~Moab half-marathon with Dave~

Dave and I got to do our first half-marathon together and we had a blast. It was really fun doing together like that Since moving to Utah, Dave and I have been able to do a lot more fun things together and this was definitely a highlight! Early morning runs together, buying our gear for the run, the lead up......it was the funnest running event I have done because we did it together!

High fiving the kids in the crowd! I didn't see them in either of the marathons at St George so I was ecstatic to spot them in a crowd this time.

The long runs on early, dark, COLD, snowy, Saturday mornings were so much better when I didn't have to go solo. Friday evening we would go to bed earlier so we could get up early for our "fresh" Saturday runs.

A very cold winters day. (Above)

Arriving in Moab. (Below)

On a Friday afternoon after Dave and the children had finished school we drove with some families to Moab. Some of the BYU group, above, picking up our race packets and timing chip for the race.

Alex Baer and Es.

They didn't give medals out medals this year. So Diana, who couldn't run because she was 7 months pregnant, got Alex, me and Monica a special one of our own. (She was inspired to get it when Alex found out there was no medal and was devestated since this was probably her first an last marathon attempt. She wanted proof that she had done one!

Our future little racers!

Kermit green of all colors!!!

Last year in Moab it was so hot!!! So we were we all hoping for the same weather to escape cold Provo. Wasn't to be. We hit a snowstorm on our drive to Moab.

Pasta for dinner! We were with 4 other families at this hotel which was a little smaller (Harrisons, Baers, Wilsons & Kemptons). Fortunately other friends (Hugh, Anderson and Lemmon families) had rented a house. Both nights we crashed there for dinner.

"Carb" loading together. Night before the race.

The morning of the race we got the kids up early and dropped them off at a friends house in Moab. Since it was Dave's first race, I let him do his own thing and get himself "prepped" & organised while I got the kiddos ready. Thus, I forgot my asthma puffer which made for a difficult race for me. My lungs seemed to burn for the first 10 miles until we were out of the canyon and into the sun.

Dave was truly awesome. It was frustrating for me to be strguggling and Dave doing so great. At 10 miles, however that is where Daves legs cramped up and my lungs were fine and ready to go. But whatever the case, the goal was always to finish together and we crossed the finish line at the same time. It was a great feeling crossing together!

As I cross the finish line with Dave next to me, the song "I come from the land down under" blasts in my ear. Perfect!

Alex, Dave and Ronell after the race.

Esther with Emily, Lacy and Andrea, the supportive spouses of those running.

We had about 30 people, either students or spouses, from the MBA program compete. Dave organised for everyone to have a matching shirt for the race.

Adorable Meisha who looked after our kiddos, her own little one and another families. She deserved a medal that day. Her and Matt are in France for work. Lucky ducks!

Lunch back at the hotel. Exhausted and glad it is over!

Not so much energy after the race! Watching BYU vs Kansas State in the NCAA Tourney. Unfortunately they were not able to pull off the win.

Candy Wilson and Es.

Delicate arch in the background.

Hugh, Kempton, Wilson, Harrison and Liddicoat families and Alex Baer.

Some of the "bro'mance". The boys spent so much time at school together working on team assignments and studying together we all joked about it.

Seneca and Isaac. Isaac had a little crush on Seneca!

Such a fun weekend. This was a big milestone for us because we were focused on the event for months with training etc, so when it was over......it meant that graduation was very near and so much to do before we moved to California.

Some Goodbyes

By the time summer started to roll around, all our friends in the MBA program were quickly going there different ways across the USA and around the world. It was exhausting attending all the BBQ's, events and activities and at each we were having to say goodbye to different friends leaving.

We were able to see the Woodruff's one last time at Sawyer's baby blessing. They left for DC the next day.

Woodruffs were headed to Washington DC and we miss them heaps! They were the party family.

This was a girls night out for some of my neighbours. Connie and I were leaving. Connie was heading to L.A.

No more Provo picnics.

