Meet Ups and Meat Loaves....???

It's Monday!

Is there a cheery song about Mondays?- didn't think so.
Coincidence? I think not.

But I have made it my mission this evening to get rid of the Moody Monday Blues-

I'll start by telling you about my lunch with Mr. Greg from



I have done more socializing since I joined the blogging world than I have ever!
I have flown across the country, bummed rides from the Mr. to lunches with new friends, and chatted on the phone with some wonderful ladies!!  I love what this blog has brought to my life:)

I'll start with a pic-
which the one he has on his blog is better- much better-
and he always looks good in his-
I on the other hand, well let's just say that Chickadee did not help my non photogenic self by only clicking two shots from each camera!!!

Uh- well what do you know- better luck next time!!!

All goofiness aside-
Greg and I found out that we are working on opposite ends of a parallel universe. We might as well be in the same building!
You have to remember that we are in a Race to the Top state- so we get all new eval system on top of new standards- Lucky us:)
Lunch was delicious- margaritas were a bit on the small side, but they made up for it with a little kick- I knew they were doing their magic when the snorting joined in with the laughing:)

Chickadee was mildly embarassed, but super excited to have gone- she's a non- blogging blog stalker...and Greg is at the top of her list:)
And the drive wasn't that bad either- or so the Mr says- I was on my phone the whole time:)
Next time we will invite the spouses....(this ensures the possibilities of a DD) :)

There was some sad news this weekend.
Remember the WMDs?
The "meeting shoes"?

Well, let's just say that Another One Bites the Dust.

Look at those poor "lost soles" out there on the porch... These like the WMDs have been banished, exiled, never to be able to find a safe harbor in our home again.
I have to find a way to get those guys back in here....they are my most favoritest bestest comfortablest shoes- ever!


I tried to find a way to his heart (that little tiny heart that despises comfy shoes) by making his favorite dinner.
Meatloaf and mashed potatoes-
You have to see how I make this- I saw it on Good Eats once and thought I would give it a shot.

I'll put a link to the recipe below- but this is pretty cool.

I guess you could make it with the ingredients you choose. It's the setting it up that is so neat.
After you mix all the yummy stuff together, you line your loaf pan with cling wrap then start spooning in the meat mixture.

You keep mushing it in- and  then you flip it over onto wax paper on a baking sheet.

Keep it covered in the cling wrap. And I make two- because I have a hungry bunch and the Mr likes to take dinners for lunch-So I place these in the fridge overnight,
When it came time for dinner i just pulled off the wrap and put it in the the oven.
Bake. Glaze. Bake some more- and when if comes out- it has lots o crunchy on the outside! And my boys fight over the ends- so this is nice

Ok, that may not look too appetizing- some of the glaze burned to the pan, but the loaf was safe!!! and crunchy on the outside and not trapped in the grease of the loaf pan:) It was scrumdidliumpcious!!! Note how the little piggies at almost a whole one before I could get the pic taken!! The recipe is pretty yummy too! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-meat-loaf-recipe/index.html



Our weekend ended (officially ended) as the sun set early (earlier anyway because of the time change). One of the best parts of "fall back" is how the outside tricks the Littles into thinking it is later than it actually is and sometimes- not every year- but sometimes we get those days where they convince themselves it's time for bed- and Mama still has a couple of hours to kill! That little time trick is going to be one of the first parenting nuggets of gold that I share with them when the time comes......maybe- :)

 Have a Terrifatabulous Tuesday-

I feel like poop...

I was poetic today.

At 6am. I was in the shower, trying to get warm because the MR had THE AIR CONDITIONER on last night!

I was also breathing in the steam and hoping it would clear my head....of the sicky kind of stuff- not the images of me doing something mean to him for making me freeze last night..

So anyway, remember this pic? It was part of my 12 on the 12th March post:

My classroom door is a little to the right of the large tree. It's placement will be significant in a moment.

So- I started singing-in my head- {remember, I am in the shower}.....OK ok, it WAS out loud- but the MR was gone and the Littles are asleep so no one can hear me...

And I start making up this song about how I HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE Bradford Pear Trees!

