tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20421200353210469992023-12-19T12:02:02.203-08:00An Italian Mama Gone CrazySandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.comBlogger740125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-37734464052038309282014-04-14T10:22:00.001-07:002014-04-14T10:22:28.497-07:00Hello again!!Wowee wow wow wow!!!!!<br />
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Yes, I am alive.<br />
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Yes, I am still an Italian Mama, and yes, I am still crazy...but happy crazy.<br />
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I have three AWESOME, WONDERFUL, HANDSOME sons, and a great husband.<br />
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So much has happened in the past couple of years...almost too much to tell!!!<br />
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We moved, my oldest son is in college and working, my middle son is almost a Senior in high school, and my youngest is now in high school. Don't blink, man... It goes by so quickly!<br />
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We now have 4 dogs, instead of two... Two small dogs, and two large dogs... Fun, but chaotic.<br />
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I am in my fourth year teaching at my sons high school... I teach a Cuisine class. Saying I love it would be an understatement.<br />
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My wonderful Mom is now living in the little casita our new (old) house has behind it. We LOOOVE having her so near by. Now, instead of going to the store, we just shop at her house!! hahaha!!<br />
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We have a fantastic view.<br />
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Everything would be great if I didn't have debilitating hip arthritis, but hopefully I can get it taken care of in the near future.<br />
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What's up with all of you?Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-2728046575312316472012-09-04T17:47:00.001-07:002012-09-04T17:47:43.784-07:00Well... we've moved in... All but two rooms of the house are done-ish...<br />
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This house is SOOOO much larger than our other home...I get winded just walking from one end to the other...<br />
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Did I mention that it was built for a woman with a handicap? So it's perfect for me... no stairs, handicapped rails in all 5 bathrooms, flat as can be!<br />
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I just started my third year teaching Cuisine last Monday. I still love every second of it. The students are fun, energetic, intuitive, creative and seem to be having a great time... so that makes me have a great time too!<br />
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I have my youngest in class this time around. My Teacher's Asst. LOVES when he is in class, he knows is way around my school kitchen better than anyone, and it makes her job that much easier... LOL. He is such a great little cook, you should see him shake a pan and flip food in the air... makes me wanna well up and tear! I don't think kids understand the gift of learning a life skill like cooking. My boys will hopefully never starve, even if they marry women that don't cook...Ya know?<br />
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I just pray they marry orphans, so I can be the only Grandma... HA!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-44378719764594831892012-06-23T21:05:00.001-07:002012-06-23T21:05:11.734-07:00It's been a long while... a long, long while... hasn't it?<br />
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Soooo, so, so very much has happened in the last six months...<br />
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We've moved... after 19 years in the same little house, we finally bit the bullet and moved... to a much, much larger home...with a gorgeous view, triple the land, and bunch of coyotes and roadrunners!<br />
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My oldest graduated from High School two weeks ago, we actually moved the day of graduation! What idiots!<br />
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I've been diagnosed with OsteoArthritis in my right hip, and am now walking sometimes with a cane. Fun Stuff!<br />
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This blogger thing has changed a lot in the last half a year... it's awkward!<br />
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Hopefully, I'll be able to take some breaks from unpacking boxes to write a little more on here... but I think I'm gonna change it to a cooking blog...something like "An Italian Mama Cooks" or something like that!<br />
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I will be adding in stories from my life, and childhood... soooo... those of you that are extremely sensitive to my childhood, (you know who you are... sweetie) make sure not to think I am writing about you... just sayin'!<br />
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okay... until later...<br />
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Ciao!<br />
<br />Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-25581767613310047202011-12-16T21:54:00.000-08:002011-12-16T21:54:11.306-08:00Being a working Mom is truly awesome... especially when I get to work AT MY SON'S SCHOOL! All three of them come into my classroom to either give me a quick kiss, ask for food (I'm the cooking teacher) or to ask for money... LOL... but it's great.<br />
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Today, we had our annual Christmas Party, with all the food cooked and provided by our fantastic ACAF members. We received our Christmas bonuses, had a White Elephant Gift Exchange, just had a chance to see and talk with the other teachers we don't get to see very often. The food was AWESOME... my friend Angie, cooks me UNDER THE TABLE! I would seriously eat her garbage... and it was wonderful because I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL... I got to really enjoy the day.<br />
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All of our Catering jobs are done... so I truly get to relax for the next two weeks... focus on my home, my sons, and just BEING...<br />
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This Christmas we aren't going to travel outside of our home, and get mistreated again... we are going to stay home, invite some friends over, and just chill. I'll be cooking the Feast of Seven Fishes with my Mama this year... not worry about some small minded people that think blogging is waste of time or that I am talking about them. AS if! It has been a wonderful, idiot free year...<br />
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I FINALLY get to concentrate on the Holidays, now that work is done for a little while. I need to finish my shopping. Really, I need to start my shopping... so that means I really shouldn't be on here... but now that I'm off work, I gravitated toward my blog...<br />
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To all that matter, MERRY CHRISTMAS...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-64619271867266579392011-10-17T00:04:00.000-07:002011-10-17T00:04:56.599-07:00Random stuff all jammed into one post...I got an email today from a student that wanted me to email him the recipe for Fettucine. HOW COOL IS THAT!!! Young adults are making PASTA FROM SCRATCH!!! I love my job!<br />
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Unfortunately, I didn't get the email until 3 hours after he sent it... so I hope he was able to make the pasta anyway... I've really got to check my emails more often on the weekends.<br />
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Tomorrow is my 19th Wedding Anniversary. NINETEEN years... who knew!! Pretty soon, I will have been with my husband longer than I was single. It literally feels like just a few years...<br />
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Has anyone else been watching that new show Pan Am? I love it. It's so old school. I just LOVE how they hold their hands out with gloves on when holding their purses... love the clothes... love the story... love it.<br />
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Got an Ipad 2 a couple of months ago... and HOLY COW... I love, love, love it!!! It's the coolest thing. May Steve Jobs rest in peace... I sure hope he's doing some great things in heaven... because he sure did some amazing stuff down here...<br />
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My middle son played in his first Varsity game, starting as Quarterback on Friday night... he is only a Freshman... and he did an AWESOME job... we lost... but we now have a passing game!! YAY!!!<br />
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I gotta go... I have to ork in the morning... and I drank way too much iced tea today...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-69991035141947510362011-10-03T20:36:00.000-07:002011-10-03T20:36:13.037-07:00It's been so long!!!I think about this all the time. I get ready to post something on here... then a student walks into my classroom, or the dishes need to be done... or this... or that...<br />
