Bella's Kindergarten Graduation

Bella's kindergarten graduation ceremony was very cute and special.  They sang a song from Grease with a dance routine and updated words to reflect their experience.  Bella's Principal was there and we brought in food for a pot luck.  Bella loves to perform and it was a real treat to watch her.  All the kids kept their eye on her too as she had the rhythm, moves and timing down perfectly.  Apparently her teacher Ms Rettig said that some parents might cry and that it was a big deal.  Bella kept asking if I was crying, and I wasn't but after they got their diplomas and headed for the food line I did tear up. She truly has grown up a lot in this past year.  They showed a slideshow while we ate and had Bella's before picture with front teeth missing and after with them filled in.  Adorable and well done. 

Quick visit with Kiki

My sister-in-law is the best!  She came to pick me up at Notre Dame (from Detroit) and drive me to my training in Dayton just to be able to spend time with me!  And so I didn't have to take a bus since my renewed license didn't arrive in Japan before my departure. 

It was awesome to get to catch up and we chatted the entire way.  She's getting ready to move to Germany - we are super excited for her, and to visit!  She also took me to Target to buy things for the girls (one of the agreements of missing Morgan's actual birth day to attend my reunion), and to Dairy Queen!  Yum!  Love you Kiki.  Seeing you made the girls really wish they could have come on the trip.  XOXO

Liz's 20 year college reunion

Combined with a work training state-side, I managed to meet up with two of my college roommates Cheryl and Jen back at Notre Dame for our 20-year reunion.   It was a fabulously fun weekend and very well organized.  We laughed by all that we did as the typical reunion would just be drinking - and we managed to:

*  go to mass twice (once in the gorgeous basilica),
*  listen to a lecture on 175 years of Notre Dame with guest speakers former University President Monk Malloy (who I actually had as a professor - I was a lucky student to be in his small international English seminar), and a producer from the play Hamilton who is now working on a play on Father Sorin (the University founder),
*  watch a comedian show with 3 former ND grads (one who has written and been on late night shows) in the new gorgeous performance hall (partially donated by Regis)
*  attend a campus tour (it's now much larger, though the student body hasn't grown much their facilities are impressive - include a much larger bookstore)
*  yes, we did make it to the bookstore to buy our ND wear!
*  class dinners, and luncheons, and tent parties
* and I managed to fit in a 1/2 marathon which finished running up ND avenue with the dome in sight!  Not my fastest time (actually my slowest), but I got my training in (and also got a swim in the old pool I swam in).

Interesting how some memories were so fresh in my mind, and others were so hazy.  Like the old pool - I remember swimming, but I couldn't remember the locker room or changing afterward.  I was pretty sure I didn't take the time to dry my hair (even in the ND winters), but couldn't remember changing clothes or anything and that's because (as my roommates reminded me) I didn't - I walk across campus in the dead of winter in the dark with sweats on over my wet swim suit and with a hat on.  :-) 

We also remarked at how the food choices were much better with hummus even!  Veggie and huge salad bars.  They also have Starbucks and smashburger on campus, and wifi everywhere.  We were happy there wasn't wifi nor as much social media when we were in school though! 

We had a great time and are glad to have been back.  Notre Dame really is a fabulous university and the experiences we all had there will forever be in our hearts. :-)