It has been FOREVER

For the whole two people that follow my blog, I am sorry I have not posted in the last few weeks.  Life at the Shaner house has been crazy.  Recently, Eric and I were able to get away for the weekend to visit some family.  We really enjoyed our time, but also enjoy being back.  I am off to present this week at a national conference in Baltimore, so I am beginning my travel preparations.  Joba is doing well, no major health concerns recently.  Eric is looking forward to wrapping up his graduate class here soon and getting started with baseball season.  He is up for head coach so we are looking  forward to the official word here in the next few weeks.  Other than that there is not much new to report.  Off to work on presentation materials!

And the Beat Goes On...

With the school year well under way I am trying VERY hard to streamline my chores and responsibilities so that my time is spent wisely and at the end of the day I have a few minutes to myself.  So far I am doing OK at getting what needs to be done, done on time.  If only there were more hours in the day or I didn't require so much sleep.

Joba has adjusted well to the school schedule; we miss him during the day.  He is extra snuggly when we get home.  As with all Wednesday nights; tonight is Joba and Stacie's movie and popcorn night. (Occasionally I get the peanut butter out for him too.)

Eric and I bought more paint the other day while it was on sale.  I don't know when we will paint, but I am hoping to take a few hours here and there and begin taping the easy stuff.  I should be able to paint the rooms upstairs by myself without too many problems.  the living room should be easy enough as well despite the tall ceilings.  I also bought new fabric to cover the pillows in the family room but my sewing machine broke as I was finishing Joba's second snuggle pillow.  (Needless to say he was VERY disappointed.)

Life is good and so far we both enjoy being married.  :)

BUSY BUSY BUSY!

New School Year

What can only be described as an overwhelmingly discouraging three days of chaos, I am now suppose to be ready for school on Monday.  Eric and I both had a series of three in-service days this week.  All of which we were not given enough time to prep for students, given discouraging news, wondered why we are teachers, and forced to sit for exceedingly long periods of time by our colleagues.  In-service "encouragement" aside, I am slowly beginning to look forward to the school year despite many parental warnings that their children are handfuls.  My room at school is currently a disaster zone so Monday morning I will be either hiding what I can't put away or just throwing stuff out.  Ahhh, welcome fall.

Joba is enjoying his last day off before school starts by reeking havoc in the backyard.  Eric and I are airing out the house and cleaning up from canning dilly beans yesterday.  I hope to continue spending time outside today;  maybe the park, wedding the gardens, shopping, or simply sitting outside with a few books.  We shall see!

With the house painted, boxes unpacked, and a little bit of wedding money, I am hoping to pick up some nice fall and Christmas decorations in the coming months that we can use around the house.  I am not one to redecorate each room for each holiday, but I would like a few pieces for the foyer, dining room, and kitchen/family room areas.  Pier one has some nice vase fillers and Pottery Barn has the table runner I would like.  I figure I have to get decorations if the family may be celebrating Thanksgiving here this year.  (Maybe I can sweet talk mom into making me a center piece for my dining room.)

Off to change out of the pajamas and consider the benefits of actually doing my hair and wearing contacts today!

A Million Things to do and Counting...

Eric and I returned from his parent's house this morning completely beat and void of personality.  We drove up early yesterday with the dog and are beginning to feel the effects of such intense travel.  Today we are catching up on errands and cleaning while the dog sleeps off his traumatic journey.  As Eric and I begin to sense the impending start of the school year we are torn between getting a few last minute projects finished around the house and sitting in our pajamas sipping lemonade.  There are many days I wish I worked a 9-5 job in which I am not bringing home the emotional baggage of one hundred children and hours worth of work each night.  But who am I kidding; I love my kids.

Off to finish cleaning, make pasta salad and cupcakes, unpack my bags, weed the garden, pick tomatoes...

...you get the idea.

The Wedding Stuff Continues...

Worried about meeting with the photographer today...

The Painted House...

