GOODBYE KIRTLAND

we headed out to kirtland on sunday for one more walk around that gorgeous place. it has been one of my favorite things about living in ohio. i feel grateful that we got to visit as often as we did.

luc, of course, was thrilled to play in the dirt with his trucks and run wild and free across the open grass.

rides on grandpa's shoulders are a favorite of his, too

i have a picture of us in this spot just two weeks after moving to cleveland. and here we are, three years later! crazy how times flies.

watching a helicopter fly overhead

we walked over to the cemetery, and around the visitors center too. it was a beautiful day- one of those perfectly green east coast spring days. i feel lucky that we got one more of those before we left!

GRADUATION!

when orlando started law school, i knew he was going to do a great job and that, in what seemed like three long years down the road, he would graduate. but i could not comprehend then how incredibly proud i would be, or how emotional i would get watching him walk across that stage on graduation day. 

well, three years flew by and suddenly there i was, watching him walk, and i couldn't stop crying. i was so happy for him, so proud of him, so grateful for all of his hard work and long hours. i was so glad luc has such a successful, determined papa to look up to. he sacrificed a lot to support us, spend time with us, AND study for his classes and finals. i don't know how he managed to do it all, but he did, and i know i am so blessed to call him mine. these three years haven't been easy but they have been the best years of my life. we worked together and played together and grew closer together, and i'm grateful for every experience we've had here. 

most of all, i'm grateful for my handsome hubby and his incredible accomplishment. he's amazing!

happy graduation my love! you did it!!!

NIAGARA FALLS MINI-TRIP

orlando's parents and sister and my parents all came out to celebrate his graduation with us, and we were thrilled to have them. we couldn't have made it through these past three years without lots of help and love and support from all of them. 

for one last east coast hurrah, we headed up to niagara falls together for a few days. it was a bit chilly, especially after the first day, but not at all crowded, and the falls were stunning as usual. we had a wonderful time sightseeing and eating great food, and while everyone else went to the canada side, we took luc for a nice loooooong ride on the national park trolley, which was his most favorite part of the whole trip. he never wanted to get off!

it was a quick trip, but we left ourselves lots of time to just relax after the craziness of finals, and we got to escape from the madness of packing and spend some time as a family, so it ended up being perfect.