Break continues

"Daddy how are you feeling?" CJ has been asking CS this for the best few days. My hubby came down with the flu on Tuesday night. He slept most of Tuesday - tried to eat a little on Wednesday but still not feeling quite himself. He is still feeling out of sorts today...poor guy - finally gets a break from work and he doesn't feel well.

I continued my after Christmas sale shopping - desperately looking for a new winter coat and still nothing! I also spent some time with a friend making favors for an upcoming baby shower.

Although - after lunch I started to not feel well:( Let's hope I'm not getting sick on the last part of this break!

I hope everyone else is enjoying their Holiday breaks as well!

Holiday Break

We have been so busy, and we are enjoying every minute of the time we are spending with family and friends.
Christmas Eve was a lot of fun! Spending time with family together is rare and it was so nice to see everyone.
Christmas Day - CJ was a good boy - he got the BMX bike he has been wanting complete with pegs for doing tricks:)
Our favorite sitter is home from college so she came and played with CJ on Monday so CS and I could go out for a bit of after Christmas shopping.
Tuesday CJ went to a friends house to "build" ice skating rinks - complete with lots of frosting and yummies! Then we headed to Grandma and Grandpas so CS and I could meet friends in the city. Despite the pouring rain (we were soaked!), we had a great time seeing the tree and eating a fantastic dinner.
Tonight I am off to have dinner with the girls:)
Fun!!!

Christmas Prep on hold

CJ is sick with a stomach virus - since yesterday. All Christmas prep in our household has suspended. Last night, I spent an hour cleaning carpets, walls, and Legos. Today it's sheets, buddies, clothes and pillows. CS just went out to get something to clean carpets. *Sigh*

Holiday To Do List

*bake cookies
*buy presents
*pick tree
*decorate tree
*picture for Christmas card
*bake cookies
*design Christmas card
*wrap presents
*bake cookies


Well, tree is bought and decorated. Actually was the easiest pick EVER! We went to Silverman's farm - the had the trees out and many nice helpful staff. And the best part of all - it is the nicest looking tree we have ever had!

All the other things on the list are a work in progress! I don't think a Christmas card will be happening this year. We don't have a good picture and can't seem to get one taken - plus the cost is crazy! We are still on the fence about this.

Cookies will be baked this weekend. First on Saturday to Mommy Hungry's house to celebrate her birthday while doing one of our favorite activities - baking! Then on Sunday baking with my sister in law and her family. Most of the cookies I need for the Holiday will be baked by Monday!

Gifts - I can't even believe I still have this on my to do list. There just hasn't been any time to shop! It will happen! Just not sure when!

I think I should add relax and enjoy the time with family and friends. A lot of plans are coming together for Christmas week, and I am looking forward to it!

Thanksgiving #1 Review

Stuffed! We had a great time - food was delicious and M and I were so proud that we had done it all on our own!! No Moms or Mom In law to do the work - just us! We had enough food to feed at least 8 people! We had cheese, crackers, pepperoni, shrimp, chips, and stuffed olives for appetizers. Then turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, carrots, green beans, salad, cranberry sauce and fried cauliflower for dinner. For dessert, turkey cookies (decorated by the boys), ice cream cake, pumpkin pie, apple pie, cookies and fruit salad! It was a great time, and hopefully the start of a new tradition!

Round 2 tomorrow!

Thinking Thankful Thoughts

Every year I do a bulletin board with my class titled "Thinking Thankful Thoughts". I have this awesome turkey my father in law designed for me years ago. The kids all get a feather and have to write something they are thankful for then the feathers go around the turkey. It's so cute! So here are my thankful thoughts:

my 2 favorite boys - CS and CJ!
Family and friends both near and far (miss my family terribly this time of year - know I am thinking of you!)
Mommy Hungry -
my first graders
All the wonderful therapist who work with CJ



Enjoy your Thanksgiving and thank thankful thoughts today!

