GRaDuaTIoN

Saturday, May 12, 2012.

I don't think I ever, seriously, thought this day would come. I mean in all reality, I never pictured it. I think maybe subconsciously I figured if all I did was focus on the end, I wouldn't enjoy the middle. And the middle was a blast! I wouldn't have changed these past 4 years for anything. I can only consider our experience in Buffalo to be the biggest blessing. When Travis applied, it looked like his most serious options were going to  be the Arizona dental school, A.T. Still, and Buffalo. At the time, we literally lived 5 miles up the road from A.T. Still. We joked that we could either stay exactly where we were and have almost nothing change. OR we could move over 2,000 miles, across the country and go to Buffalo. And after a lot of consideration and prayer, we knew we were supposed to go to Buffalo. I'm tearing up just thinking about it! I just feel so grateful. But I don't want to get all mushy yet! This was a happy day!

That morning we had very minimal food left in our fridge, one pot I had left out, a blender and a skillet. Mostly just because the skillet was too big for any of the other boxes right then. So I mixed the pancake batter in the pot, made the bacon, eggs and pancakes on the skillet. Flipped them with a plastic fork and make orange juice in the blender. I was kinda proud of myself. And I even scrounged up a graduation sign that I remembered I had probably back from ASU graduation. We were eating in style! :)

I can't even remember what we did the rest of the day, but probably just packed. Graduation was at 5pm, but the graduates had to be there at 4pm, so trusty Doug came by to pick up Trav. I had to take a picture. They have been carpooling buddies for the entire 4 years. And bless Doug for it! I don't think we could have managed this whole time with only one car without the Shaws. We owe them big time.

What handsome guys!!

Doug's parents were in town for the graduation so Paula, Carrie and I sat next to them and Rachel. I had dropped the boys off at Mallory's house so I could sit through the ceremony in peace. And I'm SO glad I did! It was so so so nice to be able to just sit and listen and take pictures and video tape without those two yahoos crawling all over me. 

Oh, on a separate note, this has to be added. After my mom's visit, two weeks ago, I couldn't find my video camera. I don't tape a lot, but I really wanted it for graduation and moving. I was beside myself. We thought of all the possible places it could be, searched the house, called the rental car company, called the Hill Cumorah, prayed, etc. etc. No camera. I finally called the rental car company again and plead my case and asked if I could come myself to search the car, but it was rented out again and wouldn't be returned until Sat. at 2pm. That gave me 2 1/2 hours to go get it, charge the battery and make it to graduation. And that was even if they found it! My dad didn't have much hope. He had rented cars for years... been on a first name basis with Avis, and never had anything returned from a rental car. Not even a phone cord. But I knew my mom was praying and she will probably be buried with her video camera, so I knew her heart was in this and her prayers would probably count double. Saturday morning came and I called just to check in, see if there was any news. I plead my case again to the lady who said her shift ended at 5pm and she would try to call me by then. At 3pm, my phone rang. It was a guy from Thrifty rental. He said, ".. they did find my camera." I stammered. "You said you DID, or DIDN'T find my camera?" He paused, "Yes, we DID find it." "OH MY GOSH!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! OH MY GOSH, THAT'S WONDERFUL! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! THIS IS SO GREAT! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!" He kind of chuckled. I don't think he knew what to do with me. And that folks, is the miracle of graduation day. For those that care anything about home videos.

The speeches were actually very nice. The president of the ADA happened to go to the Buffalo dental school and has a son in his third year there and he gave a really nice talk. Their class president, Nicole, also gave a funny, meaningful speech. 

And then it was time for the names to be called and each graduate to be "hooded", or have the hood draped around their neck by the dean. 

 I thought it was strange that the graduates were seated in the front of the auditorium instead of on the stage for us to see, but they came into the room and left in procession, so we could see everyone that way. When they first walked in, was when I got a little choked up. It was so surreal. Like, can this really be happening? So much work, SO much studying, testing, lectures and time have gone into this moment. Their president, Nicole said in her speech that they had taken something like over 3,000 tests. I can't count how many times I would be heading to bed and Trav would be in the Lazy Boy, with his computer in his lap, going over slides or lectures. I'd give him a kiss and glance over at the screen and think, "Ugh, I'm soooo glad I don't have to learn that." And I like school and learning! But that stuff, no way. Science is a whole other ball game and it was not easy material to learn. Just staring at the slide made my head hurt. 

