Bug

We were home for most of the weekend because Bryan had a stomach bug. I felt really bad for him. He was not himself, he just kind of lounged around and didn't even want to play. He watched lots of movies and we played a couple games of dominos and cards. He was so cute Friday night, I took his temperature and when it beeped he said, "Becca how much do I weigh?" I tried to keep from laughing and told him what his temperature was.

We did leave the house on Saturday night and got to go out with Ruth Ann and Chris on a double date. We met them at the Olive Garden in Round Rock. Grandma was very sweet and kept sick Bryan for us. We started out our evening by ordering 4 different drinks from the bar. They were more like desserts because they had ice cream in them.

Then we all ate our pastas, or at least part of them and ended up at Star Bucks. We had to wait a while to order our coffee because we were so stuffed. It was very good. We had a blast talking with Ruth Ann and Chris. I don't think that I have ever gotten to spend time with them alone and we really enjoyed them. Some people from their church were sweet and offered to keep the kids so they could have a night out. We look forward to going out with them again some time.

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Whats in you fridge?

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Jury Duty

I had another adult moment today when I went to report for jury duty. Lately I have been having more and more moments when I realized that I am really an adult even if there are times when I don't feel like it.

We all huddled into this big court room so that the judge could explain what our duties were and that he does not let people out of their duty for little reasons, not even his own mom. He even told us that he once had to serve on a jury after he was a judge, and while he considered exempting himself, he decided that it was his duty just as it was everyone else's. He said that Bush was called to serve while he was govenor and that he has now been called in his hometown of Crawford. So I kept the fact that it was the second week of school and I wanted to be excused to myself.

We were split up into four panels for jury selection and sent to different court rooms for different trials. We waited for a little over an hour and then the judge decided to break for lunch. So I went and ate with Jonathan and then came back and waited for 45 minutes to be called in to be questioned by the lawyers. They asked some general questions to everyone and I didn't give any strange answers, in fact I only spoke once, but I was not chosen.

I'm glad for two reasons, one I didn't want to miss more school and it was a custody suit and I think it would have been a very hard trial. I would have liked to see the whole trial process though, I think it would have been very educational.

Dessert

Well for those of you who have been waiting patiently for my new cookie recipe, here it is!

Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

1 C. margarine
1 C. p.b.
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 C. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl beat margarine, p.b., and sugars. Add eggs and beat again. In a small bowl, combine flour and soda, set aside. Gradually mix in dry ingredients and beat. Bake 15 minutes.

I made a half a batch yesterday because a whole batch makes about 5 dozen, depending on the size of the cookies. But I only got one out of the whole batch! And by the way, don't skimp on the chocolate chips, they won't be as good. Enjoy!

My Mom has joined

My mom announced a couple of days ago that she had a blog. I was at work when I recieved the email and I hadn't had time to announce it on my blog. Check her out. She is linked on the right.

I am ashamed, but I don't have a digital picture of her by herself. I am a bad daughter, I must take one the next time I see her.

Recipes

I am always looking for new recipes and the internet has become a wonderful resource. Here is one of my all time favorites:

Crockpot Lasagna
1 lb ground beef (I use chicken)
1 lg. onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed and minced (I use garlic powder)
1 lg jar of favorite spaghetti sauce (1 lb 10oz.)
1/2 c shredded Parmesean/Ramono cheese
1 pkg. 8oz. no boil lasagna noodles
16 oz. shredded mozzerella
1 lb ricotta cheese
1/4 c milk
1 egg s & p to taste

Brown meat, onions and garlic in oil in frying pan. Drain off grease. Add spaghetti sauce into browned meat mixture. Mix well. In a seperate bowl, mix ricotta cheese, milk and egg. Beat until thouroughly mixed and smooth. Then mix in the mozzarella cheese and the grated cheese, so that all the cheeses are combined.

Grease the crockpot with some vegtable shortening on the bottom and sides. Put about 1/4 of the meat mixture in the bottom of the slow cooker. Layer noodles, cheese adn sauce mixture (about 3 layers). Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Tomorrow I will post my favorite dessert!

1st Day of School

As my friends and I were driving to school yesterday we were discussing how anxious the teachers are about the kids. The kids are always worried and nervous about the teachers, but they probably don't even realize (at least I hope) how nervous we are on the 1st day of school. I could hardly eat breakfast. I guess it was all of the unknowns. I don't know my kids, i don't know if my voice will make it all day because I haven't been teaching all summer, I don't know if they will like the songs I have picked, etc.

