Them's fightin' words

We had a really nice week of weather last week. It was in the 60's and 70's and the kids needed no jackets/hats/gloves/boots etc. Then, we get hit with the arctic blast. And as we're all bundled up and headed out to the playground, one of my quietest girls sticks behind and walks with me. Here's our conversation:

B: "It's cold today"
Me: "It sure is"
B: "I have to wear my coat and hat"
Me: "Yeah, me too."
B: "Last week, it was really nice outside."
Me: "Yeah, it sure was"

Quiet for 10 seconds (10 steps or so)

B: "Winter Sucks"

I had to laugh :) I have to pry any sort of communication from this child in the classroom, and in an endearing moment she opened up her little soul to me :)

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I'm very angry with grocery stores at the moment, for apparently grocery stores feel they can charge an inordinate amount of money for food, put an enormous price sticker on a sign that says "sale" with the "reduced" price (which is still outrageous) beside the product and you think you are getting a bargain, and you have to carry around a plastic credit card that has no monetary value so that you don't pay $ 6.75 for a box of cereal.

With gas prices being so low, Scott and I have driven the extra distance to visit SuperTarget in Ft. Collins once a week to get our groceries/home supplies. We love SuperTarget on many different levels, but one of the things we love is how their groceries and living supplies are very affordable. We went last week and bought enough food to last us more than a week, so this week we thought we would just suck it up and swing by the grocery store and pick up the few things we needed for the rest of the week.

So we get the items on our list, enough for a cake, a casserole, spaghetti, bread and milk, and when we cash out using our "supersaver" card, our bill is 68 dollars. When I compared our recipts, we payed DOUBLE for cheese, cake mix, eggs, and butter. DOUBLE. What would have probably cost us 40 dollars, MAX at Target was almost twice that, and that makes me grumpy.

What I love the most, is some poor shmuck is going to walk into Safeway, without the savers card on hand, and actually have to pay $ 6. 75 for a box of Lucky Charms.

Hope you still feel they're "Magically Delicious"

Nutrition

I got a "nutrition monthy" magazine in the mail today (Scott's mom prescribes for us...) and on the back, they always have one healthy food, and a food that they call "food porn" and usually, the two foods are related so for instance:

GOOD: Eddy's slow churned ice cream FOOD PORN: Cold Stone Creamery (their public enemy number one...)

But this month:

FOOD PORN: Ice cream delight from Chilis. The healthier choice? A can of black beans...

YUMMMMMMM!!!

Update...

PHEW! Time flies when you're on vacation, then you have to go back to work. Last week I couldn't believe it was already time to go back, now I can't believe it's almost been two weeks! We had a pretty relaxing weekend, and I like to GO GO GO so I was happy to be busy again.

And speaking of busy! College basketball season is in full swing, and runs my life! I like to go and help Scott, so I can see him in the evenings, so I went last night, will celebrate my birthday tonight, go again tomorrow night, have some fun with friends Friday night, see my family Saturday/Sat. night, then basketball again on Sunday...but that is how I like it. It's good to be busy. It keeps my mind off the face that I can't find a WII anywhere. Doesn't Nintendo know it's my BIRTHDAY for heaven sakes?

We have a lot of quick and exciting things to look forward to coming up!

First off, I've decided to go back to school to get my masters. I've put it off for almost 5 years now, and literally decided overnight, with the encouragement of a friend, to bite the bullet and dive right in (that is if they accept me) During the day I'm excited, but my college nightmares keep resurfacing in my dreams. So perhaps I'm more anxious that I think. It will be nice to go back with friends, and to go virtually for free (thanks Scott's job!)

We also decided to pool all our vacation savings (minus 2 plane tickets to Kansas City) and go to Hawaii! We are going with mom, Bob and Luke, for a week in June. I'm SO excited. Scott has never been, and we are jumping at the bit to go on a nice vacation! We are SO lucky to have families that take nice vacations, and want us along. We have gotten to go to some awesome places, and have lots of great pictures and memories from each one.

Today, as you all know by now, is my birthday :) I have a reputation for making my birthday known, and have not let Tozer Primary staff escape this enjoyment :) I think everyone is relieved by the time my birthday passes, they no longer have to hear the countdown. I told my students that today was my birthday a couple days ago, and opened my door this morning to 21 2nd graders scream-singing happy birthday. They never really quited down after that. The first thing they asked was "when do we eat your treats?"

CRAP! I didn't bring treats. Shouldn't they bring ME treats? I emailed Scott in a tizzy to see if he could bring some in, but alas, he has a job too darnit, and can't drop his responsabilities for cupcakes, so I was up a creek without a paddle. But THEN...it was one of my students half-birthdays today, and his mom emailed at 10 oclock, and wanted to bring in treats for HIM, so I was SAVED!

Did I also mention that the PTA brought chili in for the staff for lunch, and the Windsor marching band held a parade? ( I'm sure in my honor...see what happens when you let the entire world know your birthday is coming up???)

We are studying birds in 2nd grade right now, a topic I was almost dreading, because come on...BIRDS? But the first activity we did, was set up 4 egs, and stack dictionaries on top of them until they shattered, and you would have thought I handed each kid 100 bucks. The left that day SO excited we had cracked eggs, and I let them feel the yolk (in a very sanitary, wash-your-hands-with-warm-water-and-soap-or-forfeit-your-recess-for-life kind of way). I even learned a little about the inside of eggs, something I avoid like the plague, since I do not like to vomit if I can help it. And today, we used clay to mold different birds feet. Because I am JUST that cool :)

I love my new job. I get to do SO many hands on activities, and do things I learned in college, and the activities are enjoyable, and the kids learn and everything is organized at the end of the day...it's fantastic. With the economy the way it is, I'm very worried about teacher cutbacks, so cross your fingers it's not my one year of glory.

Also, COME AND VISIT US! We have clean sheets, and friendly dog to greet you upon arrival :)

Loves :)