He would also readily admit that the practical, hands on part was his favorite and what he felt comfortable with. It was the book work that gave him a headache. And there was a lot of book work! I am so grateful for all the effort that he put into this degree. This was a goal that he made way back in junior high. A measly 22 years of school in the making! I was just crazy proud of him.

Travis K. Evans, Doctor of Dental Surgery!

Here they are at the White Coat ceremony the beginning of first year. They've been through a lot together!

The {Mormons}, just missing Pace and Ryan.

I HAD to get a pic with him and Arie. 

Arie bats for the other team and Trav notoriously has trouble with those that play for that side. But on accident, they were made lab partners way back in first year. I teased him that it was meant to be. And I really believed that. I kind of love Arie. I think he's hysterical.

John's operatory was next to Trav's in the clinic so they were good friends.

Another {before} and {after}....

White Coat Ceremony

Graduation day!

We should be fist pumping or something.

Afterward, we picked up the boys and got them in bed so the neighbor twins could come babysit while we went to dinner. We had reservations at a fancier steak house called Black and Blue at 9pm. They gave us our own banquet room with a flat screen and everything. Not too shabby!

Rach and I decided we wanted to get a little something for the guys to commemorate the day and finally decided on some glasses with their new titles {embroidered... as Doug called it :)} on the front.

It's official! :)

Congratulations Dr. Evans!!! You did it!

The week before...

The week before graduation, Trav was done with school and clinic and basically had the whole week to party hardy with me! Not. 

We spent the first day at the water park together and then it was basically him and the boys hanging out while I packed. Then, his mom and sister, Carrie, came into town that Wednesday nigh,t so he would take the boys to go do all the typical sight seeing stuff that Carrie hadn't done before. It was really nice having the boys mostly out of my hair for several hours each day to just power through and pack. I don't think I would have been ready in time without it!

Before I get ahead of myself, his last week of clinic was pretty relaxed too. He had a lot of unused time off, so he skipped a couple days and then only went in for a couple hours in the morning. One day, he went with a bunch of buddies up to Toronto to watch a Blue Jays game. I told him to take pics. Here's what he came home with. I guess it would have been too girly to take a photo of themselves. This was actually when he discovered his passport was expired. They almost turned around, then debated on whether to hide him in the back, but then decided to just risk it. And whattaya know. The border didn't bat an eye!  

The past couple of times we've been to Palmyra, Collin discovered that it is great fun rolling down the Hill Cumorah. If you've never been, it's fairly steep. I wouldn't roll down it. I just diverted my eyes when Trav let him. And apparently when it was only Dad with him, this last time, he made it the whole way down. 

Another day it was a trip to the Falls. I wonder if Collin will even remember them once he's older. Probably not.

And of course we needed to take Carrie to Duffs! This was the night before graduation and we ran into three of Trav's classmates there with their families too.

For some reason Weston was getting such a kick out of putting the wing bucket on his head. The waitresses thought he was so adorable and gave us one to take home. 

I'm a little shocked to realize this was the only picture I took in the midst of packing up our house. It was pretty disastrous. But I scored a ton of great boxes at the mall and some really nice, sturdy produce ones from a friend. Add that to a massive roll of bubble wrap, 200 sheets of packing paper and 3 rolls of packing tape, and you've got yourself the Evans household. It was a love/hate sort of experience. It really is nice to clean things out, throw stuff away and basically take inventory of everything you own. But man, it's tedious! It reminded me that whether you want to or not, everyone should mover every 5 years or so. Or at least pretend you are and force yourself to act like you have to pack everything. It makes you really evaluate how much you want to keep some things. And I got rid of quite a lot. We also sold a ton of things on Craigslist. Oh Craigslist! What a wonderful site. Also, a pain in the a** sort of site. It brings out all the scammers, the flakes and the questionable characters. It took a lot of time to clean everything up, take pictures, upload pics and make advertisements. Answer calls and texts, set up appointments and help people move the stuff out. The guy that bought our house didn't want the appliances so we also had to sell our stove, fridge and dishwasher (only later we found out the dishwasher isn't considered an appliance and we shouldn't have sold it. Arggghhh!) We had a sweet, antique stove in the basement and record player that was in the house when we bought it, that we sold. A really nice guy came all the way from Ohio to pick up the stove and was tickled pink to have it. He's furnishing a second house in Ohio with all vintage appliances and plans on actually using it. He said he names all of his appliances and after being around Collin for a while (It took over an hour to dissemble it and move it out) he said he planned on naming it Collin. I know that probably sounds really creepy, but if you had met him, it wasn't. 

