tyler becomes a lawyer

The whole reason for our trip was Tyler's swearing into the bar, which made him a licensed attorney.  Yay!  It was on a Monday, so we had a day to recover from the Balloon Fiesta.

My sweet Momma traded her shift at work so that she could come, and Haley watched the kids for us.

 I was expecting it to be long, but oh. my. word. people.  It was three hours.  And Tyler had gone an hour before us.... ug.  It was way worse than graduation. 

The supreme justice's of New Mexico were all there (except one, who was home sick).  They had to announce everyone who passed the bar exam and was a candidate for bar admittance.  Some had people to move on their behalf - this had to be someone who is already admitted to the NM bar, and they make the movement before the court that the new attorney be admitted.  Which was mostly obnoxious.  It's obviously some leftover ceremonial tidbit meant to make everyone suffer, because everyone who passed the bar and the background inspection is going to be admitted anyway.  The special movements would get a mike and then give a long speech about how this particular candidate accomplished so many things and blah blah blah, but most of the special movers ended up talking about themselves and their firm and how they had contributed to the attorney's career.  There were a few that were short and really sweet, such as "May it please the court, I move that my daughter, insert-name-here, be admitted to the New Mexico state bar."  It was awesome.  My favorite was someone moving for his grandson!  How cool is that?

Also, there was a Native-American woman being sworn in named something something Kickingwoman.  Which is honestly the coolest name I ever heard, and I wish I knew the story behind it. 

After listening to them announce ever other bar candidate in the alphabet before S, plus three other Smiths, Tyler finally had his moment to stand up and be acknowledged by the court.  Then each of the supreme judges talked to the new lawyers for a little bit.  By this point I was playing solitaire on my phone so I don't really know what they said, but I do know that one read a Eulogy to a judge who recently died.  I don't know how that was relevant but we still had to listen to it.

We snapped some quick pictures afterwards, then mom went home to relieve Haley while Tyler and I went out to celebrate!

 And just like that, I'm married to a lawyer.  A very handsome lawyer. 

 We went to a sushi/grill place.  I had to take pictures because I feel like sushi looks so fancy.  Tyler love's sushi.  I was perfectly happy ordering cooked food!

Since we were already there, we went ahead and rented a moving truck and emptied out our storage unit in Albuquerque.  I got my darling sister to agree to drive with me to help with the kids, since Tyler was driving the truck.

She wasn't thrilled about this picture but ITS TRADITION.  Sorry. 

 We left crazy early, hoping the kids would sleep, but they were awake right up until we hit rush-hour traffic in Fort Worth.

It's so nice to have a couch again!  And my sister was a life saver.  I could seriously have her around all the time.  She helped so much, and it's just fun to have an adult around when Tyler's gone during the day.  My kids looooove their aunt Haley, but she is pretty much as strict as I am, so I know they aren't getting away with anything when she's watching them.  She made us dinner the first night we were home, helped move and unpack, helped watch kids, and slept in our living room and shared our single bathroom while she was here.  She worked and worked and it was so much help to have a third adult. 

She could only stay for a few days, but I was so glad she came.   Thanks Haley!