Greg's Graduation!!!!

HAIL THE CONQUERING GRADUATE!!!!!

I had no idea, until after I married him, what kind of student Gregory Alan Jentzsch was. He has ALWAYS had a 4.00. He has NEVER skipped even one class (this includes High School people!) I have learned from him that an A minus is a BAD thing, where as before I thought it to be a great success! When we first got married, all he did was read. He would read in the tub and I would make and bring him smoothies. There were nights when I would go through papers of notes and quiz him and I HATED IT! I felt bad because I'm sure it was worse for him, since he was the one who actually had to remember something. But all the hard work has definitely paid off and I'm glad he is such a hard worker. Greg I LOVE YOU!!!!!

This is the professor at the U of O that was Greg's adviser. She was a GREAT help to him. We are very grateful to her for all she has done for Greg. Her name is Jane Cramer.
I love how scholarly he looks here. The yellow cord means he has graduated summa cum laude which means he is in the top two percent! The purple cord represents that Greg was given the Presidential Scholarship which has paid FULL TUITION for his entire undergrad and extra money each term for books. He has graduated with a G.P.A of 4.04. I know this sounds braggy but I'm proud of him and I wanted to document his success!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day! In fact I got a terrible sunburn from just a couple hours of morning sun. The University of Oregon campus is soooooo beautiful. I've hardly been on campus but whenever I am I'm always amazed at the manicured lawns, inviting trees and beautiful brick buildings. The sun was shining which was so relieving because we have had TERRIBLE weather the last month!

This was my first college graduation. Though I definitely spaced out a little during the speeches, I wanted to pay attention and soak it all in. There was a student who spoke about how we put too many people in prison- that's when I started to space off. And then Kitty Piercy (our governor who is up for re-election), told us her life story- which was in fact fascinating, but it didn't really relate to the graduates or anything at all. A little disappointing, but that's o.k. One of the speakers read off a few small lists of names of students graduating with different honors and Greg was on one of them! That was fun and unexpected. It was fun to scream and applaud for him.

On to the BBQ at our apartment. Thanks to the sunshine, we opened up our back outside area and that made a lot more room. Thanks to all who brought food and extra chairs and the BIGGEST thanks goes to Amy and MIKE who came early to heat up the briquettes for the BBQ and put the food and bowls and make everything pretty! I was way too stressed about having everything ready when everyone arrived and they took it all away! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Also a BIG THANKS to PAT AND RANDY for buying TONS OF GOOD FOOD!!!! Steak, cherries, good root beer, mmm . . . it was all delicious!
From left to right: Filipe and Ahad (Pat + Randy's exchange students), Grandma Cook, Randy, Shannon + Ralph (who both fell asleep and snored for quite awhile), Amy and Pat

Below the boys outside: Dad, Grandpa Cook, and Mike (Who cooked all the steaks to a very tasty state. I have been wanting to try a rare steak for a long time and I finally got to try it!)

Mom and Jacob

Dad, Miles, Lyndsey and Ruby (in her Fancy Nancy dress). Miles has really plumped out since the last time we all saw him and we couldn't get enough of him.How cute is this!
This was a nice surprise. Jon Partridge stopped by (an old friend from home). We had no idea he was coming over so it was nice to see him.

On to the pool!!!!! I had been waiting all week to get in the pool. The heater was finally turned on and I just wanted to relax with family. Well everyone went home and Jake, Lyndsey, Amy and Mike were the only ones that stayed. It was really nice.
Amy and I floated around (I forgot to take a picture of myself). I love to float in water. Nothing is more relaxing.
Jake just sunbathed with Miles.
Ruby looked straight out of some old photo w/her sunglasses and poke a dot suit. She and Lyndsey looked like twins in their glasses.
Greg got a bad sunburn so he wore a shirt. It was a little weird to see him "out" of the water (to prevent more irritation of his skin). Earlier, right after the graduation ceremony, Greg went a little "crazy" about his burn itching really bad. I was wondering if I was going to have to take him to the emergency room it got so bad. He hung out with his shirt off the first while of the party because everything was itchy.
Ruby kept "saving" everybody. She has quite the imagination.

Well it just so happened that one of my parents' beach houses was open this weekend!!! So they offered it to Pat and Randy. So off we went later that night! I always forget how nice it is to stay on the beach. It just forces relaxation. The first night Greg, Randy and I went for a walk and found a HUGE TREE with all kinds of carvings. It was cool. There was a very friendly student we talked with for awhile.

Greg looks a little interesting in this one but I thought it was a great one of Randy.
Afterwards we played Killer Bunnies until midnight and then called it quits. It is a crazy game that is so confusing it sucks out the fun- but when you figure it out it's really fun!

The next day after church . . .
I'm the one that looks like a Nun. It was Randy's coat (as I didn't think to my own). Don't let Randy and Shannon's apparel fool you- IT WAS FREEZING!!!!
Pretty Pat and Dashing Gregory
Pat and Randy were having an adorably long hug, but Ralf snuck in when I took the picture.
Ah, I love him!
Shannon and Randy had lots of fun! They are so much alike. It becomes more obvious to me the longer I am in this family.
If they went anywhere, they ran.
Burying themselves.
Army crawling!
Ralf is the newest member of the Jentzsch's and he fits right in. He and Shannon are ridiculously happy and are always making out around us. But every time I complain, I'm told we were terribly embarrassing ourselves. I APOLOGIZE!!!!! On a different note, I discovered Ralf catches onto games like no one's business. You only had to tell him once and he remembered it. I was impressed!

After we filled our bellies I napped and everyone else played games.Then it was time to clean up and go home. Thank you Mom and Dad for letting us stay here. It was so fun and nice to all be together.