Everything is falling into place

In Nikki news:

• My classroom is finally coming together, its been a long journey, but the end is in sight.
• I have a new (cheap) laptop that will last me until we can afford to get a better one. Now I can finally do some work at home instead of staying at the school until all hours of the night
• I am finally beginning to get a handle on what this course is supposed to be, and tentatively doing lesson plans!
• I am able to get my ESOL endorsement for FREE!!! Yay for mentor grants.

By the way, everything in my life revolves around school at this point if you hadn't noticed.

In Herman news:

• He is not liking his job again. He was placed with a foreman who is not the best person in the world to work with and the job has become quite stressful.
  
• Herman is fighting off another gout attack which kept him home Friday.
  
• We've been having car troubles with his truck, but hopefully will been able to keep them at bay for a little while longer.
• He has been amazingly supportive during this intensely stressful time, and I thank God that he chose this man for me.

Now back to the grindstone. Pictures of the classroom to come soon, once I have taken them, and have a minute to put them up. Kids arrive Thursday!

Back from another weekend of camping

Thankfully this one was much closer to home. Herman and I went down to Nehalem bay with my friend Lindsay from high school and her fiance. We ended up camping in a Yurt, or an year round outdoor recreational tent. It was quite fun. It had a clear ceiling that you could look at the stars through as you were falling asleep on fairly comfortable futons/ bunk beds.

We went to Seaside for the day, but happened to pick the weekend of the Hood to Coast Relay, which of course ends in Seaside. Seaside was packed and after some food, we headed back down to Nehalem bay and played there.

Overall it was a great weekend, a lovely time with true friends. Click here for pictures from our trip.

This week I continue the monotony of back to school in services and the fun times of working on my classroom. To the great chagrin of Herman, I decided to completely turn the set up of my room upside down, but hopefully I can do most of it on my own.

The fall may be just around the corner. We are getting more and more rain, and we even saw some leaves falling this weekend during our drives. :(

Oh, and Herman finally shaved his goatee... which had been driving me nuts. He just came in and showed me.

Sad news though, my laptop may be on its last legs. Every so often the screen goes all fuzzy and blue. It is apparently cheaper to buy a whole new laptop than to get a screen fixed. Go figure.

Quick trip to Seattle

This past week I spent in the classroom fighting feeling sick and setting up/ decorating my room. This weekend we did a quick trip to Seattle to see an old friend of Herman's family. The lady's name is Stella R, and the occasion was a wedding celebration for one of her granddaughters. We ended up staying in a hotel right around the corner from the site of the party and had quite the blast.

We were able to hang out with Lindsay and Josh (the newly engaged couple!!!) and made an impromptu plan to go camping this coming weekend in Nehalem Bay, just south of Seaside. We were able to reserve a Yurt, so that will be a first for all of us. Will post pictures when we return.

This week I am in district meetings/ trainings all week, and next week will be busy at my building, attending meetings and collaborating (hopefully) with staff. I have the first 2.5 weeks planned with activities, but after that, I honestly have no idea what I am supposed to teach. Wish me luck, and enjoy some pictures of Stella and us.

Its been crazy!

Well right after our anniversary our lives got really chaotic. I have been setting up my classroom (before and after pics to come when I'm finished), Herman has been working, and we have been taking mini vacations on weekends.

Most recently we drove with another couple, Herman's best friend and his wife, and joined another couple, also friends of Herman's, down camping in the Redwoods. It was a long drive (7 hours each way) and just one night of camping, but the scenery was amazing. I took lots of pictures and you can view them here

Tomorrow we go up to Seattle for the weekend, and I finally get to meet Stella, an family friend of the Hartmans. Her granddaughter just got engaged and we are attending an engagement party for her. Of course we will also try and connect with my Seattle friends if possible.

For now that's it... pictures and more info soon to come!