Deliciousness

Snow days are the best for baking treats!  I LOVE snow days.  No,  I didn't have a snow day.  There is not a flake around.  As a matter of fact, it was 60 degrees today!  So, I'll revise my initial sentence....

Sick days are great for baking treats.  --well, they are once you get the laundry done.  (And there was a LLLLLLOT of laundry!)

I love to bake.  I love to be at home with a good reason to stay put.  Children with tummy bugs keep me at home with no place to go.  They are also old enough that they prefer to lay on the couch all day.  That means that I am  home with no place to go and nothing to do except take care of the ill child, attack the germs with Clorox wipes, and craft or bake until my heart is content.

Tomorrow happens to be a food day at school.   I signed up to bring a dessert.  I had some terrific ideas of awesome new recipes to try.  Because of the circumstances of the day,  I stuck to a basic chocolate cake with very creamy chocolate frosting.  It will have to do.  Honestly, I'd like to slice it and start eating it now...and serve it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.  When I finished the chocolate cake, I baked an angel food cake...  a Cherry Almond Angel Food.  Yummy.  I love cherry and almond together. We ate it for dessert tonight.   I'm so sad that our little one had the tummy bug, but happy that I am in a profession where kids come first.  Life IS delicious!

Dessert for my peeps at school tomorrow.   Mmmmm--chocolate!

More Homework Projects

I was not a very good history/social studies student.  I don't remember the dates of the wars.  I don't remember the names of the generals.  I remember my Jr. High history teacher jumping up and down and telling the "story" of battles.  I enjoyed the class.  I enjoyed the entertainment.  I am sure that I learned more than I remember in his class because I am able to teach some history to my Kinder Kids.  Mr. B. was a great teacher.  I just don't have a remember the names and dates of the battles type of brain.  (He was also my Driver's Ed teacher.  Now THAT was a fun class.  It is also a story for a different day.)

Anyway... when the most recent American History/Social Studies assignment was given, I had panic in me and declared that I would not be the best candidate for helping Corbin with his homework.  Thank GOODNESS that Mr. is very good at all things that I am not.  (He is soooooo much smarter than I am!) 

These are pictures of his project...a 3 dimensional battle scene from the revolutionary war.  This was nothing I would have been able to dream up.  My project would have been good old George Washington  crossing the river in his little wooden boat. Whew!  Good project idea Corbin.  I'm happy that your brain is an I-get-good-grades-in-History brain, and I love your project AND your brain.  :)

Photography Assignments

Corbin is in a class where his assignment is to take pictures to

1.  Capture a moment

and

2.  Capture an inspiration. 

He took pictures this afternoon. 

These are the pictures that he took. 

He will take them to school and "make them pop" by using Photoshop. 

I love that he is learning to use a program at school that I have at home. 

Maybe I'll learn something new through him!  :)

Old Glory flying on a beautiful January Day!

Praying Hands in Webb City

Love of God and Love of Country all in one

Praying Hands

Polka Dots on Pinwheels....FUN!

I can't begin to say how excited I am to see what he does with 2 of these pictures to make them even better.

Saturday Morning Coffee

     There is something special about Saturday morning coffee.  It is more enjoyable partially due to the fact that it is slowly sipped rather than gulped down in the morning rush.  Even more enjoyable because of the phone call visit with my Granny on Saturday mornings.  Yes, she recently had a stroke.  Yes, she was released from the hospital after quite a week of recouperation.  I called her anyway!  I did not call as early as I normally do.  I gave her more time to sleep in and rest.  (MUCH needed rest!) 
     I am in awe of her progress since  Sunday when I last saw her.  Now her speech was not perfect.  There were still a few words here and there that I did not get, BUT....we had a Saturday morning conversation on the telephone one week following a stroke that landed her in ICU for 4 days.  I am proud of her beyond words.  She is one tough cookie!  I am so thankful for the opportunity to continue our Saturday morning visits.  She is 80 years old.  She talks of giving me recipes before she dies.  (I hate it when she says things like that.)  I can't imagine my Saturday mornings without her.  I will finish by reminding myself that Saturday's coffee, by far, was the best coffee I've had in a long time.  I am eager for next weekend for yet another perfect cup shared with my Granny.  I am sure it will just as delicious!

