Dear Bank Lady--My Apologies!

Dear Bank Teller Lady,

I'm sorry.  So very sorry.  I hope you realize it was a very unfortunate event that when I went to grab the container like thing out of the sucker tube that my fingers were somewhat equivalent to a stick of butter and the darn thing flew out of my hands, cracked open upon smacking the concrete and rolled under my car.   I'm sorry.  I really am.
It was never my intention to have you have to get up out of your seat, grab a friend and have you come outside to look for the container.  I'm truly sorry that when you were army crawling under my van, there were five cars behind me watching you.

I'm even more sorry that when you stood up from retrieving that darn rolly container, it appears as if you may have army crawled yourself into an oil puddle that someone graciously left behind.

I really am sorry.


Sincerely,
Kori

P.S.  I'm not even mad that you accidentally cashed my checks and sent me the money instead of depositing them.

7 Days

The past 7 days have been a whirlwind-but-yet-days-crawl-by-crazy-tense-tear filled-laughter filled-roller coaster ride that just wouldn't end.  Seriously.  Wouldn't end.

I'd like to publicly apologize for any of my dear friends that were forced to put up with me on any given day out of the past 7.  I've not been a good friend.  I've not been a good person.  I've not been very upbeat.  Actually, I think I've been pretty downright depressed and anxious.

As I was thinking about the week ahead, I was also reflecting on the week that's gone past.  In the past 7  days, I have...

• Cried.  A lot.
• Stressed.  A lot.
• Been forced to make decisions during my day that I've never had to make before.
• Relied heavily on my colleagues to get me through each and every day.
• Had the pleasure of being a part of a team of people who got to plan and carry out a surprise birthday party for very two deserving people.
• Had to watch my students stress over some important tasks that we laid in front of them.
• Watched teams of people selflessly give me their care, hugs, love, understanding, patience, time and resources.
• Had Melvin, the chinchilla, taken for X-rays.  Um...seriously, who even knew this was possible?
• Prayed.  A lot.
• Celebrated Reilly's success as a soccer star!
• Celebrated a bad week with some amazing friends on Friday afternoon.
• Been functioning on about 3 hours of sleep each night.
• Been stuck in the snow.  Like, stuck as in the baby sitter's husband, 2 neighbors, a shovel and some kitty litter and I still couldn't get out kind of stuck.
• Gone on a bike ride--This is Indiana you know!
• Been blessed with not one, but TWO bags of bumpy nerds.
• Gotten some random texts from "Lauren" who would like to chat and send pics to me.  Oh, she'd also like to do the same with my husband.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

I know there are about 148 more things I'm forgetting.  These are just the few things I can quickly come up with off the top of my head.

As I continue to sit here in my chair, and continue to reflect.  I can only pray the roller coaster I board this week(I'm certain there will be one) has a stopping point.

What. A. Week!

I Pinned It, I Did It # 4, Buffalo Cauliflower

D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.  In one word.  That's what it was. 

This week's new treat was found just this morning as I was browsing Pinterest while pretending to watch yet another episode of Caillou.  I pretty much knew right away that we were going to have to try some of that yummy goodness.

Buffalo Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower cut up into bite sized pieces
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 cup buffalo sauce
1 tablespoon unsalted, butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, flour and garlic salt, whisking until mostly smooth.  (it's okay if there are a few lumps)

Very gently place the cauliflower in the bowl and lightly toss to completely coat with the buttermilk mixture.

Place the cauliflower in a shallow dish and bake for about 15-18 minutes or so.

Combine the buffalo sauce and the melted butter in a small bowl

Carefully remove the hot cauliflower from the oven and pour the buffalo sauce mixture over it, stirring gently to coat it as best you can.

Return the cauliflower to the oven and bake for another 5-8 minutes or so.  Let it cool slightly and serve immediately.

We dipped ours in Bleu Cheese dressing.

Holy YUM!

Imagination

Being 3 must be the very best.

That's the conclusion I've come to lately.  There's just nothing bad about it.  (I'm choosing to ignore the "How far can I push this button before she snaps? attitude" and the whining...)  You're not quite old enough to be set free, so you always have someone within arm's reach, but you're not so little that you're not trusted just a little bit more than you were this time last year.  It's just a glorious age.

