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High School Reunion

My 10 year high school reunion was held two weeks ago and it was one of the oddest things I've ever been to. It was a three day event with a tour of the school and meeting at a bar on Friday, the formal event on Saturday, and a picnic on Sunday. Chris and I only did the Friday and Saturday stuff because we drove home on Sunday.

Before the reunion I began to wonder what the point of reunions were anymore with the advent of Facebook? You know what people look like, how many kids they have, and if you don't, then you didn't want to know in the first place. I know I've kept in contact with a few of my high school friends, and I befriended a bunch of high school acquaintances on Facebook, but I deleted that a year ago. So I'm still debating whether or not it was a wise choice to go to the reunion... all well, at least I got to see my Vegas buddies, and some people I was happily surprised to see, so that makes it worth it.

So this lovely part of campus was my domain, where all of my French classes were held, international club and French club meetings, culturama, and other IS major activities. I was happy to see the lovely murals they painted on the walls, until I saw the one for French...

Seriously? The Death of Marat? It is an iconic French Revolution painting, but really? No stereotypical Eiffel Tower picture? That, at least, would have looked nicer.

Do you see what Japanese gets?? Anyway, not that the IS department matters anymore, it's being moved to another school. So my raison d'etre at LVA is being removed, how's that for no longer feeling attached to your alma mater?

The main quad.

Down the science alley.

Being creepers and looking in the cafeteria.

The fancy new theater. One of the reasons I felt so weird is that the theaters were the only buildings we went in and, well, I hardly ever went in them when I was a student there, of course, but most of LVA lived and breathed in the theaters.

Aww, Ms. Shillingstad, she's pretty awesome. So apparently you can buy name plaques on the seats in the new theater for $200.

Fancy tech room.

Awesomeness since 1999

One of the best parts of the reunion was seeing these two guys! It had been forever:)

Aw, the fuzz

Jess, who's untiring amazingness put this together

So that's it. Will I go to my 20th? Eh, maybe, but only if they don't have the reunion in the summer, 115 degrees and dancing outside is not a good idea for anyone;)

5th Anniversary

Our 5th wedding anniversary was yesterday, and also the first day of summer, but I was sorely disappointed in our weather yesterday, I mean it was in the 70s-80s! It's summer, bring on the 90s! Anyway, that's what happens when you're raised in Vegas, I guess.

Now back to the topic of my post, Chris and I like to follow the traditional anniversary gift ideas by year because it's kinda weird. For the fifth anniversary the traditional gift is wood, so I got Chris a wood grain patterned tie from Etsy and we are going to build my wood-framed reading tent for the backyard today! To celebrate yesterday we went to dinner at Grateful Gardens because they have lots of veggie options and we have been super frustrated going to our old haunts trying to find stuff we can eat. We then stopped by Batch, a cupcakery, right next door and had a Black Diamond cupcake and colored on the tables.

Chris busted out the Sandy Cheeks roping an Alaskan Bull Worm idea, and it just went from there. I think we've watched too much SpongeBob in our day...

Then we went home and Chris wanted to go to the park and swing on the swings.

Oh look! He's wearing the tie:)

Too fun, although we did make someone kinda uncomfortable enough so the two of us could swing, meh, whatever;)

Graduation and Chris' New Job!

So Jen threw me an incredibly amazing graduation party on the 11th! It was supposed to be a surprise, but I messed it up...but she kept the theme a surprise! It was perfect, it was a dessert party set up in our backyard with our new grass and decorations. Jen chose five museums and created a dessert table around each one and she tacked up information about the museums and their collections:) So there's a lot of photos, I can't help myself, the party was so awesome, I had to highlight everything!

Complete with lovely tables, chairs, linens and umbrellas! My sister knows how to throw a party;)

Polynesian Museum Table

Smithsonian American History Museum table. Scott brought his saddle and other western stuff, so sweet of him!

Damn that grass looks good, I wonder who put that in

Egyptian Museum table. Yep. That's a pyramid cake. Be jealous.

