Graduated

Logan graduated beginning of May. We are so proud of him! He worked so hard to get into the Master of Science Analytics program at NC State and completed it in a short (but intense) 10 months. The program is amazing; this year it had a 100% employment rate after graduation (most students averaged 13 job interviews and 3 offers). Logan was lucky to have a few competitive job offers that we considered, but ultimately we decided to move to Charlotte so he could work for a consulting firm. It was a good choice! He is enjoying his job and the city is great too (more about that later in another post).

Here are a few pictures from graduation day. Big thanks to his family for joining us!

Logan's practicum group. 

He worked with this group on a big data project for United Airlines. They did a great job and went to Chicago to present their project to the company. 

Logan's mom and Amelia were there too, but grammy volunteered to change an explosive diaper (bless her). 

I love my little family!

 one of my favorites from the day - daddy with his (little) biggest fans

Logan left right after graduation to run a Tough Mudder in Texas with a good friend from his mission. It was his graduation present. He had a blast. I don't know how you can call being covered in mud and getting electrocuted a blast, but that's what he did and loved it. (Thank you for the pictures, Allison!)

John and Logan about to run the race

My little sister, Amanda, also graduated (the day before our big move to Charlotte). She graduated from VCU with her bachelor's in Exercise Science. It's been a month now from graduation, and she has already found herself a job as a rehab specialist. I am so proud of her! The kids and I were able to drive up to Richmond, VA to be there for her special graduation day. (We left Logan to clean and pack up our moving truck. He did a great job - thanks Log!) 

Blurry, but I love this picture of Hud with his Aunt Mans

Moving

Logan is two weeks away from graduation, and has already accepted a job as a consultant (after 10+ interviews and 4 job offers). Seriously. His graduate program is remarkable.

We are moving to Charlotte, NC (about 2 1/2 hours from Raleigh). All of the job offers were enticing, but this particular position was the best choice for our family and a great opportunity for Logan's career. We just couldn't pass it up. In the beginning, we steered far from any consultant positions because of the heavy traveling required (not ideal for our young family). However, this consultant firm is a great fit. It requires little to no travel since all of it is within Charlotte (he'll be consulting with major banks in the area), and the hours aren't horrible (about 40 - 50 hours a week depending on his job load).

Plus, Charlotte is just a cool city - we really liked it when we went to visit and Logan's cousin and her family live in the area! We move the middle of May, and will be living in uptown for the first year or two. Logan can walk to work from our new place - score! We figure the kids are young enough, so we want to experience "city life" while we have the chance. We are sad to leave Raleigh (especially our friends), but feel so blessed and excited about this new phase in our lives! Who wants to visit us in Charlotte?

 Uptown Charlotte

 Football training at Freedom Park

Second cousins (Parker and Hudson) at the coolest library in Uptown

Master(s) in the House

We had quite a few things to celebrate this month. Namely, the fact that Logan got into the highly competitive Master's in Analytics program at NC State University right here in Raleigh. Last year, he was wait-listed. They said if there was any movement, he would get a shot. Unfortunately, it didn't happen so we waited another year. Logan continued working and gaining experience. He took classes, took on data projects for work, and honed his skills to prepare to re-apply. And, the second time around? HE GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so proud of him! He totally wanted this, and worked so hard to reach his goal. He starts in June. It's a 10 month intensive master's program - about 50-60 hours a week. He'll get SAS certified, gain valuable insights into data mining, and have lots of career placement opportunities.

The program has a 97% career placement; most graduates get 2+ job interviews and/or job offers. It's only open to 80 students a year, and there were so many applicants this time around. We feel so blessed that Logan was given this opportunity, and it helps that Logan is very ready to start the program! He is thrilled, and I am too.

Looks like we will be having two masters in the house (I recently completed everything for my Master's degree) come April 2014. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but we're always up for some friendly competition around here. :)

 Officially part of the Wolfpack. NC State style. Not Twilight style. 

Date night eating at The Pit - super great, classic BBQ place in downtown Raleigh. 

