HE (we) DID IT!

When you have an MBA, you can make money appear out of thin air.

On Saturday, June 12th, Spencer graduated with his Masters in Business Administration from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  This has been an incredibly rich time in Spencer's, and subsequently our lives.  While at Booth Spencer has had so many opportunities and experiences and has grown to understand his capabilities and priorities to entirely new depths.  It has been fascinating (albeit exhausting, at times) to watch him go through this intense period of self-improvement/strengthening.  I can honestly say that this was like the refiner's fire, and he has come out a much improved piece of silver!

Yeah, I guess you could say in a way I earned my MBA, too.  I at least deserved a cap 'n gown, if not the diploma.

I have more to say, but since I so recently gushed about him, and seeing as how Father's Day is coming up and I may have more to say, I'll spare all y'all.

We figure that in a few years, when we start to look old-timey, people will probably make posters and postcards and mugs with this image on it.  "Endress Ruv..."

Although I will say this:  HONORS, BABY!  It's all about those golden cords. 

How did he do that?  Seriously, I'm a little perplexed.  I mean, Chicago Booth has this awesome policy called "grade nondisclosure", meaning that you cannot disclose your grades to perspective employers--how awesome is that?  So technically, every class is pass/fail.  Would you be able to pull off honors with that lack of incentive?  Especially considering that you participated in many many many social networking events (every other wife would agree that he is probably the one who attend the most "networking" events), had a sick (pregnant) wife for half the year and for half of the first and half of the second year had a newborn.  You got up in the morning to get the kids fed and changed, etc, you took advantage fully of the incredible city you were living in....  um, I don't think I could.  And I am still trying to understand it. 

Oops, I guess I got caught up gushing.   Sorry.  But then again, this is a blog in his honor.  Anyway, I am SOOOO proud of him.  It was awfully fun watching him graduate. 

This could be any old goon crossing the stage, but it happens to be Spencer.  Eryn and I screamed for him but she was holding Layla and I was taking the picture, so no clapping.  The screaming seemed a little lonely when unaccompanied by applause.

 I think it was partly so exciting for me because I got to be there for each and every part of the process-- planning ahead in undergrad, researching schools, working his networks at Accenture, studying for, taking, and spanking the GMAT, applications (oh, kill me if I ever have to live through that bleep again), falling in love with U of Chicago, waiting, waiting, waiting, receiving the acceptance, moving out here, and stepping into our future....

Scott and Eryn, some of our very wonderfully wonderful B-school friends.  They made it, too.   Don't feel left out if you did (or didn't) make it and you are not pictured here.  I was sad that there were so many of my B-school friends that I didn't get to see that night (including the ones that should've been there but decided to stick around an extra year instead).  Also, just to be clear, don't feel bad if you are not a B-school friend.  I still love you, too.  Also, don't feel bad if you are Eryn and I just totally down-played our relationship.  It's special :)  As is this picture (below) of my Graduate:

And now we are stepping out of this chapter of our lives and into the next (with a 5 week interlude to the Western States).  To Infinity (or Arkansas) and Beyond!  May the force be with you all.

 (don't worry Elisabeth, he is not Luke's father).