the latest buzz

here's the latest buzz!

We finally closed on our house!! We signed our paperwork on Thursday, August 8th and got the keys on Friday, August 9th. NOT that it was a smooth process by ANY means...The title company showed up to the signing with our last name incorrectly spelled on the title paperwork. Our last name is RIDDELL people, NOT RIDDLE. Our realtor had the joy of re-typing the correct spelling in about 1,000 different spots. Ok, I'm only being a little dramatic...at least 20. 

Since getting the keys to our house, we have had SEVERAL surprises! And not the good kind, either!

Unexpected surprise #1: Our ADT security installation man found a yellow jacket beehive in the insulation in the basement, near the fuse box. HOW IN THE WORLD DID THE PEST INSPECTION EMPLOYEE MISS THIS?!!!!!!

Unexpected surprise #2: After several hours of work over two days with every imaginable tool and at least 10 combined trips to Home Depot and Lowe's (done by Jordan and Bill), Jordan called a plumber to fix the kitchen sink. Turns out he had to replace the drain line. 

Unexpected surprise #3: The plumbing from the kitchen sink down to the basement is three-quarters full of GREASE. Like, the previous owners poured 10 years of bacon grease down their kitchen sink. Seriously, who pours grease down the sink? Don't they know grease solidifies?! We had the joy of finding the solidified, disgusting, and SMELLY present. If Jordan didn't call a plumber to fix the drain line, who knows when this would have been found. As Sara said, the pipe would have probably burst after we finished the basement so it is a (expensive) blessing in disguise. It's 10:04pm right now and Jordan is still at the house waiting for the plumber to finish fixing the plumbing piping. 

Unexpected surprise #4: Our sprinkler system has a broken valve. 

How the inspector missed #3 and #4 is beyond me. 

On a positive note, we chose colors for the dining room (dark purple) and master bedroom (marine green). In those rooms:

-the baseboards have been cleaned and taped

-the holes in the walls have been patched

-the walls have been dusted 

and they are ready for painting, except the master where we need to paint the ceiling. 

Seriously, every room needs painting. It is such a time consuming ordeal...we are thinking of hiring someone to help us finish it faster. 

Other things that have been done: 

-changed lightbulbs both inside and outside 

-changed (some) doorknobs

-Bill fixed our spare toilet

-got a new shower head

-got a new kitchen sink

-bought a lawnmower (and Jordan mowed today!) 

-removed the refrigerator for cleaning...it's full of mold. joy. 

-had the family room measured and quoted for carpet 

-scheduled the radon mitigation system installation. twice. they were supposed to come today but the guy broke his rib over the weekend. this will now happen Friday

-had the bee hive terminated by pest control & had the house sprayed for pests

So, despite the set-backs, we have been very productive, especially with the Scott's and my mom's help. We are eternally grateful!! 

In other news, I had my first day of work today!!! I have Orientation today, tomorrow, and Wednesday then starting Thursday I will be at my school site, which is the high school. So far, Orientation has been a nice way to ease back into the work and the new school year...but I still wish I had another week to work on the house! My SP girls & Jared would be proud of me: I correctly guessed the percentage of students in my district who received special education services (14%) and won a t-shirt! YEAH! :) :) The fun back-to-school goodies I get to look forward to are a school i.d. badge (my picture will be taken Thursday) and a laptop!! I am excited to see my office and meet my staff too. 

That's it for now. We miss you all and hope you are doing well <3 

More updates to come soon. 

Xo, 

T & J 

the latest and greatest

first of all, has it seriously been over a month since I wrote a blog post? I guess that goes to show how busy we have been....

here's a recap: 

June 14th: 

Jordan and I were in Vegas, sitting by the MGM pool for Lainey's 21st, when I received a call from my preferred school district (Mentor Public Schools) and they offered me a job!! Not to mention, the day before I received an offer from Ravenna School District! Cleveland Metropolitan School District had emailed me in June as well, basically saying "hang tight, we need to determine our budget, but we want you." 

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I was just shocked. We just left SoCal where it was SO difficult to find a full-time position without having to move East or North, then we move to Ohio and I receive three offers within a month's time? BLESSED. MEANT TO BE. Seriously, SoCal unemployed SP friends, COME JOIN ME IN OHIO! 

