I finally graduated

Well, it was a very long journey, but I finally graduated. You can call my Dr. Kristen now ;)  It took awhile to really sink in, but I feel it now. And it certainly helped when about 15 family members decended into town to celebrate with me. Graduation was on a monday, so we had a pre-celebration weekend, which included a lot of fun and even in the rain. We ventured out to the big arts and crafts fair down the street - equipped with about 9 umbrellas. I had hoped we could take little ones in the paddle boats, but it turned out to be pouring rain all day, so we just splashed around outside of the pond. The boys BBQ'd out in the rain. We ate some good food and chilled in town. It was a lovely weekend, despite the rain, and I enjoyed all of the love.

When Monday arrived, we all packed into a bunch of cars and drove down to campus. Graduation was exciting (also long and very hot...). I sat in the very first row, with my friends, the other 7 Phd graduates. All of those years of studying...and I finally walked across stage to get that diploma.

Thank you family, for helping me celebrate this giant milestone in my life.

I think its my favorite city

Well, the news is this: I finally finished my PhD. Can you believe this?? Before I get to graduation, I wanted to add some photos from DC, a trip that kicked off my graduation celebration. We got to go to DC a few weekends ago for a nice long weekend with the parents. It was a graduate present, dad and mo treated us to a little getaway. I have been to DC numerous times, but this might have been one of the very few times, in which, I had no work to do, it was all play.  Just in the last few years, I have been to maybe 10 conferences or meetings in DC and always managed a tiny little hour or two of play, but this weekend - it was all fun.

We stayed at an amazing hotel, probably my favorite hotel ever. It was just the little things - warm cookies at 2pm, wine and olives at 5, a self-named goldfish for your room, the green glass chandilers, the aminal print robes for use during your stay. It was modern and very funky. Also reminded us of 'red rum' but in a good way. When our room was ready, we were surprised to find flowers and fancy chocolate and champange waiting inside. Thanks dad and mo!

When we arrived, we hit the ground running with a tour of the capital building - my first time, and a special pass to the House of Representatives gallery (we literally missed the House in session by aboout 10 minutes) and got to sit in the room where the President gives the State of the Union address. We had to leave our cell phones behind so I couldn't take a picture - but this is the room we sat in!

Off to a good start, we proceeded to eat amazing food, went to all of the memorials, spend some time in the Arlington Cemetary, went to the Natural Museum, went to the National Gallery of Art, ate more good food, saw an awesome Imax movie about the flight of the monarch butterflies. It was SOO fun and an amazing graduation present and kick start to celebrating.

at the unknown solider

this is President Obama's motorcade, he was in one of these vehicles!! 

JFK's eternal flame

breakfast at founding farmers = yum

Visit to the Zoo

Last weekend, Amy and Todd and the boys came to visit Auntie Kay and Uncle Mike in Jersey. While the older boys (mike and todd) went golfing, the gals took the smaller boys (my nephews) to the zoo nearby. This particular zoo is really fun, it is tucked away in the woods, it is somewhat compact, so you can cover some serious ground in just a few hours, and there are a few additional fun areas besides all of the animal watching - magic slides and a carousel.

Another highlight of the zoo trip was when Nolan became the 'sugar daddy' for the wishing pond, passing out change to the entire park of kids.  Long story...

Sorry, another highlight, was when the peacock modelled for us. 

We also kicked off BBQ season and cooked up a big meal after a long fun day. Thanks for the visit you guys!

Museums

In March, we fit in a little culture here and there, as a way to take some needed study breaks.

Mike and I took a study break one day this month to visit the great museum that is nearby. There was a wonderful exhibit of the work of Oscar Bluemner, and his paintings of the Paterson area in the early 20th century. It was during the time of the great Silk Strike in Paterson, which occurred 100 years ago this year. It was a beautiful set of work, colorful and passionate. I realized that I really miss my union organizing work these days...

We also went to NYC to the Met and met family and saw Matisse!! 

A month of Wonder

Well, March just began and took off! March was a month full of good stuff, so good, I guess I ran out of time to get over here and blog about it. Of course, March is the birth month of my partner in crime.  Mike turned a year older and wiser, but remains the best, cutest, and most supportive husband ever.

March was also filled with a lot of writing, editing, re-writing and final touches to my dissertation.  Which meant, said husband was doing a lot of cooking around here because I barely had time to eat. After I receveid the final word from my dissertation committee members, my dissertation defense was set and guess what?? I passed! It still feels a bit unreal. I had another few weeks of edits to make and today, I will upload the disseration to the school and be DONE! Wow. I had a few minor panic attachs this week (my title page had a signature in blue ink, I forgot to get my program director to sign in her spot on the candidacy form and she lives in Boston, you know, just minor issues that cause people to have to wait a full year to go to graduation...) If I make it through this coming Monday successfully (tax day and dissertation deadline day), I think I will be able to walk in graduation. See - this is unreal.

Celebrating successful defense with chocolate and bubbly

 We had very short stop in RI this month to give everyone a hug and celebrated Easter in Cape Cod. Mike and I were spoiled and stayed in a B & B for a night, which was just what we needed after this wild month.

I guess it is now on to April and Spring!!

hi mom!

birthday guy

who brought these guys?

the smallest family member, getting a tiny bit of attention

on the beach

oh, there she is

Late Winter

Well, even though it is March, it did not feel close to spring this past weekend at all.  It was cold and windy and mostly grey. I decided to do a little indoor gardening. We had a few plant losses recently so I wanted to get a few fresh plants and do some repotting. (Lesson learned though: wear gloves when repotting cacti...)

Mike and I made an amazing soup this weekend, I think it was my favorite soup ever.  It was cream of root vegtables with citrus spices. It was such an incredible mix of flavors. On the side, we had nachos with radishes and cilantro. It was a yummy dinner for late winter!

We got out of town and met Mike's mom and niece in NYC at the Met to see the Matisse exhibit. After a few hours wondering the great halls of the huge museum, we all met Michael and Hina (cousins) for lunch near the museum.

Winners

This year, we geared up for a serious Oscar-viewing gathering at Donna's, which included a lot of bling and games, of course. It was the 85th Oscars night! The gals put on sparkly eye makeup, bling bling jews and high heels with our jeans. Mike even put on an evening jacket (oh, well over his hippy flannel shirt) and Will put on a tux shirt and bow tie!!

We played TWO oscar games and stayed up until the very end. It was fun. I did not see serveral of the nominated movies but manged to see a few of them. I was really happy for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lawernce, my two fav movies this year.

And I loved it when Michelle Obama joined in on the sparkly oscar excitement!!

Bad lighting but you can see the sparkles

My Oscar Bingo card