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BEING A WORKING MOM is soooo different from being a Stay at Home Mom!!!<br />
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I was called every name in the book last January for being a blogger...<br />
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Can you believe it? It wasn't even from a stranger... it was from a RELATIVE!!! Ha ha!!!<br />
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She told me to "just stick to cooking and 'your men" and stop blogging"... she took high offense to the fact that I like being Italian, and named my blog "Italian Mama" and how dare I think I am "so Italian"... blah, blah, blah... Funny right??<br />
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I was all gung ho to continue blogging, in spite of the rashen of crap I got from "her", then the school I teach at decided to give me two more classes for the new semester... and voila!! 12 hour days doing what I love! I bet she thought I stopped blogging because of her tirade... HA!!! She doesn't know me very well...<br />
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I am still teaching Culinary Arts at my son's High School... AND I ADORE MY JOB!!! Truly adore it.<br />
Being at work makes me happy. I don't remember what I did before!!! <br />
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I teach two classes a day, and I also run a lunchtime homework session for middle and high schoolers.<br />
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Maybe one day I'll write a book about the fun stuff that happens at our school... some of the things kids say and do are hilarious!!!<br />
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My sons attend a Christian/Private High School, and we have the greatest group of young minds... thoughtful, polite, well mannered... and soooo funny!!!<br />
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My oldest is graduating this year. {{sigh}}<br />
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He has applied to his number one choice of college... a month early... he REALLY wants to go to Azuza Pacific University... and private Christian College about an hour from here. I hope he gets in... but I just don't know how we'll swing the $48,000 a year... lots of prayer, I suppose??? We've been paying tuition for the past 12 years for all three of our boys...so this should just be a continuation... right... HA!<br />
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I need to get 8 more jobs. Fast.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-84345341717556597252011-07-17T17:53:00.000-07:002011-07-17T17:53:39.738-07:00Sedona and Vegas trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG1PDjic3Gan7GClHzNoOsKQ62cBqblQmG21rjOoPETzfZmaRreP6uJxbeELmk1eeTTB8NHEXar1kzh2JtSxG6RZ3Xntf8l9AR1sD_rq5LZcdw_j-3dYG1sjB0eumL76dkmnINOd-Vjns/s1600/100_3924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG1PDjic3Gan7GClHzNoOsKQ62cBqblQmG21rjOoPETzfZmaRreP6uJxbeELmk1eeTTB8NHEXar1kzh2JtSxG6RZ3Xntf8l9AR1sD_rq5LZcdw_j-3dYG1sjB0eumL76dkmnINOd-Vjns/s320/100_3924.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center">We've just arrived to our first destination... Our Las Vegas Timeshare Polo Towers...This is in the lobby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPyTKCcvfDv1Y92TNrNoi6dvZiZi-m6dka-_PYfvKpAWSxYUqS-e7p9u6SMBLWjnKFr6Nv20Bdwg0c9KCqXJeIWkKamib_o_sTqPhZvwMdumCI0LwCcC4IFzMt2j1nNKW2MPdHKbV6PdB/s1600/100_3925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPyTKCcvfDv1Y92TNrNoi6dvZiZi-m6dka-_PYfvKpAWSxYUqS-e7p9u6SMBLWjnKFr6Nv20Bdwg0c9KCqXJeIWkKamib_o_sTqPhZvwMdumCI0LwCcC4IFzMt2j1nNKW2MPdHKbV6PdB/s320/100_3925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bad shot... good day... My birthday lunch having my favorite meal... Lettuce Wraps from Cheesecake Factory... with my favorite men...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxk2xDhESli_YiGUZuQzlou7pbdFrvOfnYg5bFN_uvzTZLmSUV8BPCcgQWh9FYOcuLZAlM57D2nzDICKdrnVSAg6pYa2_8CLijouqynP3Iy1KHvu2nmFSfkNQCSlexF2ovqaE9yOqIaR2/s1600/100_3929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxk2xDhESli_YiGUZuQzlou7pbdFrvOfnYg5bFN_uvzTZLmSUV8BPCcgQWh9FYOcuLZAlM57D2nzDICKdrnVSAg6pYa2_8CLijouqynP3Iy1KHvu2nmFSfkNQCSlexF2ovqaE9yOqIaR2/s320/100_3929.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite part about Vegas? The HUGE bathtub in our villa... We get a little over zealous with the bubbles...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIf_GCjRVdF0UJY7JG_lGjGQlKbpV_dW_Q2NLQt4MTXVLwuXL6FwMbof2iZVKt63ziUlrBwkmgeg6t4vvArXIVnTilb3jya9mJuUxmj_M-mrimmN0wdqH-a5UR31na1G3nuHGQXyVWLEwF/s1600/100_3930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIf_GCjRVdF0UJY7JG_lGjGQlKbpV_dW_Q2NLQt4MTXVLwuXL6FwMbof2iZVKt63ziUlrBwkmgeg6t4vvArXIVnTilb3jya9mJuUxmj_M-mrimmN0wdqH-a5UR31na1G3nuHGQXyVWLEwF/s320/100_3930.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">goofball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr-ArjLN0omAuAwMnWV2M7LHAysIanf7vwA3G73h2bg7Nh3sh0rz7sXq6DkX-oGslD7bDRXESbqAbywtwBq1646J6hvpS8G0u8o20ZfWrLm3UxxCeAb3wBba7zsPnha5fYCkv2jFnMZQq/s1600/100_3938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr-ArjLN0omAuAwMnWV2M7LHAysIanf7vwA3G73h2bg7Nh3sh0rz7sXq6DkX-oGslD7bDRXESbqAbywtwBq1646J6hvpS8G0u8o20ZfWrLm3UxxCeAb3wBba7zsPnha5fYCkv2jFnMZQq/s320/100_3938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After 4 days in Vegas... time to head to Sedona!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUema04ZvqpPBTNZytiPbFmvm7q8cnSECEFu8MyX0eUbj1e6SQHJDE1sorftpWgQiBhfC9TDcpxW4SIBWj2uFP9WD7vYUDt8cbhKy5erA0aJVKGdpcy1wV8Qb-lmBCnJRofQrtatH8Cwh_/s1600/100_3944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUema04ZvqpPBTNZytiPbFmvm7q8cnSECEFu8MyX0eUbj1e6SQHJDE1sorftpWgQiBhfC9TDcpxW4SIBWj2uFP9WD7vYUDt8cbhKy5erA0aJVKGdpcy1wV8Qb-lmBCnJRofQrtatH8Cwh_/s320/100_3944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We tried to head to the SkyWalk... but it would have been $500 bucks just to step on it then leave... we had to get to our destination before sundown... so we ended up not doing it...;(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D3GzTYOzDWNlGxugqvHTPGBJ3-geFHUtpdTcxdZ_vqVtE5t5rCRR8ziS1inM1CPqgVi-LYurvxPTCFHash08LSe2XcL2iiphMSe22dyFOzIBctspWLemAhow7vlF9g0WJUyPjFXtKvsc/s1600/100_3947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D3GzTYOzDWNlGxugqvHTPGBJ3-geFHUtpdTcxdZ_vqVtE5t5rCRR8ziS1inM1CPqgVi-LYurvxPTCFHash08LSe2XcL2iiphMSe22dyFOzIBctspWLemAhow7vlF9g0WJUyPjFXtKvsc/s320/100_3947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wow... our first glimpse of the Red Rocks...stunning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySbVzzxFP0fchbo3_nm8y7d56iXK0AwLI6_MG_fH1fDD27j_5vX389WIEKKyTpKxIpXD6L2PpJ1RcV9IwYB0YtXBL5z7GOBVFDqNaNADhdZBqRhspEUv0FVx1pb6x-G2LT1uqtAlBlYEf/s1600/100_3955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySbVzzxFP0fchbo3_nm8y7d56iXK0AwLI6_MG_fH1fDD27j_5vX389WIEKKyTpKxIpXD6L2PpJ1RcV9IwYB0YtXBL5z7GOBVFDqNaNADhdZBqRhspEUv0FVx1pb6x-G2LT1uqtAlBlYEf/s320/100_3955.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was in AWE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnXX5s8empwjceXcWjtWEZjJLl93timur_otYpmUPyuaruSDf1euZDxwiumRs0MmBRCG3gInLV2D7g30fzwMUaes2tPlp0C6-9H2xW5jB_uwgU-r_o_HisjmzGIJaCETdrL9amC8v_3JR/s1600/100_3957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnXX5s8empwjceXcWjtWEZjJLl93timur_otYpmUPyuaruSDf1euZDxwiumRs0MmBRCG3gInLV2D7g30fzwMUaes2tPlp0C6-9H2xW5jB_uwgU-r_o_HisjmzGIJaCETdrL9amC8v_3JR/s320/100_3957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we got to our suite... 1500 sq feet of sheer bliss! This is the living room!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukfC58gq3fgnJdnshqoG_8erX9CJBs8QU-hr6dG-4qdaX3vKgKH7yJZ4sUT-59CaTF8WmiDQUoRl2hlIHwf1KfF7w2Q_DdglEYvUtIvqcJJ3PH-rzWVri7FApgs3Y0ZmZSwS6AYUYXehS/s1600/100_3958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukfC58gq3fgnJdnshqoG_8erX9CJBs8QU-hr6dG-4qdaX3vKgKH7yJZ4sUT-59CaTF8WmiDQUoRl2hlIHwf1KfF7w2Q_DdglEYvUtIvqcJJ3PH-rzWVri7FApgs3Y0ZmZSwS6AYUYXehS/s320/100_3958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My domain... the great sized kitchen! Yes... I cooked on vacation!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNiCBEAQYY316c4tyBf4Pz5SSpzrpUH72fp5D2gWd7Ckpkco6rX_RY6UzAOqrIhQGsjrtl30M9Imm55uHasnUE9ksMG7ScNX7zLtR2NiqqxJxLYhuYHXEVnN518iBDHQAOYNeC0-2i9Kj/s1600/100_3959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNiCBEAQYY316c4tyBf4Pz5SSpzrpUH72fp5D2gWd7Ckpkco6rX_RY6UzAOqrIhQGsjrtl30M9Imm55uHasnUE9ksMG7ScNX7zLtR2NiqqxJxLYhuYHXEVnN518iBDHQAOYNeC0-2i9Kj/s320/100_3959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the Master bedrooms... doors go out to the back patio!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj0lc4wDjdhSwdXixxwrywSvo8kRveHtG8iXVQFvm-cO3S9x_sHptAxlDSvvRQxbj-GWeVgrRLVI3SrQCTOCMeFO9S35GR2IxvveZ-xoepiq4wd149GPJzGUr_5GjYsHgdpfaYwxyPOpq/s1600/100_3961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj0lc4wDjdhSwdXixxwrywSvo8kRveHtG8iXVQFvm-cO3S9x_sHptAxlDSvvRQxbj-GWeVgrRLVI3SrQCTOCMeFO9S35GR2IxvveZ-xoepiq4wd149GPJzGUr_5GjYsHgdpfaYwxyPOpq/s320/100_3961.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the two HUGE bathrooms... and Triangular tubs!!! Not as comfy as the Vegas one.. but the shower made up for it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsy5FliqryiGDRNui2FM-PmcLURiiAZDNx8zxmNjyMHqZJgK3-rOJonwiY-E5T6_2pLJQ6SAK5xqZ_yk0AhVxq19aeeOszLHRAHtFdJEex65Gt0lZ-MFEDkaHDnxhfCP-B4-52K4dleWY/s1600/100_3962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsy5FliqryiGDRNui2FM-PmcLURiiAZDNx8zxmNjyMHqZJgK3-rOJonwiY-E5T6_2pLJQ6SAK5xqZ_yk0AhVxq19aeeOszLHRAHtFdJEex65Gt0lZ-MFEDkaHDnxhfCP-B4-52K4dleWY/s320/100_3962.