We sold our couches that were in the basement, some dining room chairs, a changing table, an old kitchen table, a grill, an office chair, an old sewing machine, a night stand and piano. And made over $600. Not too shabby! Especially considering that we were selling things that we had gotten for free.

OK, back to these pictures. Collin likes to hide a lot, but lets be honest, he's a terrible hider. He usually hides while I'm watching him, then thinks he's so sneaky, like I don't know where he is. Well this day, I was upstairs when I heard him call for me to come find him. I sighed, then came down the stairs and peeked in the office. No Collin. I wander to the kitchen. No Collin. And proceed to do this all over the house, becoming increasingly perplexed that I can't find him. Then I hear muffled giggling and return to the office. STILL can't figure it out. I finally call to him and the giggling is loud enough that I can narrow it down to a more specific location. 

Finally, I pull back the right flap and lo and behold, hide and seek is over. I was pretty amused that he got me. As I'm sure you can imagine, having a house full of boxes was loads of fun for these boys.

One more packing story...

While Trav and I went to the graduation dinner, Paula and Carrie watched the boys and ordered pizza for dinner. Collin wanted his slice cut smaller, but Paula told him the pizza cutter was packed. "Nu, uh!" he exclaimed and ran to the drawer to retrieve said cutter. Only, to his dismay, it wasn't there! That was puzzling. Not long after, something ran out of batteries so he was told it wouldn't work because it needed more batteries. Ever the problem solver, he ran to the spare room and pulled open the drawer in the desk where the batteries are kept. But... no batteries. Sorry, he was told again... they're packed! Now it was time to take a bath and Paula didn't have quite the torque to twist the knob to get it to drain. Collin had the answer! Get the hammer in the cupboard next to the bath tub... it's there for just this reason. Open cupboard... no hammer. I had actually just packed it that morning. Poor Collin! His little world was turning upside down. That's a lot for a little 3 yr. old to understand. We got a kick out of hearing all this when we got home. Lots of changes coming your way, Collin. :(

Dinners

A big reason why Travis enjoyed his interview at Buffalo so much, 4 years ago, was because of the students who helped at it. Really, they played a major role in Travis wanting to go to school there. They seemed to really love the experience they were having and made Trav feel like he would love it too. They were spot on.

So once he became a student, he always tried to make time to help with the interviews and tours going on in the fall. We also had lots of guys stay at our house during their interviews. Well, once you become a senior, you can apply to actually be on the admissions board for incoming students. So he did and was accepted. 

What's really weird to think about, is way back when we were just trying to decide where to apply, we were chaperoning a youth dance for our stake when we ran into an orthodontist that told us he went to Buffalo. He was a really nice, down to earth guy that impressed us and was the one and only reason we even applied to Buffalo. He told us that he had been on the admissions committee his senior year and told us a little about his memorable experiences and how much he had loved the school. He seemed to have really had a big impact on the school. I remember thinking, "Wow, this guy has got it together. He's done so much! He seems so experienced and knowledgeable." Now, not saying that that is us AT ALL! But it is crazy to think that we are in the same position he was telling us about just 5 years ago. Or I should say, Trav is in. You think time will never pass, but then it does. How profound of me, I know. But the saying is really true, the days are long, but the years flew by! 

So anyway, Trav really enjoyed taking part in the interview and admission process this year and at the end of April, the Dean of Admissions, had a little {thank you} dinner at his house for all those who volunteered on the board. What's weird is that we won't be around to meet or get to know all the guys and/or families that will be moving in next year!

Rach came over to watch the kids while we were out and insisted on snapping a pic. (I mean she just really twisted our arms :)

 Take one last look at those luscious locks folks, they're about to go all the way of the earth! :)

It was time. About 8 years exactly. 

