Let Real Life Begin...

Since real life starts next week as James begins work, I figured it was time to post an update and finally get pictures up of graduation (we'll miss you, 5 week Christmas breaks!). James took a job as an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions department of Oppenheimer & Co. in New York City! We've spent the past few weeks in Utah enjoying family, and we'll head out tomorrow to begin this next exciting adventure! Hopefully we can find an apartment quickly once we get out there so that we can be settled in by the time James starts work on the 18th (or technically the 15th since he has to go in to fill out all the paperwork that day).

We are really looking forward to living in the city - lots of fun things to do, great places to eat, family and friends in the area, great wards (no matter where in Manhattan we end up, we're sure to get a good one!), etc. There are a few downsides, which hopefully just end up adding to the adventure - small apartments which cost a fortune, strollers in the subway, and taking a taxi to the hospital in labor. Overall, we're just so grateful James found a job in the field he loves!

Graduation was a great celebration - the perfect closure on two exciting and very busy years. We will always have a special place in our hearts for Durham, Duke, and all the wonderful people we became friends with out there.

James and I were both able to participate in graduation events, since there was not an official December graduation for me. Here's a list of the events:

Wednesday, May 4th: Dean's reception for Fuqua MBA grads
May 5-11: awesome week at the Outer Banks with LDS MBA friends
Thursday, May 12: James' section party and final "Fuqua Friday"
Friday, May 13th: University Scholar luncheon for graduating Unis (that's me!); parents arrive; Fuqua reception at a hotel in Chapel Hill
Saturday, May 14th: Fuqua graduation held in Cameron Indoor (a perfect place to mark the end of James' time at Duke!); Fuqua reception; another section party for James; nice dinner with our parents at Weathervane (a restaurant in Chapel Hill)
Sunday, May 15th: Commencement exercises for the entire university (James and I both walked with our respective schools). I also had the privilege of being the flag-bearer for the nursing school, so I looked pretty awesome being pregnant and carrying a giant flag to lead out my school. After more receptions (including the ONLY nursing school reception), my graduation ceremony took place in the Page Auditorium next to the chapel.

Overall, it was a ton of fun and very tiring! We really appreciated having our parents there to support us, and loved spending time with our great friends.

So the novel is over now, here are some pictures.

Second year LDS MBA guys (our best friends!): Derek Hansen, Brian Stucki, Marc Fehlberg, and JamesSecond year wives: Amy Hansen, me, Jessica Stucki, and Kaedi FehlbergHannah felt so lucky to have a grandma for each hand!James waving as he joined the procession to the stageJames' class of 450 MBA studentsVictory!! We made it!James and DerekMarc, Brian, and JamesHannah posing like Belle at a Fuqua receptionGetting ready for the commencement procession - my peds girls (Bronwyn (one of my preceptors), Audrey, Katie, Casey, Megan, Emily, Michelle, Amanda, Becky, me, and Remi (my instructor))Carrying the Nursing School flag as we marched into the stadiumHannah also successfully graduated from Duke (the Children's Campus!)Celebrating in front of the chapel after the Nursing School graduationMy sweet friends, Amy and Jessica, came to support me at my ceremony
What a great two years!