A 6 foot what???

Did you know there are restaurant out there that make and SELL 6 foot Burritos?

Have I been living in a cave?

Why have I never seen this before?

One showed up in my classroom today for a meeting with students...

and I was ASTONISHED to see...

A 6 FOOT BURRITO!

Unbelievable!

Six foot sandwiches... I've seen those... 6 foot long arm of Octopus on a table? I 've seen that too...

but never a Burrito...

Wish I had thought of it...

I really wish I had my camera on hand...

Baby it's cold outside...

Holy Moly it's cold outside...

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...

Oy Vay...

I actually miss work!  This is too much pressure!!! ;)

I have been baking a TON of pretzel bread recently... my new obsession... and much to my kids happiness... they have been devouring it.

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.
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...

There have been a lot of Basketball tournaments lately... so we've been trying to get to a couple here and there...
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...

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.

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?

***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.

Basketball, baseball, work oh my!!!

Holy frijole!!!

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?

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!!!

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.  

I really need three of me.  I sure wish someone would come up with that already.

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.

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!!!

Ugh... I am soooo tired.  I need to sleep..,

My 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...

I smiled alot... although I wanted to bawl my eyes out.

I didn't yell at him as he drove me to school... even though he stops waaaaaay to late...

I made sure and said a prayer with/for him before his test.

Did I mention I tried really hard not to cry?

Yeah, that plan failed.

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?

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!

He is soooo very excited.  I drove him home so I could get MY car, and he took HIS truck back to school.
No more "ours".  {{sigh}}

So I told him I loved him, and watched him drive away...
and called the school to make sure he got there okay...
What!!! I'm his Mama!  It's my right!  He might be a man (almost)... but he'll ALWAYS be my little boy...

Thankful... oh... so Thankful!

I really love Thanksgiving.  It's one of my favorite Holidays.  Much more so than Christmas or Chanukah.
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.

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.

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. 

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?

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.

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. 

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.

If I may, allow me to make a suggestion this weekend?

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.

I am so thankful for the roof over my head... I need to stop complaining about how "small" it is.

I am so thankful for my car... I need to stop complaining about how old it is.

I am so thankful for my new job...I need to stop complaining... oh wait... no complaints there yet... LOL

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...

I am to thankful for my Husband... I need to stop complaining that he works too much... he is supporting all of us beautifully...

I am so thankful for my parents...I need to stop complaining they are divorced, and just enjoy them individually.

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.

Be thankful and mindful this Holiday Season...

Much love, health, happiness and prosperity to all...

Sandra

Chick 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?

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.

 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?

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.

We also had our 2nd Fundraiser this week, and it went really well!  My students ROCKED IT... they even earned Tips!!!

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!!!

I gotta get to work now to feed these boys...

Here's what's been up!!!

Oy Vay!!!!!

You know what?  I get paid to work 8 hours a week, and I am at "work" about 50 hours... AND I LOVE IT!

I have had sooooo many opportunities for additional income in the past two weeks, it makes me giddy!!!

But enough about work.

I wanna talk about... oh... I don't know... something else... like... OOhhh...I got a new couch and ottoman!!!

Okay... done talking about THAT!...

Now what...

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!!!

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.

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!)

Going to Hawaii soon... so there's that!!!

Oak 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.

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...
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.

Anyway, getting back to our little excursions... we went to Oak Glen last weekend... and here are some shots we took..

 Same smile, same mustache...oy vay... where my wax lady when I need her!!! LOL

I smudged my upper lip to match Williams... that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!!

It was a very bright day in those mountains... lovely...

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!!!

Chillin'

He has such a better, wider smile than I do...

Caught him... aaaahhh... 11... still a boy, almost a teen... good age...

Raspberry picking in Snowline...

All my Men!!!

My sweet Alex... picking raspberries...

This kid just stares into your soul... doesn't he???

Oy... I adore him...

Whew...

It's been a very interesting past couple of months.

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....

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.

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!!!

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...

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!!!!

I love teaching more and more each day.  I have learned so much from my time teaching. Next semester will be my proving grounds.

Well... I'm tired... I'm gonna watch The Amazing Race and fall asleep...G'night.

It's been a full month now... and...

It's been a month now.

A month that I've been an actual 'WORKING MOM' after staying home with my men for the past 16 years.

I've done a little crying (mourning over my past life of 16 years, and the freedom I had) and a whole LOT more laughing (I'd forgotten who I WAS, OUTSIDE of being a Mom... and discovered I still HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!!)

The idea for this post came from my friend  Lori's blog post.  She and I are in VERY similar boats... almost identical in fact... and it hit home for me...

I forgot how much I loved working.  It's so true when they say "If you do what you love, you never "work" a day in your life".  I. LOVE. TEACHING.  I ADORE MY STUDENTS...
Graduation is going to be a COMPLETELY different experience... when I am not only crying happy tears for one child, but 50 of them... I'm going to have to bring a TRUCKLOAD of tissue...

I only teach one class a day... but I find  myself hanging out at the school much longer.  I forgot how much fun it is to talk to other adults.  I LOVE that I get to see my kids so much DURING SCHOOL... they frequently come into my classroom to scrounge for leftovers from my class, and to give me a quick peck on my cheek... I love every second of that...

I love that the students call me Mama Shaver.  Mrs. Shaver is my Mother in Law... so Mama Shaver suits me just fine...  I love that they feel comfortable enough to call me that... I really love it.

My health and stamina have increased ten fold.  I'm walking around soooo much more... back and forth from my class to the office, running around my huge classroom, fixing this and washing that... I'm getting stronger, and I'm getting smaller in the process... happily.

I recieved my first evaluation last week and it was AWESOME.  I was nervous.  I LIKED FEELING NERVOUS... I don't usually get nervous about much anymore...Motherhood doesn't allow many chances for second guessing oneself... getting nervous has no place in raising children...
Feeling nervous kept me on my toes.  I loved feeling the butterflies fluttering around my stomach.  It gave me something to strive for.  Something for ME.  It was a weird concept.

For the past 16 years, much of my life with my kids has been spent saying "no" to things they asked for.  Why? Because I am soooo against saying "yes" just so my kids can have what everyone else has.  They got what they needed, and few extra's and no more.  Even when I was making great money in Pampered Chef, I spent much of the money I made on supplies, traveling with the kids, and just odds and ends that needed purchasing... but now... I don't know... I am saying "yes" a little more, and I feel like they are at the right age to have a little splurging done on them.  I feel like now they are old enough to appreciate the gifts and little extra's they are getting... and it feels great.  Don't get me wrong... I am still wholeheartedly against spoiling kids... but a few more "yes's" than "no's" won't hurt anything, now that they know how hard money is to earn and how quickly it dissipates.

I am sooo proud to have been an at home Mama for as long as I was... and even though I only work two hours a day now, I am so happy to be out in the work force again... I truly love my job, and all the students and faculty I get to see on a daily basis...

I love that God has had a plan for me, and the plan is awesome...

Yeah!!!!