Extreme Home Makeover, Joplin Edition

Tonight is the airing of Joplin's Home Makeover. 

Looking back at  "The Tornado" and the months that followed,

I am overwhelmed at the devastation. 

I am also overwhelmed at the outpouring of volunteerism, patriotism, and sense of community. 

As soon as the tonado "hit," people rushed into town with heavy equipment to clear the roads. 

Chainsaws could be heard immediately. 

Neighboring towns dispatched emergency vehicles immediately. 

 It was unvelievable. 

The days and weeks and even months that followed continued to show

amazing support from all around the world. 

The monetary donations, hours and hours of volunteered labor, prayers and kind thoughts....

and it continues still. 

I am honored to have many new friends and "family" as a result of volunteering with Operation BBQ Relief.

The pictures shown on television, youtube.com, etc. do not do justice, but they give a tiny glimpse inside. 

Prayers for all who lost their homes and/or their loved ones. 

The path of the tornado was 1/2 a mile wide and 13 miles long.

161 people lost their lives as a result of the storm.

I still tear up and sometimes cry when I drive through the damaged areas. 

It is dark.

It is quiet.

There are no street lights or porch lights.

The skeleton of St. John's Hospital stands on the hill,

     waiting for demolition,                        

                                   reminding us of the devastation of the storm.
I still get turned around lost without the visual reminders of where I am.
(I am SOOO directionally challenged)

Doctor's offices, businesses, and restaurants can be found in new temporary locations.

Many businesses are built back and re-opened.

Academy Sports will open on the 27th!

It is good to see companies not giving up.

The spirit of Joplin is Strong.

Joplin is rebuilding.

Back and Better. 

I'm off to get my box of Kleenex. 

The show will begin now! 

The "Backstage" show has me crying already. 

God Bless Joplin!

This video and song is by the Mark Chapman Band. 

 I taught 1st Grade with Mark's mother my first 4 years of teaching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7_iXoG_UDM

Just so you know....

Corbin emerged from his bedroom and said the following words....

"Hey Mom, it turns out...you were right." 

Ahhh.  Just for today my 13 year old told me that I'm right.
THAT, my friends, is delicious. 

Yes...that's him...the one on the left. 

Smart boy. 

And the sweet little girl on the right? 

She is 10 and doesn't always believe everything I say either.

Santa sure is a sucker sport to use photo booth props for our

annual Christmas picture. 

Random Things and Winter Weather Advisories

Random:  Made, done, happening, or chosen without method or conscious decision

Random describes this day.  Although I tried to maintain order, routine and normalcy, random things just kept coming up.  Office calls on the intercom, little dribbles that caused tears, correcting work that caused tears, little people who declare that "YOU are not the boss of me!" and a crazy cold north wind that decided to blow in at 3:00 pm.
Random has become normal for this week.  Praying that next week (beginning tomorrow) will be less random!

Granny is feeling better!  When asked to name 3 things that are inflatable, she replied with "a balloon, Oooooh...my wine!"  Hip! Hip! Hooray!  She is definitely on the road to recovery!  She really does make homemade wine.  We are working to figure out where I am messing it up.  Grrrr.  I'll get it one of these days!  In the meantime, I'll just keep drinking hers.  What?  I need something to compare mine to, right?

 Hey guess what!?!  We are under our first Winter Weather Advisory of the season!  YEEEHAAAWWWWW!  Sorry, but THIS girl LOVES winter weather!!!!  Now, I am not getting my hopes up for this little pud storm, but maybe another day we'll get the much awaited, much celebrated, magical "Snow Day!" 

