Oregon Trip Part 2: Dr. White's graduation!

So graduation day I was panicking that it was going to rain.  It didn't help either when my friend, Kim, said she heard there were thunderstorm warnings for about 2 o'clock (graduation started at 1:30).  It was, of course, set for outside and had rained every year they had started having it outside for EIGHT years.  

Amazingly - the weather was FANTASTIC.  A little cloudy, but warm.  SO thankful for that!

I left Ross and Ruby with my great friend, Michelle to play with her cute kids while we went to the ceremony.  The whole program including the handing out of degrees only took two hours.  The speeches were short, funny and sweet, and my heart was touched multiple times realizing how hard we worked for this and what a great feeling of accomplishment it was.  
 

The Class!

Steve livin' the moment.

Steve's hand in the sea of people!

The reverend who tried to confirm that it was only a coincidence that it was his first year at that University and that the weather was fabulous. ;)

The President of Pacific University Dr. Lesley M. Hallick

The Physical Therapy class being presented as graduates to the school, moving their tassles to the left. :)

While watching my insanely talented, brilliant, good looking husband receive his degree and good, my heart just wanted to leap out of my chest with happiness.  And then I got a little tweak of maybe wanting my own hood someday.  I never was insanely interested in a Masters - for sure a Bachelors, but I knew I wanted to be at home with my children, raising them to be everything they're meant to be, so I've always been content.  I still feel that way, but if it worked out - I think I'd really like a masters.  Those hoods just look too cool. ;)

It's blurry but you can't mistake that smile like he's been waiting for this moment for three solid years!

Ahhhhh - feels so good - Dr. White :)

Hooded by Dr. Rutt

Getting that degree from Dr. Hallick

Doctorate of Physical Therapy - CHECK! :)

Stephen was walking on air the whole day - he's had that same smile since the second he found out he passed his Boards and was thrilled to be there with his classmates receiving the fruit of all they worked for.  It truly was a beautiful day in every sense of the word.  We are SO proud of the head of our family.  He is such a wonderful example to us of working hard for what you want and not letting seemingly impossible things stay impossible. :)  We love you Dr. White.  You are such a wonderful man!

Sam getting hooded :)

Kim's husband, Cameron getting hooded for Optometry!

Tim our Garden Grove neighbor getting his Optometry degree as well.

Oliver Mullins getting his Optometry degree - he was in my mission in England with me!  Woot woot!  Love his little family!

After the ceremony, pictures (some of them taken by my amazing friend, Rebecca), and talking with friends, we headed out for a graduation dinner to our favorite Indian restaurant over in Oregon - Crusts and Curry.  FABULOUS.
 

Cheese!  Way to go dad!

Ruby loving all the commotion :)

And now the kids are no longer into the "taking pictures" part of the day. :)

Love my man :)

Proud Fam!

Rubes with Grammy Joanne

She is WAY too gorgeous :)

And wants my camera :)

It's the real deal :)

Random girl with a crazy amount of leis!

The Back Row Boys! aka Steve's close friends: Tony, Sam and Mike.

Steve and Emily :)

Steve and Lauren :)

Investigating some sweet awesome rhododendrons. :)

Gigantic!

 My friend Rebecca's GREAT pics. :)

Ross is his Daddy's boy. :)

Ross thought Daddy's hat was pretty sweet. :)

My parents - Stan and Joanne, Ruby, me, Ross, Steve, Steve's parents Don and Claudia and  his brother Thomas.

Tate, Perry, Nicole, Me and Steve!

I think I did this raise the roof about a hundred times that day!  Wahoo!  Stephen gave me a Stole of Gratitude which is a demonstration of appreciation for those who helped turn the dream of a college education into a reality at the commencement ceremony.  It was very sweet. :) LOVE him.

Steve GQing the hood. ;)

My favorite picture.  You would jump for joy too finishing graduate school!

Trying to make fire with Thomas.  It was a bit to humid that day. :)

Other favorite picture!  Hooray for Dad!

We had to emphasize the hood and degree here!

My brilliant Dr!

SUCH a happy day!

That night we got back to our friends for a night like old times - playing a super fun game, Bonanza, planting bean plots, harvesting coins, and harassing each other to trade beans.  Our Parky friends (from our first apartment in Oregon - Parkview) the Vosses and Listers came and played with us and the Jaggis.  We laughed our heads off and had such a fabulous time.  LOVE them.  We had so many of those nights hanging out.  I miss that.

Steve, Me, Jen and Jed Lister - LOVE them.

Steve-o and Rebecca Jaggi, Me and Steve - such GREAT friends!

 We stayed up WAY late chatting every night with the Jaggis.  Crazy stories came out as well as some CRAZY tricks. :)  Look at what Rebecca can do!

Playing before good-byes!

Hugs good-bye

Jack and Ross had so much fun together.  Ross almost made off with Jack's Buzz Lightyear too - ALMOST. 

The next morning we visited our old ward and said hello to a few other friends we hadn't met up with and Ross got to see he fabulous nursery teacher, Jen, he had the whole time he was in Oregon.  He LOVED her.  I was so happy to see her again too!  After our good-byes we then headed to Newport to meet up with our fams.  Oh it went to quick, but it was so much fun being back in Forest Grove. 

Ruby was best friends with Jed at church - they hung out for about half of Sacrament Meeting!