West Point Graduation 2016

After coming back from Disney, the next item for business was West Point graduation. I was less than thrilled having to be at West Point by 7:45 (if I'm going to be completely honest), but the excitement in the air completely changed my attitude. This was such an amazing ceremony to watch - I got a tad emotional, but that's not super surprising. The emotions flooded as I realized these cadets were no longer students but were immediately leaving West Point to go serve our country. I got emotional just thinking of the emotions flooding through the cadets' minds and their parents. 

Each year the speaker is a rotation between the President, Vice President and other officials. This year Joe Biden spoke at the graduation. I'd already reached my capacity when on the way up to the ceremony we were asked to turn and face the river as the motorcade approached. Seeing as how I'd never witnessed a motorcade before, I was working some serious side eye to take it all in - 10 SUVS and limos with tinted windows rode by. My assumption was: we needed to face the river to avoid any suspicious activity, whilst our VP rode by in one of 10 darkened vehicles. The side eye revealed our "concealed" VP plastered to the limo window looking out at all of us with our backs to him. Security measures - failed.

Graduation takes place in Michie stadium - Home to Army Football and Lacrosse. I'm sounding like tour guide Erin here.

When your husband is an instructor at West Point, you attend graduation. #proudArmywife

I could be completely wrong about this (it's been a while) but I think this is when all of the graduation Firsties stood to take their oath collectively.

This was the moment I waited for folks! I believe I took 10 "bursts" without even having to turn that function on. The cadets throw their hats in the air never to find them again - They are no longer cadets but are now considered 2nd Lieutenants! Children can run on to the field and grab a hat for good luck - it's quite the ordeal. I'm talking height requirements like it's your average carnival ride.

This photo. This probably best sums up the emotions I was referring to. This is a Haitian-born cadet who served in the Maryland National Guard before attending West Point. His face shows the realization of achieving great things in America where there was little opportunity in Haiti. (Photo cred: US Army, Staff Sgt. Vito Bryant) 

Following the graduation, Jeremy had the honor of commissioning the BCM President, Josh. Jeremy and Josh were the ones pushing the BCM through the first semester, and we are so thankful for Josh's leadership with this ministry. 

We ended our evening of graduation festivities by having several coworkers over to officially close out the school year with a Mexican buffet!

Nininger Hall, Ike Hall and Cold Spring, Oh my!

I love a good tour just as much as the next guy. A perfect little tour marries two of my favorite things together: History and Jeopardy-worthy facts that will get me nowhere in life. 

The spouses are given the opportunity to tour different facilities on post; thus I sign up and have a quick turnaround of RSVPness when a tour is offered. 

March brought us a tour of Nininger Hall. Clearly I'm a little behind in posts. This is the oldest barrack on post, though no longer used for this purpose. The Hall is now where Honor Code trials are held. Cadets run a tight ship and don't tolerate lying, stealing or cheating - therefore, the cadets must go to trial if that code of conduct is broken. Also housed in this building are replicas of barrack rooms from different wars. 

Left- WWII barrack

Right - Civil War barrack

The Civil War brought even a division at West Point. Cadets might have very well had to fight their roommates if they were on the opposing side.

 Great little quote here in the Honor Library.

Here is that Jeopardy-worthy trivia I'm talking about. This is the only place on post (and rightly so) where the swastika can be found. If you look closely, there is a lightning bolt striking the swastika to indicate the air raids at Normany that struck down the Nazis!

My friends and I walked through downtown Cold Spring last week on the hunt for lunch. Apparently all of Cold Spring shuts down on a Tuesday and may be in their stores "by chance"; I can't make this up. We landed at the Silver Spoon and walked through some antique shops. Jane and Holly had fun trying on old lady hats; however pics were strictly forbidden. 

How cute of a town is this? 

The April tour was held last Friday of Ike Hall. This is the second largest theater on the East coast next to Radio City. This is a theater that brings in 12 shows a year for cadets, post families, and the surrounding area. 

I rather enjoy taking a picture of a floor when it's something special - This floor was hand-laid oak tiles from the 70's. I marvel at the work. 

When you see the husband's class crest, you take a picture of it. "Never Falter, Never Quit" was from George W's speech after the attacks of 9/11. 06's were the first cadets to enter a post 9/11 West Point.

When I headed out from the tour, I spied this little Army phrase in the trees.

The Bestie and Mama take on WP

The weekend of all weekends finally came! Amanda and the mama came to town! I'd been looking forward to this weekend for quite a while. Jeremy says I haven't shut up about it since Christmas. Not so. Orrrrr maybe. Either way, I was happy to have them here and show them life in this little area of the Northeast. 

One of my favorite things to do with Amanda is to walk the aisles of Target. We have it mapped out and would walk Target on any given Saturday night when we lived together. This is was the first time we were able to be in Target together since August!

We toured the Visitors Center, and I showed them the Commissary. We managed a selfie on a timer right in front of the barracks display. Not a single person walked by, so we felt confident in our efforts.

Do you see the cold in our eyes? Jeremy was our excellent West Point tour guide, unofficially official.

After a morning filled with Fuller House, we were ready to take the Vanderbilt Mansion by storm. 

I kept saying "Let's take a picture in front of the moose head." Clearly, it was a buffalo.

Notice my excitement. It's palpable!

It must be stated that the three of us LOVE a good tour, and this one didn't disappoint. We were thrilled to be able to take pictures inside the house. I, for one, tried to imagine the parties and all about the walls talking with deep secrets.

So it's not the Biltmore, but it is the same family. This was a "summer cottage". Eye roll.

I love this man. I can act a fool and pretend I'm all Gilded Age and he's just consistent.

 Before departure, we made our way back to West Point to see some parts outdoors because it was oh so cold earlier on the tour. The chain gang if you will.. 

These are my people. I cried happy tears when I had to leave them. My worlds collided into one place, and I couldn't have been more delighted. 

Life at the Point

We are rolling into another week and nearing the end of January! If you've been around these parts for a while, you know I'm a happy camper and birds chirp and flowers bloom when February and January are dunzo.

The week has been busy. This is our life at the Point:

Last weekend, I mentioned Candie came to visit, but forgot to share this picture of me and Jeremy. Here we are at the actual Trophy Point on campus. 

When you have a Skype date with M, and she's like "Who are you again?"

MLK Day is a day off for the Mr. That meant a quick jaunt or 45 minute drive over to the nearest Chickfila and an afternoon full of One Tree Hill. I may have had a good cry or two or four. 

When you're on a tour of the historic Thayer Hotel at WP, and you enter the Army Baseball Suite. Then you proceed to stalk the whole room for a picture of your husband. When you find him, you proudly proclaim to the whole room, "That's my husband!"

#cleetchaser

When your Canada-transplant friend texts to ask how you're handling the snow, this is what you send back:

No hate here!

On Friday, some friends from WP and I decided to take a trip to the Culinary Institute. This was my second visit and for some reason I failed to take pictures on the first go round. What I failed at in first visit, I made up for in the second.  

And finally, with the coming of the snow FINALLY, we reached a milestone of being back at a 5:00 PM sunset. I thought I'd never see it again, and I'm already feeling like Spring is a moment away!

With a snowfall and iced over Hudson, we managed to get to the DD and get the goods- Boston Kreme and Blueberry donuts. Nothing's going to stop us now.

Happy Weekend fine folks!