We had the family room, hallway, foyer, and upstairs hallway painted basketry yesterday by a lovely crew of painters.  They also painted the dining room cranberry and pot of cream (cranberry above the chair rail and pot of cream below).  The painters are returning today to finish the dining room because after three coats of red paint it still does not look quite right.  Otherwise, the house looks awesome!  The dining room is almost completely finished in terms of furniture and decor.  Eric still has to hang the new curtain rod and I have to find curtains/shears that I like, but the furniture looks great and the crystal is perfect in the hutch!

My parents are possibly driving out today to drop off some altered pants and a dress that I left at their house.  We are excited to show them the house even if it is not quite put back together.  I am looking forward to having things settled and organized for the first day of in-service.

We hope the dog can handle us going back to work and spending more time in bed.  I have a feeling he will be shredding a few towels out of protest if we don't ease him into the school schedule.  Eric might have to take the first two weeks of school to come home at lunch for him.  At least we should have the fence finished by then...

The fence.  Well, A Plus Fencing started ten days late.  The second day they showed up to work they decided another job was more important, so they left without telling us and only returned to get their truck that evening.  (Eric chased them as they drove away and stopped them demanding an explanation.)  We were then told the fence you definitely be finished Friday, then we were told that everyone was coming in special for us on Saturday to finish it, then we were told that it should be finished Monday.  I swear I could just steal their Bobcat right now and drill a post hole in the side of their truck.  The fence has gotten out of control!  And they want us to advertise them with a little sign in our yard without even offering us the traditional discount for such services.  The nerve of some of these backwards Pennsylvania individuals!

Anyway, the house is cleaner than it has been all summer and more organized which is a great place to be with the start of the school year.  While Eric and I have had a crazy summer with the dog, wedding, and the honeymoon, we wouldn't trade it for anything.  As much fun as summer vacation is we are both ready to start back up and get back into the swing of things.  I am a little nervous about the new administration at my school and Eric is intrigued by the personalities that have been placed in his classroom, but we are ready.  No more long days at the pool and late dinners made with new recipes, just plain old mac n' cheese at 5 PM and bedtime by 8PM.

Enjoy your last few days of summer; we are!

UPDATE!

Today Eric and I bought a new car.  Eric has been admiring (OK, drooling) over the new Ford F150 XLT for months.  He made an appointment to go visit one in Dillsburg, PA and one thing lead to another.  We now have a giant truck that doesn't even fit in our garage with awful gas mileage.  At least Eric is happy.

Still no fence.  We are hoping that A Plus Fencing eventually honors their contract and show up to install a fence for our poor puppy.  We do however have a new kitchen floor.  Eric and I thrilled to no longer have to tape the rips in our floor to keep the dog from eating it and me from tripping on it.  As the school year approaches we are wrapping up a few last minute projects around the house.  We will have the lower level and some of the second level painted next weekend.  Lots to do with not a lot of time...

Fence or no fence...

A plus fencing was SUPPOSE to show up today bright and early to install our fence. Guess what...

They didn't!

So, instead of getting our fence installed today (something I not only scheduled months ago, but woke up early for this morning) I am headed into school to pick up a few books to get started with stuff for the school year.  I have a feeling this will be a challenging year for myself and my coworkers, so I might as well get started nice and early.

Poor Joba is heartbroken that his fence was not started today.  He has been looking forward to running free for quite some time...

Newlyweds!

Hello everyone!  We are FINALLY home! 

After many days after the wedding running around like a crazy person, Eric and I took off for the Dominican Republic.  After tropical depression Bonnie passed by the weather was beautiful.  While we were there we went on two fabulous excursions.  We did an Outback Safari trip where we visited a working farm and bought cocoa and vanilla and ate authentic food.  The second trip we made was to Santo Domingo where we were able to tour Diego Columbus' (Christopher Columbus' son) palace.  We also visited a few other historical sites.

Upon our return to the states, we stayed with my parents for a few days with the dog before rushing back to our home.  Joba was thrilled to see us, but a bit sad to leave behind his two playmates at my parent's house.

Yesterday I legally became a Shaner!  I am not sure if this is exciting or depressing; I will let you know later.  It is sad to be just giving up the only name I have ever known.  Today I am off to buy wedding china and a food processor!  It should be fun!

