passed!

after 3 weeks of studying, 8 hours of test-taking, and over 2 weeks of waiting, the results of jeremy's second year boards finally made their way to our house.  i was at work when i was notified of the results with a single excited text, "i passed!" and i called him as soon as i could.  we are both so relieved!  here's what i came home to:

one happy boy! 

after he took the test, jeremy was allowed to make his way into the clinic and he is working on REAL people!  how fun is that?! i have an appointment with him next week for an exam and a cleaning.  he was kind enough to give me his business card with my appointment reminder on the back.  he's kind of a big deal these days.  :)

on the course

we hit the golf course early this morning to play 9 holes.

i didn't play at all last summer so it was nice to swing some clubs again. want to know the funnest part of the whole experience?  i beat jeremy!  by one stroke.  woot woot!  you better believe it.  i had some sweet drives!  combine my new found short game (except putting... my putting still needs lots of work) with it being my first time hitting from the ladies tees instead of the mens and my score improved significantly.  it was pretty awesome. i can't wait to play some more this summer!

working girl

yesterday was my first day of work at my real social work job.

and i LOVE it! woot woot!

 i got a job where i interned all year so i get to keep working with patients with eating disorders!  yay.  i really have liked it this year and it's what i really want to stick with.  part of the time i will be working with adults and the other part with adolescents using family based treatment.  i am excited for the change (i worked with mainly adults in my internship).  i feel so blessed!  i get to do individual, group, and family therapy.  also, my co-workers totally ROCK!  seriously, i lucked out.  i'm excited for the adventures ahead, oh as well as the paychecks.  this girl doesn't work for free anymore.  yeah, it's good stuff.

here i am at my fancy new desk: 

it's pretty bare, but i will start sprucing it up pronto.  any tips to keeping a work space organized, but not boring?

late in the night

here is our most recent family photo:

what a handsome bunch! i think it's definitely christmas card worthy.  everyone is in the picture and everyone is smiling which are basically the only two requirements for a christmas card, right?  we obviously have a good time together, even if we aren't actually in the same room.  we got to skype with riley sunday night at midnight boston time.  we were pretty tired, but it was so fun to talk to out favorite missionary.  he's loving thailand!  he's speaking the language like a champ, seeing all sorts of awesome buddhist temples, and holding exotic animals.  he's a pretty cool guy.  he's hoping the next 8 months crawl along, but i'm hoping they fly by for purely selfish reasons: i miss him so!

me, too

even with my mom, his mom, and my grandma with us for mother's day, jeremy didn't forget about me (although, he did insist that we wait until after the real mom celebration).  we made the moms some gourmet lunch (grilled sandwiches, fruit, chips, and brownies) and they opened their presents before they all flew home.  it was fun to have our moms with us for such a special day.  what wonderful women we have in our lives?!  after they left and we were feeling blue (can't we just play forever?), he gave me my present: an alex and ani bracelet.  he knows me so well. i love the one he picked out for me.  such a sweetheart!

best buds

happy mother's day, momma!  

i'm so glad we could spend it together again.

riding bikes in newport, rhode island

you have taught me so many important things in life: to laugh often, to always find the good, to love where you live, to make vacations happen, to enjoy every bit of life - even the hard stuff... i could go on and on.  i have been so blessed to have been raised by such a wonderful woman from my very first breath.  you are the best, mom!  i love you.

xoxo, your favorite daughter

city sights

saturday we (me and jeremy, my parents, his parents, my little brother, and my grandma) explored in the city.  we picked up the freedom trail at the north end to see paul revere's house and the old north church, we found the clover food truck, went to bunker hill, the USS constitution, got tattoos at the USS Constitution Museum (i got an anchor and sam got a mom tattoo in the name of mother's day), took the ferry across the harbor, walked along boston commons and the public garden, had a delicious dinner at pf changs including dessert (yum), and visited the memorial for the bombing.  after all of that, we headed home with our worn out legs. here some pictures of the day:

we just love having people visit!

the day i have been waiting for

GRADUATION DAY!

we were very excited!

we started out the big day by going to my favorite breakfast place: tumble inn diner.  i always get the english muffin breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese, and sausage plus a side of homefries.  it's so delicious.  after our bellies were full we headed to the seaport in boston for my graduation ceremony.  

it was fun to see all of my friends from school again as we transition from students to professionals!  i pumped my fist as i walked across the stage!  i just couldn't contain my excitement.  :)

here are some of my biggest supporters:

my friends that kept me sane through the process (wish i could have gotten pictures with all of them):

i love all of these beautiful ladies!

my in-laws that are always supportive and interested in what i am up to:

my family that taught me to dream big from the start:

mom and dad - you made me believe in myself and taught me that i could do anything i put my mind to.  turns out, you were right!  i love you!

my hot husband that helped me through it all:

you are the BEST jeremy!  thanks for encouraging me every step of the way.  WE DID IT!

after the looong formal stuff we had some bbq for a late late lunch and then we made our way to the RED SOX GAME!   it was the perfect night for a game.  the weather was dreamy, we had great company, and the red sox WON.

it was a fun fun day! 

from my acceptance letter in march of 2011

to my graduation diploma in may of 2013.

what an adventure this has been!? i feel so blessed that i had the opportunity to get my master's degree.  it's something i dreamed of and planned for from when i was in high school.  i knew there was a long road ahead of me to become a social worker, but i actually accomplished what i dreamed of doing.  i am so happy and also grateful for the encouragement and support from jeremy, my family, jeremy's family, our friends, and my teachers and mentors. it has been a wonderful journey!  i have learned so much and i feel like i can really change the world... one person, group, or family at a time.  here i go!!

p.s.  and i don't have anymore homework!!  woot woot!

rhode island: day 4

thursday

my mom and i walked around downtown to do some shopping.  then we gathered the sleepy heads and visited the tennis hall of fame to check out the grass courts.  jeremy and i decided that we will have to play on them sometime.  they are the only grass courts in the nation open to the public. pretty sweet.

 then we stopped at the newport creamery for some desserts. YUM!

after our day's adventure we packed up and drove to boston to get ready for the big day.  newport is such a fun place!  my favorite thing was riding bikes.  but i also loved the massive mansions and picnicking at the rocky shore.  i can't wait to visit again.

rhode island: day 3

wednesday

we took a field trip to connecticut. mainly because my mom wants to visit all 50 states and connecticut was still on the "to-be-visited" list, but we still had fun.  we went to mystic and cruised around some boutique shops and of course left with some treasures and delicious fudge.

  

after some GREAT advice from a store owner (thanks to jeremy for talking it up with strangers) we headed to the borough of stonington to explore and get some lunch.

 

 we ate at Noah's and found out that the queen of spain ate there a while ago.  it was the cutest little place.

 

we saw the loveliest little houses driving around the borough.  i especially loved the colored doors. they have style!

then we headed back to good ole newport.  my mom and i got pedicures and shopped around (had to get an outfit for graduation), while the boys took naps and watched tv.  now i have the most delightful pink-orange color on my toes and fingers.  we ate left-overs for dinner (the glory of being in a condo that has a kitchen!) and topped the night off with some dessert at the newport creamery - which we have already decided to visit again before we leave.

 one more day in rhode island!