Adventures: Austin + Dallas TX Graduations

Austin

We visited Texas in May to see a few graduations. First, Stephen's sister Tippy graduated with a Nursing degree from Texas State at San Marcos. She already has a job lined up to work in a doctor's office starting soon.

We also attended a "Pinning Ceremony" just for nurses to receive their college pins and thank their families. This is the first graduation year for nurses at San Marcos. 

Melanie's baby Finley is about nine months old now. Big sister Sophia is 6.

Tippy's sons Lukas (3) and Bailey (9)

The whole family rented this home together from homeaway.com. It was closer to the university and had big rooms for each of the four families. Also, a pool and hot tub!

Finley is a sweet girl, and enjoyed being passed from person to person.

Honey brought some excellent crafts for the kids (and everyone)- melting beads! Bailey safely used the iron by himself.

We waited too late for the sun to take a group photo. We tried illumintating the front steps with car headlights.

But, took an indoor shot too. From left, Ginger and Stephen, Adam and Melanie with Finley and Sophia, Rene and Honey, Markus and Stephanie with Lukas and Bailey. 

Dallas

Stephen flew home to return to work on Monday. Ginger flew to Dallas to spend time with family. Mandy, Nick and Zach picked her up at the airport and went straight to Six Flags. Mom was kind enough to lend us some visors, which we wore for two minutes to take this photo:

Nick and Mandy have been married one and a half years now. Nick has never riden rollar coasters before!

Mandy and Ginger used to visit Dallas every summer and go to six flags with Zach. We remember how Zach would run up to the measuring chart on all the rides to see if he was tall enough. 

Since the weather was cool, we had a short line to the river rafting ride.

We also climbed the tower to see the whole park. We rode both these rollar coasters first thing- the orange Titan and the newly stabilized Texas Giant (wooden coast with red steel rails.)

Saturday night, many of Zach's family, friends, and teachers and translaters joined for Mexican dinner. Cousin Sharon and Uncle Don (Zach's dad).

On Sunday, we all went to Zach's church, McKinney. Zach was baptised there earlier this year, and is going on a mission trip to Jamaica this summer! Below, left to right: Nancy, Ginger, Bobbi (Zach's mom), Nick, Mandy, Robert (Zach's uncle), Zach and Ron. 

In the afternoon, we put mother's day flowers on the graves on Grandma Virginia and Aunt Georgie.

Sunday night was Zach's graduation ceremony. He got a degree in Excercise Science from the University of Texas at Arlington. He hopes to pursue a Master in Physical Therapy. Below, Aunt Bid and Mandy enjoy the sun before we go inside. Then, we played Banangrams while we waited for the ceremony to start. (We also did this at Tippy's graduation.)

 

Zach with fellow graduates.

Mandy and Nick drove to San Antonio to see their newest baby nephew James. After Ginger's parents flew home to Montana, Ginger had one extra day. She visited college friend Nathaniel and spent the day at the Dallas Arborteum. They had a special art exhibit by Chihuly. These sculptures were all blown glass, in many colors and arranged to fit in with the flowers and plants.

 We took some silly poses with the art.

Ginger's flight ended in Boston. She met with InterVarsity staff friend Victoria and enjoyed lunch and bubble tea and mochi ice cream for dessert at the river by Harvard University. Victoria staffs Harvard Asian American Christian Fellowship.

There is a large facebook album of all photos from this trip!