Thankful Thursday

So many thoughts running around in my mind. So many unwritten posts. (I know, disappointing as it is...) Yet so little energy. This is the first week I have worked a full week in a while. :) (And then, it was full time plus overtime with conferences :)

So what better thing to do? Remember what I am thankful for...

• Like a daughter who sent us (her dad and I) on a scavenger hunt on Valentine's Day (not sure where she learned that one :)
• Having all my parent/teacher conferences done and accounted for. I really enjoy meeting with parents and sharing successes with them. But I will admit, it feels good to sign off on the last conference. They make me tired! That and it is less time at home...
  
• Cooking Valentine's dinner with my sweetie. Pan seared steak, fingerling potatoes (some of them were purple...that was wild!), some cheesy garlic bread from the bakery. I am pretty sure I could have eaten the whole loaf for dinner happily. Caesar salad. And chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. Yummy. And fun. And with my man. (Just him...the kids had Chick Fil A earlier that evening) The best combination.
• Getting at least 15 texts on my phone from my main man telling me what he loved about me...
• Getting these from my main man too...wasn't expecting them at all.
  
  

• The beautiful weather we have had recently (it is amazing to me that one week ago, we had two feet of snow. Today, we have sunny skies and warm temps.
• The breathtaking sunsets we have been having.
  

• My co-workers.
  
• Celebrating a dear friend's good news with a "girl's night out". Yummy food, delightful company.
  

• Having school this Friday. We were originally going to have an inservice day but due to all of the snow, we are having school instead to make up at least one of our "snow days". I am happy to have a full week with my kiddos.
• Outdoor recess. So very thankful for outdoor recess.
• That I get to see my sister this weekend. A rare treat, especially during the school year.
• For my own children's conferences. It is a joy to find out that they are learning and making progress.
• My oldest son's generous heart.
• Our youngest's infectious smile and silly laugh.
• My main man. I want to give him a post of his own, but I will say that at night, I just think about him and how very thankful I am that God brought him into my life.

I could add many more things to the list, but it is time for me to get going for the day (because this turned into a drawn out post...).

What are you thankful for today?

More later,
Reba

Mama Mia!

No, not the movie/musical, though it is showing here at our local arts center. I actually have yet to see it. I really need to.

It just came to mind because I have been thinking about food. And when I think about food, "Mama Mia" comes to mind as the chef kisses his fingertips (and hopefully washes them promptly before cooking anything else).

Food.

Oh, dear food.

What is it about being home, in my sweats, all day long, that makes me think about food?

I dread weigh in next week (as I sit here and type rather than exercise like I should).

Let's just look over the last week and a half...

Hmmm, last Tuesday I think it was (first snow day), I had a hankering for Mongolian Beef and Fried Rice. Yes, healthy I know. It sure was yummy though. Of course, then we had to have a little Chocolate Lava Molten Cake to go with it...

Then one day last week when I was done being home and cooking, we picked up pizza. Have I ever mentioned how much I love pizza? Then, one week later, we had pizza again...

My sister mentioned something about homemade donut holes (using refrigerated biscuits and a Fry Daddy) on Facebook last week. I had forgotten about those. We used to make those when I was little. I mentioned it to Lauren, my eternal sweet tooth child. She was ready to go for it. So we did. We have had that twice.

Miracle Lasagna. I don't know why it is called that. The only miracle will be if I don't gain a few pounds from eating it.

Hopping John and fancy little ham sandwiches for Super Bowl Sunday.

Pumpkin cake with caramel sauce.

Apple cinnamon muffins.

Chocolate lava molten cakes again after our dear neighbor traipsed through the snow to deliver the one egg I was missing to make this dessert after I mentioned I was missing an egg on Facebook. Yes, Neighbor of the Year! (My children actually broke out into a cheer when the egg arrived. Not joking at all. We are a sad bunch.)

Baked potato soup.

Pancakes and bacon.

I think child 2 has made two batches of brownies now. She loves cooking and baking (did I mention her sweet tooth?). She is using mixes but she makes them all by herself.

