Three months worth of randomness

Wow... it has truly been a long time since I have posted. So much to talk about. So much has changed. I think the last time I posted I was looking for a house. Well, in case anyone out there didn't know....WE FOUND ONE! Yes, it was quite the ordeal but in the end it was all worth it. We bought a house in Brusly that has everything that I wanted. Hopefully, if you're reading this you have seen it. I have been having a lot of fun, possibly too much fun, decorating ever since. I had a couple of insane trips to Hobby Lobby and our latest splurge was on patio furniture. We bought an awesome wicker love seat, chair and ottoman as well as a large table and chairs. Much to our surprise I managed to put it together myself and we have not fallen through anything. I am actually sitting outside right now next to the fire pit. Ah, life is good.

Nick started his job in August and it is going pretty well so far. He has been working a lot but it is nothing compared to school and he gets a pay check. Sweet! My job is great right now because I am off for two weeks. I say some days that it is very hard and I cant imagine myself retiring as a teacher but other days I really like it. Each day brings new challenges and the kids test my patience to the very end.

I have been having Kali and Sara over quite a bit lately. That absolutely are the reason I wanted to live close again. They make me laugh so much when I am with them. Today I took them to Olive Garden. They are so much fun because they are extremely well behaved. We were leaving and while in the car Sara was sitting without her seat belt over her shoulder. I told her that she needed to fix it because if we got in a wreak and it wasn't on right she would go flying. She looked at me with her head cocked to the side and said "But Jessie, I can't fly. I don't have WINGS!" It was so stinking cute because she was right! :) Then we were at he outlet malls shopping. I was searching the racks looking for a new pair of jeans when Kali turned and said "Jess, what are you buying?" "I'm looking for jeans." "Well Jessie, don't you KNOW its Christmas time and you are supposed to buy things for OTHER people!!" Once again, I laughed and though....damn, shes right! On the was home, instead of going the way I know I got them really excited to take the ferry. So I drove about 45 minutes until we found it because I knew they would enjoy it. When we were on it Kali asked me where the fairies were. Then Sara said "I'm so excited, this ferry is so much fun!" I was surprised at how much they liked it. Sara wanted to ride it again when we got into Plaquemine. I love the little people that they are becoming!

Last weekend, Nick and I were leaving coffee call which is our Saturday morning tradition of Begneits and coffee when we decided out of the blue to go visit the D Day museum in New Orleans. It was really awesome. They have a 4-d Movie now that is really something to see. I also learned a lot walking around the huge museum. John Besh opened a new restaurant in the building with the movie theatre. We ate lunch there. If anyone is looking for a fun place to go for a day trip I highly recommend it. It was really fun even though we both looked like poo.

In other news, we have planned a ski trip for February. I am really excited about it. We are going with a couple that Nick went to PT school with. They are really fun to be around and I think we will have a blast. Not to mention I get to ski!!! We will be in Breckenridge from Feb 12-16. Hopefully I will take lots of pictures and get into the swing of blogging again.

Also in the works for 2010.... Nick said I might be able to get my dream car this summer and maybe little Ciceros in the near future. Also, I have been thinking about getting another dog. I still miss Duncan a ton but I am interested in adopting a pet. Nick wants a pedigree dog but after the research I have done I don't want to help fund those mills and things. Maybe a big mutt will do us just fine! So much to look forward to. Sometimes I look around and I cant believe that this is actually my life. Why am I so lucky? We are surely not taking it for granted. Nick and I still look at our house sometimes and say "Wow, this is actually ours!" I have been meaning to take pictures but it honestly has not been clean enough. ;) I also wan to get the extra garage in shape. I have no idea what to do with it but it has so much potential. For now, I guess we will take it one thing at a time. I am surely enjoying this patio though. :)

I am sooo excited about Christmas. We have our beautiful tree up (much to my fathers help) ;) and I have all of my shopping done except for Nick of course. I always buy his gifts last minute. I feel bad about this but I guess his gifts always require a lot more thought.My new watch comes in tomorrow, I think we are getting a Dyson vacuum, and Nick bought be a surprise present. Also, ELI IS COMING! I feel like I have not seen him in forever! I bet he is getting so big. It will be fun to just hang out and relax with my big sister for a change and steal as many kisses as I can from her sweet baby!

