Way to go, I-da-ho!

If anyone really, truly knows me, then they know that Idaho will forever have a special place in mine and my husband's hearts. More specifically: Eastern Idaho. BYU-Idaho is a place where goals are achieved, loves stories are started, babies are born, and life-long friends are made. I love everything about Rexburg and miss the memories made there. I don't know exactly what it is (perhaps "the spirit of Ricks"?) but it seems to illicit the warmest, kindest, and most genuine feelings in me; truly ones that are only harbored by the Spirit. So naturally when I finally finished school after 20 years, we couldn't NOT go to Idaho to receive that empty diploma case that not-so-accurately defines all the effort and work put into it.

I wouldn't say that we went to Idaho to graduate, that was just what we did one of the days. We went to see, to remember, to show, and to feel. I had the best time talking to Ellie and showing her where mom and dad went to school. She loved the campus and kept asking "Is this my school?" to which I would respond, "One day, if you want."

We left after church on Sunday and enjoyed the whole week there and didn't leave until Saturday.

The drive is 12 hours from Folsom to Rexburg, but we split the ride there into two six-hour drives. It was manageable and we didn't completely lose our minds. 

The kids had a ball in the hotel. They sat like this for 5 minutes until they found something more interesting to do (i.e. the telephone, refrigerator, desk, ironing board, etc).

On Monday, we got up early and made it to Pocatello without any issues. We stopped by to visit my nursing friend, Rachel, who just had a baby three weeks prior. She is the sweetest and I'm so glad we got to catch up. I think I would have visited more of all those awesome nursing pals I gained, but most of them had moved away from Idaho.

Love you Rach!

Then we drove the rest of the way to Rexburg and went to Craigo's (now Pizza Pie Cafe) with Stevie and Cole. We chowed down on that deliciousness before heading to one of my favorite temples on the planet. The grounds has a lot of beautiful green grass (a nice change from the barren, drought-diseased grass back home) so we relaxed, played some tag with the kids, and enjoyed the view.

That evening, and for the remainder of the trip, we stayed with one of the best friends we've ever had, Natalie and Mark and their little boy Purcell. They are amazing and we had the BEST time with them. They also housed my parents and brother Tuesday evening. Can't thank them enough.

Tuesday was spent on campus. I had to pick up my graduation shtuff and wanted to get a glimpse of BYU-Idaho one last time before I graduated. Tristan got to meet up with a few co-workers and classmates and had a great time with them while I got things taken care of.

I was sure to show Ellie my picture on the wall in the Clarke building where I spent countless hours. I think she thought it was pretty cool. I felt like a celebrity and will now be immortal. Until they take the pictures down.

We spent the remainder of the day hanging with Emerson and Natalie (Mark had to work, bummer). They have an amazing house, backyard, and garden. Along with a chicken coop. Didn't I tell you they were cool?

Cooling off on this HOT day! (Sup Trist?)

The water was freeeeezing, but it felt nice in the heat.

Then we (Tristan and Ellie) helped Natalie pick some beets and carrots. Ellie loved the garden. Throughout the week we also picked countless raspberries, a couple strawberries, snap peas, peas in the pod, and lettuce. Needless to say, the Purcells fed us very well.

Caleb, enjoying himself a tasty popsicle.

Ellie and Emerson got along perfectly. Caleb tackled Emerson a few times, but seemed to get along for the most part. How cute is he in all that corn? Ellie loved to watching and feeding the chickens and even let Emerson sit on her lap! The cutest.

Emerson and Caleb did not let each other share seats, however.

On Wednesday my parents and brother came (my in-laws and brother-in-law got in the evening before) so it was obviously going to be a great day. And also because I was graduating that day. Woot! We started the day off feeding some horses. Natalie and Mark were surrounded by pastures and Ellie was begging to ride them. I told her we could feed them and once she got close to them and realized how big they were, I don't think I could have bribed her to ride them anyway.

