Monday, February 28, 2011

tuck tuck bo buck

wait, don't finish that. 

i know everyone has been on pins an needles wondering what in the world my exciting news could possibly be. ironically, lots of you already knew the news. kind of a let down, huh?

but, for those of you who haven't heard: ryan is a smarty pants. 

and because he is a smarty parts, he applied and was accepted to Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and is carting our family to the frigid {and beautiful, i've heard?} northeast for 2 years beginning this august. hanover, new hampshire, to be exact.

oh yah, and he got a partial scholarship. i told you. smarty. pants. 
i'm all sorts of excited. and all sort of scared-out-of-my-mind. 
we are so relieved to finally KNOW what we're doing with our lives. ryan has basically been m.i.a. since last may when he started studying for the gmat. once that was over, applications started. i pride myself in my ability to proof writing samples and i usually enjoy it, but a bazillion essays one trillion times over is too much for even me to handle. i only made it through by marking up his 8.5x11's in red with witty comments about myself in the margins. he rolled his eyes every time, but i know he liked it.

after applications came the waiting. oh the waiting. you have no idea how awful it is to try and imagine yourself in six different cities. six very different cities. or none of them. and lots of people don't even get in their first year of applying to top schools. so we could have just stayed put and started the thrilling process all over again this fall. we just had no idea.

so, we are very excited for this new little adventure for the layton trio.

i don't really want to think about all the things we'll be leaving behind. friends who have become family. family now all the way across the country, not just a 12 hour drive. delicious running weather all year long {i ran 5 this morning in frigid 40 something degree weather. it might have even dipped to the 30s, guys. there was frost on the ground! hard to believe, i know}. endless amounts of mattress commercials {seriously, california has so many mattress advertisements and stores!}. the list goes on. 

we are looking forward to new friends. new adventures. possibly taking up skiing {my high school friends won't believe it 'til they see it} and possibly hockey. you never know with us laytons. it's been fun to chat with other admits and their families and begin to become acquainted with the people with whom we'll be spending two years of our lives. we'll be 2 hours from boston and 4.5 from nyc, so i have day/weekend trips whizzing endlessly through my head. there is also a rett clinic in boston and we're excited to meet even more of that wonderful family. 

wish us luck! 

p.s. leah's official title is that of a "tiny tuckie." how cute is that!?

36 comments:

Unknown said...

tiny tuckie.. i LOVE that. an am grinning and giggling with how cute that sounds! yay for the new FINALLY being public:) i pride myself on being the first to know:) {or so i'm pretty sure i was first..man i keep good secrets}. i am going to miss you guys.. but am very excited to come visit.. and possibly help you drive out there {even if i have other reasons for wanting to make the drive.. i know you guys would enjoy the help..and my ugly car dancing:)} love you guys... and mr. ryan.. you are a smarty smarty pants! way to go!

Mike said...

Congrats!! That is so exciting! We know how scary it can be, but it will change your life. And for the better! We graduate this year and we cannot even imagine what it's going to be like once we leave. Tears will be shed like there's no tomorrow. I can't believe you are trading one coast for the other - exciting!

And I KNOW how you feel about the waiting. It's awful, isn't it? I hate to break it to you, but it only gets worse with internship and job interviews. Good luck!

Karen Hauley said...

I hope ryan doesn't forget that I helped edit those tuck essays. I must admit however, that he is a smarty pants. Congrats! I've always wanted to see New England in the fall.

Michelle said...

Maren, I love this post, and can't wait to meet you in person! I think we'll have the cutest tiny tuckies there! I have so many comments running through my brain, but it's been a LONG day, and I just want to get to the gym to watch the Bachelor. I'm so lame. So glad to know that we'll be real friends soon!

Unknown said...

what an exciting new adventure! congrats to you and ryan!!

Van Pelt said...

I don't know why everyone is so happy...this is very sad news!!
Very, very sad indeed!

But there is a teeny tiny little ounce of happiness for you guys :)

What a fun adventure.

Van Pelt said...

oops. that last comment is from rachel. not scott...or van pelt.

sorry.

Sarah Agrella said...

How exciting! New Hapshire is BEAUTIFUL! I spent a couple of summers at my grandparents vacation home on lake Ossipee (sp?). We went to check out the Dartmouth campus once and it is gorgeous! Hanover is a really cute town too, full of history and character. You will love it! Congratulations!

Morgan said...

yay!! we will be on the same coast for at least a year! this better mean that you will come into the city every once in awhile for a visit! congrats to ryan. applying to graduate schools is the pits. we were one of the lucky ones that got to apply twice.

Julie Laughlin said...

how fun maren! you'll be 3.5 hours from us in CT. If you are ever in the area, feel free to stop by! You are always welcome here to stop or stay, even if you are just passing through to get to the city! Looking forward to hearing about your new adventures in NH!

mj said...

rach, er van pelt - this just means we know who our TRUE west coast friends are. we know who will really miss us. :)

Jeni said...

What a relief to finally be able to plan and get excited!! I am so excited (and jealous) for your family. What a great adventure!
We'll miss you here for sure.

t.t.turner said...

CONGRATULATIONS! That is so exciting. What a fun adventure. Everyone should live on the East Coast at some point!

