Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Saturday Rob took me to my FIRST real baseball game. It was a million times better than watching it on TV. We were at the Kansas City Royals v. St. Louis Cardinals game. We were a little worried that the weather wouldn't cooperate, since they were calling for thunderstorms. But we lucked out and it was a clear beautiful day. I can't wait to go to my next game!

We recently returned from a wonderful trip to Seattle. We went to visit family...



and to attend the wedding of one of my favorite people: Kaela!



We had such a wonderful time. We were able to celebrate Ben's birthday (Rob's brother) as well as Mother's Day with the family.

On the days everyone was working we took advantage of the opportunity to see some of the city.

Here we are at the troll under the Aurora Bridge.


We also went to Pike Place Market and had some yummy seafood.


We explored the Discovery Center downtown where Deborah (Rob's sister) recommended to Rob that we go to the Star War's exhibit before it leaves town. I (naturally wanting to fit in) replied, "Great! I'm a huge Trekkie!" Obviously, I am the worst nerd EVER!




My favorite was the butterfly exhibit, where I even had one land on me (but flew away before we could get a photo op).



It was a wonderful time had by all!

It's all GREEK to me

In an attempt to experiment with and challenge my limited culinary abilities, and to try to incorporate some culture into our lives, we had a Greek night with friends! It was fabulous.


The Menu

greek salad
baklava
tzatziki
hummus
domatokeftethes



What is domatokeftethes? The most delish tomato fritters! While my mom and I were in Greece last summer we made an effort to try new food, and domatokeftethes was one of our favorites. I was so excited to come home and find out that my Mediterranean cookbook had a recipe for them! They are basically a fried tomato pancake flavored with scallions, parsley and mint. Though they are yummy, they are fried, so aren't the healthiest food around.



It was such a fun night!



What I was most excited about what my hummus that turned out EXCELLENT! Here is the recipe:

1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons tahini
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red paper (add more if you want it spicy)
4-6 tablespoons water, divided
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, optional

Combine chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper, and 3 tablespoons of the water in a food processor. Process until smooth. With processor running, pour in olive oil. Process until just combined. Add additional water by tablespoon until you reach the consistency you like.

Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. For optimal flavor, refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Right before serving, top with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped fresh parsley.

Recipe from Our Best Bites

Birthday Bliss

Not only was my birthday last week, but it was my FIRST birthday that Rob and I have EVER spent together since we've known one another. Last year he was in Iraq and the year before he was in Afghanistan. If you know me, you know that birthdays are the BEST! No holiday is better than YOUR birthday because it is all yours and (hopefully) you don't have to share it with anyone! In my family it is a day you can do whatever you want, you can be as spoiled as necessary (because when else do you have an excuse to do all this).

To celebrate, we went shopping (successfully) and went out to eat and came home and had my favorite - ICECREAM CAKE! But not just any icecream cake, Dairy Queen icecream cake, which if you've ever had, you'll share in my enthusiasm.



In coordination with my goal for this year, all the things I seem to want have to do with cooking. So I got a food processor which I quickly put to use making homemade hummus (recipe coming soon).



I also got a griddle, which I think Rob was more excited about than I was, since he got it right out and used it the next morning ;)



It was a great birthday and I enjoyed every minute of it!

A Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo

This week was spring break and instead of taking a huge vacation, Rob and I decided to take a little trip to Nauvoo! We had such a wonderful time. Though I lived in Illinois for a few years as a kid, it had been so long since I had been to Nauvoo, I wanted to go back and experience all the changes and see the temple. Rob had never been before.


It was the PERFECT time to go. The weather was pleasant and there was hardly anyone there! There was never any wait or lines and we were the only ones on most of the little tours.

It was great to see where both of our ancestors had lived and what life was like for them. Here are some of my ancestors on display at the visitors center!




The hands on stuff was extremely fun!



And now we have our own Nauvoo brick!



