A Brilliant Girl!

This is Teacher Appreciation Week. Nicole and I decided to make a jar filled with reasons she loves her teacher, plus some chocolate! Nicole came up with this awesome list!

50 Reasons I love Mrs. Roux
1. She shares
2. She helps us
3. She inspires us
4. She reads to us
5. She makes us laugh
6. She loves learning
7. She loves teaching
8. She loves kids
9. She plays games with us
10. She knows everything
11. She knows everyone in our class
12. She loves books
13. She’s good at teaching
14. She listens to us
15. She guides us
16. She gives us information
17. She smiles a lot
18. She is creative
19. She is a kind person
20. She wears pretty skirts
21. She is fair
22. She is fun!
23. She tells the best stories
24. She is never bored
25. She does fun projects
26. She is nice
27. She is kind
28. She gives us something other than homework
29. She believes in us
30. She is a leader
31. She respects us
32. She works with us
33. She is patient
34. She is a good friend
35. She is happy
36. She is good at her job
37. She is confident
38. She is prepared
39. She makes learning interesting
40. She is organized
41. She likes teaching
42. She is easy to talk to
43. She makes me feel important
44. She shares with us
45. She remembers a lot!
46. She is firm
47. She is calm
48. She makes me want to do my best
49. She is a blessing
50. She is AWESOME!

Lee gets the best sunsets!

Afterall, she's right on the water!

Here's our new yard!

Well, kinda new. A little... Not really.

Okay, a bit of landscaping!

Home Improvement

Since last summer... Or maybe the summer before, I have been dreaming of putting in an outdoor-bistro-like-patio in my backyard. Somewhere with a table and chairs with big flower pots and an oversized patio umbrella. My first thought was to put it in an obscure corner, near the garage, but it would be next to nothing.

THEN the doc pointed out a corner behind that house where grass doesn't grow and the sun doesn't come near it!

I also wanted to plant a 'hedge' in the front yard with flowers, stepping stones, and a border of some sort to separate it from the lawn.

Well yesterday we began these two projects!

Mmm, not so much, the patio!

We purchased 5 cherry blosson trees that will stand up to -40 degree weather (for some reason our hibiscus trees didn't make it through the winter!) and some daisies and other potted plants to pant inbetween. Plus soil and mulch (my preschool kids used to call it munch!).

Last night the doc ripped out the grass (in a neat and orderly fashion) and I brought in the baby trees! I can really imagine them near the front picket fence with mulch all around and stepping stones inbetween!

We also visualized our plans for the backyard and 'eyed' some of the products at Home Depot! This summer we will accomplish more!!!

Breakfast in 'bed'

This morning I actually had a chance to sleep in... By 8:00, Nicolee and I were downstairs taking care of Tink, etc..... AFter finishing the morning rounds, I collapsed on the recliner and Nicolee ran into the living room and asked if I wanted breakfast in bed.

I answered, 'yes, honey, but I'm not in bed anymore.'

She said, 'that's okay.....'

Then she ran in and asked for the stool.

Then she came and asked me to get the bread down for her.

Then she came in and asked me which jelly I'd like.

Then she came in and asked me where the toaster was.

Then she ran in and asked me to plug it in for her.

Then she gave me a knife and asked me to spread out my own jam.

Then she came in and asked me if I was enjoying the breakfast she made for me....

Then she asked me if I would do the dishes.

Don't you love breakfast in bed?

This is how I found my kitchen upon 'waking up.'

Cocinando

Last night I made a clever little soup. I was craving some creamy basil chicken, but it was very cold yesterday. I cooked the chicken in the crockpot with onions and sweet bell pepper, topped it with chicken broth and lots of basil. I let it cook for hours. (I also added mushrooms, but don't tell the doc! Nicolee loved 'em!) By lunch time, it smelled a little weird in my house. (Hint, don't use raw onions and bell peppers next time!) But at dinner time, it smelled heavenly! I stirred in some FF cream cheese to make it creamy and served it in a bowl over mashed potatoes! It was awesome! Like I said, next time I will sautee the onions and bell peppers first and maybe add carrots to make it more flavorful.

Early this morning, as I was quickly styling Nicolee's hair and making lunches, I also made breakfast AND dinner! The doc and I had Pine Valley eggs for breakfast, and we will all have a keilbasa-hash for dinner! I diced potatoes and put them in the crockpot. When I get home, I will saute the keilbasa, carrots, garlic, onions, etc, and toss them all together, and pan fry in the skillet.

I sometimes wish I had more time!!!

FREE is the magic 4-letter F-word

We went to a FREE Easter Egg hunt at a local church the FREE building craft at Home Depot, the FREE Monsters vs. Aliens craft at Michael's, and then we were SO disappointed to find that the easter egg hunt at the historical Society was not FREE. (ten bucks instead!) I'll just have to find something else FREE to replace it... Like the FREE redbox code on Monday... Or the FREE coupons I have for tomatoes, peaches, and frozen dinners!!!

I like FREE!