I actually put on my robe, ran to the front, and wrote this down:

Oh, Bradford Pear
Oh, Bradford Pear
You stand with such beauty
before our school.
When the buses arrive
 at 7:45,
Your "fluffiness" looks so cool.

The wind will catch
your blooms just right
And make it look as if it's snowing.
We all watch with a childish gaze,
Our eyes glassy and glowing.

And then your scent comes through my vent
and fills my room with "Spring"
(Watery eyes and itchy noses are some other things it brings.)

My throat is scratchy.
My voice is cracky.
And I'm tired of rubbing my eyes.
My nose is raw.
My skin I claw.
(And it's not making me very nice).

So Bradford Pear
Oh, Bradford Pear
Just let the wind carry your blooms far away.
I've already had too much going on this year,
And I can't take  another sick  day.


So I typed it, and then sent it to my Schoolio-s----because we ALL carry great disdain for this tree that brings so much trouble!

Needless to say,  {pun intended} 
I lost my voice today....gained it back....lost it again....
and now I feel like I have a grapefruit stuck in the back of my throat {that would probably kill me, right?}

Ok, so it is more like a grape...but grapes ARE fruit....you get the idea!

There is some sadness in my day.

My second favorite pair of WMDs have been banished to the porch! They aren't even allowed inside anymore.....don't they look sad out there in the cold?
What if someone steals them? What if the wind blows them away? What if a creature carries them off?
Who am I kidding.....they are like ADT out there....they are keeping folks at a distance!

I have embarked on a throw-out-the-crap-that-is-in-your-filing-cabinet endeavor. I am super excited about my solution to all the files.... I will post about that tomorrow..... too much to explain now- my sinus meds are kicking in:)

I am trying to get a good pic  of me to post.....so I was "schmoozing" for the camera....by myself...in my classroom the other day.
My oldest son was R.E.A.D.Y. to go home. I told him to wait until I got a good one....
He stomped off and told his brother that "we are never leaving!".....Can you feel the love?

And last
but DEFINITELY NOT least- my pal Staci {no, I have not begun talking about myself in third person....the Staci thinks that's weird}
anyhoo
Staci has some awesome  stuff that is DYING TO be given away! BUT she won't do it until she reaches 100!
She is 6 away!!!!! So quit reading this!
Go here:



and follow her!


And I am not just saying this because I want to win, I can't win....she has asked me to participate!!!!
So go....


now...


You'll be glad you did!
(and I only put poop in the title because the word makes me crack up and I love that I have a label for it in the sidebar!!!!!!)

A Whole Lotta.....{just read it}

Yeah- it's over!!!!! Boooooo! No more Valentines!
I "took" away the exchange four separate times today- I was this close {I am holding my fingers an inch apart} from following through with it-
but then it hit me.....no, not the eraser that "A" threw...that did miss me,
What DID hit me was the fact that I am NOT the mean teacher and it is not their fault that this is an over blown holiday.
It is also NOT their fault that all three of the Littles rec'd a valentine from MR and I did not.
They are also not to blame that I cannot remember if I have taken my meds for the last two days.....hmmm....this may have something to do with all of this......

Let's change the subject-

{Disclaimer- The following pictures have been accumulating over the last two weeks. If you choose to continue looking, the owner of this blog accepts no responsibility for the time you will have wasted - unless you are inspired- and in that case, she takes FULL CREDIT!!!} hee hee

First let's check out a reason to not hate {Hate is a strong word, but I really, really, really don't like} Valentines-
Reason number 1

A Squirrel Mouse PAd! I LOVE HIM! (would that make him a new species? "squirrel- mouse")

Reason Number 2

AND Squirrel note cards- for when you need to acknowledge that NuttY friend!

