ASU Graduation! I DID IT!

I MADE IT! Yes, I am tooting my own little horn! On Wednesday May 13th ASU held the "Big Commencement Ceremony" where everyone gets to attend. I was not planning on attending this since ASU got Barack Obama as the guest speaker... (and if you know me, you know I am not a fan). However, I was not going to be able to attend my "Graduation Ceremony" which is today Friday the 15th because my little sisters Graduation from high school got moved up to today as well! When we found out back in March that they would be the same day, I did not have to think twice of where I wanted to be! I am so proud of her and there was never a question in my mind that I wanted to see her in her cap and gown! So I made the decision to skip my commencement and graduation ceremonies. Well on mother's day weekend my mom was upset that I never even bothered to take pictures of myself in a cap and gown so she asked if I could at least do that. I figured if all I was doing was taking pictures I could use Mark's Cap and Gown (He graduated from ASU as well) and just get the tassel for 09. So on Monday I headed over to ASU to buy a tassel. While I was buying it, the guy there told me that I hadn't gotten my honor's chords yet (I had no idea what this was) and he sent me over to registration. There they asked for my ASU ID and drivers license so I went ahead and gave them to the lady. She was looking at the computer and said "Oh Wow... congratulations, you are graduating with the highest honor!" Then she went to the back and came out with some Maroon and Yellow ropes. (Still, I had no idea what they were for) so I asked her, she simply said that when you are graduating with a GPA of 4.0 (all A's) you got those chords and they symbolized that "honor" Then she said, congratulations again and that my parents must be so proud to get to see me! Well... I could not help it, I just started crying (hysterically if I may add) right there in the registration office! I told her that I was not going and that my parents were not going to be able to go either. I swear that she must have felt horrible, her eyes got so watery and she could not stop apologizing. Then I started laughing and told her it was ok, that it was my decision and I had to explain the situation to her.

Well I ended up taking off and went to Mark's office where I started crying again as soon as I saw him... (please blame all this on the pregnancy) Being the wonderful husband that he is, he just let me cry and held me. After I had calmed down though, you could tell he was very proud. He got this cute little smirk on his face and said he would get to brag that his wife graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU, however he did not know how he would explain that to our kids! :) He said "I just don't get it... I am the genius, how are our kids going to believe that my wife is the one who graduated with honors?" Of course he was just giving me a hard time but then he said that if I could still get tickets for it that we should go at least to the one on Wednesday. Well to my luck, one of the teacher's at the school told me that her husband was graduating and that they were not planning on going so she gave me their tickets! Mark ended up having great seats right next to where I was sitting. Which was great because I was so worried that I would start panicking with all the people (I have a hard time with huge crowds) so it was nice that I could see him and he could see me the entire time!

The day ended up being ok, very long though. I felt good and although we had to wait there for 6 hours in the heat I think I held up pretty good. I drank plenty of water and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible. I didn't pay much attention to the speakers because by that point I was pretty uncomfortable and the little guy was hungry he kept kicking me! We listened to the president of the University speak and then Obama spoke for a little bit. When they started announcing the doctorate students I got up and went to Mark. I was not feeling good by that point we had been there for 8 hours and I since it was almost over, I did not want to get lost in the crowd trying to get to him. We were able to get out of there just in time to beat the crowd. I was able to share the day with the two most important people in my life, my husband and our little kiddo (he kept reminding me he was there with me by kicking the ENTIRE time). I am glad that I decided to go as I will only get this opportunity to graduate from a University once and I was able to take pictures of myself with the cap and gown sharing that moment with my husband. After the experience I had this last year, I am glad that I ended up not skipping it because I know I will not regret that choice in the future. I worked really hard to get to this point and it would have been a shame if I didn't go because I was upset at ASU. Here are a few pics of the day (Yes, I am swollen so please don't look too closely at my face as it looks huge).

Mark and I just getting through security

I love you babe! It is getting harder to hug him too, the belly is getting big!

Trying to show off the bump

Down on the field

Craziness

Relaxing, trying to avoid the sun

Carlie and I

Carlie, Me, Nikki, and Rhonda

Staying hydrated

Smiling for Mark

With my honor's chords

You can't tell I am pregnant here!

Obama while singing the National Anthem

ASU president Crow, Obama (not sure who the next guy is) then our Arizona Governor, Jane Brewer