New Skills

One of the best parts of my new job is that I am being challenged to learn new things. I am managing the e-learning portion of my department, so I am learning how to use different software to accomplish my goals. One of the fun new things I am learning is Photoshop. I am learning how to do basic tasks like editing pictures, creating more interactive training visuals and even create announcements for training. So in the time that I am learning, I have created some fun prints for my own use. I am not the best, but I thought I would share some of what I have done. Most of it is experimenting with church stuff (I can't post the work stuff on my personal blog). I cant wait to use this knowledge on Baby Vorwaller's baby shower!

Fall Fun

This fall has been so nice. We don't really have fall in Miami, it is just a break from the really really hot. Like it doesn't break 80 degrees until 10am kind of break. I miss the cool weather of fall and the feeling that things are changing, but I know I would only want hot weather if I had the cool weather. Despite the warm temperatures, we have had a lot of fun. We got to go home and celebrate my mother-in-law Vicki's birthday. We went out to dinner and had an awesome cake. It was fun to go home and celebrate the great mother she is.

The last few weeks has also consisted of lots of sports. Fall is the best time because you have football and then basketball! I can't wait for college basketball to start again. We had the chance to watch a UM game and a Heat game with some friends. The boys are not so photogenic so we only get pictures of girls… either that or they are too busy watching the game. I don't know which one it is :) 

Lastly, we had the chance to help with the trick-or-treat party at church. We set up a few rooms for the kids to come in and get some candy. It was kind of a mad rush, but we had a blast. Derek was a basketball player (Kentucky of course) and I was a pretty witch ;)

Now that Halloween is over I am fighting the urge to not jump into Christmas. If you have seen my Pinterest, you know I am failing. This is my favorite time of year so I can't wait to dive in and enjoy the Holiday Season! 

The Big Announcement

If you know me at all and know anything about me, you know my big sister is pregnant! We are all so excited for Sarah and Ryan to welcome their bundle of joy. It was so hard to keep the secret at first. Sarah and Ryan were very creative in telling the family. They invited the whole family to their house for dinner. Ryan had just made their dining room table and it was labor day weekend so I really didn't think about it. Sarah cooked a yummy dinner and we all enjoyed talking. After dinner, Sarah and Ryan told everyone that they appreciated their support in helping them with school, moving, Ryan's job, etc and so they had a gift for the parents. The funny thing about all of this is that, it is totally like Sarah and Ryan to just be sentimental like this, so I don't think any of us really expected an announcement like this. Anyway, they brought out a gift and the mom's both opened it to see this cute announcement.

Everyone was so in shock that we all took a second to react. Then the tears and hugging began. Even the grandpa's were wiping their eyes. Sarah showed us the ultrasound and we heard all about how Sarah told Ryan. It was such a great night! We all left on cloud nine. 

The next day we planned on going to the outlets and snuck in a little gift for Baby Vorwaller. It was gender neutral so we could get away with it! 

We had to wait what seemed like forever to find out the gender. Sarah and Ryan got a cake with filling that was colored to reveal the gender. We Skyped in and Ryan's sister and her husband, his best friend and his wife and the parents were all there. Mike couldn't Skype in so Sarah called him after. Then they cut the cake to reveal… a little girl! It was general hysteria and excitement after that.

Sarah also got to see the baby and it really looks like a baby! She has a face and feet and toes! I can't believe that Sarah is really pregnant and having a little baby girl. I can't wait to meet her and watch her grow up. It is going to be so exciting over the next few months as we get ready for her arrival. Can't wait to meet you Baby Vorwaller!

Derek's 26th Birthday

My amazing husband turned 26 on September 30th. I can't even describe how much I love and appreciate my husband. We aren't much for PDA, but I will take this chance to gush about him. I don't know anyone who works harder and smarter for his family. Derek is loyal, generous, empathetic and determined. He can make me laugh whenever I need it. He sees things I would never see and helps me look at life from a fresh perspective. He is pretty much the best guy I know... I am so lucky I snatched him up!

For his birthday we went to dinner at a little Italian place downtown. After we watched the Dolphins game and played games with friends. It was a great night! Thanks so much to everyone who came and helped me celebrate Derek! 

It's Been Too Long

WOW! What a crazy month! October just flew by without me realizing. I feel like it was just yesterday that we came home from our vacation and I started working at Royal Caribbean. But the chaos has all been good. Derek has been busy with school and school. I feel like this year is not as hard as last year and we have been able to spend much more time together. SO NICE! Work has been great for me as well. I am really liking the new challenge of my position and the opportunity to learn and grow professionally. I have a great team and I feel like I fit right in. My job is challenging, but I enjoy that I come in every day and I am challenged, not just doing the same thing. I have also learned a lot about the cruise industry and hospitality. I have a hard time believing I just started this 6 weeks ago!

I have a lot of pictures to post and I will get to those later I hope, but for now here is a quick recap of the last few weeks:
- Derek turned 26. He has accomplished so much... I am so proud of him.
- My sister, Sarah, told the family she was pregnant... and she is having a GIRL!!!!
- All my favorite TV shows started back up so I am very busy these days
- We celebrated my MIL's birthday at home
- Sports are ruling our life and I am tied for first in my fantasy league

Blog posts to follow on all of those fun things. For now I will leave you with a TV recommendation. Watch The Blacklist. It is probably the best new show on TV right now. Kevin Spader is phenomenal on it and I really can't figure out this plot... and I can usually figure out the plot twists.