Sunday already!?

So why is it the weekend flies at a non-stop speed and all of the sudden it is over. We have all of these great plans to get all of the "stuff" done and well, it doesn't get there.

Well if you have just started reading I have been cooking on Sundays for over a month now. I am ready however to not do so much pre-cooking and start using my crock pot a little more since school is in session for everyone. There is just something about walking into the house after a long day and not just know food it ready, but SMELL it.

I found a site I am checking out right now that has some definite possibilities for this weeks rotation.

http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2014/08/30-easy-crockpot-recipes.html

Thanks Family Fresh Meals for compiling it!!!

I am definitely making meatloaf muffins this week. I didn't make them last Sunday and the girls were sad. I know I need to make zucchini and banana bread because we bought too many of them last week.

I still need to sit down tomorrow morning and rap my brain about everything I want to cook.

Today is actually cooled down enough to make me think fall may actually be coming. The leaves are changing a bit and we were able to open the windows, ALL DAY!!! With fall coming this is when I start to feel a bit crafty. I love making things for the house and starting to think about all of the upcoming holidays. Pinterest is my mecca!!! I am ready to take a bit and make some things. Get out in my garden and turn it into fall goodness.

Well tomorrow is another busy day of cooking and trying to get everything shoved in!!! Have a wonderful night...

Sad and happy all in one.

As I sat today watching my youngest play volleyball I realized that my wedding ring and engagement ring no longer fit. I had them sized awhile ago and unfortunately this caused my engagement ring to break. I stubbornly have worn it for years anyway. Today I had to take them off because it was causing my hand to turn into a very swollen mess. So I unfortunately took them off. When I got home I slid them sadly into my jewelry box.

My hubby and I went out for our weekend grocery shopping. My poor hand was sad. Is that even possible? We all know it was just me. Those rings have been on my hand for almost 20 years. They were an extension of myself. They were what my husband gave to me when we promised to be together forever. I couldn't imagine them not there. Being a week as it was already, I think I was overly emotional.

My hubby already sensed how sad I was.

I am simple. I wear my wedding rings, when I wear earrings it is usually diamond type studs, pearls or simple hoops. Usually not a lot of necklaces. My rings really meant a lot to me.

Well lets just say my husband is amazing. He decided I needed a new ring set. He also made me pick it out. As a mom I instantly feel guilty. As a wife my heart soared. He bought the set I loved and slid it onto my hand. My heart pretty much exploded. I am more in love with this man today and will continue to love him more and more everyday. It isn't the ring he bought for me. He just so knows what I need when I need it. I am so excited to see what life continues to offer us.

Beware of what you are reading when tired...

I do this cool thing called bzzagent. I have apparently been doing it since 2006. I get to try some cool new things and I tell them to everyone who will listen. I logged in today and thought I was getting a roomba for free...until I found out they wanted money. Darn it all. Oh well! Can't win them all.

This month I have gotten some free Excedrin and a free MyMonopoly game. Those are both bug bonuses.

If you get a chance check out Excedrin, MyMonopoly and Bzzagent! If you want info I can give it to you.

Well the house has made it through the week.

I bonded with my new students. I don't want to quit teaching quite so much today. I managed to get my semester mapped out. I readied myself for meetings. I got a handle on it. I was worried for a bit but I managed to make it through. There were bumps along the way, like crying in the corner, forgetting to turn in MY homework and just overall tiredness.

My girls seemed to make it through. Al is off and getting back into the college world. Banana and Bear have bonded over a lot of English homework. Hal is adjusting well to high school. Surprisingly we are all still awake. We sprinkled in a cross country meet, first home football game and a volleyball tournament. Banana and Bear have been taking pictures for yearbook. That has brought back some yearbook memories for me...wasn't it just yesterday?

Well...I guess tomorrow is another day. I think my eyes are protesting.

Happy September!

Well, it is Labor Day. The girls and I go back to school tomorrow.

Al is away at college.

Today we had a family get together. We met an aunt no one has met before. She was adorable. It was fun to see all the cousins and little ones running around. They grow so quickly when they are little and then BAM, they have graduated.

We had a pretty low key day. Doing laundry and making sure we are ready for the big week.

Al is at school getting invited to parties and having "fancy" dinners. That makes me laugh to think all of the things she is getting to experience on her own. I pray she enjoys all she can and makes the best of it.  I want the best for my kiddos. While I miss her terribly, I know she loves us.

My hubby made a shelf for me for work and I got it all painted. So got a little labor done today.

The calm before the store. I love it. Let the craziness commence tomorrow. Have a great day tomorrow everyone!

Cooking Day...

A little over a month ago my hubby was diagnosed with Diabetes. While we attempt to eat healthy we quickly realized that many things needed to change. Not just for him. For ALL of us. So we started our Sunday cooking. We took a day to walk through the store and read labels. It was sobering. We quickly learned it was time to get back to basics. Have my family struggled. Yes. Will we make it? Yes. And I am sure we will come out much better for it in the end.

