Graduation Celebration

The graduation weekend began by my parents and Izabel flying in for the festivities on Thursday night. After working hard to clean up around the house Jon and I celebrated, just us, at Olive Garden (thanks Katie, Shane, and Emma!) and had a good evening just taking about how blessed we are and dreaming about what is to come. 

My parents got in really late so we slept in a bit and then Jon and my dad played golf all day Friday and the girls went shopping. We all had a great day together. That evening Jon had an awards ceremony, so while he attended that, I took my parents down and around the canal that runs through the city. Here are a few pictures:

The beautiful Izzie

We then met Jon's parents for a fun meal at the Cheesecake Factory. It was such a special night to have all of us together!

Jon and Iz

Izzie is certainly a Mays in that she always wants to be working. Here she is cleaning up from her Rachel Ray show- I think the special was rice mixed on the stove with a hot cocoa soup and parsley seasoning. It smelled.... interesting! :)

And now to the really important stuff..... GRADUATION!!

Below are pictures of Jon in his get-up with mostly everyone that came. Go figure.... my camera DIED right when the ceremony began, so I don't have pictures of the ceremony or of the aunts that came or of our friends Chris and Eva that came. Jon's mom took pictures for us though and I'll post them soon:

Jon and his proud parents!!

Jon and his grandparents

Jon with Aunt Sis and Uncle Fred

Jon and his brother Ryan who came down from Michigan

Jon and his Izzie

Jon with his other half

The group

So the most exciting part was that each year at the graduation, there is an award given to one student that is voted upon by all the faculty and staff at the law school. No one knows who has won until the ceremony. IT WAS OUR JON!! We were all so surprised and so very proud of him. Some very nice things were said about him and he received a plaque and a money gift on behalf of all the professors. What an honor! I am so proud of him!

This is all that I could get out of my camera as he was getting his "diploma". Jon graduated suma cum laude and deserved every bit of the title: 

Unfortunately, my dead camera missed pictures from dinner as well. Everyone joined us for a great meal at Palamino's- a restaurant downtown. We had such an awesome day and cannot begin to express how blessed we feel. 

After dinner-  my dad treated us to a carriage ride through the city. It was really fun!

The end to a great day-

Izzie cuddling with her favorite aunt

It was such a blessing to get to celebrate mother's day with Jon's mom and my mom who I haven't got to be with for several years now. I love you mom! The guys barbecued for us and everything was delicious!

Izzie spending some time with her uncle Ryan

The love birds after a dip in the hot tub!

The brave one- the water in the pool was freezing but of course that did not keep her out!

Jon and Iz at our neighborhood park

The end to another fun day- sorry about the butt shot but it was too cute to not post!

Miloh would NEVER do this for us. He was soooo exaughisted from playing all day with this best friend Izabel.

Saying goodbye...

We had such a wonderful weekend!! Thanks to all of our family and friends that were able to make it and to those of you who have sent cards of congratulations! One chapter down.... one can only wonder where God will take us next!