Several batches of hot chocolate. Okay, I didn't drink any...I don't drink hot drinks. But my kids are going through it like crazy!

Deviled eggs.

The newest recipe: Cheesy Chicken Marsala. Oh yum. I had to stop myself from licking the dish clean. I love Marsala sauce.

Catfish Hole. How could I forget Catfish Hole? Best hush puppies in the whole world. And crab legs. Yum.

I know, I know, I am doomed.

But it sure has been yummy!

Reba

Land of Opportunity

Recently there was a debate in our legislature about whether to change our motto from "The Natural State" back to "Land of Opportunity". When I was young, Land of Opportunity was our state motto, then it changed at some point. Of course, now that we have been out hiking in this state, the Natural State seems to suit us just find. I love living here but not really sure what kind of opportunity we have that other states don't...I am also not totally positive why that was so important on the agenda, but I am not a politician.

Anyway, I digress. Yes, I know I do that alot...

So before I really get into my post, I felt like I should explain my "NO SNOW" policy. I do think it is pretty (sometimes). And my kids love to be out in it. But it completely interferes with school. Usually this is my favorite time of year to teach but right now we go for a day then have four days off, which doesn't lead to a very conducive learning environment. I also know that the more days we miss now, the fewer days we will have for our summer vacation. And I would much rather spend summer vacation outside with the kids then snowy days cooped up inside. I know that a lot of places get more snow, but that is part of the problem too. We don't (usually). I am not joking when I say 1-2 inches of snow can shut down our community. We aren't prepared for this weather. When there is a chance of snow, our news channels go into frantic mode. The shelves of the grocery store will be wiped out. And once it starts falling, the school cancellations start.

Now that I have explained myself, I will get to today's post.

So when I went to bed last night, I checked outside to see if the much anticipated "blizzard" had started. There were several different "forecasts" out there with many different "anticipated" precipitation levels. I was trying to be positive. A dusting. 1 or 2 inches. 6 at the most.

When I awoke, I first checked to see if I had an e-mail about school. Canceled. I scurried across the house to look out the front window. I couldn't even see the road. At all.

I would have loved to sleep in but by then my adrenalin was flowing. And the kids seemed to just "know". They were raring to go early!

About mid morning, I decided to take some pictures. I opened our back door and found this...

It is estimated that we got about 24 inches total. It snowed until mid afternoon. I have lived here a long time and never seen snow like this. I think we broke some state records.

Crazy stuff around here.

I could belly ache some more. There is one more day of my Christmas break gone. Well, probably three. We are already out of school for tomorrow, and I doubt we will be back on Friday.

Or...

I could look at this as an opportunity.

An opportunity to enjoy being with my kids (and husband...he couldn't get out either. They actually closed the Wal-Mart main office for the first time ever, if that tells you how bad the roads were! Tyson Headquarters were closed too.)

An opportunity to exercise some time before 11.

An opportunity to nap. :)

An opportunity to make baked potato soup and then chocolate lava cakes for dessert (thanks to our sweet neighbors who saw something I put on FB and delivered a much needed egg).

An opportunity to get the Valentines for school signed and labeled.

An opportunity to finalize our summer/beach lodging plans.

An opportunity to catch up on laundry.

An opportunity to learn more about my new phone.

An opportunity to catch up on light reading (a.k.a. magazines).

An opportunity to laugh at the many fun comments on Facebook. That has just lifted my spirits in a big way!

An opportunity to finish up some needed professional development hours.

An opportunity to organize and simplify our belongings.

I know there are many more opportunities, but those were just a few of today's. I wonder what kind of opportunities tomorrow will hold...

Reba

Happy, Happy

Nope, not about the snow in our forecast.

Or the fact that I just ate way too many calories.

Or the idea of a shorter summer.

Or that I am trying to figure out how to handle a very impulsive preschooler.

Or deal with the drama of a preteen girl.

Or handle the constant bickering or even worse, the "wrestling" that takes place and always results in someone getting hurt.

Nope, that is not why I am so happy.

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I had a friend who had some happy news.

I can share it now...because she shared it.

http://sweetcarolinebaby.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-do-you-explain.html

More soon,

Reba

My Heart is Smiling...

