re-launch

Instead of recapping all the things I should have been blogging about for the last five months... let's focus on the present... it's more interesting.

The house... things are coming together, slow and steady. David and I have been waiting two months for our bedroom set. This week, while trying to choose a paint color for the bedroom, we decided we didn't so much like it anymore. Now I'm stressed out because we have to find a new set. So far, I like one that David hates and I don't really like the one David picked out.


The other problem is that we're running out of furniture stores. ugh, the stress!


Job search... I interviewed today at Yelm Middle School for a 7th grade mathematics position (my ultimate choice). I think it went great and I should find out by Tuesday if I got it... fingers crossed! There is also a position at the high school where I taught summer school, so hopefully there'll be some news on that next week.

Personally, I have joined a new gym and have created a work out calendar for the next month... pretty full with classes. Maybe I'll meet some people this way. Also, hoping to get together with the other radiology residents and their families soon. It'll be nice to get to know the wives and kids and have some friends in the area.

Off to run home decorating errands now... post painting pictures coming soon!

a little longer than expected

Despite my best efforts to update my blog on a regular basis, I obviously have failed. Here's what has been going on...

On the school front, I am behind on my portfolio (surprise, surprise). There are always better things to do than sit and 'reflect' on my work at Lindenwood. Forty-five rationales about things my cooperating teacher has said about me, work I have completed, tests I have taken, and various other documents I have to pull together seems so mind-numbingly boring. Thus there is always something better to do... and I'll even put laundry in that category.

On the work front, it's SPRING BREAK. I told David, "As much as the kids need spring break, I think the teachers need it more." I have taken over all five classes and it has been alot. My routine is becoming easier, so much so that this week I have gotten up around 8 everyday. This, of course, is sleeping in compared to my normal alram time of 5:30 am. I have decided to use this week to grade papers, record grades, and plan lessons. I certianly do not even my classmate Cathy, with three classes to prep for and a cooperating teacher who is going on maternity leave in a couple weeks. Talk about a student teaching experience. Good luck!

Finally, on the home front, David has finally decided that buying a house is the best option for us. So we've started looking online and bookmarking houses we like in the Lacey and Puyallup areas. I have started looking for districts in the areas that may be hiring. We're realizing just how little time is left before we move. In a couple of weeks we have to apply for our housing loan, because in just about a month we go out to WA to look. Then comes a much needed vacation before all the chaos ensues... we're going to Jamaica for six days! Then it's back to graduate, pack and move on out the coast.

Coming up next post... things I didn't think I'd see/do while student teaching.

Valentine's #3

Our third year of marriage, which we are halfway through, has been the best I'd say so far. We've done a lot better with communicating our feelings before they turn into major disagreements. Although we don't fight much, big fights always seem to occur around this time every year... ruining his birthday and Valentine's Day for the both of us. So for Valentine's this year I was just happy to avoid any argument that would ruin the day for both of us. I got even more than that!

Yesterday, flowers and candy were delievered to the door while David was at work. Today, when David got home from work, we exchanged presents. The Snoopy 'Love Doctor' accompanied a couple cds and white chocolate for him. Candy and the new Lady Antebellum cd for me with tickets to Momma Mia at the Fox on Tuesday. I'm super excited... I only mentioned it once in passing and had actually forgotten about the show. Good job to the husband!

In other news...
I am done being sick! I haven't worked out in about two weeks, and I've been eating anything I want... a recipe for disaster. So tomorrow begins the restart of my food journaling and workouts. I'm terrified to weigh myself in the morning because I think I'll be back up at least five pounds... fingers crossed!

A Quarter of a Century

David turned the big 2-5 on Tuesday! Since he had to work call on his actually birthday, we went out to dinner on Monday night. We made visits to my mom's and his parents afterward.

Tuesday, we had a second snow day so I had a chance to run errands and pick up some things. I surprised him when he got home with his presents and an ice cream cake. It's been a long time since either of us have had ice cream cake, so it was definetly worth the calories.

Friday night we had dinner with David's family, during which everyone seemed to mention feeling old because David was now 25. I think it hit everyone around him harder than it hit him. After dinner we went back to their house for cake. Every year, Kathy gets a cake from Sam's. David isn't a huge fan of regular cake, he prefers ice cream cake (hence the surprise on Tuesday). So last year, David mentioned ice cream cake to him mom and she remembered it this year... so we had ice cream cake again Friday!

David got quite a haul for his birthday... a tent and the game Mad Gab from mom; a sit-up bar, waterbottle and cd from me; money from grandma and granny; dumbbells and a home depot giftcard (to be used toward a new grill) from his parents. Thanks everyone!

Report Date

David received his official report date via email last week, June 7th. It's only one week earlier than we thought, but it does add some pressure. So far our timeline looks like this...

Finish student teaching and rotations: April 23
Drive/Fly to Tacoma for house hunting: April 24
Return to STL: April 30
Pack and plan any last minute things: May 1-May 13
Lindenwood graduation: May 14
KCOM graduation (in Kirksville): May 15
Graduation party: May 16
Mike and Lindsey's Wedding: May 29
Leave for Tacoma: May 30

And somewhere along the way we wanted to take a vacation... hopefully we're work out something fun in the inbetween time. I already hate moving!

That's What She Said...

Last week at school, my cooperating teacher put the pre-algebra kids in a giggle fit after uttering the words, "that's what she said." I've never really watched The Office, but I know it's something Steve Carrell's character says to add sexual inuendo to anything. Well my teacher had never heard of it before and could not figure out why they were so giggly about it. We even stopped a kid in the hallway after class to ask him about it because he was still giggling.

Moral of the story: choose your words carefully. you never know what meaningless phrase will make a 7th grader giggle even after the hour.

Goals for the Year

I'm a little late for new years resolutions, but I do have some goals for the coming year. I hope that by sending them into cyberspace, I will feel more compelled to achieve!

Run a 5K in under 35 minutes... (last year I ran my first one in 45 minutes)
Apply for as many math jobs as are available... (fingers crossed)
Write in my blog at least once a week...
Lose 10 more pounds...
Continue to improve the communication in my marriage... (don't get me wrong, it's by no means bad, but there's always room for improvement =0)

There may be more to come, but for now that's enough to focus on.

Firsts of the year...

So far this year has been great...

Last weekend David and I went to the first of three weddings for the year. It was beautiful and we had the best time. David made friends with a couple guys at the table and so he joined them on occasion when he was over the dancing. As their guest, Abbey and Dave had a photo booth, which we visited several times. Congratulations to Abbey and Dave Shelley... wishing you all the best for many years to come.

Today was my first day of student teaching at Fort Zumwalt North Middle School. As I expected, it was a little boring because there wasn't mush for me to do. Now that I know when I will start teaching I can start planning my lessons so I'm more helpful than "tits on a boar" (a quote I hear from a colleague today).

For tomorrow, there are 8 inches of snow forecasted meaning possible snow day. Normally this is a welcome break from school, but seeing as how today was the first day back and the middle schools don't have classes on Friday, it just seems a bit rediculous. On top of the possible snow day tomorrow, if there is a snow day Friday, middle school kids won't go back until next Tuesday.

Here's hoping for only one snow day, if we must...