more details

So in the whole Teach for America process, I still have to get a job, even though I was accepted to TFA. Which I did on Friday, or I was offered a job and plan on accepting it.

I got an email on Monday from a principal at a charter school wanting to have a phone interview with me. We talked on Tuesday, and apparently it went well. Then on Friday afternoon, I got another email from her that said..

"Dear Rachel,
I am happy to offer you the role of our founding 5th grade English Language Arts teacher for the 2011-2012 school year. I am eager to work with you, and will be sending an official offer letter by Monday for you to sign."

This whole process is an adventure and why should this be what I expected. I will be teaching in a charter school ran and started by TFA alumni. Actually everyone that works there is a TFA alumni and this year they are hiring new corp members. The school has a new and interesting format, that is all new to me. I am excited for the next two years and the adventure it will be. My amazing Ty has reassured me that this is where I am meant to be. He is absolutely amazing and I don't think I could do this without him. And know we know where I will be working which makes planning so much easier.

If you would like to read more about the school the check out their website (www.phxca.org).

i get to marry my best friend

So I just thought I would remind all your readers (by that I mean the 5 of you!) that the man I get to marry 3 months from today is my best friend, the love of my life and my soul mate.

Here are a few reasons why I love him:
- his smile
- his laugh/giggle/chuckle
- the way he smells
- how much he loves amazon
- how he plans for life
- his support for me
- his love for his family and now mine
- his jokes
- when he tickles me and laughs till he cries
- that he tells me everything (literally everything, things i never wanted to know)
- how excited he is to wear his wedding ring
- his eyes (and eyelashes, gotta love that Armenian blood)

But most of all, how much he loves, respects, appreciates and likes me!




One another note... he threw me into a wall this weekend and bruised my eye.


Here is the story, I started a tickle fight, he was winning, he pushed me off the bed onto the floor, I lost it laughing, he made a cocoon out of blanket, I attacked again with two hands straight to the armpits, and he reacted with throwing me off him and that happened to be in the direction of the wall. It was hilarious. It made a loud noise, I started laughing and drooling (cause my lip was all tingly) and he was giggling uncontrollably. It was so funny. I have not let him live it down yet. So don't worry no abuse just tickles.

the life of a bride

sometimes gets a little overwhelming... there are so many choices for everything wedding related.

So here are some of the choices we have made!

Food- Taco-Man!
Cake- The wonderful Sally
More dessert- Cupcakes and cookies (by two amazing mothers and bakers)
Linens- blue with red decorations!
Rings- our wedding bands are order! and someone can't wait to wear his
Invitations- almost done!
Envelopes are being addresses! Thanks to the one and only K. Lowe!
Flowers- Gerber Daisies!
Bridesmaids- dresses order and mostly here.
Ceremony- Ty and I are on the same page and most of it is ready to go.
Music- DJ Dewey (for a great price, gotta love TUSD connections)
Drinks- Margaritas for me and Beer for Tyler

And I am sure we have made more than that. But we have so many more to make.

Pit Fire Pizza

So over the last three years I have been to Pit Fire Pizza five times and every one of those times it has been for our Bi-Annual New Staff Dinner at JEP. It has always been very fun, I have learned a lot of gossip at these dinner. I think it is the best way to kick of a JEP social event semester. It is not too intimidating, its fun, there is delicious food, we leave campus and sometimes even play games.

So I don't have pictures from the first two.

Here is Spring Semester 2010



This is where the tradition of the "salad bowl" game begun!

Fall Semester 2010



Where we continued the game tradition, which Mini's versus Individuals and had a epic battle!

And last but certainly not least, Spring Semester 2011



And some of my favorite people I bonded with at these dinners!

So here is to five wonderful semesters at JEP! The beginning of the end of an era!

busy....

So it has been a while since my last post. I was "busy" over break and by busy I mean hanging out with family, Tyler and sleeping in late and watching a lot TV. However now I am back to school and work and am busy again.

However I did receive a very cool present from a very cool friend.

A wand from Ollivanders at Harry Potter Land.



So that is all for now. I will try and be better, now since my life has routine again.

a quick pre-christmas catch up

First of all my dear friend Kelley finished college!


She also finished her first drink all my herself!


Then Natalie got home from a long three months away in Chicago.


And the Thom family finally got their Christmas tree.


And we decorated it all in the same day.


Picking our Christmas tree used to be a big family event. When we were younger one night in early December we would get all bundled up and head out to the local Christmas tree lot. We would run through the trees and play hide and go seek or tag. While the kids and my dad were goofing off my mom would search for the perfect tree, she had requirements that none of us really knew.

This year, we waited for everyone to be home and then ended up at a Home Depot lot, where I picked up one tree and we bought it.It has gotten so simple. Well some traditions begin to fade as we grow up.
Well someday Tyler and I will start our own traditions with our own family (no worries, it is still years away!!)

technological advances

This week I stepped up in the world of technology...

A new computer. It am so excited that when I click on the internet it actually opens. I don't have to wait 10 minutes any more!

Andd an iPhone.

Long story short, I came into a barely used iPhone 3GS this week, thanks to my wonderful Tyler.



Now all I have to do is study for my finals, and then Christmas break can actually begin! Which really means wedding planning.