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Remember how I was working with a few different colorguard/ winterguard units back in Flagstaff, AZ that we had to leave behind when we moved all the way to Indiana? Well I always knew something else would come along for me at the right time. We just weren’t really sure when that right time would be.

I had a few local contacts in Indiana and some possibilities to consider before making the big move but ultimately decided to wait on making any commitments until we were in our new city and settled. Offers came and went, possibilities were still out there but after becoming pregnant I just stopped pushing so hard to find a new school to work with.

Gotta take life as it comes and prioritize things right? We tried so hard and waited so long to get pregnant. Holding off on getting another teaching gig wasn’t a big deal to me now that I was expecting. Besides I can’t imagine having to choreograph and teach while pregnant. Talk about exhausting!

So, I’ve rested and Tater has grown. Very soon we’ll be new parents and we can’t wait. We aren’t sure how we’ll adjust or how difficult it will be but we are ready to make the best of it. We welcome the life change with open arms!

Just this last month I’ve been starting to miss teaching and being active though. I thought I should put the feelers out there again since one school year is coming to an end and another is just about to start. Sure I am pregnant and ready to pop but what is the harm in putting the feelers out?

Well I got 2 bites and just committed to a group for the 2009-2010 school year. It all worked out perfectly and sort of seems like it was always meant to be. I am very excited and super pleased.

Obviously I have caring for Tater as my first priority but I am also going to squeeze in a few 3 hour rehersals per week with my new group for the sake of my own sanity and happiness. Yay, I’ll be teaching and being active again.

And with my extra income I’ll build up my cloth diaper stash for Tater. Love it!

The post Getting back to teaching, once Tater is born. appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

N and I looked at a Winnebago Saturday afternoon that was another great option for us! It was in great condition and was at a reasonable price! We are strongly considering it as our “winner” but are planning to have it inspected by a certified mechanic first.

We spent the afternoon trying to get stuff done for the yard sale and the move. N painted up some of our older gardening furniture and planters for the yard sale.

I thought it would be a good idea to sell the gardening bench and plant holders with some of our smaller plants and some cuttings included. It will make us some extra money and will help us have less to move!

So he was a painting machine and I spent time transplanting herbs, taking mint cuttings and planting stuff to sell. We could really manage to get rid of some plants, especially the ones that aren’t bulbs since those are going to be the heaviest to move!

Here is just a glimpse of the plants we have on the porch, as you can see there are too many!

I guess there was a major helicopter crash in town today at the hospital… Here is the footage from today.

Also, a major fire started today south of us and just north of my parents, out near crown king. N might be heading out that direction tomorrow. It is so sad when awful things happen like this, they seem to come in waves too. Both the crash and fire happen today and I just hope tomorrow is calmer. Hopefully the breaking news will calm down soon!

N needs to get some time off at the end of the week, he has been sick all week long and his sister is visiting us for the 4th of July.

Oh and Blogger hates me today! I am trying to make the blog rounds and am attempting to comment but I keep getting this silly error:

Here are the comments I was going to leave:

@ louceel: “What a lovely description of the relationship you have with Francis and a touching story.
I am sorry you are losing a friend, it is always a difficult thing.”

@ pipper: “I totally had the same type of situation happen to me. I wrote my opinion about something that happened at my old high school, someone didn’t agree with my opinion so they tried to get everyone all fired up about what I wrote, just to cause problems. Some people are just not strong enough or open enough to be able to hear/ read someone else’s opinion and accept that it is their own right to share it.

My blog is like my “this is how I want to be all the time” reminder. I try to write positive stuff and I reflect upon the hard times to see how it all got me to where I am now. I generally have a tendency to be negative if I am not careful how I view things. I do have a separate blog for my ranting and bitching, everyone needs to be able to get that stuff out too! ;-)”

@ hyphenmama: “This is a superb blogging topic and I am absolutely LOVING the photos and the little pee pee star! This is greatly educational for me, when I finally have kids I’ll have all the potty training answers!”

@ over-thinker: “Nice blow up doll, now did you have to suck harder with the penis straws? Those photos of your sight seeing are amazing! I have never been to any of those places. Maybe during our week long journey to Indiana we can see some interesting stuff.. You have inspired me now.”

@ xbox4napyrash: “Awesome sauce, ha, ha… Love it! Keep us posted on the outcome after your 2 week wait. I am crossing my fingers and toes for ya.”

The post Updates and breaking news! appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

When I got home I just wanted to put on my PJ’s and curl up on the couch and nap, I am pre-writing this blog post instead.

At the camp I chatted with the guy in charge of hiring judges out in Indiana, looks like I have a promising opportunity there since he already knows me and my skills. Plus, I am also chatting with a pretty competitive high school out there about a potential instructor position.

This summer I also have lots of instructing and show writing to do before I move. You know, I am looking pretty booked up over the next 2 months! Here is a taste of what I have on the books:

Week 1/ This week – I am writing 2 routines for the NAU summer camp.

Week 2 – N’s sister is visiting and staying with us for the 4th of July weekend.

Week 3 – I will be at the local high school’s summer clinic/ pre-band camp marathon rehearsal and I got drawn for jury duty.

Week 4- So far it is free so we are planning to make the drive to phoenix to go used RV shopping.

Week 5- Yard sale weekend, my mom comes to stay with us and help out.

Week 6- Writing the show, teaching the routine and working the local high school’s week long band camp.

Week 7- Possibly a week off? Must find new home in Indiana and hold it with a deposit.

Week 8- NAU’s auxiliary meet for a pre-band camp clinics.

Week 9- NAU’s full band camp, write and teach entire show to the kids.

Week 10- Load the truck and leave Arizona!

As you can see things are just a tad busy for me and I can’t believe in 10 weeks we will be outta here! Seems like just last week we didn’t even know where we were going to end up…

Wait, that is exactly what was happening last week huh? Crap, this is all happening so fast and It is going to come and go before we even know it huh? I guess we better hang on!

So, if I am not commenting on your blog as frequently as I used to don’t feel bad, I am reading them as they arrive in my inbox via my reader, often I am often offline when I read them so commenting isn’t as easy. Don’t think I forgot about you okay?

Well, I have an early start to tomorrow’s 12 hours of colorguard/ auxiliary camp (it is actually today’s camp since I am writing this in advance) so I need to lube myself up with aloe vera to soothe my sunburn and get to bed. Screw eating, I am just too tired and lazy. I’ll have some Ovaltine (my liquid dinner) and pass out now!

Powered by Qumana, it rocks!

The post Whew, I am beat and it is only the first day! appeared first on Updates from Ryder Family Farm.

I already have one school interested in hiring me and I also got in touch with the local area’s colorguard organization to see if I could work as a judge at some contests. You know in case I don’t find a group to work with right away…

Turns out the camp I am working this week is being headed up by the very same guy who is incharge of hiring judges out there in indiana. I already know him and he already knows my work, small world huh?

I mean what are the chances that I would already know/ have a working history with someone who is also in charge of hiring judges for the exact place we are headed to? It is crazy how stuff works out sometimes. Kind of like it was planned all along. N thinks it is just validation that we are going where we are truly meant to be, I think he is on to something don’t you?

It makes me feel like things are just falling into place, without much force or hardship. Maybe this is exactly what was planned for us after all!

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