graduation part II: the ceremony

i can't believe the four year countdown finally ended on saturday. we woke up early to start party prepping: making veggie kabobs, hanging balloons, cleaning the carport, etc. jp came and picked up brett since they had to be there early. of course they stopped in at your pie for lunch :) so sad that, that was the last time they'll ride to fam together from our house. (they used to ride together to school everyday.)

graduation was at the famu gym, which is new and really nice. it's set up just like the civic center, but smaller. it made it easier for me to walk around to get pictures, but it also made it kind of loud and chaotic feeling. the commencement speaker was the assistant democratic leader james clyburn. a couple good points of his address were that we should remember that commencement isn't the end of something, commence means to begin; and don't forget that we all need each other, just because we have a fancy degree doesn't mean we're better than someone else, a doctor needs a mechanic just like a mechanic needs a doctor.

the second moment of the weekend when i got choked up was when they had the pharmacy school stand and they conferred upon them their degree and all the rights thereunto appertaining as doctors of pharmacy and they moved their tassels over. i can't believe brett is graduated and a capable, responsible pharmD. my emotions didn't last long though because as soon as they finished saying that, the fire alarm went off! lights flashing, sirens wailing and all! the president hesitated for a minute, confused but then went on to the next college. my mom had her purse on her shoulder and was automatically ready to bolt, but because of the timing (and the not so formal feeling of the crowd in general) i told her not to worry because someone just pulled the fire alarm in celebration. a few minutes went by and they kept on conferring degrees. finally we looked up and noticed white smoke filling one of the sky boxes! there really was a fire and a distressed worker and police officer scurrying around trying to deal with it! mom was ready to leave again! i could just picture the stampede of people storming the doors, but if the university was going to keep truckin' through the ceremony then it was fine, right? ha. the smoke died down and a few minutes later we could smell it, like burning blow dryer. a few minutes after that a fireman was on the scene so i knew everything was ok. pretty nuts.

they didn't have to sit in alphabetical order so brett got to sit with his buds. jp spied me taking their picture here as they got ready to go on stage. i felt like a sniper. i would get my prey in my sights, snap a few shots then i would see one nudge the other and point to me as they noticed me taking their picture. i was like where's waldo in my orange dress.

shaking president ammons' hand.

you worked so hard! here's an empty diploma case! yay!

for this picture, i sat there for five minutes yelling brett's name and trying to get their attention like an idiot. it was like they were purposely staring straight ahead and not turning to look at each other as they talked so they wouldn't see me. when i finally got logan's attention for a picture of the four of them, this was the face brett would give me. goofball.

i texted him when i got back to my seat to tell him he was a goober for only making a silly face and they talked me into coming back to get a good one (like i need much convincing to take a cute picture).

the proud wife with the happy grad!

happy parents too!

afterwards i made brett and jp go to the pharmacy school to take pictures.

love you boo!

so smart and distinguished looking.

a real brett smile for the camera! unheard of! 

they just couldn't help themselves. had to get a hug in. everyone did have suspicions about them with their matching computers and sometimes matching outfits.

the end.

next up, the party!