MBA Graduation

       After Law Graduation we headed over to the newly finished Lied Center. It was really nice. The MBA graduation was a lot bigger and longer. There were a few different groups in the graduates. Lily took a nap and the rest of us hung out. I'm pretty sure Bryson was falling asleep after a loss of many nights rests. 

      After MBA graduation we went to a reception where they awarded some additional things. Bryson got a nice clock and another paper. After the reception we went to dinner with his families and then headed back home. There were still so much random things to do packing. The end is always so tedious with little things that take forever. I'm glad Bryson's family stuck around to help us finish everything. I seriously don't know how we would have finished without all the help. We hurried as quickly as we could and then pulled out of Lincoln around midnight for the long drive back to Utah. Poor Bryson was exhausted and was a champion driving throughout the night. The kids did pretty good considering the long drive. Graham joined me up front to eat a few times. He sleeps awesome in the car. He really only cried when we got into Salt Lake Valley. 

Bryson is in the middle

Walking in

Receiving his MBA diploma 

This guy is my amazing handsome husband! 

We are so grateful for Bryson's parents. They made it possible for us to come back so many times to visit Utah. They were very supportive throughout our 3 and 1/2 years in Nebraska. 

I'm pretty sure Bryson's sister took this!

At the MBA reception with another award

Have I mentioned WE ARE DONE?!!! Oh, goodnesss! I'm so excited! (now to pay off the big load of debt that came along with our adventure!)

Law Graduation

On December 20th, Bryson finally graduated! We are officially no longer students! Hallelujah! He still has the bar but school is officially done!

Bryson's parents and a couple siblings flew in the day before after a long day of traveling. The Salt Lake City Airport was shutdown for part of the day and complicated a few things.  Luckily, they got a later flight and got in around 9pm. We packed most of the day.

Friday morning came and we all got ready for the big day. We still had lots of packing to do, but I really wanted to curl my hair. Curling my hair always makes me feel special so I made time for it. Packing could wait. :) Getting ready doesn't happen very much anymore.

We started the day off with Law Graduation. Since it was December graduation, there were only 12 graduates. Graduation was held at the Law School. There were more professors then graduates. The kids just played games and ate snacks. Graduation was only 45 minutes. It was fun to see Bryson walk and get "hooded" after all his hard work.

After the ceremony we took some pictures and talked to a few people. We had to head over to the MBA graduation across town.

I'm so incredibly proud of my husband. He has worked so hard to get to this point. We have had our up and downs like everybody but I wouldn't want it with any other person. Bryson is my rock and my best friend. He has been the best dad to our children while trying to balance work/school/family. I'm excited to see where life's next step take us!

Tyler Dixon and Bryson

Graduates are all on the front row

Secrets during graduation

Phone time with grandpa

Uncle Bronson is their favorite

Started graduate school with a family of 3 and left with a family of 5!

Bryson's sister, Lindsey

Bryson's youngest brother, Bronson

Lindsey helping with Graham

So proud of him! 

Cake to celebrate

A Boys Weekend

While Lily and I went to Tenesse the boys hung out at home. I love photostream on our phones. It connects Bryson's and my own photos together. Bryson uses it a lot to see the kids throughout the day. I finally got to use it to see all the fun the boys had!

Akoy had a blast with his dad. Bryson let him sleep with him every night, went and got snow cones, went to eat out a lot. They even went to ihop with a gift card we had. Akoy ordered the chocolate, chocolate chip pancake again. (Remember in Hawaii, the last time he ordered that... he lost it later) Luckily this time he didn't finish it. On Friday, Akoy got to play with his cousins while Bryson studied. He had lots of fun at Addi's house.

On Saturday, Bryson took Akoy to Trafalga with our pass of all passes. Akoy loved lazer tagging and actually playing the video games this time. Apparently it's easy to convince dad to buy tokens. no surprise! Bryson even took Akoy on a run in the stroller that night to Burgess Park.


The first thing out of Akoy's mouth was that daddy didn't take him on the water boat ride. haha. picky boy! Doesn't realize all the other fun things they DID get to do!

Ihop with his pancake

Loving the ride

Ship ride with Bronson

Lazer Tag with dad

Dip in Dots! 

Big goose egg from falling off the table

Playing in the yard hiding from the rain

His loot from Trafalga

Bryson's 27th Birthday

Bryson is a hard person to buy presents for. He always says he doesn't want anything! Plus, he'd rather me not spend any money. I was at a loss of what to get him this year. 

I asked Akoy what he thought we should get Bryson for his birthday  His response: "a bike with one wheel. Wouldn't that be silly?" Say what?! I have no idea where he got this idea from, but I liked it! I started searching on KSL for a used and one. I finally found one after lots of calls. Akoy was so excited to go pick it up. He even told Bryson about a surprise that was in the back of the car. 

We didn't get to do anything extra special for his birthday because he studied for the Bar all day. Happy Birthday Bryson, we sure love you! 

*On a side note, I think he liked the unicyle. He is getting the hang of things pretty well!

Law Review Banquet

We were able to attend Bryson's Law Review Banquet. Bryson has worked so hard and dedicated lots of time to Law Review this past year. During the law review process he had to write a paper. It was a long and boring paper but he finished. That paper is in the process of being published right now. I'm so proud of his hard work! We were able to sit with the Ellis' another couple and the dean and her husband. It made for a night of talking! ;)

It's weird to think that we could be done this month with school if Bryson didn't make it on Law Review. Technically he couldn't be a 3L and write on this year. We dragged (not really with the MBA) his classes until next year. He would have been a lot busier this last semester if he would have squeezed all his MBA and Law classes into 3 years but it has been nice doing things at a normal pace. He has still been busier and is still graduating a semester before we were planning on. So in December he will graduate with his JD/MBA. Since we are graduating later this year he received a certificate at the banquet thanking him for his time.

I am incredible proud of all the hard work Bryson has put in the last few years. I can not wait until we are done with school and ready to move on to the next stage. (with a paying job!) Bryson is gone all the time but he still makes time for me and the kids. Akoy asks every day if Bryson is done with school so we can move back to Utah. He misses Bryson so much while he is gone and so do I.

Food... looked okay.. and it was just okay...

Bryson wanted to take a picture of Ellis

Bryson we are proud of all your hard work and we love you so much!!