Stay Summer STAY!

Update on the job hunt: Well, I've accepted a position as a long term substitute in 1st grade at a really great school. Everyone seems to be excited but I can't help but to be a little disappointed. This is not what I went to school for and it's not what I really want. I want my own classroom with my own set of students. But I guess I should be grateful to have a job seeing as to how jobs are being scarce. Hopefully something good will come up and I'll get a job doing what I love best!

Summer is going by entirely too fast! I've got vacation coming up at the beach which I'm excited about! I miss the beach! I wish we lived a lot closer to the ocean. In Dillon, I could just pick up and go for the day. Columbia- 3 hours away so can't just pick up and go for the day!

Everyone is vacationing this week so I'm at home bored! I've been watching Lost. Trying to see what the bg fuss is. I've completed season 1. It's ashame right? Too much tv will rot your brain out. SO I am reading too. hehee I'm currently reading 2 books. ((Trying to make up for the rotting of my brain))

I've also been playing housewife. Which, the cooking and baking part is fun...not the rest. I'm bored at home..as you can prob. tell with my season 1 and 2 books. Brendan put the hammock up for me so at least I have a nice little spot for reading.

I have also been missing home. We are going this Saturday. We're double dating. :o) My mom, Randy, Brendan, and I are going to dinner and then to the theatre to see Aladdin, the play. My good friend, Joey, who sang in our wedding, is the Genie. We're excited to see him in action!!

Well, I am going to go lay in our hammock and read My Sister's Keeper. Then, I'm going to start dinner for my hubby! That is SOO fun to say!!

Honeymoon Part 4 Pics

Honeymoon Part 3 PICS!

Honeymoon Part 2

While we were on the resort, we did lots of activities. Pictures will come in honeymoon part 3. We went horseback riding on the last day. Unfortunately, they gave us total opposite horses! Brendan had the one that wanted to be the leader always and would not slow down! Me- I have Chocolate (pronounced choc-o-lot-ay). He was the slowest, laziest horse! He did not want to walk! So Brendan and I really didn't get to ride together since Chocolate was being a turtle and Brendan's horse, which we do not know his name, wanted to be well....a horse! We rode the horses on the last day so as to not have our behinds be in pain the entire honeymoon.

We also kayaked! Which was fun-for me! Unfortunately, Brendan recieved a blister from all of my "lack of rowing". AND I did row, he just told me to stop, he had it so I did! Rowing was hard work in the ocean! hehee It was so beautiful to be able to see to the bottom of the ocean floor! The water was so clear! Kayaking was a lot of fun but a lot of work. We were so glad that we did it though! Even if Brendan had to "do all of the work".

Brendan really wanted to try archery. Me- not so much, but we agreed to do it anyway! Once I got the hang of it, I actually enjoyed it and was glad that Brendan got me to agree to do it! At first, we didn't know what the heck we were doing so we asked for help. The guy showed us and even came back a few times to make sure we didn't have any more questions. Brendan was much better at than me. Neither one of us made a bulls eye but we both hit the target! Him more than me!

I really wanted to snorkel! Brendan wasn't too fond of the idea but after a little pouting, he agreed! It was an excursion where we rode a speed boat AND snorkeled. I was kind of scared to drive the speed boat at first, so I told Brendan he could drive to the snorkel site and I would drive back. We were following others. It's not like we were out there on our own. Brendan was an excellent driver! Once we got to the snorkel site, we put on our gear and jumped out of our speed boat. It was so neat!! Unfortunately, our underwater camera broke and we don't think we got any pictures. :o( The water was definitely cooler in the middle of the ocean. Well, not in the middle, but we didn't se the shore so we were pretty far out. The fish were A- Mazing! It was so awesome seeing all of the schools of fish and the coral! Brendan was brave and took his life jacket off and went further down. I was completely content just floating around with my head under t he water! It was truly an incredible experience and we both really enjoyed it! On the way back, I was the driver. OH BOY! Apparently, the guide was not careful enough and led us straight into some shallow water and our boat as well as the other boats got stuck! I was very freaked out and refused to drive. haha So Brendan drove us back the rest of the way. We wanted to snorkel when we went to Mexico but it was cancelled due to rough waters so I was glad we got to do it on this trip!

We also had a very romantic dinner complete with menus with Mr. and Mrs. Talty on them. NEAT!! We were totally catered to. There were rose petals and champagne chilling at our table. It was so nice. The food- OH MY GAWD! The best tasting food EVER! We even got to try Octopus. Which really, wasn't bad...just really chewy. The chewiness was just too much for me! We really enjoyed our romantic dinner. It was the best meal while we were there and our waiter was awesome. We seriously can't wait to go back!!

One night, thanks to the Straslers, we had dinner on the beach. It was very romantic! We think they got the dinner wrong because all we had was seafood and we really don't think we ordered that! Then there was this couple who walked right in front of your table kissing, slow dancing, and groping each other! We were like COME ON! This is our romantic dinner, we don't want you 2 in front of us doing that! Thankfully, it didn't last long!

