It's been awhile

It's been a month again since we posted, but things have been pretty crazy. I finished my internship in Gainesville on December 5 and am now officially done with my Master's Degree! On my last day, we had cupcakes and punch, the kids made me really cute cards, and my teacher gave me group photos of our different classes, and a super industrial classroom pencil sharpener. It was a relief to be done with this semester, but it was also kind of sad to leave the kids. They all kept asking me, "Why can't you stay here and teach us?!" and they wanted to know if they were invited to the wedding. Mylia wanted to be the flower girl.

I packed all of my stuff up and drove to Tallahassee that day with an EXTREMELY full car. I couldn't see out the back at all! We went out to dinner with Becky that night at Carrabba's to celebrate me being done, and on Saturday we went over to our friends Andrew and Marisa's apartment to watch the Gators chomp Alabama. Becky and I also made an amazing stadium cake. We were quite happy with the results.


Throughout the rest of the week, Zak had to write and edit several papers, and worked all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I unpacked and organized everything (we have no boxes left!), ran errands, decorated, Christmas shopped, did laundry, and made Christmas gifts. We also got health insurance, car insurance, renter's insurance, changed bank accounts, paid bills, and all of that other fun stuff. It was a busy busy week.

The most exciting part of the week is that I got a JOB! I had applied for a position in November with the Florida Center for Reading Research (which is run by FSU) and while I was in Tallahassee, they e-mailed me and asked if I was still interested. The job description indicated that you had to be available 3 mornings of the week and the pay started at $8/hour. I figured that it would be better than nothing so I went in Friday morning for an interview. The job is seasonal, but for the first 6 weeks while we're in Tallahassee I'll be able to get 30 hours a week and she offered me more money because of all of my education and experience! It's really the perfect job because I'm not locked into anything, I'll be in 7 different elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and a high school, and I get to put research experience through a university on my resume! Friday was a little crazy because I then had to go back to get my social security card, get fingerprinted at the school board, get an FSU ID card, etc. etc., but it was worth it.

Zak had his bachelor party this weekend, where they played military-style laser tag and lots and lots of video games. We can't believe that there's only TWELVE days to go! Lots of final meetings this week, but everything is under control. Can't wait for Christmas and family time next week and then the wedding on Saturday!

love,
z&j

Favorite New Recipe!

Zak and I made delicious Cheese Tortellini Soup with Shrimp and I wanted to share the recipe because it was amazing and extremely easy....enjoy!

love, z&j

Ingredients

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
15 oz. marinara sauce
1 cup white wine
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 (9 oz.) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
1/2 lb. small cooked shrimp
1 cup loose-pack, frozen petite peas, thawed

Directions

1. Combine broth, sauce, wine and pepper in large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.

2. Add shrimp and peas; cook for an additional 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Home sweet home!

Our apartment finally resembles a home! The walls are still pretty bare, but we now have furniture and kitchen things and all kinds of fun stuff. This past weekend, Zak's parents, my parents, my brother Tom and his girlfriend Chelsea, and Becky all helped us move everything into the apartment. After we managed to locate my extremely mature brother, Thomas, (who hid in the closet for 15 minutes while we started to unload), it didn't take too long to get all the furniture upstairs. (I can say that because I didn't have to carry the really heavy stuff....) We had a wonderful visit, and it was great that everyone got to see our new place. We celebrated that night with delicious burgers from Ted's Montana Grill, our new favorite Tallahassee restaurant.

After everyone left Sunday morning, Zak and I got to work unpacking and organizing everything. We made several Wal-Mart and Target runs, and by the time I left to go back to Gainesville it actually looked put together! Here are a couple of photos. You can see all of them by clicking here.

Welcome to our new home--Plantations at Killearn!

View from the front door.

Entertainment Center and Family Room

Our balcony overlooks pretty Tallahassee trees!

Kitchen and Dining Room

Kitchen with fun rugs and tea pot and dish towels.

Our bedroom with Zak's bedding.

Our bathroom.