Hopefully the next time I post it will not be 4 months from now. I like to think of this almost as a diary. It is fun to look back on thoughts and feelings from times past that are totally random. I will close with a random quote from my favorite author of all time:

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can carry yourself wherever you choose.
Dr. Seuss

Teaching/house hunting!!!

Teaching is going pretty well these days. I have some bad days but mostly good days. I feel like I am finally getting an idea of whats going on! I guess that is a really good thing! Nick started his job. I think the first day was rocky. Yesterday and today went pretty well. I am excited for him. I think he is going to be an awesome therapist. He is working on Nana. I think she is driving him crazy which is funny but he is taking good care of her. We have been trying to drive to work together and it is working out pretty well. I stay at school about 11 hours everyday and Nick has been working a lot too. Hopefully things will settle down and we will only be working like, say 9 hours a day.

We have also been house hunting. It is pretty spectacular. We found the most wonderful house. The timing is not good but we love it. We were there two hours last night. We are thinking of making an offer but not sure yet. It is really pricey.... we will see what happens. We have seen our share of SKETCHY houses over the past couple weeks. It is interesting when someone says "oh, don't look at that big black rug.... we'll fix whats under there before we leave". Oh, and the house we walked in where there was shoes and socks on the counter top, crap thrown everywhere, the wood floors were bowed up from water damage..... needless to say we didnt go past those two rooms. WOW! I wish there were more nice neighborhoods to choose from. We have the one we want narrowed down aznd our dream house is the only one for sale in it. I will keep everyone updated as soon as we decide what we will do. Hope everyone is doing well!

First week of teaching

This is an old blog I typed up on the way home to Louisiana from Nicks graduation and never posted!

So my first week as an educator has come to an end. I have had some funny moments this week and some very frustrating times. Some of the kids love me, and tell me constantly and one child has set out to make my life miserable. I have decided to take it one day at a time. When I think I can’t put up with him anymore I will remind myself that he is just a child and that he needs my help and probably more love than the others in class. I REFUSE TO LET A SIX-YEAR-OLD MAKE A FOOL OF ME. So hopefully this week will go well. I had a sub on Friday and there is no telling what I will be walking back into. We start our real instruction this week and I am excited to teach them something. I will try to remember to post some of the funny things that I hear. You would be surprised what comes out of six-year-old mouths. My first day some of the kids were telling me that they loved me and that I was the best teacher they have ever had. I have one baby named Marcus who is just a sweet pea. He started to cry when he had trouble with a worksheet. He said, “Ms. Row, I’m so sad”. He is just such an emotional one. That’s another thing, my name! They CANT say it. It is sooo funny. So far this week I have been called: Ms. Row (quite popular), Ms. Tootsie roll, Ms. Cereal, Ms. Sereo. I just answer to anything. My main goal this week is to really get my classroom management together. It is going to be a long year and some of them REALLY have a lot to learn. Hopefully I wont let them or their parents down.

I flew in to Florida on Friday for Nick’s graduation. I was soooo excited. It was really good to see him. It seems like whenever we are together I’m home. It doesn’t matter where we are. Saturday was GREAT! I had a manicure, pedicure and eyebrow wax. Then I went to Five Guys with Nick. For any of you who have not been there, GO! It is really good. His graduation was awesome. Hopefully I can post pics soon enough. My eyes welled up with tears about four times. Not just because he was graduating and I was so proud of him. I was also proud of some of his classmates and their accomplishments. We all had our own little battles to fight and everyone did it. Also thinking about all of the good times we had. They all worked so hard. I have never been so proud of him. I know first hand how much work he put into his program, he came a long way and he did awesome! Just seeing him in his little cap and gown with the bars on the sleeves getting “hooded” (I guess that is what is called) meant so much. He deserved every bit of the night. After the graduation we took some pictures and went to Columbia’s. We went through I think three pitchers of Sangria and had a good time. We went and met some of his friends out at the White Lion after. There were a lot of people there. I think Nick had a good time. My feet were killing me in the four-inch heels I was wearing but I had a good time anyways.... and Nick liked my dress so I sucked it up! :o). Now I guess I will have to call him Dr. Cicero. CRAZY! It was nice that my parents got to go, Brian and Alecia, Jonathan and Nicks parents. Hopefully we will get to go back to St. Augustine one day to visit. It really was fun while it lasted and I appreciate the time we had there. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other and what we could do. It is bittersweet leaving but I am soo glad to bring him home. Today we went by mom and dad’s condo to pick up some stuff and visit with them before driving home. They looked so relaxed. I asked mom when was the last time they went on vacation by themselves. She thought for a second and said “never”. I am glad they got to get away and relax a little bit. They both deserve it for all they do. We have been driving all day now. I talked Nick in to stopping at Mellow Mushroom (he hates to sit down and eat when we are on the road all day) but it was really good. I am ready to get home already though. I think we have a few hours left.

