Graduates!

In the spirit of vacating, taking time to sit and reflect, and actually having some personal time to catch up on my passion projects—I write from the cottage in Ithaca—I wanted to take time to reflect on two milestones. Both are incredible, yet "normal" life-events, but I find it funny the timing.

Max graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Masters in Education Leadership on April 25th. Ryan graduated from Valley View (honestly never thought of the valley's until right now!) with a kindergarten certificate of achievement on May 26. Both recognitions were hard-fought, well-earned and major leaps forward.

Max was among the 100,000 graduate from GVSU during his ceremony. The VanAndel Arena was beyond capacity (ask me about the fight that happened over seats right in front of us!) And that was the second graduation of the day! We all had our Team Kerry whistles to blow as he walked across the stage, while Max wore a matching one: as the Master of P.E he needed a golden whistle.

In the "Stevens GVSU Tradition" Max kindly took his diploma and then, rather than walk back to his seat to see 1,000 other undergrads walk, kept walking right out of the exit. Just like my sister's graduation, we got 3 hours of our lives back and got to see Max take his honors and run. After chipping away at this bad boy for 8 years between coaching (sometimes two sports), teaching and having a family, no one was going to tell him he had to stay!

The main reason Max wanted to walk was so that Ryan could have a tangible lesson right before his eyes. The best part was that Ryan completely understood the significance and was so proud and excited. He wanted to buy his daddy a graduation bear (and flowers to celebrate). 

Ry felt very special to sit at the bar at Bistro Bella Vita for a pre-ceremony cocktail. (Elise stayed home with Abby since there's no way she could have understood what was happening.) Afterwards we went out for a family dinner at Grill One Eleven. We gave Max a new watch and my family gifted us with a kid-free weekend away to Traverse City to celebrate!

PS. Max was still hairless after shaving for Schuyler's event.

About a month later, it was Ry's turn to shine. His class put on a very special performance for just parents. It was full of songs and special memories of kindergarten. It was amazing to see how much of a functioning "unit" the class was. His teacher, Mrs. Koch has been wonderful this year and the performance fully articulated just how much our kiddos grew under her and Ms. Haskin's watchful eyes.

The kids were dismissed from performing and got to open their memory bags with us. It contained a binder of milestone assignments from the year as well as this book, "Things I love," which made Ryan a published author! His writing has taken off as has his reading. In fact, he cited reading as his favorite part of kindergarten.

Just a few of the details that made his classroom such a special place. And bottom right is Ryan trying to find his hand in the sea of Valley View hands made during the art expo.

We ended the evening (after cake of course!) back in the classroom where we watched a video of the year in pictures and said goodbye to Ry's special friends. Bottom left is the little girl that Ryan declared he was to marry. Bottom right is the little girl that declared she's going to marry Ryan. In between are the little fellas that would get Ryan into "trouble." And last, but never least, is Trevor, Ryan's bestie in the black and white.

So proud of both our men for working hard!