Blogging into December

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for blogging. It's nice to know that someone, somewhere out there, loves you enough to sit down from time to time and read about what you've been up to... and if you're reading this and you don't love me, let me live in ignorance. It has been almost 3 months since the wedding and there are a lot of exciting changes going on in our lives! We are still living it up as the Newell-leyweds, comfortably shacked up in Jack's parent's house. We are soooo thankful for the rent-free, all meals included package we've been enjoying, but we all agree that the time has arrived for Jack and I to spread our wings, broaden our horizons, get-the-hell-out, etc; Drumroll please.... we made an offer on a house in town and are currently in negotiations with the bank! YAY! (Please direct any specific questions regarding the details to Jack - especially those littered with mortgage lingo...) Planning for Christmas has come to a halt until we know if it's going to go through... isn't it crazy that we might be homeowners before 2007 is over!? Our wedding gifts (all still boxed and in storage) agree that unpacking our own things in our own home would make for a wonderful New Year.

The semester is drawing to a close and both of us are looking forward to break. I (Chrissy) am halfway through student teaching which is a huge milestone! By May I will have my credential and be able to have my very own classroom in time for next school year! I have heard that the interview process is intense and competitive, especially with declining enrollment in our local districts, but I am confident that I will get a job!... even if it's on the west side teaching Kindergarten (eek!)... gotta pay you're dues, right? Jack is enjoying his job at the City of Ceres where he is finally getting paid what he is worth! (Well of course, as his wife my opinion is that he is worth more than all the money in the world (awwww), but a potential mortgage thinks holding out for a job that pays said amount is unreasonable...) Jack vacillates between love and hate for the Masters of Public Administration program he is in at CSU Stanislaus, but so far he is proving to be a very capable Graduate Student!

We just enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with both the Newells and the Speers up here in Turlock. My parents, sister and Grandma Rhoda made the 5 hour drive up here to enjoy turkey and gravy Central Valley style! I had not seen them since the wedding so it was a fun few days full of eating and catching up and eating some more. As I was recently diagnosed with a "severe allergy to cow's milk" (I know, it's so sad it's almost funny) I did the best I could avoiding all the delicious dairy-inclusive dishes served throughout the weekend. It really hasn't been so bad thanks to Starbuck's soy chai tea lattes...yummm...nothing like sugar to replace the dairy!

We have hundreds of beautiful pictures from the wedding and are happy to share them with everyone! I will work on getting them onto a website and posting the address here soon... just let me survive finals week! Here's a couple pictures to tide you over:







Love,
Chrissy