Nat showed us what to pick and how to feed them.

Horse-y selfies! This one was the prettiest with its bright-blue eyes. It also happens to be Emerson's favorite horse. (I was so scared the horse was going to bite my hair off, how devastating with that be?)

Nat was born and raised in Vegas, but she was born to be a hippy-farmer-outlaw.

(Okay she's not really a rule-breaker per se, but is sounds cool!)

Caleb was pretty mesmerized.

Then FINALLY uncle Mickey got there and immediately started playing with my kids. 

He is always welcome in my home.

Even if he chucks balls at my son.

After a delicious BBQ (thanks to Tristan and Natalie) we headed out for my commencement and convocation. I borrowed my friend's husband's cap and gown (because I wasn't going to pay for another one) and felt a little silly when I put it on and it went down to my ankles. I didn't realize how tall her husband was. 

Tristan (who is not great about taking pictures) suddenly bombarded us with picture-taking. So thank you Trist for your devotion to the cause and for heeding the complaints of your vain wife.

My eight dollar, 2014 tassel broke shortly after this picture. What a waste. But at least I got a picture with it! Too bad I look a little ridiculous. 

I love my Ellie girl and had to put these pictures up because she kept hugging me and saying "I'm so proud of you, mom!" It was the best gift for graduating, ever. Especially because she was the one who would hang out with me while I did my homework and pretend to do it with me. She'd sit on my lap and watch videos about advanced physical assessments and thumb through textbooks with me. She really was my greatest motivator. I wanted her to understand the importance of education and there's no doubt in my mind that she'll remember those times spent together in the future.

After an amazing commencement with the Young Women's general president Bonnie L. Oscarson, we took pictures and then waited for my convocation which is where I actually "walk". The first thing Caleb did when he saw me was take off my cap.

Just a little tip: look for Mickey in the background, he is the master photo-bomber and I love it! I mean really, it is quite the talent. 

Ellie, you're still cute, even from behind.

I thought I got a picture with Stevie, Cole, Mickey, Trent and Marisha, but I think it was one their phones. So they need to text/email me those pictures! 

Having these kids cheer me on... Not many things better.

The convocation was great and Tristan and Mickey said they weren't too bored. So that's good. My parents and in-laws wouldn't complain, obviously, I mean they were beaming with pride ;).

This is what I look like when I walk, apparently. Notice the 2014 is missing? I should have just by-passed the tassel altogether. (Bitter, much?)

I gave Ellie my flower and she loved it. She "planted" it in Natalie's garden the next day.

I graduated Cum Laude again (I also did with my Associates) and couldn't have done it without my mom and dad who always expected us to try our best and pursue our desires. All of my siblings are successful in their own, and very different ways and I can't thank my parents enough for their quiet examples. Also, I am eternally indebted to my in-laws, Sheldon and Lesa, for watching my children when I inevitably put off an assignment or two until the day it was due. I have to add Trent in here too because although I never formally asked him to watch my kids, he would do it anyway. He also helped me with assignments as well and if ever I had medication questions, he could always offer insight (he's a pharm-tech, he knows his stuff). And can't forget Tristan, who was my first and favorite patient. I can't count how many times I've practiced assessments on him. He gave me ideas when working through projects and assisted in assignments on more than one occasion. The only complaint I ever heard him say was "Markie, you're boring" on weekday evenings when I would be working on homework after the kids had gone down and he'd want to hang out with me (naturally, because I'm so fun). In all truthfulness he deserved this degree as much as I did because I certainly did not achieve it on my own. Tristan pointed out right after I received my diploma that ever since we've known each other, I've never not been in school. Hooray for being done! 

My mom, dad, Mickey, Stevie, Cole, Lesa, Sheldon, Trent, and Marisha all left the next day. But I can't thank them enough for joining me on such an important achievement in my life. It meant so much to me for them to be there, if only for a short period of time. My other siblings and in-laws couldn't be there but I'm grateful for their support all the same. 

