Yes!!! Wednesday night we will be sleeping on our new mattress. While is isn't a "heavenly bed" if sure felt nice in the store. I would call it more "enchanting". We are both very excited as our current mattress is well past it's prime. The best part is that they are taking the old mattress away for free. And, we are going to keep our old box springs to raise our height in the sleigh bed. When we bought our sleigh bed at Haverty's we loved that in the store the bed appeared so tall in the sleigh bed. When we got it home and put our box springs and mattress in it- it didn't look the same. We went back to Haverty's and realized their model had 2 box springs in it. So, 6 years later-- we are going to be achieving the look we loved so much on the model bed. Another plus is that I should be a little higher when I am sleeping and maybe Brady won't wake me up a million times in the night by putting his nose on my nose to see if I am sleeping. Silly pup! Saturday, February 28, 2009
guess what we FINALLY bought...
Yes!!! Wednesday night we will be sleeping on our new mattress. While is isn't a "heavenly bed" if sure felt nice in the store. I would call it more "enchanting". We are both very excited as our current mattress is well past it's prime. The best part is that they are taking the old mattress away for free. And, we are going to keep our old box springs to raise our height in the sleigh bed. When we bought our sleigh bed at Haverty's we loved that in the store the bed appeared so tall in the sleigh bed. When we got it home and put our box springs and mattress in it- it didn't look the same. We went back to Haverty's and realized their model had 2 box springs in it. So, 6 years later-- we are going to be achieving the look we loved so much on the model bed. Another plus is that I should be a little higher when I am sleeping and maybe Brady won't wake me up a million times in the night by putting his nose on my nose to see if I am sleeping. Silly pup! meet Henry

WHAT A WEEK!!!
Leave me a comment if you try it.
Tuesday, I worked with my class on getting ready for the chili cook off that we had entered. We were down one teacher in our class on Tuesday due to illness. Kate and I did the conferences after school. After the conferences, we went to a Shrove Tuesday dinner with Kate and Blake. The funniest part of the dinner was Kate and I were wearing the same color- and had been all day, but didn't realize it until EVERYONE at the dinner pointed it out.
We came home Tuesday night and our internet was out. They had been working on the lines and somehow disconnected to lines for internet. We called the service provider and they said they could send someone Thursday.
Wednesday, I worked with my class on getting ready for the chili cook off that we had entered. After school I had to go to the grocery store and get the ingredients to make the pizza again. When Mr. D. came home, he saw the AT&T truck in the neighborhood- apparently we aren't the only ones who lost internet service in the neighborhood. I made dinner and the the world stopped as I watched LOST. Oh- and speaking of LOST, all of the oceanic 6 fish are still alive! Here is a video of me feeding them.
Thursday was a fun day. I worked with my class on getting ready for the chili cook off that we had entered. After school I had Daisy Scouts. We have some pretty strong personalities in our troop. The activity was to make the bracelets in the colors of the petals on the Daisy logo. Each color of petal stands for something, so really we were trying to teach that. Well the girls were having NONE of it and wanted to just design their own bracelets. It was so funny. Eventually I think everyone ended up with something resembling what it as supposed to be- and something they were happy with. I only have 5 or 6 more meetings before school is out!
Oh- and the internet was fixed today!!
Friday was the day I had been working towards all week for 2 reasons. 1) We got to find out if we were getting a new niece or nephew and 2) the chili cook off. We will start with the second before we get to the first. I worked with my class on getting ready for the chili cook off that we had entered. Every day I had to drag a million things from my house to school and back. This was a well organized production. There were excel spread sheets, schedules, and plans. Tom (my father in law- not the myspace guy) would have been thrilled! I even had a Julie McCoy style clip board to keep everything organized. I turned all of the kids on to a love of the Pampered Chef products.. oh and speaking of, I am having a party on March 17th in hopes to get more free stuff. Everyone got very in to the cooking and it was actually so much fun. As you read previously, there were interesting ingredients to work with. We put a lot of things, ummm..well... on the side, as opposed to in the chili.
(if you eat chili which I don't).
The worse thing about Friday is that my partner in crime got sick at school and had to miss the chili cook off!! I felt bad because Kate had put SO much work into the cook off. It would have been more fun with her and I hope she is feeling better by now.
Here is a picture of our booth.
We created a slide show to show of the children making the chili- from the voting of what type and voting for a name- to us turning in our entry- to cook cook cooking - to win win winning! These kids worked- and I mean a lot of work. We won the trophy for people's choice. Having tasted the chili- the people were very sweet.
