Merry Christmas come and gone

Well Christmas has come and gone. It was a good Christmas and I can't complain too much. Something was just off this year. I guess because this was my first married Christmas maybe, maybe because last year we were just getting back from our honeymoon and I had more time off? I don't know, but that sparkle of Christmas didn't seem to happen this year. It was fun though. My mom and sisters came over Christmas eve and stayed until Friday because Joride had to work on sat. I worked on Mon and Tues and was supposed to work on Wed, but they told me not to come in. Now normally this would be a good thing but Jessica + day off of work = no money (didn't even get paid for Christmas). Anyway...Melanie had fun playing with Nanie as usual. It was nice to have the house full of people and smelling of baked good and yummy food. We went to Christmas Eve candlelight service out here in Clermont. We played the find people who look like people from our church in Dunedin game (since we don't really know anyone at this church yet besides Amy). We found Cindy, Jennifer, Cathy's Dad, and several other people that I can't remember at the moment. I got some good things for Christmas...a purse camera bag (technically not for Christmas, I got it for my anniversary but its totally awesome), a backup battery for my camera, Walle on dvd, the last season of gilmore girls to complete my collection, a lens cleaning cloth (that is currently missing), a bike (which I want to return for a lens or a speedlight because after one trip around the block I thought I was going to die) lots of candy, burberry weekend perfume, bath and bodyworks body wash and hand lotion, and hangers for my closet. Dave got some good stuff too...slippers, a start wars trivia book (from me ^_^), legend of Zelda for his ds (I love it cause it has kept him busy while I have been photo editing), a new jacket (so he won't look like a lumberjack if it ever gets cold again), a circular saw, a level, an electric carving knife, and lots of candy. So we made out pretty good. Now its back to work for 3 days and then some time off for new years. I'm looking forward to it. Keep your fingers crossed that I won't be allowed to drink during new years (we should know in a few days) which could be why Christmas wasn't sparkling this year. Anyway I hope everyone had an wonderful Christmas and that you were able to find some rest amidst the craziness of the holiday season.

Sea World

Dave and I went to Seaworld for a few hours today. It's nice to have the passes and not have to pay for parking. Plus you can go for a few hours when you are bored and having nothing else to do. The park was pretty empty today for some reason. Kinda nice though. We rode Kraken twice in a row with only the time it took us to walk around again. Then we rode journey to atlantis and got totally soaked by someone with those stupid squirters. Now if you know me you know I'm a fan of rollarcoaster, but not flume rides. So riding journey to atlantis was a big deal for me. I was proud of me and so was Dave. Then we went to see the dolphins. I didn't realise they only let people feed them at certain times. You have to pay to feed them and the dolphins only go to the side of the pool where they allow people to feed them so normal people (us cheapies) never get to pet them. No one was feeding them so instead it was play time apparently. They had basketballs and some round floaty things in the pool and the dolphins were grabbing them and throwing them around. It was sooo cute. Some would grab the ball in their mouth and them pop it up into the air towards us around the pool. If you could reach the balls you could throw it back to them. I don't know if we were playing fetch with them or if they were playing fetch with us. I did get to pet the tail and side of a dolphin as is swam by chasing after a ball. One dolphin was trying to play with a ball and a floatie and didn't want to share. Dave says next time when I bring my camera we can feed them ^_^ Overall it was lots of fun and a great way to kill a few hours for free.

New tree

This is the year of a new fake Christmas tree for us. We got a 7.5 ft, 750 pre-lit christmas tree. Dave wanted to take a few point and shoot pictures to show it off. So here you go.

Me under the tree strying to scoot it back before putting on the ornaments as the dogs run around (Nanie is my mom's dog who came to visit for Thanksgiving).

TaDa

We recorded the thanksgiving parade so my family could watch it too since they were driving over thurs monrning so it was background as we put up the tree.

Yeah..aren't we cute infront of our tree, sesame street and star wars t-shits and all.

