The Village Trailer T-13

Though its a work in progress, here are some photos of Dan's classroom/trailer!

Before the AC and before chairs, bulletin boards and posters...

After the first day of school, books in the kid's desks, papers on the tables, bulletin board up...yipee!!

Jenny's help with the 'sports' bulletin board! "Mr. Haller's All Stars" :)
(notice Dan's bamboo...)

Mr. Haller hard at work, sweating over the Expectations, "Haller's five Haves: Have Respect, Have Responsibility, Have Kindness, Have Questions, and of course, Have Fun!!"

He will want to post more photos as the room gets more decorated but that will come!

Album

Our photographer made our album and allowed us to preview it online, LOOK!!! It will be a 10x10 book, bound with nice photograph pages.
www.erlina.com/jendanalbum


(Gorgeous!)

Thoughts as a New Husband...

Jenny has inspired me to be a more frequent blogger, and her tribute to me was so nice that I was moved to return the love. ;)

Ten Things I've learned/observed since becoming a husband:

10. Cuddling/spooning while sleeping does not work...apparently I squirm too much and we both like our space.
9. Leave the toilet seat down and the shower curtain closed.
8. Compromise is best...
7. Don't shop for groceries when hungry...you will spend more than your budget allows. :/
6. I often forget to tidy up the kitchen and bathroom after making a mess...
5. It's lots of fun to do nothing around the apartment.
4. Our definitions/standards of "clean" and "organized" can be very different!
3. Laughter is a great remedy.
2. Sometimes the best thing to do is just shut up and do what she says!
1. Marriage is well worth it-- even the silly fights-- because they are temporary and in the end I'm still living with my best friend.


Even though some of the 10 things above would make it seem like all we do is argue and goof around, we actually do have a great time together and love marriage. It is definitely hard work, and lots of sacrifice, but when you come home on your first day of school (teacher work day) and your wife has surprised you with a "Happy First Day!" banner, sign, picked flowers and delicious cupcakes, all the silly fights melt away pretty fast. I love marriage and enjoy the journey Jenny and I are on together. If she stays as thoughtful and beautiful as she is in this picture, I'll not only be fatter from all the cupcakes, but one lucky man!

Thoughts as a New Wife...

Ten Things I've learned/observed since becoming a wife:

10. A man will not know about, care to know or have an opinion on accent pillows on a bed.
9. Sleeping in is quality time.
8. No matter how many times you clean the sink, it probably wont stay clean.
7. Things that make a man feel 'settled' : comfort and relaxing places; things that make a woman feel 'settled' : pictures on the walls and flowers in a vase (even if they're fake)
6. Shop with your girlfriends...no matter how much your husband says he's enjoying himself, he's probably not.
5. Food is a love language.
4. You'll have to learn to just clean up after yourself or you will not enjoy life. "clean as you go" is not understood...
3. Marrying someone who has as many clothes as you do causes a serious organized closet problem.
2. One word: febreeze, three words: light a candle
1. Living with your best friend is really fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything...



This photo is a beautiful creation that Dan made of my "leftover's" at Sunday breakfast. I got up to use the restroom and Dan took my two bananas, two blueberries, one potato and a sliver of eggs and made me a really handsome piece of art. Oh the love I felt :)

(Seriously though, even if Dan doesnt understand mixing neutrals and florals, he is a very good husband who lets me cook crazy things and still manages to clean the kitchen for me. We're a team and I love it!).

Chicken Salad Melt

I had this really good sandwich yesterday and I want to share the recipe:

1 Baked chicken breast (seasoned with Lawry's seasoned pepper)
1 cup chopped purple grapes
1-2 stalks celery, finely diced
1/3 cup miracle whip
1 tblsp dijon mustard
1 tsp garlic (from the can/or garlic salt), eyeball it
1 tsp honey (eyeball it)
salt/pepper/lawry's seasoned pepper (more or less for spicy-ness)
slices of deli pepper jack cheese
hearty. 12-grain bread

--Make chicken salad mixing 8 first ingredients (make to preferred texture) in a bowl.
--Set broiler, scoop desired amount of chicken salad onto bread (for an open-faced sandwich), put one slice of pepper jack cheese, broil for 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread edges are crunchy.