But all was well. Ft. Hood made a new ruling that anyone who was in the military and had PK age kids could enroll them in Killeen's Elementary Schools. Last year I had about 17 PK kiddos at a time in my class. This year I have 40! The first day was quite challenging. I gave up seating charts and just hoped that they would all sit somewhere on their bottoms.

I feel for the PK teachers that have them all day. They are just babies that don't even answer to their own names. I was talking to Jonathan about all of this at the dinner table and Bryan overheard us. He had some advice to offer. He said that I should just spell out their names so that they would know who I was talking to. I then told him that they don't know their letters yet. He exclaimed, "They don't know their letters, maybe they just shouldn't come to school!"

Today was much better and I'm sure that trend will continue. I love my new teaching partner and I think it is going to be a great year!

Bryan had a good first day too. He said he likes his teacher, keep him in your prayers, I hope he stays on level this year.

Carpooling

With the high gas prices, 2 of my coworkers and I decided to carpool this year. Three of us live within 5 miles of each other so it is very convenient. We have a 25 mile commute each way. I was buying 3 tanks every two weeks so I have been looking forward to this plan. This week I did not drive so my gas gage stayed at the same level all week. Very exciting! I will be driving next week and then every third week after that.

30th B-day

My friend Emily (her blog is linked on the right) is turning 30 today!! We are going over to her house to party tonight after church. I just wanted to wish her a very happy birthday!

My Nephew

My nephew has recently joined the blogging world. Welcome him if you get a chance. I linked his blog on the right.

We are glad to have you in our world Brandon.

I've been tagged.

My friend Sendy tagged me. I don't know how to link to her blog on my post, but her blog is linked to your right.

5 Things in my freezer:
1. Shredded cheese
2. Frozen bananas
3. Chicken nuggets
4. Hamburger patties (not for me)
5. Ice

5 Things in my closet:
1. Coats because we have no coat closet
2. Lots of bags to pack with
3. Belts
4. Lots of shoes
5. Jonathan's collections of caps

5 Things in my vehicle:
1. Cd's
2. Pen
3. Bryan's ballcap
4. Dish towels (I don't know where they came from)
5. Some trash that I need to clean out

5 Things in my purse:
1. Wallet
2. Cell phone
3. Hair clip
4. Pens
5. Makeup

5 Things on my desk:
1. A to-do list
2. A picture of Jonathan and I
3. Lots of pens and markers
4. Some foam
5. An apple for the teacher, don't worry its made of porcelain

5 Favorite movies:
1. How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days
2. Return to Me
3. While You Were Sleeping
4. Runaway Bride
5. Hitch

Ministry

Our church has a member who is a licensed psychologist and the church pays his salary. In turn members, you might not even have to be a member, can see him for free. Last night Jonathan and I had our first session with him. Don't worry Jonathan and I aren't are on the brink of seperation or anything, but we do need some help dealing with all of the changes that have gone on in our lives in the past 9 months.

We really like the counselor, he validated that we did have a lot going on and it was okay to have the feelings we were having. It was interesting how he didn't give direct advice, but often quoted others which served as advice. He gave us a book called "Boundaries." I know that my mom has read it and I think that Debi is reading it to. So maybe it is a good book for our whole family to read.

Our next appointment isn't until September because he is so booked, but it free and he's a Christian, beggers can't be picky. I am thankful for his ministry.

A new way to mail letters!

Last week Bryan wrote a letter to his mommy. It was very sweet. He asked Jonathan for an envelope to put it in. When he had it all sealed he said, "Becca can you mail this to my Mommy with your computer." I guess he thought that I could somehow insert it in my computer and it would become email.

Then yesterday we had a letter to mail and just for fun I asked Bryan to go and mail it for us at the post office. He took the letter ready to do the job. He walked into the living room and asked, "You mean Jonathan's office?" We laughed and agreed. Then he got in the office and said, "I don't know how to mail it."

Ruth

This morning I woke up very early and I decided that I would take advatage of my extra time by reading my Bible. I always have good intentions of reading the Bible, but somehow life always get in the way. So I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to study this morning, but I knew that I wanted to read about a woman of God. I opened my Bible to Ruth and began to read the story of an amazing woman committed to God and her family.

Ruth lost her husband and though it is not explained how, I'm sure that when it was time to leave her homeland, it had just happened. So here she is a grieving widow with no man to take care of her at all, her father-in-law had died too, and she chooses to take a journey with her mother-in-law back to her homeland. Ruth could have gone back to see her own family, but she told her mother-in-law that she wanted to stay with her.

So in the end God provided her with another husband and a son. Ruth never doubted that God would take care of her. What an example she is!!