School's Out!!

Cortney's last final was yesterday afternoon! We made it through the first quarter of graduate school! It has only been 3 months, but I can't believe how much has happened in those 3 months! Our lives have had plenty of action- to say the least. Cort is now school-free for the next month! Cort has done everything for both of us this past quarter and I'm so thankful for all of his help, but at the same time completely amazed at how much he has done in the past months. Way to go, Babe!

We now have a week to do whatever we want (it feels so weird to say that) before we leave for CA and UT. We love Columbus more and more all the time. Almost everyday, one of us says, "Babe, I love Columbus!" New additions on our "reasons we love Columbus so much" list are: rain storms, school systems, and the library system. Quite a combination, I know. I'll explain... The rain... who doesn't love a good rainstorm? A nice downpour you hear against the windows. They happen about once a week here. Enough said. School systems... Columbus is known for having a very good public school system, but the area in which we live, Upper Arlington, is even a few notches above that. All of the schools in Upper Arlington are some of the best in the state, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were in the upper quarter of the national list as well. For instance, while all of the schools are great, each elementary school uses different teaching methods, so you as the parent can choose the school that is the best fit for how your child learns and that is how all school districts should be in my opinion. The library system... for starters, they feel more like walking into a Barnes and Noble (complete with a reading fireplace and massive over-stuffed chairs), than a public library. Everything is so well taken care of. Computers everywhere and a very large circulation of materials. All of the public libraries in Columbus are connected and you can look at the whole catalog online and make a 'wish list' and all of the items on that list will be taken to the library closest to you for pick-up. And probably the best part- a DVD collection that puts Blockbuster to shame. Seriously. Every movie and every TV show series. And it's free! Needless to say, we have been thoroughly enjoying catching up on 'The Office'.

For all of our UT friends, none of our plans are cemented yet, but all things working out, we should be there the better part of the week of December 17th and we'll leave that Saturday to head back to CA. Can't wait to see all of you!