So overall, this weekend was pretty awesome. My husband is awesome, our families are awesome. Life is so good. We have so much to look forward to and we are excited to begin the new journey that is our life. That’s all I have for now.

first day in first grade!

So my first day of first grade.  I have probably already told all of the people that actually read this blog but I am mainly doing it for myself.  In my classes they tell us to keep a diary of our first year as educators... so here it is!  This morning I woke up at 5am and got to school by 5:50.  I prepared the last details and made my way over to the gym.  I watched all of the kids walk in all shinny and new with their nice clothes on and their cute little hair dos.  I even saw a lot of parents that I went to school with which was really bizarre.  I just cant imagine having a child old enough to be in school.  The oldest I saw was fourth grade. It was nice to see people I haven't seen since high school though.  When I first got into my class everything seemed to be going ok.  A parent knocked my coffee cup and it spilled ALL OVER my desk and papers... but no worries!  Jordin brought me a towel the day before so that saved the day.  I cleaned it up and went on with business.  I have a few children who will be quite......challenging. :)  One in particular, I have never met a kid so defiant in all my life.  But others who were so sweet.  One little boy whispered a "secret" in my hear.  He said that I was his best friend.  It was so cute.  I do love that about first graders.  After I would yell at them in my mean voice they would tell me that they loved me and how happy they were to be in "Ms. Row's" class.  (They cant say my name :))  Today wasn't perfect but it wasn't awful either.  I know I have a lot to learn and I am thankful for a great mentor teacher.  Hopefully  I wont have to bug her too much.  I think I will continue to grow and get better.  The kids made me laugh several times today.  There are many jobs out there where employees get to say that.  The kids are so cute and funny.  I'm excited to get to know them more.  And hopefully my little challenges will turn into great successes.... only time will tell.

Nick is done with school.  He graduates on Friday... HOLY CRAP!  I cant wait.  I really don't think it gets any better than this.  We totally have the world at our fingertips and nothing is holding us back.  I'm so excited all of our goals are turning into reality.  

I'm exhausted so I need to go to bed.  Hopefully my throat will feel better by tomorrow!  Goodnight all!

First grade, here I come!

So it hit me today....in about a week and a half I will be responsible for teaching 1st graders how to read!!! Oh my!  I am quite anxious and nervous about the whole teaching thing.  Nick took the job at Physician's Choice and I am excited that he will be working closely with me.  Everything is changing, it is so crazy to think about!  I have never been so proud of my honey.  I am so glad he will be doing something that he loves so much.  Hopefully I wont still be peeling for his graduation!  I got SO sunburnt when I went to visit him that I have been peeling ever since.  I really look nasty!  I have been wearing stuff to cover it up.  

Kali came to school with me Friday to help set up my classroom.  The older teacher next door to me was trying to set me up with her son which I thought was funny.  Kali told her that I was married to her uncle Nick!  This should be an interesting year.  They are still renovating the school and they have a lot of work to do!  I don't know how they will finish it.  I don't know how I will finish setting up my classroom!  I chose to do a Dr. Seuss theme.  I am excites about it!  I have a lot to do but I have been mainly concentrating on organizing everything.  I have spent more money on those plastic shoe box things!  I am excited to start this year though!

Jenn, Michael, and Eli came into town yest.  Eli is possibly the cutest baby I have ever seen (besides Kali and Sara)  I cant get over how happy and pleasant he is.  This kid hardly ever cries.  I am lucky to be the aunt of some awesome kids.  Today we went to Nana's house and I used a hedge trimmer!  I felt so strong... it was way funner than it looks!  I might have to do it again some time. :)  I'm glad I didn't cut off a limb!  Hopefully we will have a nice day tomorrow too.

