One Year!

One year ago today, I married my best friend. I said 'I do!' to the man of my dreams, the man I chose to spend my forever with. It has been an eventful first year to say the least.

After we got married in 2011, Brad and I lived in Greenville, NC until I finished out my first year of teaching out at Southwood (woot woot!). After the school year was up, we packed up the apartment and moved back up to the beautiful mountains of NC to live in Boone with Grandmom Burton. This was definitely a nice break and a chance to spend time close to family and friends.

Since our dates got pushed back to March with the AF, we didn't have much other place to go as neither of us had a job any longer. I gave up my position because I thought we'd be out in Phoenix by October 2011. So we stayed in Boone for 9 months and picked up odd jobs.

We've been in Arizona now for two months, and are really loving it! We love the people we've met, our house/neighborhood and the sunshine. Brad had to leave a month ago to go up to Wright-Patt AFB for training, and we were fortunate enough for me to join him for two weeks over the time of our anniversary.

So here's to us, babe! I've loved our first year together and I'm so excited about our forever together! I love you so much!

Yours,
D

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mother's Day to some wonderful women in our lives! We love our moms very much and are so grateful for their love and support. Thank you for raising us to be the people we are today, we wouldn't be where we are without either of you.

Also, a happy mother's day to Grandmom Burton, Grandmom Dot, Grandma Reamsnyder and Heather (who gets to celebrate with a new addition this year!).

We love you all :)

Our Home

We arrived March 15th, 1:00 am and have been settling down for a month, getting our place organized and ready to show everyone. We've had the chance to Skype with some of ya'll, but for those of you who haven't had the pleasure:

Brad's car is now nestled in the garage, but here is a shot he took before training.

Welcome!

Entryway... yes, I put a frame around our peephole :D

Living Room

Kitchen/Dining area.
I am in love with the grey place mats and yellow napkins I found!

Laundry off of the kitchen.

Half bath off of the dining area.

Door to our "backyard" :)
Hey Oscar! 

App garden flag. Had to.

Hubs' grill and the amazing table and chairs he surprised me with for Easter!

This is about as much yard as we've got in the back...
don't you love the 'Desert Landscaping' aka gravel?!

Now... back inside, going upstairs.

Guest bath at the top of the stairs

Guest bedroom... complete with clean laundry I've yet to put away.

Office!

My side of the office! Mom, thanks for the roll-top desk!!

Master Bedroom! My favorite space :D

The nook in our room! Love!

Master bath

Walk-in Closet!!
(Brad took it upon himself to just use the guest closet.
True story, I offered to share.)

Jewelry Station! Well.. earring station mostly. :)

So there's our slice of Arizona! We sure do love it, and I'm ready for hubs to get home from training so I'll have him to share it with again!

New Baby Boy!!

This morning Brad and I became an Uncle & Aunt a second time over! My sister had her baby boy back home in North Carolina at 10:06 am and a healthy 6 lb 12oz.

We're sad that we couldn't be there to be with you all today and enjoy his newborn-ness, but cannot wait to meet him soon!! Congratulations on the baby boy Sis, Grahm & McKenna!

Welcome to the world, Jake Kelson!!

We LOVE you so much!

New Job!

I think most of our friends/family are already aware of this fact, but yesterday I officially accepted a position at a great school in the Dysart District out here in Arizona. I announced the great news with this super instagram:

Who has two thumbs and a new job as a first grade teacher in AZ?! THIS GIRL!!!!

Ironically, it's name is Mountain View... which is the name of my fantabulous elementary school I attended as a child. I will be teaching first grade and will have four other teachers in my grade to work with! I am very excited to be working in a high achieving school and think I'll fit in quite nicely.

Now reflecting on the job search as a whole...
I was a little shocked at how many interviews/offers I got compared to when we were in North Carolina. Not that it was in the double digits, but when I accepted a position at Southwood it was the only offer I got out of two interviews I had. Kind of a buzz kill, right? Well here... I had four interviews (and a call for another which I declined) and three job offers. Not trying to brag.. it was just a completely different experience!

Anywho, here's to celebrating the fact that I will have a job come August! Now on to finding something for the summer... (grumbles)