Saturday, February 18, 2012

Moving to SC!


We have a lot going on right now, which is why I haven't blogged lately. It is pretty long-winded so hopefully I won't lose you all! 

I just accepted a job in SC and we are really excited to be moving closer to family and friends there. I am a project director at a technical college about 30 minutes from where my parents live. I will be in doing some design and development work for online courses with open labs and then also managing the project itself. I am also working with the workforce readiness center that is being developed in order to increase employment in the state. There will be other tasks associated with the position as well. I will still be doing some separate consulting for them (I have been doing a few hours a week as a consultant for their online college for the last year). I have loved my work there and working with the faculty has been great. I met my team this past week and they are wonderful! I know that I am going to have a great experience here.

The offer came out of nowhere really. In December when we were in SC over the holiday break I figured out that I would be in town when the college was open so we set up a time to meet in person. Prior to this I hadn't met any of the people I was working with in person. After 15 minutes of meeting, the person who had hired me said that the VP of Academics wanted to meet with me. I said sure and we headed to her office to meet her. This meeting turned into an interview. I found that I was able to answer the questions they asked me and honestly I just felt really comfortable being there. She told me that she would like to hire me for the position if I was interested, and I asked several questions and then I told her that I needed to process things and would get back to her. I went ahead and applied for the position although I hadn't made up my mind. We talked again once school was back in session and after a few weeks and more information, I decided to take the job. It just felt right. So I started this past week and love it. The people and work community are amazing. They are really family oriented and doing a lot of wonderful things and positively impacting a lot of people's lives. I was told that I can teach as well, but won't until after my dissertation in complete. 

We found a preschool for Addi and she starts March 5th so right now she is with Scott in FL. Scott will head up this way when his job situation is figured out...most likely in March as well. We are going to stay with my parents and are working on selling the house. Once Scott is here and we know where he will be and we know more about the situation with our house in FL, we will decide where we want to be. We will be close to Scott's parents and my parents and our siblings live in Charleston which is only an hour or so away. Plus we have so many friends here and have so much support here. 

The college really wants me to get my PhD and since they are on a four-day week (I will do some half days on Fridays if I want), I will be able to use Fridays to work on my dissertation. All of my data is collected, but I have 6 months of data to analyze and write up so that takes time. Instead of graduating this summer it will most likely be in the Fall. The time period of getting paperwork in, etc will determine exactly when I graduate. They are also pretty understanding with me taking the time to go to FL as needed.

So things are hectic for us right now, but we have a lot of great things going on. I have missed Addison and Scott greatly and get to see them some next week. They call me twice a day at least and Addison and I have great conversations. She always starts with hey, its Addison and ends with have fun, i love you, miss you too. Here are some pictures from last weekend (the morning that I moved).



Show me your "surprise face" 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

5 Year Anniversary

For our 5 year anniversary (the week before actually), Scott and I went to Crystal River and kayaked with the manatees. We had a wonderful time and saw so many manatees! We saw a lot of babies with their mamas and even saw one nursing. The juvenile manatees were curious and came up to us wanting their noses to be scratched. One even rolled over so I would rub his belly! They have nails on their fins. That evening we had dinner on the river and listened to live music while enjoying one another company. It was a lovely trip. The pictures didn't turn out great (old film in the disposable I guess), but they will give you a sense of things.

Heading out of the center


Mama and baby

Petting a manatee

Right before I scratched his nose

Petting another manatee
The actual day of our anniversary, Scott, Addi, and I went to Cypress restaurant here in Tallahassee. The food was some of the best food we've ever had and the chefs had utilized a lot of local flavors to create true culinary masterpieces. Scott had flowers at home earlier that day...white daisies and orange tulips - my two favorite flowers.



Monday, January 16, 2012

My Pictures From SC (By Addison)

I got a new camera for Christmas and have been busy taking pictures with it. Here are some of my pictures from SC.

Close-up of Sitti's pillow

I shared and let someone else take this picture

Digger the dog

Santa decoration in the window

Sittin in the kitchen

Mama and the tree

Mimi in her kitchen

Mim and Grandaddy

The angel on top of the tree

Another tree picture - it was so beautiful

Papa

The ornaments

I like taking pictures of myself

Minnie, the Minnie phone, and my new play puppie

Mim and Grandaddy's front yard

Toy Traveller

My point-of-view - I call it Looking Out

Just getting some eye-level pictures 


I really like the outside pictures since I don't have a flash



Daddy!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Holidays Part 3: Christmas Eve and Beyond

 We spent Christmas Eve hanging out with family. Later that afternoon we went to church and then several of the "Baucoms" came over to Mom and Dad's. That evening Addi was excited to put out cookies for Santa, and she made sure she was really good so that Santa would bring her a Minnie Mouse for Christmas. That was what she had told us she wanted to Santa to bring her the week before. She was VERY excited that not only did Santa bring her a Minnie, but a Minnie phone, and a piano as well as some books and clothes. We spent the morning at Mom and Dad's house and after Addi's nap we headed over to Marie and Ricky's to spend the afternoon with them. Then we headed out to Bowman for Scott's big family get together. Addi enjoyed taking pictures of everyone with her new camera (thanks Sitti and Papa!) and just enjoyed helping everyone open presents. She did get a little overwhelmed after her first few presents and just wanted to play. The day after Christmas we headed back over to Marie and Ricky's for a get together with Derrick, Sally, and Ella Russell. There we exchanged presents, and we visited with each other before heading outside to play. The rest of the week home was spent visiting with friends and family and trying to get time in with everyone. Of course there is never enough time, but we did get to see a lot of our friends and family. Addi is having a blast playing with her new toys and reading her new books. Each day she gets into something else new. It was a wonderful Christmas and the entire holiday reminded me of all the wonderful blessings in my life.

Raking leaves with Papa Christmas Eve morning

Just got home from Church and getting ready for the Baucom Christmas Eve celebration at Papa and Sitti's house - this is the dress Mom made for Michelle and I when we were little

Hanging out with the family on Christmas Eve

Sporting her favorite new hat and eating a candy cane...life is good!

Christmas morning - hanging out with Minnie and playing the piano

Taking pictures with my new camera

Oooohhh that looks like fun!

Mimi and Grandaddy's house

Helping Mimi give out presents

Helping Grandaddy open presents

This box looks like fun!

Day after Christmas - helping ER open presents


Playing t-ball!

Thanks ER for letting me ride your Barbie four wheeler!


A few days after Christmas - visiting with Brooks

More t-ball - looks like Addi might be a lefty when she bats - just like her Daddy