A Lesson from Goldfish

This morning as I was feasting on a breakfast of pretzel Goldfish, I took a minute to read the back of the package. I really needed this reminder today:

Isn't It Great?

Sometimes it's the little things that make LIFE more

FUN, like blowing bubbles or playing ball.

If you STOP and APPRECIATE the little things,

you'll probably find

yourself SMILING a little bigger.

Usually I am in such a big hurry to get the next thing done that I don't take time to stop and appreciate my many blessings. Today, I am going to slow down and enjoy the small stuff.

How 'Bout Them Cowboys?

Now I love me some Tony Romo, but what on earth was he thinking? He really needs to think about football and leaving the singing to his girlfriend! I've heard dogs that can sing better than him! Uggghhh!

Happy Mother's Day!

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mother! She has been such an important influence in my life and has shaped the person that I have become. Whenever I had a problem, I knew I could confide in her. Whenever I had good news to share, I knew I wanted to share it with her. Whenever I needed support, I knew she would be my biggest cheerleader. My mother is wonderful!

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mother. Unfortunately, that dream has not come true for me, so Mother's Day is always really hard. Yesterday, I told Marc that I really didn't want to go to church this morning, because the Mother's Day sermon always makes me so sad. It is really depressing to realize that yet another year has gone by, and I'm still not a mother. Thank goodness, Marc was supportive and didn't push me into going to church this morning. We spent a quiet morning at home, and then went out to enjoy a wonderful lunch together. It turned out to be a really good day!

This Must Be My Day!

Today is turning out to be an awesome day! I just found out that I am going to be awarded a $200 classroom grant! That may not sound like a lot of money, but I am going to be able to buy about 50 chapter books to complete my classroom sets. I am so excited!

I applied for the grant at the beginning of March. One of our local senators donates a portion of his income to schools. This year, he decided to award 100 grants to teachers in Huntsville City, Madison County, and Madison City Schools. All I had to do was submit a plan detailing what I would do with the money. It was really easy to do! Now, I will just have to wait until August to spend the money!

Anyone Hungry?

Each year, I work with my 2nd graders to compile a cookbook for their Mother's Day gifts. I absolutely love making them, and the kids get really excited about them, too. When I was in Kindergarten, I got to make a similar cookbook for my mother, and it is still one of the gifts she cherishes the most.

One of the things that I love about the books is that the kids usually have no concept of measurements and time, so the recipes usually turn out really funny. For example:

Macaroni & Cheese

1 cup of Easy Mac
Some hot water

Pour the Easy Mac in a bowl. It should be dry. Then, add 1 teaspoon of hot water. Put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Take it out of the microwave, then put some cheese in it and stir it up.

Is that just precious? Obviously, this child's mom makes him Easy Mac a lot, because that is what he chose as his favorite recipe. Another example:

Banana Pancakes

1 box of pancake mix
3 yellow bananas
13 pecans
1 bottle of maple syrup

Pour the pancake mix in a pan. Put the nuts on top of the pancakes. Then, cook the pancakes for about 20 minutes. Put the bananas on top. Put the pancakes on a plate and put syrup on top.

Again, I just loved this recipe. He was very, and I do mean very, specific about the directions. When I asked if he wanted to mix in the bananas with the pancake mix, he adamantly told me "no." Also, don't you just love the "13 pecans." I kept wanting to ask him what would happen if you put 14 pecans in the recipe. What about 12 pecans?

And then last but not least, this one is my absolute favorite so far this year:

Chicken Nuggets

1 bag of chicken nuggets from Walmart or Target
1 bottle of ketchup (although you should already have some at home)

Put the chicken nuggets on a plate. Put them in the microwave for 2 minutes. Take them out and put them on another plate. Put ketchup on the plate and then put the plate on a table tray. Then you can eat them.

Doesn't that just make you want a big ol' plate of chicken nuggets?

I'm Not Addicted! Am I?

Hello, my name is Karen, and I'm addicted to Disney websites. 

Even though I don't think I am, it has recently been brought to my attention by several people that I am spending way too much time browsing Disney websites. What can I say? I absolutely love everything Disney, and since it has been so long since I last went to Disney World, I am obsessed with reading about it as much as I can.

Yesterday, while we were at Brock's Jewelers picking out Mother's Day gifts, my wonderfully sweet husband bought me a Mickey charm for my Pandora bracelet. 

Even though the charm is made by Chamilia, it is interchangeable with my bracelet. I was so excited to see all the Disney charms they make! Anyone who knows me knows that I collect Eeyore stuff, which is not always easy to find. But, Chamilia makes a TON of Eeyore charms! I can't wait to add more!

