A BIG thank you!

Just a big shout out to Carey and Bobbi, you guys are awesome! I am sitting here at school waiting for a pta event to start and then be out of here around 8:30 (adding some internship hours-which I am totally behind on keeping track of). Of couse what ever cold/cough I had is STILL lingering...I will be in great mood for class tomorrow from 8-6 uggggg-but hopefully my portfolio will be done by the time the day is over, maybe completing that will help me with this funk I am in, I am pretty good at keeping worrying thoughts at bay but so MANY things I am pondering and worrying about, I can't even put them in a list. Oh well, back to work.

I am not good at this...

I don't enjoy fundraising, candy sales etc but couldn't pass this chance up being a special ed teacher and advocate. Check out the link and if any want's to support me that would be great-you all could come watch me jump and then we can go have hot toddies (you could have a nice winter vacation in the hills)!

http://www.firstgiving.com/rapidvalley

One more crazy thing...

So I was sitting here catching up on blogging and actually chatting with the husband at 9:00 PM after family bingo night at the school and remembered I had to make something for a bake sale tomorrow morning. The oxymoron of it is the bake sale is at 7:30 in the morning and it is for funds for boot camp equipment-we are offering baked goods to people coming in to workout. Kind of amusing to me. Good thing I had the big box of Sam's club fancy brownie mix for just such an occasion, didn't quite find the time to look for the healthy baked good item I aspired to. Boy those brownies sure smell good...

Sitting at the top of the roller coaster

So you know that feeling when you are on a really scary ride and the anticipation is almost unbearable? Well I was driving in the car and my mind was running through a thousand-no not exaggerating- a thousand things that are on my mind and the anxiety I felt was JUST like that-but without the really cool adrenaline you get once the ride starts.
I am on the tail end of the my coursework-two classes, orals, portfolio, internship and graduation and oh yeah my regular job and family. As I was driving I started to have this feeling that I just can't do it without having a nervous breakdown. My principal is pushing me to do the orals in March-not July like I had planned-just in case their is openings for principals next year. I am still on the fence-and I can't even put into words why, it doesn't help that hubby has been working until 9 every night and weekends and will be the next month. I worry about my family suffering the next 8 weeks, I don't know how much more spaghetti and lame dinners I can keep serving or homework I am not helping with and not feel guilty. Exercise will go out the window and time with hubby is sitting on my computer while we watch a show together.
So here I am heading to the top of the roller coaster, the anxiety building and just hoping the ride at the end will be worth it!

By the way I have actually been so occupied with this I forgot a big 5 YEAR milestone is coming up-more on that in two weeks.

Time to make the donuts...

So what does one do when she is putting off homework and the stress of big decisions weigh heavily on the mind. Make homemade donuts of course. Oldest son has been begging me to make these (using the canned biscuits) so we did, they are awesome when warm and fresh, the donut holes you cut are actually the best part

So much for that...

So I came home tonight resolved to enjoy and not get uptight with my 9 year old's behavior-mainly the snotty voice and his acting like we are all just a big pain in HIS you know what. He was WONDERFUL in the car and the minute we pull in the garage and his little brother doesn't carry his backpack he gets mouthy, and then when little brother accidently steps on it and gets it muddy he loses it. I sent him to his room for the rest of the night where he proceeds to grumble and yell. This is the third night and I have had enough! I am going to go downstairs to work out and hopefully that will keep me from sayinig things that better left unsaid, I can tell the sarcastic, snotty part of me is just waiting to ROAR!!

Appliance Anxiety

So the Friday night was pretty scary at our house. We have a VERY nice washer that has not been working very nicely-I think I mentioned going to the laundromat in previous blogs. So Friday when I put a load in to get the jump on weekend laundry it starts doing the beeping thing. The beeping it does when we have to call the Sears guy. Well the beeping started after it filled with water and the door locked. The earliest appt was the next THURSDAY. Well we all know what happens to wet clothes in the washer-if you are perfect and don't ask me sometime. So hubby has had a terrible week at work and then this happens and he starts the "quiet man tantrum". He is trying to pry the door open and CRACKS it. He states he is going to take an ax to it to get the clothes out-at this point I think that is better then taking the ax to Sears, which is his second choice. Long story short we drain the washer-get the clothes out and he tells we are buying a new washer TOMORROW.

So here I sit tonight, with a new washer and DRYER-the rationale of wise hubby is to sell the old ones as a pair and be able to stack the new ones to better utilize space-great idea but the closet isn't deep enough. I also sit here with a big pile of clothes that I am afraid to wash for 1)I am afraid of a Friday night repeat and 2)The things are so fancy, I don't know how to use it and have the energy to read the manual. Hubby is at least happy he can put his clothes in the steam dryer and they will be wrinkle free.

Must have this...

Yeah summer is a long way off and it is too cold to be thinking about summer clothing, but I must have this dress! Any special occassions you think it would be good for this summer:)

The pic is above and the link shows it on a real person when you click for more images, I am sure it looks way better on her then it will on me, but I just can't resist

http://www.athleta.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=4799&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=6&iSubCat=314&iProductID=4799

Getting prepared...