Thanksgiving #1

After 10 years of spending Thanksgiving with CS working, then celebrating with family on Friday - I finally found someone to play with on turkey day!!! My good friend M and her 2 are alone this Thanksgiving as well. We just got off the phone having planned our menu. Here is what we are having:


cheese, pepperoni and crackers
turkey
stuffing
mashed potatoes *
glazed carrots* thanks Mommy Hungry
green beans*
cranberry sauce
rolls
pumpkin pie *
apple pie*
turkey cookies*


I am in charge of the items with a *. I am so excited :)

Daylight Savings

It's not an extra hour of sleep for me today. I have been up since 3! And my normal time to get up is 5. I think I will need a nap today. Since I have been up I have been doing laundry and baking. I baked banana chocolate chip muffins and pumpkin muffins. I need to make some cookie dough as well. I don't remember who gave me these recipes - they are for breads but I made muffins instead.

Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter - softened
2 eggs well beaten
3 ripe bananas mashed (the more ripe the better)
1 tsp. baking soda
1TBS orange juice
2 cups flour
nuts or chocolate chips if desired

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Stir baking soda into orange juice. Add to mixture. Stir in flour - don't over stir. Add nuts or chocolate chips. Bake 1 hour in loaf pan at 350. I made 12 muffins and 24 mini muffins with this recipe this morning.

Pumpkin Bread
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 cup water
1 cup raisins - if desired
1/2 cup chopped nuts - if desired

Oven at 350. Combine sugars, pumpkin, oil and eggs. Beat until blended. Sift together flour, soda, salt and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in raisins, nuts and water. Bake in loaf pan 65 - 75 minutes. If making muffins - this batter made 12 good size muffins.
** Note - I forget to add the water - I just took muffins out of the oven and they smell yummy and look fine without the water.

Now I need to get some work done for school.

Snow?

In October? Yes it snowed all day yesterday! It does not look fun out there this morning! You can tell the snow was heavy - then it was very cold last night and it froze. Hopefully it warms up and starts to melt soon.

I baked most of the day yesterday - seemed like the best thing to do while it was snowing. Pumpkin whoppie pies and sugar cookie cut outs for the Halloween party today.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies - from Rachael Ray
Ingredients
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, 1 stick melted, 1/2 stick softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon plus 2 pinches salt
1-2/3 cups flour
4 ounces cream cheese, chilled
1 cup confectioners' sugar

.
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, the baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour.
**Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop 12 generous mounds of batter, spaced evenly, onto each baking sheet. Bake until springy to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with the cream cheese. Add the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 2 pinches salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; mix on low speed until blended, then beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Spread the flat side of 12 cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top each with another cake.

** I made minis using a small scoop from Pampered Chef.


The Sugar cookie recipe is from a blog I read - Mommy's Kitchen. I love the recipes on this blog! This is a favorite of CJs.

Fall fun

Enjoying a ride while looking for a pumpkin.

No wanting his picture taken on the hayride.

"Hmm...which way do we go?" In the corn maze.

My boys!

Lessons To Remember

Temple Grandin is very well known in the autism world. She is a remarkable woman with autism who has written many books about her life to help the world better understand what someone with autism goes through. She made an appearance on ABCs Extreme Makeover last night, and I was reminded me of a few life lessons for CJ while watching the show. The family has 2 boys on the spectrum and 1 typical. I related to the mom and the inner struggles she faces every day. I hope anyone who watched it was able to have a better understanding of what not only the children go through, but the parents too. One of the things Temple said last night is that people on the spectrum don't like surprises which is why visuals (schedules and labeling) are so important. I say that often about CJ, he doesn't like the unpredictable. But when he does really well for a long period we forget how important visuals and routine are to him. The family has a quote that inspires them, ""Life isn't about the destination, it's about the journey." Well done ABC and Extreme Makeover!

Birthday Brunch

Tomorrow we are havinga birthday brunch for Grandma. Here's wha's on the menu: 2 egg casseroles - apple cake and birthday cake.

Egg Casserole - recipe from friend at work
8 slices of bread, trimmed and cubed
8 eggs
3 cups milk
1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 lb. sausage, bacon, mushrooms - optional

Butter 9x13 pan, Put cubed bread in bottom of pan. Mix eggs, milk, and cheese - pour over bread cubes. Top with meat or mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Bake at 325 for 45 - 50 mins.