We even took the tour of the Joseph Smith Mansion house and Red Brick Store which is currently owned by the Community of Christ. As many times as I wanted go inside Joseph's home the million times I came to Nauvoo as a kid, and my parents never agreed to pay the tour fee, they were wise in their decision. Unfortunately it was not worth it, and was somewhat of a disappointment compared to the rest of Nauvoo. We decided it didn't have the same spirit as the rest of the Nauvoo stuff owned by the LDS church - but my harsh judgments are a result of my extreme bias.



We enjoyed seeing Carthage Jail.



But our favorite part of the trip was the Nauvoo Temple. It is even more beautiful inside than it is on the outside. And really, is there anything better than being in the temple with the one you love in a place that has so much historical significance to not only your faith but also your ancestry?



We had such a wonderful time and can't wait for our next mini-adventure!

Home at Last

Rob is finally home. He came home Saturday morning, March 12.

For those of you who have never experienced a redeployment ceremony, here is what happens. First, they change the time of their arrival a million times the week they are to come home. The final change occurred the night before Rob came home. Then they gather all the families in this big room with bleachers. Meanwhile, the soldiers are all at another location on post in-processing and stuff.


Then we wait and wait and wait...



And then they announce the arrival of the soldiers and they all start running in!







Then there is a prayer, a few people speak for a couple minutes. And then finally, the soldiers are dismissed and can join their families.



We left right away and came home! Together at last!

Saudi Hospitality

Project for my Curriculum Development class: "Interview one or two people who are involved with curriculum planning or decision making." Then I have to analyze the interview and write a 15 page paper. BORING!

Except, the people I chose to interview are anything but boring.

Mr. and Mrs. Saudi Arabia (their real names are confidential). Mrs. Saudi Arabia is in one of my on-line classes and was more than willing to let me interview her (she has a background in education and administration in her home country).

Today was the interview and the moment I walked in the tiny apartment, I felt as if I were in a foreign country. Beautiful Arabian rugs, burning incense, Arabic calligraphy from the Qur'an on the walls, Arabian decor - it was BEAUTIFUL! I wish I had a picture.



She and her husband were the most generous hosts. Here I was asking THEM a favor and they were treating me like a princess! They served me herbal tea from Saudi Arabia, dates (which I never liked until today), and a delicious variety of Baklava (my absolute favorite dessert ever!) and sent me home with a plate full!

Learning about their culture and education system was also a treat in itself. I was thoroughly impressed and wish I had more opportunities to absorb other cultures here in Kansas. Ma'a as-salaamah!

Yee-Haw!

I don't consider myself very small town but I sure do love a rodeo!



This past weekend I attended the Kansas State University Rodeo! It was a blast! The events were entertaining, the competition exciting and the company of friends enjoyable! Can't wait to go to another one. Yeehaw!

Comfort Food

Do you have a favorite dish that you remember from your childhood? I do, mine is Spaghetti alla Carbonara. It is my father's specialty. I always asked for it on my birthday and my dad would always make it for me when I came home for college breaks. Since I rarely go home anymore I decided to learn how to make it myself. I made it for a special dinner when Rob was home for R&R and it turned out fabulous!


I even served it on the fancy dishes we got at our wedding. It was my first time using them, I was saving them for a 'special occasion' but have now decided that every day is a special occasion and that I will use them whenever I feel so inclined!

Here's the recipe:

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

10 oz pancetta (I use more)
1 hot red chili pepper finely chopped or ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (I use crushed red pepper and add about double the amount, since I like it with a bit more spice)
1 ¼ pound (600 g) of spaghetti
6 TBS grated pecorino or parmesan cheese (I use parmesan and add an extra TBS or more)
6 egg yolks
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 TBS freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. combine the pancetta and chili pepper in a skillet and cook over low heat until some of the fat has melted. Increase the heat and cook until the pancetta browns.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup water. Transfer to a serving dish.
3. Mix the pecorino (or parmesan) cheese with the reserved spaghetti cooking water. Slowly mix in the egg yolks with a fork, then add a little salt and plenty of pepper. Tip the contents of the skillet over the spaghetti. Add the egg mixture and toss well. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve immediately.




