GRADUATION!! WE DID IT!

This week was One Big Celebration--sangria included!

I think the governor called and declared this "Jason Goodwin Week!" Between the graduation festivities and his birthday, we did a lot of celebrating in his honor! It was a super, fantabulous week! I'm still waiting for the mayor to call offering him the key to the city! ;)

After a trip to the zoo and our fancy (probably-once-in-a-lifetime) dual-birthday dinner at La Reve on Wednesday (my birthday), the party continued...even spilling into the following week!

Ready for the CMDA Grad Banquet
(And yes, it's hard to keep grass green in a drought!)

Thursday, May 21

Taking full advantage of my mom being in town to help during graduation week, we left for another night out. Our CMDA chapter held a dinner banquet for the graduating seniors. The meal was a home-style spread of Roger's barbecue, Kelly's potato salad, and Scott's beans. The practicing doctors brought an assortment of potluck desserts. Many of the graduates gave a testimony as to how CMDA influenced their lives during medical or dental school. Then the soon-to-be docs were presented with the Doctor's Bible and devotional book by Dr. Wayne Grant (also Nate and Amelia's pediatrician--through no coincidence).

Jason receiving his gifts from Kellie and Dr. Grant

Friday, May 22

Nate making Daddy's dino birthday card (and Mia jockeying for chair position)

Nate watching "The Magic Schoolbus" in his shark costume...everything's normal at the Goodwin house!

Amelia trying on big brother's hat

Tonight, we took mom out for some Tex-Mex! We tried Caralis, a relatively new Mexican restaurant down the road. The enchiladas were good, but the $1 margaritas during Happy Hour were better! Mike and Todd joined us. Then Jason and the boys had Guys Night Out at the newest (i.e., the other) microbrewery in town, Freetail Brewery. J wanted to introduce them to their tasty non-traditional pub fare, well-crafted ales and watch an exciting Game 2 of the NBA semi-finals (LeBron hit the buzzer-beater to win).

The new picture of "socializing"--everyone on their electronic somethings

Amelia got a hand-delivered birthday present from Uncle Todd--her own pink All Stars

Saturday, May 23rd, Jason's 35th Birthday!

All gathered around for "birthday pancakes"

It was a dinosaur theme--Nate decorated!

We started the morning with a dinosaur party. Nate was intent on one of us having a dinosaur-themed party. He decorated the plates with dino stickers, hung balloons and placed his dinosaurs on the table as a centerpiece. We had pancakes for breakfast and Jason got to blow out the birthday candle on his pancake.

Later (when Todd rolled out of bed--around 10:00 or so!), Jason and Todd went to shoot hoops at the park down the street. They ended up playing a pick-up game of basketball with a father-son duo. You'll have to ask the boys who schooled whom! This afternoon, my dad landed from MN and Jason's family came down New Braunfels. The whole family came to town to watch Jason coach Nate's soccer game. As luck would have it, the game was cancelled due to rain (again, all for a 20-minute thunderstorm). So we chatted and Jason opened presents (an ice cream maker, GPS for his car, Willie Nelson T-shirt, gourmet cooking syrups and red & black Nikes). We all drove to dinner at the India Palace--great food but mediocre service today (this was our first time sitting down for their buffet, normally we order off the menu for take-out).

Opening birthday goodies!

The Happy Fam during Celebration Week!

SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2009! UTHSCSA Med School GRADUATION!!!!

He DID it!

Our house was up at 6:00. We were showered, dressed, fed and out the door with 2 kids and 2 grandparents by 7:30! We had front row seating for the ceremony.

Waiting in line for the doors to open.

The little kiddos waited, too...just not quite in line!

The kids did great...we were in our seats for 3 hours (doors opened at 8:00, but the ceremony didn't start until 9:00 and lasted until 11:00). After a break outside after we found our seats and before the ceremony began, Nate sat the entire ceremony. Amelia made it until about 10:40. (She still takes a 9:00 nap, so she was a trooper! She stayed awake long enough to see Daddy walk across the stage--clapping every time somebody clapped!) She fell asleep in Grandpa's arms at the back of the auditorium shortly afterwards.