Busy busy busy

I haven't been very good about updating lately, and we've been doing lots of exciting things! The weekend of October 11, I had a bridal shower in Gville, and October 18 I had a bridal shower at home. The one in Gville was thrown by Jemma and Becky, and was just a few of my closest friends. It was a very relaxed night...perfect after a crazy crazy week! The shower at home was thrown by two of my bridesmaids, Colleen and Christine, and was a luau-theme. There were pineapples, leis, all of my favorite foods, fun games, wonderful people and we got lots of things for our new home. Colleen and Christine put lots of planning into the shower... they even had Rachel record a video asking me questions about Zak and played it for one of the games!

This past weekend, Zak and I flew to New York City to visit Rachel and Fabian! It was amazing just seeing them, so being in the city was an added bonus. We walked ALL OVER the city and saw EVERYTHING. Here's a quick rundown of our trip:

Friday-->
-Breakfast at the Seinfeld diner
-Walk through Central Park to 'Museum Mile'
-The Met
-Fifth Ave - FAO Schwarz, Mac store, Tiffany & Co.

Rachel and I on the roof of the Met

Saturday --> Zak's Birthday!
-Empire State Building
-New York Public Library
-Grand Central Station
-Cart food for lunch (Rachel's favorite part of the whole trip...)
-Tour of Rachel's office and NBC in Rockefeller Plaza
-Delicious Irish Pub food on Broadway
-Gypsy at St. James Theatre

Zak and I in front of the ice-skating rink at Rockefeller.

It was EXTREMELY windy on top of the Empire State Building!

Zak's bday Tollhouse Cookie Pie

Sunday-->

-Tour of ABC from Fabian
-Wall Street and Financial District
-World Trade Center site
-Staten Island Ferry
-'Famous' New York Pizza
-Haunted Scavenger Hunt in Greenwich Village

On the Staten Island Ferry with pretty skyline in the background.

Our trip was fantastic and we really didn't want to leave on Monday! To see some more photos, click here for album 1, and here for album 2. There will be more coming! We miss you Rachel and Fabian and can't wait to see you again soon. :-)

Next weekend Jessica's parents and Zak's parents are coming to Tally to bring us all of our shower gifts and all of our furniture for the apartment. Invitations are out and we already started getting RSVPs for the wedding. Less than two months away and we can't wait!

Love to you all!
z&j

Woo-hoo!

We officially have a place to live in Tally! All week long we've been signing and faxing lots of forms back and forth, Friday afternoon we signed the lease, and Zak moved in Saturday morning! It happened really fast, and we're very happy with where we ended up. The complex is called Plantations at Killearn and is right on the edge of a very, very nice part of Tallahassee.

These are some of the things we're excited about:

1. Publix right across the street
2. FRESH MARKET right across the street
3. Maclay Gardens (state park with lots of running trails, kayaking, etc.) only 1.5 miles away
4. 10 elementary schools within 8 miles (all A schools)
5. Vaulted ceilings!
6. Living in the building next to the pool
7. Sweet island with cabinet space in the kitchen
8. Balcony and sliding glass doors
9. Cheaper rent than we were initially told
10. Living in and decorating our new home together!!

We have no pictures now, but as soon as we start getting furniture and decorations and such we will post them. Jess had a fun shower with her gville friends this Friday while Zak was packing and moving, and another shower coming up this weekend! New York in 2 weeks! And only 76 days til we're married! WOO HOO :-)

love, z&j

the countdown continues

Our wedding is exactly THREE MONTHS from today!!

hope for a job

So yesterday was a pretty good day for me. None of my kids were suspended or sent to the BRT (that's pretty unusual). Work got canceled and it was a beautiful day outside, so I got to take Coach running. The Office premiered. I finished Third Grade lesson plans for all of next week. I sent my resume and cover letter out to two more principals in Tallahassee. AND (drumroll please.....) the principal from Hawk's Rise Elementary in Tallahassee called me!!!!!!

I had applied for a fifth grade opening at the school and she said that she saw all of my information on the online application system and was very impressed by all of my experience. She asked if it would be a problem that I was currently living in Gainesville, and when I told her I couldn't start until December, she said she had to fill the position by October. However, she said that she might have a couple maternity leave positions opening up, and that she would make a note of my start date. She finished the conversation by saying, "I look forward to meeting you!"

I was SO excited to finally hear something back, because so far I've applied but haven't even gotten a "No Thanks." Speaking with her definitely gave me hope that I will get a job for January!! It was a wonderful little encouragement along the way....fingers crossed for more job openings!!!

More life and wedding updates later.

love,
j