Let the Graduating begin!
This weekend Casey Graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Theatre Arts and Psychology! I was VERY proud of him!
But first, Friday. During the day Julia and I got pretty and Bryce, Casey, Julia, and I met up with Aaron Hall to get graduation/senior pictures taken of us 4. I think those will be turn out REALLY nice, because we all looked H-O-T and the light was nice for photos. We took them by King Chapel :-) and Ink Pond. I don't really associate my college experience with Ink Pond, but I must say it looked pretty. I just want one really nice picture of the 4 of us, and one good one of me and Casey. We were both wearing green. Sweet! Unintended coordination!
Then *spontaneously!* we decided to have a grill-out dinner! (Julia: "Amy, look we're being spontaneous and this time we won't end up at a Bright Eyes concert!") The boys went to go grab supplies from Gary's (ooh, I still owe them money...) while Julia and I stole supplies from Sodexho via carry-out. Dan and Danielle joined us a bit later, accompanied by Dan's HUGE and ridiculously expensive camera. Woooah. I find the purchase a little strange, because he didn't even bring a camera to Greece. He's not like a "picture person" like me. Our first attempt to get the coals hot failed, because after the fire went out we didn't leave them in the pyramid to really get hot and roasty. After learning of our error, we started again and got glowing coals. We weren't allowed to let Bryce go over to them; he really fretted and worried about the dang coals! Eventually we made delicious hot dogs and brats. It was a nice way to start off the Relay evening. Woot!
Grilling!!! Bryce, aka "Grill master" here tends to the coals.
Bryce and Casey comparing leg sizes. Casey has massive legs! He would be a sex symbol in the Renaissance, while Bryce might have to stuff his calves were we transported back in time.
2 happy Couples, and the grill and brats that unite them.
Danielle compensated for the large buns by putting in two hot dogs. Ingenious.
Me and my Casey :-)
Julia sarcastically expressing her impatience for a brat to the Grill Master.
Casey being a GOON. Here he tries to take back any kisses he may have given me by vacuuming them off my face. Jerk! You can't take back kisses!
Then it was time to head down to RELAY FOR LIFE! Me, Julia, Lucio, Bryce, Becca, and Kaleigh were all on team "Tables Buddies" (don't ask me why it's not Table Buddies, Lucio was the captain) and Casey just came down to walk with us and support the event. I brought my disc chair and catch phrase, Becca brought a tent, and Kaleigh brought Cranium! I didn't end up walking 11 miles like I did freshman year, I only walked 5 (that's 40 laps) but I had a good time. Becca and I played Lucio and Kaleigh in Cranium (it seemed neither of us could miss a question!) and after all the easy questions, I was starting to wonder if Cranium had always been that easy. Then I remembered how Corey got "ticker tape parade," so we must have just drawn easy cards. It was funny to me, Kaleigh and Becca that neither Lucio nor Casey knew "curmudgeon," and not so funny to them, as it sparked a satiric conversation about man language. We also played a rousing round of catch phrase. At one point in the night, my friends didn't believe me about the jet-pack man, and we had a fantastic time laughing about it together.
Anyway, Relay. The opening ceremony was very moving, and I bit my lip several times to hold back the tears brimming in my eyes. I relayed that night in honor of my Aunt Carol, who this year won her battle against breast cancer. She's amazing. All in all Kerri, Heather, and Chris (among others) put on an awesome event. There was a guy that ran a whole marathon that night! Bryce ran a few miles with him, which was cool. I had a really nice time walking with Casey (he walked 7 miles, some of which while I played Cranium). During the opening ceremony when they were reading all the names from the luminarias, Casey was thinking about his Aunt Pam, and then the reader read "Aunt Pam," which was really odd, since he hadn't made a luminaria for her. His aunt has undergone a lot in this life, and she's so brave. I think it's amazing how the Boland seems to always just continue life happily and normally, despite the circumstances, when it might be so easy to be sad. Anyway, Casey joked about keeping me in my lane while we were walking, and we had a nice time.
Me, Julia, and our Team Captain, Lucio, at our site!
Chris speaking during the opening ceremony.
Carol's Luminaria, which was situated right by the starting arch!
Bryce and Julia during nighttime shenanagins.
We didn't stay all night because Bryce and Casey were graduating the next day! We stayed til about 2 though. Relay was a blast.
