What Happens at the Lake, Stays at the Lake.......

What an absolutely perfect weekend with friends! A group of us headed out to stay with a very dear friend in her new house on Richland Chambers Lake. It was a women's only weekend and I do not remember the last time I laughed as hard and as long as we did for an entire weekend. If laughter is good for the soul then my soul has been blessed! Sharon's house is absolutely the PERFECT lake retreat. The views are beyond your wildest dreams and the house itself is warm and comfortable and inviting. But the best part of the whole thing was the time spent with wonderful friends.

The day could not have been more gorgeous and we talked about every imaginable subject and maybe some you do not want to imagine but the moments you have to share and laugh and reminisce are priceless.

What would we do without girlfriends? Family is wonderful but there is something about the women in your life that is not replaceable. The things you can share and talk about... they understand. It is exactly like the YaYa Sisterhood. It goes beyond conversation into a whole other area.

We walked and talked and stood in wonderment of our accommodations. How generous James and Sharon are to share their place with all of us so graciously.

When the day was almost done we headed in for a challenging game of Bejeweled Blitz (don't ask) and several rounds of Chicken Foot. Does not take much to entertain a bunch of old ladies!!!

Another wonderful meal and a sunset you would not believe was the perfect way to end the day. I probably don't need to mention that the "pajama party" lasted until well past midnight...like well past midnight!!! Sleep? Who needs it. There is time for that another day. For this weekend it was all about the friendship!

Thanks Sharon!!!!!

Bye Daddy.....

Dad is off again. Seems like they have spent more time apart than together since Brooklynn was born...well, actually they have. And so another trip..this time off to Qatar to survey the war effort from over there. It will be a very short trip but nonetheless another seperation. This is bonding time. The family is supposed to get to know one another....and the time will come that this will happen but they are missing precious moments that you cannot replace.

On the positive side Tim is not going to be gone for 6 months. God bless those military wives who become single mothers of multiple kids for months on end while their husbands are deployed. They do it, they cope, they survive...but oh my goodness, I am so glad that it was not me. I think God has a special place for them in heaven.

And..report from the doctor....at 4 1/2 months Brooklynn is 14.8 pounds and 25 1/2". Just the perfect size for a little lady. She is growing and changing as all babies do. I just wish her dad was there to see it on a daily basis...soon.

I Did It!......

Yes, 8 days Coke free!!! I cannot believe it. Yes, it was Diet Coke but it could not have been good for me or any part of my system. So that is it, only 32 more days to go! However, it has not been easy. It is only when you don't have it that you begin to notice that it is everywhere!
There is a coke machine next to my work station in the teacher lounge. I counted today....14 people bought cokes while I sat there. Surely a good use of my time! It is either that or answer the pertinent question that they always ask me...."Is there someone in the bathroom, or is the door just closed?" So here I am...the teacher bathroom monitor and the surveyor of the Coke machine!

And then there is Sara's just finished jigsaw puzzle. Yes, it really is a Coke puzzle. "Mom, I finished this puzzle". Well, great just throw another picture of Coke in my face!

And...the trunk of my car...yes, two six packs of Diet Coke hidden away under the bags from Target that I never took out. Are you kidding? It is a conspiracy. Everywhere I look are reminders of my Lenten sacrifice! AUUUUUGGGGHHHHH!

So, what to do? A placebo. Yes, just empty a Coke bottle and fill it with water. Maybe if I pretend I could at least make my mind believe that it works. Or I can just be glad that I have made it a week and I am still sane!

2010 The Year of the Tiger....

Why is it always about food? Well, maybe not always but it seems like way too often the topic of my posts is food related. Could it be that it is because that is what I do for a living? Cook and eat...that is my story!

It is Chinese New Year. Ten days of celebration that includes food, festivities, gifts, and fun. I have learned so much from teaching in such a cuturally diverse classroom...mostly about what else but FOOD!

Today several of my students volunteered to teach us about fried rice...their way. And trust that there are many different versions of one dish and I have been exposed to them all. So rather than have them tell me I am doing it wrong, I just let them take over. And so they did. And when the dish was completed, we ate...with what else but chopsticks!!

The kids loved it. It took awhile to master the task but they got it! And when they got it balanced just right all I heard was "Mrs. Shubzda, hurry!!!!! Take a picture before it falls off!!!"

They did it! What a fun way to earn a living!!!!

Project 365...and Coconut M&M's!

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Here they are...the Coconut M&M's we have been searching for the last 8 months. Jimmy heard about them last year and we began our mission to find them. Sara located a bag yesterday at the local Tiger Mart! She was so excited she called me at work to tell me she had a HUGE surprise for me. Then I found her waiting on the front sidewalk when I picked her up at work so she could give them to me. I ate them. OK the only reason this is strange (because you know I can eat the $7.96 bag of M & M's each week) is because I am on a strict eating plan and have given up all sugar....high triglycerides you know!!! They were incredible. If you find some buy them and try them yourself. It was worth the wait....and worth breaking my diet for.

Now, Project 365. I have been reading online about people who have chosen to take a photograph each day for a year. Most of them to become more aware of the things around them that matter or might otherwise not have caught their attention. It fits in with my two passions....taking pictures and my online journal. No, I am not going to publish a picture a day but I am going to take one..or maybe two. I blog to remember and write about things I love and since my blog is not out there for the world to see I am going to take pictures and write about any random thing I find interesting....today is about Coconut M&M"S!

Valentines Day.....Late.....

