Our Latest Weekend Destination

It's April already? Spring is here and I have barely blogged about anything. I'm sorry for slacking! As we get closer and closer to June, we just keep getting busier and busier. It's hard to believe that we're only three months away from the end of residency and the beginning of a new chapter in the Finger Lakes.

We've started to spend a lot more time in Ithaca, as we search for a place to live. I haven't been taking many pictures, but I do have a few snapshots to share. We've been having a great time getting to know Amit's new colleagues and sampling the fantastic eats in town.

We love our drive to Ithaca, 

it's so scenic!

Amit found this little gem.

It's a tiny place, but makes some fantastic fortified wine.

The port was very popular at dinner!

We've stopped at Buttermilk Falls, 

and can't wait to hike up along the gorge!

And of course, we must try some of the Ithaca wineries.

Especially when they are this close to Cayuga Lake!

You know I can't help but take a few pictures of our food!
This was at a Mexican restaurant downtown.
Amit got tacos and I had chicken mole enchiladas. 
It was delicious!

Last weekend we had lunch at Ithaca Beer Company.
It was great!
We will definitely be regulars here!
(Would you expect anything less from Amit?)

We had some fantastic weather last weekend!

We are so excited to explore Ithaca! Hiking, the Farmer's Market, Cayuga Lake, restaurants, and the list goes on. It is looking like it will be one fun summer! 

Celebrating Our Dentist

After surviving four years of dental school and sitting through that graduation ceremony, everyone was ready to party! We started with dinner at Boston Beer Works and ended the (very late) night at Amit's favorite place, Howl at the Moon.

Dr. Patel's graduation dinner!

We took way too many pictures when we were partying at Howl at the Moon. For all of the pictures, head over to our Shutterfly share site. We had a great night and Amit met Guy Fieri from Food Network. He was so excited!! 

Howling Highlights

We had WAY too much fun together that night. It was so great to have everyone in town to celebrate Amit and spend some quality time together in Boston. We loved sharing our favorite places with the group and the boys definitely helped us celebrate in style!

Introducing Dr. Patel

On Friday morning, we woke up ready for a full day of graduation fun. (At least most of us were ready, the boys were a bit tired from all the partying they had done the night before.) We headed downtown early so we could have time to take pictures and hang out before the ceremony.

Photo op on the Charles

After grabbing lunch, we made our way to the arena for the graduation ceremony. It was a loooong ceremony, but I didn't mind it too much. I think it helped the boys get really pumped to cheer for our favorite dentist. Nate counted the number of children that were brought to the front, so they could go on stage when their parent received their diploma. I'm a little bummed that we didn't know about this, we thought we should have brought Emma to walk with Daddy.

Waiting for graduation.

There's our boy!

Some bored boys...

Ray was just so moved by the ceremony...

(Or he was sweating, we're still not sure.)

Amit!

(Cue screaming/hollering/cheering/clapping -

it was LOUD!)

So glad it's over!

With Derrick and John.

We'll definitely miss these guys (and their families)!

Amit and Dr. Calabrese

We stopped outside to take some pictures with our new dentist. Here we go:

We were thrilled that everyone could be there for his graduation. We're all so, so proud of him! These past four years were definitely the hardest that we've ever gone through, but he managed to work hard at school and still manage to find time for me and Emma. I hear he was pretty nice in the clinic, too (unfortunately I got the mean Dr. Patel when I would would visit - I wonder why?). Amit has definitely proved that he will be a great dentist and I know we're looking forward to seeing everything else that he will accomplish in his career.

But right now, it's time to see how he celebrated his first night as a dentist...

The Gang's All Here!

All of our very special guests arrived on Thursday for the graduation festivities. I think it would be an understatement to say we were excited. The boys hadn't seen each other since Christmas and since we've only been waiting four years for this day, they were ECSTATIC to be together to hang out.

We brought everyone to one of our favorite restaurants, Yard House, for dinner. We had a blast catching up and talking about what was to come during graduation weekend.

The boys!

After dinner, we headed back to our hotel to hang out and enjoy our special graduation treat!

Cookies and Cream cake...

In the shape of a tooth!

 (Almost) Dr. Patel and his cake!

 Thanks for finishing the cake, Nate!

 Everyone loved the gift bags!

After the parents left our hotel room, the real fun started... Not much has changed over the years. I love it like that! It makes for a good laugh.

I think Ray started it...

It was a great start to graduation weekend! Next up, Amit Patel becomes a Doctor of Dental Medicine!

Graduation Preparation

We blinked and all of a sudden it's time for graduation! Where did all four years go? We both survived the busiest semester ever. I have been going nonstop between working, finishing my assignments for the semester, and studying for/taking my teaching exams. Amit's only had to finish his requirements, get everything signed off for school (so he can leave), find a place to live in NY, and start packing for our big move. We definitely deserve to party this weekend!

Right now, we're getting everything ready for the weekend. Our graduation outfits are getting packed, gift bags are ready, the camera battery is charging... Only one more day until our fabulous guests start arriving and the celebration begins! Until then, all we can do is count the hours... Or minutes...

Emma is so happy we're done with school!

Dr. Patel's special cake is in the freezer!

Other preparations have included finding a townhouse to rent next year! Amit visited Rochester last week to find a place and he did a great job! We're definitely excited for a nice, new home with a great floor plan. I can't wait to decorate!

Once we get the lease to sign, 

we will officially be living in Webster, NY.

We celebrated with a bottle of NY wine.

Now it's time to get off the computer and finish our graduation preparations... I'm ready to celebrate Amit!

Couples Night Out

It has been way too long since we went out as a group, usually we just hang out at each other's houses for dinner. Since we're now super close to graduation, we decided to celebrate the boys by treating ourselves to  dinner at a "fancy" restaurant. On Friday night, we got all dressed up, drove downtown, and headed to the Top of the Hub for some delicious food and conversation! Seth's mom was in town for a crown, so she tagged along!

Our best photo after dinner.
Thanks Mrs. Caldon for taking it!

 This is what happens when you try to take a "nice" picture

of four boys late at night.

(Fuzzy because I'm laughing too much!)

Finally a reasonable picture!
(Though it's probably the one least like them!)

We had such a great time at dinner. The food was fantastic and the fellowship was just as great!! It's definitely sad that we'll all be heading in our separate directions, but thankfully these guys have made some great memories over the past four years. We will definitely need to plan some reunion get-togethers!

Get Ready!

We are six weeks away from graduation now... Are you ready for it?? We are! I thought I'd give you a taste of what's to come the weekend of May 18th...

Goody bag prep.

Amit got his big birthday/graduation present early...

...filled it up...

... and of course he had to make sure the cigars worked correctly.
Thanks for the second opinion, Seth!

 Who's going to become a Super Cavity Fighter?

This guy!
(Run away cavities!!)

I'd be intimidated if I was a cavity. Thankfully I have "super cavity-fighting" teeth thanks to some good genes! That's probably his biggest disappointment from the last four years - he never got to drill my teeth! (Can we all pray that never happens? I think he's a good dentist and all that, but I doubt he'd be as good with me squeezing his hand out of fear.)

Last thing on my graduation prep list for this week? Invitations. Let's hope they turn out as well as I hoped!