What a great time celebrating V-Day, finally getting my Master's degree, and Logan getting into graduate school! 

tonight

After attending a information session about this graduate program at N.C. State...

Logan: So, are you with me?

Abby: I'm always with you. But this time I even agree with you!

Logan: ha ha ha ha ha 

Bottom Line: I am with him and do very much agree (after little persuading) with this decision.

He will be applying.  

Here's to both of us (potentially) being in graduate school at the SAME time. 

Yikes.

Bring on those student loans! 

BYU Graduate

Look what came in the mail the other day....

So, I guess, that makes it official! Logan is a BYU graduate - a semester early too! I am so proud of him! Unfortunately, we were not in Provo long enough to get the fancy cap and gown to watch him walk across the stage. I really wanted to see him do that, but of course husband did not care. He says the diploma is all that matters - and yes, how true! 

Congrats to you, hubby :) You rock! 

P.S. Logan is home from his training trip and had his first "real" week on the job.
He did great! 

Not to brag or anything, but I can do hard things!!

You know that 28 page (yes, 28 pages) graduate paper that I completed last week? The one that took forever to write and compile? Well, I finally finished it last Wednesday and I turned it in right at the midnight deadline. GO ME! I CAN DO HARD THINGS!!! There really wasn't a page limit, but being the overachiever that I am (or so my husband says) I finished it in just 28 pages. I could have wrote more, but I stopped myself. 

Anyway, I checked my school e-mail this morning and I got this message from my professor:

Abby,

I was extremely impressed with the quality of your work! Thank you for your hard work and effort. You adhered to the assignment and followed the rubric perfectly. I would love to see this lesson in an actual classroom. This is one of the finest examples of this assignment that I have been able to access! Thank you and keep up the fine work!

Professor Mike

And, yes, I did get an A+ on the assignment (I can do hard things)!!! Sometimes I get really discouraged that I am doing more schooling, especially since I already have an undergraduate degree that is perfectly useful (not to mention the fact that I work full-time and am currently pregnant), but sometimes....I get comments like that one from my teachers and I know that all my hard work is paying off. I know that I am doing the best I can and that the best I am doing is molding me into a better learner, better teacher, and better person. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my education and I appreciate all the support I get from my teachers, family, husband, and friends. I can do this; I am soooo close to being done! I can do hard things (this is my MIL's motto and I intend to live by it as well)!!!!

Side note: I am 17 weeks along:) Still no significant baby bump (sad). I'll try to post a baby bump picture soon, but trust me there isn't much to see according to everyone I know. We find out the gender in two weeks!!! WOW! Everyone is saying it is a boy, and I kind of think it is a boy too...but a part of me is really wishing for a girl!

Happy Friday! We get a 3-day weekend:) Hallelujah!

it smells like school spirit...

We had quite the BYU adventure this weekend. Logan and I hiked the Y on Saturday morning. It was a perfect day. The weather was beautiful, the view was beautiful, the hike was amazing--we loved it!!! After the hike, we rested for a few hours then went to the BYU vs. Nevada game. Not the best game ever, but it was fun nonetheless! Here are some pictures...

Funny story: At the last BYU game this girl sat in front of us and before she left, she turned around looked at me and said: "you are such a good BYU fan; you were cheering the whole time" to which I replied: "thank you, and I don't even go to this school!!"

the end

goodbye summer, hello again Provo!

We're back in Provo!! We had a lovely drive out here...we stopped in Virginia to see family before we left! I helped move my brother into his dorm room at the University of Mary Washington (UMW). He will be playing soccer there and he LOVES it!

Located in Fredericksburg, VA.

We took a trip into D.C. with our friends, the Meijomes. It was a blast. We went to a few museums, memorials, and lastly the ZOO! It was a ton of fun! I still need to get pictures from that trip, so be patient with me. We also played games and celebrated birthdays with the Corbett's and then on our last night, my parents hosted a goodbye dinner for us. All in all, it was one of our favorite trips home! It was so nice to see everyone and we had an amazing time!

playing Twister with family & friends

birthday cake for the Corbetts' with August-September birth dates! 