Fried Pickles and Ice Cream

On Thursday, Marc and I joined a gym! We are trying to get in shape for our upcoming Disney trip and thought it would be a great idea. So, after we joined on Thursday, we worked out for about an hour. I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes...at 3.5 miles per hour, which I thought was pretty good. Then I did the strength exercises that I learned while I was in rehab. I felt really good afterward! I also lost 6 lbs. this week!

Then, last night happened! Marc and I went out to eat with some friends after a long, stress-filled day. The restaurant that we went to had fried pickles! I have such a weakness for fried pickles, even though I don't even like plain pickles...go figure! So, of course I ordered some thinking everyone would share them, but I ended up eating most of them myself. Then, I ordered a chicken sandwich with the thought that I would take half of it home to eat today. Oh no! Somewhere in the mix, that thought got lost, and I ate the WHOLE thing along with a WHOLE basket of onion strings! But it was soooo good!

Then, someone in our group came up with the brilliant idea of ordering dessert...I'm not naming any names! Then someone else in the group decided that he wanted ice cream, so off to Cold Stone Creamery we went. Since this was the first time I had ever been there, I had no idea what to expect. So I ordered a medium...Gotta Love It...cup of Peanut Butter Cup Perfection ice cream! It was chocolate ice cream mixed with Reese's cups, fudge, and peanut butter. Can you say rich? But, since I had already been so gluttonous, I devoured the WHOLE cup! Anyone see a trend here?

So, this morning when I weighed, I had gained two lbs. back! Uggghhh! Of course, I didn't go to the gym yesterday, but I spent the whole day on a hiking field trip with a bunch of wild 2nd graders. But, obviously I didn't move enough to work off all those calories I consumed yesterday! Oh well...there's always Monday!

We're Going to Disney World!

Marc and I have decided to celebrate our 10th anniversary by going to Disney World in September! We're going with Adam and Suzie and Chris and Jana. Of course, sweet baby Joseph is coming along, too. I am so excited!

Disney's All-Star Music Resort

Marc and I are staying at Disney's All-Star Music Resort. It was recently renovated, so I hope it is nice! Although, you really can't go wrong staying at any of the resorts. We were also able to take advantage of the FREE dining plan, so that saved us a lot of money!

All-Star Music's Pool

If I remember correctly, the last time I went to Disney World was in 1997. My sister's cheerleading team always went to competitions, and my family would tag along and enjoy the parks. We went for five years in a row. We always had so much fun! Marc has never been to Disney World, although he has gone to Disney Land. I can't wait for him to see everything, and I hope he loves it as much as I do!

A Beautiful Saturday Afternoon

Marc and I met some friends, Adam and Suzie, at the driving range yesterday afternoon to enjoy the beautiful weather. Marc has been wanting to learn how to play golf, so Adam thought it would be a good idea to begin by hitting some balls at the range.

Of course, Marc had to strike a goofy pose as soon as he saw the camera!

Looking good!

Adam and Marc finish off what's left of the golf balls.

After the driving range, we went to their house to eat dinner, and Suzie and I beat the boys at a game of Pop Culture Trivial Pursuit. (Suzie is awesome at that game...she knew most of the answers, and I just kinda sat there!) We also talked about joining them on their trip to Disney World in September. Since I've been dying to go back, and Marc has never been, I don't think they're going to have to do much convincing!

We had a great time, and it was good to spend time with Adam and Suzie! One last question...Where's Dexter?

The Calm Before the Storm? Yeah Right!

Anyone who has ever worked with kids know that they usually act really crazy the day before a storm. Well, today was that day in my classroom. I think the combination of being finished with testing, an approaching storm, and spring fever put the kids in a wild, wild mood today. Even my little sweeties who never get in trouble were acting nuts today, and it wasn't just my class, either. All of us teachers were just shaking our heads in amazement!

The Day Before the Storm

We finally finished with testing yesterday, and it was nice to be back in my classroom with my kids. We followed our normal routine, and the kids seemed to be relieved that I wouldn't be leaving today. I don't care what anyone says...kids need structure and routines. It just makes life so much easier.

Tomorrow, we are celebrating the end of testing with Fun Friday! During PE, the kids are going to play on a moon bounce and an inflatable slide. Since the weather isn't going to cooperate, I guess the PE teachers are planning to move everything inside. If not, we are going to have a "Not So Fun Friday." Either way, it will be Friday, and that's always a good thing!