The Graduate

He did it! Graham set his mind to finished the master's program in year and he did it! I am so proud of him. He was so incredibly busy this entire year (a glimpse into what is to come) and it's so nice that he has these two or so months off to relax and regroup for next year.

Graham wasn't planning on walking for this graduation since he knew there would be a graduation in the future (Lord willing!) but at the last minute he learned that he would be given the James Willis Outstanding Graduate Student award and the adviser giving that award convinced him to go. It was literally last minute, I found out about it around 9pm the evening before graduation. The pictures of the actual graduation are horrible (the lighting was terrible) but I was able to get a decent video of the hooding ceremony and some great pictures after.

I forced Graham into this picture. He is holding his outstanding student award paper weight. His name also goes onto a perpetual plaque.

Me with the handsome graduate

Graham with one of his professors Dr. Edward Lopez. This professor provided a lot of aid to Graham with applying to PhD. programs as well as getting funding to go to the APEE conference in the Bahamas. These types of professors who are so willing to go above and beyond "the call of duty" are a rare find!

Graham with Dr. Matt Holian. This is the professor that is co-authoring the research paper that Graham has been working on all year. HOPEFULLY, it will be ready to submit for publishing some time this summer.

Get ready Tallahassee! Here we come!

Mother's Day

This post is a bit overdue, because a) I just haven't posted in awhile and b) Mother's Day was over a week ago. I had been pretty busy but now I find myself with plenty of time on my hands.

Anyways, each mother's day since moving to California has been spent at Drake's Beach with the CA Newell Clan and all of their friends. We are truly going to miss this tradition. California beaches (especially northern ca beaches) are not like your typical east coast beaches. They are typically cold and windy. But at drake's beach, if you walk to this one spot surrounded by cliffs, the wind is blocked and if the sun is shining it can be quite nice. This year was no exception. I am typically cold natured, so you will see me bundled up, but others were out there in tank-tops!!

Matt, the grill master. He was grilling up steak, chicken, sausages, hotdogs, and oysters all day long.

Hanging out with Nat. I'm going to miss her!!

I don't know if you know this, but I really like kids and will snag any opportunity to get to hold a baby.

I mean I really really like kids. Can you tell?



I know it looks sunny, but this was getting close to sunset and it got COLD!

The four of us :)

I think we are unofficial members of the Bobby Newell clan.

Although I am getting more and more excited about our move to Florida there are many traditions that we have established here in California that I'm going to miss terribly. Mother's Day at Drake's Beach is no exception.