~Jitter Glitter~

Tomorrow's Open House and I get to meet many of my new kiddos!  One of my favorite things to give them before the 1st day of school is Jitter Glitter.  However, as I'm looking around our living room floor, I'm thinking it's possibly one of the parents least favorites. :)

Reason #428...

...why I'm marrying him. :)

He willingly cuts lamination...and like a champ!

VA Billboard Idea

Last day of "Freedom."

Well, it's about that time - the school year officially begins on Monday (for teachers, at least).  I took a sneak peak at my class list and it looks like, so far, I'm starting off with 23 kiddos.  I was telling Wes the other day that I'm actually really excited for this school year to start.  I feel so much more prepared and comfortable going into this year, compared to the mix of emotions I felt last year at this time.  Through the summer work I've done, I have been able to form great relationships with some of my co-workers that I didn't really get a chance to know in the craziness that was the 2011-2012 school year.  Of course, nothing compares to my West Irondequoit friends - I still see people that resemble you in the hallway and get a momentary thrill of excitement, followed quickly by disappointment.  Soon enough, we'll be together again. ;)

Anyway, in my preparation for the new year, I've been looking through the numerous Teacher magazines I find in my mailbox at work.  Check out what I found yesterday!!

As I sit hear, at Starbucks, enjoying my last Freedom Cup of Coffee, while writing this blog post, I can't help but open a new tab to place an order for a set of these!  It's the little things in life, people.

I'll meet my new eager (fingers crossed) learners at Open House next Thursday afternoon.  Stay tuned for a photo!

Marathon Man

Last week, Wes embarked on his first 15 mile (IN A ROW!) run.  He accomplished his goal and is at it again tonight!  Here's a shot of him before his run...

and after...

A Little Love, Actually Goes a Long Way...

 

Last night, we ventured over to Crystal City (another neighborhood in Arlington) to catch an outdoor showing of Love Actually.

We brought the necessities...

 

Delicious Tomato Basil Mozz & Avacado sandwich.

Pirate Booty. Arrrren't you jealous??  

...and wine, of course!

Goof errr Golf Balls & Good Times!

Great times on the golf course this past weekend!

Meet "Team Inappropriate."

 

A little putting practice before the tournament.

My partner in crime for the day.  Shout out to Ashley & Rylyn - our other half. :)

Friends and Lamps?! No way!

 

Guess WHAT??!! 

We may have made REAL LIFE friends today!!!!  

We're trying not to get too excited, after all it's very early in the relationship, but things are looking promising!  We're going to give it the standard 3 days before we reach out, but we have to admit, we're a little giddy.  So please, sit back, read on, and share in our excitement.  After all, it's only taken a YEAR!

Setting:  Nordstrom Rack shopping for top secret wedding things.  

Date:  Sunday, August 12th, 2012

Time:  Approximately 4:15ish pm

Minor detail that's important to the story:  Wes was wearing his Redsox hat

New friend prospect #1:  "Hey man, you a Boston fan??"

Startled Wes (because no one, other than the lifeguards at our pool, ever talk to us):  "Yeah man!"  

New friend prospect #1:  Continues to make conversation!!  

Wes and Jaime's Brains:  Is someone really talking to us??!!  Ok, get it together, this is the moment you've been waiting for.

New friend prospect #1 & Wes:  Continue to make conversation!!

Jaime's face:  Can't wipe the stupid smile off.

~Enter New friend prospect #2 (a female who appears half-way normal!!!) ~  

Jaime's face:  Stupid smile widens

Wes & Jaime's Brains:  Could it be?!  Oh boy (mickey mouse voice)!

New friend prospect #1:  "Hey guys, this is my girlfriend, Lauren."

