Yes.... Four hours of meetings, one before school, and three after school.....what does that merit? A trip to Cato to buy some new clothes! :) I got several cute fall tops (I held off on buying any sweaters) and a pair of gray pants. I got lots of work done today while my student teacher was teaching (today and tomorrow are her two consecutive solo days). I wanted her not to feel as nervous, so I tried to occupy myself with other things.
I'm going to try to get several more things crossed off my to-do list tomorrow while my student teacher is doing her solo. I can't leave the room, but heaven knows there is plenty in that room that I can do!
On Monday I am going to bring this appetizer to work. I will probably add pepporini and proscuitto to it. We are having an appetizer lunch potluck. I will grab mine really quickly, then take the kids back to the classroom.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hating Facebook
I know I am hesitant about people displaying pictures of when I was heavy, but there is an awful one of me on facebook. It is not even just my weight in the picture, but the fact that I am roughly fourteen in the picture. Did anyone look great as a teenager? I look so awkward and gawky. BAD BAD BAD.
Today I have FOUR hours of meetings. One hour before school, and three hours after school. Today is going to stink. I got a new student yesterday. Ben picks me up after school so we can go to the Quartet Convention. We stop to eat at Cracker Barrel since it is closeby. I was eating my dinner and the whole time I thought, I'd rather be eating at home. The food was "ok".... but it was nothing spectacular. I don't think I would have ever thought that a year ago.
I wish I could write more now, but I am not really thinking that clearly. Need a large cup of Starbucks!
Today I have FOUR hours of meetings. One hour before school, and three hours after school. Today is going to stink. I got a new student yesterday. Ben picks me up after school so we can go to the Quartet Convention. We stop to eat at Cracker Barrel since it is closeby. I was eating my dinner and the whole time I thought, I'd rather be eating at home. The food was "ok".... but it was nothing spectacular. I don't think I would have ever thought that a year ago.
I wish I could write more now, but I am not really thinking that clearly. Need a large cup of Starbucks!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Starting to Seem Real...
Where in the US will Ben and I be in the next six months to year? That remains the million dollar question. Ben sent out 41 resumes last week, and is sending out 267 tomorrow. He got three email responses from Minnesota, Alabama, and Kentucky. It is so weird wondering where we will end up at.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Whats Been Going On Around Here....
Ben was cleaning up the house yesterday for our company and decided that a safari hat was in order to help him complete the task.....
Our mini-campfire....with emergency candles....
Ben hard at work making me an authentic smore. I actually miss his old stove at the seminary....
The finished product.....oh so yummy!!!! I had one of these....ok two of these.
Lose the Halo, Keep the Wings
Our mini-campfire....with emergency candles....
Ben hard at work making me an authentic smore. I actually miss his old stove at the seminary....
The finished product.....oh so yummy!!!! I had one of these....ok two of these.
The zoo was pretty good this afternoon. I was thinking about my niece's upcoming birthday next month. I remember going to the hospital to see her when she was born, and I remember wearing a pair of size 26 pants that I had just been able to get into. That blows my mind, that I am so much smaller now. She doesn't know me as someone who used to be heavy.
I got to come home and take a three hour nap. It was glorious!
Here is what I've been watching (from Netflix):
What I've Been Reading:
Lose the Halo, Keep the Wings
(I finished this in two days....this book is a RIOT!!! I read half of it aloud to HH, and he even loved it!)
Books I am Getting Ready to Start....
What I Should Be Reading.....
What I am Lusting Over....
Please, Please, Please Let This Be My Christmas Present!!! (With how much I read, and the discount they offer it would pay for itself in a heartbeat.)
I made the Bacon Tomato Casserole tonight. I am going to put it in individual containers for some lunch this week.
Ben's mom finds out on Friday when she is going to have her pacemaker replaced. She insists that she will be fine, and that she doesn't need anyone to take care of her. I am quite worried about her. I think it would be of benefit if she had someone there helping her out for a few days. Ben and I are trying to decide how not to be forceful, but to invite ourselves down to take care of her.
