This summer is going to be short for me- like 9 weeks total. This year I go back to work in the middle of August, which is way early. Now I know, if you're not a teacher you're telling me to suck it up, no one else gets summers off and yada yada yada. I wont argue the validity or non-validity of your point, I will simply ask you to come into my classroom for one day and then we will see if you think I deserve a nice long break in the summer. If you don't think I do, then we can discuss your reasoning.
Anyway- knowing that my time at home with my bubs is limited, I wanted to make sure that I got all of the fun things in that I simply had to do with him. Grayson is at such a fun age, you really do get to experience everything through his eyes. Even things we did last summer are new again, because he was simply too little to remember them. Here's the problem, I'm also a procrastinator to the core. So if I know I want to take him to the museum, Ill push it off because its sunny today and Id rather go to the pool. Now that's all fine and good until I'm back with my teenagers and I never got to take my kid to the museum.
All that changes however when I make a list. I'm one of those people who get a strange satisfaction by checking things off of the list. It makes sure I get them done, and when the things on that list are staring at me I will not ignore them. So I did what any sane person would do I spent a good 15 minutes using Pic Monkey to make our bucket list, printed it out, and stuck it in a dollar store frame.
Now I can cross off what I want using a dry erase marker and make sure that the things I want to experience this summer get completed.
So tell me friends, what's on your summer bucket list?
Its been awhile since I've done some good old Friday Letters, so here goes nothing!
Dear amazing people who read this blog-
FIVE MILLION PAGE VIEWS?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!! Insert peeing my pants here. Thank you for reading this space, even when life makes me neglect it. I have tons of ideas I want to post on, and in the coming weeks I want to get back to this space more. I love you all so very much and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Grayson- Baby boy, I love you more than words can say. I'm so excited to have the summer off to spend with you but I really think that it is entirely unfair that when Daddy is home or you are at Aiyas house you sleep till 10. With Mommy, you're up at 7:30. Cut this crap out, okay? Mommy is tired and will be in a much better mood if she sleeps in. Also, changing your diaper isn't a punishment so please stop screaming as such before the neighbors call CYS on Mommy.
XOXO-
Momma
Dear Hubs-
You do realize its not a crime for you to empty/fill the dishwasher, correct? Same goes for changing the toilet paper roll. Other than that, I love your guts. However if that dishwasher thing doesn't change you are going to be eating off of paper plates until you get the idea.
Love Your Guts!
Dear Outer Banks-
August 2nd can not come fast enough. Now, I do not want to wish summer away but I can not wait to squish my toes in the sand and smell the salty air.
Now if you could just make sure the weather is fab that week, I would really appreciate it.
XOXO,
The lady who REALLY needs a vacation
Dear Mother Nature-
Now I totally get that with summer heat comes the possibility for thunderstorms, but can we catch a freaking break?! It has rained every day since summer started. Just once I would like to make a pool date so I can get a little bit of a tan. Please?!
Sincerely-
The entirely too white girl.
Dear Wonderful Peeps at Jif-
Thank you for making the peanut butter and chocolate spread. It is worth every extra minute I have to spend hating life on the treadmill or making a fool of myself at Zumba to indulge in your deliciousness. People have said to try PB2 with Chocolate because its "the same". They are liars. I secretly want to spread you on all the things because you are that good, but as a big girl I will refrain. And no, that wasn't me sneaking downstairs at three am to spread you on a pretzel rod. I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, can we talk about a zero calorie version?!
This is our second year in a row trekking out to Ohio to ride on the Blue Choo Choo, and I will say that this year Grayson really understood what was going on a lot more.
What a difference a year makes...last year to this year he really has gotten so much bigger.
Can I point out that Thomas the Train is pretty much a toddler addiction? Whenever his whistle would sound there were literally hundreds of kids screaming and yelling. It was almost like being at a Justin Timberlake concert for toddlers :)
At first he wasn't too sure- it might have been the 2 hour car nap fog had not worn off yet.
