1st Anniversary!

Sean and I celebrated our 1st anniversary last month! He worked the actual day (8th), so we celebrated the weekend after. Sean actually planned out a trip to Gettysburg for Fri-Sun, but since it was going to be bad weather (think thunderstorms and lots of rain), we decided it wasn't the best thing to go to a sight-seeing location. So, we went back to our old "honeymoon" hotel in Tysons- this time with a corner suite!

We went on Friday night after Sean slept for the day - yeah, still on night shift:-/ - and enjoyed a quiet night eating dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Afterwards, I flipped through the hotel's channels while Sean passed out:) On Saturday we enjoyed sleeping in and after a little mix-up with breakfast delivery, got a free (extensive) continental breakfast downstairs. Then we went on to DC for the day via Metro. The rain was off and on and there was definite humidity in the air, but we were determined not to stay indoors if we could!

Sean had bought Groupon tickets to go to the Wax Museum in DC, so we headed there first. It was really cool...definitely wishing I was more of a history buff so I could recognize more than 10 of the presidents, but I at least knew more of the rest of the wax figures than Sean :P I forced him to stand with several of them for pictures because they were WAY too realistic for me to get close. I did, however, suck it up for a picture with Jack Sparrow ;)

After the wax museum, Sean and I walked around for a bit. We got lunch at Potbelly's and then wandered around some more until we found the National Gallery of Art. I begged to go back in (we've been there at least once before) for a replacement for a postcard I lost years ago. We looked at several exhibits before finally finding the gift shop. Then I grabbed several postcards as well as some prints...poor Sean haha.

Eventually we wandered our way back outside and made our way back to the hotel. There we relaxed, got dressed up a little, and ate at Silver Diner. I got myself some steak (yum!) and we split a banana split :D We were too late to see Thor at the theater, so we went back to the hotel and found another good movie: How to Train a Dragon! We watched most of it until the thunderstorm kicked in and the signal went out....at least my husband was nearby to hold me while thunder and lightning cracked outside!

Sunday we spent the morning relaxing until we had to check out. Then we just went home and relaxed. All around, good weekend spent "away" from things:) Sean enjoyed it so much, he's hoping we can go places for several weekends this summer! YAY :D

Where would YOU go if you had a 3-day weekend?

A day where I go on a rant..

Yep, definitely couldn't come up with a better title:)

Today I got up late, but had to get up because Sean needed a rebate filled out and posted by noon (he worked last night, he's not lazy!). I just went unshowered with my hair "au natural" into the busy post office. There was an incredibly sweet lady working in front of the PO counters directing customers to other venues for their specific service! I walked in and the line was near the PO boxes. I walked out and there was less than 8 people in line! Way to go lady, you made my day:)

Now I'm sitting here debating what to do next. My girly side says to go back to JcPenney with Sean's credit card (and permission:P) and get the peacoat I saw on sale last night before they run out. And maybe some Christmas bling for my ears...and an adorable hat. Okay I went there last night after picking up my ring that broke 2 weeks ago and documented a list of things I'd like to get. Sean's card gets me an extra 20% off, so I held off on my purchases last night. However, it is a Saturday in December, which automatically means crowds:-/

My wifey side says to 1) clean up the house (it's not that bad, but it's visible, thereby, bad) and go buy groceries for the week. I usually do that in order to have ingredients for some kind of nice dinner that Sean can take with him to work tonight. On the flip side, I can scrounge for things here and make something for him when he wakes up, then go while he's at work and I'm alone with nothing to do....

My teacher side says I should go to the Dollar Tree and get Holiday decorations!! Our party is in 2 weeks and the kids are starting to get excited. Last year my coteacher and I went to the DT together and got tons of things for the kids: a holiday bucket, candies, toys, erasers, stickers...just an awesome collection of holiday cheer:) This year, however, we have 22 kids. I'm thinking we're going to go with gift bags and a few less things, but we'll see! I also need to make a signup sheet for the parents to bring food to this party. Oh, and getting books for the kids for the next theme. And finding a picture of each child to put in some kind of picture frame for their parents' holiday gift :)

My lazy side says to watch movies and dig out the waffle maker to make waffles for myself and later Sean:)

What would you do??

My weekend was great because....

So Sean's at work, which is why I'm up at 12:30 on a worknight. Actually it's also because I'm watching "The Princess and The Frog" on Netflix. I love that movie! I'll probably end up crying partway through this posting just because of it...

This weekend, I got a lot done. I picked out several things from the grocery store to make this week for Thanksgiving. Sean works Wed and Thur night, so we're going to have our Thanksgiving on Friday when he gets home. Right now my biggest concern is the turkey: technically, it's cheaper to get a huge turkey for about $15 than to get a smaller one (specialty's about 6 lbs and $23!). Otherwise, I have stuffing, potatoes, green bean casserole, and corn, at least that's what I can remember!