I better get baking....

Jumping Jacks

If you have been reading anything regarding Michelle Obama in the news recently you will have read that she wanted to try and beat a World Record of most people doing jumping jacks. So today, my school participated in the jumping jack a thon- we all (teachers, kids, principles, aides, custodians, etc) did jumping jacks for 1 minute! The kids thought it was hysterical to see their teacher doing jumping jacks. I learned a few things: 1- I wish I had word sneakers jumping jacks in sandals was brutal on my feet. 2- I need to exercise more!! and 3 - doing jumping jacks for 1 minute straight is HARD for this old lady:) But it was a lot of fun for all!!!

Fall update

We are into the new year - CJ is enjoying 2nd grade. His best friend from last year is in the same class with him this year and it makes getting CJ to school that much easier! He has decided he wants to learn to ride his bike without training wheels and tie his shoes! He is getting pretty good on the bike - the shoes not so much:) CJ likes his teacher very much and has become an avid reader reading for 30 mins every night before bed. This morning he read for about an hour! So far his favorite is Jack and Annie's adventure on the Titanic and the research guide that goes with it.
Today, we decorated for Halloween - realizing that we need a few more decorations -and made Boo bags! Look out - we might be booing you soon!!! We also celebrated CS birthday - a week early but there isn't time to celebrate with CJ next week, so we surprised Daddy and did it early. The cake is yummmy!!! I took a devils food box cake mix - doctored it up with chocolate chips - baked 2 rounds cakes. Then made a yummy filling using cream cheese frosting and fluff - spread the filling in the middle and all around the cake! Yum!
It won't be much longer before we are knee deep in leaves and doing a fall clean up - we did start in the abandoned garden today. Hopefully, the temperature outside gets a little cooler for us as well.
I have a terrific class this year - such a smart, kind group of kids. I moved classrooms, so it has taken me a little while to get settled in this year. I am still trying to figure out where I put everything!
Thoughts are with Mommy Hungry this week. Hang in there.
Also thinking of BMCM - any day now your little one will be here!

Summer Growing

My little guy isn't so little anymore - both physically and in his maturity. When I tell CJ he is getting so grown up he quick stands up and wants to measure his height compared to me or Daddy. But it isn't so much the height that we have noticed this summer. CJ has matured a lot this summer! He went from the cranky, "I don't want to" when asked to any of his responsibilities - but now all I say it's time to do your jobs and he does them! Now, not every day does this occur - we still have some off days.
CJ goes on playdates now and he play with his friends instead of beside his friends. Yesterday at the park he met a new friend and played tag for a long time. All without help from an adult! He is more agreeable to outings with friends that have younger siblings. He is more flexible with his thinking, which means our routines don't have to be so strict. Perhaps most important - CJ is very excited about 2nd grade. He can't wait to start, and is thrilled with both his teacher and the friends in his class.
For the first time - that I can remember - CJ and I were talking about summer and his upcoming school year and he said, "I'm happy!" I almost cried! He is usually very negative about...everything. To hear him be positive and say he is happy is a true gift.
We are all looking forward to the school year and the continued growth CJ will have.

First Few Days

I have a great class! They are polite, good listeners - everything a teacher asks for. We made it through a day and a half with no one crying :) We discussed class rules, cafeteria rules, and playground rules. We did quick counting of objects in math, and we read. I read all of my first day of school books aloud to a captive audience. A great start...check back in a few months to see if I'm still so happy!

Vacation

Story Land

Being good students in the school house.

CS holding on while CJ drives the boat.

On the train.

B-day Party

King of the day.

The Dump Truck Cake

Mini Golf

One of our favorite summer time activities! Oh man!
The boys!

One cool dude!

Winding Down

Or are we winding up?? The school countdown has begun meaning summer is too quickly coming to an end. We have had a nice summer - low key hanging out at home more than outings (mainly due to illness). This has been the best summer for CJ. Summer is usually a big disruption for him - fewer routines more down time are not good for him. He has been learning a lot this year about self regulating his emotions. Although he is still getting angry - he is controlling that anger much more!
However now that we are winding down the summer and getting ourselves ready for the new school year, CJ is feeling the anxiety. So we are going to be very busy the next two weeks to help keep his mind on summer fun!

