Juliet loved hanging with Papa. Cooper (the dog), on the other hand, wasn't really sure why there was another baby taking his place.
With time to spare before dinner, the girls wanted nothing more than to get down to the park, which they refer to as "Papa's Park". The park that I grew up walking to with friends has had a major facelift in the last two years making it a super fun spot for our girls. It's always surreal for me to watch my kids playing on the playground as I remember all the memories I have in the same place. Lots of "if I could go back and tell 15 year old Jen what I know now" moments. :)
My best friend and I walked this path many times to hang out at the bowling alley with friends on Friday nights. This place is my childhood and I love sharing parts of it with my girls.
We were all excited to get more days with Nagymama before she heads back to Florida.
Look at this guy! All ready to graduate!
We all loaded up into the same car early Friday morning and headed into Manhattan. I got to hang in the backseat with this beauty. Graduation here we come!
When I peaked up front, I noticed this. Ella and Mama held hands the whole way. As we crossed into Manhattan, Joe announced from the front seat that we were in New York City. To which Ella responded in her best Taylor Swift impersonation, "Welcome to New York! It's been waiting for you."
Joe and I were both thankful my dad offered to do the driving into the city this time. It was easier than taking the train that early in the morning with the girls and definitely easier than us having to navigate our own way. I loved seeing the looks on the girls faces as we walked out of the parking garage. And to think we didn't leave the two blocks around Madison Square Garden. They took it all in and had lots of questions about food carts, big TVs on the tall tall buildings and pigeons. It was cute to watch Abby walk the streets of Manhattan because she wouldn't walk over any of the large grates in the sidewalk. She thought she was going to fall in. :) It was a quick and very small taste of NYC, but just the glimpse they needed to be even more excited for their first big visit to Uncle Tommy and Aunt Tori's!
As we waited for the ceremony to start, the NYPD band kept us entertained with some fun music. And in case the girls weren't having enough fun shaking it off to some Taylor Swift, then Uptown Funk came on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDq96Y8ixi4
Watching these men and women file into the room to the sound of Frank Sinatra's voice gave me the chills. Knowing one of those men was my brother, I could have burst!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBw8Rjmyj8k
It really was amazing to watch one of my brother's dreams come true in that moment. It was also sobering to watch him take an oath with the rest of the graduates to always move toward danger as he protects and serves this city. His courage is inspiring.
The class valedictorian shared a quote from Theodore Roosevelt in his speech that I thought was especially fitting given the climate in our country today.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat."
Many critics have lots of opinions about police officers and
how they should do their jobs with no intention of ever walking a mile in their shoes. These officers sacrifice their own comfort and
safety daily, so we don't have to. They vow to run toward the danger, while everything in me wants to run away from
danger. Some abuse their power, but most deserve our respect. All lives matter. As we stood in the arena with the families of these men and women ready to launch our loved ones into the real world of police work, the cost of this career became real. One of the newest members of the NYPD isn't just a police officer. He is a son, grandson, uncle, brother and friend. His life matters, too! We are so proud of you, Cory.
As Cory came around the corner to meet us after the ceremony, I'll never forget the huge smile on his face. Someone told the girls to run to Uncle Cory. They started running down the crowded street and then Ella slowed down as she realized she didn't know which one he was. He was coming right toward her, but she didn't recognize him in his uniform. When she found him, she wouldn't leave his side! The proud looks on their faces said, "This is my uncle! He's a police officer!"
One of the sweetest parts of the whole weekend for me was watching this moment between my dad and brother. It was so much more than a congrats hug. Anyone watching could see the meaning. The extra long hug said so much more than any words could have. ("I couldn't be more proud of you!" and "I could never even begin to thank you for everything, Dad!") Their bond is so special and unbreakable.
Notice where Ella is standing in this picture. She wouldn't let Uncle C out of her sight.
Uncle Kurt and our cousin, Charles, came to celebrate.
We met Cory's sargeant and coworker from his last department.
Father/Son picture....and Ella! :)
Ryan and Casey were there to celebrate!
The proud parents!
Nagymama wouldn't have missed it!
Mom and Casey with Officer Cory! What a powerful moment for a mom to experience.
Fun surprise of the day: getting a text from Aunt Alex while I was standing in front of Madison Square Garden wondering if we were in the city at graduation because she was watching the swarms of officers from her office window. I knew Alex worked in the city, but we had no idea she was right there. Such a fun treat to be able to find her and give her (and that sweet little boy that is almost ready to come out of her belly) a quick hug!
After a quick slice of NY pizza, we headed back home for some rest before Cory's graduation party!
That night, we celebrated at a fun BBQ restaurant right on the river with family and friends.
Cory and his buddies had us all laughing! Abby is our little photographer and gets full credit for the next two really cool shots.
Grandma and her three little girls!
I love these two (and all their cuteness in matching yellow)!
So much celebrating and so many memories! It was a great day!
An early morning in NYC and lots of excitement followed by a graduation party that went past bedtime, made for some wild and overtired crazies. :)
It didn't take long to get all of the girls to sleep. The dogs settled right in to their favorite spot as well.
Nina came upstairs to wake me up the next morning by laying right across my face!
On Saturday, we took the morning nice and slow. Around lunchtime, Mama, Joe and I loaded up the girls, stopped at a really good deli to grab lunch and headed to Cory's place for the afternoon. The girls loved Uncle Cory's smart TV and his furniture. The last time they visited was move in day.
Yes! NY deli sandwiches and Arnold Palmers!
It was Mama's first time at Cory's apartment, so we had to take down down to the riverfront.
When you ask your brother to get a picture for you, he makes sure to hold down the button to catch all the "expressive" moments leading up to the picture! :)
I think this picture captures "us" so well. Love my guy!
We ended our visit with a stop at our favorite creamery, Moo Moo's.
We headed back home for some rest and knew we had to make room for our favorite dinner that night. Our trip wouldn't be complete without some Shirley's (the best Chinese food ever). After we got the girls to bed, Joe was settling in to watch some TV with my dad. Mama asked if I would take her to the mall, so she could get a new outfit before heading back to Florida. She had the perfect one in mind, the outfit I had worn to graduation the day before. I love that my grandma and I have the same outfit! I hope I'm this cool in my 80's.
On the day of graduation, it was an unseasonably warm 80 degrees. On the day we left for home, it was snowing outside. Saying goodbye is never easy, but this one was especially hard after such a great special weekend together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za5pa_FX1TE
Congratulations Cory! We are so proud of you!