"Does he see us?? Hi, Daddy!!!"

Me? I had tears in my eyes nearly the entire ceremony! I didn't think all the graduation hoopla was affecting me, but as soon as the processional began and the grads marched in, my eyes welled up and I couldn't stop it! The ceremony was very nice. After the processional and introductions, Dr. Jones (the Student Dean) gave his keynote address. This was his first 4-year class, and you could tell he was very emotionally tied to them. It was a very personal speech. The diplomas went as smoothly and quickly as possible with almost 200 names to call. The student class president spoke about their ties to "Gray's Anatomy" for about 5 minutes at the end.

There was a small reception after the recessional where we took photos and said goodbyes. I was glad we'd said most of our personal farewells earlier, because it was so CRAZY in there!

Jason and his biggest fans!

Jason's cheering section (minus Mike, who's taking the picture!)

Jason and "Da Boyz"

I'm just a little bit proud of him, can you tell?!

So are his parents!

We got home around noon. Jason cooked pork tenderloins on the grill and the cousins got to run off some energy after sitting around for 3 hours. It was a great dinner--the pork, corn on the cob, salad, and chips & guac. We went back and forth, but finally decided for everyone to eat outside as planned. It was SO hot--about 90 degrees. We'd been outside for about 5-10 minutes when a thunder cell blew in from nowhere and dropped the temp about 15 degrees! It ended up being a very comfortable dinner. The rain stayed off until we'd cleared the tables--then it DOWNPOURED!

Proof.

In the afternoon, the ladies went shopping and the men took naps (well, all the boys got a nap except Jason, the man-of-honor, because Amelia woke up earlier than expected)! When we returned from our rainy shopping spree, Jason opened his presents from the family--he received a diploma frame and matting, a pair of custom-made cowboy boots, hiking boots, and a fine bottle of sipping tequila from his proud papa.

Jason's mom gave him a cute certificate for a custom-made pair of cowboy boots

Amelia, being Amelia (exploring & being silly)

Nate & Skyler played in the pool in the rain.

To cap off the day, most of us went to go see the new "Star Trek" movie while my mom & dad stayed with the kiddos. It was a great flick (and the first "blockbuster" movie I'd seen on the big screen in some time)! I thought it more of a character introduction and special-effects show than real ST plotline; but a good movie.

Monday, May 25, Memorial Day Hill Country Tour

Everybody's somebody in Luckenbach!

We gave Amelia a morning nap, then set off for a long afternoon in the Hill Country. Our first stop was The Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Restaurant in Boerne. Jason and I had the salmon burger and a Quacker Oats Ale and Darkwing Dunkelweizen, respectively. We continued on to Sistercreek Winery where my parents enjoyed the fact that you could tour "behind the scenes" and see how the wine is produced. Nate and Amelia thought is was fun to hide in the barrel rows. I think we bought their 3-blend, Meritage.

Grandma & Grandpa in Texas

We made an unplanned stop in Luckenbach to replace Nate's T-shirt. He's getting too big for the gray one, so he picked out a nice red one. They were packed with bikers for Memorial Day and an employee fund-raiser. Nate could've watched the bikes (especially the loud Harleys) all day. We walked around the grounds awhile, took some photos with a longhorn, then piled back in Big Blue.

Nate & Grandpa posin' with a longhorn in Luckenbach

Amelia exploring the bridge

We continued on to Fredericksburg to walk and window shop down main street. Dad wanted to compare the DD ales with Fredericksburg Brewery so the men sampled a Porter. It was getting late, so we picked out two new wineries we hadn't tried before--Woodrose and Pedenales Cellars. Woodrose was neat because they had restaurant-style sampling (where they come to your table). We enjoyed their wines, and bought a bottle of Seven, a specialized blend. Pedernales Cellars was then right down the road. The grounds were beautiful. It had panoramic views of the entire valley. We were really inspired by their fruity and floral Stonewall Viognier, so we picked up a bottle (thought the port was oh-so-nice as well).

The kiddos on the swing at Pedernales

Finally, we meandered over to New Braunfels to say good-bye to Todd. He left the next day along with my mom and dad. And just like that, the party was over. ;)

Congratulations, Baby!!