Award

I got this award from Sarah at Faith, Hope, and Love.

The rules go like this:

1. Thank the person who gave it to you.

2. Name 10 things that make you happy.

3. Pass on to 10 bloggers and notify the winners.

So...Thank you Sarah!  I've really enjoyed getting to know you.

Now...on to 10 things that make me happy:

1.  Anthony

2.  My family

3.  My friends, far and near

4.  Seeing my students happy to come to school and see me, every day.

5.  Puppy Dog snuggles and kisses

6.  Pink Gerber daisies

7.  The sunshine

8.  Fresh baked, still warm, cookies

9.  Shopping

10.  Organizing (I know, i'm wierd)

So, since I know many of you have already done this, and I love reading all my followers blogs, so if you haven't done this yet...the award goes to you!  What makes you happy?

Venting

     I didn't much like today.  I have a stomach ulcer and it's making my life misserable.  You see, it causes extreme stomach cramps and pain.  And to take care of it, I have to take an antibiotic.  This antibiotic causes nausea and other stomach problems, dry mouth, and a bad taste in your mouth.  So, to start with, I didn't get much sleep because the extreme bad taste and dry mouth kept waking up.  I kept water by my bed, but when you drink lots of water during the night, you then have to wake up and go to the bathroom during the night.  Anyway, 6:30 rolled around and I rolled out of bed, very grumpily I might add.  I was okay while getting ready, but once I got to work, the nausea and cramps and pain started.  It made for a misserable day!  On top of that, my doctor thinks my husband and I could be passing the bacteria that causes the ulcers back and forth, especially since most people with it have no symptoms.  Well, he called his doctors office (on base) and they won't test him because he has no symptoms.  It's very frustrating to think that when I get over this, it will start over again in 2 or 3 weeks.  I might have broke down at lunch.

     But, once I got off work, things got much better.  First, I painted my toenails.  I was supposed to get a pedicure this weekend, but didn't get to.  I dug out all my summer clothes.  That made me real happy.  I love summer and I love organizing my closet!  Then, I went to pick up a prescription at WalMart and found pink Gerber Daisies in the floral area.  So I bought some.  I had an amazing dinner of leftovers and am going to make some cookies in a little bit.  So, that leaves me wondering, what do use as a pick me up after a bad day?

The Not So Good

While Kindergarten has lots of fun(ny) parts, it' also has some downers.  Maybe it's not kindergarten.  Maybe it's being a teacher in a Title 1 school.  The past few weeks I have been through some of these downer moments.  I came to a realization this week that, if I don't fight for these kids and love them and believe in them, who will?  You're probably thinking, "Uh, what about their parents?"  I don't know if these parents don't know how, don't have the means, or what, but they aren't. 

Case Number 1:  I have a student that has had lice multiple times since Christmas.  He's been sent home.  He's been given medicine.  He missed 2 days of school.  Mom told the school she didn't have money to buy medication (we sent home 3 bottles not too long ago).  So, I sent home 3 more bottles.  He's still not in school.  I ask his brother why, I find out they don't have water, so they can't use treatment.  I don't get it.  First of all, don't have more kids than you can provide for.  Next, if your problems are affecting your kids, put your pride aside and get help.  There is help if you just ask.

Case Number 2:  I have more than one student that is late to school 3 of the 5 days of school each week.  I don't get it.  If you're waking up at 7:30, and are late every day, wake up earlier!  Doesn't your child's education mean anything?

Case Number 3:  Today a parent came to pick up her child (who is always sick with a cough) and is smoking in the van with the windows up. 

My heart breaks.  I know God put me in each of these kids' lives and I know that I can do it because God is working through me.  But some days, I just feel like that load is too heavy.

Yumi-licious

Where I live, we don't have any fun places like Pink Berry.  We only have ONE ice cream place.  So, this week when Mom and I were out shopping while I was home, she suggested that one ice cream place.  I wanted something different.  I had heard of Pink Berry and we had passed another yogurt place, so that's what was on my mind.  I looked around the shopping center and this is what I found.  

It took a while but I finally convinced Mom that this would be better than ice cream.  Inside, there were about 15 different flavors of self serve frozen yogurt.  There were normal flavors like vanilla and chocolate, but there were other things like avacodo and red velvet.  Next, there was a bar of add ins.  There were fruits, cereal, candy, toppings and more.  There were so many choices.  I chose New York cheesecake with blueberries, strawberries and granola.  It was delicious. 

So good, infact, that the next day we decided to make the 45 minute drive back to get more.  (And there might have been a cute lamp involved too.)  I stuck to the same as before, but added in the blueberry tart yogurt with the cheesecake.  It was even better!  (I really wanted to red velvet cake, but just couldn't figure out what to mix in with it.)

Thoughts on Deployment

It's been a while since I've blogged.  I was busy the first half of the week.  Then, after reading about Rachel's loss, I really didn't know what to say.  My heart just breaks for her and her daughter every time I think about it.  At the same time, I'm amazed at how all the military spouses have came together through a tough time. 

If you keep up with my blog, you know that Anthony will have his first deployment in May.  I try to keep it in the back of my mind and enjoy the time that I have with him now.  I'm kind of scared of what I will be like when the time gets closer.  I remember how I felt before he left for basic (which was only 6 1/2 weeks).  I cried for days leading up to it and I cried pretty much the whole time he was gone.  I cry as I think about it. 