One of my very favorite things about my very favorite 3 year old is his imagination. 

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

 That's what it is.

Reilly is never without a "friend."  It doesn't matter if someone is physically in the same room as he is...he can find something, somewhere to talk to.  And, I'm pretty sure they often talk back.

 I truly believe his very best friend is Dotty, his most treasured blanket.  We often hear things like, "Don't worry Dottie Girl--I've got you," or "Don't worry Dottie-Girl, I keep you safe and not let you get in the mud."  He talks to his trains, he talks to his trucks, he talks to himself...I often sit and watch and wonder how he's not 100% exhausted 100% of the time.  There must be so much going through that little 3 year old brain at all times.

99% of the time, Reilly's imagination makes me smile and my heart fill with happiness.  I, of course, don't like when his imagination brings him "monsters that chase me in my dreamies," or his new one, "dragons on top of boats!"  They are usually positive and help keep him entertained.

I always feel really blessed when I get to see his imagination in full swing.  Tonight was one of those nights.  We were on our way home and he spied the moon.  (He's always on the lookout for "That Moon!")

This is the conversation we had:

Reilly: "Mom, there's THAT MOON."  (You have to read THAT MOON with a lot of excitement!)
Me: "I see it buddy."
Reilly: "Mom, that moon is following me."
Me: "Why is the moon following you buddy?"
Reilly: "That moon loves me mom."
Me: "You ARE a pretty lovable guy, buddy."
Reilly: "Yea mom.  Oh no, Mom!  The moon went away.  He is hiding."
Me: "Where did he go to hide buddy?"
Reilly: "I not sure mom, I think he went to go find his phone."
Me: "He went to get a phone?  What kind of phones?  Where was his phone?"  (Ok, I admit, I ask a lot of questions because I love his answers!)
Reilly: "He got his phone so he can call me and say, Hello Reilly."
Me: "Has he already called?  What did he say?"
Reilly: "Mom.  Shh.  Be quiet.  I talkin' to the moon."
Me: "Oh, I'm sorry."
Reilly: (Overhead as he's talking to the moon.)  "Hi Moon.  You stay out of the clouds so I see you now?  Ok, Thank you.  I love you so so much.  Don't be late tonight, it's getting dark out and I need to see you."
Reilly: "Mom, I done talkin' to the moon.  What you need before?"
Me: "Oh nothing buddy."
Reilly: (As we're pulling into the garage)  "Good-bye Moon. I see you tomorrow.  You not let the bed bugs bite."

I'm telling you...being 3 has got to be the best feeling in the world.

I Pinned It, I Did It #3 Better Than Texas Roadhouse Barbecue Rib

Oh My Yuck!

My next installment of "I Pinned It, I Did It" did not go nearly as well as the others.  This is definitely NOT something we are going to be repeating at our house.  Like ever.

The recipe I found was called, "Better Than Texas Roadhouse Barbecue Ribs In The Crock pot."  With a name like that, what could possibly go wrong.

Everything.

My heart really breaks for the poor gal who made these, and according to her blog, makes them repeatedly.  She says her family really does believe they are better than Texas Roadhouse.  I feel like if these are the quality of ribs she got at a restaurant, where I'm guessing she paid a decent amount, she needs a refund.  Like STAT.  Not only do they need a refund for their meal, they need a gift certificate to go somewhere else that they can really enjoy dinner.

The recipe:

3lbs pork or beef ribs
1 cup water
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Place ribs standing upright in crock pot.  Pour in sherry and water.  Sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper.  Pour barbecue sauce over ribs.  Cook on low approximately 8 hours.

I followed the recipe step by step.  They were not good.  At all.

Because the ribs were standing upright, only half of them really got into the sauce, so the other half was dry.  I cooked them on low for only 7 hours, and they were very dried out.

This is not going to be a repeat offender.

Feel free to try them.  Just don't say I didn't warn you.  :)

I Pinned It, I Did It #2

I know I'm behind in blogging.  But, we're 3 weeks into the New Year, and I've maintained my New Year's Resolution. 