Since I had truly cut my hair, that is.

Too many ponytails. Too many split ends.

Time to toss the insecurity that only long hair is pretty. Everyone needs change.

And I didn't shed one tear. (I actually thought I would.)

Thanks, Rach! Here's to the new Jan Brady! :)

Two days before graduation was the much anticipated {Graduation Banquet}. I don't know if the guys cared much, but us girls were excited to find a new dress! 

I have to say, I liked the dress, but I LOVED the shoes. After I found them, I tentatively asked Trav, "Sooooo, how would you feel about me being 6'2" at the graduation banquet?" He gave me a look that I think was more intended to convey, "You bought new shoes?!", rather than, "thanks, but I'd rather not be a midget next to my wife." 

Ah well, what's done is done!

(This picture is deceptive. I am crouching and he is tip toeing. Haha. Love us!)

I keep them in a shoe box now on the top shelf. (I've never treated a pair of shoes that good before.)

 Just one more for my narcissistic post!!

 'Cuz we're that cool. 

The night wasn't a hoot and a holler but I'll take any night that I get to dress up for and make a choice between salmon and steak. Plus, it's always fun to bask in a {we're done} sort of feeling. And this was just the beginning!

Fallsview Waterpark

Back in the fall, I saw a Groupon for an indoor waterpark in Canada that we've heard lots about and wanted to try. Of course, I called Rach right up to tell her about it so we could plan a fun day in the water sometime over the winter when nothing was going on.Well, apparently, lots went on. Because May rolled around and we still hadn't gone. And now, Trav's passport was expired!

It was crunch time, but we managed to squeeze in our {day in the water} exactly 8 days before moving day. It was a Monday and the boys had finished up their last day of clinic, the Friday before. It is literally right across the border, so we were there in no time.  And lucky for us, the border patrol was either off their game, or thought we were very {non-terrorist} looking, because we weren't given a second glance!

Working around babies' naps, and toddler's attentions spans, we were only there a few hours, but it was a lot of fun. They had some adult slides including the {toilet bowl} so we took turns watching the kids so we could go on the slides as couples. I felt like a kid, running up the stairs, hopping on a tube with Trav and screaming my way down black tunnels. "I want my mommmmmmy!!!" is always a fav. They had a kiddie splash pad area, a few small slides, a wave pool and jungle gym that kept the kids happy. 

However, I would not recommend it if, one, it was super crowded (an employee told us they will get up to 6,000 people a day around holidays or in the summer months). It was really empty for us, which was nice. No, essential.

And, two, I wouldn't go if I had to pay full price. $50 a person is ridiculous. Even Sunsplash is high 20's. Let's get real, Canada. Your water is cheap.

I'm glad we were able to squeeze once last adventure in with the Shaws! They are the perfect {outing} buddies. OK, they are the perfect {everything} buddies. What are we going to do without them??!!

Because....

Because, sometimes, it's just too hard to stay awake through ALL of church.

Because, sometimes, it's simply not possible to stay horizontal ALL night long. (Yes, he is in a dead sleep right here.)

 Because, sometimes, it's fun to feel pretty, no matter what your gender. (But only when Dad is not around.)

Because, sometimes, if you're fast enough, you can get a whole sports bra on, before Mom notices a thing.

Brad's Thesis

Well, in case you hadn't heard... Trav and I are big time models now. 

Bum models, actually.

Our finest assests. Bwahaha.

Our friend, Brad, who is working on his thesis for some fancy worded masters program involving photography, asked us to be models in his shoot. When Trav told me, I was stricken with fear, and slight confusion. He knows what I look like, right? Then I learned I would be wearing my comfies and had no need of {America's Next Top Model} techniques. No pouty lips. No {smiling with my eyes}. Thanks, Tyra.

In fact, you wouldn't even be seeing our faces.

Instead, he wanted us to be pretending to climb up a ladder, set in a background representing our daily lives.     

I'm still not sure I totally grasped the concept, but it had something to do with illustrating people not necessarily trying to escape their lives, but reaching for something more??? 

