A BIG Weekend

Well, it wasn't really just a weekend...it trickled over until today...and lots happened...

RJ and I took the day off Friday to go sign papers for our new house in Austin. That was fun...we got the keys and went to see it...me for the first time...he had picked the house on his own and I must say, he did a great job! That was a huge test in trust, and he passed with flying colors. We worked on the house all weekend...we started Friday evening and didn't stop until Monday night. We got a ton done, though, and owe a huge thank you to my parents and Damian for all the help! We painted every wall in the house except the study and the master bathroom. It looks like a new home! It made me get really excited about moving. My brother and his fam came over to see it...they live just a few minutes away from the new house. And, Megan spent an afternoon with us...so fun that we will be able to do that whenever we want! Another fun part was to see how close it is to Damian and Jessica's house...we walked back and forth all weekend...I think Damian timed it and it only takes a little over 2 minutes to walk it! We didn't have the water turned on yet, so we made the trip quite a few times to go to the bathroom...thanks guys! It was a fun time with family...even if we were working so hard!

Aidan in front of the fire place in the new house. He really likes the new place...he kept wanting to go into his room and play...he and Big D (Uncle Damian) ran circles around his room a million times! He loved the back yard, too!


Since we worked so late Monday night, I decided to take a 1/2 day on Tuesday and drive back to Fort Worth in the morning. Sounded like a good plan...but then we got a call at 1:00 AM from Damian...they were at the hospital! So, I got on the computer and requested a sub for the rest of the day. We went to the hospital around 10:00, where we waited with Ralph, Mona, Mari, Bella, and the Lee's. Jessica worked hard all day and finally delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy around 10:00 last night. They named him Jason Colson...we couldn't be more proud...especially RJ...what an honor! Check out Damian's blog for some cute pics...jessicandamian.com

So, I didn't get on the road to come back until this morning...I have some wonderful friends at work that covered my classes this morning until I could get there. I was thinking about the whole weekend as I drove home...funny how a few moments can make such a huge difference in your life...Damian and Jessica became parents, RJ and I started to build our home in Austin, and I didn't want to leave. A few weeks ago, I was crying to think about leaving here (I still am), but for the first time, I cried yesterday at the thought of coming back to Fort Worth. There is so much there (namely our wonderful families) that I am beginning to wonder how we did this (lived apart) for so long...and I only got a small taste of it this weekend. I am truly thrilled about moving and being around the corner from Damian, Jessica, and my precious little nephew, a few minutes from my brother and his family, and just about 30 minutes from my parents. I am humbled and so grateful for this opportunity...only 2 more weeks till the big day!

Cuteness

Aidan does or says at least one thing that cracks us up each day. Here are two from the the last couple of days...

1. I've really been talking about everything "potty" these days as my goal for the summer is for Aidan to be potty-trained. We read the same book each night about getting potty trained and we talk about big boy underwear and the potty itself. He has some underwear in his sock drawer that he saw the other day and so we got them out and looked at each pair...they have Mater and Lightning McQueen on them which he thought was pretty cool. I asked him if he wanted to use the potty so he could wear the underwear, and he said, no, so we put them back in the drawer. This morning, he asked me to get them out of the drawer again (there are 3 pair in a little plastic baggy)...so I did. Then he decided he wanted to take them to school with him! : ) I told him could take them in the car, but had to leave them there when we got to school. That would be one interesting show-and-tell! ; )

2. Aidan always wants some of whatever you are eating. I had a blueberry bagel with butter on it the other day. He wanted his own, so I gave him half of mine. He asked for peanut butter on it...I figured he meant regular butter so, I explained that it was already on there. He said, "no mommy," and took me to the pantry to get the peanut butter. He insisted...so I put it on there and he loved it...mmmm peanut butter and blueberries...the breakfast of champions! Here's a pic of him enjoying it...

Longest Post Ever...As Emotions Run High

So, the tears keep coming….I can’t seem to shut them off these days. In the past weeks, when I would think of leaving (my friends here, my work, and my house), I would just shove those thoughts to the back of my mind and think “I’ll deal with that when the day comes.” But, as the day nears (only about 4 weeks left), I can’t seem to forget about it anymore. I cry at the drop of a hat.

I get sad as we pack things up…I love my house and have so many wonderful memories here…this is the first house RJ and I owned (that was a very exciting and proud time in our lives), it’s where we had our first child, and we’ve put a lot of time and work into making this place our own. It seems really weird that someone else is going to come in here and make it theirs.

I get sad as I walk down the halls at school and think I won’t be back there next year, as I pack up my stuff to take with me, and as I listen to everyone talk about the events of next year. It is strange that I won’t be a part of all of that. Sometimes I join in before I remember it doesn’t pertain to me.

I get REALLY sad when I think about leaving my friends (they’re really my second family) that I’ve made here. I have been so blessed to work with people that have become more than friends. They have seen me through all the major phases of my adult life. When I moved here and started working at my school, I was not even engaged. So, some of these friends have seen me get engaged, married, and have my first child. They have been by my side through trials and celebrations and have truly shaped me in many ways. They are like mothers at times, sisters at others, and always the best of friends.

I get THE MOST sad, though, when Aidan tells me he wants to go home and we are sitting here in our house when he says it. I know what he means…he wants to go where daddy is. I try to explain that daddy is in Austin and we will all be there together soon, but that is a lot for a 2.5 year old to understand. Mostly, I think, “me, too, buddy…I want to go home.” My home is with my family and my hubby is not here…so this really is no longer my home. I am ready for us to all be under the same roof again. I am ready to be home…even though I haven’t seen it myself (RJ had to pick it himself…but that’s another story), one thing is for certain…it will be perfect because we will be together.

And so, I come full circle…I am sad as the day nears, but it also makes me happy. I cannot imagine saying goodbye to the people here, but I cannot wait to start our new life there. I am scared for all of the changes, but I feel very blessed to be given this opportunity.

Another Piece to the Puzzle

I got a job yesterday! : ) I have had 2 interviews with principals and the math department head at Cedar Park High School in Leander ISD, and the head principal called yesterday to offer me a position! I don't know exactly what I'll be teaching yet, but that's okay...it will either be Algebra I or II or a combination of the two. I am really excited to be teaching there...it is one of the schools that Jessica's middle-schoolers go to, so we could possibly share some students after a couple of years...that would be fun! It is also a relief to be able to mark that off the list and it's definitely another answered prayer...I feel so blessed and grateful that everything has been going so smoothly! Next on the list...finding a house down there!

An Offer

We got an offer on the house yesterday...it was a good one! We still countered and they accepted...even better! So, if all goes well the next couple of weeks, we will be selling our house and closing on June 16th...the timing could not be more perfect! It is definitely an answered prayer! RJ is in NY right now and I am in Austin for the weekend, so getting the contract from the realtors in DFW to me to sign and then to RJ to sign and back to the realtors is going to take a bit of coordinating, but it will get done. We are very excited! Just wanted to share the good news!