Logan and his mama

On our drive out, we stopped in Nauvoo and Carthage Jail for two days. It was my first time there and I loved it. It was incredible and so historical. 

Nauvoo (LDS) Temple

Life in Provo....

Logan started his first day back at school TODAY! You should have seen his face when I got home from work...he loves being in school!! He's taking many Economic classes and a Russian class. He is hoping to get fluent in Russian so that he'll be able to know 3 different languages (English, Spanish, and Russian). This will help him get a boost when applying to the State Department. Yay! He's also working two jobs! Amazing!

on his first day of school (yes, I made him take this picture)!

I started working the day we got back from our long across country drive (crazy, I know) but it's been pretty steady at the high school. I'm so glad to be back! Logan actually has a job with Alpine School District too; he works right across the street from me. SO nice! I start grad school again on Sept 2nd. I just finished my 3rd class and have about 8 more to go until I get that lovely MASTER'S DEGREE!!!!

Logan and I will be finishing school around the same time (December 2011). We are slowly, but surely getting there. Just another year and a half!! We can do it!! It will be a crazy Fall semester with us both working and going to school, but I'm sure we will manage (we always do)! We have a bunch of new goals, projects, trips, and activities coming up so check back to see what is going on in the Corbett House!

Thanks for reading our blog, to the few that do, you all are great!! 

We love you!

good news in May!

After much waiting and anticipation, my little brother (Tommy) just found out he got accepted into Mary Washington University located in Fredericksburg, VA. He will also be playing soccer for them (NCAA Division III team).

I can't tell you how excited and happy I am for my brother. He's a wonderful person and I know he's going to do great things in college! GO TOMMY BOY! *His birthday is May 11th so this was a nice, early birthday present!

Also, Logan had his BEST semester since attending BYU!!! Yay! I am so proud of him. I'm not a distraction after all, much to my father's thinking before we got married (he said I might distract Logan from his studies). Yeah sorry daddy, not a chance. This was Logan's best semester yet! And, he did it while working many, long hours at the Marriott Center! I am so proud of him! He's also taking summer classes too!! He's so smart and motivated....I love him!

I also finished my second graduate class last week for my Master's in Secondary Education. Hooray! It's been a great experience so far, and I've learned so much already. I am looking forward to the nice two month break before my next class starts! And, I happen to have a 4.0 GPA (not to brag or anything....well, maybe just a little...but hello it's really hard holding down a 4.0 while you are working full-time, okay?!)

I love the month of MAY! It's such a good month. There are so many exciting things happening this month....

-my friend (Nikki's) baby is due!!!!!!!!!!!
-camping in Pine Valley

-visiting Logan's grandparents in St. George

-weddings = 2

-birthdays (brother's & dad's) = 2

-1 year WEDDING anniversary (May 23)

-moving for summer internships (Myrtle Beach, SC)

What has Logan been up to lately?

STUDYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Final exams are next week; wish him luck! 

new blog

Hello friends and family! I started a new blog to compile all of my academic papers and research as I work toward my Master's in Secondary Education. Feel free to visit the site and give me feedback! Thanks for your support!

Click HERE to visit the website.

Abby got a job!!!! finally!!!!

I finally got a job! Yes! Yes! And, it is definitely the job I wanted. I went in on Monday for an interview and they just called me this morning to offer me the job! I start next week. I'll be working at the high school as a teaching assistant. I am really looking forward to it. I think this job will be a great opportunity for me.

The more I think about it....the more I really love working with students. I definitely think I am suppose to teach and this opportunity will give me the chance to discover whether or not teaching is something I want to pursue.

I'm planning to go back to school next fall for my Masters, so I'll be applying to grad schools in the next couple of months which means I need to start studying for the GRE exam....yuck! I'm planning to get my graduate degree in either Education or English. So, we'll see what happens....

Logan is still working on his Bachelor's degree at BYU. He's sticking with a Business major and school starts for him the end of the month! He's really excited about it and I am excited for him too! I love a new school year.....a fresh start and new opportunities for growth! Yeah! I love it! I hope this will be a good school year for both of us....me with the job and Logan with his undergrad studies =)