"Official" Vanderbilt Graduation

Warning, this is a long post with lots of pictures! :)

So, last weekend, Mike and I met in Nashville (he from NYC, me from Dallas....another story for another day) to go to my "official" master's degree graduation at Vanderbilt. I really graduated last August and did go to the Nursing School's Pinning Ceremony at that time (which in the nursing world, is really the most memorable/significant). However, since I had put in all of that work over the past year, I wanted to actually walk across the stage and get hooded! So, off we went!

I arrived on Thursday mid-day (after my kind mother dropped me off at Love Field at 6:00am- she gets brownie points!), went to my favorite coffee shop in Nashville, The Frothy Monkey, and got my long-awaited chai latte before I headed back to the airport to pick up Mike.
Later that evening, we went to the Nursing School's wine and cheese reception (see below).


While at the reception, Lauren and I were re-united! :) So, so good to see her! I keep telling her that Children's is hiring and she and Andrew need to move to Dallas! Almost convinced her when she came to visit last summer....

Thursday evening we had dinner with some good friends, Tim and Julia, who let me stay with them in Nashville a couple of times. Sad day that I don't have pictures from our dinner, but we had a great time! Julia and I actually started together at Children's in the ER, then she moved to England (difficult life!)- we actually stayed with them as well when Mike and I went to England a couple of years ago.

Friday morning was graduation! There were two parts to graduation: first part was with the entire 2010 graduating class (undergrad, grad, doctoral, etc). It was an out-door graduation and can I tell you that I steamed in my black gown and cap- it was SO hot and humid!! But, thankfully, the rain held off until after graduation!

The second part of graduation was the hooding ceremony. We broke off into separate schools and each of us were hooded by our program director (see below).

Then we got our diploma (fake one- real one is already framed and hanging on our wall at home) from the Dean.

Yay us! We graduated!

So thankful for Mike, who was my support system through out school.

So, Vanderbilt is known for their strawberries and champagne reception after graduation- you can see why. This was just one of the many mounds and mounds of fresh strawberries, that were actually really good! And, on the side of the tent were tables with free-flowing champagne!


Friday night, we all went out to dinner and then headed back to Lauren and Andrew's condo for dessert. Here we all are, with our significant others... So very thankful for each of these girls! Happily, we are all employed, but sadly, scattered through-out the country.


Saturday, Mike and I slept in and then had lunch with some friends and then spent a rainy afternoon back at The Frothy Monkey. We had dinner that evening with Melanie, Cliff and little Kaylee! Melanie was my roommate back at Samford, and graciously let me stay with she and Cliff when I would come to Nashville for classes last year. She had Kaylee while I was in school, so it's been so fun to see her grow up!

So thankful for Mel!

Mike and Kaylee


Sunday morning found us back at Nashville airport, where I headed back to Dallas and Mike, back to NYC...such is life these days. But, we had a FABULOUS weekend away!

best way to brighten your day

I got these from my fabulous husband in the middle of my day today! Love him!

Mother's Day fun

So, before I show you how our Mother's Day played out, I have to brag on my sweet husband and show you the kitchen table he built! We just got our new camera yesterday, so we took a picture of it today. He's in the process of making a leaf for it so that it can seat up to 6, but between flying back and forth to NYC on a weekly basis, he hasn't had much time for it. There is an end in site, so hopefully after the middle of June, he'll have some more time on his hands.


For Mother's Day lunch, we ate at Casa Milagro (fabulous brisket de tacos!) with Mike's parents and his little brother Max. Sad that Sergei and the rest of the family couldn't make it!

Mike and his mom

Mike Sr. and Max


Mike left this afternoon to go back to NYC, so I headed to my parents' house for Mother's Day dinner and got to hang out with my cootie-patootie nephew, Cameron. Here he is enjoying his first bite of chocolate cake (in preparation for his 1st birthday party coming up, of course!)




He is cruising and so happy all of the time!

And, here's a picture of Mike and I before lunch today. We were testing out our camera's capabilities and decided to pose. He's just so cute and I am so thankful to have him. These past couple of weeks of constant travel have been hard. But, we're making it, and I'm looking forward to being able to spend a long weekend with him in Nashville next weekend for my "official graduation!"

Feeling official

Last week, I went to my first national conference, NAPNAP (National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners), in Chicago. Unfortunately, since our camera was stolen (long story), I couldn't take any pictures, but did enjoy my time in the city!
I've never considered myself to be "climbing the corporate ladder," or highly collegiate, but being at this conference made me think that maybe I should go back to school and get a doctorate or a post-master's acute-care specialty. Yes, I know that is completely insane, especially after the year I spent in grad school (Mike was really happy when that year was over and he got his wife back). C d€
But, it was like a gigantic think-tank, and I loved being in the midst of wonderful ideas, thought-provoking lectures...in the thick of the most current medical information.
So, not only was it great to learn lots of new stuff, but it was great to catch up with old friends from undergrad and grad school- loved that part!!
It was also great to get lots of free stuff. :) Love booths with fun samples (we're talking full bottles of bath wash, face soap, lotions, creams) - literally, my suitcase was 10 pounds heavier going home because of all of the free stuff.

Engaged!!!

Elena and Alex got engaged this weekend!!! We are so excited!
Alex took Elena to lunch and proposed on a part of the Riverwalk (in San Antonio where they both live), then took her on a scavenger hunt to lots of their most memorable locations around the city and ended up at their favorite coffee place, where we were all gathered to celebrate!


Engagement ring- Alex's grandmother's ring

The surprised couple (at least Elena!) at the coffee house

The happy couple

The Serna sisters- poor Liz, no ring

What are you doing on Thursday, April 8th?

...going to Dallas Pregnancy Resource Center's Concert for Life, featuring Rebecca St. James!!

• Concert will be at Northwest Bible Church (corner of Dallas North Tollway and Northwest Highway)
• Tickets are $12- you can buy them from www.fearandwonder.org
• Concert starts at 7:00pm
• Proceeds go to Dallas Pregnancy Resource Center!!!
• Fear and Wonder will also be there selling t-shirts to raise money for DPRC

the weather

If you know me well, you know that I am not a fan of hot weather and really don't like the Texas summers. Fall and winter are my favorite times of the year and I have LOVED that we've had so much snow and cold weather so far.
However, yesterday afternoon was georgous and there was a small part inside of me that was looking forward to the warmer weather...just a small part, though... I was able to sand and paint an old restaurant high chair that was given to us without needing to wear long-sleeves while I was outside- fabulous!