Success!!!
Our first dinner gathering was a great success! :) I can tell I am getting more comfortable with cooking because I waited until they arrived to start making the dish. I didn't want the pasta to get all sticky and nasty. This would have freaked me out a while back, but I was cool with it.
So, here are two people that subscribe to Bon Appetite magazine, and she asks me for the dinner recipe. That was very awesome. They all loved the cake, and so did our neighbors. I believe in sharing the love/food, but more important sharing the calories.
After our guests left, we watched a movie from Netflix.
We have church, then are meeting the fam at the zoo to celebrate my brother and sister's 25th birthday. Afterwards, they are going on to the Spaghetti Factory, but Ben and I will be going home. I want a Sunday afternoon nap, and to have a nice meal at the house. :)
So, here are two people that subscribe to Bon Appetite magazine, and she asks me for the dinner recipe. That was very awesome. They all loved the cake, and so did our neighbors. I believe in sharing the love/food, but more important sharing the calories.
After our guests left, we watched a movie from Netflix.
We have church, then are meeting the fam at the zoo to celebrate my brother and sister's 25th birthday. Afterwards, they are going on to the Spaghetti Factory, but Ben and I will be going home. I want a Sunday afternoon nap, and to have a nice meal at the house. :)
Who is HH?
Many people on the internet refer to their husband as "DH." I believe this stands for "darling husband." I decided to put my own spin on it, and refer to my husband as HH, for "Hot Husband." :)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Signed, Sealed, Delivered....
MY NEXT SKYDIVING JUMP THAT IS!!!!!!!
I am jumping for the second time on October 10th. I will still be jumping tandem, but this time I will be going at dusk! Wooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo!!!!! When I called to make the reservation, I specifically asked if Larry was going to be working, and if I could reserve my jump with him. The guy said well sure, but may I ask why Larry? We have people who have more jumps than him. (Larry had 2550 when I jumped with him last May.) I said, "Because Larry is the only person I have jumped out of a plane with, and I'd like to keep it that way."
Things On My Mind
This post is pretty much going to be all over the board....but I always seem to have a problem having one topic posts anyhow. Lets dive on in...
Open House at school wasn't too bad. The best part was I had three former students come back to visit me. One of them was the particularly challenging kid that got transferred into my class in February. It was so awesome to see the level of respect he had for me, and the amount of pride he had in himself about his accomplishments. I love this kid, and would totally take him home! Some days I wish I had the patience to teach the little students, because you get to watch them grow up over several years while they are still in the building. My kids always move on to middle school, so I don't get to see that.
I only had one parent ask me about the "shirt tucking in rule." This was the first thing she asked, I don't mind that she asked, but I was hoping that her child's ability to read, write, and think on a fifth grade level was more important. I gave her my feelings on it, very politely, but firmly. Then, I changed the subject to the focus of his academic needs.
I am saving the best for last, Mr. Kiss. Mr. and Mrs. Kiss are super involved parents for their only daughter Samantha, who is a superstar student. I am taking to Mrs. Kiss when I overhear random words from Mr. Kiss who is talking to my student teacher. Words such as "every Kiss concert, Jack Daniels, buying cigarettes since I was ten......" and the like. Turns ot Mr. Kiss is a real riot. We pretty much talked about everything under the sun except for his daughter and her performance. It takes all kinds people, that is all I can say.
Last Friday, someone was breaking a window out around six pm at our building. Our district has fixed this problem by putting a huge piece of cardboard on it, and covering it with duct tape. Yeah, this is going to do wonders to keep out vandals. It has been one week. No offense, but considering the location of our school and the crime rate, you think that even though we are a huge district that fixing a window at our building would be a much higher priority than in other areas. I'm waiting to see just how long it takes to get repaired.
I found out yesterday that my toughest student is moving. I miss kids often when they move, but it is kids like this one that I really worry about. What if they get a really crappy teacher who only wants a paycheck, and doesn't really care about them? What if they try to get him placed in an alternative school instead of actually working with him and helping him change? He is so tough on the outside, but more fragile than an eggshell on the inside.
