Crazy school antics

I know. Wasn't I supposed to be blogging more? Oh well. I'm just too busy being super awesome. Here are a few recent stories (ps I will always change students names because I like my job):

The other day at the beginning of 4th period I commented that everyone was there and started to clap. A few clapped along and then one boy kept going after we had all stopped. Because that's hilarious, right? So I said, "Fitzwilliam, I bet you couldn't clap all period."
"Yes I could!" he responded, still clapping.
"I bet you won't make it ten minutes."
"Yes I can!"
And he did. For 50 minutes straight. While reading the part of Capulet in "Romeo and Juliet." It was awesome. I gave him a candy bar and wished him good luck at wrestling practice.

***

So. Romeo and Juliet. Act 2 scene 2. The Balcony Scene. So perfectly ridiculous. After we read, we watched the scene from the 1968 version. So cheesy. Click here if you need a refresher.
After that, we watched the scene from the 1996 adaptation for a comparison. I like this one much better, probably because Leo is much cuter than the 1968 Zac Efron. Click here to see that scene.
Anyway. We were watching the second clip in one of my classes. One of my students, we'll call him Wilhelm, said, "I'm going to take notes on how to make out." We all laughed. But when it was over and I was walking to the front of the room I took his notes off his desk. I read a few, laughed out loud, and proceeded to read them to the class:
Make Out Notes (yes it had a title)

• Stalk her (creeper)
• Learn how to hold breath
• Make it sexy
• Make out for 20 seconds
• Nice and slow
• Make out a second time
• Tell her how much you love her
• Kiss on the neck and slowly make your way down
• Kiss goodnight
• Almost get caught

I should note that after a full day of balcony making-out, I had my own make out dream that night. I won't lie, it was a good one. At one point I walked up to my special friend (in the dream, don't get excited) and planted a good one on him. He seemed confused and asked what day it was because he didn't remember it being a holiday. I asked him if it had to be a holiday for me to kiss him like that. Yeah. I have the moves. I'm pretty sure I got a proposal as well. Who wouldn't after a move like that? I should probably try that one in real life.

***

And from today (which I put as my status on Facebook): if you already read it, consider this post over.

Third period came around and I just wanted a break from the Romeo and Juliet madness. I was just shooting the breeze and Newsies on Broadway came up. (Really, it is back on for 12 weeks!) One student said that the only musical he had ever seen was "High School Musical." Disgraceful. I pulled that screen right down and we watched Newsies. All period. It was awesome.

I really really love my job.

I learn something new every day.

One of my students wrote her essay on the tragedy that is pit bull prejudice. A whole page, single spaced. It was captivating.

Almost married!

Right? So here are the details on the big date. Because let's face it, any date these days is big.
So Caitie and I talked about doing this double date thing back in the springtime and it never happened. We had been talking about it again lately and decided to just do it. I had wanted to set her up with Tom for a long time, he is a science teacher at my school. He's a super nice guy. Dan is in Caitie's ward and has been to our house a few times. It was nice to have the advantage, already knowing both guys.
I bought a crockpot. I also bought a giant slab of meat. Who knew that a pot roast was so expensive? Not this girl. Totally worth it though, because the french dip sandwiches were so amazing. I also made steak fries with homemade fry sauce. It was delicious. I had put the roast in the crockpot in the morning and the house smelled super aromatic when I got home. I cleaned up, played on the computer, forgot that I didn't get the bread yet, went to Jimmy John's for the best bread ever, made the fries and watched America's Next Top Model while I waited for everyone to get there. Caitie had parent teacher conferences so they all got home around 7:30.

Is it weird that I put the salad on the plates? Or even more weird that I took a picture of it? I especially like the detail of the folded paper napkins. It was truly a class act.
There were never any awkward moments while we ate, it was all very fun and natural. After we ate dinner (did I tell you I bought ramekins for the au jus?) which, have I mentioned how yummy it was? We broke out the scrabble board. It was a pretty slow-moving game and Caitie was pretty restless because she'd been with kindergartners and their parents all day. . .and it was only the second time she'd played because she has lived such a sad life. We finished our game and then sat in the living room and talked for a while. PS during the game we ate key lime pie-lets (they were itty bitty) that C-dawg had made. Yum.
I told them that I needed to be at Grandma's to watch Perry Mason so we broke up the fun around 10:45. Caitie and I had a de-brief and I headed over to stay with my Grandma (I'm there for the week.) Side note: Grandma was already in bed when I got there so I went in and snuggled with her for a minute and it might be one of my new favorite memories with her. We watched a few minutes of Perry and then I went down to bed. I love my Grandma.
So, peeps, it was a fun date. It was enjoyable. I might have made a few flirty comments to Dan about our wedding and how many sisters he had relating to how many bridesmaids I would have. . .and then when Tom mentioned he had some Danish in him, I asked if Dan did and when he replied in the negative, I told him I might have to switch sides. You can get away with ridiculous jokes like this when you're 31.
Just so you don't have to ask:
Yes, I'll probably go on a date again. I don't know if it will be with one of those boys. Maybe it will be with Caitie because we have a lot of fun together.
Yes, I'll post the recipes.
And yes, here is a picture of the boys:
Me, Tommy, Dan. I am holding the beautiful ear of Indian corn that Caitie had provided to enrich the ambiance of the evening.

