Out of the Mouths of Babes

One of the things I love about teaching preschool are the hilarious things kids say to me on a daily basis. Today my co-teacher and I started laughing so hard we almost couldn't regain control in order to teach the class!

Here are two of today's gems:

1. We were talking about thinking hard and wearing your "thinking cap" and one little girl said, "My thinking cap is in the wash today!" Adorable.

2. We were discussing why shouting out in class (as opposed to raising your hand) is rude. A boy raised his hand (he got the message!) and said, " My mom says it's rude when my dad puts his hand down his pants. " We didn't quite know what to say to that one! Priceless.

Comments like that make me afraid to send Addyson to school one day. Parents, beware!

Splendid Tuesdays

Tuesday is, without a doubt, my favorite day of the week. Why, you ask?

1. I don't have to work. (I teach preschool on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.)

2. Brandon is at work all day (he's off on my other free weekday, Thursdays). It's not that I don't like having him home, but I enjoy my alone time when I can do what I want to do and he's not busting my groove!

3. Tuesday is my day to be productive and get things done. I usually reserve cleaning, laundry and errands for Tuesday. (Am I the only one who just likes to be home and do stuff around the house?)

Here's what a typical Tuesday is like for me. I usually get up and go to the gym before Brandon leaves for work. (Today: check!) I love being at the gym from 7:30-8:30 because hardly anyone is there. I come home, get Addyson up and fed, and get showered. I try to spend the morning cleaning and tackling my to do list, with a little blog reading and tv watching in between. When Addyson goes down for her afternoon nap, I usually write my lesson plans for the following week. I try to cook a decent meal for dinner. My reward at the end of the day: watching Biggest Loser and American Idol.

Having the whole day to myself feels like a luxury since I started working part-time. I love my Tuesdays! Now, off to wash my sheets.

What is your favorite day of the week?

To Die For...

I found the most amazing recipe recently for "Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips." It is SOOO delicious. I have made it twice and gotten rave reviews both times. It is the perfect Spring appetizer, dessert, or snack...and it's pretty good for you! You must try it. (The name "salsa" is somewhat misleading because there is no spice in it at all. It is all sweetness from the fruit, and is totally scrumdittilyumptious.)

2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
8 ounces raspberries (I substitute frozen peaches that have been thawed)
1 pound strawberries
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor ( I use apricot preserves)

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
butter flavored cooking spray
2 cups cinnamon sugar

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

Sister, Sister

Last weekend my little (20 year old) sister Roxy flew to Boise for a visit. I was so happy that she would spend her own money and time off of work and school to come see us! (She works for the US Postal Service, but no, she doesn't handle mail. )




We went out to eat at Goldy's, known for having the best breakfast in town.





We pampered ourselves with pedicures.






We nodded and smiled at all the right times when the Asian women at the nail salon said things to us that we didn't understand. (Does anyone else have this problem?)


I chose purple polish; she chose a lovely shade of green. (This will come in handy for St. Patrick's Day! )





We went shopping at Target and at the mall. We even saw the Weinermobile and had to document the occasion. (My bologna has a first name....)






I know you're singing the song in your head right now. Admit it! You are, aren't you?



We rented a movie (Nights in Rodanthe-I didn't love it), and we went to a movie (Confessions of a Shopaholic-it was cute, but it was late and I kept falling asleep). I'm not used to keeping single, 20-year-old hours!


We dined at Cheesecake Factory, we cooked dinner, and Roxy discovered that Addyson's hair is long enough to be worn in a ponytail! Who knew?





To follow tradition, we even got our photo taken in a booth at the mall.





Sadly, this was the best of the shots. Addy wasn't quite sure what all the flashing lights were about!


It was so great to spend time with my sister. She is so much fun and always make me laugh.

After Roxy left, I started discovering cute little notes hidden all over my house. I found this one in the laundry detergent box yesterday!






Just don't tell my brother.

The Great Houdini

Addyson is now 16 months old! I haven't blogged about her for a while, so here goes...


She started walking the week after her first birthday.


She adores books and loves to be read to.



She's as cute as a bug's ear.


She loves the bath and will splash and play as long as I will let her!


My dad has nicknamed her "Houdini" because she can climb onto or out of anything. Here she is on one of many daily climbs atop the kitchen table.



She is very good at standing up and turning around in the shopping cart, even with the strap in place.

She has several molars.

She says many words, including "dog," "light," "milk," "hi," "sock," and "shoe."

She still loves her binky.

She loves making interesting noises with her tongue.

She is great at giving hugs, kisses, and waving goodbye.

