Happy New Year!!!

Wow, it is finally 2009 and we couldn't be more excited about it. Jenna and I are glad 2008 is over and are looking forward to some exciting changes in the new year. We spent New Year's eve with some friends. We had a wonderfully relaxing evening of great food and games.

Congratulations to Cy. Today he was named the winner of the Capital One mascot challenge. Cy really is the best college mascot.

Finally, we would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2009.

- John

Christmas

So, it has been a long time since we updated out blog. I guess we have been kinda busy. Last week we were in Missouri to celebrate Christmas with Jenna's family. We had a great time seeing everybody including our nieces.

While we were there we visited several wineries in the area. We drank some good wine and brought several bottles home with us. We are looking forward to the new year and would like to wish all our friends and families a happy and healthy New Year!

End of Summer Update

Well, summer if about over and it's almost time to head back to school. I have to say, I am looking forward to it. I miss the kiddos and all my fun co-workers.

My grad classes have begun and are actually about half over for the summer. It is unreal how fast summer classes go by. I really didn;t expect grad school to be so hard, but I guess that is the nature of the program. I have been busy reading chapter upon chapter and writing paper after paper. I will be glad when it is over and I will have my 8 credits to get the next pay raise. (p.s. John's class is over and he got an A)

I worked at Old Navy for a whooping 3 weeks. I couldnt take it, when I was 16, it was one thing, but now I just want to say "Fold your own dang shirt!" haha, oh well, at least I got a few extra hundred bucks.

I am also volunteering at the Anti-Crulty society. I love being able to help all the animals. Everyone should totally adobt their pets from there. Its a great cause.

In just a few weeks, work will begin on our kitchen remodel. We are excited to finally have a better arranged kitchen that will hopefully have more potential to bring in buyers when we list the house on the market. Cross your fingers!

Hawaii Pictures

Hawaii

Well, its back to the real world. Hawaii was great, even more beautiful than we expected. John and I were able to do so much sightseeing in the 8 days we were there, but soon realized 8 days was not enough, we needed just a few more to really see everything the Big Island had to offer.

We started off the week by doing a lot of sightseeing. We spent one day traving south via the west side of the island and went to a black sand beach, the southern most point in the United States (where we saw the biggest, most destructive waves we had ever seen; see above)and explored a Lava tube that was on the side of the highway.

The next day, we went to Volcano National Park via the nothern and eastern side of the island. Along the way, we stopped at almost every waterfall and scenic point our little guide book suggested. We spent a few hours at the park (which is not near enough time, but part of the park was closed due to toxic fumes), and then traveled to the ocean to see the current lava flowing into te ocean. It was a really neat experience; probably something we will never see again.

We spent the next few days relaxing buy the Lagoon at out hotel. We took a sunset cruise (AWESOME VIEWS) and went snorkling several times.

Hawaii is definetly a great place and I want to go back badly (we lost about 300 of the 600 pictures we took so we need to go re-take them!)

.....I cant beleive June is almost over.

Tony and Tina's Wedding

Last night, John and I went to see Tony and Tina's Wedding for my friend Abbies birthday. I was a good time. For those who don't know, Tony and Tina's Wedding is a wedding and reception that is completely fake and staged. It is a very Italian family and all the stereotypical things that happen at big Italian weddings. They pull random people to participate all through out the night. John and I both got pulled onto the dance floor to dance with the cast.

Afterwords, we went to Adobo restaurant for some margaritas. It was good to see Abbie, we have been friends since the 4th grade and only see each other eavery few months.

4 days till Hawaii...........

Once again, it has been a long time since we updated and I apologize. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind.

For one, school is out for the summer. This is definetly one of the perks of being a teacher. I will be starting grad school in July and I am busy trying to find a mind-less summer job to keep me busy until then. I got a job at a restaurant but I dont really want to work it since they are looking for weekends only. I applied at Old Navy and Bath and Body Works too, so we will see what pans out.

The weather is being consistanlty nice now which is really great. This past weekend, we spent Saturday sitting outside at a bar and grill, wandering around a street fest, and seeing Sex and the City (if you like the show, you will love the movie). Sunday, we went a layed by the lake. It was only 62 out, but John got so sunburned! Luckly, I have been tanning, so I didnt burn at all. This was just a wake-up call that when we are in Hawaii, suncreen will be a must.

I bought us a Wii fit. It is really fun. Its weird how a little board can tell how you are moving. Its almost like some one is in the room watching. Its also quite entertaining to watch John try and hula hoop! :)

8 days until we leave for Hawaii.....I cant wait! I have been shopping like crazy so get ready. Sun and Sand.....here we come!