Thursday was chill-out-and-relax day. We got to spend time with friends, which I think was when the true vacation started. We were always entertained and never got bored. Natalie even let Tristan and I leave with just Ellie while Caleb and Emerson napped. We got snow cones walked around the gardens on campus.

We even spotted a rabbit that Ellie was thrilled about. We may have chased it for a little while.

Afterward we went to Rexburg Rapids (I forgot to take pictures!) with the kids and had so much fun! It was windy so it was kind of cold, but we still had fun. Later, we had dinner at one of our favorite Chinese food places in Rexburg while one of our favorite families.

Emerson, Mark, Tristan, and a sleeping Ellie.

Caleb, me, and Nat. She's beautiful on the inside too.

After dinner we went to visit Wilbur, Nat and Mark's pig that is at Mark's sister's house just outside Rexburg (their's is the little one in the middle). The pigs were everything I expected: stinky, dirty, snort-tastic, with cute little curly tales.

We also busied ourselves with their cool trampoline. I don't know that my kids have ever been on such a big one. While they were enjoying themselves, Tristan was having a heart attack on every other jump because he thought someone was going to break their arm.

There was never a dull-moment with the Purcells. I think we may have known them before we came to this earth. Friday, was our last day. We enjoyed ourselves some fresh fruit from the garden and a nice day at the park.

Nat teaching Ellie and Caleb about strawberries

Caleb picking some raspberries. He absolutely loved doing this. Every morning and afternoon we'd go check and see if more had ripened so that we could eat them. Emerson showed us how it was done. Natalie also took the chickens out of the coop to roam around a little bit in the mornings too.

Which would then lead to some obligatory corn field runs. They were actually chasing Boots, their cat/rodent-catcher.

Ellie and Caleb were pretty obsessed with him.

We definitely enjoyed the wide opens spaces that Idaho has to offer and that California is lacking in.

Trist was popular.

So was the basketball hoop.

At the park, we went in the splash pad and on the carousel and went on the swings and played on the jungle gym. It was very successful.

We actually went on the carousel twice. They just couldn't get enough.

They must have been on the swings for 20 minutes. Nat, you're a super model.

Afterward we met up with Mark and went to Carry Anne's to enjoy ourselves some custard and italian ice. This place didn't exit when we lived in Rexburg, but Nat and Mark were ranting and raving about it. And they did not lie. It was the best thing that have passed through these lips of mine. No joke. 

Delicious is not an accurate enough adjective.

After popcorn and a movie, Ellie entertained us a little bit.

She even went to the garden to pick a carrot and some beets like a real horse? She had good intentions.

Then we played some games and watched some hilarious videos and enjoyed our last evening with these cool cats. They have a beautiful home, beautiful yard and garden, beautiful child, and beautiful personalities. It's safe to say they're everything that I want to be in a motivating-noncovetous way. Love you Natalie and Mark, thank you so much for letting us bombard your house and life for a week!

Saturday, we drove home. The whole way. 12 hours straight. But we did stop in Pocatello on our way out to visit another one of our friends from Rexburg whom we love dearly. Stu and Nicole and their children Ella, Dillon, and Lily will always claim a piece of my heart, and a huge one at that. Nicole was my first friend in our married-student ward. Stu and Nicole together are the kindest people, best parents, and greatest friends I have ever known.

Ellie holding Lily and Dillon hugging Caleb.

I know this is a horrible picture because I was talking, but I had to put it up with my beautiful Nicole. She is the best example of everlasting, eternal love. We spoke of what we'd been up to, future plans, and of course their late daughter, Ella (who I still have a hard time discussing because of the strong emotions that encompass that beautiful soul). We shared hugs, laughter, tears, and love. Tucker family, we love you!

And Idaho, we love you too! Thank you for the memories. It was enriching.

(This was the longest post ever).