The kids were pretty excited- and even a few cried when they realized that they didn't get to take the big trophy home with them. We will have it in our classroom for all to enjoy.
Now- for the best news of Friday. We found out Keith and Meredith are having a little boy. So, for the count- in May-July we are waiting on a girl, boy, girl, girl, and now a boy. Henry Micheal was the last one for us to find out what he was going to be. Two of my good friends are getting a niece and a nephew at the same time so I am going to help them make a quilt- as I have made a quilt for both Kaleigh and Donovan- and now I will make one for Henry. It is the Aunt thing that I do (and now I am forcing it on my friends to do as well). I will post more on the blankets as they come along. In addition to getting to see the PRECIOUS pictures of Henry- I got to see 4D pictures of one of the babies we are waiting on that I have been so worried about. Her doctors think everything is going to be fine now and I was so relieve to hear it. Speaking of babies-- my home study will be officially OVER as of Wednesday of this coming week!! Whoo- hoo for that!
This morning I made myself a chocolate chip waffle- and ordered Henry's mom a treat. Of course the ordering of the treat was on my to-do list for longer that I had hoped- sorry Meredith!
On a sad note- today is Meghan's moving day. She is moving out of our neighborhood and back home with her parents about 20 minutes away. We will miss her being so close!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday in 4 words
Chicago deep dish pizza
parent teacher conference reports
filing our tax return
taking a long nap
watching the fish swim
spending time with hubby
Brady- off the bed
catching up on crap
not watching the Oscars
looking forward to FRIDAY! ! !
believe it or not
Saturday, February 21, 2009
beautiful girls
I hate pork tenderloin
bacon wrapped pork with peppers and potatoes
(of course, we had to do without the peppers because Mr. D. is sensitive to them)
1 package of Ore-ida Potatoes O'Brien (potatoes with onions and peppers)
4 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon of olive oil
3 tablespoons of water
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1 pork tenderloin
3 bacon slices cut in half
1/3 cup of light mayonnaise
2 teaspoon of red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of bottled chopped garlic
Arrange over racks on bottom 2 slots in the oven. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a 15x10x1 jelly roll pan and a small roasting pan with cooking spray.
In a bowl whisk 1 tablespoon of mustard, oil, 1 tablespoon water, salt and pepper. Add potatoes and toss. Spread in jelly roll pan.
Spread 1 tablespoon of mustard over the pork. Arrange bacon over the top in strips spacing slightly apart. Place in roasting pan.
Place pans in oven with potatoes on bottom rack and pork above. Roast in the 450 degree oven. Check the pork after 20 minutes. If the internal temperature if 150 degrees, take it out. If not, leave it in for another 5-10 minutes.
While the potatoes and pork are roasting, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl mix remaining 2 tablespoons of mustard, 2 tablespoons of water, mayo, vinegar, and garlic.
Toss the potatoes, thinly slice the pork and serve with sauce. Enjoy!!
chili cook off
whipped cream
cream cheese
spices- "just a little"
grapes
chili sandwiches
carrots
milk
cheese
beans
onions
a lion (we are substituting chicken)
turkey
salsa
chocolate
corn
rice
chicken
spinach
marshmallows
pumpkin
macaroni and cheese
apple sauce
cornbread
apples
ice cream with chocolate syrup
peppers
eggs
Actually this has been a great learning experience for the kids. We have voted on all aspects, chili type, name of chili, etc. Next week we will be cooking like crazy in anticipation for Friday's cook off. The teachers have a few tricks up their sleeves as well!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Oceanic Six
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Brady and V-Day Iguana
I was uploading my camera tonight and realized I forgot to post the pic of Brady and his Valentine's present. It lasted less time than it took me to run a tub of bath water. I was amazed at how much stuffing was in that little thing!!
the tank makeover
Monday, February 16, 2009
glorious day!!
ironic
Sunday, February 15, 2009
pie crust-- 1st attempt
I cooked chicken in the crock pot all day and I shredded it. I heated up cream cheese and spread into the bottom of the crust. One top of that I added shredded chicken with sauteed onions and buffalo wing sauce all mixed together. I added cheddar cheese next. Then shredded chicken mixed with ranch dressing. I topped all of this off with a pieced together top pie crust. It is baking in the oven right now. While it isn't the prettiest thing, I am sure it is going to be delicious. I am making it my 2009 goal is to perfect my pastry making skills. Any and all advise is welcomed... AP??