Once we got on the train however, he was much better. Except when the train stopped- then he just kept saying Green Light Thomas, Go Fast!! Meanwhile Mommy gets motion sick like woah, and that stupid train goes backwards. See that smile on my face? That's really me attempting not to lose my Starbucks. The things we do for our kiddos, right?
Me gots a Thomas paper, Mommy!!
Overall it was a great day. If you have a train obsessed toddler in your ranks, I highly suggest Day Out with Thomas. The train ride seems pricy at around $20 each, but all of the other activities are completely free. The big arse Thomas balloon cost me $10, and approximately two minutes after tying it to my hand the top part let go and Thomas floated away. Luckily they did give me a new one, since that was obviously not my error. Otherwise I would have shelled out another $10 because Grayson was already telling everyone who would listen that Mommy let his Thomas go up to the sky. He still looks up at the sky and asks where his Thomas balloon went. He's got the guilt game down, for sure.
Now he's asking for Gigi and Pap to take him to ride on Thomas, so we'll see if there are two train rides in our plans this summer!
Really, that's a personal victory. Those little doughnuts are delicious!
This year the Pittsburgh Marathon had some pretty crappy weather. Usually we get up at the sheer butt crack of dawn to head down with Pappy to watch Daddy and Gigi run- but this year everyone was doing the relay. Meaning Grayson and I were on our own. Now if you remember last years race as my husband was running across the 16th street bridge my adorable sweet boy was coming down with the stomach bug and vomiting everywhere. It was a nightmare, to say the least. I was not looking forward to being stuck downtown with a kid who could potentially repeat his stomach pyrotechnics from last year. But, luckily for me, when we woke up it was 45 and raining...far too bad to take the two year old out in. So Daddy went off and ran his leg, then came home to get us. By noon when we were getting ready to watch my mother in law cross the finish line the rain was gone and it was in the mid 50's. Not the best, but it's spring in Pittsburgh. Since it was so late and the traffic in the city was crazy, it was too far to walk to get my doughnut. So it was more a lack of willpower to walk nearly a mile to get a doughnut than me actually saying "No, I will not eat them!"
In all seriousness though lovelies, the hubs did amazing. On his leg of the race he averaged a 9:04 minute per mile. Did I mention that he didn't train in order to be able to do that? Yeah, he's disgusting to say the least. I'd be thrilled to be able to wake up and run six miles, period!
At the finish line with Daddy!
Team Why Not?!
Medal theif.
He said next year he "run fast wif Dad!"
Go for it buddy, Mommy will meet you at the finish line- doughnut in hand!
The other day I had two students show up to visit me, they had graduated the year before.
Okay first, that crap makes you feel REALLY old, REALLY fast. I really don't get how I taught them four years ago, and now they're in college. After all, I haven't aged a single day, I'm still 25. (No comments from the peanut gallery needed, mmmkay?!)
As we sat and chatted about where they were now and what they were up to one of them looked at me and said something I don't think I can ever forget. He said "When I was in school some days I felt like you were the only one who believed I could be something someday, and you never let me give up. Thank you." Insert tears from my eyes here.
Now to be honest, when I started teaching I always said I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to inspire kids and let them know that I would always be there if they needed to talk. I have had kids come to me in their darkest moments and tell me things I never wanted to hear. I have given relationship advice, parent advice, and life advice. But to hear a kid actually say out loud that I mattered to them - that's a pretty big deal, folks.
The funniest part is that I really wish I could get kids to realize when they are freshmen what they learn when they get out into the real world. You may never need to remember what type of rock pumice is (igneous, in case you had the urge to Google it), or what the Pythagorean theorem is used for, or even who wrote The Great Gatsby- but sitting in class "learning" all of those things really is preparing you for real life.
We're teaching you how to follow rules, even though you hate them. We're teaching you how to work with others (and pick up the slack for people who don't do their part). We're teaching you how to overcome obstacles and challenges and to figure out how you solve problems on your own. We're teaching you how to juggle multiple tasks and set realistic goals on what needs to get done and when. We're teaching you not to give up and to work hard and to be respectful. We're (at least trying to) teach you compassion and understanding- so that some day when you become an adult and have to care about someone other than yourself you'll know how.