Buon Appetito!

the NEW me!

So it is a brand new year and with it comes a fresh start. Each year I always try to write new resolutions - though my consistency with my goals lasts till about...March?? This year two of my goals are to (a) stay dedicated with Weight Watchers and (b) learn how to cook. And by cook I mean try new recipes and experiment, none of my usual heating up a frozen spaghetti dinner and adding spinach and putting it on a nicer plate to make me feel better.

I thought if I occasionally blog about my progress I will stick with it longer than 3 months, and I'll stay on track to becoming a new me with a few new talents.

So after some blog hopping I came across a great blog that has some yummy looking recipes.

So I made Pico de Gallo and Chicken Taquitos. Both turned out delicious especially the taquitos. The best part is they are baked instead of fried so it made them a bit healthier. I tweaked both recipes a bit. I didn't add jalapenos to the Pico de Gallo. For the Taquitos I used fat free cream cheese and fat free cheese instead of regular. I also didn't have onion powder so I just added diced onions to the filling. I used both whole wheat and corn tortillas.



Over all it all turned out well. I added a side of black beans and made a little salad with the Pico and had a fabulous dinner. And best of all it was overall low in weight watchers points - 11 points for everything on the plate. (Each taquito is 4 points, based on the new WW points plus values). Go ahead try them yourself, if I can do it, YOU can do it.

MUST ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END?

It seems so today. This morning, before the sun was even up, I dropped Rob off at the airport so he could return to Iraq. He is 10 months into his deployment so the remaining 2 months should fly by fast (hopefully).


Rob and I have been married 18 months and we've been apart for the past 10 months - the short time together hardly gave us the time to get adjusted to being married. In fact I've gotten quite used to living alone and haven't really minded it, that is, until Rob came back and I remembered how wonderful it is to live with your spouse, to come home and have someone to talk to instead of listening to silence, how fabulous it is to be taken care of instead of taking care of everything alone, and to live every day with the person you love. The past two weeks of bliss have made it harder to say goodbye the second time around.


But the holidays were amazing. We spent a few days at home in Kansas, had an early Christmas, and enjoyed time together...


Then we went to Utah and were able to spend time with family. His parents came in from Seattle and mine came in from South Carolina and we spent time with both sides...
Rob and I with our parents


Rob and I with his grandparents

We also got some quality snowboarding time in...


But alas, the holidays ended and it was time to get back to reality. Rob is back in Iraq and I'm back to normal life. But now the count down begins...less than 60 days!!!

Why I do what I do

If I could share all the stories of crazy things that go on in our classroom no one would believe me. Most days are crazy, but for 45 minutes a day I enjoy the pleasure of working with a 6th grade Aspergers student who isn't in our classroom, but needs a little extra help on schoolwork. He is the HIGHLIGHT of my day, and he LOVES LOVES LOVES me. See for yourself.





this is the truck-house that we will live in together (I had to remind him to include Rob). Not too bad; good natural light, antennas for radio/tv reception...I'll take it!



This is why I love teaching!!!

I'm thankful for...

Juvenal?

You mean Juvenal the Roman satirist who was published in AD 112?

YES!

I know it is odd, isn't it? Here's the deal - so far this semester, I've had to read quite a few books. More than I can count on my fingers. Unfortunately because of all the required reading, I've not been able to participate in our ward's Book Club, since I don't have the time for pleasure reading - and I don't consider any of my required reading pleasurable. That is, until I read Juvenal.



Reading The Satires was so entertaining that many times I laughed out loud. He makes fun of every part of Roman society and culture. In Satire 6: Roman Wives (by far my favorite) in addition to complaining about the lack of morals among Roman men and especially women, he's trying to talk his friend out of getting married:

"Don't you think it better to sleep with a little boy-friend? A boy-friend doesn't argue all night or ask you for presents as he lies beside you, or complain that you are not giving a hundred percent...She rails at his slave-boys or invents a mistress to weep about. Floods of tears are always at hand; they stand at the ready, within the reservoir, waiting to hear the word of command; then they flow as she tells them. You, poor worm, are delighted, complacently thinking it's love. You set about drying her tears with your lips, little aware of what you'd find in her letters if you ever unlocked the desk of that whore who pretends to be jealous." Man, he's harsh.