I got several things done for the classroom too. Friday was most of the parent teacher conferences AND our Thanksgiving Lunch (no party for us THIS holiday haha), and it wasn't too terrible, so this week will be minimal. I have the next theme's books and plans ready to go. All I have to do is get through 3 days of work :)

I also did a lot of food prepping. I was trying to make something that might be easy on Sean and I's stomach, since we've both been feeling a little "ish" in the tummy this week. (*Cue tears* Ray's with his Evangeline....WHOOOT!! *Ahem*) I cooked up 2 chicken breasts with a little oil and chicken boullion. Added that to about 1 1/2 cups of frozen veggies I found in the freezer and a lot of egg noodles (I love my carbs!). I wanted it to be a soup, but there was waaay too much food for that, so I just added about 1/2 cup of water so the boullion could be distributed among everything in the pan. I hope it was delicious - I'm saving my portion for lunch tmw! I also cut up cucumbers and let them marinate in dressing and mixed up some pudding. I wish I did this daily, but at least this is a start! I'm still trying to figure out what I can make tomorrow with my leftover ingredients:)

I'm excited for tomorrow. I'm meeting with a few parents and hopefully starting some of my kids' transitions to Kindergarten. The thought from the office was to put 5 of my kids in the Kg class so my class wouldn't go over 20 on any given day. I've come up with 3 kids that are ready emotionally, academically, and socially for Kg. 2 kids I'm waiting for them to become more solid in their ABC knowledge and 1 cried when I suggested the idea of moving classrooms, so 3 is better than none, right? :)

I also have to make an educational care package for a kid who's going on vacation from November to March or so...holy cow. I need that kind of job :P Anyway, I have to look FAR in advance and give his parents some ideas on what they can do with him in order to keep him up to date on what we're doing.

Alright, movie is over, and I needed no tissues! That isn't saying the same thing as "I didn't cry," because there are parts that just make you shudder, grin like an idiot, and shed a tear ;-) Maybe I'm just a sucker for Disney Princesses? Could be....

Anyway, it's 1am. Goodnight blogging world! Tell me how your weekend went!

Anothers' Graduation Weekends...

was TIRING! But oh so much fun! Well, at least once I was out of Northern VA.

Sean usually works for a graduation photography company in Mays and/or Junes each year since we've been dating. He's the guy that stands in front and gets the HS(handshake) picture between the graduate and usually the president of that particular school/major. Real fun job unless graduates are running across the stage...yeah it happens!

Anyway, he asked last minute if I could help him, since 1) his car is crappy and stalls on interstates, 2) he'd have a driving companion and a friend with him and 3) he hates paperwork, and I live for such an adventure;) His boss said it was alright, but I'd have to find my own place to stay. I contacted my friend Lindsay in Lynchburg, who graciously left keys for me and let me stay at her place this weekend!

On Friday morning, I tried to check subbing jobs for Friday (just in case) as well asthe following Monday. Nothing worked. My employee number wasn't working, and I was getting frustrated. Finally around 10, it started working, and I got 3-5 subbing calls at once! Too bad thesystem was messed up:( I found one job online that was working with 2nd graders until the end of the school year! I leaped on the chance! Sadly, it was being offered to another sub and I waited patiently....5 minutes later I tried again and got it!!! :) Oh my gosh I was happy dancing all over the place, calling Mom, etc....and then I realized that the date it started on was this very Friday! No! So I called the school to let them know that I couldn't work today (I know, horrendous of me), but I could work the rest of the school year. The lady in the office explained that the subbing system was malfunctioning and that someone else had already filled theposition. I. was. devastated! How could this happen? I calmed down later, but I'm still slightly sad that I couldn't get that job:*(

First stop, Friday night, was Virginia Tech. You can feel the solemness of the campus when you drive on, even in the hustle and bustle. Sean got to shoot PR shots *public relations* while I sat in the car and read:P After he was finished, we spent over 30 minutes getting out of VT traffic...holy cow!

Saturday morning, checked Sean out of his hotel room and shot 2 different graduation ceremonies at VT....fun! We had hiccups here and there, but it worked out well having both of us getting the work done. Afterward, we got a bite to eat at mcdonalds and then traveled to Lynchburg. We stopped by the hotel to get Sean's room key and see if he had gotten a bag he was missing from the graduation people (no such luck!). I picked up Lindsay's key from the apartment, since she had to leave earlier in the day. After going back to Sean's place and getting him a haircut, we went to dinner.

Yum!!! Dinner was delightful:) We went to Waterstone, which was perfect! He and I got to talk despite the slightly loud atmosphere. Our dinner consisted of bruschetta (soooooooooo good) and Florentine pizza. Now, you might not know what Florentine is, so let me share from the website: Fresh spinach, garlic, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, feta and mozzarella. Delicious and healthy all in one meal!!:)

Afterwards, we went to Target as well as Walmart looking for recording devices. We didn't get the one we saw at Target because it was fairly expensive. We ended up having to get up super early and drive over to Target before getting to the 2nd college, Randolph.

I will say that despite not having the "job bag" (bag with important things such as digital recorders to record speaker giving names and camera cards for the photos themselves), things went off well on our end. One graduate tripped all weekend. She fell down 4-5 stairs on the side of the stage after getting her diploma. She was more embarrased than hurt, but I guess that works for her:)

Alright, my typing is getting atrocious. Summing up now: After Randolph College, left town, stopped at McDonalds and bought $15 in food, and made our way slowly but surely back home. Now it is time for rest and prayers that I will find a goodjob soon!:)