We Made It

We got back at 10:30 last night.  I learned a lot as a first year coach by just being at the competition.  You know what I'm talking about, things you just have to see and experience to be able to put into practice.  I've already got a lot of ideas for next year on how to do things differently.  We didn't place, but when I looked at the final point sheet break down, we were only twenty points away...which for a first year coach isn't bad.

The happy and tired coaches.  Yes, our group's name was "The Random Pretty Bubble Ninjas."  HH was never so happy to have a t-shirt that says that in his life.

All in all a good day was had, and memories were made. 

Early Saturday Morning

This morning HH and and I are learning at 5:00 am on a school bus to go to Rapid City for the DI Competition.  Yesterday was the final practice and dress rehearsal.  My dining room table looked like this:

These are some but not all the props we are using to create our skit, which is a movie trailer.

HH lead the practices, as it was all about acting.



We did a final dress rehearsal with all the different groups.  This was the first time we got to see the other groups completed projects.  I was impressed at the variety and creativity. 

Last night we didn't go to youth at church because we are leaving so early.  I worked on a project I've been meaning to for a long time....pulling out recipes from magazines that I want to try, and TOSSING the magazines.  I was starting to get on magazine overload.  I might have needed an intervention if I didn't do this soon.  I have over a hundred recipes I want to try now.  Two a week, that is doable right?

I will not be missing that big stack.  Look for new recipes to come.

Jammies and Junk Food Ladies Fellowship

Parmesan Fondue

This went over just like the comments said...people raved over it.  It was so simple to make, and they scraped the mini-crockpot clean.  I toasted a French baguette, and put a Pampered Chef dip on the baguette to add some extra flavor.  (Sorry for the glare.)

Chicken Salad with Crossiants

Pasta with Aspargus

There is more to this dish than meets the eye...red pepper flakes and a bit of kick.

Boston Cream Pie

Ladies Who Came Over...

Something that I will be making in the near future: 21st Century Mac and Cheese from The Splendid Table.

I am currently relaxing watching episodes of Ice Loves Coco on E.  When I read Ice T's most recent book, I could really tell just how much he loved his wife, and that he worked hard on his relationship.  I found out about this show from the marriage blog Jen's Love Lessons that I follow.  They have been married over ten years.

Great Words to Read...

Thank you for completing Bethany's Preliminary Application for international adoption.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland came to the Rez this week.  :)  I had ten students participate (some are my math group, my homeroom, and my afterschool kids.)  I was very impressed in what they could do in four days!

I made the "I'm Lucky to Have You" St. Patrick's Day surprise for HH.  Of course it is from The Dating Divas!  I really like St. Patrick's Day, and miss going to Molly Malones back in Louisville and the parade.  I love that it is EASY to list reasons that I am lucky to have HH.

We drove to a nearby town to have lunch together today.  That was really nice, and the fact that it was 70 degrees didn't hurt either.  :)  I told HH that I was struggling some because there is "School Us" (He helps after school with all the activities, and we are fortunate that he gets paid to be my helper.), and there is "Church Us"....and sometimes I just want "Us Us."  :) 

There is a good chance I am going to get to complete one of my life-long dreams....to drive a combine tractor!  HH talked with a farmer he knows, and he said that I could, but it probably wouldn't be until late July or early August.  This is going to be awesome.

Our hot water is messed up.  We have it, but we have almost NO water pressure (it has never been great).  We will be taking showers at the church in the evenings until this is fixed.  A plumber is being called on Monday, but it may take a bit before they are able to get here.  At least we have a place to shower at. 



Dental Work is DONE

Last night, I was a source of great amusement to HH.  My left side of my face would move as I spoke, but my right side was completely frozen.  It was crazy to see in the mirror.Of course, I needed to capture this with stupid pictures.

The most hilarious part of last night was when we went to dinner.  I see three of the ladies I've been in training with.  One of the ladies has been married for 26 years, and her husband teases her that she comes to these trainings and spends her money on strippers.  If you only knew the area, seriously.....NO.  So HH poses with her, while she is waving a dollar bill and he has his shirt lifted up.  PRICELESS!

