year to get 100% pass rate on boards II (the clinical portion). We've spent many evenings at this courtyard as a family and with friends, and especially Steve on campus for classes. So many memories!

While Steve had seminars the next day, we went to the beach, naturally. Parker again, loved it, and I loved watching him love it. I got to stretch out and lay down on the sand while Lyla slept in her carseat and Parker ran around. It was absolutely heavenly.

Geri, Lyla and I went to East LA to eat some Tex-Mex at Homestate. It was delicious and the company was even better. We were both itching to check out the Goodwill across the street, but didn't have any luck.

 Steve's family got into town the evening before graduation, so we hung out a bit, then they watched the kids so we could go to dinner with our year of friends as Rachelle was supposed to be in town, but she didn't make it in until later. We still had a great dinner, then Steve and everyone else went to let loose at karaoke while I stayed home to put the kids down. I was super bummed I missed this one last hurrah with these people who have been our family over the last 4 years, but I'll live. I suppose...

Graduation Day! We went to the beach with Andersons, Parker loved playing with Grandma and Lori in the water, then frisbee on the sand. Lori and I both dove in, totally exhilarating! 

The hour preceding leaving for graduation was seriously crazy trying to get out of the door on time with both kids, but we somehow managed to not forget anyone and got there on time. Steve hopped out to go get in line while I stayed in the car to feed Lyla. As she was eating, I realized I forgot wipes. Hopefully neither kid will need their diaper changed, I thought. Just as I thought that, she had a massive blowout all over her white dress and the lap of my dark, silky dress. Awesome. Oh, and just then, Steve texts me to tell me to hurry, because seats were filling up fast and apparently people were bringing more guests than they had tickets for. After lots of torn tissues to clean both of us up, we both somehow got presentable and I packed them both up and booked it in my heels to drop them off to the chaos that was the babysitting. Success! I found both of our families and sat down with a couple minutes to spare.

 After some incredibly boring speakers finished, the two valedictorians spoke, which were much better, then they finally got to the part we had all been waiting for!

My baby got his diploma!

 Reading the optometric oath

Dr. Stephen Anderson, doctor of optometry. SO proud of my amazing husband and the wonderful person he is, regardless of the extra little letters he has earned after his name. He means the world to me, Parker, and Lyla, and we are so so happy to have him back into our lives and never a student again! Optometry school has been such a tender, incredible time in our lives where we have made some lifelong friends and memorites. Congrats, darling, you did it!

 Proud momma, dad, and sister right there! They have always been incredibly interested in and supportive of Steve and of our family, and we are thankful to have them in our lives. We love each of you!

 My parents, also so happy they could come out to support him! Thank you for all of your support!

Brian and Mike, two of his closest friends and study buddies. Jason and Geri couldn't make it to graduation, otherwise he'd be in the picture as well. Steve probably spent more time with these guys than he did me, and he'll definitely miss them.

After taking family pictures a couple days prior, and the pictures at graduation, he's severely traumatized from being told to sit still and smile. This was after I promised some ice cream....

With the chaos that our life was prior to the trip and during the trip, Steve never thought too much about where he wanted to go eat to celebrate after, so he quickly decided on this legit Mexican place in Placentia, El Farolito. The Andersons, my parents and I met there and enjoyed a great dinner while Lyla slept. Steve kept saying that he couldn't believe it was over....

We said goodbye and see-ya-later to my parents, got the kids back to Chris and Julia's where we were staying the last part of our trip, and stayed up with them late chatting and eating oreos. It was so nice to be done with most of the hustle and bustle, and just relax. He was done. 

The next morning we met up with Andersons for breakfast at Plum Cafe in Costa Mesa, said goodbye, and met up with our good friends, Dryw and Stephanie and their boys, and Julia and her girls. It was such a great beach day and we were extremely sad to leave, knowing it would be our last time for a while.

One last dinner that night with more dear friends, the Florences, then took off for home the next morning. Sad to see a whirlwind four years end, but we're excited for what is to come. We'll be back to visit! And I'm making Steve buy me a beach house, so we'll always have that...