Her favorite pasttime is dragging the dirty laundry out of the hamper and all over the house. ( I love this one!)

She also likes to take off her socks and put them on her hands.

Playing with my cell phone is another favorite activity and she calls Grandma (on speed dial) several times each day.

I can't wait to see what she will learn next!

29 More Things

Because I came into the world 29 years ago today, here are 29 more things about me ( to add to my 100).

1. I have become a passionate recycler and cringe when I see plastic in the garbage can.

2. I check to make sure I unplugged my flat iron about 3 times every morning.

3. I've become a total germophobe since becoming a mother. I carry hand sanitizer and use it frequently. I disinfect shopping cart handles before placing Addyson in the cart. It still drives me crazy to see her touching the handle.

4. I love having a clean house but am not so good at keeping it clean.

5. I especially neglect my bedroom.

6. I believe that televisions do not belong in bedrooms.

7. I bear my testimony in my head every Fast Sunday in case I decide to stand up and actually say it publicly (this does not happen very often).

8. I want to be more brave about sharing my testimony.

9. I love spicy food and sometimes overdo it when I cook.

10. I haven't had any caffeinated drinks since I got married. I can't say I don't miss them.

11. I pretty much only drink water, but I enjoy an occasional Fresca.

12. I will have been married 9 years in June. How crazy is that?

13. Patience is not my best quality.

14. I want to be a more patient person, especially with my family.

15. My favorite breakfast is a toasted English muffin spread with peanut butter and topped with sliced banana, with a glass of skim milk.

16. I always have books checked out from the library, and some books requested that I'm waiting for.

17. I love Frank Sinatra's music... especially on the back patio, in the summer.

18. I love any food I can dip. The best ones are chips and salsa, chips and guacamole, pita chips and hummus, and apples into peanut butter.

19. I will eat peanut butter on anything.

20. I am an adventurous eater, and love trying new exotic foods.

21. It's kind of sad how many of these items are about food.

22. I enjoy camping, especially chatting around a campfire.

23. Hiking is one of my favorite things.

24. My nickname as a toddler was "Tooties." I don't know why.

25. On my first grade report card, my teacher wrote, "Nikole is very conscientious about her work." I'm still proud of that. (Thanks, Mrs. Bondiett!)

26. I walked to and from school every day I was in elementary school, even in the dead of winter. The school was a good 1.5 miles away.

27. I feel extremely blessed and am very grateful for what I have.

28. I feel the same inside as I did as a teenager, only now I have a home, a husband and a daughter.

29. I wish I was still young and carefree, and I can't believe how fast life has flown by!

Nothing Says Love Like a Knife

We had a low key, but great Valentine's Day weekend. Have I mentioned Brooke and Holly on this blog? Brooke was Brandon's neighbor and best friend growing up-and their parents have always been good friends. After they got married, Brooke and Holly moved to Ohio so we haven't really seen or heard from them in 9 years until they moved to Meridian in October. It has been so great having them here; they are practically like family and we do alot of things together. Anyway, Holly and I decided to plan a romantic meal for Brandon and Brooke that we had a few days before Valentine's Day.



Brooke and Holly

The four of us had chicken tortellini bake, a yummy winter salad, garlic bread, English Trifle for dessert and even sparkling cider! It was fun to eat by candlelight and use a tablecloth like grownups.






Unfortunately, not all of us acted like one.



That's Brandon nose peeking out of the side!



On Valentine's Day, we went to a Fondue Party given by our friends Stoney and Emilee. I made Cheddar-Bacon Fondue to dip bread and veggies in, and we had a chocolate fondue for fruit, pretzels, cake and marshmallows. Fondue is fantastically fancy fru-fru fun. (How's that for alliteration?) Not to mention extremely delicious and romantic.





Brandon's gift from me was a large batch of his much beloved favorite cookie, Soft Gingersnaps. I surprised him by leaving a basket of goodness in his car at work.




He surprised me with some roses, a new banana hanger (how's that for random?), and some fancy chef's knives! I was thrilled about these because I have had the dullest knives imaginable for years. (Might this be related to the fact that on more than one occasion I have caught Brandon pruning bushes with them in the yard?) Anyway, it was a very thoughtful gift because I mentioned to him in passing a few months ago that I really just wanted one or two good quality, sharp chef's knives for cooking and that I didn't need a whole butcher block. He remembered this and delivered on it like the good husband that he is.



I must say that cutting up sweet potatoes tonight for dinner was very exciting (and much easier than it used to be.) And Brandon, repeat after me: I will not use the knives for hunting, yard work or working in the garage. On second thought, just leave them alone and leave the slicing and dicing to me.