Flooding in Ohio

Another street view of the flooding that was happening in Iowa City in late June.

Quality Time In Utah

So after graduation, the day after, we drove out to Utah. Jakie flew home with G&G Shumway and Rick and I drove 900 miles or so in one day. We got in late on the 15th and spent about 5 days with the family in Utah. Jakie loved seeing Aunt Katie, Uncle cam and G&G. He got what ever he wanted with them and was kissed and loved times 6 instead of his usual 2 (mom and dad). The picture here is when Jakie got to ride the ponies at Thanksgiving Point when everyone went to see the baby animals.

"Inspirational" Graduation Day Speaker??

Well, now I can say that I have lived. Quincy Jones was the honorary Doctorate at Ricks graduation, and got to speak for about 20 minutes. Problem is that he took about an hour and no matter how good a speech is, I am done after 30 minutes!! To make matters worse, I got sunburned listening to Quincy speak about a variety of subjects (music, the hood, inappropriate topics, jokes, all of his famous friends, his childhood in the hood, more of his famous friends). There were many more topics, but they all had one thing in common, the fact that they had nothing to do with graduation. They could have if he finished a single thought, but he did not. I'd fire whomever looked over that speech for him!! Well, it turned out okay, but we were all burned to heck and I was ready for it to be over after they announced the first row! No such luck though. They read each class row by row (like 30 + rows) and each name was called (like 1500 names). We got there at 1pm and left at 5:25pm. Yeah, next degree, I am going to go get a facial until the last 20 minutes!! Just Kidding. I am glad that it is over though. Good times, but that last 5 hours killed.

Graduation Day!!

Well, it finally came to pass! 2 years of hard work and exhaustion finally paid off. Rick has a degree and gainful employment and if that was not enough, he emerged with 3 wonderful friends and classmates. Kevin, Josh and Geoff were heaven sent for Rick, and their adorable wife's (Where applicable) were heaven sent for me. It was more than luck that we met, I am positive. I loved seeing everyone in their cap and gown so excited, and I loved seeing Rick reach yet another of his goals. I am sure it is only one of many more to come! I am a pretty lucky lady.

Our last horrah!!

(EXTREME CLOSE UP FOR ME!! SORRY.) Saying goodbye to Kevin and Steph was so fun, yet so darn sad! They came with us to Oregon and we all just hung out the whole weekend, about a week before graduation. We rented these really fun bikes and rode them down the beach. I still think of how much fun that was and miss it all so much. (Mostly the friends though).

Mischief at Cannon Beach (Eating Sand)

Well, Jacob likes to eat sand. Not just that he tasted it and spitting it out. I mean, he actually ate fists full of sand and loved it. Hmmmm, I hope that is not an indication of any problems to come!

Our Trip To The Oregon Coast.

I finally got to Cannon Beach after 2 years of talking about it. It was worth the wait. I would move there in a second. This is the famous beach where the Goonies was filmed. Rick was very excited to see the scene of a childhood favorite and we really had a great time.