She's a beauty

We hope you had a merry Christmas.  We sure did.  

 Andrew was very dedicated to our Christmas tree.  So dedicated that it kept growing in our basement.  We noticed some lighter green on the tips of the branches and realized it was new growth.  Maybe if we keep watering it we can use it again next year.  

Here we are in our Christmas Sunday attire.  Notice my new coat and tights?  Andrew picks out the best clothes for me.  If I was on What Not to Wear and had to spend $5,000 on a new wardrobe, I'd send Andrew to get it.  (He's that good.)

Now for the beauty....

I sent Andrew on a scavenger hunt to find his new Gibson Les Paul.  He was in shock--he had to remind himself to keep breathing.  Best reaction to a gift I've given.  I've seen him multiples times just staring at it. 

 He loves it.  You should hear him rock out on it.  

Here's to 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

YUMMMMM

This was delicious.

PS. This isn't a picture from the website.  This is an actual photograph taken by me. 

Cooks Illustrated is the REAL DEAL.  Check it out:

INGREDIENTS

• 1large lemon
• 1/4cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 ounces each), patted dry with paper towels
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 2tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2small shallot , minced (about 1 tablespoon) or 1 small garlic clove, minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
• 1/2cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1tablespoon small capers , drained (we did not use these and it was still great)
• 1 1/2tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
• 1tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, set large heatproof plate on rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees.
2. 2. Halve lemon pole to pole. Trim ends from one half and cut crosswise into slices 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick; set aside. Juice remaining half lemon to obtain 2 tablespoons juice; reserve.
3. 3. Sprinkle both sides of cutlets generously with salt and pepper. Measure flour into pie tin or shallow baking dish. Working one cutlet at a time, coat with flour, and shake to remove excess.
4. 4. Heat oil in heavy-bottomed 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook chicken until lightly browned on first side, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Using tongs, turn cutlets and cook until second side is lightly browned, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer cutlets to heated plate and return plate to oven.
5. 5. Add shallot or garlic to now-empty skillet and return skillet to medium heat. Sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds for shallot or 10 seconds for garlic. Add stock and lemon slices, increase heat to high, and scrape skillet bottom with wooden spoon or spatula to loosen browned bits. Simmer until liquid reduces to about 3 tablespoons, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and capers and simmer until sauce reduces again to 3 tablespoons, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and swirl in butter until butter melts and thickens sauce; swirl in parsley. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve immediately.
   
   
   Cooks Illustrated has a 14 day trial.  You may want to check it out.  They have the BEST recipes on there. Happy holiday cooking!

kiss me, I'm dead

I passed a casual conversation while roaming my room during science. We were doing an activity about dominant and recessive traits. It went something like this:

girl (talking to two boys):  so, which one of you will get a date first?
boy 1 (point to the other):  you have no chance.
boy 2: well some day I'm going to be rich and famous.
me: how are you going to get rich and famous?
boy 2: I always have new ideas in my head.  I'm an inventor.
boy 1: you are not an inventor.  I am an inventor.
girl: so do you think you will marry a dominant wife, or a recessive wife?

Yesterday we were at Andrew's parent's house and our nephew, Henry, was playing dead.  He was on my lap and I was so surprised at how long he was able to keep his eyes shut and not make a sound.  After a few more seconds he whispered, "kiss me, I'm dead." We laughed.  I kissed him on the cheek and his eyes popped open and he was up and going again.  HAHA.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Did I tell you about the time when...

...we went to Disneyland with my family and a guy on our splash mountain log pulled out a sandwich for the picture?

 I love going on rides with my dad. He is hilarious. 

OR 

 ...we went to Ike's icecream (at Provo Beach Resort) and there was a picture at our table of my DAD?  I didn't see pictures of anyone else. Ha HA.

OR

 ... I was finally brave enough to do the rope swing into FREEZING cold water and

 this dog came bounding in after me!  (If you know me, you know I am scared of dogs, especially big ones.) I couldn't breath because it was so cold; meanwhile this dog came swimming for me.  Quite the moment in my life.   

Post SEPs

Last Wednesday and Thursday I had SEP (student, educator, parent) conferences.  They went great, but I am glad they are over. It was a ton of work before, and I was at school until 8:00 those two nights. One boy told me he would "get on the horse and ride it" when we set some goals. The best part was that he was DEAD SERIOUS, so I couldn't laugh, but I wanted to. 