HH picked me up from school and we went to the Tequila Factory for some great Mexican food. I branched out from the normal "chicken taco salad" that I always have, and had enchiladas. They were very good. Afterwards I had a small orange sherbet. We went to the family from Canada's house, and hung out with the youngest boy while they went to a function with their high school son.
I got an Ann Taylor mailer/catalog yesterday. I had to take a few minutes and get on my soapbox, and (un)fortunately, my HH was there for the ride. These girls were beyond normal model skinny, and were awful looking. They looked like my fifth grade girls, except only they were a foot taller, and fifteen years older. HH even said he thought they had been photshopped. Is it asking too much to have some girls who are normal sized, that don't look like they need feeding tubes and to be checked in at a treatment facility?
This evening we are entertaining our friends Jeri and Cassie. I am cooking! :) This is the first in-home entertaining we have done other than for my parents. Today makes an important day in my amateur culinary career. I am making my first cake that is not from a box. I know, since I am thirty, I figured it was about time I try. Here is the recipe:
Scotch Chocolate Cake:
2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup crisco
4 Tbsp. Cocoa
1 Cup Water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp Soda
2 eggs
Vanilla
Mix flour and sugar, set aside; in saucepan melt margarine, shortening, cocoa, water, and bring to a rapid boil; Pour over flour and sugar: add soda and buttermilk. Stir mixture then add eggs and vanilla; beat. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes in a 9 x 3 greased pan.
Frosting:
8 oz. chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Boil butter, sugar, and milk for sixty seconds, add chips....melt and stir. Pour over the warm cake.
For dinner for our guests, we are having Bow Ties with Asparagus and Prosciutto. I have made this once before, and wanted to make something that I knew would turn out well.
Here is the rest of the meal plan:
Sunday Evening: Upside-Down Deep Dish Pizza
Monday: Taco Calzones
Tuesday: Eating Out (Going to the National Quartet Convention)
Wednesday: Fend for Yourself (Late Work Meeting until 7:30)
Thursday: Seminary Wives Institute Night (Ben's Taco Bell/Burger King/Insert Fast Food Restaurant Name Here Night)
Friday: Out with the girls from my former job
Saturday (either lunch or dinner): Four-Cheese Linguine with Prosciutto
Sunday Lunch: Chicken Ricotta Suffed Shells
Sunday Dinner: Blue Cheee Sroganoff
On Tuesday night I am also going to make a Bacon Tomato Casserole. I was supposed to make it last week, but didn't get around to it. By doing that I can divide out the casserole to have it to take to work for Wednesday and Thursday for lunch.
I can tell I am really starting to like cooking because I was truly bummed that after making a menu plan for the week, I realized that we can't eat at home several nights this week. That is a pretty good feeling, knowing I am starting to like it. I knew cooking was something I was going to have to "do", but it is another thing to be able to "enjoy" doing it. I am crossing over to that side. Life is good.
A Few Things I Love About My Husband:
* He has been doing the grocery shopping for me. Since I have been cookng, these lists can get quite detailed, and he has taken care of all of it. This is a serious time saver to me.
* I don't know what the price of gas is. He has filled up the tank on our cars since we have gotten married. I hate pumping gas, and he does it.
* He is so encouraging and supportive.
* He makes me laugh so much, I am going to live longer, and possibly never need meds (aka happy pills).
Open House at school wasn't too bad. The best part was I had three former students come back to visit me. One of them was the particularly challenging kid that got transferred into my class in February. It was so awesome to see the level of respect he had for me, and the amount of pride he had in himself about his accomplishments. I love this kid, and would totally take him home! Some days I wish I had the patience to teach the little students, because you get to watch them grow up over several years while they are still in the building. My kids always move on to middle school, so I don't get to see that.
I only had one parent ask me about the "shirt tucking in rule." This was the first thing she asked, I don't mind that she asked, but I was hoping that her child's ability to read, write, and think on a fifth grade level was more important. I gave her my feelings on it, very politely, but firmly. Then, I changed the subject to the focus of his academic needs.