So, I ask, how do you cope with it and what do you recommend doing to make it easier?

All in 2 Days' Work

Wow...kindergarten gets pretty entertaining.  I've laughed and laughed over the funnies from the past two days.  Thought you might want to laugh.

• Caught one of my students stuffing her shirt with toilet paper so it looked like boobs.  Really?  I don't think 6 year old boys are into boobs yet.
• A boy came to my table and said "J's saying bad things about you."  Oh boy.  This is the same boy that said I had a big butt, even though I have NO butt.  So, I walk to his table and sit down.  I asked him what he said.  After lots of interogating I finally got it out.  I'm a doodoo head.  Yup.  A doodoo head.  I'm not real sure why I'm a doodoo head, but I am.
• A couple of my kids were throwing their shoes in the trash.  I told them to stop that only trash goes in the trashcan.  I look over and two more boys have their shoes off and are throwing them in the trashcan.  I asked what happened and one said his shoe fell off and fell right in the trasch can.  What an amazing trick.  Instead of moving their clips, I took their shoes away.  I got out plastic sacks and told them since they thought their shoes were trash, I'd make sure they got taken out with the trash.  Yeah, I know, that was mean.  My mother told me I was a mean teacher when I told her.  I think that got the point across.  One cried for a long time.  The other refused to go to his work station and instead put his head down.  I gave their shoes back after a bit and we talked about what happened.  I don't think they will put anything but trash in the trashcan for a long time.  And I might be even meaner because I got a good laugh out of this situation too.

Oh, I'm so ready for a week off at spring break!

My Great Weekend

This weekend has been just wonderful.  I haven't done anything spectacular but it has still be great.

Friday night, Anthony worked.  Although I love when Anthony's home, Friday nights I just like to unwind after a long week.  This Friday, I watched What Not to Wear and caught up on missed TV shows that have been DVRed.  I enjoyed eating junk for dinner.  And I crawled into bed at 10. 

Saturday, Anthony was home.  We each had a baby shower to go to.  The wives all had a traditional baby shower, while the husbands had a diaper shower with beer.  It was really nice to hang out with the wives.    After the showers, we ran some errands, ate dinner (crockpot peppered steak was amazing!) and watched the Maverick game on TV.  My kind of Saturday!

Today, Anthony's back at work.  But after today, he's off for 2 1/2 weeks!!!!  I went to church this morning with a friend and her husband.  It was nice to not have to go alone while Anthony was working.  She's the friend whose shower I went to.  She's been on bed rest for the past 7 weeks because she went into early labor 8 weeks ago.  Thankfully they were able to stop it and she is now at 37 weeks!!  It was nice to get see her and I know she's enjoyed being out of the house this weekend.  Now, I'm lounging around.  It's wonderful.  I think every now and then we can all use a lazy weekend to just relax and let our bodies take care of themselves!  And now, only 1 week until spring break!

I hope my readers had a wonderful weekend as well. 

Menu Monday

A while ago I noticed other people posting menus for the week.  At the time, I wasn't cooking anything exciting, so I didn't blog about it, but I did start making a menu.  I come up with 2 weeks worth of food (only 8 days with Anthony's work and bowling schedule) and then head to the commisary.  Then, every weekend, I plan out the menu for the week.  I try to cook foods that will end up with microwavable leftovers (casseroles, shredded chicken, hamburger meat things) early in the week so I have things to take for lunch or eat while Anthony works.  Well, now I'm trying out 1-2 new recipes every couple weeks so I thought I'd share my menu and recipes.

Sunday-Stuffed Bell Peppers from Kimmie

Monday-Tortellini w/ Alfredo Sauce (Bertolli's)
Salad
Roll

Tuesday- Mexican Lasagna (recipe below)
Fiesta Corn (DelMonte with a sprinkle of Cayenne pepper)

Wendesay-Anthony bowls, so we at at the bowling ally

Thursday- Hawaiin Chicken Kabobs (directions below)

Friday-whatever I decide to heat up since it will just be me

Saturday-Peppered Steak
Rice
Salad


Recipes from above:

Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 (15-ounce) can jalapeno ranch-style pinto beans, drained

2/3 cup canned diced tomatoes and green chiles (AKA Rotel)
1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of celery soup

1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce

9 (6-inch) corn tortillas

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 medium tomato, seeded and diced (I left these out)
4 green onions, chopped (didn't have any, so I used about 1/8 c white onion)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 medium avocado, chopped (didn't use these)



Preparation

1.Cook sausage and ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in beans and next 5 ingredients; cook until thoroughly heated.

2.Stir together soups and enchilada sauce in a saucepan; cook until thoroughly heated.

3.Spoon one-third of sauce onto bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish; top with 3 tortillas. 4.Spoon half of beef mixture and one-third of sauce over tortillas; sprinkle with half of Cheddar cheese. Top with 3 tortillas; repeat layers ending with tortillas. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese and next 3 ingredients.

5.Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
 
Hawaiin Kabobs
 
1 lb Chicken breast
Hawaiin marinade (we like McCormick's Grill Mates)
1 bell pepper
1 red pepper
1 onion
mushrooms
Kabob sticks
 
1.  Cut chicken into cubes.  Marinate for 2-4 hours.
2.  Cut up peppers and onions to desired size.
3.  Put peppers, onions, mushrooms and chicken onto the kabobs.
4.  Grill or bake until chicken is done.
5.  Serve over rice!