Just a reminder...

That Dan and I are married!!!





(All photo credits go to our beauty and of course, Erlina Kim Photography)
www.erlina.com
www.erlinakim.blogspot.com

Taylor in the News

Dan and I are proud to announce that Taylor Received a US News First Place Ranking!!! (for Midwest Baccalaureate College!!
Its good to be alumn... (too bad we cant donate money yet!)

Zachytime

While hanging out with Zach the past weekend, he learned a few more words: golf, apple, Jen (well, maybe) and the phrase "dogs woof". He is probably the smartest child I've ever met. I also observed that he will say "no" whilst he's doing something he knows is wrong (ie- banging on the lamp, climbing on chairs/dumps trucks, coming near the oven etc). Its funny and very difficult to discipline him:) Also, when you say to Zach, "say Dan" he dances thinking that we say Dance instead of Dan, its funny. Basically, Zach and Dan have a special and romantic dancing relationship.

Story Time with Uncle Dan!!

Funny sprinkler time quite early in the morning.

Zach was afraid of the sprinkler being too high so Dan took him in his arms and he loved it and was no longer afraid of it!!

Punk-rock Zach

Atlanta Lovin'

These are some sweet pictures that Dan and I took this weekend in Atlanta...more to come!!

Rebecca is a really good mom.

Cute Family downtown.

Cutest nephew I have :)

Complete Joy (both for us and him)

Slowly but surely...

...our apartment is being furnished!

The living room

The kitchen

Hallers' porch/greenhouse...lots of plants, flowers, and herbs!

Happy on our new couch!

Slowly but surely...

...our apartment is being furnished!

The bathroom

The bedroom

The newly decorated living, dining, and bedrooms

Our favorite bookshelf

The awesome orange $20 chair from Salvation Army!

Our new home!

(Dan typing here, in non-italics!)...this is Day 1, without air conditioning yet, and our huge mess of boxes waiting to be unpacked. It took over a week!

Jenny enjoys this one...I'm setting up her sanctuary, I mean, kitchen!

Some of Jenny's fantastic cooking...I'm spoiled!

Another of Jenny's favorites...me cleaning the kitchen. I actually do enjoy vacuuming!

Underwater Photos

Finally! We have internet and I dont have to "borrow" from the neighbor's wireless. Hehe.

Here are some funny pictures that we took with our underwater camera! Funny

This photo encompasses our entire relationship.

The Great Hike

These two mountains are the Pitons, Petit Piton on the left, Gross Piton on the right. We climbed to the top of the one on the right. It looks intimidating and it was. It was so hard! Going up was steep but manageable; it was the intense going down that killed our legs and our feet. We made it all the way though!

The view from the top of the moutain (remember that the island is only 26 miles wide and we could pretty much see almost the whole thing!!)

From a second view of the other Piton on top of one Piton! (yes, thats sweat people).

Kissy Kissy after the hike up!

Our last morning breakfast and short swim before the long bus ride to the airport :(

Pretty Things

Dan's great photography!

Dinner at Ladera Resort! (in between the two Pitons, Petit Piton and Gros Piton-say it like youre French).

Jenny's great photography!

Dressed up for dinner at Ti Kaye!

Adventure-Lover's

At Ti Kaye snorkeling in the reef (wonderful!)

Horseback riding the Caribbean Sea (bareback, up to the horse's neck, so cool!)

Bonfire at the beach one night after dinner

Playing in the waterfalls of St. Lucia.

Honeymoon Happenings!!!

The view from our cottage. (so gorgeous!)

Our 'just married' flip flops!!

:)

Early in the morning before our flight to St. Lucia (4:30 am).