So we have been busy little bees... or rices... that doesn't sound right... anyway...
Let's see what have we missed...
First, we went to DC a few weekends ago... We did the zoo and saw the biggest hippopotamus I have ever seen in my entire life...
We had a fabulous feast with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!
And of course, we had a great time at the Redskins game, even though we lost to the Rams who hadn't won a single game before...
Jim Zorn, the head coach, talking to Dan Snyder's wife.
View from our fabulous seats (Thanks, Aunt Peggy!)
Then, last weekend we met my parents, some of their friends, my sister and her family and my fabulous cousin down in South Carolina for the LSU game. The game was okay, not too great, we should've slaughter them but still won, but hanging out with the family was SO much fun! The highlights of our weekend in SC were...
My fabulous niece who gets cuter by the minute (who I just found out today is taking steps on her own!)
She stole Rick's hat and was trying to rock it!
A failed attempt at a family portrait... but cute all the same!
AND, our fabulous trip to South of the Border with my awesome cousin!
This past weekend was our first weekend in town in our new apartment but once again we were busy. We went on a haunted hayride on Friday evening (well, I did as we all know Rick is a scaredy-cat!) Saturday we watched the horrible LSU football game :( and Sunday we watched the Redskins win! AND we went to an acoustic Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds Obama rally for the "Last Chance for Change" Campaign.
So as you can see... we have stayed busy and unfortunately have not finished the unpacking process...
BUT we are hosting a housewarming/halloween party this weekend sooooo we better have it finished by Friday! I will be sure to post pictures of our apartment finally put together!
Love,
your half-settled richmonders.
Ps. Here is a picture of some of my class after we made our cute cat masks in preparation for Halloween! Just thought you would like to see it!
So, I was waiting to post about our move until I located my camera battery charger, which apparently Rick packed somewhere and can't find... because I wanted to post pictures of our new place... but since we have yet to locate it and my camera is dead... I thought I would just give a verbal update.
We moved all of our life in about 2.5 hours with the help of 5 people besides ourselves. It was so great having all the help because it flew by.
Unfortunately, Rick had to go out of town on business Monday - Wednesday so the first 2 nights he was home and then gone to leave me home alone in this huge apartment! But 2 of my girlfriends split the nights so I wasn't completely lonesome.
I did not get as much unpacking finished as I had planned... but it is definitely starting to feel like home. I cannot wait for the Halloween festivities on our fabulous street!
In other news, Rick got back safely from business in North Carolina, but he caught a cold while he was gone. So I am trying desperately not to catch it, but we will see how that goes.
So... How about those Redskins?
Boy are the Redskins kicking some behind. Perfect timing because that is just where we are headed. I think I mentioned before we got a pair of Redskin tickets as a wedding gift from my aunt and uncle and the game is this weekend. It should be an exciting one for the Redskins, coming off all these wins and the weather is supposed to be fabulous.
We are going to try and hit the Washington Zoo on Saturday afternoon and then go have dinner with my grandparents as well as my aunt and uncle and cousins that evening.
So, no unpacking this weekend... or next weekend for that matter... We are headed to South Carolina for the LSU game with my folks, sister and her family, my cousin, my dad's best friend and his wife... so, I guess we will have to motivate after work.
As for school...
My new classroom is definitely a challenge. They basically have no concept of any sort of discipline! So, my assistant and I have trying to be very consistent with our rules and each day they get a little bit better, the progress is very slow but I have faith and patience that we will get there.
I have to say my new schedule and responsibilities takes a lot more out of me, so it is a good thing I already gave up on any kind of social life during the week!
I hope this finds everybody happy and healthy. We love you all and can't wait for you to see our new digs!
Love,
your finally-in-our-own-place richmonders.
Our fabulous photographer finished our graphically designed wedding album. The last step is to print, package and ship, so we should have it very soon!
In the meantime, she uploaded the finished pages for our and your viewing pleasure!
Hope you guys love it as much as we do!
In other news, we picked up our keys to our new place. We are moving on Saturday provided the weather allows us.
We will post photographs of our new digs as soon as we can!
We love you all!
Love,
your almost moved richmonders.
I have good news and I have great news.
The good news is that we move in one week from today! Yippee! I am so excited I can't stand it. I can't wait to organize and put all of our new dishes away and set up our 2nd bedroom and just get settled in a place of our own finally!
The great news is that I got a promotion!
For the past 3 months, I have been a Support Teacher in the PreK-1 (younger 4yos) room. There were 2 support teachers and one lead. I am qualified to lead my own class and was sort of promised that would happen sooner than later when I was hired. I was starting to get a little frustrated but kept my head up because even in this particular school the support position is a pretty great one.
And then last Monday, the girl who leads the preschool 2 class (the oldest 3yos) put her 2 weeks in...and they offered me the job!
I accepted and am very excited about the added responsibility this is going to entail.
Even better, having watched the new school year transition, I know exactly where my new classroom needs to be in terms of their skills before the enter the class that I was in... is this getting confusing?
Long story short, the class I am taking over has not been run in the manner that it should been...kids are leaving the room and can't even write their names!
This might be a rough couple of months getting things back on track, but I have a great support teacher to help me and I am definitely ready for a challenge!
The other great news is that Rick got a promotion too! I don't know the ins and outs of it but I know that he too is very excited about the new job responsibilities!
Well we are off to begin the football weekend!
Hope this finds you all happy and healthy!
Love,
your promoted richmonders.
After a long, strenuous and quite frustrating search for a place of our own... Rick and I officially signed a lease today!
As of October 1st, our new residence will be on West Ave. in the fan district of Richmond. Yes, you read correct, the elusive and quite exclusive West Ave. You know... the cutest street in the fan that is only 3 blocks long but is a neighborhood in itself.
I know those that grew up outside of the fan or have never spent a significant amount of time being a fan rat probably won't understand the significance, but it is one of those streets that fan rats can only dream of living on. Sort of like Monument Ave. but Monument is actually more likely because it is waaay longer.
So suddenly God's plan is clear once again... to make finding an apartment very difficult for us so that we would wait for this amazing gem and to fulfill a little girl's fan rat dream!
So back to the apartment, it is a 2 bedroom, one bath with a beautiful kitchen and bay window in the living room with a washer and dryer and a back patio/garden! And the best part is we are getting all of this for waaaay less than they could charge us. (I mean it is West Ave!) It isn't a big bad realty company renting it but instead the people that own it, so it seems they aren't renting it to get rich!
They have all these cool events like the big Halloween bash where they shut the street down and have costume contests and trick-or-treaters galore. They also have big cookouts and block parties and all kinds of neighborhood-like activites.
I don't know how else to show you how excited we are about this new apartment! It really is going to be the perfect place for Rick and I to start our married life together!
Well, I will keep you posted on the move and let you know when we will be ready to show off our awesome street and apartment!
We hope this finds you all happy and healthy!
Love,
your soon-to-be-fan-rats-once-more!