Apparently even women then had the tendency to gossip:

"That kind of woman knows what's happening throughout the world- what Thrace and China are up to, what secrets a stepmother shares with the son, and who's in love, and for whom the ladies are scrambling. She will tell you who made the widow pregnant, and in which month; with what endearments each woman makes love, and in what positions...she snaps up the latest rumours and tales at the city gate, and fabricates others...that's what she tells to whoever she meets at every corner."

Here's a few more of my favorite lines:

"If you want the truth, it isn't a wife he loves, but a face. Just let a couple of wrinkles appear, let her skin become dry and start to sag, let her teeth turn black and her eyes go puffy - 'Pack your bags' a freedman will cry, 'and be on your way. You get on our nerves, forever blowing your nose; hurry up and be off; your successor is someone without a perpetual sniffle.'"

"If you don't intend to love the woman who was your betrothed and is now your lawfully wedded wife, why marry at all? Why waste money on a meal?"

"As long as her mother's alive, harmony is not to be hoped for."

Satire 9: The Woes of a Gigolo and Satire 10: The Futility of Aspirations are my other favorites. It is very easy to adapt the ways he scorns immorality to our current day. There are a lot of truths to what he says.



So yes, this Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for the unexpected entertainment I enjoyed while doing my homework.

education complaints

I know today is Veteran's Day, so I will honor my veteran by saying, "I love you Rob!" and posting a few pictures.

my soldier


Iraq 2010



But my main purpose of this post is to release some anger and frustration over something I just read in the news. I found this article on Foxnews.com . The title of the article is "Father Sues District Over Reading About Slavery" and tells how a father of a 5th grade African American student is suing the district (for $50,000) because the reading contained racial epithets and racist characterizations. The prosecution claims the reading "affected the conditions of learning duties and the advantages of her further education, and seriously affected her mental and emotional well-being, past, present and future."

First of all, I commend the teacher for incorporating multiculturalism into curriculum by dedicating a unit that celebrates Black History Month. Way to go!

Second, I am SICK and TIRED of hearing in the news that people keep suing school districts. When did schools become the scapegoat for all the problems in the world; for students not learning how to treat one another kindly (bullying), for emotional and behavior issues, for making children to eat crap and getting fat, and for not 'properly' educating youth. Let me remind people that we live in a country where we are blessed with FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION for all. FREE! What a blessing that our education is accessible to so many. Now if there are problems with that education system please let me also remind you that CUTTING education budgets will not help anything. We just had elections, was educational policy a consideration in who you voted for?

Lastly, and more importantly - what happened to family responsibility? Aren't parents supposed to ensure their child is eating a healthy diet (I understand there is much poverty and some students don't have access to that at home). So who is really to blame for your kid being a fatty? Also, aren't parents supposed to teach their kids the golden rule? AND be an example of kindness to others? When did that responsibility transfer to schools? Like I said before, school here is free, so if you think your child's school is doing a poor job, you have a few options: private school or home school. If you don't like how we're doing it, do it your self or pay someone to do it for you. Don't SUE the school district, that's a little counterproductive don't you think?

That being said...

after a long rough day yesterday and today, I decided to take a mental health break from my Thursday night class. Even though the class is 2 1/2 hours long, doesn't get out till 9:30, is with a professor who simply reads his power points and I've rarely ever taken notes in his class (affirming to me that attending is pointless), even with all those considerations...I feel sick and horribly guilty for skipping it.

Heart Attack!

Today was an exceptionally long (but good) day. I left for work at 6:50 - got off work at 3:40 - met with advisor at 4:20 - class at 5:30 - dinner on campus/homework starting at 7 - Birthday dessert with wonderful friends at 8:30 - finally get home at 10:30 and what is waiting for me?? A surprise on my front door!






Muchos Gracias! It made my whole night!