We're Engaged!!

So, it's been a few weeks now, but I finally have pictures and I didn't want to post without pictures!!

We got engaged on Valentine's weekend. Rick woke me up at about 1:30 am and told me that he didn't want to live without me(aww...) and that he would spend each day, making sure that I knew I was loved each and every day. Then he told me that he was ready to fight over wedding budget with me. :o)

So we went and talked to my parents on Sunday, where he asked them if he and the kids could keep me on a permanent basis. My dad gave me my grandmother's wedding ring and it was "official"!!

So, we are getting married Saturday, December 26, 2009. I know, I know, people say I'm crazy, but you know, all my family can come into town for the holidays and then they will already be here when we get married!! I am super excited!!

We already have a caterer, a venue, a church, flowers, and dresses. All we need is a cake, a DJ, and a photographer. I love it!!

Happy New Year!!

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays as much as we did. I am not ready to go back to school!! Here are a few pics from our Christmas with Rick's family...

Christmas Season

My second favorite time of the year!! :o)
Here are some pics from our Christmas photo shoot with Amy Jo!!

The pups were not very cooperative...

But the kids did great!!

Picture Day

Yesterday was quite the day!! We piled into the car (Alabama and Mississippi included) and headed to Plaza Park, where the fabulous Amy Jo met us there to take Christmas pictures for our Christmas cards. As soon as we get out of the car, Mississippi starts to bark at this lady who is walking around selling cotton candy. I have to pull her back and tell her to shape up. By the way, she did get car sick... AGAIN!! Then we proceeded to take many family photos, in which NONE of them had both of the dogs looking at the camera at the same time. So, Christmas cards will more than likely have at least one profile of our pups. We took many amazing pictures! I was really happy with them.

So, when we were done, we were able to get our new Panasonic 42" Plasma. We loaded it up, stopped to pick up pizza, and headed home after a very productive day. We set up our new tv and I am not sure Rick will ever want to do anything else, other than sit in front of the tv, again. But, it is really nice and I love it!!

I am really excited to send out Christmas cards this year!! It should be a lot of fun!! Stay tuned, for I will post pictures of this outing of ours soon!!

Mississippi

So, I took Mississippi to get fixed this morning. I left the house around 6:30, went to get Starbucks, and was on my way. They open their doors at 7:15, so I wanted to be there early so that I could get in and out, and get to work on time. I got there around 6:45 and as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, she throws up! This dog has only been in the car 3 times in her life and she has thrown up every time. She gets herself all worked up. Only I would have a dog that gets car sick!!! Anyway, I get out and get in line, in back of this little Asian woman who is bringing her cat in. I talked to her for a while and when they finally opened the doors, we were the first two to be waited on. So after we drop off our animals, we cross paths in the parking lot. She asks me my name and I tell her. Then she asks what time I am coming to pick up Miss and I tell her around 2:00-2:30. Then she says (in the cutest Asian accent) "Amanda, would you like to have breakfast with me?" At that moment, I wished I didn't have a job. She was so cute!! I told her that I would love to, but I had to be at work. My grandma died when I was almost 7 and she was the cutest little Asian woman so my heart has a little soft spot for the woman I encountered today.

Exeter Monarchs

As funny as it may be, this Dinuba girl has come to cheer for the Blue and Gold. Ironically, the blue and gold boy she moved here for, does not.

Over the years, Rick has soured against rooting for his alma mater. Why? No one is quite sure. It has to do with different circumstances that have presented themselves over the years. Slowly but surely I am trying to bring him back. We went to our first Exeter football game last week (the first game that they were not playing Dinuba or Woodlake and Rick wasn't on the opposing sideline). It was fun, but some things still bug him. But as he tries to understand that I support the blue and gold wearing athletes, he is also beginning to realize that his son is not too far away from wearing those colors as well!! Thank God for Cameron... Who wouldn't root for the kid? He makes my life a little easier :o)

English, English, English

Ahh, the end of summer and the beginning of fall... my second favorite time of the year...

Life is funny sometimes. I started off the year substitute teaching, but due to some unfortunate events, I am now teaching full time. I am teaching Honors classes at Exeter High and loving it here!! Whoever thought, as a Dinuba Emperor, I would ever be living, teaching and rooting for Exeter?! It's great here. I like the kids, colleagues, and just the entire atmosphere here.

Ricky is in the middle of his football season. First game of the year... INTERCEPTION!!! It was priceless!! It was such an awesome experience for him. He is incredibly humble and so when everyone was congratulating him, he was a little unsure of what to do. He was trying to hide his smile, but his eyes were beaming at their confirmation.

MOHawks have started off well. We had a nice win against Fresno Christian last week. We have a bye this week, but will be back in action next week when we return to Woodlake. It will be a fun game, getting to see everyone. Rick and the JV Head Coach have a good relationship, unstrained from the resignation, so it will be a good game.

Marina and I just kind of follow the boys around during football season, as I tote along my bag full of papers to grade. But we get a week off in the middle of October and are looking forward to getting away for a short family vacation, something that we have yet to do. We aren't sure if it will be North or South yet, so details will follow. We're thinking about heading to Sea World, but Marina mentioned that she wanted to go to San Francisco, so we'll see what happens...