Dental Graduation Party

 I knew I wanted to throw Keith a graduation party months before I had Emmett. I started pinning ideas on Pinterest back in December but couldn't figure out if I wanted it to be a surprise. I also wasn't sure how I was going to pull it all off with a new baby. When Katie came I knew I could enlist her help. We set the date for the last day she was with us. I could not have done it without her! Sarah also came over and helped so much with finishing touches on food and decorations.

 The sweet teeth were the biggest hit. I was glad because they were a pain in the butt to put together.

 We wanted a "numbing station" with otter pops but we bought the popsicles that day and they weren't frozen in time for the party.

 We ended up not making it a surprise. There was no way I could have hid everything from Keith and I wanted him to put a guest list together. We held the party at our clubhouse and while it's a good size, we didn't have room/food for everyone at our complex and in our ward. We hated leaving people out but we decided it was best to keep it smaller and invite those we were closest to.

 We were so busy all day I didn't have a chance to get the kids or myself ready.

 We had a great turnout and I know Keith felt a lot of love from all the people who have supported us these past 4 years.

 These were taken towards the end of the party so some had already left and some latecomers aren't pictured,

 Blue Steel

 I had this board under the couch for a year just waiting to be put to use

Graduation!

 The day Keith graduated from Dental School ranks in the top 10 best days of our married life. It was so incredible and humbling to see 8 years of hard work pay off. Keith was beaming the entire day.

 

 We arrived early so we could get a spot so we had plenty of time to kill. I was pretty annoyed that we were up in the balcony. They didn't require tickets and some grads invited everyone they'd ever had contact with in their lives. I thought immediately family should have gotten first dibs on the good seats.

 Katie of course was able to come and so were Kirk and Joy. We left all the little ones (Annabelle, Clara, Melody and Serena) with a babysitter.

 Emmett. Normally he is a nearly perfect baby but he started fussing so bad once the ceremony started that I ended up nursing him in the middle of it. He then blew up the back of his outfit. Then he puked all over me and his next outfit. He spent the rest of the ceremony in the nude. 

As Keith was getting in line to go up on stage, Kenzie started jumping up and down telling me she had to go potty. I told her to hold it. It was clear she wasn't going to be able to do that. One of the other wives saw what was happening across the room and rushed to my rescue. She took Kenzie potty and they got back right as Keith's name was announced.

Look at that smile

 Getting "hooded"

 I learned during the ceremony that different doctorate degrees have different colors. His hood is violet for dental and red for U of L.

Waving at us as the grads made their exit. Kenzie called out "that's my daddy" and made everyone around us laugh.

Keith's parents were sad they couldn't make it. They offered to come out for graduation or to help us move. Because of work, they would only have been able to stay a couple of days if they came for graduation. I let Keith choose and he chose to have them come when we move. We were so happy to have his siblings there with us.

One of Keith's classmates, Derek. I had to include this picture because of Emmett's sweet smile.

One of Keith's favorite professors, Doctor Boyd.

 Family pic. Sorry Clara, we do love you.

 Some pre-ceremony pictures with his whole class.

 Love him!

 Kenz has told me she wants to be a dentist like her daddy.

 We hit Mark's feed store for some local BBQ after the graduation.

 The kids were SO good!

Dental Awards Ceremony

 I have to brag for a minute. Keith is an excellent husband, father, student and Priesthood holder. He balanced everything so well and at the end of it all he had great grades, rocked his boards (he got a breakdown of his scores and seriously, he rocked them!) and he also received the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award. Several awards were presented at the banquet and we had a good dinner at a table with some of Keith's classmates that we really like.We also left Emmett at home with Katie which was really fun. Keith even took me out on the dance floor. I think the last time we danced was at our wedding.

These bats were given to all the students at graduation. Keith also got a time capsule sheet back that he filled out at the beginning of Dental school. I thought it would be fun to record a few questions and answers here as Keith was dead on for a few:

"Pretend it's now May, 2013 and you're getting ready to leave the 'twilight zone.' How would you answer the following questions?"

Married? Then answer:
  I have 3 additional children. If more than zero, number of:  boys 1; girls 2
         (We both got what we wanted here)

I will do the following immediately after graduation: Go into military specifically, Air Force
               (This obviously didn't work our for us but we know there has to be a reason for it)

I was a class and or/student gov. officer: NO

The national champion in college basketball in 203 will be: Louisville
      (Had I not just had Emmett the week before, he would have been at that game)

In July, 2009, I owned a Chevy Impala

In May, 2013, I own a Chevy Impala. 
     (Boy are we glad this car held up all four years)

I owe the following amount in University parking fines: 0
   (not true, he had several fines:)

We are so grateful for our Dental school experience and the two children that joined our family during it! There was a budget sheet too that was hilarious I can't find. Let's just say Keith had some really low expectations for our monthly budget. There was only one point during freshman year we were really strapped for money and we made it through. It was always tight but we were so grateful to always be able to pay our bills on time. Those last two years, Keith was able to work at the school which brought in enough income to have a little fun money. I was blessed with a job at the preschool so Kenzie could attend and I could earn some extra cash as well.

 We have really seen the Lord's blessings in our lives and I know we will always cherish the "poor" period of our lives. Truly we never did feel poor because we were so rich with children, good friends and the Gospel in our lives.