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOVE a walk in shower!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP-UTY_sE7gyEZZ9ahmkAWWy6xlWhicjEm7HDn1pHx0ilmlFtmx69PIYR6kDjIkv1uiuRhNF7q19GdQyflbm3U4oEbKzjtYULfSWXgt41ZXwB1EV1YUOSYApNQiJz-8ayyEc0UGKcqPTI/s1600/100_3963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP-UTY_sE7gyEZZ9ahmkAWWy6xlWhicjEm7HDn1pHx0ilmlFtmx69PIYR6kDjIkv1uiuRhNF7q19GdQyflbm3U4oEbKzjtYULfSWXgt41ZXwB1EV1YUOSYApNQiJz-8ayyEc0UGKcqPTI/s320/100_3963.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOVE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you tell I'm a bathroom suite girl? I want what I don't have... our home bathrooms are so small, you can sit, take a shower and wash your hands at the same time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLV2mcrR5L3YrEljOGZ4UTmn1oCgNG0otivPWfhBAP-1PW9Sy0CHbM6-FIV6usaZ81JghS864kbiHIHBoOuEhHCx8J2R8Nag-ez-seofRD10bA7bB0cEv0BE_NKlPK4G_VZcNtxcj4dr2/s1600/100_3964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLV2mcrR5L3YrEljOGZ4UTmn1oCgNG0otivPWfhBAP-1PW9Sy0CHbM6-FIV6usaZ81JghS864kbiHIHBoOuEhHCx8J2R8Nag-ez-seofRD10bA7bB0cEv0BE_NKlPK4G_VZcNtxcj4dr2/s320/100_3964.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our master bedroom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDatz-HpbcmZ0fnQP1IScQacL_IdKF7V_EFXa07Rmykixj4UdzoaH5KOFOGdPSpy3KU6i-PniEUupr4mvFyRTGhje5qgFdTaPCBybNUrrwACrScD_TO3cQcCTmccXQgcq3V30XUvQY8KA7/s1600/100_3967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDatz-HpbcmZ0fnQP1IScQacL_IdKF7V_EFXa07Rmykixj4UdzoaH5KOFOGdPSpy3KU6i-PniEUupr4mvFyRTGhje5qgFdTaPCBybNUrrwACrScD_TO3cQcCTmccXQgcq3V30XUvQY8KA7/s320/100_3967.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dining area</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCaYI1JHvdKy2LVvmf75kc_P2jf9zj208MYewUVN6vJJ8lCwa06NJnyZcJW_PYJoF0GU2Vzcluuho1gsVL50QBDta-tLqSwd0_QPl86U-14y2txVOjb2dLVKcWGJ-2BOcDyzC9cedIhuy/s1600/100_3968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCaYI1JHvdKy2LVvmf75kc_P2jf9zj208MYewUVN6vJJ8lCwa06NJnyZcJW_PYJoF0GU2Vzcluuho1gsVL50QBDta-tLqSwd0_QPl86U-14y2txVOjb2dLVKcWGJ-2BOcDyzC9cedIhuy/s320/100_3968.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our entryway!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqTmCy9aRAYvK-CtddLDFMfdMgdSjKGthkqBsuSOTA39rI-9XmnSWqDnStkdJpSb4JCyafzxBpaG7yLo-N1KmTKyrgF1rWpYcX8uWZIySHz-QhTS9ce4nF03miAVl7VVblWKb5yeqRqMc/s1600/100_3969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqTmCy9aRAYvK-CtddLDFMfdMgdSjKGthkqBsuSOTA39rI-9XmnSWqDnStkdJpSb4JCyafzxBpaG7yLo-N1KmTKyrgF1rWpYcX8uWZIySHz-QhTS9ce4nF03miAVl7VVblWKb5yeqRqMc/s320/100_3969.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Our lovely sinks... I'm thinking of getting these for home!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4LFo_qp0A7kcRRVYXZLWAfQBMRlkagGl5c8XIWVHE3j7rKhFoJBd7XJKsbNiXQIL4iZ_C8VJefUXLFhyWhxEmkx2s4Snua2ZVvGV_vtHD4GMSBO6m111rQCV5f6NSFUAAeEj_P3_dDyQ/s1600/100_3970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4LFo_qp0A7kcRRVYXZLWAfQBMRlkagGl5c8XIWVHE3j7rKhFoJBd7XJKsbNiXQIL4iZ_C8VJefUXLFhyWhxEmkx2s4Snua2ZVvGV_vtHD4GMSBO6m111rQCV5f6NSFUAAeEj_P3_dDyQ/s320/100_3970.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLiwszYfl7q8k7cEzgtJf9eBM5PiEnF7w1SNy1yXZXfzUtJeuLfF8gPU0TNdb717TjJ3vjRxdYZ6DXtpbwG-5jXTK6TVWhJ7DHP_EB5cIhMH_5P_disH3TEi4x_kQj4X7vrqGJcrIWQZr/s1600/100_3971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLiwszYfl7q8k7cEzgtJf9eBM5PiEnF7w1SNy1yXZXfzUtJeuLfF8gPU0TNdb717TjJ3vjRxdYZ6DXtpbwG-5jXTK6TVWhJ7DHP_EB5cIhMH_5P_disH3TEi4x_kQj4X7vrqGJcrIWQZr/s320/100_3971.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Our back porch!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4VujOsX87sZXUm6c3Kgf8uNA9biyjWFlTRpN3vVQwAuwHMBoXxx4tQ0koeQlO6Kw_Qj0mcKTGX2HbT2XmoTYVM7KJXoZ5H8CdXe3Xgn552uR30weST1x9E6917RhUAra16YGOHL03sC0/s1600/100_3979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4VujOsX87sZXUm6c3Kgf8uNA9biyjWFlTRpN3vVQwAuwHMBoXxx4tQ0koeQlO6Kw_Qj0mcKTGX2HbT2XmoTYVM7KJXoZ5H8CdXe3Xgn552uR30weST1x9E6917RhUAra16YGOHL03sC0/s320/100_3979.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_YxNTlRJfH4XceLBBqQxsxJMbuVvMGeI6XVc4OJIa5Tn7anOxkq8YFwNNwv1hM7vF8pBblmM__XzGBH5UyOnqvmNsM6zLOFyl94WwtLdJtSVNlAUR5Q0r5LHYT4NinpBn7i12ZJmw5_-/s1600/100_3981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_YxNTlRJfH4XceLBBqQxsxJMbuVvMGeI6XVc4OJIa5Tn7anOxkq8YFwNNwv1hM7vF8pBblmM__XzGBH5UyOnqvmNsM6zLOFyl94WwtLdJtSVNlAUR5Q0r5LHYT4NinpBn7i12ZJmw5_-/s320/100_3981.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_YV_LAphY_CzEamSI1NOmytJATcisOlg3cBqmFogkVx32X9RJmE5CgHxe6Upm8vDmcQeDPS3wEXQP9MU9VHPa_1Xhji-wHIZawotGeiEWGL6kcAM9hha_CFUgZ5mUKKQ-iSnfOEsgIX6/s1600/100_3985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_YV_LAphY_CzEamSI1NOmytJATcisOlg3cBqmFogkVx32X9RJmE5CgHxe6Upm8vDmcQeDPS3wEXQP9MU9VHPa_1Xhji-wHIZawotGeiEWGL6kcAM9hha_CFUgZ5mUKKQ-iSnfOEsgIX6/s320/100_3985.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUmA-7YWQHmELA1FbME5wUsphX9XM44iMRSuqIdyMkd2x-Dk1xnlsm7NrB-_WNyG_0w-KBg3KLnIsJRBbm_cfjonh_qh2d_WgtYyeT2LjWK225L0Kh09qi_YYCOYzUcbN39Ty0kIwnDaq/s1600/100_3989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUmA-7YWQHmELA1FbME5wUsphX9XM44iMRSuqIdyMkd2x-Dk1xnlsm7NrB-_WNyG_0w-KBg3KLnIsJRBbm_cfjonh_qh2d_WgtYyeT2LjWK225L0Kh09qi_YYCOYzUcbN39Ty0kIwnDaq/s320/100_3989.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNNlPF4Bk0QmGfyPGqUFKVin77JUJ4sPNPQyFc4PyqOM-jRZS4rrb5tvTqhIk4fm5dokaTiMOLwlbtI89gsm-y_RmtZLZDhrO2ms3iiWXAFzj8j57j3NijsiywmD1G6PV9gDHybqcGflb/s1600/100_3992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNNlPF4Bk0QmGfyPGqUFKVin77JUJ4sPNPQyFc4PyqOM-jRZS4rrb5tvTqhIk4fm5dokaTiMOLwlbtI89gsm-y_RmtZLZDhrO2ms3iiWXAFzj8j57j3NijsiywmD1G6PV9gDHybqcGflb/s320/100_3992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way to Slide Rock!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-21867817497506261632011-06-19T21:31:00.000-07:002011-06-19T21:31:19.476-07:00Hello!!!!!!!<br />
Long time no write!!!<br />
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Just returned from a week long vacation to Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon and Sedona ... Such Fun!!!!<br />
I am officially IN LOVE with Sedona... have you ever been there??? It was like God chiseled each and every one of those mountains out especially for all of us visitors... I loved the people, the scenery, the mom and pop places, EVERYTHING about it....<br />
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I've missed writing on here. I just completed my first year teaching at my 3 son's school... and now have a little time to spare each day, since I have the summer off...<br />
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I am going to write mostly about my cooking escapades...<br />
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You see... I'm going to start up a YouTube cooking show this summer!!! I can't wait!!!! I'm going to have my son Alex film it for me, since he has a steady hand, and an "eye" for this kind of stuff... he takes really great pictures... Soooo many people have told me I should have my own show... and since Food Network isn't coming, knocking down my door, I'm going to do it myself!!! LOL<br />
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My butt hurts right now from sitting in the car all day... Bill got us home in 6 hours... record time... so I have a ton of laundry to do... I'll post pictures of our FABULOUS suites we stayed in... and of the fantastic views in Sedona... after I find my camera...<br />
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Ciao!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-80162878349586446522011-04-23T20:59:00.000-07:002011-04-23T20:59:15.948-07:00It's been a while...Gosh... I am really wondering whether to keep this blog up or not...<br />
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With my new job (LOL... new, I've been teaching for 7 months now...) I just don't seem to find the time to write on here...<br />
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I absolutely REFUSE to write about my class or students... unless it's in a positive way... but even then... no one is interested in positivity, right?? LOL<br />
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Let's see... what's been going on around here...<br />
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Ummm.... I still adore my job and my students... they are all getting really good at making food, and making it really well... it's sooo cool when my students post on FB all the dishes they make at home... it just warms my heart.<br />
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My Mom and I have been very, very busy catering... it's sooo exciting getting all the bookings we are getting... we are actually turning business away!!!<br />
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William had made the decision to go on the school Mission Trip to Costa Rica next year. I am sooo excited for him! All of the students that took that journey just came back, and it seemed like a once in a lifetime trip. We also had student go to the Ukraine, and I think I am going to go on that one next year...as a chaperone. It depends on how my hip feels. The Costa Rica trip involves the students helping out in a Christian Kids camp. The pictures were incredible of the jungle, and lush greenery and all the people they were in contact with. William will have a life changing experience, that's for sure...<br />
