Cornell Graduation; Class of 2014

I will never be caught up on posts from New York, but this was a significant event that needed to be documented…the reason for it all, the day when we say, "We survived PA school!" Graduation time! We aren't the only ones that thought it was a pretty big deal. Cornell held 3 different graduations on 3 different days, so Brandon and I labeled it "vacation," left the kids with Grandma Sessions, and spent a week in New York celebrating his achievement. 

The first of the graduations was exclusively for Brandon's class and was held at the Griffith Club in Cornell's Medical College. 

Accepting his PA certificate

We enjoyed a fancy catered lunch after the ceremony. 

Brandon wreaks of success

I loved this photo of his class. They all look so happy and relieved. 

I am wife of the year, and did not attend the second graduation ceremony for the graduate school. 

So skip to the following day to the final commencement held at Carnegie Hall. I'm telling you, these guys are a big deal. Literal life savers! 

Carnegie Hall was okay...

I mean if you like this sort of thing.

This was a great moment for me. I was so proud hearing Brandon's name called and watching him accept his diploma on the stage of Carnegie Hall. 

Following commencement we were treated to yet another amazing catered meal at The Hilton in Midtown. Again, it was a little bit of a dump but they tried ; ) 

So fancy, complete with live music. I could get used to this.

It was amazing to celebrate with Brandon. I'm truly so proud of the man he is. He has always been so ambitious and dedicated. His curriculum pushed single people to the breaking point but he performed his duties as a student along with being a full-time dad and husband and often in his spare time serving in church callings. He did it with very little complaining (come on he's human) and consistently sought to fulfill the needs of his family over his own. We just love our Brandon and are excited to see where his accomplishments will take our family next!!

My 1st Birthday….in my 30's

Having birthdays in New York are the best. I don't know that I would have felt so great about turning 30 and then 31 had I not had so many distractions. My sweet ladies, Julie Pearson, Amy Clayton and Kristi-Lynn Gibson surprised with some birthday goodies during a visit outside of the city. 

Julie, connoisseur of all things cute and festive. 

My bday lunch

We got to explore Westchester

Beautiful all around 

A rare Mommy's only photo.

The night of my birthday, I was treated to a s'more cake made by the handsome man himself.

 Following a yummy dinner and dessert, Brandon surprised me with tickets to the Lincoln Center to see the Paul Taylor Company. I was so excited.

I've been to the Lincoln Center plenty of times but never treated to a show. It was the most perfect way to spend my last birthday in New York. 

Veteran's Day at CANstruction

I have a mixture of pride and embarrassment over this post. The reason: this was the first group play date I had ever planned and I was super nervous about it. In our ward we have a mommy group, and individuals take turns planning a fun event for all of us to do. It could be as simple as a park or more elaborate like say a canned food drive in lower Manhattan where collected cans are transformed into artistic displays. Back to being nervous, you know that feeling that maybe know one will want to come or if they do come it might be a total bust? I brainstormed quite a bit over the perfect activity. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought CANstruction at the Winter Garden followed by the Veteran's Day Parade seemed like a perfect way to have fun and do something good. To my surprise,  would have 6 moms that wanted to join! It turned out to be a super fun group and we had a great day all over NYC. 

The Winter Garden

Tori and Kate Clayton in front of can castle. 

Star Wars... 

We learned to hold hands like the cans... 

Rainy day....

The MINION!! Obvious crowd favorite. 

Igloo and penguin. Brighton's favorite. I couldn't let him out of the stroller because he bolted for the cans with one thing in mind...watching them fall. 

NYC skyline

Then each of my kiddos got to donate a can. Tori was so excited considering what kind of sculpture her can would be a part of. 

Brighton's turn...

Batman.... 

This was an amazing tribute to some of the victim's of 9/11. It consistently dripped water from those wires holding the diamond....like tears. It was beautiful.

We found some weird art on the walk back to the subway too....always something to explore.

 We went back up to Midtown to watch the Veteran's Day parade. Our friend Karley, her dad served in the Navy so she dressed up her little boy. I thought it was so sweet!

Brighton was a good sport all day having to be locked in the stroller. 

Missionary efforts in NYC

I thought this was one of the coolest activities we have done...ever. Prior to this event, the Manhattan missionaries had drawn a massive depiction of the Plan of Salvation with chalk drawings in Union Square. Having had a lot of success reaching out to people that way, they decided to do another one in Washington Park depicting Lehi's Dream. I really wanted to take the kids, and the missionaries really encouraged families to come help draw. Kids are great ice breakers after all. It seemed fun and such a great opportunity to show Tori and Bright what missionaries do. 

Tori got right to work at her favorite drawing...the tall and spacious building, haha. 

She added her person there. So proud ; ) 

I thought the Tree of Life was just stunning. 

It was so neat to be a part of the missionary efforts in the city. Missionary work is something I think so much about and have been very nervous to attempt, but in New York religious discussions are more welcomed than I experienced in the west, and I'm sad I didn't get out of my comfort zone more. This ward has made amazing efforts to encourage member missionary efforts. On special holidays like Christmas and Easter, our ward hosts a special sacrament meeting in hopes that members will invite non-member friends to be participate. I think it's an incredible tradition and though I haven't handed out an invitation yet, I feel my courage growing as I contemplate who I would give it to and what I would say. I'm almost there!!