Vacation

It's a little depressing that vacation is almost over. I'm glad to have something to do everyday again, but I was kind of getting used to having a lot of Sam time and being able to sleep in!!!! I had a nice Christmas dinner with Kyler, Erik, and Julie on Friday night before leaving early Saturday morning for Maine.

Right off the plane we drove up to Zack and Brit''s to have Christmas with them, my grandparents, and aunt and uncle Sunday morning. 

Christmas was fun, and Colton  enjoyed playing with the tissue and wrapping paper more than his presents. 

Merry Christmas! 

It was a nice, relaxing day, with lots of food and opening of presents! 

I spent a few days up at Zack and Brit's and we had a lot of fun playing, shopping, and eating!! 

Auntie....I can't move!!!!

Before I knew it, it was time to head to Hollis....I hadn't been home since July!!!

Please Christmas Don't Be Late

I can't wait to be home in Maine next weekend!!! It's hard to get in the Christmas spirit when work is extremely busy and stressful, the weather is warm, and there is no snow or Christmas parties to go to! I was supposed to host a Christmas cookie and yankee swap party today but everyone was sick or their plans changed....so I baked 4 batches of cookies by myself while watching the PATS win (disgustingly, but they won).

I made sugar cookies (shown to the right and left), almond sugar cookies (thanks for the idea mom), and gingerbread boys and girls for the kiddos at school!









I'm hoping to do some fun activities with the kids this week....we don't get to do enough fun, learning activities. I would love to make gingerbread houses, but the cost and time for 27 kids to do that makes it to difficult!

Merry Christmas!

Back to Reality

Last few hours of vacation.....wishing I had another day, but at least vacation is ending with the PATS game! I've been getting most of the PATS games down here which is nice, but it's not as exciting watching them and yelling at the TV by yourself.

I've been doing some cooking the last few days. I froze chocolate peanut butter chip cookie dough to bake off later for gifts, and cooked a big dinner tonight of a pork chop, carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Now I am cookie off some of the cookie dough for my new teacher meeting tomorrow after school.....and of course for dessert tonight!!

Time to go bake the cookies and get ready for the week. I can't wait to be in Maine in 19 days! Christmas is sneaking up on me. I'm going to see the Grinch at the Fox Theatre on Wednesday, which should be fun. Look for a review to follow.

Thanksgiving & Black Friday

I spent Thanksgiving at Erik's and we went to the neighbor's for Thanksgiving lunch. I had to have Mom's apple pie so I attempted to make it on my own. It tasted good but the appearance was lacking.

My plan was to go shopping at midnight but I didn't make it, so then I set my alarm to get up at 4am and go, but I didn't do that either. I just went when I woke up at 8 this morning, and I still got the two things I was going to go at midnight for.....plus a lot more Xmas presents!! I was finally able to afford throw pillows for my couch....thank you Black Friday!

Now I am off to babysit to pay for today's purchases!! Vacation has gone by way to fast, and I am not thrilled that I only have two days left! I have enjoyed not grading any papers or making any assignments, however guess what I'll be doing tomorrow???

Happy Early Thanksgiving

I had my Thanksgiving dinner today at Erik and Julie's. I'm proud of the amount of food I did not eat.....I did not leave with a stomach ache :) I contributed pumpkin ch. chip bread, deviled eggs, and carrot casserole!

I think you would be proud Aunt Liz :) No one will ever make them like yours but I tried! 

It was quite interesting trying to cook all of this in my mini kitchen. I had eggs and bread cooling on the table and things piled up in the sink and on the stove! I think it was all a success....now on to Apple Pie for Thursday!!! Thanks mom for the chex mix :) We all enjoyed it, and to wash down the meal some yummy champagne! 

I am beyond excited to have the week off to catch up on sleep, although I wish I was going home, it will be relaxing. 

Yet another busy week!

The past few weeks have been extremely busy!! I spent 57 hours at the school last week and 55 hours there this week. This week should be less!! I have a professional development day on Tuesday, so no kiddos for me on Tue, which also means no campus kids. I'll miss the extra money but the extra time in my day (getting home at 5 instead of 8) will be nice!!!

Before going out shopping and to do errands today I stopped to grab lunch. On my way inside I noticed a homeless man sitting outside so when I ordered I ordered an extra cheese quesadilla for him. I gave it to him on my way out....and he didn't say thank you. I did my good deed for the day and would do it again, but a thank you would be nice.

I was really hoping to be able to go home for Thanksgiving week but ticket prices just keep getting higher so it looks like I'll be spending Thanksgiving at my apartment. I tried to buy a small turkey today but came to the conclusion there is no such thing. They need cornish turkeys like they have cornish hens. I like leftovers but I don't want to eat Turkey 3 meals a day for a week. I guess I'll keep looking this week.

Well I'm off to do homework and cook dinner!

Busy Week

It was a very busy week last week!! Last Friday night was October Fest in Newnan. 

They were a hit with their outfits from Germany!

Kyler came along too!

On Halloween I went to Erik and Julie's and went trick-or-treating and handed out candy with Pooh, the hunny pot, and the bees!! They were hit in the neighborhood!

Erik made the honey pot and carried Kyler around in it! Next year I need to stop up my costume! Some people thought my boot was my costume.

The week at school was filled with tests, projects, meetings, and the Fall Festival on Friday night. I was at the school for 57 hours. I'm thinking that might be a bit much....needless to say I was exhausted come Friday night at 9 when I got home. I had no social life this weekend except hanging out with twin 5 week old girls Saturday night :)

I bought a new addition to my apt today....a Keurig!!! I can't wait to make coffee in the am. I bought this instead of a TV stand this month....clearly I have my priorities straight! (Well I'd say so when spending 57 hours at school)!!