Courtney said...

congratulations! what a fun new adventure. sam is from boston and can never say enough good things about new england. i'm sure you'll love it!

Shannon said...

It's so true about the mattress commercials--why is that? Weird.

So happy for you guys. Sad for us, but that's what life is about-transitions, adventures, and opportunities. So glad we'll get to get in touch via the bloggity. You really are one of my favorites.

Aubrey said...

Congratulations! What an amazing adventure you are about to undertake. Dale said we'll have to get together in Montreal one day :)

Lant Family said...

congratulations!! How exciting on moving on in life and for knowing where you are going.

JourneyBeyondSurvival said...

Congrats! It is so nice to be able to settle your brain in on a place, when so many have been jumping around in it for so long.

I am SO jealous of the Boston closeness. I am so happy for you guys and Leah. Smarty pants pays off again!

Jessica M said...

Mattress commercials huh? Who knew? So excited for y'alls next great adventure! Congrats to Ryan!

chrisbrems said...

If you are a smarty pants now, imagine what life will be in two years. Congrats.

Jennie said...

What exciting news and such a thrilling time of life. Congratulations. Wow! What an impressive accomplishment - for you both. As you know... there is usually a good woman behind the man. However, I prefer to think of it as a good woman BESIDE the man. :)

Emily said...

Exciting! I'm fascinated by the east coast and it's many amazing cities, what a grand time you'll have! Good job Ryan!

Bethany said...

Oh man, what news! Moving cross country is a big deal! So you will probably miss seeing my sister in San Jose. But she'll survive (apparently my singing high school friends did not leave much of an impression on her, as she did not recognize your name). Your San Jose friends are probably so sad, but your future New Hampshire friends are sure in luck! Good luck with everything.

Alecia said...

SOOOO excited for you guys. We were in NH this fall and it was amazing. Plus, you're just so close to so many cool places. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! And congrats to the smarty pants!

Maquel said...

That is so awesome! I can't tell you how envious I am! I've always wanted to live in the northeast for just a couple years. I've visited Dartmouth--it's beautiful! Congratulations!

chloe said...

Congratulations! One of the girls I work with just graduated from Tuck and LOVED it!!! So much fun! I think you will be shocked how quickly the two years will go by.

Lisa said...

Hey! Congrats!! And crazy, Dave was accepted to Tuck as well! Our lives are still up in the air as to whether he's actually going to pursue an MBA, but if he does we may be up there with you!! It would be awesome to have a familiar face there! Have I used enough exclamation points?

Rebecca Parker said...

Not gonna lie...Aunt Neecy shared with me a while back as well, but I would've never known from the title of the post that was news you were sharing:) Proud of Ryan though it is quite a cross-country jaunt, but I guess nothing like present for a fam adventure!?! Sounds like great destination to visit...maybe after KY & NV once more but a little tricky when I don't have any vacation days left until Feb '12-ugh! well thank goodness you are such a good writer, for the Rett Clinic in Boston & blogs to keep us connected!! With love from WA-

Nancey said...

Wow! New Hampshire! I hear it's beautiful, too. I think it's fun to move somewhere new as a young family (at least before the kids hit high school and hate their parents for moving). So close to NYC, do you know how much damage that will do to a bank account? (Ok, that was creepy, your blog background just changed on me--magic!?) Anyway, enjoy enjoy, and at least it's not forever, unless you want it to be. 2 years will fly by, I'm sure.

Porters said...

wow. Way to go. That is seriously impressive. I can't wait to hear more...

chellae said...

I have a million things to say about how great it is to live on the East Coast! Fist, though, TUCK! Wow. That truly is impressive. I know the kind of work it takes to get in. Jim looked at it a bit.You should both feel so proud (wait, I think it is clear that you do!) Next. We are so, so close! Maybe we'll yet get to run that race together. You must plan on running the Hartford Half Marathon in October. It is stunning. About running in the winter. I ran nine miles in a snow storm three weeks ago. It was grand. But, you might have to get a treadmill. It's sort of a icy, super cold weather substitute. And really good cold weather running gear. Next, save your pennies for those expensive plane tickets home. What else...the Boston Children's Museum is only $1 after 5 on Friday nights. The Boston temple is open all the time and on the New Hampshire side of the state. Montreal is only a few hours away and so worth visiting. Oh the list goes on. But, mostly, congrats. Be at peace with the move. Good things are in store. You guys are great!

Amy W said...

Wow!!! Way to go Ryan!! Super exciting! You must have so many mixed emotions about moving. Sounds like life is taking you on another great adventure!

Michelle said...

Congratulations! That is super exciting!

Ben & Eva Pearson said...

How exciting for you guys! Congrats to Mr. Smarty Pants!

Amelia said...

NO Way!!! Congrats!! So THIS is why you were looking for that running gear. You want to turn into a crazy winter runner. You are all CRAZY!!! I see them everywhere up here in Edmonton. CRAZIES! :) ANyway, have fun. It is going to be SO BEAUTIFUL! That is the perfect little adventure. :)

dockters said...

Congrats on the new adventure ahead of you and yours, Maren!! Some of our best friends are headed to Dartmouth for residency this summer....be on the look for them...Andrew and Brittani Curtis. They are wonderful! I'll tell them to be on the look out for you.