I need to sell 600 loaves of bread to pay for the trip. That's how I decide how I make the necessary cash to pay for big items... "how many loaves will I have to sell to pay for that?" LOL.. so at $5 a loaf, I need to sell 600...<br />
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Gosh... I've been sitting here staring at this screen for a long time now... and that's about all i have to say...<br />
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What's going on with you???Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-16946385958218033992011-03-05T20:59:00.000-08:002011-03-05T20:59:53.293-08:00What to dwell on...So much has been going on lately...<br />
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Just this past week alone, I've cut my hand pretty deeply, my Dad has knee replacement surgery, our backyard neighbors' dog barked INCESSANTLY all day and night, I went over to talk to the nuisance neighbors instead of call the police about their SCREAMING, and too LOUD music, to get threatened AGAIN with bodily harm by the drunkards... AGAIN...<br />
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Needless to say.. it's been a fun week.<br />
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I don't want to be a Debbie Downer... so here's what went RIGHT this past week...<br />
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My Dad's surgery went well, and he's on the road to recovery...<br />
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I was offered continued employment at my job, for next school year... and recieved a GLOWING report from my bosses... that was REALLY nice...<br />
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The school bought me a chest freezer for my classroom... AWESOME!<br />
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I got to cook for the Faculty during our In Service Day yesterday.<br />
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I got to cook for our Basketball Team one last time for our Banquet and I had TONS of help and it was TONS of fun!<br />
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I was able to see Johnathon's Play on Thursday, where he sang a solo... AND HE WAS AWESOME in it!!! It made me bawl like a baby... and the BEST part??? While he sang, he stared at me the entire time... it was so special!!!!<br />
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I got to go to lunch with a sweet friend that I haven't seen in a long time...<br />
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I learned how to make tortillas... and who knew... THEY ARE SO EASY!!!!<br />
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I need to choose to rejoice in the good, and not dwell on the bad... huh???Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-15478416979650141542011-02-19T18:38:00.000-08:002011-02-19T18:38:17.201-08:00The Blogging Teacher Natalie MonroeI've got a bone to pick... and I'm gonna pick it here...<br />
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Recently, in the news, there was a bunch of hoopla about a teacher (Natalie Monroe) writing about her opinions, observations and experiences in her teaching career. She said a bunch of stuff that was true to her, and to a lot of people in the teaching profession, as well as non teachers. It also struck quite a nerve with her Superiors, her students and with her students parents.<br />
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I gotta say this... WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY... and she can write about whatever she wants to write about... ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE DIDN'T MENTION ANY NAMES... It's really no different than someone writing a novel online on a blog... just because someone sees similarities in their lives and the novel, doesn't mean the novel is about them.. ya know?<br />
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Having been accused, recently, very recently, of writing about "things I shouldn't be" writing about, like, my experiences in life, my kids, my life, my cooking, my extended family, my being Italian and loving it (I know, I know... sooooo stupid to be called out on writing ABOUT MY LIFE!!! Oh, shudder the thought!!!) I can totally understand the blogging teacher's feelings, on a much smaller scale, of course... I won't pretend to understand what it feels like to be under the nation's scrutiny. It's RIDICULOUS to call her out on her words if she didn't mention names or pictures... because really, for all we know... she could have been making it up too...writing stories... maybe thinking out loud on possible manuscripts... WHO KNOWS... WHO CARES!!!<br />
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Have you ever been to the movies and seen the little blurb at either the beginning or the end of the movie that says something like... "Any similarities in the characters lives and your life in completely coincidental" or something like that... THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT!!!!! PEOPLE ARE CRAZY and REALLY believe if a movie character has blonde hair and her name is Daphne, and drives a red car and lives in a house with a red door, THE WRITER OF THE MOVIE STOLE HER LIFE and put it up on the screen!!!<br />
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If this teacher's experience at school was with lazy kids, kids that cussed, talked about sex all the time, talked about drug use all the time and were rude, "entitled" and disrespectful... WHY IS SHE WRONG TO SAY SO???? Did she say... "Sally Saucy is a rude, entitled hag, whose parents don't give a darn about her"???? NO... she was using GENERAL TERMS... no different than a newspaper columnist writing about the state of our public schools.<br />
<br />
Get off that poor Natalie Monroe's back!!! I, for one, feel for her! Would I write about my students? No, unless I am bragging about how fantastic they are... because they really are... but any problems I have with any students aren't going to be broadcast on a blog... but if that other teacher wants to... SHE TOTALLY CAN!!! Sally Saucy's Mama is gonna have to deal with it... and parent her daughter better, if she "see's" herself in the blog post...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-15583349946281414362011-01-29T23:05:00.000-08:002011-01-29T23:05:50.209-08:00What's Cookin around here...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know... I know... another food post... but really... with work and what I now do for a living... teach cooking... THIS IS MY LIFE!... LOL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoA1w_wTymWCuzESLGApkshTOGZ94Ig7tLUgJp05crouBZfx8qErzRqqnxjHuUn0cvMB0dz-z1Xy5gWPn4V0y_RkCJtDD9lcCbkNjg8nejbcmtj310za2qxSrUoCRYb-jqN18PDGCUHho/s1600/100_3708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoA1w_wTymWCuzESLGApkshTOGZ94Ig7tLUgJp05crouBZfx8qErzRqqnxjHuUn0cvMB0dz-z1Xy5gWPn4V0y_RkCJtDD9lcCbkNjg8nejbcmtj310za2qxSrUoCRYb-jqN18PDGCUHho/s320/100_3708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Above, is the filling for some homemade ravioli I made today... Chevre cheese, mozzarella, romano, and spinach with salt and pepper...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FtYeoOdfh0tiPumgTQl8BWkw3b251XFZGUJ6URjbcA_7VG5TsgIuzvVjuYYZrEwuVBkbmQ4BZpB6y-GwgaGS0ARVVrLUVZjyNM0WXWnAG6VHEuRfSzZt7_KteodKZ8oxLSyQ3dEZymf6/s1600/100_3711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FtYeoOdfh0tiPumgTQl8BWkw3b251XFZGUJ6URjbcA_7VG5TsgIuzvVjuYYZrEwuVBkbmQ4BZpB6y-GwgaGS0ARVVrLUVZjyNM0WXWnAG6VHEuRfSzZt7_KteodKZ8oxLSyQ3dEZymf6/s320/100_3711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My awesome Pasta and Ravioli maker...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MH0VOVl_PSatDNFms59mH_qvEpAidqG0ptMZQNxIdJPLL3fMezUOT80s5MXgOgmHDTOgnS7uhdrNbCrSGkw7alDEx-gTy9LyD8R1_MPrj5vnIuspm5awa-ZPphpI2eMTuFWmFt4OruZn/s1600/100_3712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MH0VOVl_PSatDNFms59mH_qvEpAidqG0ptMZQNxIdJPLL3fMezUOT80s5MXgOgmHDTOgnS7uhdrNbCrSGkw7alDEx-gTy9LyD8R1_MPrj5vnIuspm5awa-ZPphpI2eMTuFWmFt4OruZn/s320/100_3712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My newest acquistion... a rolling pin that rolls over pasta and filling to make ravioli!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't it lovely???</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLiLSh5WjEyiaM4fbhm04Xu4aquNWk4DJ2YWr0l-RuYRNNKgVNRn5L5f8KiwB6G-G2S0Fevqx_i0ETT6XRj8nfGR9g4QyGso3U2vxigqjCZ9alOAphQxNmTnj5H5-RLeE4U_B5KKlqJVf/s1600/100_3716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLiLSh5WjEyiaM4fbhm04Xu4aquNWk4DJ2YWr0l-RuYRNNKgVNRn5L5f8KiwB6G-G2S0Fevqx_i0ETT6XRj8nfGR9g4QyGso3U2vxigqjCZ9alOAphQxNmTnj5H5-RLeE4U_B5KKlqJVf/s320/100_3716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Obsession of the week... Naan... I can't stop making it... my family can't stop eating it...