I am saving the best for last, Mr. Kiss. Mr. and Mrs. Kiss are super involved parents for their only daughter Samantha, who is a superstar student. I am taking to Mrs. Kiss when I overhear random words from Mr. Kiss who is talking to my student teacher. Words such as "every Kiss concert, Jack Daniels, buying cigarettes since I was ten......" and the like. Turns ot Mr. Kiss is a real riot. We pretty much talked about everything under the sun except for his daughter and her performance. It takes all kinds people, that is all I can say.
Last Friday, someone was breaking a window out around six pm at our building. Our district has fixed this problem by putting a huge piece of cardboard on it, and covering it with duct tape. Yeah, this is going to do wonders to keep out vandals. It has been one week. No offense, but considering the location of our school and the crime rate, you think that even though we are a huge district that fixing a window at our building would be a much higher priority than in other areas. I'm waiting to see just how long it takes to get repaired.
I found out yesterday that my toughest student is moving. I miss kids often when they move, but it is kids like this one that I really worry about. What if they get a really crappy teacher who only wants a paycheck, and doesn't really care about them? What if they try to get him placed in an alternative school instead of actually working with him and helping him change? He is so tough on the outside, but more fragile than an eggshell on the inside.
HH picked me up from school and we went to the Tequila Factory for some great Mexican food. I branched out from the normal "chicken taco salad" that I always have, and had enchiladas. They were very good. Afterwards I had a small orange sherbet. We went to the family from Canada's house, and hung out with the youngest boy while they went to a function with their high school son.
I got an Ann Taylor mailer/catalog yesterday. I had to take a few minutes and get on my soapbox, and (un)fortunately, my HH was there for the ride. These girls were beyond normal model skinny, and were awful looking. They looked like my fifth grade girls, except only they were a foot taller, and fifteen years older. HH even said he thought they had been photshopped. Is it asking too much to have some girls who are normal sized, that don't look like they need feeding tubes and to be checked in at a treatment facility?
This evening we are entertaining our friends Jeri and Cassie. I am cooking! :) This is the first in-home entertaining we have done other than for my parents. Today makes an important day in my amateur culinary career. I am making my first cake that is not from a box. I know, since I am thirty, I figured it was about time I try. Here is the recipe:
Scotch Chocolate Cake:
2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup crisco
4 Tbsp. Cocoa
1 Cup Water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp Soda
2 eggs
Vanilla
Mix flour and sugar, set aside; in saucepan melt margarine, shortening, cocoa, water, and bring to a rapid boil; Pour over flour and sugar: add soda and buttermilk. Stir mixture then add eggs and vanilla; beat. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes in a 9 x 3 greased pan.
Frosting:
8 oz. chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Boil butter, sugar, and milk for sixty seconds, add chips....melt and stir. Pour over the warm cake.
For dinner for our guests, we are having Bow Ties with Asparagus and Prosciutto. I have made this once before, and wanted to make something that I knew would turn out well.
Here is the rest of the meal plan:
Sunday Evening: Upside-Down Deep Dish Pizza
Monday: Taco Calzones
Tuesday: Eating Out (Going to the National Quartet Convention)
Wednesday: Fend for Yourself (Late Work Meeting until 7:30)
Thursday: Seminary Wives Institute Night (Ben's Taco Bell/Burger King/Insert Fast Food Restaurant Name Here Night)
Friday: Out with the girls from my former job
Saturday (either lunch or dinner): Four-Cheese Linguine with Prosciutto
Sunday Lunch: Chicken Ricotta Suffed Shells
Sunday Dinner: Blue Cheee Sroganoff
On Tuesday night I am also going to make a Bacon Tomato Casserole. I was supposed to make it last week, but didn't get around to it. By doing that I can divide out the casserole to have it to take to work for Wednesday and Thursday for lunch.