~Proper introductions ensue~

Wes & New friend prospect #1:  Chat, chat, chat, chat, chat

Jaime & New friend prospect #2:  Chat, chat, giggle, giggle, chat, chat, giggle

~After about 20 minutes of exciting, first date conversation, Wes and New friend prospect #1 exchange business cards (we're so cool in DC) and we decide to hang out after we get back from our trip home next weekend!!!!!~  

Jaime & Wes' brains after New friend prospects leave us:  Ok, stay in control, it's been a while, but you know this feeling.

~Wes and Jaime try to play it cool, since our New friend prospects are still within earshot, so we make stupid conversation about the socks, knowing full well that we're both dying to look at the other with a "DID THAT JUST REALLY HAPPEN?!" look.~

Cut to the car:

Jaime:  "Wes, we're wearing mathcing blue and white striped shirts."

Wes:  "Oh god, we are."  

~A few moments of silence~

Wes:  "Oh well, we'll have to mention that when we hang out next.  Who cares, WE HAVE FRIENDS!!"

Jaime:  "Friends, friends, friends, friends, FRIENDS!!"

 

Oh, and on our way to Jo-Ann Fabrics, we stopped at a furniture store that went bankrupt and is liquidating everything!  We found super awesome lamps for our bedroom, for a ridiculous price!!  We were so excited about our lamps and still a bit giddy from our friend encounter, that we buckled them in.

 

Pretty lamps :)

Random, but Worthy.

 

I'm officially allowed out of the country!!

 

Wes tried out his Fly New Kicks today.  The lived up to his expectations, possibly exceeded.

 

Check out these pretty flowers!  They were HUGE!

 

You are staring at the half-dead bee Wes squished with is fingers, after it stung him twice - once on his back and again on his index finger. :/

Why pick the fruit from the tree when someone can pick it for you?

Today is National Lazy Day!

 

Cancel all of your plans immediately!

We're "planning" on tacos, pajamas, easy wedding projects and mindless movies for our first Friday home in a while! 

 

Professional Packers and Un-Packers, for Hire.

Seriously, as we unpacked Sunday afternoon, for the ummmmm, 5th time in 6 weeks??, Wes commented that we're getting pretty efficient at the traveling process and all it entails.  Here's a look at another fun weekend!

We arrived at the hotel (Renaissance Westchester) early enough to grab a DELICIOUS lunch.  Best hotel food we've had in a while - compliments of the 80 West restaurant.

This photo really doesn't do this view justice.  Overlooking the Long Island Sound, the Coveleigh Club was GORGEOUS.

BEAUTIFUL Bride

xo

The HAPPY couple.

RIDICULOUSLY talented Manhattan College Pipe & Drum band.  A surprise for the Groom. :)

Life-long FRIENDS.

One of the great things about a Friday wedding, is that you have Saturday FREE!  Check out this street artist we stumbled upon in Washington Square Park!  Rolling your baby grand down New York City streets to entertain the masses - no big deal.  God, we miss New York.

LOVED the color of this building - definitely stood out among the drab brown buildings surrounding it.

We stopped at Grape and Grain, the restaurant my sister worked at while she lived in Brooklyn, for a bite to eat.  HIGHLY recommend this place if you're ever in the neighborhood (lower east side).  It's super tiny, very mellow, and completely satisfying.

Check out the CALM ambiance.  

Homemade pretzels with sunflower and pumpkin seeds and a mustard seed something-or-other sauce.  As if that's not enough, add homemade garlic pickels and FREAKIN delicous cheese. 

We tried to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, but there was too much construction happening on the path that blocked the STUNNING view, so we turned around in the middle.  Next time we'll make it to Brooklyn.

I edited the photo to fade out the beads of sweat running down our faces.  Can you say HOT & SWEATY?  Luckily, he already proposed. :/

Yet another successful weekend trip!  However, we've decided to stay put in DC this weekend.  :)

Playa's got some fly new kicks.

Check out Wes' latest addition to his vast shoe collection.  Designed sole-ly by Wes, pun intended.  

What doeth Jesus?  No, no, no - Wesley Dickinson Juliano, of course.