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcGiFW8e-76DRR9AYnVpPb2Qr0X4gZiJkCT2R1KL_f-u2f3tprNas3dzozvh2B31MmP59Ios_L5KiHJQvpG_FZFeOopUs4yHLpwNWH1-wcLmoCQ2hf7K_BtJu6uqY0TBJwIOf-Z9xiLkw/s1600/100_3717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcGiFW8e-76DRR9AYnVpPb2Qr0X4gZiJkCT2R1KL_f-u2f3tprNas3dzozvh2B31MmP59Ios_L5KiHJQvpG_FZFeOopUs4yHLpwNWH1-wcLmoCQ2hf7K_BtJu6uqY0TBJwIOf-Z9xiLkw/s320/100_3717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My lunch was roasted eggplant and roasted peppers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tWrQROVzbHYm0lrM9VyqzsMLj1uop9gHkGgRiiFB_pBECB-b65woG7v2lHTDpgafMkdbQp20EOBHvNX3i4zEK_wafQ3NBX6BOEYxglRKQrmCzxZxrnH9Rx6Hc25vcXRDIuOz5moV4tuJ/s1600/100_3710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tWrQROVzbHYm0lrM9VyqzsMLj1uop9gHkGgRiiFB_pBECB-b65woG7v2lHTDpgafMkdbQp20EOBHvNX3i4zEK_wafQ3NBX6BOEYxglRKQrmCzxZxrnH9Rx6Hc25vcXRDIuOz5moV4tuJ/s320/100_3710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what my family ate... homemade ravioli...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't WAIT to share my Naan making with my class next week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tomorrow, Mama and I are catering a Race Across America dinner at my school.. to raise funds to support a special education department at our private high school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such a worthy cause.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm so proud to be a part of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made 14 batches of dough to bake up tomorrow... Tomato Rosemary, Olive Tapenade and Rosemary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Sons are going to help serve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cool thing is... I get to cook it all in my classroom kitchen!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've begun my second semester last week. I now teach three classes a day. I get paid to laugh and cook... what a job!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a lot of hard work, and I really, really, really need Teacher's Assistants... but I can handle it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids are all really wonderful, especially my high schoolers, and their enthusiasm makes it all go so quickly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hear there is a waiting list to get into my class... that's really flattering... but I truly believe that it's the food they want... where there's food, there's people... ya know?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OH!!!! I almost forgot.. Alex's school baseball coach told me, my older son William and Alex, that Alex really needs to get a pitching coach... because HE ALREADY HAS COLLEGES LOOKING AT HIM!!!He's in 8th grade, and he's 5'10, and can pitch so accurately it's mind boggling... and a pitching coach would really help hone his craft...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I heard the word 'COLLEGE' and my ears perked up...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then I heard the words "Scholarship" and my ears burned!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So when I was stunned to silence and didn't know what to say to that, the next day, he cornered my older son and told him to tell me... and then he told Alex to tell me... LOL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently Alex is a prodigy... and we didn't know it!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, I need to get on my knee's, do some praying... and thanking... just kinda ask for guidance...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it is sooo cool to even THINK of it!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-49983129178695015202011-01-21T07:58:00.000-08:002011-01-21T07:58:25.062-08:00Food experimentation...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what I've been up to lately...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been experimenting with making the most common store bought items... from scratch...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">AND LOVING IT!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUdnlJzkZEHR7NBp3D-m2y7js9Rq3KBKctIK4yMhE0lzPa0httR9xTIy9FvICp2kcHekZJXJGAvJ75pFN_6x_5JJ4Ovh78E4SieChGsdYvwMhsAGCA9bWEHRM4KxW8n_eCmmxUB8J21qX/s1600/100_3688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUdnlJzkZEHR7NBp3D-m2y7js9Rq3KBKctIK4yMhE0lzPa0httR9xTIy9FvICp2kcHekZJXJGAvJ75pFN_6x_5JJ4Ovh78E4SieChGsdYvwMhsAGCA9bWEHRM4KxW8n_eCmmxUB8J21qX/s320/100_3688.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't buy pasta at the store anymore... we make all our own now... AND IT' EASIER, QUICKER, and more nutritious to make if ourselves... this was my first attempt a few weeks ago...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My men said it was DELISH!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuE0mUefj7YOssSVRy8KuJ5pap_rmFK_cWxnkXIDNpR86bKPOOhZeR-KxyPn8gxvVmN7ENZAr0xO_n7wOk0BTcY-WSl7T_Le655MkXUcRsZ-HfShKC8ydZ7hgW8XMAXjIoz-oydM8MEzsz/s1600/100_3702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuE0mUefj7YOssSVRy8KuJ5pap_rmFK_cWxnkXIDNpR86bKPOOhZeR-KxyPn8gxvVmN7ENZAr0xO_n7wOk0BTcY-WSl7T_Le655MkXUcRsZ-HfShKC8ydZ7hgW8XMAXjIoz-oydM8MEzsz/s320/100_3702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday, I made homemade crackers... YES... CRACKERS... needless to say.. they are GONE!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm gonna make a new flavor today.. they were THAT easy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjr_ML8C_767wUotSNhGJlapmX6mL_bvo2ep0zNG8VIOHJgWv6IInpd_7a18e1IAt3mXAKsFmB93tv67G3uKNekRh5rihIaCPDYIztZqby5a291jAtzXqPs9n0ZlUM3T4dCRQu_uN3Wr_/s1600/100_3655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjr_ML8C_767wUotSNhGJlapmX6mL_bvo2ep0zNG8VIOHJgWv6IInpd_7a18e1IAt3mXAKsFmB93tv67G3uKNekRh5rihIaCPDYIztZqby5a291jAtzXqPs9n0ZlUM3T4dCRQu_uN3Wr_/s320/100_3655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No more buying cannoli shells for my catering jobs... from now on... I will make them from scratch... WITHOUT bad fats... these were lighter, flakier and tastier than the LARD made ones from the Italian store...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bTxDO9hbS4pW7FR8-89K3utVwsSKNepV14T5-5Gg7AGfztRiuU4Fopg9JQ96ZvfY8bTWtXXiu9tw5Zmz0jmv0KXm6be8Mzu9E2opegEHOu2Pq7adEGTJvR3x1fomh4DsqrW4iuvHW1uL/s1600/100_3683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bTxDO9hbS4pW7FR8-89K3utVwsSKNepV14T5-5Gg7AGfztRiuU4Fopg9JQ96ZvfY8bTWtXXiu9tw5Zmz0jmv0KXm6be8Mzu9E2opegEHOu2Pq7adEGTJvR3x1fomh4DsqrW4iuvHW1uL/s320/100_3683.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rosettes...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because they are hard to find... AND SOOOOOOOO EASY to make... and fun too!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/168/4B358BB4E3351739215C5665E2BC274B.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-47148333510323860862011-01-20T21:07:00.000-08:002011-01-20T21:07:13.190-08:00Writer's Workshop - Too much after school stuff???<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mama's Losin' It" src="http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac331/mamakatslosinit/workshop-button-1.png" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">3.) It has been said that kids these days are pushed into too many extra-curricular activities and are not given the freedom to play and be bored and to use their imaginations. Is this true?<br />
<br />
Is it true?? Yes and No...<br />
<br />
I, for one, have never pushed any of my kids into doing/playing any sport. HOWEVER... that being said, I have presented the sport in a favorable way so the child will want to play.<br />
I believe sports are so important in a child early years. It teaches coordination, confidence, cadence, sportsmanship, among a host of other great qualities.<br />
Not to mention the amount of memories, fun and exercise a child gets from physical activity.<br />
<br />
<br />
We don't really do other extra curricular things but sports... and I suppose the people that complain about kids being in too many things after school have a problem with music, math competitions, and spelling bees too...<br />
<br />
Nowadays, with parents letting the stupid, idiot producing video gaming industry, babysit and desenstize their kids every. single. day... without a break... that music, sports or spelling would be a welcome respite.<br />
I don't believe there are a bunch of "imaginative" gamers in the world...<br />
Constantly killing people on an idiot box, pushing buttons incessantly isn't inspiring much imagination.<br />
<br />
So am I a fan of extra curricular activity? HECK YEAH...<br />
Especially if it takes the place of video games...<br />
<br />
Is it that obvious that I am not a fan of video games??? LOL<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-82033327132498215422011-01-17T16:59:00.000-08:002011-01-17T16:59:45.882-08:00Finals Week...Finals are this week...<br />
<br />
My boys are furiously studying for them...<br />
<br />
Why cram? Just do all your work during the semester and then it's just review... ya know???<br />
<br />
I never had to cram for tests in High School... while others were racing against the clock, I just re read my notes, went over some things that I didn't know well, and ate a good breakfast and got some good sleep...<br />
<br />
I don't like putting things off for the last minute...<br />
<br />
That's just who I am... sometimes it serves me well... sometimes it doesn't...<br />
<br />
So I'm getting all the good breakfast items for the week ready for them, so they have a good start...<br />
<br />
Steel Cut oatmeal, eggs, fresh bread for toast, fresh squeezed Orange Juice from our oranges out back... and lots of coffee...<br />