I can tell I am really starting to like cooking because I was truly bummed that after making a menu plan for the week, I realized that we can't eat at home several nights this week. That is a pretty good feeling, knowing I am starting to like it. I knew cooking was something I was going to have to "do", but it is another thing to be able to "enjoy" doing it. I am crossing over to that side. Life is good.
A Few Things I Love About My Husband:
* He has been doing the grocery shopping for me. Since I have been cookng, these lists can get quite detailed, and he has taken care of all of it. This is a serious time saver to me.
* I don't know what the price of gas is. He has filled up the tank on our cars since we have gotten married. I hate pumping gas, and he does it.
* He is so encouraging and supportive.
* He makes me laugh so much, I am going to live longer, and possibly never need meds (aka happy pills).
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Part Zombies....
We watched President Obama's speech today. I am really big on my kids paying super close attention any time I put something on the Smartboard to watch. I use short video clips from United Streaming in my class often, but they usually are 3-5 minutes. They were really into the speech for about the first seven minutes, then after that I could tell that they had checked out as a whole. They were still doing all my biggie things like facing forward, not putting their head on their desk, not playing with things, etc...but I could tell it went too long for them. I liked the message of the speech, but wished that he had done an elementary version (shorter in length by half), and a middle/high school version.
Tomorrow is Open House. Last year I only had two or three parents come. I don't like starting the day so early and ending it so late. I also have to miss Seminary Wives Institute, which I really am enjoying attending.
I now have a total of SIX dental appointments between now October 3rd and December 2nd. Go ME! (Thanks Mom for your crappy teeth that I inherited!!!) I need three more crowns done. I have been doing them on the as I can afford them plan (since they are $480 apiece, AFTER insurance). With the real possibility that HH and I could be living somewhere else by February (at the latest hopefully), I want to go ahead and get this done. It takes me a long time to trust a dentist and hygentist, so I don't want to be in a new town and have to find someone I can trust to do major dental work on me. I think I might need to start singing Christmas carols while at the office, since this looks like it might be a large part of my Christmas. The secretary offered to "double book" me on some of the days. The crown seeding takes an hour and a half, and keeping my mouth open for so long really is painful. I couldn't imagine doing a longer appointment. These are the days when I think, wow, I love being an adult!
Tomorrow is Open House. Last year I only had two or three parents come. I don't like starting the day so early and ending it so late. I also have to miss Seminary Wives Institute, which I really am enjoying attending.
I now have a total of SIX dental appointments between now October 3rd and December 2nd. Go ME! (Thanks Mom for your crappy teeth that I inherited!!!) I need three more crowns done. I have been doing them on the as I can afford them plan (since they are $480 apiece, AFTER insurance). With the real possibility that HH and I could be living somewhere else by February (at the latest hopefully), I want to go ahead and get this done. It takes me a long time to trust a dentist and hygentist, so I don't want to be in a new town and have to find someone I can trust to do major dental work on me. I think I might need to start singing Christmas carols while at the office, since this looks like it might be a large part of my Christmas. The secretary offered to "double book" me on some of the days. The crown seeding takes an hour and a half, and keeping my mouth open for so long really is painful. I couldn't imagine doing a longer appointment. These are the days when I think, wow, I love being an adult!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
I Like Carbs and I Cannot Lie.....
Here are the "To Die For Blueberry Muffins"...... yes, they are so HUGE. The biggest muffins I have ever seen.
Ben is taking one for the team. HH was the tester to make sure the muffins were edible for my study group at work tomorrow. Yes, it was hard being so sacrificial, but he performed his duties like a champ!
I just ordered by best friend and my niece's Christmas gifts. I am going to get these gifts taken care of. I don't like the Christmas stress close to the holidays shopping at the malls. I plan on getting everything done by the beginning of October.
HH bought me a computer lap desk. It is so handy. I like not having my legs not get so warm.
HH got our broken grill piece today. It was the wrong piece, so we are back at square one. The living room still has grill parts all over it.
Ben put some of our wedding pictures in the various frames we got from showers and as wedding gifts. We are going to pick out one picture that we want blown up to a 16 by 20, and get it framed.
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