I put it out there that I was addicted to Pinterest.  Nothing has changed.  Well...maybe I've become more addicted.  But, it was bound to happen.   Might as well have been sooner rather than later. 

This next trick that I learned on Pinterest has evidently been around for EVER.  And, everyone in the surrounding Michiana seems to have been using it for years.  Everyone but me that is.  I had never heard of it before.

But...I do LOVE it!  It really does make my life simpler.  And that's really what it's all about.

I don't know about you, but I always get grossed out when you are cooking something that is going to have leftover grease  (hamburger, bacon, etc.)  I go back and forth about what I'm supposed to do with the grease.  Throwing it down the drain isn't a good idea.  Letting it sit in the pan starts to smell up the kitchen.  Throwing it out in the grass kills the grass and attracts bugs.  Trying to successfully get all of the grease out of the pan and into a can or cup for proper disposal always causes spills...Ugh.  Such a pain.

This new little trick has changed my life.

You simply put foil in a bowl...make sure it's lined all the way up the edges.  Make sure it is a large enough bowl that you won't have any spills while dumping.  Pour all of the grease into the bowl.  Give it about 2 hours, it will have set up hard.  Simply wrap the foil into a ball, trapping the grease inside and throw it out.  Simple. As. That.

Life Changing. 

This one is a keeper for sure.

Winter Break 2012-2013

I chose to be a teacher for many reasons.  Mostly I love kids and want to do everything I can to help them learn and grow.

But honestly, a little bit of it had to do with getting summer, winter and spring breaks off!  :)  (There's no denying it.)

Before anyone goes all crazy with the "Teacher's shouldn't get paid on their breaks business," please take a minute and remember how HARD we work during the year...we deserve it!)

A very important lesson I learned very quickly after Reilly was born was that breaks were made to spend with families...making memories.  Yes, I've done school work, probably more than I should have, but I've also spent A LOT of time being a mommy and I'm so grateful that I have been given this opportunity.  This year, we were extra lucky that Dave got to be home for all but 2 of the days with us!

We tried to make the best of every day we had together.  16 of them to be exact.  We didn't let an opportunity pass up by where a memory could be made.

I don't know about you, but here's just a glimpse of what we've done the past 16 days as a family...(in no particular order!)

• We spent the day at Splash Universe--it's always fun to play in the pool as we watch the snowflakes falling outside the window.
• We went tubing at George Wilson Park--twice.  The second day, I was so proud of Reilly for conquering the hill by himself, many times.
• I read 1.5 books.  Just for pleasure.
• I spent some quality time on Pinterest.  It's always good to be inspired.
• We went sledding at Elm Road School--Reilly was a champ hitting the ramp, flying through the air and landing with grace.
• We spent Christmas Day up near Chicago with the Moroni side having fun, playing with cousins and opening presents!
• I cleaned THE corner of the basement.  You know the one, where everything gets shoved, but you eventually need something that is in the far distance...
• We took time to have lunch with friends.  So important, our daily schedule unfortunately doesn't allow us to many of these luxuries.
• We went to the Wakarusa Dime Store in Granger and played Life-Sized Candy Land.  I didn't win, but I still got a prize!  Yippee!
• We spent a day with the dinosaurs downtown South Bend at the Century Center.
• We snuggled on the couch in our jammies.
• We scrubbed the shower.  You know, like scrub, scrubbed it.  Well, actually, Dave did it and I supervised.
• We watched movies.  Finding Nemo, Toy Story 3, Cars 1 & 2 and Thomas the Train Christmas Special--each about 100 gazillioin time.  We also managed to fight the three year old for the TV and got to watch Ted and Magic Mike.
• We played.
• We stayed up late and slept in!
• Dave and I snuck away and got to have fun at an Ugly Christmas Sweater party.
• Reilly got to go to "Big People Church" for the first time on Christmas Eve.  They even gave him his own candle which he was very responsible with.
• We went to the Notre Dame Hockey Teams Practice on the Pond at Merrifield Park.
• We spent time with family.

I wish I could post pictures of our memories here, but blogspot isn't being cooperative.

I'm so thankful that our school year is designed to give us this time to break away from the madness and just be with our families.

I wouldn't have traded the past 16 days for all the money in the world.