<br />
My boys... waiting till the last minute to soak up knowledge...<br />
<br />
They are my hubby's sons....:)<br />
<br />
But I adore them all... I can't help it.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-69580811726834543342011-01-15T21:00:00.000-08:002011-01-15T21:00:57.116-08:00I'm back!I feel refreshed... renewed... reopened... and ready to take 2011 on...<br />
<br />
Nothing like a good cry, or a little "shake up" to put things into perspective... HUH?<br />
<br />
The past three weeks have been a little weird... but it's okay... I've learned soooooo much from all of it. I just know God had to speak a little louder than a whisper to me, to get my full attention.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to go into full detail... but I am going to say that never have I believed more... the statement that...<br />
"God wouldn't put you in it, if he didn't plan to pull you through it" or something like that...<br />
<br />
I kinda felt like things were going along just a little to smoothly for a while there... and He felt like I needed to be pulled up by the shorts a little... LOL...<br />
<br />
The beautiful thing about going through some turmoil... is you really see who you have on your side... who is REALLY there for you, in a big way. I've always known my husband has been a big support in my life... but boy did he really show me the past three weeks... and I wasn't even looking for it... but he just really came to my rescue... didn't point fingers... didn't say stuff like... "Well... you know... blah blah blah..." He just held me close, told me to listen to his heart beat, that it beats for me, and that he's truly on my side. NO matter what."<br />
I just don't give him enough credit. He really knows what to say... at the right time... in the right way. <br />
<br />
And my Father in Law... if my Hubby is my biggest cheerleader... then my Father in Law is a very close second... even on the phone... I can feel how much he loves me... and respects me... and I have to tell you... the feeling is definitely mutual.<br />
<br />
When the enemy comes knocking at your door... it's disconcerting if you aren't ready for it. My kids really rallyed around me too... they were saying things that just really boggled my mind... they were so insightful, and grown up in their views... it was thrilling to hear them say things that most 45 years old don't grasp.<br />
<br />
Maybe God let this mishap happen in my life... just so I can see how loved I am. Maybe I've been taking advantage or for granted the love I have in my life. Maybe I just needed to refocus on Him... and stop focusing so much on me, me, me. Whatever it was... it worked... I'm a more focused woman now. Focused on my relationship with the Lord... more focused on my relationship with my husband.. and focused on the fact that all I really need... in my life... are the awesome people living in my home... and whoever else knows who I really am... I will no longer focus on people that only see what they want to see...and believe what they deem is truth in their own minds...<br />
<br />
My blog is open again. I won't allow anyone to censor me anymore...<br />
<br />
Peace. Love... and tiny flowers...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-36049897608451711492011-01-12T13:17:00.000-08:002011-01-12T13:17:52.433-08:00A 6 foot what???<div style="text-align: center;">Did you know there are restaurant out there that make and SELL 6 foot Burritos?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have I been living in a cave?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why have I never seen this before?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One showed up in my classroom today for a meeting with students...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I was ASTONISHED to see...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A 6 FOOT BURRITO!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unbelievable!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Six foot sandwiches... I've seen those... 6 foot long arm of Octopus on a table? I 've seen that too...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">but never a Burrito...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wish I had thought of it...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I really wish I had my camera on hand...</div>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-67686974167474587992010-12-28T21:12:00.000-08:002010-12-28T21:16:50.166-08:00Baby it's cold outside...Holy Moly it's cold outside...<br />
<br />
It's the end of the year, and I haven't done anything I planned on doing with my 2 weeks off. I need to make a new syllabus, plan a new middle school cooking class, print out recipes, write recipes, continue my novel and cookbook, clean out under my bed, get rid of tons of unused things to donate...<br />
<br />
Oy Vay...<br />
<br />
I actually miss work! This is too much pressure!!! ;)<br />
<br />
I have been baking a TON of pretzel bread recently... my new obsession... and much to my kids happiness... they have been devouring it.<br />
<br />
My Mom and I have been baking fiends the past few weeks... and catering a bunch too. It's so much fun to cook and just 'be' with my Mama in the kitchen. We have yet to find out if we "got" a gig catering an impromptu wedding on New Year's Eve... fingers crossed! It would be fun to cater and enjoy a wedding and all the music that comes with it on NYE.<br />
We also have a huge Football Banquet for our Football team to cook for on Jan. 5. Holy Moly... I sure wish we had that thing in December... LOL... but... we have a ton of awesome people willing to do whatever it takes and help... so it will be so much fun to cook, laugh and fellowship with everyone in my classroom...<br />
<br />
There have been a lot of Basketball tournaments lately... so we've been trying to get to a couple here and there...<br />
I just enjoy being home so much and not 'needing' to be somewhere... that we just don't get out that much right now... LOL...<br />
<br />
There have been a bunch of Amazon.com packages coming in... that's been fun...getting gifts after the fact... it's a great time... Like a mini Christmas every day.<br />
<br />
Just found out my new Ipod doesn't fit ANY of my older Ipod (less than a year ago) stuff... so all my junk had to be passed down to the kids for their Ipod Touch's, and I had to buy all new junk for mine... sooooo sucks! But.. the new one has video and camera... so I'm set for any event now...in a much more compact form. Those companies just keep tweaking things jusssst enough to get every single penny out of us... huh?<br />
<br />
***to my irked reader (you know who you are)... notice how this blog post doesn't resemble anything that may/maynot be something that irks you... Well... there are about 599 other ones just like this... why don't you focus on your own life... and leave me alone... Thank you so much for reading me... but really... you should find time to do things in your life that fulfill you and make your life better... mine is just fine at the moment... thanks... I don't need or want your opinion on what I write, post, or have experienced in my life... you do you... I'll do me.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-18515767380435028092010-12-08T21:36:00.000-08:002010-12-08T21:36:19.266-08:00Basketball, baseball, work oh my!!!Holy frijole!!!<br />
<br />
Time is just flying by!!! It feels like yesteday that I accepted my position as Teacher at ACA... and now it's ALREADY CHRISTMAS?? REALLY??? How did that happen?<br />
<br />
William is now playing basketball. He made Varsity, so games are now at 7:30 p.m. So it makes for a long day... THANK GOD he's driving himself. Did I just say that??? I did!!!<br />
<br />
Alex just decided to play baseball at school, so now we have that too. Now life feels like it's back to normal. Johnathon is in drumline at school, and is about to play soccer for his school. <br />
<br />
I really need three of me. I sure wish someone would come up with that already.<br />
<br />
I still really love my class and teaching my class. I get to keep them all year, because the Ceramic Teachers kiln never showed up for next semester. Sad for the ceramics teacher... happy for me.<br />
<br />
We are making desserts and sweets the next week, and the week we come back from break, then we get to make stuff I really know how to cook. Desserts aren't my forte'. I'm a savory girl. My Mama is gonna help me out by teaching them to make her specialties when we return from break... thank God!!!<br />
<br />
Ugh... I am soooo tired. I need to sleep..,Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-21822453851535797022010-11-29T19:20:00.000-08:002010-11-29T19:20:13.854-08:00My baby got his Driver's License today... Waaahhhhhh!Today was one of those days my son will remember for the rest of his life. The day he got his Driver's License. I tried to make it a good day... <br />
<br />
I smiled alot... although I wanted to bawl my eyes out.<br />
<br />
I didn't yell at him as he drove me to school... even though he stops waaaaaay to late...<br />
<br />
I made sure and said a prayer with/for him before his test.<br />
<br />
Did I mention I tried really hard not to cry?<br />
<br />
Yeah, that plan failed.<br />
<br />