This morning I woke up at 8:23 (without an alarm).  I can usually sleep in with the best of them, so this was an early start to a great day.  I went over to my aunts house and she showed us how she makes candy.  Who knew that you had to stir fudge until it turned creamy?  I thought after you poured it on the slab and it cooled, you were done.  Guess not.

 Hopefully this class helped us improve our cooking skills. :)

We made almond bark popcorn, carmel covered pretzels, and fudge rolls.  Yummm

And then I got to spend the rest of the day with this handsome guy.  I love him so much.  

da da da daaaaan da da daaaaaaaa

(Theme song of Indiana Jones AKA Andrew on Halloween)

Whip in action.

I am an Egyptian.  No relation to Andrew's awesome costume.  But for this picture, you can imagine I'm some maiden Indiana has just rescued.  

PS.  My makeup was super awesome on Monday for school.  But, dang it, I forgot to take a picture.  

TGTIF

Thank Goodness tomorrow is Friday.

I have a rocking science lesson that I am teaching tomorrow.  It's so great we get to wear the goggles, and I get to wear the white lab coat.  The kids love (or maybe I think they love it, but they think I am crazy.) Last week we made silly putty and tomorrow we are doing more chemical and physical reactions.  So great.

I don't know if it's because the weather is getting colder, but there are a few kids that are going crazy.  Seriously crazy.  For examples:

Boy ran down the hall with his head down and his arms up in the air.  It looked similar to a bird running.

Boy pecks at his chest with his had all.the.time.

Boy talks in an alien/baby/kermit voice.

I asked one boy to keep track of what he was doing during center time.  He wrote 'tiping' many times in a row.  I told him I was worried because he is wasting a lot of his time by tipping back in his chair.  He looked at me with a confused look and said, "I was trying to spell typing."  (Oh, so you were on task, good. Still concerned, but not as much as before.)


Try this:

Last night I baked a pan of brownies. After Andrew and I ate some, 2/3 of the pan was left. If I brought half of what was left to share with the teachers, how much of the pan did I bring to school? (hint: drawing a picture helps)

      --Is this a multiplication or a division problem?

My math class tried this out today.  I actually really love fractions, and teaching fractions, so this should be fun.  We get to finish our discovery on Monday, so I will reveal the answer then.

Happy (almost) weekend!

Bangs

Before

 After

I did it.  I was growing out my bangs for a while, but it was time for a change. I think I like these bangs a lot.

Help!

What should I be for Halloween?  This happens every year.  I start talking about what to be in September, and decide it's too early. Then a week before Halloween I am frantically brainstorming ideas.  Last year I was a pirate, so that's out for this year.  And I have to have a costume because we will be partying at school from 12:40-3:20.  So it's gotta be a good one.

(This has nothing to do with dressing up, but it reminds me of Halloween so I thought I'd through it in.  And it's of my friend Heather who I love.)

Any ideas?

I love being a teacher

I love being a teacher.  I love walking down the hall and hearing my name being called a million times.  I love the other teachers I work with.  I love the endless Halloween cards I've been getting.  I'm sure more will come for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.  I love watching a kid finally get it--especially when they actually say, "oh!" when their eyes light up.  I love working with students who are struggling so they can build confidence.  I love working at a school where I get to see my mom twice a week.  I love our current events each week:  BYU games, mission calls, new temples.  I love greeting the kids each morning; I challenged them to greet with me with a hand shake and eye contact.  They feel SO uncomfortable making eye contact, but they do it anyway.

The front of this card said, "Open if you dare."

(I use photo booth at school, so the words are always backwards, sorry.)

I laugh so much during the day.  Maybe it's 5/6 humor, but I think these kids are pretty funny.  Yesterday a boy asked for a worksheet that he had lost.  I told him it'd cost 25 cents.  He got a funny look on his face, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a quarter.  (Don't worry, I didn't take it)

They dance and sing all.the.time.  But they can't talk loud enough for someone at the opposite side of the classroom to hear them. Curious, I know.

Update on Andrew:  I talk about teaching a lot, but my real love is Andrew.  The past few weeks he has been interviewing at the big four accounting firms for a winter internship.  They do a bunch of preinterview stuff that, fortunately, I get to go to too.  Dinner at Tucanos, pre-BYU-game meal at Carrabbas, other dinners and fun stuff.  It's been great. He has a second interview with E'nY today, and an offer from Deloitte.  He is one busy man.