I'm hoping this week goes a little better than last, although I have 4 meetings already planned so we'll see. I got a lot of grading done today and am hoping to have a relaxing, school free weekend next weekend!!

New Fashion Statement & a Day off

Well this is how I ended up this morning...

After ending up in the hospital a month ago for my foot and wearing a surgical boot for a couple of weeks I finally got a specialist apt. this morning. He determined that one of the little bones connecting my big toe to my foot is broken....I guess having a broken bone on the bottom of my foot would explain the pain! haha So I get to wear this cool foot for 3 weeks.

It's been a busy week and a half since I wrote last! There has been a lot to do at school and with my own homework. It was nice to get a few things done during the day today (thank you sick days :)) Now it's time for some Joe Joe's and Jeopardy!

I had to buy them since they were a special edition!! 

And Gram, my plant is alive and well!!!

I'm looking forward to the weekend. Octoberfest in Newnan on Friday, bringing in some extra money babysitting Saturday and handing out candy/trick-or-treating with Pooh, the Hunny Pot, and the Bee's on Monday night.....pictures to follow!! 

Mom and Gram's visit

I had to bring mom and gram back to the airport this afternoon :( But we had a great visit!! We had a nice lunch on Thursday with my cousin and his family

On Friday we went to the botanical gardens and Stone Mountain with Mary Mae's for lunch!

Gram touches a snake!

Gram and I at the botanical gardens

There were over 100 scarecrows throughout the garden

some of my favorite ones

carving at stone mountain 

On Saturday we went to a farmer's market...

and then we went to MLK's house/memorial...

the house where he grew up

"shotgun" houses

and then we walked around Olympic Park.

Saturday night we enjoyed a nice dinner at Baroni---thanks Papa!! This morning we went to church and then it was time for them to leave :( Visits go by to fast, but I'm very glad that they were able to come down!! 

Mom and Gram come tomorrow!

Well I worked 11 hours today and then came home to do laundry and clean because mom and gram fly in tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!

I was really hungry so I put together a quick grilled chicken and cheese........

Unfortunately I'm not that great at the gas stove yet and I got busy cleaning and one side ended up black. When I say black I mean dark as night, there was no way to eat it. So now I have an open-faced sandwich....I didn't need the catbs anyway :) 

I stopped on the way home from work and my fridge is ready for mom...

and I have blueberry muffins to make for Gram for breakfast Thursday! 

If you had a long weekend, I hope you enjoyed it, if you have a long weekend this coming weekend, like I do, then enjoy!!

GO PATS

GO PATRIOTS!!!

I just finished watching the PATS/JETS game-glad this one was on TV down here! Sundays just don't feel right without family, food, and the PATS. At least I had 2 out of 3 today!

The apartment is starting to look more and more like home. My mom mailed me a picture frame that has pictures from all the places I went in Europe so know my "dinning room" walls aren't so white! I didn't take any pictures this weekend, but I'm sure plenty will be taken next week when mom and grammy are here :)

I was grading papers during the game and I came to a worksheet the students had dealing with the Civil War. One side of the worksheet had a photograph of soldiers and a camp during the war. The students were asked to describe the picture. One student wrote "looks old like back when they had black and white T.V." I literally laughed out loud when I read this. It's funny how they have no since of time even though we have talked extensively about what it was like during that time period (no cars, no T.V., ect.).
Excited for a short week at school and my visitors!!!!! I can't wait to see my mom and grandma and show them around Atlanta!

Crazy Week!

I'm glad this week is over!! I'm exhausted and I think a bad luck cloud has been following me around! My bathtub got covered in dirt and bubbles (don't ask) so I couldn't use my shower, I spilt hot cocoa all over some students' homework (opps!), got very little sleep, and my foot seems to be getting worse again :(
However, on a good note, a student gave me an apple today :)

I started working at Campus Kids, the after school program, this week. I am working with K-2 which is a nice change from 5th grade. Don't get me wrong, they both have their pluses and minuses, but I do miss my second graders from the past few years! It's fun, but also very tiring. I have been putting in 12 hour days at school, coming home and doing homework, and hoping to get 5-6 hours of sleep!

But TODAY IS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!I went out looking for new shoes since I can't wear heels for awhile :( (and EVERYONE down here wears heels....ALL THE TIME) but I found no shoes so I could wear so I bought a new shirt to wear out tonight. I have a starbucks coffee sitting next to me, and am about to hop in the shower (minus the dirt and bubbles)! I'm going out with a group of friends (well I know a couple of them---my list of friends in Atlanta is short--but growing!) for dinner and then out for a few drink. I like having hundreds of new restaurants to try, although my budget doesn't exactly fit with eating out all the time. However, in my defense it's really hard to cook and not waste food for one person! I can only justify easting so many chicken nuggets and ramen noodles a month!

I must go get ready if I"m going to make it out! I'll update more this weekend!

Productive Day!

I got a lot done today! I went to the farmers market bright and early and got some veggies and breakfast part B :)

Yum!

It looked a little like fall at the market this morning, and the weather almost felt like fall!

After the market I sat at Starbucks on the Georgia Tech campus and drank coffee while doing some homework. I must say, it's a little weird being a teacher and a student at the same time. My whole life is school!! 

I was productive when I came home as well!! I put together my new bookshelf/nightstand and put on my new duvet cover!

Now it's time for dinner, a little more homework, and bed!

southwest skillet :)