Daniella and Edgar's baby blessing. Daniella was on the international committee with me and was such a wonderful person I got to know. Hopefully we can visit them in Brazil one day. Dave and I felt so grateful for all the incredible people we got to know.

Goodbye to Alex. They will be in Florida where Mike will be doing his PhD. Alex was another party animal. Even Hyrum thought Alex was one very unique and funny gal.

Michael and Dave at dinner with a group of friends. Micheal is now in Newport Beach, Southern Cal working with PIMCO.

We got the chance to do play co-ed intramural water polo, inner tube style with a fun group of friends. We were called the rubber duckies. One night at a restaurant with a bunch of friends we got handed different awards. I somehow got the fiestiest. The most fun I have ever had on a sport team. It was also the first team I have been on with Dave. Fun was an understatement!

One of the many picnics we had at the end of the school year and more goodbyes.

Goodbye student life! Sniff : (

Graduation Part 2

So after the BYU-wide Graduation on Thursday, each of the different schools at BYU hold their own Convocation on Friday were they present each graduate with their certificate. The Marriott School of Management (BYU's Business School) held their convocation on Friday afternoon.

Of course we had to take a million pictures while I was dressed in the robes. It was like my wedding day again with sore cheeks from putting on a smile over and over so that the picture would look good enough for the blog. Fortunately the standard of looking good was set very low.

Unfortunately despite it being toward the end of April, the weather was not co-operating on the day and it was cold and wet.

Before the convocation the business school held a function for us where we were able to mingle with classmates and their families as well as our Professors and the administrative staff. It was a lot of fun, but of course the cameras were working overtime and the smiling for pictures continued in earnest again.

The MBA Spouses Association was amazing and Esther and the other wives were able to have a lot of fun together and forge some really strong friendships while their husbands were spending long hours at school.

During our 1st semester they put us in a team of 5 and we basically work together on everything during that semester. It is a huge workload in the 1st semester, but fortunately, ours was the best team in the program, and working with Rich, Adam, Chris and Zac (not pictured) was a major highlight of the whole experience.

Chris was one of the members of my team during my first semester (basically a 2nd family for me) and in between our 1st and 2nd years he and Julie were married in the Oakland Temple. As we were in California for my internship, we were able to attend their wedding.

Some of my classmates.

During my last semester, I was part of a team with Ronell, Nate, Oliver and Elisa that competed in a Marketing Case Competition at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. There were 8 teams selected to compete from more than 100 applications from around the world. We were given 36 hours to develop a marketing plan to solve a real world problem faced by IBM. It was so much fun to participate with this team, and despite the sleep deprivation it was a huge highlight for all of us.

It was nice to have a friend in the program that was actually older than I am. Thanks Matt.

A couple of weeks before graduation I was invited by the Dean to be the Student speaker during the Marriott School convocation. This was a huge honour , but caused me a huge amount of stress leading up to it, especially during the day of Graduation. Each year they also have a guest speaker and this year J Willard Marriott Jnr., the Chairman and CEO of Marriott International.

In the lift, right before giving the speech. Just a tiny bit nervous!!

I needed to get a sound check. Savannah and Hyrum were sitting on the first row with Aunty Margaret and Uncle Karl, right in front of all the graduates. They were very proud of me and were cheering and giving high fives to the classmates of mine that they knew as their names were presented.

I had about 6 minutes to speak and there were about 10,000 people in attendance. It was an amazing experience, but I was so glad to finish and sit down. Fortunately I had Esther sitting next to me on the stand and had her support through it all.

Being presented with my degree by the Dean.

17 years ago, Tyson and I first met as 18 year olds at BYU and had so many great times together. I am still amazed that after so many years of having no contact, we were able to be in the MBA program at the same time and reconnect again.

Moroni and I were a little excited after receiving our degrees.

Esther and Mesia Kempton, very relieved to have their husbands back after 2 years.

Matt Kempton and I with Jim Engebretsen, one of our professors.

After the speech I was given a gift from the Dean's assistant.