Love to all and thank you to those that attended the wedding and were part of our special day!

WE ARE MARRIED!!!

As our neighbor says, we are no longer livign in sin!

Eric and I tied the knot on July 16th in the rain.  It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception was beautiful.  We could not have asked for a better wedding.  To our friends and family, thank you for taking the time to celebrate with us and your lovely cards and gifts.  God Bless!


(Joba is sick...AGAIN!  Off to the vet here soon for allergy tests.)

5 Days...

After church today, Eric and I started working on a few last minute wedding things.  Tomorrow we meet with the DJ at the crack of dawn and then drive to Baltimore to help mom with the favors while adding a forgotten last minute detail to them.  Eric is hoping to be back in time to do some baseball thing with his friends.  I figured as long as we get everything done we should still be free to socialize.

Everyone asks if I am nervous.  I am not nervous, just overwhelmed, CONSTANTLY.  Every other minute of the day I am worrying about something or remembering something I forgot and then immediately forgetting it again.  At many points in the day I realize that I am just too blonde to be planning this wedding without a pen and plenty of writing space on my arm.  (This failed me at the pool today when the bible versus for the readers came off in the water.)

Eric and I can't wait to see our respective families! 

Love to all!

10 Days and COUNTING!

Eric is wrapping up his only graduate course for the summer; he can see the light at the end of proverbial tunnel.  There is lots going on in our household.  We are trying to keep the house fairly neat and clean so that we have less to do before the wedding.  I am trying to finish up all the last minute details and still panicking that I will forget something important like forks.  (Give me a week and fork-related nightmares will become standard.)  Shawn and I are enjoying the pool but I am REALLY worried about his weird patch of sunburn that keeps occurring, so I will have to watch that.  Last but not least, Anne and I will be making our nail appointments this week for the Wednesday before the wedding.  Anyone is welcome to join us, just give me a call. 

This summer Eric and I have been trying to do three new recipes each week.  I think we are putting that on hold until after the wedding/honeymoon.  So far we have had fabulous fajitas and Mexican salad as well as these really cool lamb kabobs.   (We have had our fair share of duds as well.)  For the fourth of July we took finger foods to Shawn's house and enjoyed the Chambersburg fireworks over cupcakes.  So far all is well here and we continue to pray that things remain low key.

15 Days...

Eric's mother sent the most precious photographs of Eric that I am framing to put around the reception!  He told me he never looked dorky...

16 Days and Counting

This blog is a continuation of Keeping Up With Stacie. I will officially become a Shaner in sixteen days. Slowly I will begin to introduce the idea of a blog to Eric's mother so that she can keep up with Eric and I on a regular basis. I promise to do a better job of posting more regular entries. Seeing that I am finally settled in my house (and painted two rooms) and finished with my graduate work (and accepted to Clarion for yet another program), I should be able to communicate with all two of my "regular" followers.

UPDATES:
ERIC is hating his graduate course. The teacher is too confusing for him to follow and the poor guy can't find the research articles he needs for his project. Fortunately his class will end in a week and he will no longer have to over-think the simplest of classroom tasks. He can go back to his usual summer life:
- Couch
- Sports Center
- Diet Coke

JOBA has allergies. After going to the vet for the hundredth time and spending a ridiculous amount of money on his skin and medication for his skin, he has started to heal. His ears are normal looking without scabs and he has stopped scratching them. He is still on some powerful pills which are helping him with his excessive arm licking. At least he is not aggressive or violent, just loving and cowardly.

STACIE! Well, this is my first summer off since the age in which I could legally obtain a worker's permit. Eric forbade any graduate courses since I worked really hard (and drove him nuts) to graduate in May. No second job this summer either. I am suppose to focus on healing my body and planning the wedding. Instead, I have been reading a lot and tanning a lot. Life isn't too awful!

Eric and I are both looking forward to seeing our friends and family here in two weeks. The wedding should be a lot of fun.

Love to all...
S