So much to write about lately. Many things going on so I have had to segment things and I am running late on Valentines day....but here it is!!!!My hardworking husband spent Valentines morning with his head in a manual trying to figure out how to assemble a car seat....wanted to take his favorite women to breakfast. They are not like they used to be. In fact nothing in the baby's world today is like it used to be. I think we just threw our kids in the back of a station wagon with some toys, called it a play pen and off we went. Probably not too safe. Maybe a trip to court is order if we try that now!

We sent baby Brooklynn a Valentine message written in the snow. I know everyone likes to write their messages in the sand but we had the snow and so why not use it.....so much to do in the snow and we enjoyed it until there was not a bit left anywhere.

Balloons for our special little valentine. Oh goodness how we love her. She is just about as sweet as a little baby could possibly be.

Bubbles and toys while the rest of feasted on omlets and waffles. Life is grand when all it takes is a car seat and your fingers to make you happy!

After breakfast Gramps and Brooklynn had some serious one on one time. Have to get to know that face. ...every detail of it.

And so Jimmy sat on the floor patiently while Brooklynn pinched and squeezed and pulled and twisted and don't let him kid you...he loved every minute of it! And where was I? Where am I always...manning the camera...which is a good place to be.

Happy Valentines Day sweet baby girl...and thanks Gramps for struggling with the car seat and for breakfast!

Happy Fat Tuesday....

So it is Fat Tuesday....Mardi Gras biggest day. In honor of this special day we made a traditional KING CAKE in class. We also studied the history and traditions of the Mardi Gras season. It is cultural, right? Now that all of our lessons have to have a distinct objective, I have found many reasons to prepare food. There is always a teachable objective in things like Chinese New Year and Valentines Day. It has been a week full of pastries and confections!!! Love it!!

Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. Last year I decided to give up my favorite food...M&M's. I am addicted so that seemed reasonable. However, I merely replaced them with Reece's pieces and other chocolate..so not to much of a sacrifice. So what to do? Give up sugar totally? No, that won't work. So, this year I am going for no Diet Cokes. I won't replace it because I don't like anything else. Today I am on serious coke overload. Maybe if I make myself drink too many I won't like them anymore...just a thought. It won't be a caffeine withdrawl because I drink caffeine free. It won't be pretty the first week but I can do it, right??? Maybe check with my students in a week and see how nice I am!!! Oh my!

Hanging With "Uncle Drew"......

Yes, Brooklynn and Drew got up close and personal today. Usually Drew just looks and talks to our sweet baby from across the table but today was the day they really needed to meet face to face and have some hands on time.She has been wanting to get ahold of that nice looking hat he always sports but as luck would have it he won't give that up for anyone! Yes, she is smiling....I am thinking that Drew is hoping that that big smile on her face is not because she just had a blow out all over him.

They had a good visit and after he left I told her if she was really lucky maybe someday he would do the "bus driver" for her! Seems that is the dance that attracts all the women. I am sure she can't wait!!!!

Snow Day II....Kids at Play....

It is another great day in the metroplex!! Last night each school district cancelled school for the day so we all went to bed knowing we could sleep in and enjoy the day...and we did. Ozzie and I wanted to be the first ones out before the many neighborhood kids had breakfast and headed out covered in snow gear to enjoy a historic recorded setting snowfall...12 inches to be exact. 2010 will go down in the record books and we will all remember it as an incredible weekend.

This young man had beat me out and already had his snow man going. He had probably been up since 5 begging to go out! Who can resist??? I headed out in my pajamas to capture the beauty before there we hundreds of little footprints in the snow! It was beautiful...and I was not the only one out in my nightware. As I was clicking away, four other parents dressed in p.j.'s must have had the same idea. So there we all were...flip flops, pajamas, cameras and coffee cups having as much fun as kids in the early morning snow.

It was incredible, magazine perfect! Maybe we will all compare shots later. I am sure Steve will win because he was sporting a camera lense we would all die for!!!!

Yes, we even drug Jimmy out to enjoy the snow for a moment. Poor thing had to work....so sorry. Guess we will have to call and tell you how much fun we are all having!!

So while I am sitting her typing, thinking this is two days in a row of "snow news", I remember that the reason I even bother to blog at all is to record the things that I want to reflect back on 20 years from now. Those wonderful memories and fun days and special things that make life so great.

Nature's Finest....

Yes, this is Texas...and although I know that much of the U.S. is being blanketed by record snowfalls, you just do not expect to wake up to this in our part of the state. My this is beautiful. It just makes you feel good. Snow is surely one of nature's most perfect inventions!

I did not even mind getting out of bed and going to work today. All the way there (it took a record 30 minutes to make a 7 mile drive) I thought how clean and amazing a snowfall makes everything look. It is a new perspective on things. The usual barren areas were gorgeous. Sitting at the stop lights was even fun today. The headlights of the cars were only sightly visible in the early morning "blizzard".
Of course we had to take instruction time to verify the fact that no two snow flakes are alike....every lesson has to have an objective!!!!
And one has to test the packing ablility of the snow...of course! As luck would have it, it packed well and snowballs were in order. Thowing them was a lesson in physics...trajectory matters.


The yards are covered and the neighborhood is full of snowmen of every shape and form. The kids are in heaven. I even saw one little girl laying in her yard making a snow angel. Wonder who taught her that? Snow angels are rare around here!
The view from inside and outside is great and you almost hate the sun to set on the day. If the snowfall continues as expected then we will set a record for the most snow in history...we are only a few tenths of an inch away.

So as this perfect day comes to an end, I am sad to to see it go. It has been so much fun to enjoy the unordinary. Many schools are closing tomorrow. I do not know if we will be at work yet or not but maybe I will just get up for the sake of getting up and enjoy every minute I can of this perfect snowfall.