Friday Faves...

So I totally forgot to post on Friday because I was busy working on a few projects for some sweet baby girls and their mamas,  but alas here are my faves from the week... All about the apps today.

This online database of children's books speaks for itself. 

I might be late to the party on this one, but Pop Key Gif keyboard will take your texting game to the next level. You could have an entire conversation in gifs.

I've been using Unroll Me for awhile now - and it has cut down on my junk mail significantly. Basically it cleans up your inbox and rolls all of your subscriptions into one email that is delivered daily. If you are like me and sign up for every store email you see but hate when your inbox is cluttered by them - this is the app for you.

Brad's Deals is an awesome app - it is like groupon on steroids - it finds the best deals on the internet for you and you can even select to be alerted when certain brands go on sale. I scored a northface jacket for 80% off thanks to this app. I'm currently stalking Michael Kors wallets :)

Weekend Recap

This past weekend was our first weekend home in awhile - since Thanksgiving we have just been going non stop. Weddings, Birthdays, Family in town or visiting out of town - so it was very nice to just have a couple days at home with no set plans. 

Friday night Ben refereed soccer and I had dinner delivered by the one and only Heather! We had some much needed girl time and caught up on her life as a newlywed. She also filled me in on all the things I don't miss about going to school every day. 

Saturday Ben spent the morning running the car to the shop and working in the yard, while the boys and I played inside. I missed out on a make and take oil party that I wanted to attend because of nap schedules and being on baby duty, so that afternoon we had a late lunch at Ben's favorite place, Crawfish Express, with our friends The Whites. (Local Peeps: if you don't know about this place, consider yourself informed and get there fast... I personally don't eat crawfish but my husband is somewhat of a connoisseur and he swears by this place. I personally love their king crab legs and red beans and rice, plus they have a backyard atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.)

Crawfish as big as your face...

Enjoying the nice weather before the cold front hits.

Saturday night was my local mom's group ladies night out at Painting With a Twist. It was so fun to get out, meet a few new moms, and drink some wine. I'll let you be the judge of my artistic skills... just don't be too harsh.

    

 

Sunday was spent enjoying family time and prepping for the week ahead. We had our final meal out at The Gin before our no spend February and the boys were champs at the restaurant. Ben worked for a few hours then had an indoor soccer game so the boys and I spent the afternoon playing in the front yard and hanging out at home. We had dinner as a family, put the boys to bed and then I headed to the store to stock up for the month while Ben relaxed and watched a movie.

I had the easier meal to eat so I was tasked with holding Wyatt and keeping Owen entertained (Wyatt does not find high chairs as amusing as Owen)

Trying a Lemon - the response was very underwhelming from both boys...

Eating pouches like the champs they are

Honestly it was one of the more perfectly boring weekends we have had in a long time, and I could get used to spending more of them this way, but maybe with a date night thrown in every once in awhile for good measure.

A New Sister and A New Dip

So my little brother, the one who I used to tote around on my hip and was basically my very own live baby doll is getting married. He is so grown up and he found this amazing woman to call his wife, I could not be happier for them - in fact I sometimes cry happy tears thinking about it.

I mean could they be any cuter?

This weekend we spent a few days in Montgomery prepping and hosting a surprise engagement party for those cuties (more on that to come in another post) and we had such a great time celebrating with both family and friends.

 For the party I whipped up a jalapeno popper dip and I just had to share it. This would make the perfect addition to any Superbowl gathering. I have made variations of this dip a few times but this round was by far the best.

You will need:

Cream Cheese (16 oz softened)

Mayonaise (the real stuff about 1/2 cup)

Sour Cream (8 oz)

1 stick of Butter Melted

1 small can diced green chiles

2-3 large jalapenos (seeded and diced)

1 bunch of green onions chopped/diced

3 bags of Real Bacon Pieces (in the salad aisle)

1 sleeve of ritz crackers

2 cups Shredded Cheddar

2 cups Shredded Mexican Blend

A Square Baking Dish

Fork

Spatula

Microwave safe bowl

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Combine everything but the crackers and butter into a large bowl and mix together (I find a fork does the trick very well)

3. Use a spatula (the silicone kind are great for this) to scrap contents of the bowl into a glass or ceramic baking dish. This amount fills a 8x8 pyrex dish beautifully! I don't normally spray the dish because the grease from the cheese is plenty to keep it from sticking.

