Commencement (of realizing I'm monetarily really poor...)

8 years later, and I finally have a skill that I can use to pay the bills! That's right, we just graduated from Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University (Philly). It was my first and last graduation being that I never graduated from the University of Utah, and I don't count high school.

It was really fun to have my brother/padawan Colby and my Mom and Dad here to help us celebrate. We had a lot of fun and ate out a lot. We rode bikes, my parents took us to the Baltimore Aquarium which the kids loved, we went fishing, we slept in, Ellie and Gracee got to ride the "flying carpet", which was Grandpa rolling them up in a kitchen rug and throwing them on the air mattress(it was hilarious and they still talk about the "flying carpet"), we had a plain old good time.

May 14th we headed downtown, and ate lunch at Fogo De Chao, which was an incredible display of beef/pork/chicken/brazilian salad bar, 3 story vaulted ceilings, and next to none service. No joke on the service. I never before experienced having 2-3 servers always there to get you drinks, clean plates, take your coat, take family pics, etc. It was great. Thanks Mom and Dad for that! We then walked about 2 blocks in downtown Philly to the Academy of Music for Commencement, which was LOOOONNNNNGGGG. Two and a half hours later it was official. Dr. Thomas Austen Broadbent DMD.

It still hasn't hit me that school is over. But alas, it is. And none too soon. Our house has sold and we close May 29th. Val and the girls (by the way, a third girl is on the way:) ) are flying out to Utah that day, and Colby and I are driving the Subaru and Lola the dog out. Should be quite a weekend. We are going to be renting a townhome in South Jordan for a year while we figure out how to pay for dental school. I am excited to be joining Pioneer Valley Dental with the illustrious Dr. Thomas K. Broadbent, aka my Dad, and beginning work.

I am so lucky for Val and her supporting me throughout this whole circus. She has always been so helpful and made me smile during the rough patches. She and Gracee and Ellie are my angels. I love you girls so much. Val and I both have felt so fortunate for the many friends we have made here in Pennsylvania. Valley Forge 1st Ward has been our second family and we are going to miss it the most I think. Thank you all for bringing us into your homes, and into your lives, even though we weren't going to be around permanently. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You made such a difference in our lives the last 4 years. Please keep in touch. We'll miss you!