Happy Moments

Occasionally you have a long day.  For me it was a first day of second grade standardized testing, a difficult doctors visit, and a lack of motivation in the evening. But within the gray God gives us some happy moments.  Here are mine.

1. Student coming in, excited to tell me they are reading a book about the revolutionary war (our most recent lesson in social studies)

2. Student coming up with a brown pipe cleaner formed into a globe and announcing "here I made you a flower!"  

3. Husband being wonderful, rational, comforting wonderful wonderful!

4. My BFF texting me...

                                      Her:    "Hey don't forget about tomorrow!

                                      Me:    "What?"

                                     Her: 

5.  Passing that same wonderful message on to another bff! Spread the love!

Almond Obsession.

As of late, I have been obsessed with almonds!  I've always loved almonds (the actual nut), but lately I have discovered almond extract, to be used in baking.  In the last two weeks I have made two variations of almond cookies with almond frosting, and I can not get enough.  These were my favorite that I made when two of our friends came over the other night! Yum!

Almond Sugar Cookies with Almond Frosting

Pinterest Creations.

Over the past few months Pinterest has changed my life.  It is amazing how you can get lost on that website, looking at green bean recipes, paintings, sewing projects.  I love it.  As a result the creativity in this household has been out of control.  I have been working on a few projects.  Her are some.  I hope you feel inspired!

 

 

I love creating!

Taco Night!

Over the past two weeks I have felt inspired by my Food Network magazine to make tacos!  We have had a lot of tacos since we've been married; its a quick and easy meal. However, I have been challenged to take it up a notch to try to make something tasting a little more authentic.  And as it turns out, authentic=delicious!

Chicken and Mango Tacos

1 Mango
2 Tbs minced red onion
2 Tbs scallions
1 tsp minced jalapeno or habanero pepper

1 lime

1 lb. chicken (rubbed with salt and cayenne pepper)

Fresh cilantro

Corn tortillas

Mix together all ingredients (except chicken and cilantro) to make a fresh salsa.

Rub chicken with salt and cayenne pepper and cook in pan or on grill. 

Heat tortillas on grill.

Slice chicken, combine ingredients in taco, and enjoy!

Family Picture.

Over our Easter weekend we attempted to take a family picture.  And you know that whenever you are using the timed setting function on the camera greatness and awkwardness will follow!

Scrabble Night.

When Eric and I registered for wedding gifts we went sort of heavy on the board games.  The games were a fan favorite on our registry and we recieved 5 or 6.  Our only problem is that most of the games we registered for were meant for 4 or more players. So on game night our choices are Scrabble or Blokus.

This last week, Scrabble won over.  I claim superiority in both games; however, I was defeated.  I can't help it that my husband has an extensive vocabulary and plays the game on his phone so he knows every 2 letter word that ever was, like qi!  Unfair advantage I'd say!

Hunger Games.

I love the hunger games.  

Now, I have been known to get a little carried away with pop culture fads; Nsync, Twighlit, Harry Potter, Jonas Brothers, Legolas.  All things that I cared way too much about.  I have jumped on the Hunger Games bandwagon, and I don't plan on getting off.  In the fall I read all the books in a span of several days.  And was VERY happy when I heard a movie would be coming out.  I love when they make books into movies. 

So, the weekend after the movie came out (I don't think I could survive a midnight showing while teaching) my friend Nicole and I went to partake in the wonder of Hunger Games.  I really loved it.  Yes, they changed some things, and took some parts out, but overall I was pleased.  I think the Katniss and I would be great friends, and I want to take Peeta and put him in my pocket he is so cute. I am a fan. I was able to trick husband into going to see it with me!  He was a skeptic...but that has changed!

from

9 Months.

9 Months...while this duration of time is usually associated with having an infant, for me it is the amount of time that I have been married to my favorite person.  9 months ago today I had a wedding, wore a lovely dress (which I wish I could put on right now), and married my best friend.  While we don't necessarily celebrate our monthly anniversary, we do recognize and have a moment together to remember the day that we committed the rest of our lives to one another.  

So here are my 9 discoveries I have made about my husband and about marriage within the first 9 months of our marriage.

1. I love living with a boy, especially one who loves me lots.

2. Two people generate a lot of dirty laundry and a lot of dirty dishes (definitely my two least favorite household chores to do).

3. Eric is a patient and loving man.  These are things I knew and loved about him, but did not understand the full value of until I had him comforting me during my occasional emotionalness.

4. When you are married you can convince your husband to do most anything...even seeing Twilight and Hunger Games in theaters.  True love!

5. Life is good when you communicate. It's cliche, but communication is a key to a successful marriage.  Eric and I have such different communication styles which is why it all works!

6. I must really love my husband, I never get sick of him!

7. Life is much easier when you are tackling it with your other half.  It is nice to have someone there when times are hard and you just need to cry.

8. I am a bed hog. I am a cover hog. I am a cuddler.  And my husband puts up with it all. He must love me.

9.  God is good. I'm thankful for my husband and for our life together.    

Happy 9 months!

Spring has Sprung.

Spring is in full swing. You can tell the moment you step outside your door.  I love this time of year, and Virginia is proving to be a beauteous state to be in.   Here are some shots from a walk my man and I took one evening (he was embarrassed that I kept going into peoples yards to take pictures of their flowers!)  Silly husband.

A 2nd Grade Easter.

Classroom parties are always crazy.  This party was especially chaotic, seeing that it took place on our last half day, before spring break.  SO MUCH ENERGY!  But it twas great fun.  We watched a movie, dyed Easter egg, ate cupcakes, and had a massive Easter egg hunt. 

That's right, we hid 511 eggs on our school playground.  It is tough work hiding that many eggs.  I started  camouflaging them and strategically placing them under leaves or up in branches (attempting to make my master egg hiding father proud).  However, about 1/4 of the way through, I was just throwing the eggs on the ground.  It was good times, with only a few minor collisions.

Also, I happily downloaded Instagram on my droid.  I love it way too much!

An Easter Weekend pt. 2

During our trip we spent most of Saturday hiking in the beautiful Ohio forestry.  We saw waterfalls, massive trees, cliffs, and caves. At times, the terrain was pretty rugged.  If you ask my sister in-law, we were not hiking...we were bouldering/spelunking.  Yes, we were pretty intense!  By the end of the day we hiked about 6 miles!  Needless to say my legs are still hurting. But it was amazing to be with family, experiencing God's creation, living on the edge!