So today I pulled some turkey tenderloins which I have roasted in the oven. I took a chuck roast and sliced it to marinate in garlic, ginger and soy sauce. Sometimes I follow recipes, sometimes I use the recipes as suggestions. We are trying parsnips this week for the first time. I know sad that we are just learning to try new things. We are definitely stuck in a rut. I have turkey sausage links and I know I am doing lasagna. My husband will be grilling something today and I will ensure extra will be grilled. That will have five cooked meals available. We don't just do enough for a dinner. We make sure that if someone wants it for a lunch that they can. I chop fruits and veggies by the bushel for breakfasts and snacks. I have made waffles for them to warm up because school starts. I think I will be making breakfast burritos as well.

So the house smells amazing and the biggest thing of cooking day is keeping everyone out of the food! A big winner I have found is mini meatloafs. I just take the meatloaf recipes I normally make and put it in muffin tins. The girls affectionately call them meat muffins. I have to double because they fly away!!!

A little late in life to learn how to cook better for my family. We still have treats from time to time. The whole house has really liked having meals available for them when they are hungry. We are all going fifty million places due to work, sports and school. Sometimes we manage to meet up and eat at the same time. But now I know if I am working late or if someone has a meet or a game they have dinner available for them. It also is good to know my hubby is getting the nutrition he needs to keep his Diabetes under control.

Here is what I did with my turkey tenderloins:

http://www.bakeat350goessavory.com/2012/02/roasted-turkey-breast-tenderloins.html

Here is what I am doing with the parsnips and carrots:

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/roast-potatoes-parsnips-and-carrots

I used this recipe as a suggestion for my beef:

http://davidandjenw.blogspot.com/2013/09/easy-mongolian-beef-recipe.html

Who am I and how did I get here?

Hi! I guess I never properly introduced myself.

My name is Therese, obviously. I have been married almost 20 years. I have four, teenage daughters...yes I said four! I know how they were made and everything!

Once my daughters were older, I took the opportunity to go back to school and get my teaching degree. It is something I have wanted since I could think about being anything else...if that makes a bit of sense I know we are all on the same page!

My oldest Al is off to college. She is striving for her goals and I love watching ever minute of it. My next little nugget is my Banana....haha. I have called her that forever. She is a senior in high school this year and is getting ready to fly the nest. I am hoping not too far! My third is my little bear. She was my curly haired, blue eyed...um angel with a naughty streak. She is a junior in high school this year and trying to figure out what she wants to be. My youngest and tallest daughter Hal is a freshman. She is reaching for the stars figuratively and literally. They all keep me crazy busy and most of the time I wouldn't have it any other way.

My amazing hubby balances us. He ensures we don't throttle each other and feeds us chocolate as needed. I am pretty sure our lives are a reality show. Throw in our two cats and I am sure you have it perfect.

So I finally graduated from college and became a teacher. It has been an adjustment. My girls are used to mom being there for everything. Like everyone else on the planet we try our best to not be too much of a hot mess. We definitely struggle.

Like today...but that is another story. So welcome to my world. Bring a mug of tea and enjoy our lives.

Am I doing it right?

So as a teacher you have those days...

You have those days that make you wonder if you are doing the right thing. You have those days that you want to curl into a ball and stay there for all time. You wonder if what you picked for a profession was the correct thing.

Okay, maybe I am alone in my wonderment.

I have a feeling I am not.

This last week has been one of those weeks. My dream since I could command a room was to teach. Could I have been incorrect? Am I doing something wrong?

I have a new group of middle schoolers that I will start teaching on Tuesday. Will I teach them the correct common core standards, how about any standard? Heck! Will I teach them anything?

I wade through all of the stuff that is needed to be done even before I can attempt to look at my curriculum and slightly have a nervous break down. I managed to get through Unit 2. Tomorrow I need to do homework for a masters class and finish the rest of the semester.

Okay full on nervous breakdown...

Do I hate teaching? No. Do not misunderstand what is happening here, I am totally just questioning my existence. Ha. Could it be I had a bad day, absolutely!? Mid-life crisis, probably. My daughter going off to college. More than likely. I woke up and wanted to go back to bed, the list goes on...I am sure though it boils down to one thing...

Where did summer go?

My first summer as a teacher...

I have successfully completed my first year as a teacher. I am again in love. In my life I have fell in love many times, with my husband, with my children and now I have finally fell in love with my job. I am saddened by the fact I waited so long to become a teacher. I am excited that I am finally one and am ready to set the world on fire!

With this all being said...I laugh as people tell me how excited I should be because I get summers off. Ha. I have a pile of books that need read about teaching. I have continuously been finding new information for my students. I have been catching up on my young adult fiction. I have been chasing my girls all over the state whether it be sports or visiting colleges. My summer is about over. I have a conference coming up and a new position added to teaching next year.

Am I staying at my job? I think so. Could things change? It is possible. For now I am excited at the prospect of changing and helping lives.