Birthday Prep

I cannot believe my baby is going to be 7 tomorrow! He is such a big kid now! I feel like he is crossing over this hump to big kiddom. Last night as I was getting some things ready for the party I couldn't help but think of the day he was born.

On this day 7 years ago it was hot, I was huge and I didn't want to be pregnant anymore. I did all the things they say to do - go for a walk, eat spicy foods. CS had the day off and we went for a walk at the beach then I had a spicy curried chicken sandwich for lunch. I went to bed around 10:30. As usual I had to go to the bathroom. But then I felt the urge to go again, and again, and again. I opened the door to the basement where CS was and called down to him very calmly, "I think my water broke." "You think? What do you mean you think?" CS was not as calm. We call the Dr on call and she tells us to go to the hospital. It was a very windy, rainy night and the hospital was about 30 miles away. We didn't say much, as we were both nervous and excited. Once at the hospital they confirmed my water had broke - hooked me up to an IV and told me to try and get some sleep before contractions come. Sleep?? Who could sleep. CS did - snoring on the chair next to me:) I will spare the rest of the labor details - but my beautiful bright eyed boy was welcomed at 2:59 in the afternoon on August 5th. It was one of the best days of my life. CJ brings us so much happiness and joy. He is our perfect little (now big) boy!!

strep throat, rashes, and broken machines oh my!

Well we started the summer with me having a bad case of strep throat - 20 days and 2 different meds! No fun! Then...CJ broke out in a rash - fifths disease. Now by the time the rash shows up he wasn't contagious - but he didn't look good :( We had to keep him out of the sun...sun and heat make the rash worse. For 2 weeks we pretty much stayed in as much as possible. Then CJ went swimming at a friends on Wednesday - Wednesday night and Thursday rash again!!!! Today - we woke up to water in our basement. All in the laundry room, and creeping into the carpeted man room. Plumber came - he can't determine the problem specifically. He thinks it's the washing machine. The soonest we can get someone to look at the washing machine is Friday! I do laundry on Saturday/Sunday - so guess where I will be heading? The Laundromat - I haven't been to one of those since i was a kid. And then it was great fun - i would get a Moonpie - or Bugles - I'm guess it won't be as much fun this time. What a summer!

Yankee Game

It was CJ's first Yankee game!!! With Uncle P.

With Grandpa.

With a happy daddy!!!

B-day Party

Happy Birthday to our dear friends Bud and Sis. Thanks for a great Lego party today. CJ had a great time and is so excited to have a bunch of new Legos to add to his collection!

Summer

Ahh...summer! I feel like it finally started for me today. I haven't been feeling well since the official start of summer, but today was a great day! CJ is keeping a scrapbook of all the things we are doing this summer. Here is what we have been up to so far!

Lunch at Captain's Cove

Hanging out on the Nina and the Pinta

Blue Fish Game

Early Mother's Day Present

CS needed to CJ to turn on the light in the basement for him. CJ, "Dad its already on. We were down there hiding mommy's presents!" So I ask CJ, "You bought me some presents?" CJ whispers, "Shh. It's a secret!" Too cute

On the whiteboard CJ wrote, "I love my mom and she loves me." Best Mother's Day present ever!!!!

Some Recent Pics

Mystic

First Gradeisms

The word wipe had to be used in a sentence. Here's the sentence I got from one, "I wipe my bottom after I go poop."

When my students are thinking out loud and getting close to the answer I say, "You are driving on the right road stay on it! Keep going!" I was saying this to John has he was doing some great thinking. His response when he got a little stuck, "I would like to make a turn and get off the right road now."

As we were driving in the car my own first grader was playing and dropped the toy he was playing with just out of reach. He kept telling us to pull over so we could get it - The whole thing seemed so silly to CS and I that we did a quiet little chuckle. Apparently it wasn't quiet enough because CJ heard us and yelled, "Stop laughing or I am going to tell the police you are laughing!"