Just TYPING the words snow and day together make me smile.  Snow Day.  Snow Day.  Snow day!!!!
(Slow Down, Chrissy!  Don't get too excited)  I don't dawn my winter layers of clothes, coats, hats and gloves.  I most certainly do not go running out to grab my fast little sled or snow skis or even the shovel for that matter!  I love snow days because they are FREE days.  Snow days give you a free pass on everything except yourself.   The kids get to stay in their pj's all day while playing video games, board games, reading books, and watching movies.  I get to bake something spectacular, clean or organize closets, have a well planned and thought out dinner on the table when my better half walks in the door, play with the kids, sit in my big comfy chair and enjoy a fire in the fireplace while watching snow fall and maybe even take a short nap!  Sigh!  See what I mean?  Notice that in my Snow Day scenario, there was no opening and closing of the garage doors to go anywhere!  We don't leave the house!  Again...huge sigh with a smile!  Rats.  I have myself all worked into an "I need a snow day" mode now.  Oh well.  I know I won't get one tomorrow, but again...maybe next time.  In the meantime, be safe on the roads tonight and in the morning.  I hear they could be a little slick.  (wink)

Answered Prayers!

This is just a QUICK post.  God is good (all the time).  He has answered our prayers.  Granny's speech has returned.  She can even read out loud with few errors.  She has been moved from ICU.  Yippee!

Goat Reports

As a Kindergarten teacher, I am often reminded of the power of a FULL MOON.  Now, don't get me wrong...I love my Kinder Kids.  They make me smile every day.  I am amazed at their sponge-like qualities and their abillities to grow and change so much in one year.  I thrive on their enthusiasm for learning, and I love, love, love their little notes and hugs as if they are coming from my own two children.  Seriously People!  I LOVE these little monkies! In spite of how much I adore these kids, the bad news is weather changes and moon phases CHANGE THEM!  Something mysterious happens and the wierd things just start happening.  Most days at school are normal, noneventful, and calm.  Every once in a while though, it ALL falls apart.  I'm talking about out of body experience, slow motion STRANGE things.  Things like poop art in the bathroom and toilet tissue roping it off like a crime scene.  (WHO DOES THIS????)  True story people.  True story.  I wish I could say that it was made up.  DIS-Gust-ing.

Well...one day a few months ago, the teachers were returning from our afternoon bus duties when someone said that it was the night before a full moon.   The response I heard was, "OOOOOOOOHhhhhh!  That explains everything!"  (tiny giggle here)  Seriously, we need to watch the calendar more closely.  As we were walking the rest of the way to my classroom, one of the other teachers began to tell us about the goats from her farm and how they had behaved so badly that very morning.  She just kept telling of odd things they had done during her chore time that morning.  When she finally finished, I told her that it was official!!!  Every time her goats are naughty, she is required to give us the "Goat Report" BEFORE the kids come to school. 

After my bus duty on Friday afternoon, that same teacher came to the hall with a freshly opened bag of rich, creamy chocolates.  They were in her hand, all stretched out as if offering us a peace offering.  "Chocolate ladies?"  (teehee)  "My daughter just called and said that one of the goats got "out," tore up all the hay bales, got into the feed sacks and then went back INTO THE CORRECT PEN."  We grabbed her chocolate offering, ran for our classrooms, made lesson plans for the next week, and prayed that the symptoms brought on by the full moon would be gone by Monday!  I am very thankful that this month's full moon happened yesterday and that it is over. 

The weatherman is forcasting a drastic temperature change tomorrow.  Sigh.  I am not sure why barometric pressure makes an impact on their little bodies, but it does.  Wish me luck.  Tomorrow is a new day...full of surprises, I'm sure, but I am still hoping for uneventful and normal! 

May your next full moon induced "day" be happy and uneventful.  Keep the Goat Reports coming, and thanks for the chocolate Christy.  It was delicious!

Curve Balls

Once in a while, LIFE decides to throw curve balls.  I am not a fan.  I don't like curve balls.  I like normal routine with no surprises.  (Unless, of course, the surprise is from my sweet husband and children and it comes all wrapped up pretty with a bow.)