I am really missing Nick tonight.  I cant wait to see him.  It is funny how when you get to the end it gets so much worse.  It feels like the time is going by sooo slowly.  Soon enough!

Goodnight world!

I need to beg, borrow and steal ideas!

So I am sitting in my husband's apartment while he is at school. The story of my life! I haven't posted in a while, I have been a bit busy. I flew here to visit Nick on Monday. When Hayley and I got to the airport the boys were there holding a neon orange sign that said "Welcome ladies". It cracked me up! I thought, only my husband. Nick only has about three weeks of school left which is just crazy! It almost doesn't seem real! I spoke to my principal and asked her if I could take off for his graduation... the first Friday of school! She said that would be OK, so that was a huge relief! I do not think I could be any more proud of him. Last night we were up until about 2:30 talking about everything. Growing up i really something. I feel so luck to have met him so young and to be able to watch him turn from an 18 year old boy to a great husband and one day father. We talked about having babies, where we will live, just about everything. It is so nice sometimes to just take time out a talk. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the day-to-day grind and forget to sit down and really talk. I love that I met him, I love that he picked me, I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend. I will stop with all the cheesy stuff now :)...
I think we are going out to eat tonight. I had a great lunch with one of my very best MHRC friend today. I am meeting a group tomorrow. I still have not made it to the beach but I have done a lot of shopping! We are going to the outlet tomorrow. Nick wants an outfit for graduation.
I meant to blog last week when I was hanging out with the girls a lot. they were sooo funny. Those kids crack me up! I will try to blog more often and remember what they do that cracks me up.
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I start working on my classroom and having meetings when I get back. I want to kind of do a theme of "Oh, The Places You'll Go"... I obviously like that book as it is also the title of my blog but I figure I can tie in almost anything to that. I really like hot air balloons and would like to tie that in also. Anyhow... I'm losing sleep over this stuff so if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate them! Thanks!

Missing my little man

So the last few weeks have not been easy. I finished up student teaching which was pretty good. I only have three days left of school. Nick booked e a flight today to go out to see him for a week. Hayley and me and flying together. So there are some things to look forward to.

This past week the most horrible thing happened. I got hoe from a movie with Jo and called for Duncan for what seemed like a really long time. I started to get really worried so I walked around the house to look for him. I went to the road and saw him laying there. I went up to him and he had no scratches on him. He looked like he was just sleeping. I pet his head and realized that he wasn't moving. I ran in the house to get dad. Dad tried to shake him a little but he was gone. I immediately broke down and thought he was hit by a car. I called Nick to tell him. We were both really devastated. He was definitely a part of our family. I loved him so much. I told dad the next day how Duncan was sick and threw up the day before. I said I had to give him a bath because he got sick in his kennel (which almost never happens). Dad said that he really didn't think Duncan was hit because he didn't have a scratch on him. He also said that Duncan was on the couch and dad asked him if he wanted to go out and he was moving really slowly. It breaks my heart to think there might have been something I could do to save him. He really loved Nick and me. He got me through moving to FL when I knew no one and Nick was in school or studying constantly. I think about him all the time.

On a much happier note... Ella's baptism was yesterday. It was so nice and she looked beautiful in her little lace dress and booties. We went to Nichole and Jeremy's house after and they cooked and had a water slide for the kids. It was hot but fun. I worked at the bar last night. It turned out to be a good night. It is funny how we have such a variety of people that come through those doors. It makes me a little proud. Some of the people who I probably would not even talk to in a different setting are actually the nicest people I have ever met. You really should never judge a book by its cover.

I hope everyone had a nice fourth of July. I wish I could have spent it with Nick. This is the second Fourth in a row that we have been in different states. Maybe next year. We are in the home stretch!! I wish Duncan was around in the end. We always talked about the kind of yard we would have for him. Im so sad he will not be around to enjoy it.

Nick found a job and got a pretty good offer. I will hopefully still be working at Iberville Elementary next year in first grade. It seems like things are falling in to place. This year will definitely be a year to remember.