Owl power.

Teacher gift. My students know how much I love owls! And delicious baked goods.

I have one-half of one day remaining in my first year of teaching. That is what I call insane in the membrane. And technically, I have my conference period for the first final tomorrow, so I have 115 minutes of instruction time left in this year. Wow. Aside from actual school, I've got a luncheon tomorrow, grades due in the afternoon, a room to pack up by Friday, and a morning meeting to set the school calendar for next year. I'm still in shock that the year has gone by so quickly.

I suppose I should ready myself for tomorrow--quizzes to grade and end of the year gifts to make! :o)

Random Photo Wednesday

This is his "buy me a yard and I'll be this happy all the time" face. 

Random Photo Wednesday

He always makes this face when he knows he's visiting family. I love seeing it!!

Mondays.

My favorite thing about Mondays is that my classes have "good news." I stole the idea from a friend I subbed for last year. One student leads it and calls on classmates to share their weekend events. Usually good news turns into all kinds of news--maybe we should call it weekend update or something else next year. Almost every week the leader asks me if I have any good news (unless I raise my hand and squirm in my seat like my students tend to do). Today it had to be that I got to see the Faithgirlzzz (college roommates) on Saturday. Although I did not actually say Faithgirlzzz. Sadly. Just a very quick trip to support one of the girls. It makes me sad that sometimes it takes something big like a funeral to reunite people. Not going to lie though, I have a new zeal for life!

Last week we started a more individual version of Game on. I have been totally failing on the working out aspect...I need to get back on that train! I do so much better working out in the morning though, and I have trouble waking up at 5:30 now as it is. In fact, the only aspects I am succeeding on are drinking 100 ounces of water a day and eliminating my bad habit of dishes in the sink before bed.  And the food...I'm doing alright with that. Ish. It was hard being around (read: eating out with) friends and family this weekend! I might have caved once or twice... :o)

Up this week on the menu: our favorite salmon recipe, healthy baked nuggets via skinnytaste, pork tenderloin in the crock pot, game-friendly verde enchiladas, and (T)BLRs (turkey bacon)!

Pac-man cake.

For small group this week, I made a cookie cake. I tried to be cool and make a heart with M&M's for decoration, but it kind of looked more like Pac-man. Pac-man and I are cool, so I didn't really have a problem with that. Anyways, you should make this too. It was kind of delish. But it also made me realize that I need to do the Game on diet again stat. What can I say--I thrive on a challenge.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup AP flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup M&M's

Preheat oven to 325*. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla and blend again. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually incorporate into first mixture. Fold in M&M's. Evenly spread the dough in a greased pie or cake pan (I think mine was 9"ish) and bake 25-30 minutes. Let cool and serve!

Randomness.

Sometimes I cannot help what comes out of my mouth. I might be questioning in my head if I should be saying it, but usually it is .5 seconds too late. For example....

Me: "Can you please talk more quietly? I have sensitive bunny ears and they can't handle the loudness."

Sadly, my students aren't phased by it anymore. Because one of their responses? "I thought you had owl ears."

Celebrate!

20 day cooking challenge = over! Hooray! Actually, I think we lasted 22 days in a row. We celebrated by going out to Olive Garden on Saturday, as there is a new location in Katy. I hadn't had lunch so we got there at 4pm and were told there was a 40 minute wait! Insane in the membrane. We meandered into the bar right as some people were leaving their table and sat down in about three minutes. So many carbs were consumed. And salad.

And black tie mousse cake, of course.

Keeping the cooking casual this week: leftovers, spaghetti, red beans and rice, and maybe some healthy baked nuggets. Between teacher appreciation week (our school is feeding us something every day!) and Starbucks' frappuccino happy hour, I will probably not be very hungry!