Boston party

So our trip to Europe started very early on Wednesday morning. Our ride to the airport picked us up at 4:45 to catch our 6:30 flight.  We caught an early flight to Boston which landed at 8:30am  and then we didn't fly out again until 4:45pm. We decided to see Boston during our layover. Fist we took a taxi over to the aquarium which was a good choice because it was raining. It is very nice and centered around a big salt water tank with other exhibits spiraling around the main tank. Some animals were still on vacation while the renovated the main tank like the emperor or penguins but we saw these little guys instead...

The sea turtles are Justin's favorite and they had quite a few...

We also watched the fur seal training which is always fun! It's amazing how smart marine mammals are.

After the aquarium we decided to walk around for a bit. We saw the old north church and the site of the Boston Massacre. 

 

Also of course Paul Revere's statue.

We had a great time in Boston and loved being able to break up our trip. The flight to Amsterdam seemed very short after having a day of sightseeing. Both Justin and I watched a movie on the flight. He watched Argo which he had seen before and I watched the Perks of being a Wallflower which was an awesome movie. After the movies we both tried to sleep but only successfully dosed for about  2 hours. Then at 5:30am our plane landed in Amsterdam!

Spinning hat

This post is late but the oath and hooding was Friday and the big graduation was Saturday morning.  A tradition of the vet school is for all of the vet students to decorate their hats very elaborately. Justin had  planned an idea and really wanted the hat to spin. Since dinner was so late Friday we didn't start until 11pm.

Around 2 am the hat spun....

That is the face of yea it spins but there is no way I can walk across stage with this on my head.....

So we took the motor off which made it more stable.

Here is a skyline view of some of the hats at graduation...

It's a really fun tradition :)

Beach day!

After I took the state board exam we went to Pam's for breakfast. Roxy had to have a southern breakfast and loves biscuits so it was awesome. It was a great breakfast with my classmates...I still can't believe it's over! Then the rest of the day was spent shopping. We went to south point and met Laurie for lunch and shopping!

The other big at Roxy wanted was to see the beach. Wilmington is only 2 hours away so it was a perfect day trip. 

The beach was cold but we still end up getting in. Roxy forgot a hat so she was very resourceful with a tshirt...

We packed our lunch so we were able to have a picnic on the beach. Roxy was in the middle of a good book so Justin and I took a walk and then threw a football. After a good afternoon at the beach we headed back. After we got out of the sun we found out Justin and Roxy got pretty sunburnt.....so we stopped and got aloe on the way home. On the way back to Raleigh we stopped at Duplin winery for a tasting. It was the best tasting I've ever done, you get to try 12 different wines. Roxy found a wine she liked...yay!

On the way to the inert we found this gem...

After that we ate at Smithfield's chicken and barbecue to get some authentic southern pork....delicious. After a shower we headed to Frankie's. It's Justin's favorite! 

Roxy and Justin doing the dance dance game.

We did the batting cages which was fun!

This game was crazy it was air hockey but it then spit out 12 little pucks at once. 

And of course laser tag was played :) I beat everyone!!

Lions and tigers and bears...oh my!

On Tuesday Roxy Megan and I packed up to go to the Asheboro zoo.  Anyone that knows me knows that I love the zoo and will go any chance I get! Justin has never been to the Asheboro zoo which I think is crazy.....that will have to happen this summer. The drive wasn't bad and we got there around 10. We started in North America and found out that during the week there are ALOT of school groups...argh.....we spent a good bit of our day trying to get away for the screaming kids. Other than that it was a great day not too hot or cold and many animals were out being active. The best part of the trip was an impromptu visit to the deck at the giraffes. You pay $2 entry to feed the giraffes, there is no guarantee that a giraffe will come up to the platform but we saw that the giraffes were currently being fed. We rushed to the platform and were given leaves to feed the giraffe. I got to pet it's head and feel its long tongue  Really cool experience!!!!

After a quick lunch we went to Africa and saw the animals on that side. That night I studied for state boards which was the next day....last real paper test of my life...the rest will be tests in the real world....wow.

Shop till you drop.....then jump around!!!

So not only did Roxy come for my graduation she also took a week vacation to stay with me! I was able to spend my first full week of life without school (forever) with her! The first day we obviously went shopping. I think I shopped more with Roxy in 2 days than I did all through vet school. We treated ourself to Cheesecake Factory and the lunch was so good we couldn't even fit in a cheesecake for dessert!! After a full day of shopping we met Somer and Steve at a place called Defy Gravity. It is a gym full of trampolines! You can buy 'flights' in hour increments, boy were we glad we only did an hour!!!

All of us really excited before it got started :)

Cousin love :)

Go Somer.....go Somer 

Steve getting some big air.

Justin

Roxy :)

All in all it was a great day! I would recommend everyone in the Raleigh area try defy gravity it's a really cool place which will make you feel like a kid again!

Oath and hooding

Friday night was the oath and hooding. It was held in the same room as our white coat ceremony first year.  My vet school experience was well rounded because my oldest friend (and pretty much sister) Megan was able to attend my white coat ceremony and then also attended my oath and hooding.  We were required to get there early for a class picture but it meant we had time to take photos and socialize with each other. At this point it still hadn't sunk in that I was graduating...I just felt like we were all dressed up and socializing. Along with that I also hadn't come to terms with the fact that this weekend would be the last time I would see a good number of my classmates. After seeing everyone for 3 full years of class and then sporadically on clinics it was crazy to think it was over. The ceremony was very special. We nominated then voted on the professors who hooded us and also the professor who gave the faculty address. Our class speaker was Justin Jornigan who gave an amazing speech. After the festivities Megan took some wonderful pictures of the family and of Justin's family who was able to come and celebrate as well. Then it was off to a late dinner to my favorite Indian restaurant. I was brave and tried the goat in celebration of my ruminant internship next year. I will say it was good but I probably won't order it again there, I have too many other favorites.

 

The big weekend!

It finally came....graduation. This past weekend I took my oath and was given my diploma and officially became Dr. Nikki Schweizer.  It's crazy!! My parents came for the weekend and brought a special person with them, my cousin Roxy!! She is currently finishing her bachelors thesis and had some time to come visit. I was so floored and excited!! They night we had a Crock pot meal of stuffed peppers which were amazing.

I was so happy I cried like a baby that is why my face is all red and blotchy.  The next day Justin had to work so it was just my parents and I and we went downtown to beasleys chicken and honey, my favorite brunch place in Raleigh. Since it was not the weekend we just had lunch but it was still great. 

After lunch frozen yogurt with Laurie was of course a great choice. Roxy and Laurie know each other well because when Roxy came for an exchange horse camp she lived with Laurie and her family so this reunion was really fun.

Mom then said for old times sake we need to take the dogs on a walk. We went to lake Lynn which I found out is half way between Laurie and I which is very handy :). It's a great walk Roxy bear just didn't appreciate that it was 10 degrees hotter than it was the day before and dragged the whole walk. We really enjoyed all the turtles that were sunbathing....I have never seen so many wild turtles.

After the walk we went home and everyone got ready for the festivities that night..blog post to follow :)