What can four cousins and a dog do?

Share an inflatable double bed, of course!  

You need to know

That sometimes Benjamin's hair is really, really curly.

That sometimes he likes to look out the window and smile at passers by.

And that sometimes he sits in 60 year old arm chairs to read (and chew) books.

I guess I'll have to go for that P.h.D. after all

I've enjoyed being the only member of our family with a graduate degree.  I mean, you know, mommy got her masters!  And man it helps me in my day to day parenting adventures.  Nothing gives me greater joy than to discuss word order in Dominican speech or the etymology of the word "gringo" with my boys over the proverbial pb and j.  Soon enough my degree will serve me professionally, but for now it's just bragging rights.  Bragging rights that Matt has pried out of my cold, dishpan hands.

I knew when Matt got out of school he would also have a masters, and I would have to be happy with an educational tie.  Alas, it was not meant to be.  A few months into his MBA we realized that, for a myriad of reasons, it would make sense for Matt to also get a masters in Public Policy.  Two degrees!  Two.  Bah.  You win this time Hutch.  Only this time.

It really was a great time to celebrate Matt's accomplishments and our family's small role in them.  We're so grateful for our time in Chicago (something I know I've beaten into my readership).  And I am so proud of Matt's hard work and dedication.  My parents were able to come out for the graduation and unsurprisingly my dad took a million wonderful pictures of the event.  Here are some of my favorites.  There are a lot of them.

Graduation was held in Rockefeller chapel, which made me feel like Matt was graduating from Hogwarts.  Seriously, with the stone walls, cloaks and scepters (I counted at least two) it was a far cry from the innocuous setting of the Marriot Center.  A score board really takes a bit of the pomp (and slight creepiness) out of it.  This was pomp (and creepy) filled.  But the building was beautiful.  And so was Matt.

Receiving his diploma

And then the heavens opened and a light shone upon the Master(s).  He's sweet.

A truly beautiful building.

The next day we slapped some brand new maroon bow ties on the boys (thanks mom and dad) and took some pictures of the graduate and his family by the business school and Rockefeller chapel.  Again, thank you so much dad and there are a lot of pictures.  

Bartenders!

Little graduates!

Rockefeller chapel

I love the look on Ben's face.  

Jumping for joy (trying to cheer up Jacob...unsuccessful).

Cheesy face of mine, unbelievably beautiful face of Benjo's

We did it!  Go team Hutch!  (That's how I'll make myself feel better about the whole Matt beating me thing...hooray for coattails!)

To Benjamin on his Birthday

 I just couldn't love you more. 

Grandma

I think I've written 100 blog posts in my mind over the past month.  100 posts about the boys, moving, travel, Chicago, family, and friends.  We've done a lot of living in a short period of time.  In fact, we were in 4 states in 4 weeks.  In the midst of all of this motion we were brought back to Utah early because my paternal grandmother passed away unexpectedly at the end of April.  I feel like I just can't blog about anything else until I honor her here a bit, particularly on Mother's Day.

Grandma was my friend.  I have spent hours on her couch or sitting at her kitchen bar, often with a diet Sprite in hand, talking with her about her life and mine.  I loved to hear her stories.  They were always so optimistic and truly inspiring.  It was so fun to spend time with her.  She told me about growing up modestly in a mining town.  She told me about her life as a young mother of two young boys in Pleasant Grove, Utah while her husband served in World War II.  She told me about life with twins (my dad and his twin sister) in the days before fertility treatments when twins were a very rare commodity.  In fact, she didn't even know (although she suspected) that she was carrying twins until their birth!  

She also had experienced the loss of her parents, my Grandpa, and her oldest son.  It was so meaningful to hear her memories of those who had gone before.  By the end of her life she somewhat bemoaned the fact that she was "left behind" by all of these loved ones.  I learned so much about her strength learning of the years that she cared for Grandpa when he was ill.  She was a strong, loving, faithful woman.  

She shared herself with me.  And with all of her grandchildren.  She delighted in us.  I am the 13th of 14 grandchildren (and the 11th girl), and yet she made things special and cared for me as if I were her first.  She treated all of us as favorites...because we all were.  I know this didn't change her feelings for me, but I always felt honored to be named Robyn in honor of her family, the Robbins family.

Grandma was very talented and had many hobbies and interests, including crochet, kitting, reading, oil painting, and canning.  She was a caregiver and a nurturer.  She also, as crazy as this sounds, made the BEST CARROT STICKS EVER.  (Cut them from nice, big, real carrots and then put them in a bowl with ice cubes.  Perfection!)

She was enthusiastic about my life and loved to hear my own little stories.  One of my favorite memories of Grandma was a constant in our visits.  When I would tell her about a funny experience or story she would have such a delighted smile and almost mouth the words of the story while I told it.  And when the punchline came she would always laugh as if it were the funniest thing she'd ever heard.  She gave heartfelt, firm hugs.  She let you know you mattered to her.  

The kids and I were coming to spend the month of May in Utah anyway while we wait for our house in Little Rock, and I feel heartsick and cheated that I won't get to spend this month with her as I'd been so looking forward to.  Last summer, when the boys and I lived with mom and dad during Matt's internship, I had the opportunity to go visit her almost every week with baby Benjamin.  He stole her heart.  I'd bring this new little baby to her house and he'd just coo and charm for a few hours while we talked.  They were truly sweet times.  

While I can't seem to believe that we won't get to spend more time together, I'm grateful for the time we had and I'm so happy for her that she is now reunited with those who have gone before.  Happy that she could go quickly and not linger or be ill for long.  And Grandma adamantly did not want to linger.  I'm happy for the life that she lived.  I love her so much and I miss her.  

We had the chance to help prepare a video of pictures of Grandma's life.  Indulge me as I share a few pictures of my lovely Grandma.  It's amazing to see how the world changed in Grandma's lifetime.  Oh, and these pictures are chronological, but they do skip entire decades of her life.  Sorry.

With her parents and siblings.  Grandma's the little girl on the right.

In high school

She and Grandpa were high school sweethearts.

So cute

This is the picture my Grandpa carried with him while he was serving in World War II

Grandma alone with her two older boys during the war.

I just love this picture.  This is Grandma with my Uncle Jay, who passed away shortly after Matt and I got married.  They were so close always and this picture is darling.

Grandma and Grandpa with their twins.  Grandma says that the doctor let Grandpa know that she had twins by simply coming into the waiting room and holding up two fingers.  When I asked her how he felt about having twins she said, "Well, you know Grandpa always loved a deal.  Two for one!"

All of their children.

A little older.  My dad is the overalled boy in the front.  Does anyone see some Benjamin in him?

Years later, with their children all grown up.  Check out my dad's Dwight look!  (Top right.  Follow the goldenrod.)

With Grandpa

My large, serene face in Grandma's lap with Jana preening in the background.

Wearing a wig.  Me, not Grandma.

Skip a few decades...Grandma welcoming me home from a trip to Mexico.  I just love the look on her face.

Grandma playing with Jacob at her house.  Jacob was 3 in this picture.

Here are a few pictures taken during her last year.  She was 90 years old and died on her husband's birthday.  It felt like a little signal from Grandma that it was her time.  And what a present for Grandpa.

Grandma with baby Benjamin last summer.  My baby who looked like her baby (my dad).