Graduation Weekend!

Mike finished his Executive MBA program at Emory University with his graduation weekend May 10-13.  We couldn't be more proud of him!  Mike had talked and dreamed for many years about completing an MBA program so I was so extremely happy for him to get the opportunity to participate in the program!  

 Graduation was truly a weekend full of activities.  (All very fun, but I have to admit I was pretty exhausted by the time everything was complete on Monday afternoon.)  It started on Friday evening with a party organized by his class.  I took the girls to spend the night with my cousin Sheri so Mike and I could have this night together. We also decided to stay at the hotel where the party was being held.  We had a wonderful evening!  It was a little crazy waking up in the morning for the first time in over three and half years without a child right there with us.  (The only night I've spent away from Evie was when Layla was born).  But I knew the girls were well taken care of and having fun with my cousin Sheri and her family so that made it easier for me:)

Here is a quick photo we took before going to the party:)

The next morning we went to the awards ceremony for Mike's class at Emory.

(But I had forgotten to pack hairspray so the curl didn't last in my hair:)

We had a wonderful time again with all of Mike's classmates, then headed to pick up the girls after leaving the ceremony!  We were very excited to see them!!!!  Then about an hour after we got back to our house my parents arrived.  (They had driven from Kansas for the weekend to help celebrate Mike's graduation!)

On Sunday late afternoon/early evening I had a reception for Mike at our house with some of his co-workers from Coca-Cola, a few neighbors, my cousin's family, and my parents.   

I didn't get many photos from this night:(  But we had a wonderful evening and are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives!

The actual graduation took place on Monday morning.  We had to be at Emory by 6:30...in. the. morning....yikes!  So we were up super early, I just put the girls clothes in the car, we drug them out of bed and put them in the car and then dressed them once we parked at Emory!

The first ceremony was outdoors and included several disciplines of graduates.  It was a little chilly and a lot of people!!!!  But it was exciting to be a part of it all!

As the students began to proceed into the ceremony they were led by an individual playing bagpipes.  Needless to say it was a lot of students and the bagpipes were going for quite some time.   Layla decided she didn't really care for them after a while as you can tell by her plugging her ears in the picture below :)

 Once this ceremony was complete we walked back to the business school for a brunch with the family and graduates.

.....and boys will be boys I guess....even when they are completing an executive MBA program.  In this photo it may appear someone is just trying to stand some of the graduation programs.....

....but in reality they are using it as a make shift liquor cabinet!

.....still proud of my graduate....even after a shot of Jager!

After brunch we walked across campus one more time to attend the diploma ceremony specifically for the MBA candidates.  The graduates were led down the hill to the ceremony by some of the professors and bagpipes!

Good thing his last name put him at the front and I was able to get a photo of him sitting at the ceremony:)

....getting his diploma!

.....and shaking hands with Mrs. Goizueta!

Mike's fan club:)  We are all so proud of him for his accomplishment!!!

 I am proud and thankful!  Thankful for Mike to have had this opportunity!  Thankful for all the wonderful friends he made throughout this program (and many of the wonderful "program spouses" I have met along the way too)!  Thankful for Mike and all the sacrifices he made to keep family time as much as possible throughout the program.  And thankful for my parents to make the long drive from Kansas to support our family and celebrate Mike's success too!  It was a team effort and I couldn't have done it without all the support along the way and especially not without the love and admiration I have for my husband as well!  I just can't put into words how thankful I am to have him in my life!