Our honeymoon was very romantic and beautiful. We can't wait to go back and to celebrate an anniversary. It won't be the 1 year anniversary for sure but we'll have lots to choose from. We've got forever in front of us and we can hardly wait to be old married people! Pics to come in Part 3!

Honeymoon Part 1

After finally making it to Charlotte on our wedding night, we were really excited and ready to be on the resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, my mind was so chaotic and cluttered that I was not able to even think about the honeymoon until after the wedding was over!

So our flight took off around 12 and it was my first time riding in a plane! It was exciting! Brendan let me have the window seat. We finally got to the Domincan Republic and their airport was all tikis! We were kind of at a loss as to what to do once we got our luggage! There were taxi drivers everywhere asking us this and that about where we were headed. Then some guy grabbed our luggage and lead us to a van that was heading to our resort. We drove for like an hour to get to a resort. There were no paved roads until we got to the road where the resort was so it was a very bumpy ride! The ride was crazy! Not only was it bumpy, but everyone just passes each other and drives really close to the motorist! Which by the way, most people rode motor bikes there. I was terrified we were going to hit some poor guy! The landscape was amazing. Beautiful mountains, clear ocean water, and wild animals (horses, goats, chickens, donkeys) all running about freely. The actual country, however, looked very poor. I'm curious to find out more about the Domincan now!

Once we got to the resort, we were in total awe at the resort's beauty. We were greeted with a cool wash cloth and a glass of champagne! We checked in, and then were on our way to our room. About an hour later, our luggage arrived. We checked out our room, which was amazing , and I'll add pics later of that! Then we started to explore te resort. OHH, wait! When we got to our door, there was a sign on it that said Honeymooners! There was also champagne chilling for us, fresh fruit, and a note to Mr. and Mrs. Talty! Which of course, I was very thrilled about that!
Outside of our room was the pool. We could literally walk out to the patio and hop into the pool. SO nice and convenient!

Two mornings, we woke up to a peacock on our patio just peeking in! The resort was so romantic and there is so much to tell so I am going to break the blogs up! But this is all for now, I'm busy watching the Food Network. I wish these people would be more like Sandra Lee who makes food with items that people actually have in the cabinet and fridge! I still watch though and try to get ideas!

Mr and Mrs. Brendan Talty!

We're married! Yay! It's so hard to believe that a years worth of planning and organizing has come to an end! It's so sad but at the same time so exciting because we are finally married and get to begin this amazing chapter in our lives together!!

Just to update on the wedding and the events that took place prior, during, and after! Well, believe it or not, I was not so stressed out during the week of our wedding. Well, not as stressed as I thought I would have been. I was actually pretty relaxed which is more than what I can say for my mom! I think she stressed out 10x more than I did!

Of course, I was absolutely late for everything - rehearsal, luncheon, appointments! That's me for you though. Am I really ever on time? Nope.

Rehearsal went well although a little longer than expected. My fault with my tardiness! The rehearsal dinner was awesome. My mother in law (woo hoo!) did an amazing job with the centerpieces and just the entire dinner! Brendan's dad gave a stellar speech and I attempted at one but of course cried and stunk it up! I was really freaking out a bit before the rehearsal and had to drink a glass or 2 of wine to calm down but as soon as I got there and saw Brendan, I was at ease! Oh and I was so ecstatic to see my cousin Farrah there, who I've not seen in 5 years so it was amazing seeing her as well as all of my in laws that were already here!

I wish I could tell you how the wedding went, but I feel like it all happened so fast. I just remember being really really happy and excited to see Brendan. Brian delivered a wonderful service and I can't wait to replay it when our video is done! I did cry walking down the aisle with my daddy but I held up very well! I seriously thought I was going to be a mess but I guess God knew how much I didn't want to be a crying mess and really helped me out! I think everthing went perfectly. I did forget my bouquet coming back down the aisle which I am STILL kicking myself for!

The reception was fantastic! My family, friends, colleagues, and even one of my students were there and it was wonderful seeing everyone have fun! I feel like I didn't get to speak to everyone as much as I'd like to have! I was very overwhelmed! It was wonderful seeing friends that I haven't seen in a while like Kelly, Gary, Ashley, Johnny B., Phillip, Wesley, and many more! My only 2 complaints are 1. They started taking things down and cleaning up WAY too early and 2. Our DJ royally sucked! He even announced me and Brendan incorrectly. He forgot my mother-daughter dance, didn't play our slide show nearly long enough, and refused to play our last song because he was "closing shop". I do not reccommend to anyone peedeedjservice! If it was a realy company and not a one man sh0w, I'd complain! I was so dissappointed in his service! The food was amazing though! Even down to our cake which thanks to my husband, was all in my nose! I wish I could have gotten him back. He'll get his though when he is least expecting it!

Our wedding was magical and I can't wait to relive it through video and pictures! Which by the way, pictures are up at sandytoesphotography.com. Just click on view online proofs, click Jenn and Brendan or Cox Talty (I forget which one it is under) and type in your Email address. I'm having a hard time figuring out the ones I want! It's tough!

Honeymoon! Wowzers, was it amazing?! I'll make another entry about our incredible honeymoon to the Dominican Republic! It was such fun!

I guess this is all I've got for now!