The camera + food (3/3 posts)

All of this food really is for my benefit only...because I am a food-aholic. I love tasting new things, new recipes, new flavors, etc. I am not very seasoned in this department, but I can sure enjoy it.

A fruit salad; fresh pineapple was amazing


Vidallia onion quiche
Cod fillet with lentils and asparagus, cream sauce
Prime rib with vegetables
Strawberry meringue (hard crust)
Triple layered chocolate raspberry cake
Sliced melon salad, mint yogurt (not my favorite)
Shrimp cocktail



Filet Mignon with peppered corn sauce and mashed potatoes
Potato cakes and sauteed mushrooms (still not sure if they were really potatoes)
Salmon with fresh yummy carrots (my favorite!)
Roasted duck!
Triple layered coconut cake (Paul's favorite)
Italian dessert, like jello texture, pancotta
Strawberry cheesecake (Chris' favorite)
Chocolate cake with a cappucino filler...I did get a head shake "no" from Jared...but, I did try it!
In Cozumel: Smoothies and Daquaris on the beach. Mango!
Homemade chips and salsa
Authentic fish tacos, straight out of the ocean.
Fajitas (check out those runny beans)
A burro made with three tortillas
Back on the cruise ship: a mushroom pot pie (not the right name, but you get the idea)
Lobster!
Tempura battered fish
Gnocchi, not my favorite sauce..but great texture.
Pizzaria in Florida

22 weeks and counting

I am feeling really good these days. It's probably b/c I know how TERRIBLE I felt for so long that I can really appreciate these healthy days. I can cook. I can clean. I can grocery shop. I can stay up 'til 10pm. I can smell food. I can enjoy a meal.

I recognize that in another month I will be feeling pretty hot, uncomfortable, sweaty and ready to put my feet up...but, until then...I will enjoy these next few weeks.

B I G Fieldtrip

After writing and submitting an essay, I won a grant through Target to take my students on a fieldtrip. What an exciting thing to plan!

The plans: Olive Garden for dinner, then take a bus to the ASU Gammage Theatre for the, "Arizona Broadway performance of Fiddler on the Roof."

For the last few months, we have been preparing our students. Etiquette on how to behave in a restaurant, what is appropriate in the theater, how to dress, and what to expect. We watched the music from youtube of Fiddler on the Roof, talked about the plot/character/setting, and I drilled into their heads that I wanted them to have their best dress and best attitudes.

The night went smoothly. A few mishaps; Jared felt like he had the flu. At dinner, it was tricky figuring out the bill (kids paid with cash, while I picked up the tax and tip charge). Half of the students ordered sundaes for dessert, which I hadn't calculated into the end total...so, then I had to add on MORE money to the end bill. Imagine: 50 people on one bill with 50 different checks!

I enjoyed a fantastic fettucine alfredo, and only had heartburn later on from the salad.

More mishaps; arrived to the theatre just in time to find our seats. I was handing out the tickets when I quickly realized that I was SHORT tickets! I felt embarressed, especially with all of the parents looking at me and not expecting to be left out of the theatre while I looked for their tickets! I rushed into the will call, only to hear that it was a "sold out show." NO WAY!!!

I pleaded my case with the manager; 50 people traveling over an hour to arrive. All 5th graders dressed up and ready to watch the show. I would stand in the aisle if I had to! The manager was empathetic and somehow found us 12 extra tickets that we needed.

We were on the VERY LAST ROW of the 3rd balcony in a 3000 person auditorium. The characters on stage looked like ants. Just crossing through the aisle I felt like I was on a balance beam (with a big ol' belly, nervous to fall). I literally was looking down, way down, to see anyone on the stage.

By intermission, my students were exhausted. It was already 9:30pm, and I had told the other parents to pick up their students at 10pm. That meant that we had to leave...NOW.

Another mishap; the bus driver was MISSING IN ACTION. He somehow got a ticket to the show, and had turned off his cell phone. Seriously??? I tracked down the security folk and begged to make an announcement in the auditorium, but they told me that it was against policy. I would need permission from the Fiddler people! What??? And all 50 people were again waiting outside for Mrs. Wilson to get it figured out...sigh...

We found him...he found us...he turned his phone on! We loaded back up, drove back to Surprise with VERY ROWDY children (all hitting their second wind) and met up with parents. I was still waiting for some to be picked up 'til 11pm...I took off my heels by that point and my belly was rumbling from being uncomfortable.

Overall, very successful and memorable. The kids behaved really well, looked so sharp (one girl even had a corsage! How adorable is that?). We had an early school day the next day, 7am sharp. I kept it low key with an April Fool's math quiz and a Fun Friday recess in the afternoon.

