A Long Time Coming

{I officially regret suggesting that we take our pictures in the shade, as you can tell from the shadow-y camouflage .}

Tuesday was one of the best days for our families ever - - - Graduation!! And because Noah is a man who does not like to have attention brought to him, I won't tell you how proud of him I am.

I won't tell you how I couldn't keep myself from crying when I saw him march into Madison Square Garden in his graduation robes.

I won't tell you how I had a ginormous smile from ear to ear all day long.

I won't tell you how I watched him study for endless hours and still not let the stress of school walk through the door with him into our home.

I won't tell you how I know he has sacrificed so much to make sure that his family was well cared for and happy.

I won't tell you the number of hours he spent holding a sleeping baby while studying.

I won't tell you how he scored me a free gold tooth and three fillings from NYU.

I won't tell you how grateful I am to his parents for raising such a wonderful man.

I won't tell you that he is the smartest man that I know, and that he is the most enjoyable person to talk with.

I won't tell you that he inspires me to be a better person and mother.

I won't tell you that I love him so much, and that I love that we can check off another item on Life's To Do List.

And Just Like That (now I snap my fingers) - - - He is Dr. Shafer, and we are done with dental school, moving from NYC and on to the promising city of Albuquerque.

The change is so immediate.

Just last week I was still in the zone. I was still trying to kill time at the park with three busy little boys when Noah had a dawn to dusk day at school. I can't say that those days will be missed. They have made me tired, and I am ready to move on to new experiences and challenges in life.

But the nostalgic rememberer in me will always look back on these days with tenderness. Two of our babies were born here. Some of the best friendships we have were made here. We have been able to experience such uniqueness in the Big City. We have eaten some delicious food here (mmmmm........mmmmm.......fooooooodddddd), seen crazy street dancing, and every site that we could. Though difficult at times, our life has been very happy and very blessed.

To quote a song Noah and I like, "Two of us together, we can do anything - Baby."

And it's true.