The Louvre table...this was probably my favorite;)

Setting up the chocolate fountain

At least she can smile about it:D

African museum table

The nephews, they worked so hard:)

Family, family

Mike, Christina and Sherry!

Tim and Lilybelle, isn't she cute?!

Oh yah, Cameron hit that chocolate early

The Dagermans

Me and Risha

Oh yah, new buddy Meghan and her husband Brian

What?! Debbie in a photo?? So glad I have this evidence. And so grateful for all of Gerry's help that day!

Chit-chatting with Scott and the awesome neighbor

Moses and Hill peeps

I love these kids! And Aidan's smiling in a photo! He must have had a lot of sweets...

Rusty and Pepper, I'm super thankful for all of her help too! She's always there to help make our parties awesome!

Awww the brother-in-law!

Sister who made it all happen! I love you!

Amd the guy who had to listen to two and a half years of me complaining about school. love you!

So the party was amazing, as you can see. Jen really outdid herself, but then when does she not?:) I'm just so happy to have so many amazing people in my life who want to celebrate milestones with us and just have a good time!

Now it's time for the graduation photos. At first we thought we were going to be able to go to Oklahoma for my graduation, so I bought my gown and hood, but then things changed, like Chris starting a new job the Monday after graduation weekend (I'll get to that later) and the fact that it would be rather expensive to go. Sooo, Jen threw the party the day after the ceremony took place and Chris and I took grad photos the day before the ceremony, so I felt better about missing it:)

We went to Rancho San Rafael park, the UNR Anthropology Research Museum, Flowing Tide and Yogurt Beach for the pictures because
1) It's random and way more fun
2) I effing like these places
3) Because wearing a cap and gown in a bar and at a yogurt shop garners attention which can be fun, especially when you've had a strong drink;)
Chris is an awesome photographer and I'm so happy he took these for me, thanks baby!

So I uploaded all 210 of the grad pics Chris took to Picasa, and he snapped some in succession, and Picasa turned them into gifs!! I had no idea they did this but I am so happy, and it also explains why it kept crapping out on me the other night when I was trying to tell Picasa to do a million things! I'm sorry Picasa, I will never do that again, I will exercise patience next time cause you are awesome.

The sleeves were so weird! But the hood is pretty kick ass.

My take-off

Sooners!

Yup, this park has dinos, thanks to Mike and Christina for introducing us to this wonderfulness!

Who's excited to ride a brontosaurus (or whatever that is)? This girl.

Holding the T-Rex's wittle hand

Sigh, it's so hard being a graduate

A decent photo so my mom and dad can be proud

Our next stop was the Anthro Research Museum where I have spent countless hours photographing, cleaning, re-boxing and occasionally writing about my exploits.

There was an exhibit opening that night and so Steven was there with his wee ones. Ayla liked the tassle.

Next stop: Flowing Tide, the one by our house. It was time to get toasted in the cap and gown surrounded by nautical goodness. Gotta love those faux portholes.

That was a damn good veggie burger. And not my beer, Chris thought it'd look even better if I resembled a lush...there goes the pics the parents could be proud of.

There's my handsome photographer!

 

On to Yogurt Beach, the best place for a lactose intolerant person to go on a regular basis. It feels bad later, but during, it feels so so good.

What, I can't eat your cereal out the container?! I'm graduating biotches!

Calmed down, just a bit. I should mention that Fred and Jenny joined us for this last excursion and it was so sweet of them to chill with us for a bit. I also got some congratulations from people at Yogurt Beach cause that place is awesome. Suck it U-Swirl.

So onto Chris! I feel bad that I mostly talk about myself on this blog, but, whatever, I think one day I'll have him contribute a post:) But until then, you've got me to interpret for him. He started a new job as a Desktop Systems Support Specialist II (say what?) at Renown on the 13th and he couldn't be happier. The job is not incredibly stressful like the last one, he gets along great with his co-workers, has regular working hours and an hour lunch! On top of all that, he is learning new stuff on a regular basis. I'm super proud of him and I know that this was a huge leap for him to make, but I'm so happy he did it and I know he is too.