After two weeks of vacation and taking it easy I am preparing for a dooooozy of a week next week. Monday night-presenting at New Teacher workshop- 4-6, Tuesday-Class from 7-10 and Wed-Class from 5-8, these things come after being at work since 7 in the morning-uggggg. I am so dreading it...I am really bummed about the Wed night class because that is Boot camp-thankfully it is only every other week and and I can do spinning instead on Mondays. Just one last semester, orals and then DONE

From the mouths of babes

I have been sick with a stupid chest cold and up all night coughing, so I break down and go to the "drug" store. Here is the following conversation in the car as we pull into the parking lot

A-Where are we going?

Me-To the drug store

A-The what store?

Me-The drug store

A-What are you getting there?

Me-Medicine for my cold

A-They have medicine at the drug store?

Me-Well yes, that is why they call it a drug store

A-oh-I thought you were getting wine

Me-Why would you think I was getting wine?

A-Well you did say drug store

Hmmm

New recipes for a new Year

So here is a new year's gift. Some of my favorite stand-by recipes that might be new to you. I tried to pick easy and crockpot ones for those of you who are cooking challenged. Some are more for summer or spring so just hold on to them

Enjoy-most of these are links hope they work

Tomato Mango Salsa
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Avocado-Tomato-and-Mango-Salsa/Detail.aspx

Veggie Quesadilla
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Santa-Fe-Veggie-Quesadillas/Detail.aspx

Baked potato soup
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baked-Potato-Soup/Detail.aspx

Slow cooker stroganoff
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Darias-Slow-Cooker-Beef-Stroganoff/Detail.aspx

Easy french dip-this one is awesome and super easy
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Slow-Cooker-French-Dip/Detail.aspx

Hot Brown sandwhich
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=520966

Turkey Tetrazinni

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=405641

Thoughts on the new year...

I am sitting here doing everything to procrastinate with my homework. Who knew a laptop could be so entertaining: facebook, blogging, looking for a new bedding set and celebrity gossip blogs (ok I just shared a deep dark secret with that one). So as I am sitting here thinking about how I need to GET TO WORK I realize it is a new year and I haven't even given it much thought. NOT analyzing the past and NOT fretting about the future is NEW to me. I don't know if I have been to busy just enjoying the break or keeping busy with the day to day grind but I haven't gotten out the good old fashioned paper journal I write in-like once a year-about my future resolutions. The old paper journal with the usual statements of: going to be a better mom, a more patient mom, a more fun wife and mom, exercise more, less yelling and more hugs, eat healthier and on and on and on. By the time I am done writing and beating myself up and in catharic tears I only feel like crud. So my resolution this time around is to NOT. Just NOT-not worry about all those little things that happen or don't happen. To not worry and make small things huge. To focus on the good things the last year has brought and the future will bring so here is a list of statements-not on paper-not deep dark secrets looked at once a year, but cool things that one should be joyful about-and NOT to think of how to always be better or be MORE.

So here it is-a list of random statements for the year in review-some big and some small, and guess what-no crying at the end!

Year in Review
Rainbow xmas tree-NOT decorated by me
Boot camp-the best thing I have found to get my butt motivated
Great hubby going with me to boot camp, I told him it was worth it, working out together as been a great reconnection
Entering final year of masters program wahoooo
Healthy family-healthy parents
First time pheasant hunting and exploring the prairie homestead
Photos, photos, photos, being able to be artistic in a small, instant graftifying way
Painting marbles with Q man
Roasting marshmallows A-man
All clear colonoscopy and CT
Reconnecting with dear, dear friends through blogging and one brief night at the house-what are we withoug those who have known us best
New dear friends through blogging who I have to travel east to meet-I have to give Bobbi the special gift I have had in the back of my mind
Healthy happy kids, not always perfect, but heck, who is

Okay now back to homework or bed:)

Positive DNA

Here is a story about my sons and what I love about each.

Q-the younger is very visual and asks for step by step How to Draw books, he was very specific about what kind books he wanted. Santa came through and delivered the books, new sketchpad and markers-I was a little jealous. The kid starts drawing and drawing. I don't pay too much attention until he comes and shows me. WOW-not to bad for a 6 year old in my eyes. He loves to draw and do art, and I love that he enjoys it-just as much as I did at that age.

A-The older gets geodes-these ugly rocks that have beautiful crystal formations inside when you cut them open (there is some kind of symbolism there I am sure). So he is pumped about finding geodes, so we pack on winter clothes and shoes and hunt for geodes not once but twice in the cold and snow. No luck, but he doesn't care, he loves to be outside exploring and enjoying nature-just as I did as kid and still enjoy.

It is a joy that comes from knowing that after all the griping, family squabbles and annoying things kids do and often cruddy behavior that some positive genetic traits have been passed down.

By the way the outdoor pics are a little blurry, the camera was pretty heavy for a six year old