Happy Thanksgiving

We would like to wish everyone a very happy thinksgiving. I think I know why thanksgiving comes before Christmas....duh Jessica because that is when the pilgrims and the indians had it.....no not that...because it gives us a chance to be thankful for what we have before we go all materialistic at Christmas time. It is hard having a new house and being content with what we have instead of wanting new things for that house. I really want a bedroom set and Dave wants a diningroom table. We want plants to take the place of our rock garden, a wheel barrow to move the rocks away with, gutters around the house to catch the rain, and the house to be painted a color that I don't detest so I will be proud to take pictures of it. It's even harder being a new photographer and being content with what I have and not what new things I "need" like a speedlight/flash, beanbag chair, tripod, low appature lens, a camera purse, backdrops, props, etc. I have to stop and take a step back to realize how much I have to be thankful for. It's not about what I don't have, but what I do have. I have a husband who loves me along with a wonderful family, inlaws and all (even if I do want to kill them every now and then). I have a beautiful house that belongs to us. So many people have lost their homes, but instead God blessed us with the ability to get one. We both have jobs. They might not be the best jobs in the world, and they never seem to pay enough, but some people don't even have a job and don't know what they will do to keep the lights on. We have good health. We also have the hope of new life to continue our family. Some people want children so badly and are not able to have them. We know that we can, we just have to get the right timing. I am thankful for all that I have and I know I need to focus more on that than the what I have not. Happy Thasgiving all. May you eat till your stuffed, enjoy the company of friends and family, and have a small load of dishes to wash.

A weekend of escape from reality

Dave and I had a lovely weekend in Tallahassee. The weather was cool, we enjoyed a great football game, Melanie got to play at the dog park, we got to walk the trails at Tom Brown, we saw Dave's Great Uncle, and went to church. It feels like a lovely dream that I don't want to wake up from. We miss it so much up there, but we have committed to a life here in Clermont for now. I know that our life here will be great. We have a beautiful house which is coming together nicely and I'm sure before long we will have a family to fill it. The longer we are here the more friends we will make and the more like home it will be. I have to remember that Tallahassee wasn't home to us overnight. I know there are great things instore for us. We don't have to let go of the old to obtain the new, who knows maybe we will get to go back someday or maybe even go somewhere better.

Ocd

Apparently I am a bit ocd. I get in a "mood" to do things and then I don't stop till it's done. It's hard to force myself to do something when I'm not in the "mood" to do it. If I wake up and feel in the cleaning more then I clean till I run out of steam or out of stuff to clean (that was normally bothering me). If I start a puzzle then I have to keep working on it till I drop. It is very hard for me to walk away from it. I was the child who would read a Nancy Drew book from cover to cover in one night because I just couldn't put it down. I still do that with books. Once I get going on something and I don't feel like I am "done" then I can't stop until I get to the "done" point for me. Dave is the unfortunate recipient of alot of this. We start a small project and then I have made the project into something huge because I ran out of control with it or rushed to get it to the final done point. We worked on cleaning some of the garage to put up some work shelves because I couldn't wait for us to be able to afford for him to build a workbench like he wants to. So I made him buy some shelves to use for now so we can start getting the garage in order. Well he wasn't happy about that to start with. So as he was putting it together I started moving things around. I found out our ac was leaking (so it was a good thing at this point) so we had to move alot more things. Then since I was over there I started straightening my school stuff and going through some of it. Dave was done with cleaning by the time I found the leak let alone after when I asked him to put boxes up in the attic. I just get going on things and I can't stop. I just can't. I think this has been the problem with my thesis. I'm so anxty over it before I start that I can't make myself do it. Then when I get in the mood to do it I can rock it out and do awesome things, but it is had to get to that point. I was the girl in high school who would stay up all night writing her paper the night before it was due. I just couldn't make myself do it early. So I don't know what to do about this. Some of it is helpful some not, some o fit makes me pasionate, some of it makes me crazy. It also doesn't help that I am overly critical of myself and the things I do. If I can't do it well the first time then I don't want to do it. Most things come easy to me so its hard for me to actually work on something. I almost never rode a bike because I fell off it once and then procceded to tell my mother that the bike was broken. So yeah, I guess I need to find a way to slow things down (though getting a house has helped me to realize that not everything will get done at once), find a way to get in the "mood" or at least a smaller version of it so I can get the things done that I need to, and to not be overly critical of myself. That should be easy right?

up and running

I'm excited because I now have my/our new computer up and running. We had a few set backs due to helpful friends who helped too well, but we are good and going now. It runs so much faster than the other computer. I can edit photos at least twice as fast if not faster. Now I don't have to amuse myself while I am waiting for an action to run. Yay. Now if only I could find a few more hours in the day to get everything done.

left on my doorstep

I was happy at first when I noticed a package on my doorstep as I walked past the door on the way to the bedroom (I came in through the garage cause my husband has my keys and my car). Then I opened the door and saw that the package said computer case and the best computer deals anywhere anytime. I went from happy to pissed off. This was left at my front door! Unattended! They should have stuck a sign on it that said someone please steal me. Apparenlty my husband forgot to tell me our new computer was coming today. So I went from happy to pissed and eventually back to happy once I get it all up and running.