In pure Tina style, I made a pro's and con's list for each district and with the help of my SP friends and family, I chose Mentor. I will be the new school psychologist at the high school! I start August 12th and am so thrilled, yet anxious as well.

things I am geekishly excited about for my new job: 

• to be able to introduce myself like: "hi! I'm you're new school psychologist!" and not "hi! I'm the new long-term school psychologist substitute. I don't know how long I will be here!"
• decorating my office, which includes being able to have MY OWN book and MY OWN picture frames in my office/on bookshelves/on my desk. I may even buy a KEURIG machine for my office. it's the little things in life... :) 
• getting a badge---ooo la la! and keys! 
• meeting my team and students
• learning about the special education programs at the high school 

June 17th: 

Fast forward to the Monday after Vegas. Jordan, my dad, and I go re-visit a house we previously toured (and loved!). That night, Jordan and I decided to make an offer (on Emma's birthday!) 

June 27th: 

After 10 days of back and forth negotiating with the bank (because the house is foreclosure), both parties finally agree on the terms of the sale and we are under contract! 

Here are pictures of the house: 

Prom stairs!

Office

Living (blue) and Dining (purple)

Family Room

Morning Room <3

Kitchen

1st Floor Half Bath

Entry

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #2

Upstairs Bath

Closet

Bedroom #3

Master Bath

Walk-in closet

Master Bedroom

Basement

Walk-out Basement

July 3rd: 

I officially signed my contract with Mentor Public Schools! 

July 5th: 

House Inspection! 

Everything appeared to be in good shape, except a plumbing leak (which we knew about) and high Radon levels. We are currently getting a quote for a Radon Mitigation System. The bank previously agreed to fix the leak and hopefully they will assist with the Radon as well. Fingers crossed!

July 6th: 

Our first year anniversary!! <3 <3 <3 

July 9th: 

My school district held a reception for the new hires and introduced us, individually with a bio, to the Board of Education. I had to make a small speech at the podium and I managed to stand there and articulate well despite feeling immobilized by anxiety. They even video taped it for the Mentor Community News which will be aired on T.V. (insert my nervous laugh)

July 10th: 

Tornado warnings, flooding, severe weather OH MY! 

Within 2 hours of the flooding, it mostly disappeared. Today it is sunny and 75 :) Leave it to NE Ohio for rapid changes in the weather! 

Fun in the basement! 

Tornado! (pic provided on the T.V.) 

TODAY, July 11th: 

KATE MIDDLETON'S DUE DATE!!

Also, wishing Michele a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! xoxo

August 9th: 

Our proposed closing date on the house (and Ciara's birthday!) 

In true Tina and Jordan style, large life events are happening very close together! Soon after we close on the house, I begin my new job. The house requires lots of "cosmetic surgery" like painting, ripping down wallpaper, new carpet, new fixtures, and heavy cleaning. We are excited to make it our own and entertain our friends and family. We now have the room to do so comfortably! Who will be our first visitor to the Cle? :) 

So sorry this update is late. Hope you enjoying reading. Thank you all for your continued support. We love you so much and miss you! 

with love, 

t & j

almost one month in Ohio

it's almost been a month since we moved to Ohio...I can hardly believe it! A lot has happened since my last update...

• Ali graduated preschool

• We went camping for 4 days over Memorial Day Weekend and had surprise visitors from Bruno and Amy! 

• I got my Ohio driver's license and license plates

What my license plates look like

• Bethany and I braved taking 3 kids to the Cleveland Zoo. We couldn't figure out how to collapse the stroller though...

thank goodness the stroller fit into the backseat not collapsed! 

• My besties threw me a surprise "welcome back to Ohio & Happy Birthday party" at Heidi and Matt's. They are the best!!! What more could you ask for other than your husband, your friends, tequila, cupcakes, mexican food, and board games?! Thank you all again <3 xoxo

• Shopped for car insurance, switched companies, and saved ~$75 a month...one of the benefits of living in Ohio! and being a member of USAA because of Jordan 
• Hanna's 6th grade end of the school year choir concert

• MY BIRTHDAY!! We had a few celebrations... ;) 

Brunch at Blue Canyon

Sisters <3 at Brunch

 BBQ at the Scotts

My penguin ice cream cake!

• Wedding dress shopping with a surprise Ohio visitor...Valerie! <3
• Took the kids with me on my babysitting day to get fingerprinted and completed my application for my Ohio School Psychology License 

• Applied for 3 more SP jobs and have an interview tomorrow, Friday June 7th 

In the other news...

• We are heading to VEGAS next weekend for Lainey's 21st birthday bash!! 8 more days :) 

xo,
t & j