Goodbye Party

(All these photos were taken by our very talented coworker, Jenni Cummings)

Jenni just posted these from the work party I attended last week, and I wanted to share them (and have them saved here for the future :)).

The beautiful presents for those of us leaving, from the staff.

Singing "Leaving on a Jet Plane" to Patti, who is leaving to Kansas.

Listening to their version of "Eye of the Tiger" for us (this was just before we all started crying...)

Being presented my gift by coworker, Jonathan, who said some sweet things about my teaching.

All of us on our way out to new opportunities and new places next year. 

Saying goodbye to my coworker, Emily, who was my first grade level partner at my school. We had such a great team that year and all learned so much from one another.

It was such a great celebration and I'm so glad to be working for such a lovely staff.

One Month Left....

My have my emotions been all over the place lately! As we approach June, the end of the school year, and the end of our California time, I have been feeling so bittersweet about everything. Ed and I are so excited to move into our new home and get started on part two of our lives together, but admitting to myself that that means saying goodbye to all this has really started becoming real. I've definitely had some low days the past week, which has let me know that even though I'm consciously feeling great about moving, there's definitely a layer of subconscious that isn't so thrilled. Poor Ed, having to deal with my rollercoaster of feelings :P.

On the plus side, Ed and I have some awesome plans to make our last month amazing!

First up (already done) was a trip to Monterey as my sister Kortney's birthday present (forgot the camera battery, so all images are courtesy of google images). We saw 4 otters in the bay,

 as well as super awesome sea horses, jellyfish, and a ton of other great sea life.

We also ate really, really well, indulging in great BBQ and the best sundaes ever. 

Over the next month, we are also planning on:

• Attending the San Francisco Symphony

 

• Seeing Ed Graduate with his PhD and having a great celebration

• Going Camping at Samuel P Taylor Park

• Celebrating our 2nd Anniversary at Mountain Home Inn and running on Mt. Tam trails

• Running the Double Dipsea (Ed)

• Backpacking the Skyline to the Sea trail

It's certainly going to be a very full month, fitting in packing up and bringing home my entire classroom, saying goodbye to my students (and all that a teacher has to do at the end of the school year :P), packing up our apartment, and getting ready for the move.

I have to say though, that typing all that out certainly makes me feel better. We have so many great adventures to take this last month. The perfect way to say goodbye.

Design Home Beauty

As promised, here are some pictures of the fabulous design home we visited while I was in Orange County last week! I think I'll just let the pictures do the talking :)

(foyer skylights)

(so many skylights!)

(office)

(deck off the office)

(such views!)

(back to the foyer)

(living room)

(dining room)

(...interesting bathroom)

(artist's den off the main house)

(amazing kitchen!)

(view from the kitchen sink...)

(master bath)

(healing room)

(where we parked!)

It was such a beautiful day at a very special place. So glad I got to visit!