4. Melt butter in a microwave safe dish or bowl (about 1 minute should do it) Crush the ritz crackers and add to the butter, stir to coat the crumbs evenly.

5.Top the cheese mixture with crackers and bake at 350 until the top is browned and the cheese bubbles. Usually takes around 25-30 minutes, but I check on it every 15 just to be safe.

I serve the dip with fritos scoops but it really can go with any kind of chip! This dip is best served warm thought so I recommend setting on a hot plate if you are going to have it out for a party.

To my students...

image credit

Dear Students,

I owe you a bit of an apology. Until now, you were my main focus - you were my kids - your successes, your failures, your learning was my top priority. You are still so important, but if I'm being honest, you just aren't number one anymore. You've been replaced. You used to consume my thoughts all the time, even when I was not at school. I would spend hours wondering how to make my classroom environment more welcoming, how to make my teaching more relate-able, how to help the few of you who just don't get it and the list goes on. My Facebook feed was filled with articles and witty blog posts about education. I would worry day and night about all 100+ of you.

Don't get me wrong, I still do all of those things, just not as frequently. You've been replaced by two little boys who need me more. Two little boys who are going to make an appearance this summer and steal my heart forever. This will happen after you have graduated, after you have moved on from high school and all your teachers, myself included, but that doesn't mean you weren't affected before then. Even now, these two little boys need me - they need my focus and my time outside of the work day. They need me to get ready for what is coming and they have already made their presence known in so many ways. They have stolen my energy, my attention and my sleep. All the things I need to be an effective educator.

To each and every one of you I am grateful; grateful for your concern when you didn't know what "was wrong with me" those three months that I was too nauseous to stand up and teach every day. For your encouragement on those days I was too tired to function, so I utilized student led learning or small group discussions to teach you. For making me laugh by suggesting I see the doctor because, "I didn't look too good" (morning sickness for 9 weeks will do that to you). To some of you for not pointing out the obvious and for having the grace to let me share the news in my own time. For being so understanding when I had emergency doctor appointments, and needed to move deadlines or throw together a sub plan at the last minute. Thank you, for embracing me and sharing in the joy when I was finally able to tell you the news. For always telling me I look cute and "oohing and ahhing" over my belly (for real, y'all are my self esteem boost on a daily basis). I am especially grateful to those of you who continue to challenge me as a teacher and hold me accountable to doing my job. For those of you who expect things from me and raise the bar by being so on top of your work. Thank you for still asking the hard questions, but also for not faulting me when I don't have the answer or have a bout of pregnancy brain.

I hope that my experience has taught you a few things, most of all a lesson in priorities, responsibility and humility. It's okay to shift your priorities, but not to abandon your responsibilities. It's okay to admit you can't do it all and to focus your energy on what REALLY matters. Sometimes the bare minimum might be all you can do but make sure that minimum fulfills the requirement and don't be afraid to admit when you are wrong or need help. You don't have to be superman/woman just be you and let that be enough. I will miss you class of 2015 and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Love,

Your Very Pregnant and Emotional Teacher

A list of random thoughts from the first trimester...

 

 <Image Credits>

My belly button hurts.

Does being pregnant cause permanent wedgies?

 Does a bag of sour patch kids count as a meal?

Coffee... I miss you.

One sip of wine won't cause ADHD right? Just one sip. Okay, two.

I don't even know why I'm crying.

Damn you, hallmark holiday commercials.

Sweat pants, I think I love you more than sour patch kid and hot tamales combined.

Does anyone else feel the room spinning? Nope? Just me?

If I just close my eyes for 5 minutes I will feel less tired.... 2 hours later... wake up still tired. 

Will I ever eat solid food again?

Who is eating pickles? I will kill them.

What is that smell?

I wish my students would shower more regularly.

If I stay in this exact position I might not throw up.

GOD BLESS the person who invented zofran.

Isn't 8 weeks a little early to have a pooch?

Double the hormones... double the fun.

10 week babies look like gummy bears.

Gummy bears sound really good right now... so does a chocolate shake.