Hardest part was being "Mrs. Wilson" from 7am-11pm on that fieldtrip. Not one moment to relax and enjoy the event. I was on my toes to discipline, direct and monitor all my kiddos. Mrs. Wilson needed a good night's rest (not filled with allergies, which is what happened).

Very fun indeed!

Victoria, Rachael, Judiths' mom, Judith, Isis
Sofia, Mrs. Schwan, Emily, Mrs. Karen Holdaway
Mrs. DeMoss, Dylan, Courtney, Hillary (notice the corsage)
Harlie, Candy, Harlie's aunt, Alex
Ariana, Valeria, Brandi, Sarah
Eric, Eric Sr., Malcom, Jarrod, Taya, Mrs. Schmitt, JD
Ian, Ryan, Mrs. Beausoleil, Tyler, DeMon
Nate's step mom, Nate, Tony, Gregorio
Shane's grandma, Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Strickland, Yamil, LJ Dudley, Jared, Mrs. Simmons, Tye, Shayne

A busy day...and pink eye?

A sweet hug with favorite pajamas and socks

Wesley: student of the month!
Hanging with los primos; Justin, Joshua, Wesley and Jaden
Planting an orange tree with Jared's dad (Pipa)

I know that most parents are busy. Of course we are! Working or not. Busy bees we are.

Here was my non-typical day:

4:20 Arise to go work out. 60 min. of cardio (elliptical, pretty low key and I barely sweat...if I push too hard I get side cramps).

5:50-6:45 Get hair straightened, prep boys (with Jared's help), fix lunch (leftover burros, pico de gallo, an apple, container of cereal for my second breakfast, carrots and wheat thins), go downstairs.

6:49 Family prayer. "Armadura de Dios." Finally load up into car. DEAD BATTERY! That has never happened before.

7:00 After Jared's quick and resourceful jump, head to school.

7:15-3:45 A full day of teaching math, prepping for AIMS state test, after school tutoring of the failing jr. high kids (you can imagine how motivated they are to study with me after school), and head to Becky's to pick up Isaac from daycare.

3:50 Isaac has pink eye :( Pink, crusty, goopey eyelids. He wasn't there for 2 hours before she texted me saying that he had goop. It's like a "pitre" dish (as Gpa Lowe says) of breeding grounds for germs. I start stressing....thinking of scheduling an appt for him tomorrow and how to swing it with our jobs.

4:25pm Arrive home with my boys begging to eat, play video games, and Isaac screaming. I had TWO PIANO students that I had forgotten about!

4:30 As Isaac is screaming in Gpa Lowe's arms in the garage.... I gather myself to teach an hour of piano. Wesley and Austin are trying to eat an afternoon snack (Austin ends up melting down in tears b/c I won't let him eat chips). Man, I felt unprofessional. I felt bad for my students who had to hear my children screaming, and also as I tried to semi-direct in them in the path of getting ready for a baseball scrimmage.

4:55 In waltzes Jared from work. Hoo-ray! Save me from my kids so we can work at the piano! Hopefully the dad, who decided to stay and watch the lesson for his first time, isn't too dissapointed by the chaos.

5:28 The first piano students leave. I rush to throw some chicken into the microwave to defrost. Cut up some green beans....ding dong..my SECOND set of students (a make up lesson, which I had forgotten about until 4:30 and quickly called to push it back an hour). Throw my food at Grandpa Lowe and ask him to finish it...not quite sure what I was even making!

6:30 We end the lesson, and I anticipate my hubby and 3 boys (Isaac went to, "I go papa! I go!"). Finish prepping dinner. My legs are tired. I haven't peed since noon!

6:55 Dinner on table, plates on and tired family sits down. No FHE tonight.

7:30 Done with dinner, start the clean up. Jared takes boys upstairs for bed....an hour later they are still chit chatting about life questions. I start on the mopping and vacuuming.

9:00 Eyes are burning. Back achey. Side cramps. Floors clean and wet. Tired!!! More laundry to fold from Sunday...can't do it...too tired.

9:30 Lights out.

2:30am Jared peels him off of the "sticky" couch where he fell asleep watching tv. He is super awake at this point, which wakes me up while he is getting ready for bed and trying to fall back asleep. Keeps us up for another hour...and I am stressing all over again about that blasted pink eye...sigh. Up by 4:20 for another work out (b/c I do love them!)

Here we go again!

Update: 4/4/11

Isaac got strep throat. I took him in for what I thought was an ear infection to a pediatric office that was open 'til 7pm (thankfully). After waiting an hour in the small lobby, Dr. took us back. He checked out ears, they were fine. He touched his throat and Isaac then lunged for me and started crying. Tested positive. Poor baby.

