Sunday

Sunday in Memphis we woke up and headed to Church. It was nice to visit our old ward and see old friends! We loved our ward there and it was nice to be able to go back and visit. After church we got some yummy pizza at Avellinos. We then went and let the kids nap for a little bit then we went out for a drive. We drove out to the Tunica River park along the Mississippi River. I always loved that drive and we always did it on Sundays! It was cool to go out there when we did and I'm glad we did because they had just reached the highest flood level that week for the year. It was amazing how high the river was. The main road to the visitors center was closed because it was under water so they detoured us around the back of a casino. It did worry me a little to let the kids run loose, it was so high! It was such a nice afternoon and not to hot!

The water was so close to the top of the walk out. The water is usually I don't know 10 feet lower or so.

My mom loved the rocking chairs last time we took her there so we went and sat on them for a bit!

They wouldn't let us walk south of the visitors center because the water had come up onto the sidewalk. It was crazy to see the water so high, right where we used to walk! This was the southern look out point all under water.

After we left Tunica we asked my parents if they wanted to eat and we decided on the Olive Branch Catfish Company. We drove all the way out there and they had closed. They had been in business for over 50 years. My parents were really disappointed (Andrew wasn't :)) because they loved that place they went every time they came! It was a major hole in the wall but they had the best hush puppies I thought! We couldn't decide what to do after that but eventually decided on Dyers Burgers on Beale. So we drove another 25 minutes. We parked and walked to Beale. It was crazy! I had been on Beale Street a few times but never on a Sunday! It was insane! I have never seen so many kids with parents carrying around drinks, it was really sad actually! We went in to Dyers and ate some yummy burgers and fries. Dyers was on one of those food shows and are famous because they haven't changed the grease they fry their burgers in since like 1930 of something! It was really good! My Dad talked Andrew into sharing a fried Peanut Butter and Jelly with him for dessert with a side of Ice Cream. My mom and I just looked grossed out while they ate it! It was an interesting night on Beale and we were happy to leave! There was a whole different crowd than what I had seen before there. We went back to our hotel and we were the only ones on our floor and they had left every room open. We were able to put the kids down and go to another room while they went to sleep so it wouldn't take 3 hours like most nights! It was kind of creepy to be in an empty hotel but was nice to be able to be noisy if we had to be!

Zoo

Saturday in Memphis we ventured to the Zoo. Once we got there we immediately knew we should have come on Monday. There were 4 tour buses just waiting to get in the parking lot ahead of us and about 20 other buses already emptied. It was amazing the school kids there on a Saturday, I don't know a single teacher who wants to go on a field trip on Saturday! We eventually got parked and went in. It was fun to show my parents where we spent a lot of our time while living there. The Zoo in Memphis is awesome! My kids know where everything is and have favorites! Ella for some reason became attached to the crocodiles and our trip wasn't complete until we visited the Herpatarium. We enjoyed the Sea Lion show first. It was fun to see it one last time.

We went and saw the polar bear!

The grizzlies were very playful with each other, we sat and watched for a few minutes.

We then went to the Birds and the Bees exhibit. They had just opened it up for the season that morning and they do a members only event the first week or so and so we were able to go in and get feeding sticks and feed the birds. The kids actually really liked it and weren't freaked out like I thought they would be. We did get a few birds to land and eat a little, it was really fun!

After we left the Zoo we took my parents to another favorite restaurant of ours there called Las Delicias. It was the only Mexican food we liked there! It was so delicious! My parents agreed and loved it as well! Our friends the Watts and Sloans walked in just as we were finishing up, it was funny to see them because we had talked about it being one of the places we needed to go before we left! We went back to the hotel after and rested for a couple hours and later that night went up to the mall in Collierville and walked around. It had been so hot earlier at the zoo and that night it was a lot cooler and nice to walk around outside at the mall and enjoy the night. We finished our mall trip with a dessert crepe at another favorite, Crepe Maker! It was such a fun day doing a few of our favorite things in Memphis!

Graduation

Graduation was on Friday May 17th. It was at 3:00 in the afternoon. The graduation was held at the Bellview Christian Church which is across the street from his school, where they had their white coat ceremony first year! They were going to have it at the Botanic Gardens but changed their minds and I am so glad! It was so hot and humid that day! We were on our way there when I realized I forgot the camera so I turned around and went back and got it and made it back right in time. Andrew's family was nice to have saved seats for us! They had babysitting for the kids but we decided to have them with us since we had both sets of grandparents and aunt Becky and uncle Daniel. The kids did so well! I was a little worried but they did great and ate a lot of snacks! The ceremony was the perfect amount of time it only lasted an hour and 25 minutes! With over 120 names to read I thought it would last forever but they did it very fast! It was sort of surreal to be there but was awesome to watch Andrew graduate! We are so proud of him!

Walking in!

 I didn't realize my camera was on a different setting and so all I got was fuzzy!

 Reading the Optometric Oath

 The next few picture are of Andrew being hooded with the Optometry hood.

 All the LDS married students

 All of us with our families. It is amazing how spread out we will all be. There is 13 of us and we will be in 11 different states practicing. Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Georgia. Hopefully someday we can all get together again, maybe another Florida trip together like we did!!

Andrew and his Mom 

 All of our family members who could make it. My parents, Andrew's parents, and his Sister Becky and her husband Daniel!

The kids were done at this point but I wanted a family picture. They were tired and hot and wanted nothing to do with it!

 Ella and her friend Aizlee. They were in the same primary class.

 Us with our friends the Johnsons! Erik and Andrew are good friends. They are staying in Memphis. We hope that someday we can live close again! I don't know who we will have our annual Halloween party with now that we don't live close!

 After pictures we went to dinner at Corkys. We had some yummy pork bbq nachos and then shared a slab of ribs. It was so good. We also devoured way to many rolls! After we took my parents to the temple  and walked around! It was the perfect way to end the day! It was such a great day and perfect! I may have shed a few tears but I knew that would happen!