And Reason Number 3- well there is the chocolate- too much to photograph....and I ate lost half of it...har har

I also have a few other reasons to  be happy.....more than a few I guess.... I have been working feverishly on de-cluttering- THANK YOU JODI!!!-
I have made so many changes {for "me-self"} and reinventing my workspace was at the tops of my list....so here  are few updates.....I really have to post these pictures...I have been wanting to for 2 weeks- but I wasn't sure how to add it in- so sit down, put up your feet and let me punch your ticket for a ride on my crazy train- *PunCh*

 

 I got the original idea from Create- Share-Teach. So simple to do. The tool box is 22 drawers and it cost 16 at Home Depot; 19 at Lowes. I have gotten rid of all cups, pencil holders, baskets, etc....if it does not have label on the drawers- then it does not have a home on my desk! I can email or post the template I used for the labels....just cut scrapbook paper to fit my printer and VIOLA! The font is Elise from K&A.

 

Are kidding me?!?!?! This is what my desk can look like? I hot glued this fabric on last year bc it looks like someone took a woodburning coarse on it...There is the rack for my laptop, ONE folder, my sweeties pic, and that little notebook next to the folder, it will show up later in the post. (I love me some binders, too). And holy macaroni- I just noticed the WMD shoes are right there in the corner!!! It was a "workout" day after school that day.....good thing no one was left in the room...whew!

 

I bought this monstrosity last year from Staples, thinking it would help. It is called the Desk Apprentice...more like the "dish-barrel-box- that -they-know-you-can't-see-over-so-that-is-the-blindspot-where-they-misbehave-box". My remotes for my technology, nurse notes, and a few files (graded, recorded, etc).

Remember those cutsie stickers I got at Christmas? Scanned them to make a Cover sheet for Lesson Plans....just cute...The large squirrel with the acorn getting ready to crush her skull.....that's me:)

 

Ah, the note book- I have banned Post-its (unless I am using them for a lesson, anchor chart, or a writing assignment with them). This is a $4 index card sized notebook that i bought at Wally World. I write the note I need for myself and when am done with it, I draw  a line through it.

Now I always know where I wrote 'that thing" and all I have to do is take this one little notebook with me at night to make sure I accomplish what  I wanted to do.

 

And last picture...My new center chart. I hot glued adhered the cards that I made (Just So Scrappy Scrap Kit) and ribbon to my closet door. Painted the clips white. The ribbon is not glued- just the cards- so I can (hopefully) easily move the clips.

I'll get a close up on the cutie ribbon.

Remember, I am considering that move to red. black, and white like dandelions and dragonflies (G.O.R.geous- Room, she has)......that sounded a little like Yoda, it did.....

OK, now yawn and stretch...you have more stalking to do!

Let me know if would like that template for the toolbox....I just used double sided tape to put it in the drawers and you can only see the AWEsomeness:)

Inferences and Weapons of Mass Destruction

Thank you, Abby from The Inspired Apple!

I don't think I have EVER used the word infer or inference and had so many light bulbs go off!
I am SEEEER-E-US!
Brilliant Lesson {thank you, Abby, for your post}! And I totally traced the clipart from a google search (the keys and the camera).
The rest was Abby's!
I also used My Granny's Purse- a book that my mother in law gave to my daughter like 10 years ago!

It was a magical moment for them. And me! Some of their work on display:

I had Bath and Body works spray- he infers that I like other people to smell good and I spray them in they are stinky. 

And the "shrpie" cracks me up.....he sort of lost direction before he finished that one- but he was right, "It never erasis" :)

Ok, now for the WMD-

I know they were never found over there in Iraq- that is because they are living in my closet!

They are my favorite black shoes. And they make my feet SMELL HORRIBLE! 

I am talking about smells so bad, you can get a whiff IMMEDIATELY after the shoe is removed.

Sometimes when the MR isn't in the car yet, we play a game. It is called "Lets- see-how-long-it-takes-Daddy-to-realize-Mommy's-shoes-are-0ff"! {His record is under a minute}!

I don't know why. It is just those shoes. And I wear trouser socks! They are wearing out though- and I don't remember where I got them!  This makes me sad...:(

I am now using them as "Chemical Warfare". I have told my neighbor teacher that if any meeting seems like it is taking too long- give me the signal {holding your nose} and I will remove a shoe.....

We have an Academic Coach meeting tomorrow during planning- LET THE GAMES BEGIN......!