Right after the DMV lady came to sit in the passenger side of his truck... I excused myself to go to the ladies room, and let the tears fall in private. He's almost a man now. What the heck and I gonna do with an almost full grown man as a son? He won't need me for anything soon... THEN what am I gonna do?<br />
<br />
This Motherhood business is so tough. You pour your entire life, heart and soul into raising these humans... and they go and get all independent on you... WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!<br />
<br />
He is soooo very excited. I drove him home so I could get MY car, and he took HIS truck back to school.<br />
No more "ours". {{sigh}}<br />
<br />
So I told him I loved him, and watched him drive away...<br />
and called the school to make sure he got there okay...<br />
What!!! I'm his Mama! It's my right! He might be a man (almost)... but he'll ALWAYS be my little boy...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-17968375832061597162010-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:002010-11-24T08:00:11.399-08:00Thankful... oh... so Thankful!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfNHTZsLi_Za3wzaSamZs3U0L__wtzeqFmsosBCp9-OMDgH5IKT2vZfmRG1lJe0x3sz9gUVEPVkg2WsK76C2c9kKw7bbUL7OOeBc2gmNJaSsPVqQo_NieobIqXZ2mhZ9K-LYBi1GuqUU-/s1600/100_3301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfNHTZsLi_Za3wzaSamZs3U0L__wtzeqFmsosBCp9-OMDgH5IKT2vZfmRG1lJe0x3sz9gUVEPVkg2WsK76C2c9kKw7bbUL7OOeBc2gmNJaSsPVqQo_NieobIqXZ2mhZ9K-LYBi1GuqUU-/s320/100_3301.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I really love Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite Holidays. Much more so than Christmas or Chanukah.<br />
Thanksgiving is a holiday without airs. It's simple. Eat a lovely meal with those you love, be thankful, clean up, and bask in the Thankfulness for a few days. There's no other Holiday like it.<br />
<br />
I love how generous this Holiday makes everyone seem to feel. Homeless food pantries become full, shut in's get invited for a meal, warm clothing gets donated to those on the streets. What I truly wish, is that all of us would do this kind of stuff ALL THE TIME... all year long... but Thanksgiving is a great place to start.<br />
<br />
I know some of my friends don't believe in God, and I respect their beliefs. But I will encourage them to just for one second, just for a moment in time, for a nanosecond... to just fathom that someone GREATER than ourselves is watching over us, protecting us, giving and blessing us with the lives we have, the children we have, the roofs over our heads, the smiles on our faces. JUST FOR A SECOND... and then to just say a little 'Thank You'. I know those friends of mine believe they are the reason for the blessings, that it comes from them, and their choices alone, that nothing divine is helping them. <br />
<br />
I also know they believe this way because they look around and see so many homeless, hurting, starving, broken people not being helped, or cured, or given shelter. They see a world where there CAN'T be a God, because if there were... then why doesn't He HELP them?<br />
<br />
The only answer I have to that question is... THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. I believe will all my heart and soul that my Saviour is EVERYWHERE, all the time. The He is omniscient, omnipresent, omniAWESOME... and he CAN and DOES help everyone, ALL THE TIME... All. The. Time.<br />
<br />
I do not come from the belief system that "God helps those who help themselves"... no... NO... He helps EVERYONE... whether they believe in Him or not!!! He created EVERYONE in His image, and he loves me as much as He loves the person saying He doesn't exist! I am no better than anyone else because I love Him, but BECAUSE I love Him, it is my (our) responsibility to help our fellow brothers and sisters that are broken, homeless, and abandoned. THAT'S what we are here for. God put US here to do His work. We can't see Him right now... but we can be seen. WE CAN DO HIS WORK, to clothe, and feed and be a light to those who don't have as much as we do. <br />
<br />
I love Thanksgiving because it doesn't exist as a holiday of giving things to other people because we can afford to do so. It exists to feed, and to concentrate on being thankful and giving, and in that spirit, it jolts our minds to be sensitive to the fact that we have SOOOOOOOO much, when others have SOOOOOOO little.<br />
<br />
If I may, allow me to make a suggestion this weekend?<br />
<br />
Take a little time to go through your closets and drawers this weekend. Grab a huge bag and start filling it with blankets and clothes and things you haven't used in a long time (a year or two) and keep it in your car. When you are driving around this weekend, shopping, lunching, laughing and spending... be mindful of the people on the street with the shopping carts as cars, or the family walking down the streets in shorts in cold weather, and hand them your unused items. Just hand it to them and say... "This is from God, not me... He wants you to know He loves you and will meet your needs... " If you have some money, buy them some food. It's such a small, simple gesture... but it's what He wants us to do.<br />
<br />
I am so thankful for the roof over my head... I need to stop complaining about how "small" it is.<br />
<br />
I am so thankful for my car... I need to stop complaining about how old it is.<br />
<br />
I am so thankful for my new job...I need to stop complaining... oh wait... no complaints there yet... LOL<br />
<br />
I am so thankful for my kids... I need to stop complaining they don't listen to me... they are teens, they aren't supposed to...<br />
<br />
I am to thankful for my Husband... I need to stop complaining that he works too much... he is supporting all of us beautifully...<br />
<br />
I am so thankful for my parents...I need to stop complaining they are divorced, and just enjoy them individually.<br />
<br />
I am even thankful for my extra layers... I need to stop complaining I'm not losing them fast enough, and continue to love myself where I am.<br />
<br />
Be thankful and mindful this Holiday Season...<br />
<br />
Much love, health, happiness and prosperity to all...<br />
<br />
SandraSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-82883825537348844502010-11-12T10:16:00.000-08:002010-11-12T10:16:16.095-08:00Chick chick chicken!!!At this very moment... I am sitting in my awesome classroom, waiting to cook chicken. Doesn't that seem like a fun thing to be doing?<br />
<br />
My hubby just left... he brought lunch over to my classroom, since I don't leave at all on Thursdays. He leaves for HAWAII tomorrow, without me. I meet up with him next week. I can't wait for the rest.<br />
<br />
But truth be told, I'm going to miss my class. I'm rotten. I didn't want anyone to cook with them but me... so I made up a bunch of stuff for them to do while I'm away, that doesn't involve cooking, so they will miss me bunches... LOL!!! So I have a test for them on one day, and a recipe writing task on another... isn't that terrible?<br />
<br />
Tonight is my last Football meal to cook for my team in the regular season. I'm a little sad. It's been SUCH a great time. All the young men are so fantastic. They REALLY appreciate the food, and the effort put forth by all the parents. It's a real pleasure to cook for them.<br />
<br />
We also had our 2nd Fundraiser this week, and it went really well! My students ROCKED IT... they even earned Tips!!!<br />
<br />
Our next one is December 1, and we are coupling our dinner with the opening of our play... and we are making Meatball Calzones, salads, cupcakes or Cream Puffs... sooo excited!!!<br />
<br />
I gotta get to work now to feed these boys...Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-54467852818259673832010-11-02T15:45:00.000-07:002010-11-02T15:45:02.829-07:00Here's what's been up!!!Oy Vay!!!!!<br />
<br />
You know what? I get paid to work 8 hours a week, and I am at "work" about 50 hours... AND I LOVE IT!<br />
<br />
I have had sooooo many opportunities for additional income in the past two weeks, it makes me giddy!!!<br />
<br />
But enough about work.<br />
<br />
I wanna talk about... oh... I don't know... something else... like... OOhhh...I got a new couch and ottoman!!!<br />
<br />
Okay... done talking about THAT!...<br />
<br />
Now what...<br />
<br />
Oh, our 18th Anniversary was on October 17. It was a fun day. We went couch shopping, out to lunch, grocery shopping, and came home to a lovely surprise dinner made by our boys... we didn't have the heart to tell them we were stuffed from our late lunch... so we offered to help them eat it all up later that evening. It was delish!!!<br />
<br />
I cook all day, every day... so my life is kinda in a little box these days. I'm not complaining... it's just different.<br />
<br />
I'd LOOOOOVE TO write about the students... BUT I WOULDN'T DARE!!!... Maybe someday when I'm old and gray... (I know, I know... that's NOW!)<br />
<br />
Going to Hawaii soon... so there's that!!!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-50929028193134061782010-10-16T22:02:00.000-07:002010-10-16T22:02:08.322-07:00Oak Glen Day Away...I've made deal with myself. Since I am putting in WAAAAAAYYY more hours than I am getting paid, partly because I need to clean my school kitchen, and partly because I am the Football Food Mama and need to cook for 60 weekly... that we would go on little excursions on the weekends to break up the "Mom is working, holy cow... now what do we do with ourselves" mentality that seems to have infiltrated my little family.<br />