Saturday, my 80 year old Granny and I had our weekly visit over coffee. 

(heehee!  She would be SO mad to know that I posted her age on here!)  

We live 2 hours apart, so we enjoy our weekly calls to get caught up with each other, talk about recipes, tell secrets, and enjoy a cup (or more) of coffee.  I tell her about new recipes I've tried, and she tells me about the old ones that are keepers.  Saturday morning she told me about the five --yes...I said FIVE-- loaves of bread that she and Grandpa ate last week.  Haha!  I guess I need that recipe.  Five loaves in one week.  Good gravy!

Sometime Saturday afternoon, Granny had a stroke and was life flighted to a larger hospital.  Sunday morning I drove to the hospital to visit her.  I found her sitting in a chair (what a relief!)  She showed visual symptoms of having a stroke.  I was able to take my turn in her ICU room throughout the day.  I got to talk to her, hold her hand, put my head on her chest and tell her how much I adore and appreciate her.  Yesterday evening, I told her I sure would like to crawl into the bed with her and spend the night.  She told me, "You go home."  What follows that other than "Yes, Ma'am."  ??????

Reluctantly, I came home.  I got up this morning to our normal routine.  I got the kids and myself off to school, taught all day, cleaned up my classroom, came home to heat up dinner, and am now just sitting here waiting for test results in the morning.  She remains in ICU tonight.  She is having a hard time with her speech and hand/eye coordination. 

Curve ball. 

Boo!

I hope she gets busy on that rehab!  Saturday morning is fast approaching, and I can't miss out on my Coffee time with Granny.  I don't mind driving up for coffee.  It's one of my favorite things.  Maybe I'll make some scones to go with it this week.  Mmmm.  That would be a delicious treat. 

This was taken in July when she had one chemotherapy treatment left.  She would KILLme for posting this!  heehee...it's okay though, because I needed to blot my oily face, so we are even.

This is Granny giving me a "Thanksgiving Cheers!"

and look!  Her hair is growing in so nice. 
(Once again...she would KILL ME!)

Looking forward to many, many more Coffee visits with Granny.  Praying that she has a speedy recovery.  Thanks to all my peeps who are praying so faithfully for Granny, her care givers, and our family.  They are much appreciated and being felt. 

Oh Happy Day!

Like the rest of the moms in the world, I love seeing my kids have success, reach new milestones, enter new phases and stages of their lives, and complete journeys.  I love it when they see benefits of a rough journey.   Well, with all of that being said, you can imagine how extatic I am tonight!!!  Corbin, our 13 year old son, had his braces taken off today after a 3 year tour with them. 

According to Corbin...Best. Day.  Ever!!!!!!

I went back in time to look at the "before" and "afters"  OH!  I loved the sweet little pictures of a very crooked toothed smile when we began this journey,  But oh MY how he needed braces!!   
He had the sweetest  LITTLE face.  He has grown up so much since those first photos were taken.  He is soooo tall!  (How does that happen?)  His hair has grown darker, and his freckles have faded in spots and gotten darker in others. His sweet little boy face is turning into one that looks just like his Daddy's teenager face!  True story...JUST LIKE IT!  Teenager I tell you!  Sigh. 
One thing that I noticed did NOT change...the sweet twinkle in his eyes.  He smiles with his eyes, and I love them. 
So...All the efforts and frustrations paid off.  It was, in the grand scheme of things, a short journey.  In Corbin's mind, though, I'm sure that it seems like it has been forever.  In a few days we will pick up his retainer, and the journey will continue, but until then, we are enjoying a brace free mouth and the super straight teeth that he is LOVING! 

Dinner tonight you ask?  One WOULD expect something grand and celebration worthy, however, poor kid had soccer practice, so there was no time for grilling steaks.  Grilled brats, salad and chips it was.  Maybe tomorrow can be a fancier feast!  Nothing fancy today, but life is delicious!