Report Cards...again

How many synonyms can one think of for the word good? or difficult? Writing report card comments is not fun!!! And when my principle reads all my hours worth of thought provoking work, what do I get, "good job!"

Tales From First Grade

I love teaching Math Workshop - kids look at numbers in a different way and discuss how they got their answers. Me,"Johnny do you have the answer?" Johnny,"14" Me, "That's right! (student beams) How did you get your answer?" J pauses looking very thoughtful then says,"Well, at first I wasn't thinking anything because I was bored. But then the answer just popped into my head!" For the first time in 12 years I couldn't hide my laughter:) I burst out laughing then told J that he had a very smart answer and I was proud of him for being honest!

One day, all the children were on the carpet - one child hurriedly asked to go to the bathroom and bolted out of the room. All of the sudden I hear , "EWWW! What is it? Yuck it smells!" from various students. Wanna guess what it was??? Poop!!! A tiny piece. When fleeing child returned I asked him if he needed to go to the nurse. He said," No - it just fell out. I couldn't help it. It came out and then went down my pant leg!" This one I did manage to hide my chuckle as I sent him off to the nurse.

I have a very defiant child in my class this year whom I happen to love to pieces when she isn't pushing my buttons. Her best friend is three years younger than her and of course not in our school. Little Jane is obsessed with little Jenny to the point that all stories and all conversations are about Jenny. One particularly hard day I had had it with all the Jenny talk and told Jane I didn't want to hear any more stories about Jenny for the day, in fact I didn't even want to hear the name Jenny. Well, Jane put her little hand on her hip, stamped her foot, glared at me and said, "Jenny! Jenny! Jenny!" I had turn away from her to hide the smile ;) So fresh!

My job is never boring!!!

Homework Hassles

Homework in this house is always a hassle. "I don't like homework!" "I'm getting angry about homework!" "I don't want to do it!" And those were just the comments CJ made today about homework! There have been tears, arguing, negotiations and promises just do a few math problems on a sheet. I don't even want to think about homework by the time he is in 3rd grade - 1st grade is hard enough! I have tried many different ways to get it done - after school, after a snack, at 5:00, before a shower, after a shower....currently it is the last thing we do at night - not the best because i want to make sure CJ gets to bed on time. However, he is more willing to sit and do it at this time because he has had a chance to do everything else he wanted to do. He will still shout," I don't like homework!" But usually sits and does it pretty quickly. As a teacher I dislike that I have to give homework - if it were up to me I would ask kids to read every night and that's it. Kids work so hard all day long in the classroom - home should be their break. CJ's schoool doesn't seem to agree with that idea. Some nights he has 2 worksheets - other nights 4 plus reading and practice spelling words. I feel like we are sitting and doing homework for 45 minutes a night - that's a lot for a 6 year old. Maybe I should suggest play be assigned as homework :)

DC 2011

We had a great vacation in DC again this year. So much to see and do! Here are a few pics:)

Shoveling the snow

"Playing" football

CJ the "football player"

Favorite Things

Thanks Mommy Hungry for the list and idea!

CJ's current list of favorite things.

Book: Truck books
TV Show: "Monster Jam"
Movie: "Wall-e"
Song: "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC (Daddy is so proud)
Color: Blue
Number: 100
Food: "Junk - like Chex Mix"
Flavor: Vanilla
Animal: shark
Day of the week: all of the days
Ice Cream: vanilla with sprinkles
Candy: candy corn
Restaurant: - Jakes
Toy: Monster Trucks -
Thing to do: play with Daddy
Place to go: Toys R Us
Happy Thought: machines
What he wants to be when he grows up: be a fireman
Favorite thing to do at school: recess
Favorite game: Monopoly Jr.

SNOW AGAIN

Science Center

Astronaut CJ!

Mama and CJ

We went to the Science Center today and had a great time. We didn't take too many pictures - but had a lot of fun learning about space, air, and weather.

Christmas Pics

Reading the letter Santa left for him.
Thanks Grumpster!!!

Playing Trains with cousin T.

My little reindeer

So excited to see us at his holiday show!