The Giggles

I got the giggles last night for the first time in a long time. You know the kind- the-make-you-laugh-so-hard-you're-crying, everyone-looks-at-you-like-you're-crazy, can't-explain-what-you're-laughing-about-due-t0-lack-of-oxygen, it's-n0t-nearly-as-funny-to-everyone-else hysterics. I don't know what it was- maybe the super-sugary shaved ice at 9:30 at night contributed to it. It was a great end to a crazy week!

This past Tuesday was our first day of school. I'm not going to lie- the idea of having 20 kindergartners was frightening and stressful to say the least. While I've probably had better first days in my 2-year teaching career, the rest of the week went pretty smoothly.

What has really been hard are all the other adjustments I've had to make. I really miss my teaching friends. What I wouldn't give to be able to teach with them again. They were more than just teaching partners, they were friends! And I so miss their presence at school.

I'm trying hard to create a bond with my teaching partner now. She's really sweet. We're just at different points in our life, and while that will be a great learning experience for both, it won't replace the girls I worked with last year. Keep praying that they find jobs soon!

Football season is just around the corner and I'm so excited about a particular game we'll be going to this year. I LOVE football. And when our team is ranked #2 in the nation, that just makes me excited and nervous at the same time. First game of the year is next Saturday. We won't be getting tickets- we'll be enjoying that one from the air-conditioned comfort of our own home!

On the planner for this weekend is hanging out with J & J, ordering pizza (thank you Papa John's for customer appreciation) and playing Wii. Tomorrow they'll be joining us at church where the service will look a little different. I can't wait!

What's your go-to?

Isn't it funny how we are such creatures of habit? I find myself sticking to the same routine, day after day... and watch out if something throws a wrench in it! Don't get me wrong- I'm not a strict follower of my non-existent day planner, but I do find myself going about my life pretty much doing the same things, eating at the same restaurants, watching the same shows, etc.

This follows even in my cooking. Before having friends who don't particularly care for Italian, I would never have realized how much my weekly menu resembles an Italian restaurant- just the dishes, not the cooking. I love making my mom's homemade spaghetti sauce, marinating chicken in Italian dressing and sprinkling with Parmesan cheese before putting in the oven, or eating the buttery garlic bread whose caloric content I don't even want to know. Lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, Parmesan chicken, baked ziti, garlic chicken- I'll make and eat it all.

My friend P, on the other hand, is much more Mexican at heart. Her menu is full of delicious enchiladas, salsa verde casserole, fajitas, to-die-for Spanish rice, and spicy pinto beans. It's always a Mexican feast at her casa! This makes our friendship work out great- we never tire of each other's dinners. The other day, we were talking about the spice that we use the most when cooking, the spice that no meal is served without-
Mine is garlic (in any shape or form)
P's is cumin.

Which makes sense when you look at what we cook the most.

What about you? What's your spice? Do you have a spice? Or are you an equal opportunity spicer?

what I've been up to... in case you were wondering

I've been absent from the blogging world for a couple of weeks, keeping myself busy doing all sorts of things...

We've been working on D's investment project:



Making trips to the library with my new library card



Organizing our closets (getting rid of old clothes to make room for new ones!)

Those aren't his only clothes, but he does need to go shopping!

Refurbishing patio furniture



Trying to keep our yard alive


Making (new!) dinners


Taking pictures of our dinner (that's homemade pizza by the way- complete with homemade pizza dough!)


Hanging with the nephews (and their toys that stayed here)


Organizing the linen closet



And enjoying the delicious shaved ice treats that P introduced me to... I wish I had a picture- or better yet, a taste to share! Hope you're having a great summer too!