law school graduation!

We've had May 7, 2016 circled on our calendar for three years. Graduation day! André wouldn't let me make a paper chain, but the excitement was definitely there. The entire weekend was a blur, and it still feels a little surreal that he's really done with school (especially because he's still in the law library every day studying for the Bar). But he did it! André Kaiser, J.D.!

The weather forecast was a little dicey for graduation day, so we snapped some pictures around the law school a few days before. I'm so glad we did! We came out of the ceremony to a huge thunderstorm and torrential downpour, so everyone hid undercover while we waited for busses to take us across campus. It was a little chaotic, so pictures didn't really happen. And the few group pictures we took are lost in the shuffle, but we are still soooo grateful for everyone who came.

On actual graduation day, we managed a few pictures before the ceremony. Rhett was so excited for Daddy to graduate!

I regretted holding Rhett like this as soon as I picked him up, but hey, awkward family pictures happen.

Our traditional graduation jumping picture. It's now on hiatus until Rhett graduates. 

Just a junior weatherman hanging out  from the rain with Nana and Poppy 

We had a fun family BBQ (inside, rain) that night. We loved being around so much family and are so grateful for the Treasures and all the Kaisers making the trip to be there. 

I seriously can't believe we survived law school. I don't think I would recommend starting with a one month-old baby, but we made it! It was hard, it was grueling, it was rewarding (especially for André, but for the whole family too). I'm so proud of André and all the long days and nights he put into class, extracurriculars, internships, etc., while still being a great husband and dad.

just some thoughts

+ While André was big-whigging it at the UN in New York this week, my claim to fame was finding out House Hunters went to a home in my parent's neighborhood. What does that tell you about our respective lives?

+ Our quest for a break maker may be complete! We scored one (almost new) at a garage sale yesterday for $10 and now I want to make alllll the bread. and jam. Who knew you could make jam in a bread maker? Hello, carb city!

+ Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful spring Saturday in Boulder? I submit there is not. We have been loving our neighborhood lately and the fact that we can walk anywhere downtown. Yesterday's adventures took us to the farmer's market (forget the kale, we were there for the free samples) and to Pearl Street to check out the tulips with the tourists.

+ Rhett is obsessed with saying things are hot, like his food, the playground on a sunny day, and his bathwater. He even says "noodles hot" over and over throughout the day when there are no noodles in sight. But my favorite is when he sees me with hot food and says "Mommy hot" over and over. Is it weird that its a confidence booster that he (subconsciously) thinks of me as a hot mom?

+ While André was gone I planned about seven vacations to various places before realizing we are poor and don't have the time or money to travel like we want right now. Wanderlust is kicking in, people!

+ We just found something on ESPN that is a college video game tournament with commentators, a live audience, and instant replay. Is this real life? People really do this? I have so many questions.

This is André rocking it in NYC, because of course he did. 

brought to you by the letter P

life lately: (the fun stuff)

pumpkin patches

a

 Law school picnics (our only chance to see André during daylight hours)

 Pizza dates

all the good things.

André finished his internship and came away with grown knowledge of the law and downtown protest schedules, so win win. No rest for the weary, started school this week. 2L, what now? He's definitely learning the truth to the idea that in the second year they work you to death. Oh boy.

I got a new job that I'm super pumped about. I'll be editing my way right into your bank accounts, folks! (The job is editing stock reports and analysis for an investment firm. I'm no crook). Plus, any freelance job that will fly you to DC for training is a good thing, right?  

Rhett has a tooth and is (almost) an official walker. He eats grapes by the pound and could talk to you for hours about bubbles. The child is obsessed. He's also learning to throw spectacular tantrums, which is super exciting and a good sign for the terrible twos (yeah right)

Also good= fall is coming. Bad news= summer is almost over. Which means no more magical summer evening dates like paddle boating. It was just like The Notebook but with paddles not oars and poop geese not swans. 

just triumphs

instead of triumphs and tragedies, here are just a few of our recent triumphs

André finished his first year of law school! This is a major accomplishment, people. For those wondering, this is what a year's worth of law books, notes, and outlines looks like (plus one very happy soon-to-be-2L)

 We got to spend lots of time with André. Rhett has loved having his dad around so much. We've gone on lots of adventures, but one of our favorites was to the children's museum where Rhett was in baby heaven.

André turned 25! We celebrated with a week's worth of birthday freebies, delicious food, and a fun birthday BBQ and date.

I celebrated my first official Mother's Day the day after André's birthday. At midnight we made the big switch of who got to have the relaxing day. André wrote me a sweet poem and Rhett let me take a nap after church, so I'd say it was an overall good day.

We were crazy and went to a 1am filming of American Ninja Warrior in Denver. We decided we would never have a time where we could go except for now, so we went for it and it was super fun. Look for us on TV sometime soon!

a lot of things happened, part 2

What's new with the Kaisers the past month?

We had a baby

Rhett Toby Kaiser
7/25/2013
(and now he is a month old, so it's about time we posted about it)

I went on maternity leave then quit my job

We moved to Colorado

Andre started law school

Would I recommend doing all of these things within two weeks of each other? Probably not. But we are adjusting and surviving and getting into our new routine as a little family of three!