None of these things really have anything to do with the content that I teach- but the truth is that sometimes I'm more concerned with the person you will become rather than the grade on your test.
That's how a lot of teachers feel, and that's why we do what we do. No one gets into this profession to make lots of money, or for the recognition, or for the "great hours" that everyone seems to think we have. You get into this profession to help kids and to make a difference- and that's no easy task. If you can get your students to learn, grow and give back- then you truly have hit the teaching jackpot. This guy has certainly done just that.
All over the country teachers are doing these things and really making a difference. Spending money out of their own pockets to provide students with materials they need. Office Depot and Adopt-A-Classroom have partnered to raise awareness about teachers, and all that they do in the lives of their students. Adopt-A-Classroom is a nonprofit organization that helps connect donors with teachers to enhance the learning environment for students, and you too can help by getting involved.
Have you all had a chance to get to know the stomach bug that is floating around? He's a total jerk, and spent an unwelcome week at our house. On the upside, that was the easiest ten pounds I ever lost OVERNIGHT...too bad it will all come back with a vengeance once I can keep something down besides spit. (If you've had this gem, you totally get this comment.)
In other news I chaperoned prom the other evening with some of the best co-workers around.
We took this picture for two reasons. One because were amazing, the other to prove that we were all awake after 11 PM. I didn't feel nearly as bad though when the teenagers were laying down on the floor outside of the ballroom at 10:30. If they cant hang, then I don't feel nearly as bad admitting I was asleep before we even got out of the parking lot. I am not meant to stay awake until midnight, I'm just not. Especially not when I wake up at 5 AM to go to work, that's just too long of a day. I barely had enough energy to do the running man with a student and dance in the corner while my husband hid embarrassed of me.
All in all Im glad the kiddos had fun and were so well behaved, but I am really glad prom night only comes around once a year. I still haven't recovered from my late night out!
Please tell me Im not the only old lady out there?
The other night for dinner I wanted something relatively healthy but I also wanted something that didn't taste healthy. I had seen one too many Olive Garden commercials that day and was craving something Italian.
I think I've told you all before I married the pickiest husband on the planet, so sometimes finding something new to make can be a bit iffy. I had a really yummy looking stuffed chicken on my pinterest board, but I knew stuffing it with cheese would not sit with hubs. But I was intrigued enough to come up with my own stuffed chicken, sans cheese.
Ingredients:
4 thin sliced chicken breasts (about 1/4 inch thick)
Fresh Rosemary- about 1 tablespoon
Fresh thyme- about 1 tablespoon
Garlic- I used four cloves
1 Tbsp Butter
Panko Bread Crumbs
Egg
Parmesan Cheese
1. Start by chopping up the rosemary and thyme. Place into a small bowl and grate in fresh garlic. Add butter and microwave for 15-30 seconds, just enough to melt the butter.
2. If you have thick chicken breasts, place them between two sheets of parchment paper and pound them to an even thickness around 1/4 inch thick. Spread the garlic/herb/butter mix onto one side of the chicken breast.
3. Roll up the chicken, keeping the herb mix in the middle.
4. In one bowl beat together two eggs. In a separate bowl put some Panko bread crumbs mixed with about 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
5. Dip the rolled up chicken into the egg, then coat in breadcrumb/cheese mixture. I also threw some leftover thyme and rosemary into the breadcrumbs just to spice them up a bit. Make sure to really coat the chicken, including the edges.
6. Place into a greased baking dish. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
That's all she wrote!
I ate mine with green beans (yes they were canned, don't judge me). The hubs had his with buttered noodles. We also had bread, but truth be told I was so full from the chicken I didn't even eat mine. I made four chicken breasts and the hubs ate two and a half of them. It was that good.
Do you have a fun stuffed chicken recipe I should try? Leave me the link and I promise to check it out!