French Dip Sandwiches:
1 Lean beef roast
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 beef boullion cube
1 bay leaf
1 tsp crushed dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
3 whole peppercorns

Place beef in slow cooker. Combine soy sauce, boullion, and spices. Pour over the roast and add enough water to almost cover the meat [I put extra water in to make it not so salty]. Cook over low heat 10-12 hours or until the meat is really tender. Remove meat and reserve broth. Shred meat and serve with hard rolls. (from Emily)

(From "Our Best Bites" Click on titles for the websites)

Oven Steak Fries

4 medium Russet potatoes, washed

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. Kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Mix desired spices in a medium bowl. Add olive oil and combine well.
Cut potatoes into 8 wedges each.
Add potato wedges to seasonings and toss to coat.
Lightly crumple some aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and then arrange potato wedges on foil. This makes cleanup easy because your potatoes won’t stick and it will also ensures they’re cooked evenly. Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes.
Fry Sauce:

Fry Sauce

1/4 c. ketchup
1/4 c. mayonnaise (NOT Miracle Whip! Tried it once in a pinch and it was beyond horrible!)
2-3 tsp. chopped dill pickle

Combine and serve with homemade fries or onion rings.

PS

My mom asked for a picture of the flower I made on Breast Cancer Awareness day. Here it is.

My mom asked for a picture of the flower I made on Breast Cancer Awareness day. Here it is.

I'm supposed to be at the gym.

But I thought I'd share this story really fast. It happened a few days ago, but I'm pretty sure it was worth the wait.
The other day in my 4A class, which is a 9th grade Language Arts class, I had my students get in their literature circle groups to get to know each other better. They will be discussing their books as they read so I wanted to break the ice for some of them, even though it was almost the end of the first quarter.
One group was struggling and just sitting there with two friends talking to each other. I told Fred* that he should share his hunting story because he had been gone recently and gotten a deer. Hunters always like to tell their stories. Sometimes for hours. And over and over and over. . .I don't know any hunters. Anyway. Fred said, "I went hunting. I shot a deer. It was cool." Thanks, Fred.
I thought I'd help some more. I'm really good at that. So I start asking about the gun (it was a muzzle loader) and just using random terms I have heard my brother and Dad use. One of the kids was just dying because he thought I was being serious about what I was saying. "No, Miss Paul, a muzzle loader and a rifle are not the same thing." "No, you cannot shoot a deer with a .22." "No, that would be illegal." At that point, it was a pretty loud discussion and other groups were listening in and one student called out, "What's illegal?" and I quickly said, "You are." It got a big laugh. And then I realized what I said. And turned around, "Wait, who said that?" I have several Hispanic students in my class. Glad it was one of the white boys.
Oh, and hey, Happy Halloween!
PS I will change all of my students names because I like my job and don't want to get fired.

What blog?

Oh, hey y'all. It's been a while, I suppose. I have probably noted this before, but I think it's funny that I post more about the babies than I do about my own life. What does that mean? I guess I just love my babies.
But, guys, but.
I need to write more about my life. I have funny things that happen in my day. I should probably share them. I have funny thoughts sometimes that I wish I could share on Twitter but I would be the only person to follow me and I don't know how to, so maybe I'll put them in a draft on my phone and share them here. Because other people need the laughter, too.
So I'm vowing to be better. And not just for the five of you that read my blog, but for me, too, because it's a good time.
Like that one time that I pimped "wear pink on Thursday" all week and then I forgot to wear pink. I wore red, which is sort of in the family, but not close enough. After too many comments between the warning and the final bells before Advisory, I decided to make a "flower" for my hair out of paper. It was a success. I was glad I had some random bobby pins. And a hot glue gun. And flower making skills.
Or how I love running into my students out in the real world, like The Rio. I have really great students.
One of my students stopped me on the way up to my classroom and asked if he could get some singing tips from me. He came in and sang a piece of "Someone Like You" during Advisory, accompanying himself on the Ukelele. It was amazing. He is singing a song at a fireside and didn't want to sing a church song at school, but he still wanted some feedback. I'm glad that my students trust me enough to do that.
And I went to the gym today, I didn't just dress for it. Winning!

Laura will love this, but I bet YOU will too!

I know you'll like this because I like this and I have really great taste. So does this girl who just launched this website. I'm pretty sure Laura will start stalking her. Don't worry, I already did. I'm totally excited to check this blog all the time. And I really love the Anthro vase in her giveaway. Really. Check it out. You're welcome.