More on Bryce and Casey's graduations later! Good weekend of celebration!
But first, Friday. During the day Julia and I got pretty and Bryce, Casey, Julia, and I met up with Aaron Hall to get graduation/senior pictures taken of us 4. I think those will be turn out REALLY nice, because we all looked H-O-T and the light was nice for photos. We took them by King Chapel :-) and Ink Pond. I don't really associate my college experience with Ink Pond, but I must say it looked pretty. I just want one really nice picture of the 4 of us, and one good one of me and Casey. We were both wearing green. Sweet! Unintended coordination!
Then *spontaneously!* we decided to have a grill-out dinner! (Julia: "Amy, look we're being spontaneous and this time we won't end up at a Bright Eyes concert!") The boys went to go grab supplies from Gary's (ooh, I still owe them money...) while Julia and I stole supplies from Sodexho via carry-out. Dan and Danielle joined us a bit later, accompanied by Dan's HUGE and ridiculously expensive camera. Woooah. I find the purchase a little strange, because he didn't even bring a camera to Greece. He's not like a "picture person" like me. Our first attempt to get the coals hot failed, because after the fire went out we didn't leave them in the pyramid to really get hot and roasty. After learning of our error, we started again and got glowing coals. We weren't allowed to let Bryce go over to them; he really fretted and worried about the dang coals! Eventually we made delicious hot dogs and brats. It was a nice way to start off the Relay evening. Woot!
Grilling!!! Bryce, aka "Grill master" here tends to the coals.
Bryce and Casey comparing leg sizes. Casey has massive legs! He would be a sex symbol in the Renaissance, while Bryce might have to stuff his calves were we transported back in time.
2 happy Couples, and the grill and brats that unite them.
Danielle compensated for the large buns by putting in two hot dogs. Ingenious.
Me and my Casey :-)
Julia sarcastically expressing her impatience for a brat to the Grill Master.
Casey being a GOON. Here he tries to take back any kisses he may have given me by vacuuming them off my face. Jerk! You can't take back kisses!
Then it was time to head down to RELAY FOR LIFE! Me, Julia, Lucio, Bryce, Becca, and Kaleigh were all on team "Tables Buddies" (don't ask me why it's not Table Buddies, Lucio was the captain) and Casey just came down to walk with us and support the event. I brought my disc chair and catch phrase, Becca brought a tent, and Kaleigh brought Cranium! I didn't end up walking 11 miles like I did freshman year, I only walked 5 (that's 40 laps) but I had a good time. Becca and I played Lucio and Kaleigh in Cranium (it seemed neither of us could miss a question!) and after all the easy questions, I was starting to wonder if Cranium had always been that easy. Then I remembered how Corey got "ticker tape parade," so we must have just drawn easy cards. It was funny to me, Kaleigh and Becca that neither Lucio nor Casey knew "curmudgeon," and not so funny to them, as it sparked a satiric conversation about man language. We also played a rousing round of catch phrase. At one point in the night, my friends didn't believe me about the jet-pack man, and we had a fantastic time laughing about it together.
Anyway, Relay. The opening ceremony was very moving, and I bit my lip several times to hold back the tears brimming in my eyes. I relayed that night in honor of my Aunt Carol, who this year won her battle against breast cancer. She's amazing. All in all Kerri, Heather, and Chris (among others) put on an awesome event. There was a guy that ran a whole marathon that night! Bryce ran a few miles with him, which was cool. I had a really nice time walking with Casey (he walked 7 miles, some of which while I played Cranium). During the opening ceremony when they were reading all the names from the luminarias, Casey was thinking about his Aunt Pam, and then the reader read "Aunt Pam," which was really odd, since he hadn't made a luminaria for her. His aunt has undergone a lot in this life, and she's so brave. I think it's amazing how the Boland seems to always just continue life happily and normally, despite the circumstances, when it might be so easy to be sad. Anyway, Casey joked about keeping me in my lane while we were walking, and we had a nice time.
Me, Julia, and our Team Captain, Lucio, at our site!
Chris speaking during the opening ceremony.
Carol's Luminaria, which was situated right by the starting arch!
Bryce and Julia during nighttime shenanagins.
We didn't stay all night because Bryce and Casey were graduating the next day! We stayed til about 2 though. Relay was a blast.
More on Bryce and Casey's graduations later! Good weekend of celebration!