seriously, how much stuff?

I can't believe how much stuff we have! Our house is teeny tiny and yet I'm finding myself puzzled at how much we have. I'm truly counting my blessings, but can't I count it by just moving and leaving it all behind?!

Packing is a joy, but my puzzlement is:

Why does it make an even bigger mess than you originally started with?

The principle is relatively simple. You take an item, place item in box and then follow suit with a lot more items. When I get done filling up a box, I tape it closed and then see a few other little piles around said box. WHERE did those come from?!!

I no longer care about putting "like things together" (sorry Mom, you DID teach me and I did listen) but I just don't care now. I was a rebel today and put games along with my sewing supplies along with some silverware. And I didn't even care! (If you knew me, I'd be losing sleep over that if I actually cared!)

Whew...the countdown is on. This is our last Friday night in Moscow, Idaho. I'm feeling a little sad about it!

P.S. Happy Birthday Kristin!

more graduation

I love this picture! Ryan, Diane's Mom and Diane.

Ryan, me and Judge N. Randy Smith, who was the key speaker from commencement. He serves on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He and Ryan had a lot to talk about, since Ryan just got back from California arguing in front of the Ninth Circuit the night before!

Those cute goofballs again.

The cake that we honored the graduates with.

After graduation, we all went over and had a BBQ with the study group for one last party. We ate good food, reminisced about the happy times and hard times of law school. We laughed a lot and shared stories and jokes. Some of the jokes went right over my head, but I laughed anyway. It was just nice to be there for Ryan and support him.

Eddie The Puppy is such a good sport! My kids just adore him. We're sure going to miss him. We bought a dog bowl just for him, so when he visits, we'll pull it out for him!

I love this picture of Tina and her boyfriend!

Mark getting REALLY into character for one of the legendary stories...

We gave Mark, Diane and Brandon bottles of their own 2007 Cabernet from a local winery here in Moscow. We chose wine because now we all can take a tangible piece of Moscow with us wherever we go. (and because we all don't drink, we'll always have it!)

Me and Tina.

Tina, Mark, Ryan and Diane.

Diane just loves it!
Ryan and Mark say goodbye as tough men.
Christy and Tina.
We went back to Mark and Christy's place to settle debts from over the last couple years. Who owes who how much, etc. We got sidetracked (gasp!) and talked for a few more hours.
Christy's got out her checkbook and calculator.

This is neat. Ryan and I have always said that the FIRST big framed picture that we want in our home after law school (because they're so darn expensive!) is the one of George Washington kneeling beside his horse. I LOVE that picture. Holdaways gave it to us for a graduation gift. I was in tears, it meant so much to me!!

Thank you to all for making this graduation so special!

excitement, exhaustion and a juris doctor degree!

We did it!

Ryan received his Juris Doctor Degree yesterday and I am so thrilled. We were fortunate to have his mom, dad, brother and sister come into town to support us on this wonderful day. Thank you, Holdaways, for waking early after being so exhausted and driving like crazy to be here!

This is "The Group" and they got together the very first semester. They've been together ever since.

All the graduates out front the law building for a group picture before Commencement began.
My adopted sister, Alicia! She's so cute. (what do you know...her name even begins with 'A')!We got into the Kibbie Dome and chose our seats. We waited and waited and finally the ceremony began. Pomp and Circumstance began and so did my tears.

And here they come! I wanted to badly to yell out, "Walk faster, would ya?"

I could hardly see because of the tears streaming down my cheeks. I was praying and thanking Heavenly Father for my wonderful husband. I'm so tickled that THIS picture actually turned out.


Since my camera is very stupid and can't take good pictures, I had to take snapshots of the big screens to get anything non-blurry.
Here, he is getting hooded and receiving his "J.D." (it's just a piece of paper, the real one is coming in the mail)


This group played beautiful music for prelude and postlude, as well as accompanied us in a couple songs during the ceremony. We sang, "Here We Have Idaho" because it's the University's Alma Mater. I remember learning it in grade school and have always loved it! That was fun.

Ryanna was such a good sport. It was freezing in the Dome and she had a fever, so she wasn't feeling well. I brought the Nintendo DS for her to play and she just sat there quietly.

The pulpit where the addresses were given.

You see that blur on the screen?! That's my Ryan!!

He was walking weirdly down the ramp and afterwards I overheard him say, "I was just really worried about doing something dumb on the stage that I didn't pay attention to anything else!"

I don't think he's ever smiled so big in his life, I can see his teeth 25 feet away!

I smiled so big, it distorted my face! This is Ryan and I RIGHT after he walked off that stage!

After the ceremony, there was a nice reception immediately following. I told my mother-in-law MarLeah that she'd better enjoy the $90,000 snack we were paying for!
The graduate and his dad, Gaylan.

The other two goofballs that we claim as being related to us! Sabrina and Garrison are awesome!
Ryan and Tina Russom.

Grandpa Gaylan loves Ryanna!

Ryan, Kevin Griffiths and Rose Duffy.

He's such a good Daddy.

Ryan and Professor Laflin, who is absolutely fabulous. She is the one in charge of the Appellate Clinic and supervised Ryan. This is who made it possible for Ryan to argue in front of the Ninth Circut Court of Appeals last week. She is tremendous and was very helpful to Ryan!

After we left the Kibbie Dome, we were immediately changing and going to dinner. We needed more pictures while it was still sunny outside:
The graduate!

The kids are proud of their dad!

Ryan and his fabulous parents!! You both are wonderful, thank you for supporting us on this special day.

We're all so proud of him.


It's a weird and cool purple hood, the whole regalia is interesting. It's highly confusing and took a few people to put it on! It even comes with instructions, but you still have to mess with it to get it right. So regal!

Hey Captain Morgan! Love you Ryan, so proud of you!!!
(After dinner, we stayed and talked for a few more hours. I'll post those pictures later! Thank you to Holdies for taking the kids back and putting them to bed, so we could stay and play one last time with the law group!)