Ever have one of those days when your heart is just smiling?

Like the fact that I got to be a teacher today?

And almost all of my kiddos were at school today?

And I got to see my co-workers? I miss them when we aren't in school!

That we had our kindergarten Valentine program? The kids were too stinkin' cute, even with really only one practice all together.

That my dear friends J and A have a new son?!?

That I came home from the kindergarten program and received my Valentine's gift? (My i-Phone!)

That another friend texted me with happy news that I won't share yet but I am dying to? :)

That one of my children was struggling in a school subject (temporarily) and seems to be figuring it out thanks to a devoted teacher?

That our youngest son got into the car after his week "vacation" from school and announced that it was a great day?

That I have a God who loves me in spite of who I am?

Why is your heart smiling today?

The Fine Print

Please know that what I am about to type is mostly written tongue in cheek (with a touch of reality). I am on day three of snow days, holed up in the house with four very energetic, very demanding children. And guess what tomorrow is? Another snow day. Oh joy!

Anyway, today I wrote something on Facebook about how I was done with dealing with children's bodily fluids. I won't go into details, I will just say that it was not a fun morning. My next comment was "I did not sign up for this." Of course, then my mom reminded me that I did...when I had kids. That got me to thinking. Did I? Oh, it must have been that fine print.

Early this morning I was on Verizon's website trying to get an i-phone. Yes. I am moving up in the world of technology. My "touch" phone no longer responds to touch. So I really did need another phone. Or at least really want. Anyway, I went through all of the steps once I got the website up and running. The last step is of course to read the fine print and then say I read and agree with it. My husband (who so graciously stayed up with me) noticed me skimming the fine print. He asked, "You aren't really reading that, are you?" I admitted I was. After all, I wanted to make sure I wasn't giving my firstborn away or anything...of course, after the past few days, I would have had to think about that one. :) (By the way, is it being dishonest to check the box on those things saying "I read and agree to them" if you don't truly read every word???)

This really does tie together with the beginning of the post. I promise. Give me a minute.

So the fine print. When I was having children, I pictured these cherub faced, sweet little children cooing at me and thinking I was the grandest thing in the whole world. Did anyone ever tell me that some days I will be standing over the overflowing toilet plunging out toilet paper or wiping up blood from a very bloody nose after two children collided? Nope. Nobody tells you that stuff. It must have been in the fine print.

What else is in the fine print that I missed?

• That I would not have a hot meal for several years. As soon as I sit down, somebody suddenly remembers that they need something else to eat or drink right then.
• That the only movies I would go to for several years would involve cartoon characters, a mother who is likely killed off, and talking animals.
• That my dishwasher and washing machine/dryer would never be empty. Ever.
• That I would have baskets of toys in every room.
• That I would go in to take a hot bath only to find little cars and Clifford books lining my bathtub.
• That any plans of weekend trips would be put on hold due to a daughter's basketball team playing every single Saturday (meaning no sleeping in either :)
• That I would rarely get to make any muffin, cookie, cake, etc by myself again because I would have so many helpers.
• That as soon as I sat down to try to do something productive, a little preschooler face would appear with yet another book asking me to pwease wead it to him...
• That there might be days I want to change my name (from "Mommy" to something else...)
• That sometimes you will be stuck at home on your fourth snow day just praying it is warm enough for the kids to get out and play
• That I would read other people's status updates, finding out how much they have gotten done over their snow days, reminding myself that if they had a J-man in their house, they wouldn't get much done either...
• That I would have to save my book reading for vacation days because when I do read, I totally forget I have a life or children in this house. I have to wait until we can tag team. :)
• That I would find myself falling in love over and over again with my husband when I watch him in his role as a father and a husband.
• That all of the fine print in the world could never prepare you for the love that fills your heart when that snotty nose kid yells from his room "Bless you, Momma" when I sneeze...even though he is supposed to be sleeping!

What fine print did you miss? :)

Reba

So, How Much Did She Cost?

If you are an adoptive parent, you will probably identify with some of these things...



More later,
Reba (in a very cold Arkansas)