I am doing well now

Everything has been going well. I am back to normal...well if you could ever call me normal. We are free to start trying again soon so we will let you know. Please keep us in your prayers that when the time is right the next one will stick. Other than that, not much else to report. I hope everything is going well with all of you. If anyone is interested in having their picture taken let me know. I am trying to start up my photography business. Check out my blog for some of what I have done http://www.murariuphotography.blogspot.com/ or they are posted on my myspace if you have that too.

My husband is awesome

I love my husband. He has been so great through all of this. He just made me some warm chocolate. It's like hot chocolate only not so hot cause I always burn my tongue so instead it's only warm. He makes it on the stove with milk so it's verry yummy. I can't wait till it gets cold and then it will be even better.

Thanks to everyone for their love and support. We are taking things one day at a time. I go to the dr tomorrow. Hopefully they can tell us something about my health.

Wasn't ment to be

We went to the er this morning because I was excessively bleeding and cramping. We ended up loosing the baby. At least it was only after 9weeks and not longer. I know things happen for a reason and this too shall pass and then we will try again.

our new addition

For Dave's 30th birthday I got him a black lab mix puppy named Melanie. She is very low key and so far sleeps alot and plays only a litte, but it is still just the first day. She seems to love her kennal at least which is good. She's spent alot of time today sleeping in it on her own free will.

coming together

Well things are starting to come together. The house is getting in order, we almost have most of the boxes unpakced. Lots of things are hung up, we have crutains, etc. The only thing that really bothers me is the outside color of the house (its ugly) and the landscaping (which we are slowly working on). We have so many projects we want to do, but limited amounts of money to do it with. This ok, one thing at a time.
Work is ok. I'm working at a preschool teacing VPK. It's kinda nice to be the top person of knowing things due to my expereince. I keep bringing things in and they love it. It is alot of physical and mental work though keeping up with this age group. I miss my K and 1st graders. I know that things happen for a reason and the reasons are slowly being shown to me. We make the best out of what we are given and that is what I am trying to do.
My lovely husband turns 30 on monday. He is such an awesome guy. With all of this rain he dropped me off at the door of target and picked me up so I wouldn't get wet and I wouldn't slip wearing my flipflops. He is so thoughtful sometimes. I love him alot.
We may also be getting a puppy tomorrow. We are going to go look again at a litter we saw of black lab mix puppies. So we will see. We may have another new addition to add to the family. The deal was that I could get a baby and he could get a puppy. Well we found out a few weeks ago that we are pregnant (8 weeks now I think). I figure if we can handle a puppy, we can handle a baby. Please no myspace comments though because my boss is on there and I want to wait one more month before telling her.

Preschool position

I think the biggest issue I am having with going back to preschool is that it makes me feel like somehow I failed teaching elementary. I know it's not ture, but I feel that way. So I'm happy on one level I have a job and its not target, but I kinda was hoping for a K or 1 teaching position. It still could be possible since its not even the 10 day count yet and schools like to wait till the last min so we shall see. I know everything happens for a reason, I just wish I knew that reason.

The painted house

Living room

Hallway

Guest bath

Guest bedroom

Dave's office

Craft room

Master bedroom

Master closet

Kitchen

Laundry room

We bought a house

For those of you who havn't heard (or we havn't gotten to yet), Dave and I bought a house in Clermont. It is a 4/2 with 1,900 sq feet on almost an acre. Our house backs up to a lake too. We got a good deal due to it being a forclosure, which ment minor work for us (cleaning, painting, etc). Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy. Check back for more to see what we have done.

Dave in the formal dining room

living room

crazy green kitchen

hallway to bathroom and 3 bedrooms

guest bathroom

bedroom 1

bedroom 2 or red room

view from red room window

bedroom 3 or green room

master bedroom

master bath

I can fit!

laundry room

Screened in porch with access from 3 sliders

backyard is ours all the way into the lake

Lets try this

This is my attempt to post pictures and to blog away from myspace. This is for people who don't have myspace (like my mother) so you guys can keep up with us and all the goingons. Enjoy.