Working mom

Today I am linking up with Kelly's Korner.  Subject:  Working moms!  I fit that well.  Not only do I work outside the home daily, I hold another full time job at home.  The home job is the best one I have had so far..."V's" mommy. 
I have been teaching for 14 years now.  I taught one year of first grade and the rest have been in Pre-K.  I never wanted to teach real little ones.  But, I guess God had other plans.  I got in there and realized it was exactly where I need to be.   Not everyone would love to do this job, but I do love it and I love how we have changed over the years.  I now teach a full inclusion class with a special ed teacher.  2 teachers 2 aides and about 20 kids. 
If I had the luxury of staying home with her, I would.  We had to pay so much to get her that I basically will be working for a long time!!
My day starts at about 4:45 AM.  I get up, take a shower, get ready for work, and then get lunches ready for the day.  By 5:45, I sit down to catch some news on the TV and eat a little breakfast.
At 6AM, I wake "V" up and get her dressed and ready for the day.  By 6:30, we head out for me to drive to big E and drop "V" off at my mom and dad's house.   I am at school by 7:15 or so and from there my day starts at school.  I leave by 3:45 PM and head on over to pick her up.  We come home to get dinner started and some housework done.  Dinner about 5:30 PM and then off to take a bath.  We play and listen to music until about 7PM.  This is read book and wind down time.  By 7:30...off to bed.
Now it is time to play catch up.  Time for all the chores and then try to find some down time for me.
If Artie comes home at a normal time, I am in bed about 9:30 or 10.  If he works late, I am in bed about 9PM. 
Each day seems longer and longer...but never enough time in the day to get it all done.  I thank God that I have a job I do love...inside and outside the home.

pinterest findings and recipies tried and LOVE!

Been spending some time on pinterest lately to find some recipes for us to eat that are different or maybe a new version on an old one.  Thought I would share some with you and try them out for yourself.  I will either post the recipe on here or the link for you to find the blog it came from.  Either way...yummy times ahead!

Broccoli, potato, and cheese soup
I got this recipe from "Gina's Skinny Recipes (you can find her site on the "blog list" to the left of my blog under "V's" pictures"

Broccoli, potato and cheese soup (WW friendly)

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1-1/4 cups • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 7 pts

Calories: 281.6 • Fat: 8.0 g • Carb: 33.0 g • Fiber: 5.0 g • Protein: 20.4 g
Ingredients:
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 1/2 cups fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
• 1 cup fat free milk
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced small
• salt and fresh pepper
• 4 cups (about 2 heads) broccoli florets, chopped into small pieces
 1-1/2 cups 2% shredded sharp cheddar
• 2 slices 2% American cheese
• 1 tbsp parmesan cheese
Directions:
Chop onion, carrot, celery, garlic in a chopper or mini food processor .
In a large soup pot, melt butter. Add chopped vegetables and sauté on low heat until soft, about 5 minutes.
Add flour, salt and pepper to the pot and stir until smooth.
Add chicken broth, milk and potatoes and set heat to high until it comes to a boil, then cover and cook on low until potatoes are soft, about 10-15 minutes.
Add broccoli florets, parmesan cheese, and stir well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Cook uncovered until broccoli is cooked, about 5 minutes. Add cheddar and American cheese, stir well and remove from heat.
Using an immersion blender , quickly blend part of the soup for a quick second or two. If you don't have an immersion blender, remove about 1-2 cups of potatoes and broccoli, place it in your chopper, then add it back to the soup. This helps thicken

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
This is to die for!  If you are needing a comfort food for the night...this one will hit the spot! (click on the name and the link will come up)

Cream Cheese Pound Cake
This cake is not to be taken lightly.  I made this for school one day and it was a hit.  It is wonderful...but not light on the calories.  May be best to take this to somone so you don't have to eat it all yourself!  Also, it takes a while to cook...keep that in mind!

3 sticks butter
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream butter. Add 1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese and 3 cups of sugar. Continue to cream mixture. Add 6 eggs, one at a time. Sift 2 teaspoons baking powder and 3 cups of flour and a pinch of salt. Add to creamed mixture. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Flour and grease Bundt pan. Bake at 300°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

New Frontier Casserole
This is from my grandmother...she made this a lot when I was growing up.

1 pound ground meat
1 or 2 onions
1 bell pepper
1/2 pound cheese
1 can cream style corn
16 oz package of noodles
1 cup tomato soup
chili powder to taste
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can pimentoes
cook onions, peppers and meat in skillet until tender, not brown, cook noodles in salt water, drain mix all together. Bake in oven until bubbling. Put cheese on top.


Well, I hope to put more up when I have time.  Hope you try any or all of these.  They are all great!

iphone pics catch up

I usually take pics with my iphone when it is handy, so here are some that haven't made it out of my phone yet.  Little bit is 19 months now.  Before we know it, we will be planning a birthday party ;-( 

This is "V" before mother's day out this week.  I had sports day at my school, so I dressed "V" up in her sweet dress that Uncle Eric got her for Christmas.  I am not an aggie fan, but like Eric said....maroon may just be her color.

