Surprise!!!

I am not easily surprised for multiple reasons. I like to be included in the planning of everything, and I'm not good with the "unknown" so surprising me is no easy task. Well my wonderful Husband and Mom were able to conquer the nearly impossible and threw me the most amazing surprise graduation party last month.

A few weeks ago I finished my bachelors degree and while it was a long time coming and totally unconventional compared to the "traditional" path of a four year degree, I finished and I was excited to celebrate. Scott and I picked a date to host a BBQ with my family and a few friends in October. It was going to be low key, low maintenance and really just an excuse to get together with my favorite people. Well about halfway through my final quarter my Mom and Scott asked that I let them take care of the details and focus on school and upcoming work travel.

Thankfully I got swallowed up by the final weeks of school and prepping for a busy travel month and forgot all about the plans. Then came the final days of school and a week of Birthdays. Fun fact: Scott, my sister-in-law Brittany and I have our birthday's on three consecutive days in September-- the 17th, 18th and 19th. So because of this we always share our "birthday dinner" and this year planned to go to a fancy Italian restaurant near by and even thought it would be fun to dress up.

The night of the dinner we were on our way to the restaurant when I got a call from my Dad that the they had lost our reservation and the wait was over 35 minutes. My family is a lot of things but we are definitely NOT patient, so we decided to venture over to Farrelli's for our favorites --Firesticks, pizza and beer.

Scott and I arrived and were told that our party grew quite a bit and they were swamped, so we'd have to go across to their separate dining room. He sort of gave a bit of the surprise away but I still only thought that maybe my Mom had invited my Aunts to join the fun. Boy was I wrong!!

Scott walked me into a room full of my very favorite people. They yelled surprise and left me speechless (not normal for me at all). I had no idea what to say or do as I was trying to take it all in. There was a room full of my favorite people all there to celebrate with me! It was a wonderful feeling but if you've ever been the center of a surprise party you can understand when I say you just don't know what to do next! I greeted everyone with great big hugs and was so excited to start celebrating.

This is my "you guys knew and didn't tell me" face.

The food was delicious and there was plenty of Fireball for all. Except I forgot that part and drank most of it myself. I just figured that since I missed out on the four year college experience of college parties I would fully enjoy my graduation party. ;)

You may think it is silly to celebrate finishing a degree this late in life but one thing about my family is we love to plan parties and can always find a reason to celebrate. Plus my Mom loves to plan parties and always has the best decorations.

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to celebrate with me. It is because of all of you that I made it through the last two years. It means a lot to have such a great support system. I also have to send a heartfelt and sincere thank you to my Mom and Husband who made that night happen. From the decorations to day of preparation, you did amazing and I am so thankful for you both. My first surprise party was one I won't soon forget (despite the Fireball).

Here's a few more pictures from the fun, along with a series of Fireball induced selfies...

Mom and I have a very special bond.

Gunnar gets pretty into pictures!

I had the cutest helpers when I opened up my gifts.

Yep, another shot. This time with my other best friend Jenni. :)

My Mom, Uncle Bob, Aunt Teresa and Jenni. Love those four!

Loved the candy pops Mom and Britt made!

Ramona and Molly, two of my Mom's greatest friends and mine too!

My brother Nick doesn't do selfies but I wouldn't take no for an answer!

First Generation Grad

Yesterday was a big day for me. Not only did I turn 26, but it marked the official last day of my two and a half year journey to finish my Bachelor's degree. It was a long road that I thought I'd never see the end of, but just like most things in life, it flew by. I'm proud to say I am the first person in my family to attend and finish a degree, even if it took me a LONG time and even if it wasn't at a traditional four year university. That's the beauty of innovation in education!

I started my college education in high school by participating in Running Start. I graduated high school just a couple of credits short of my associates degree. I took some time off after I graduated high school and decided to work full time and do part time school to finish up. I ended up doing so many classes that I actually graduated with two associates degrees! Yeah I know you guys who have two masters degrees think that's soooo great but do you have to AAs?! :)

During the same time that I finished my AA my Grandma was very ill and on hospice. She was so excited that I finished and really wanted to see me walk with the other graduates from Pierce College. As silly as I thought it was to walk in a community college graduation, the excitement and pride my Grandma showed that day will be something I remember for ever.

Grandma made my promise that I'd keep going and I'd finish my degree, she told me I should start right away because its hard to go back when you stop. Well I didn't listen and decided to focus on work. Two years later I decided it was time, and signed up for Capella University's business program.

If you don't think you have time for to go back to school or start learning something new, you're making excuses. Here's a few things I did while going to school and still finished with a 4.0:

• Started a new relationship
• Moved twice
• Got engaged
• Planned a wedding
• Enjoyed all of those fun wedding activities that come along with getting married
• Went on two vacations
• Got married
• Moved twice
• Changed careers and traveled for work

You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to and I think I've finally proved that to myself.

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." - Karim Seddiki 

I have to send big thanks to all of those that encouraged and supported me along the way. This was not something I could've done on my own and it means the world to know people have your back! To my husband, family, friends and coworkers- thank you for your constant support, I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am!