<br />
My kids have NEVER had a Mom that wasn't 100% focused on them, and their needs and wants, and it's been a bit of an adjustment period. We don't have as much food in the house, their meals are eaten with me at school most of the time, and all the stuff they used to wonder that I did "all day long while home alone" aren't getting done now, and they are feeling the crunch of having to do more than pick up after themselves...<br />
I like that they are kind of longing for the "good old days" and realizing, that I did more than just sit at home, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the moment I could pick them up from school, and complete my life with their presence. Sometimes I find myself longing for my "old life" too, when I've been at school too long, and my feet are killing me, and I can't just go put my feet up... don't get me wrong... I have tons of freedom at work... but... I don't have "my house" at work.<br />
<br />
Anyway, getting back to our little excursions... we went to Oak Glen last weekend... and here are some shots we took..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5fJ5OEtRfLezn_BAFZ1L8VUkFlGXrrrT8zCjj2qranpAU_-cv6J3lDzad5PXeR3sdhlQQ_5TF4ciHxK1MrqKbmjKAU8csTAdX4cySQQo7p5SorPRM5p1wKZ1zctoi9MuWlPtGAujWwic/s1600/100_3229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5fJ5OEtRfLezn_BAFZ1L8VUkFlGXrrrT8zCjj2qranpAU_-cv6J3lDzad5PXeR3sdhlQQ_5TF4ciHxK1MrqKbmjKAU8csTAdX4cySQQo7p5SorPRM5p1wKZ1zctoi9MuWlPtGAujWwic/s320/100_3229.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Same smile, same mustache...oy vay... where my wax lady when I need her!!! LOL</div><div style="text-align: center;">I smudged my upper lip to match Williams... that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPS-F3F_PU8aoXNTkZn_hMU6NXaBMnjugrfr9aem6hjTH3EFKUYo_NZhbRVyhyQwoAHFYefcZC1jeoz5QM5AU6rNhbjagjQWOwfVyU6u4fOSjmLYn7FLFcsjQDhj9cYvpj8p7C2FdaAHd/s1600/OAK+GLEN+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPS-F3F_PU8aoXNTkZn_hMU6NXaBMnjugrfr9aem6hjTH3EFKUYo_NZhbRVyhyQwoAHFYefcZC1jeoz5QM5AU6rNhbjagjQWOwfVyU6u4fOSjmLYn7FLFcsjQDhj9cYvpj8p7C2FdaAHd/s320/OAK+GLEN+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a very bright day in those mountains... lovely...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAFtn8CWrwWYZ_2PcJNkwMm6NN0LK-xrRtUVNjhLMousG65rd20VEj-mimfSaHKcaWI3tDCuhAhC3Oc0P2d145-iTOmNjaRQBBhl1_vpUq6E5PGbonzkCczGbMd2It9ZiH4uzdQfDpsXV/s1600/Will+10-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAFtn8CWrwWYZ_2PcJNkwMm6NN0LK-xrRtUVNjhLMousG65rd20VEj-mimfSaHKcaWI3tDCuhAhC3Oc0P2d145-iTOmNjaRQBBhl1_vpUq6E5PGbonzkCczGbMd2It9ZiH4uzdQfDpsXV/s320/Will+10-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this shot... he had no idea I zoomed in and caught it, then edited it to b/w. That's my handsome man!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLhNB7mSts1bjLEeIr2MefJDj8sv_SHfOa0mbs5dRf54UrTKEaya0SjplRYnFkQWc4s1SnRr-IzCiDXH7X19YmR0HeIb0PXrVkjJO0VldF_0RlP-WhGbX1pZZZOgC-gPOW0CKEYMwb6fC/s1600/100_3220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLhNB7mSts1bjLEeIr2MefJDj8sv_SHfOa0mbs5dRf54UrTKEaya0SjplRYnFkQWc4s1SnRr-IzCiDXH7X19YmR0HeIb0PXrVkjJO0VldF_0RlP-WhGbX1pZZZOgC-gPOW0CKEYMwb6fC/s320/100_3220.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chillin'</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe4OuvNjRTTXkV0fDppjlR05nnO-6M3NcijhYfhiF4a6ba6WWgAH_klMyNx-nlZdbWZR9FfidCNci-RUbK45qkd2GSd8fnMFeFY4lxfFcx_F4YhLjJ1bruPLXBvb0Qtp2yvshYHGx-SIm/s1600/100_3227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe4OuvNjRTTXkV0fDppjlR05nnO-6M3NcijhYfhiF4a6ba6WWgAH_klMyNx-nlZdbWZR9FfidCNci-RUbK45qkd2GSd8fnMFeFY4lxfFcx_F4YhLjJ1bruPLXBvb0Qtp2yvshYHGx-SIm/s320/100_3227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He has such a better, wider smile than I do...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSpE8FLoOs9vZAXFSPsSRerBnz07BB9ZgfdHd0SmAGLsBZaLUpp974foBKkjekYZv1vzkSsi9G_4kOfkV0RMhw_z4KMSSb7ipBqOAP9cmYTWLX3EPrqPKIj9-p6r1J4Fxsyte2IMJFPlO/s1600/100_3232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSpE8FLoOs9vZAXFSPsSRerBnz07BB9ZgfdHd0SmAGLsBZaLUpp974foBKkjekYZv1vzkSsi9G_4kOfkV0RMhw_z4KMSSb7ipBqOAP9cmYTWLX3EPrqPKIj9-p6r1J4Fxsyte2IMJFPlO/s320/100_3232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Caught him... aaaahhh... 11... still a boy, almost a teen... good age...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3Gux5yhUjWwztjZ2FhGRKY-HBVfWKc8uZ8g1wkRdyAEDZeyxtV0tuEdHsxuvmIFAcpKmHl2wG1g7Wmapf6wgn2QJCD_ux66HlIzPS0Eln055D90oJW-pk88NYICo-z420vGdPB1VA_JM/s1600/100_3239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3Gux5yhUjWwztjZ2FhGRKY-HBVfWKc8uZ8g1wkRdyAEDZeyxtV0tuEdHsxuvmIFAcpKmHl2wG1g7Wmapf6wgn2QJCD_ux66HlIzPS0Eln055D90oJW-pk88NYICo-z420vGdPB1VA_JM/s320/100_3239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Raspberry picking in Snowline...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzxx6lu_Z7lDTpdzXdyi3tPOq4LsrmUGlr8WVlDn4PjuBlwyYOlcLv5_Ifkn8DlGviDjbB0mTzXCjaI8zNi_15ljZxDMHpXVE_S028Kpvlp4QD9ezKGO9bt0IslsbsF5UzIZknkMMHuMk/s1600/100_3199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzxx6lu_Z7lDTpdzXdyi3tPOq4LsrmUGlr8WVlDn4PjuBlwyYOlcLv5_Ifkn8DlGviDjbB0mTzXCjaI8zNi_15ljZxDMHpXVE_S028Kpvlp4QD9ezKGO9bt0IslsbsF5UzIZknkMMHuMk/s320/100_3199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All my Men!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqzWfilsSPBDpfuM0W7kTgW6hjpiM3cRMuK0Vx1Shlmv8gfqk73UHKYv_wY7iWokbcRU1d0SEZ4uUKFx1Iy7s3loUMfF4eWBGqQOOOfwKpXiaL3c9b3LhcJ6elLcTmLdUQ7OxUegYfNHD/s1600/100_3244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqzWfilsSPBDpfuM0W7kTgW6hjpiM3cRMuK0Vx1Shlmv8gfqk73UHKYv_wY7iWokbcRU1d0SEZ4uUKFx1Iy7s3loUMfF4eWBGqQOOOfwKpXiaL3c9b3LhcJ6elLcTmLdUQ7OxUegYfNHD/s320/100_3244.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My sweet Alex... picking raspberries...</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GKcpn7WJaruAVZj2LbaUhcZAg03jMw-cs-s5dbc6OIiAc6RqgzSj_RS0T08e_MD6I-PClG-GpqZ0LeUtjNhDXosPyv4vVqsjla6GstYKyzC_gA24v_GxeFVYHU1S5xGdtzJK4e1J6Ldl/s1600/100_3212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GKcpn7WJaruAVZj2LbaUhcZAg03jMw-cs-s5dbc6OIiAc6RqgzSj_RS0T08e_MD6I-PClG-GpqZ0LeUtjNhDXosPyv4vVqsjla6GstYKyzC_gA24v_GxeFVYHU1S5xGdtzJK4e1J6Ldl/s320/100_3212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This kid just stares into your soul... doesn't he???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oy... I adore him...</div>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042120035321046999.post-26853621825062478942010-10-10T21:34:00.000-07:002010-10-10T21:34:20.388-07:00Whew...It's been a very interesting past couple of months.<br />
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As most of you know... my hubby won his election in June, and in July, he took office in his new position as BA of his Union. With that position, came a new company car, (no more work truck :( and a WHOLE lot of traveling to training seminars. Lot's of training. In the past five weeks, he's been to Denver, Washington DC, Reno, San Diego and Arizona. He's been home a total of 12 days in those past five weeks. I know... most of you women out there are saying things like... "Oh, poor Sandra...all alone without her hubby... yada, yada, yada..."... But frankly my dears...after 18 years of marriage, his being gone was GREAT!!!... Don't read anything into it that shouldn't be, I wasn't mad at him, and we aren't on the verge of divorce... I'm just an extremely independent person, and having the bed all to myself, and not having to be home on time and not having to do this or that... WAS SOOOO NICE....<br />
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He is back now. The next trip he takes is to Hawaii, and I am going with him on that one... no if's and's or but's about it.<br />
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Football is in full swing, and our team has been riddled with injury after injury. We can't understand it. I have NEVER seen this many kids get hurt each week. We have 14 kids on the DL and we only have 40 players... for both JV and Varsity... so 14 is significant... (We are a small, private school). BUT... we are having fun, and our coach is AWESOME!!!<br />
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I'm having a great time feeding the team. Each week, my Mom and I, with the help of a host of other Mama's from the team, prepare gourmet, 4 course meals for the entire team and coaches. No fast food, or restaurant stuff here... just good, old fashioned, homemade grub. This week is Pasta and Meatballs, garlic bread, roasted veggies, salad, fruit and dessert. Good stuff...<br />
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Alex is in football too. He's the Quarterback on his Jr. High team. They don't win much, but he makes at least 2 touchdowns a week. Next year, all my boys will be at the same school, and two will be on the High School Team together... such fun!!!!<br />
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I love teaching more and more each day. I have learned so much from my time teaching. Next semester will be my proving grounds.<br />
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Well... I'm tired... I'm gonna watch The Amazing Race and fall asleep...G'night.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14534463785605832840noreply@blogger.com1