Valentine's Day

So, this year for Valentine's Day, we decided to go out to dinner and call it good. We went to the Center Street Bistro... on Center Street of course... We'd never been there but it looked like a pretty swanky place so we thought we would try it. We were pretty happy with our choice. There was a fun live band, and an endless dessert bar, so that can't really ever be a bad thing... We had a good time, and we will have to go back sometime! May we recommend the fresh pita and red pepper hummus. Sounds kinda weird and random, but it was soooo tasty. Try it, you will see what I mean. 

 

My first practicum

  So, this semester is getting crazy busy and we are all looking forward to our last practicum in the Wasatch/Urban cohort! I know that I'm at Old Mill Elementary in Heber, 3rd grade. I'm so excited for a new classroom and new experiences! It got me thinking about my last classroom. I miss Mrs. Kerr's first grade class! They were such sweet little kids. We loved getting to know them and learning from them. It is crazy to think that it was all so long ago... it seems like just yesterday we driving to Midway for our first day in the practicum absolutely terrified with no idea what to expect.
  I thought I'd share some of my experiences with you from the last practicum. I had an amazing experience that I will never forget. I learned lessons that were invaluable to me as a future teacher. I was assigned to Mrs. Kerr's first grade classroom. She is a sweet older lady who has been teaching for 27 years--needless to say, she knows her stuff. As soon as I walked into the classroom, I knew I was in the right place... everything was  Mickey Mouse/Disney themed! Its like she knew I was coming... : )
Here is my partner, Kilee, Mrs. Kerr and I.

Our little class was so excited and curious about us when we walked in. They knew we were from BYU, so they thought we were ancient... haha. To me, it feels like I am way to young to be teaching these kids... but to them, I may as well be a grandma for all they are concerned. They loved learning about us and we loved getting to know them. I was so impressed by how well-behaved the students were- Mrs. Kerr is a master at classroom management. I learned a lot of great tips and tricks for keeping the class engaged and under control.
  One of the best things I learned from Mrs. Kerr's class is how to effectively implement guided reading in the classroom. She was a genius! Even though we did it every day and it got really old, I loved my little reading group! They were smarties! It helped me gain confidence in my ability to teach.
   Thanks to Mrs. Kerr and all her help and love! She showed us what an amazing teacher can look like, even without a bunch of pizazz and flash in the lessons. She was so fun to watch with the kids. It was just like teaching was her second nature, like she didn't even have to think about what she was doing, even when she has a reason for each thing she does. It came so easily for her, and I hope that someday teaching will be like that for me.
  Here is my cute little class and teacher! I miss them so much... I can't wait to take a trip back up to Midway to visit.

I wish I had a better picture, the color is kinda weird on this one. Here are some group shots of most of the kids.

Table 1! Cambree, Anna, and Ethan. Ethan was in my reading group, and Anna was my special helper for my literacy assignment. 

 

Table 2: Diego- he was the new student, we only knew him for a few days. The class was so excited he was coming! Then Madelyn, Marcus, (who is the sweetest and kindest little boy I've ever known, Halee (who has a twin, Chett) and Jackson, who as you can see is full of energy! :)

Table 3! Chett (Halee's twin) Scarlett, Yumna, Lucy Anne, and Carter- our GT kid. He was a little genius!

Table 4 (probably my favorite table... shhh... don't tell!) Bottom Row: Lucy Belle, Bella Sue (in my reading group.) Top: Brooklyn (also in my group), Austin, Edith, and Drake.

This little guy is named Danny... he snuck back into class after pictures. I love this kid! He made me laugh every day. 

I love these kids! Just looking at these pictures is making me miss them and want to go back to their class and be with them again. 

I can't wait for the new adventures coming up in March in my new classroom!

Hockey Happenings

    As part of Ethan's birthday I got him tickets to the Grizzlies game. Ethan loves to watch and play hockey so this was definitely something fun for us to do together. Who doesn't love watching a hockey game surrounded by crazy drunk people yelling at all the players and coaches? Probably some of the best people watching happening here....

It may seem like there was no one around us... because its mostly true...

 

Ethan also plays hockey at the ice rink in Provo. I don't always make it to his games because they are usually late at night, but here are some pictures from his last game. He's hard to see, but he's the one in the blue jersey with a white half-jersey on top. 

Go Ice Holes! :)

Wisconsin Cauliflower Cheese Soup

I am so hungry right now...

Also, its cold outside, and its totally soup time. When I want soup, I crave one of my favorites from Zupas- Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup. 

It sounds weird but it is sooooo good. Its a little like broccoli cheese soup, but a bit spicier and just overall more delicious. I found this recipe at this website:  http://www.thecoterieblog.com/2009/10/wisconsin-cauliflower-soup.html

 Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup
Yields: 9 cups or 8 first-course servings (or 4-5 hungry adults :)

2 tablespoons margarine or butter (1/4 stick)
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 can (13 3/4 to 14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 head (2 1/2 pounds) cauliflower, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup pepper jack cheese

In 4-quart saucepan, melt margarine or butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until golden, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and salt; cook 2minutes, stirring frequently. Gradually stir in milk, chicken broth, and 1 1/2 cups water; add cauliflower and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 10 minutes. In blender (with center part of blender cover removed to allow steam to escape), blend cauliflower mixture at low speed in small batches until very smooth. Return cauliflower mixture to saucepan; heat over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in mustard and 1 1/2 cups cheese until melted and smooth. Garnish soup with remaining cheese to serve.

Enjoy! (and try not to get addicted...)

Ethan's Birthday

Ethan's birthday was a big one this year... he turned 30! For such a big birthday, we had to have an awesome celebration. My family came down to Provo on his birthday and we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. After, we came back and ate some cake and ice cream. I made a funfetti cake from scratch... I found the recipe here: http://www.thekitchn.com/cake-recipe-funfetti-cake-from-147011 

It was quite delicious, even if mine didn't turn out to be as pretty as the picture. Here was my result:

Its not so bad... just a little lopsided.

 

 Feel free to ignore the missing picture on the wall. I should probably hang that up again...

 

That Saturday, we went to Tucanos with Amber, Clint and family. Who doesn't love Tucanos? 

Those crazy kids... :)

Thanks to everyone for making Ethan's birthday special!

We are so glad to have family close by, and we wish we could have seen all of the family this week.

Here we go...

   I always told myself I'd never start a blog. Ever. I was not the blogging type. But, I decided to give in because in my Literacy class, we have an assignment to keep a blog or journal of some sort. So, here I go. I figured I can at least up some kind of scrapbook type thing. Maybe I'll be glad I did it someday.
   As I started this blog, I kept thinking about how I really have nothing exciting to post. Our lives are pretty much the same from day to day. We just go to school and work and then hang out together at night. We make dinner, we go to bed. Maybe this blog will be something of an inspiration to me--maybe I can find some kind of hobby, or something that I can do that might be of some interest to someone.Anyway, I'm excited to have a place to get my thoughts out, even if I'm the only one who will read them.

So, here it is. Enjoy.