Soaking up Utah

It's our last week in good ol' Utah, and it's been mostly taken up with packing. But we've spent the last few months going to our favorite places in the state, so I think I've got my fix for now.

Snow Canyon near St. George

The Living Room along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Arches National Park and Mesa Verde National Park (ok, technically Colorado)

A few months ago when Zach was determining which rotations to pick our good friends the Cowarts from pharmacy school hatched a brilliant plan:  Tyler and Zach could both do their rural rotation in Blanding, UT at the same time and we could all go down and live there together for six weeks!  What fun!  We could bring Eli and the Cowarts could bring their three children and we would all have one long party.  

Yeah.  Due to jobs and classes that couldn't happen.  So the women and children stayed behind. 

Luckily Michelle and I were hardcore, boldly heading the families and taking charge of the households while we sent our menfolk out to get their education. 

Okay, Michelle was hardcore.

I just moved in with my parents for six weeks.

It was hard without husbands, but we managed to have at least one small party in Blanding with Zach and Tyler.  Michelle and I gathered our courage and made the five hour drive down to Blanding with a van full of car seats, two babies, two toddlers, and endless smushed crackers.  Did I mention we were hardcore? 

Blanding, while not terribly interesting itself, is wonderfully located near some great hiking places.

Goblin Valley National Park

Our last hurrah with our fantastic neighbors and ward members before we all split up for "real life"

Eli (mostly) loved it and wanted to do everything himself.  He's also a big fan of dirt.

We'll miss you Utah.  But don't cry.  We'll be back.

A Very Late Graduation Post

See this guy?

This is one Mr. Zach Judkins in his first semester of grad school.  Rockin' the beard.

See this man?

This is one Dr. Zachary Judkins, four years, three moves, one baby, hundreds of hours of commuting, dozens of tests, and one very proud wife later.

 Such an auspicious event deserves only the very best that we can provide in camera phone pictures (how did we ALL forget our cameras?).  Squint your eyes and it's almost like you were there.

 The march of the graduates followed by a somewhat long and then even longer speech. For all of those that couldn't make it, be grateful you missed that part.

 Eli was thoroughly unimpressed with the pomp and circumstance.  But he did love Zach's hat.

Zach:  He honestly did.  He really loves anything he perceives as making him look "cool".

 We look super cheesy in this picture, looking off toward our bright future. But thanks to Zach and all the hard work he has put in for the past eight years the future really is pretty shiny looking.
CONGRATULATIONS HANDSOME MAN!

Next up: licensing exams.  Graduation is really a bit of a false summit; Zach isn't a legalized drug dealer until he passes the NAPLEX and law exam, so despite graduating the stress level remains high at our house.  Prayers please!

Also next up: moving.  Aiee!  More on that later.