GRADUATION! Hooray!

After two years of constantly taking 2 or more classes per semester, on May 5, 2010 John officially graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Technology. We couldn't be more proud of him!  The last two semesters were annoying and I'm bursting with pride to say that John stuck it through, got good grades, and ended on a high note! 

John waving to us from the graduate seats as we were up in the nose bleeds - luckily James has a REALLY good lens!

As a side note - I didn't even know you could bedazzle the cap - I wish I had!  I would have added something really crazy to John's.  Any suggestions?   

On campus with the famous Daniel Boone statue

John and Lil' D

All three of us

Lil' D wearing the Happy Graduation Hat

Grandma Dee, James, Mom, Dad, Lil' D, and I all got to go to the graduation ceremony at EKU.  It was memorable enough that when we drive past the Colosseum  Lil' D goes "Daddy - Happy Graduation!".  He also likes to wear the "Happy Graduation Hat!" and play with the tassel.  All in all, graduation went well and John is taking a well deserved and well needed break from school for a while! 

As a bonus, we went to Orange Leaf and ate delicious frozen yougurt as a special treat AND we got to keep the cap and gown!  :) 

Bloomington Bound

The last weekend in April we traveled to Bloomington, Indiana to see my sister (Jen) and her husband (Dan) before Dan graduated from IU and the headed to Utah for Dan's job the second week of May.  The weekend was a lot of fun, but WAY TOO SHORT! We got some great Chinese food our first night there, help Jen and Dan pack the next morning, walked around IU's beautiful campus and went in the art museum, and then helped Jen get somethings packed up from her classroom.  Mom and Dad showed up and we did a little more packing, ate dinner at this fancy-but-tasty burger joint, played games, went to church the next morning, and then came home.  It was a busy weekend, but one I'm glad we got!  Who knows when we'll get to see them again! We were really busy, so there aren't a ton of pictures.

On another note, Uncle Dan and Aunt Jen taught Lil' D the Stormtrooper's March (now he's really ready for BYU football games) and he's still singing it 4 months later!  

Clock on Campus

One of the statues on campus

Lil' D figuring out how the revolving door works - his favorite part of the Art Museum

Beautiful IU Campus!

Trip to Vinceness, Indiana

The second week in April, John, Lil' D and I went to Indiana.  John's mom (Grandma Dee) and grandma and multiple generations back are from Vinceness.  When John's grandma (Grandma Shouse) died last summer, she wanted to be buried along with Grandpa Shouse at a time when the most people could make it for the burial.  The burial was held in conjunction with her high school class reunion.  It would have been their class's 75 reunion.  The entire Schlesser clan and the entire Cochran clan (John's cousins) were able to be there for both the burial and the reunion.  Lil' D LOVED being around his aunt and uncles and around family.  It was a quick trip, but a good one for the family.  I finally got to meet John's cousins! 

The extended family: John, me, Andre, Becky, Dorival, Grandma Dee, Lil' D, Fatima, James, Nancy, Jeffery, Renee, Aunt Joey, Nancy's son

Grandma and Grandpa Shouse's burial was very interesting for me.  They were part to the Masons and Order of the Morning Star, and Grandpa was part of the army.  Grandma Dee, Becky, Andre, and James were in full military regalia.  Becky and John played Taps and Grandma Dee, Andre, and James were 3 of the 4 flag bearers. 

Trying on Uncle Andre's hat

Adorable!

Uncle James' is TOO BIG!

 John's Dad is also buried in the family cemetery.  Lil' D was fasinated by the headstone because it he recognized the last name and the letters.  You can see him pointed them out to Uncle Jim (who he never let get far away from him the entire day).

 Lil' D also enjoyed playing Aunt Becky's trumpet.  We all enjoyed seeing Aunt Joey! 

Mama and Aunt Joey