Happy Thursday! (Yeah!  Tomorrow is FRIDAY!)

Halloween

Andrew had the brilliant idea of letting my kids decorate the classroom.  Genius.  I didn't do a thing and the room is totally decked out.  

Love the blood dripping from my door.

Adorable Darth Vador

Andrew and I have currently been watching all of the Star Wars, starting at 1, and it's great. We are on number 4.  So if you have the craving, you are welcome to join us.  Speaking of Star Wars, I can't get over how adorable this commercial is.  I'm not promoting this car, I just think this is the cutest little Darth Vador.    

It's not your fault.

Today I had to stop in the middle of a spelling test to have a very serious conversation about not talking in class. We spent a good 20 minutes having a class discussion about solutions for this chatty problem.

For part of their center work today, I had them write a letter to me stating their ideas for a solution to this problem.  They mostly said the same thing--the ideas we talked about in class.  Then I read this beauty (I am keeping the spelling the way it is...):

Dear Mrs. Smith,
     Today we talked about our behavior as a class, I have a solution for the people who talk in class.  If they don't lisyn and deside to talk in class it is there fault if they dont pass fith or sixth grade because they are the one who are chosing to talk instead of lisyn.
     It is not your fault if they choose to talk and fail every test because they are talking.  If you get a phone call from a parent just say it was your kids fault for talking in class instad of lisyning to me when I am trying to teach them.
     To conclude I think that you should go with my idea becaue it is not your fault. 

Sincerely,
a student

Loved it.

Thank goodness it's FRIDAY!

Today in our class meeting we were doing a compliment circle.  One girl said, "I would like to compliment Jane (pseudonym) because she works hard and uses her time (pause and sigh) worthy."  Did you mean wisely honey?

This is why I love to teach. Because these kids are so funny.

Karissa successfully departed her tear engulfed family on Wednesday.  Even though it was so hard to see her go, it was such a sweet moment that I will never forget.  

My stomach growled so loud today that a student heard it during the spelling test.  

TGIF.  I am ready for the weekend!

Sepeated Retraction

Yesterday I was teaching long division and could not say repeated subtraction to save my life.  It kept coming out 'sepeated retraction'. The kids were laughing so hard.

Today a boy from my class ate a grasshopper at recess.  Gross.  For what?  Two dollars.  Don't worry.  He informed me that he pulled the legs off first so they wouldn't get caught in his throat.

My sister leaves for her mission in seven days.  I will miss her.  

The next season of The Office starts tomorrow (I think I'm a little late on the office train, but I absolutely love it.)

I survived

I survived the first day of school.  Actually, I more than survived it.  It was great.  There's still a smile on my face and I'm ready to go back tomorrow.  Some memorable moments of my day:

+A parent came into class and said, "Oh, are you the aid?"  "Nope, I'm the teacher."

+A girl came up to me, gave me a hug, and said, "Mrs. Smith, you are a great teacher" at 11:00 this morning.

+The students wrote letters to themselves.  Instead of 'sincerely' one girl wrote 'your hotness'.

And this is only the beginning...

The rain came down and the floods came up

Our floor isn't shiny enough to reflect light like that...

 Tuesday it started pouring (understatement) and we could hear it pelting our door. I went into the kitchen to shred the chicken, then went to put some shoes on so we could run to the store.  Andrew slowly called my name, obviously something was wrong.

I returned to the kitchen to a mini swimming pool.  Or a super duper large pool for ants.  Water was leaking in through our front door. When Andrew opened the door to look out, more water rushed in.  We had to use about 15 large beach towels to clean it all up.  

Ok, so it probably wan't that bad, but it was the worst basement flood I'd ever seen!

Sprinkler

You know when you feel something in a dream, like water splashing on your face? That happened to me last night.

But it wasn't a dream.  I got sprayed like 10 times before I realized it wasn't going to stop unless I shut the window. That's what happens when you live in a basement and the sprinklers turn on.

Brace Yourself

This may come as a shock.

I got a Facebook; Andrew got one too.  

And it's fabulous! There isn't a better way to stay connected with friends, especially since I'm venturing into the teaching world.  One of the best parts of college is running into old and new friends-I'll miss that! So, here's to Facebook.

D.I.Y.

Do it yourself. Ok, I will.

I had a fun time doing this little project with Karissa.  We got the idea here.

PhotoBooth

Does PhotoBooth ever get old?

 

Absolutely not.