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's ROCKS!!
where it all started
34 years and 179 days ago, I was born on the very floor of the place where I had my meeting today.
I didn't know what the building was and when the lady was telling us about the place she said it was the old hospital where I was born. I double checked with my mom and she said that I was born there on the second floor.
So today I was where it all started for me. It was really neat to think about.
my apologies
I apologize for the rain today. It is the day of my gardening class, and of course that means it is going to rain. The rain will probably stop around 1pm. Please be prepared for the rain once a month on a Saturday until May.
Stay dry!
Sandy
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thursday 13: thirteen conversation hearts
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
viva la Wednesday
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Brady's extreme home makeover
Saturday, February 7, 2009
never ever tell a Montessori child.....
Yesterday, I brought Parker home for the afternoon. Everyone knows how much I love hanging out with the little sweetie. Well, our afternoon started off with an HOUR of sitting in traffic to drive the 15 miles home. I needed to stop at the grocery store to get some chocolate chips, sausage and eggs for my dinner. While we were on the way home I mentioned to Parker that it would be a great day to work in the yard. He said he wanted to help me and we talked about how when we got to the store we would buy him a little bucket and shovel so he could help me work. The shovel turned into a shovel and a little rake like shovel. Then we went to get the bucket and Parker became smitten kitten over this wheelbarrow. It was very inexpensive so I said sure. He pushed it all over the store with all of the little items in it. I also let him get a little dirt mover truck toy and I had picked up a packet of elephant ear bulbs. When we got to the chocolate chips, he insisted that I put it in his wheelbarrow. Then my sausage too. I had to convince him to let me carry my own eggs though! His load was getting pretty big and then he wanted a box of John Deere Tractor gummies. I said "if it will fit in your wheelbarrow- I will buy it for you." Then on the way to the check out- he saw a must have box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. He put it in. Right before the checkout there was a display of Ritz crackers. Now the cracker box was almost as big as the wheelbarrow. I told Parker I didn't think it would fit in his wheelbarrow and then the kid (making his Montessori teacher very proud) sat in the floor- took everything out of the wheelbarrow and rearranged it to make everything fit. Thank goodness we were at the checkout before he spied anything else he needed!! Haha. I love it. I had a great afternoon with the little guy!! When we got home he could hardly wait to work in the yard. He was such hard little worker and we had to keep working until it was nearly too dark to work anymore. He left his wheelbarrow and shovels over here- so he could help me again. He is welcome anytime!! Meredith's contest
This is the best recipe I have tried in 2009. Everyone at the superbowl party loved it and they disappeared so fast!!
My Mom made them with BBQ sauce as she is not a buffalo sauce fan- and she loved them too!!
Enjoy!!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo,-jr./buffalo-chicken-cheese-balls-recipe/index.html
Thursday, February 5, 2009
can you draw this?
Here are a few pics of us at work on our masterpieces. This is Erika. This is Leah.
Here I am.
Now before you see our work- I must explain that I was on the opposite side of the table from Leah and Erika, therefore I was looking at the piggie upside down as I was drawing. We laughed and laughed when we realized that my piggie was backwards.
Here are the results.
From left to right, Erika's then Kate's then Leah's. Mine is the backwards piggie on the bottom.
There were no winners- because after all- how can you win an entry into a school that doesn't exist! Still we had FUN!!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
just for fun
Below is a list of products I used in preparation for the Super Bowl party 2009. I will put and astrix next to products I used more than once. Enjoy!!
1) executive cookware 10 inch skillet*
2) the mix and chop
3) pink mini bar board*
4) utility knife*
5) can opener
6) slotted spoon
7) large bar board*
8) regular spoon*
9) kitchen shears
10) easy read measuring cups* (all 4 sizes)
11) strawberry huller (not sure of specific name)
12) Quikut paring knife*
13) cake tester (YES Tiffani!! I knew where it was!)
14) food chopper
15) mini muffin pan
16) measure all cup
17) measuring spoons*
18) pastry mat
19) baker's roller
20) small stainless steel scoop
21) pizza cutter
22) slice and serve (Tiffani- this was the name of it! Nice drawing!)
23) mini serving spatula
24) grill basket (1000 uses- has never seen the grill!)
25) large bar pan
26) Cut-n-seal
27) all of my scrapers*** so many times!