To celebrate Martin Luther King's b-day, we headed to San Antonio to see cousins and uncle Eric.  We had lunch at the best little place in Boerne called "Dog and Pony"  YUM!  It was a great sports bar and they had great food!

Sweet baby girl loves her baby dolls!

Who actually looks at this blog

I found some page on this blog site that tells me different places around the world and that they follow or have looked at my blog.  If you are not my family, friends, or people who have let me know you follow my blog...I would love to see who all is out there.  Especially those not from the US.  Thanks!  Since I don't get too many comments on here, it is hard to know who sees this or not.

Growing up so fast

At nearly 19 months, Miss "V" loves so many things.  This lady right here is one of her big loves.  My mom spends her days reading, feeding, and playing with my little one.  I am so glad she is such a great MiMi.

Music is also such a great love of hers.  Maybe she will be the next Taylor Swift!

Another love is trying on clothes.  She has lately been cleaning out all her drawers and bringing them into the living room.

The other night, I asked "V" if she was ready to eat supper.  She politely said no. She just wanted to sit on the couch with her babies and watch the news. 

"V" is getting really good at feeding herself.  She is becoming a pro.

MDO day.  I tried to do something different with her hair,but it didn't last very long.  But, I LOVE how the look looks. 

What a ham!

She can not get enough of my iphone. 

These are a few of my favorite things

There are SO many things that I have used since "V" has been born that I have loved!  Thought I would dedicate one post to them.  These make WONDERFUL gifts for new mother's if you are looking.

Boogie wipes

I LOVE boogie wipes.  They are wipes for the nose that have saline in them to make sure your little one does not get a chapped nose from having to wipe it all day long!

The Tiny Diner

The tiny diner is a portable place mat that I use every time we go out to eat.  It is easy to store and easy to clean.  "V" tries to mess with it a little bit, but it is better than either having a plate hit the floor from her throwing it (which WILL happen) or her eating off the table (YUCK GERMS!).

Wet Ones

Ahhhh, the good old standby.  I love that these now come in individual packs that stay in my diaper bag. 

Cart cover

I use this cart cover that I got from Babies R Us at least once a week.  It fits ALL shopping carts...big and small.  I have one that I got from Wal-Mart, but it does not cover everything and I am not as impressed with that one.  I use it when this one is being washed!  Wonderful gift for someone.

Diaper changer

This diaper changer has been my number companion on many diaper changes away from home.  What I love the best is it is round on the sides.  All babies move around while you change those diaper and this keeps them from getting off the mat.  I saw a stay at home mom a long time ago that got fed up with her kid getting off the changing table mat that was a rectangle.  She made hers round and I have never forgot about that.  Number one reason I got this.

Sound machine

 

This is a selfish love.  Since it is on in "V's" room, I get to hear it in her monitor.  So, when I go to bed I get to hear it as well!  Thank you Lindsey for this gift of wonderful sleep for all! 

Dirty diaper bags

This one speaks for itself!

Take and toss sippy cups

They are called take and toss, but I never toss.  These are used daily in our house for milk and water.  They do spill if turned upside down, but "V" loves them and they are easy to clean and only have a bottom and lid.

Thermometer

This has been a purchase of mine within the past 3 months.  I love this thermometer because it is QUICK!  I am an old school momma that takes the temp. "down under".  I need the accurate temp at all times.  It takes no time at all for it to say "green, yellow, or red". 

Dr. Smith's ointment

I love this ointment.  I use Desitn also, but this seems to work very well for "V".

Bag balm

This is also used for diaper rashes.  LOVE!

Well, those are just a few of the "I refuse to live without" items.  If I remember more, I will have to make another post.  Are there some things that you just couldn't live without??  Would love to hear what they are!

18 months old

Well, I am now 18 monts old.

I weigh 27 lbs and am 32 1/2 inches long. 

I wear 18-2T clothes and just started wearing a 5 diaper.  I wear a 4-5 shoe (depending on what it is)

I can now say 82 words and use them often!

I love to color, sing, dance, and play outside.  I have started going to the park and swinging at the park is my favorite.  I do like the slide, but I am still a little leary of it.  I like to dress myself and pick out my shoes.  I can put on my own socks and shoes and practice taking them off while in the car riding to and from.  I enjoy eating just about everything and try new things all the time.  Still love broccoli, black eyed peas, any type of meat, and most of all green beans.  I still don't drink any juice.  Mommy said it is just extra sugar and I love water too much anyway.  Still drink whole milk 3 times a day. I love playing with my cousins and they think I am lots of fun also.  Being the only girl has its advantages.  I stil love stangers and say HI to everyone I meet.  I am not much on shopping, but if you give me a job while shopping, I am all over it.  I have great gross motor skills and can run really fast. Mommy and Daddy call me "tator tot" because they say I look like a little tator tot when I am running.  I got tubes not too long ago and now I am feeling really good.  No sickness for me!!  I am really funny and crack myself up.  I love to look at myself in the mirror and talk to myself.  I am growing up SO fast!