Graduation... The After Parties

After the ceremony, we headed home to change and meet back up. The girls: Shirley, Marcia, Deb, Taylor & Ashley went with me to the SAA Graduation Lunch, while the boys: Jim, Marc, Alex & Joel went to Jason to Charlie's party at Chris's house.

(l to r) Cheryl Betz, Pam Buser, Shanna Lee, Chrystal Bates, Casey Butler, Danielle McCoy, Breanne Augusta, Rachel Greene, Nicky Vogt, Kristen VanEe, Tiffany McGuire, and yours truly~Kelly Hayes. :)

JK holding Jacqueline, Kelly & Rachel

The SAA lunch was wonderful. LOTS of great food and conversation. The girls got to meet my family and bragged on me to them. They also gushed over Ashley's ring, which I think secretly she ate up! :) I was given a pretty personalized note card set and my paper explaining I've earned a doctor of patience. HA!

Talking to my little friend Renée Greene.

Chris demonstrating his bow skills.

Dr. Duncan and Julie

 We left and headed to Chris's house to join the rest of our family and Julie & Charlie. After introducing the girls to everyone, Julie said, "Hey, check this out" and shows me...

 a ring on her finger! I was like "WHAT!?!" She told me that Charlie thanked Julie for supporting him through med school and then asked her to marry him right in front of everyone! :) So wonderful! I started to get teary and hugged her hard!

Chris opening a bottle of champagne with a sword.  The glass was still around the cork!  That is apparently the right way to do it... a clean cut!  He is a pro!

Newly engaged!  YAY!!!!

 

 We celebrated some more and then went to rest.

 Later that night we met up for dinner at El Azul Grande. We got the great big round table which was so great for keeping the conversation going! My parents gave Jason and I generous graduation gifts and I got a cool Pandora bracelet!

 It's so pretty! It has a house charm in honor of us buying our first home, and a charm for World Health, in honor of Jason graduating medical school! With the World Health charm, $20 is donated to One World Health , a nonprofit pharmaceutical company that develops safe, effective & affordable new medicines for the world's most impoverished communities. So cool! We said our goodbyes and went to home. Jason's dad & Joel stayed in the office and Ashley slept on the sofa.

This morning everyone that stayed at our house met up with Aunt Marcia & Uncle Alex at church. I was hoping they would have the graduation service, but no. We went out to eat at Bob Evans after church and then headed home. Marcia and Alex left straight from Bob Evans, Marc left after we got back to our place and Joel & Ashley left later this afternoon. We were so happy that our families were able to come share in our joy and celebrate Jason's success! It's been a whirlwind, but a wonderful weekend! :)

I am so incredibly proud of my husband and friends who have become doctors!  I never realized how much determination and sacrifice med school was, and have a newfound respect for doctors!
Congratulations Dr. Hayes!  I love you!  ❤