That meant in one month he had two ear infections, pink eye and strep throat. It's hard being a working mommy when I can't protect him from germs, nor nurture and care for him while he is sick.

Potty training

Day #1

Madness. Impatient. Frustration. Upset. Irritable.....that was me.
Laughing. Crying. Screaming. Happy. Oblivious....that was Isaac.

I decided to start potty training over this 3 day weekend. This will be my only opportunity to do so before summer hits, when my prego belly will be very ripe and uncomfortable. I am not expecting Isaac to be potty trained while at the babysitter, so I thought I better step up to the CHALLENGE.

In the a.m. I let him run around naked. I followed him around everywhere he went, and got absolutely nothing accomplished. Luggage still unpacked, dirty dishes in the sink, you get the picture.

We had 0 % sucess on the toilet in the a.m. I went through feelings like, "Does he even understand what pee is? Is he too young? Why is he still content even though he peed all over himself."

Gave him lots of liquids; chocolate milk, Vitamin water, caprisun, cranberry juice and OJ. Snacked on chips and crackers to make him more thirsty.

Lots of crouching over the toilet. My belly was cramping and back was slumped over from sitting on the stool for so long. Let the water run to encourage pee. Reading books and singing songs over and over. His favorite is a giant Elmo book...which happens to match his Elmo potty seat.

I took it outside where he jumped naked on the trampoline, peed on it and kept on going. I took him immediately to the potty every time, but of course nothing would come out.

He was alone for less than one minute, scurried to my bathroom where he pooped all over my rug. That was frightening for him as he had it all over his legs, feet and hands. GROSS.

Naptime. Heavenly day. I did some house work, caught up on email and dreaded the afternoon.

I then tried the undies technique. Went through at least 9 pairs. He may have gone 2 x's in the toilet all day long.

Jared got home and gave me some relief, although his patience level for potty training definitely was not high after coming home from work. All I heard in the bathroom were crying, slapping and demands. Not a great environment to relax and let the pee flow!

Why am I doing this again? I know he's not too young b/c both Wesley were potty trained at 26 months, Austin at 23 months...and Isaac is 26 months.

Just need to be consistent, patient and enthusiastic.

We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Day #2

Morning pee successful!
Rest of the day...NOTHING. I just don't think Isaac gets it quite yet. We had him in undies and when he would wet himself, it wouldn't phase him at all..he'd watch the pee drip down his leg and soak into the ground.

We must've spent hours with him on the potty, or dropping his shorts by a nearby tree outside.

NOTHING.

Went to a cowboy wedding outside for the evening activity. Not an ideal place for a toddler in undies. He wet himself over and over and over...despite my efforts of taking him numerous times to the potty and encouraging him over and over and over. He'd sit on the potty for 20 seconds, then start crying to get down.

After the 3rd accident and a stranger came over to tell me my toddler had had an accident on the pavement, I gave up. Put the blasted diaper back on him.

Sorry folks. We'll have to try it again in two short months. I was looking forward to being diaper free for a bit! I need more than three days to get this thing going. It is going to take more exposure, more potty talk and more patience before I try again.

boy names

I am seeing a theme as we continue to come up with boy names...

In the beginning, we discussed (but couldn't agree on):

Simon
Tate
Levi
Johnny Ross

Now...we started talking about Marshall or just Ross. Both are clothing stores where I shop! LOL As I started looking around, I saw just how many boy names are stores: Michaels, David (Bridal), TJ Maxx, and even Jared (jewelry).

We still can't decide...

Bikini or not

We leave in just two days for our cruise to the Caribbean!!! I am MORE than ready to have a break from my work schedule, student, motherhood and anything else...

Question is...do I dare get the bikini wax or not? Appointment is made...but, I have been reading that it is MORE sensitive b/c the skin is so much thinner with more blood flow. Ugh. Plus, there can be so much bruising and sensitivity that perhaps I won't be able to wear even the swimsuit? Really? Is it worth it?

To be determined...I really want one...but, is it worth the risk? And pain? Not to mention embarrassing.

My list is being made of things to do:

change bed sheets (for grandma, Tia Dawn and primos who are staying at our house while gone)
take out the garbages
pack the essentials
wash, dry, fold, and put away 3 loads of laundry (we will have plenty of dirty clothing when we get back, I don't want to see full baskets when I get back!)
make sure Wrangler has his food bag outside
give myself a pedicure/manicure with hot pink nail polish :)
spray tan one last time (after bikini wax)
pack up Isaac for one week
cut my boys' fingernails!