At any rate, it was fun to go to his official {opening}, downtown, and mingle with all the artsy, hippsters, silently appraising the art and contemplatively adding our critiques. And by mingling, I mean giggling immaturely and whispering {your team} in each other's ear. 

Of course, we weren't the only bums on exhibit. But I think we still felt pretty famous. I mean, his name was written in vinyl lettering on the wall. Vinyl lettering!

It was quite a fun date night.

 (Mom was in town and stayed home with the kiddos.)

And if I could guess anything about our futures, that right there, was our most glamorous, 15 sec. of fame.

Trav gets older

I'm Baaaaaack!!

We have been in our new house for almost two weeks and just BARELY got internet! I was going craaaazy. If we didn't at least have Trav's I-phone through that, I would certainly have lost it by now. The Comcast guy left about an hour ago and I'm already itchin' to get the blog caught up! Obviously there is lots to say about what's been happening {currently}, but alas I am ever the chronological stickler, so I'm going to have to go in order. Bear with me.... you're about to hear more than you care for about Stephanie's thoughts, feelings and emotions in the following {way too many} posts.

"This old man, he played two, he played knick knack on his shoe"! Random, but that's literally what popped into my head when starting Trav's birthday post! He turned..... 29 this year! One more year of the twenties. Now, that feels pretty strange. If you ask him, I'll bet he tells you it was the BEST birthday ever (sarcasm implied), and here's why.

* His presents were AWESOME.

#1 A Duff's t-shirt, that my mom technically bought for him when she came out to visit, but for which became one of his presents because I had previously decided I'd buy it for him for his birthday and after my mom did, I couldn't think of anything else, so I wrapped it for his birthday anyway. (How's that for a run on sentence?)

#2 A bottle of Listerine. But wait, you say. Isn't that a toiletry item that should be bought on a regular basis anyway? True, true. But I don't. I can hardly stand the stuff and for some reason see it as superfluous anyway (maybe because I didn't grow up with it??) and therefore have a hard time spending money on it. But I want you to notice, it's not even the off brand, Wegmans stuff. It is the real deal, Listerine stuff. That my friends, deems it a present.

#3  Not pictured.... his church suit dry cleaned. Again... shouldn't that be done on a regular basis and not used as a present? Please refer to superfluous explanation given in #2. I mean, how often should a suit really be cleaned? On second thought, don't answer that. I like to think he was quite excited to finally have a suit that was void of baby smears and drool.

 (Because Collin always needs a picture.)

*The fine dining!

Denny's grand slams all around, please!

*The golfing with his buddies

Oh wait, haha, that would have cost money. How about flying a kite with your son?

Collin got a Spiderman kite for his birthday and we finally tried it out at the Harlem Community park. He was in heaven.

This one really wished he could join in, but since his 15 month old legs still don't want to walk, it was sitting in the grass for him. And grass is not his fav. Note the elevated left leg. Whenever I plop him on the grass, his leg automatically goes up. Not both. Just the one.

* His wife got all dressed up!

{Before}

 {After}

 Our ward planned a Cinco de Mayo activity for that night that doubled as a talent show night. No one was signing up so I decided we needed to go out of this ward with a bang, and somehow coerced Rachel and Kate to do a skit with me. Dancing to Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies", dressed up as old grannies, to be exact. It was all thrown together two days before and we didn't start practicing until the night before, but it turned out pretty good! And thanks to Kate bringing the {old lady bosoms} (tube socks filled with sand, hanging around our necks), we were swaying and bouncing as obscenely as a ward talent show should get! I think some guys even diverted their eyes. I have the best friends! It was hysterical and the ward was generous in their laughter, applause, and compliments. We were pretty dang nervous right before going out, but I'm glad we did it!

Then Laney called Travis out at the end to stand in front of everyone while the whole ward sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Every guy's dream. :) I thought it was really nice!

 Finally, with it being way too late and having two cranky kids, he got his Funfetti birthday cake.

The next week, I had a friend ask me what we did for Trav's birthday and I had to duck my head and sheepishly admit that we went to Denny's, he mowed the lawn, and we went to the ward party. And he got mouthwash as a present. Oh well, that's what happens when you get old, right? We were just excited we got to spend the whole day with the best guy ever. And at least he didn't have to take a final!!