After today, I will be a Cognitive Coach.  :)

Wednesday Night at Church

About every six weeks I have to cook for church on Wednesday.  I cook with my friend Amy which makes it easier.  She is lots of fun.  This week I needed everything to be ready to go, since I have sub plans for Thursday and Friday to get together.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Sausage Soup

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

I could have easily made double of this.  People went back for seconds of it.  My two girls from my class thought it was a hit.
Cake Batter Fudge

I didn't have the right size pan for this, so my pieces of fudge are a bit on the thin side.  They are certainly not lacking in the taste factor.  I didn't know how it would be able to capture the exact taste of licking the bowl, but it does to a T!  I think it would have been cute to cut them into small shapes, shamrocks perhaps since we are in March?  I need to get some cute mini cookie cutters.

Two of My Students

These two girls are very hard workers.  Both frequently ask to stay after school to work on their homework, and since they never cause any problems, I'm more than fine with that.  They wanted to stay after yesterday, but I told them I had to cook for church.  They helped me gather things at the church, and did their homework there.  Both of their grandparents said it was fine.  They have been faithful attenders of our Friday night youth event.

I'm in Pierre for my last two days of training.  I will be a Cognitive Coach once these two days are complete.  HH gets to be here with me, which is nice.  I like our small times away when it is just us.

This American Life

I really enjoyed this episode of This American Life.

"Actually one of the things that's a comfort in marriage is that there isn't a door at 7 years. And so if something is messed up in the short term, there's a comfort of knowing we made this commitment so we're just going to work this out. And even if tonight there's something wrong or something between us doesn't feel right, we have a comfort in knowing we've got time, we're going to figure this out. And it makes it so much easier. Because you do have times when you hate each other's guts, you know what I mean? And the 'no escape' clause, weirdly, is a bigger comfort to being married than I ever would have thought before I got married."

I always want my marriage to get better.  I read a lot about people who made it work, especially people who didn't have an easy go of it.  Right now I am reading 25 Surprising Marriages.  This book is about very public Christian figures over the years, and what their marriages were like.  I'm learning a lot, especially that everyone must work at their marriage.

I got to spend Friday night in Rapid with HH.  We had a room with a hot tub.  We had a bed that was bigger than the city we currently reside in.  It was awesome.  We ate Red Lobster un masse.  LOVE.

This and That

These two girls were showing off their cooking competition.  (The girl on the left is my student.)  They were so proud of their creation.  I was working on a project for my class, so instead of spending the previous Friday out with the kids, I holed myself up in the church office, and got to working on my 30 book annotated bibliography.

This is Cameron.  I love this boy.  Since I don't have children yet, I spoil him with all kinds of treats and goodies.  Currently, I'm planning an Angry Bird themed birthday party for him in May.

On February 25th, I hosted a Valentine's Day dinner "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" for the married couples in our church.  I made Strawberries and Cream Butter Cake.  It was a bit overcooked.  I also made my own whipped cream.

In fear that people wouldn't RSVP, I made a big thing of pasta as a side dish.  It was ok, but nothing to write home about.

Loaded Baked Potato Dip, this was so easy, and everyone went back for seconds!

Potato Spinach Lasagna  (There was one guy who didn't like spinach, but he still went back for seconds on this!)

The table all set for our guests.  HH's mom sent up some chocolate mint soap as decorations and party favors.

Our new piece of art....why yes, it is a dragon....how kind of you to notice.  :)  Cameron made this for us, and asked us where in our house we were going to hang it up.  I think it makes the stove pipe pop personally.

I love We Heart Art.  I got this project idea from their website.  It was the end of the third quarter, and all the other classes were watching movies.  I didn't want to show a movie, because we had too many projects we are working on finishing up. My compromise was allowing them to make these "Papel Picadas" for about thirty minutes.

I decided to have a little fun with my high Math group on Friday.  I had ordered a Math review book, and they sent me the Spanish version by accident.  I copied a page, and told them they had homework.  It was a good laugh.

I didn't get to take a picture, but today for potluck I brought Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan.  It was great.  Things got busy after church, and I forgot to take a picture.  I got lots of compliments.  :)  It only took about twenty minutes of prep time too!

GREAT NEWS:

I checked with my principal and superintendent last week on the likelihood of my having a job next year or not.  In education this time of year there is always a lot of speculation on what funding will be for the following year.  We need me to have a job here to stay.  I didn't have to worry about that in my previous school district because there were about 1,000 teachers below me.  I 100% have a job next year!  This is good news because many things can move forward like our vacation to Kansas at the end of May, my plastic surgery, and our adoption process!