it's friday. and we care.

ah yes.
friday.
2 hour late start.
beautiful snow making our lives a winter wonderland out in the middle of nowhere.
i was up at 5 for my morning meeting with jillian and didn't get the message until 6 of our late start. i loved it. relaxed and knew we'd be able to eat breakfast together. and chat leisurely.
rare are these days during the week.
we played "I Gotta Feeling" and jumped around the kitchen together while scrambling eggs and making toast.
we all got to school on time.
it's been a crazy week at school. and my heart aches. literally.
finally, the last 20 minutes of school, i turned off the lights. projected the decorah eagle's nest on the screen and piped pandora through the speakers. every student grabbed a lap top and they all got on poptropica at their desk.
and my body literally mirrored my heart....which doesn't happen often in school.
wiped out.
i dropped my head and started praying.
i prayed for every.single.student in my class.
real, deep prayers.
(how's THAT for public school! :))
so much hurt and pain in that one room.
once in a while i am just overcome. i could barely hide my tears. i often feel hopeless.
i had emailed a parent the other day about her student who has had some problems.
i told her "if he takes nothing else away from my classroom this year, i hope he knows i believe in him. in the man he is going to become. i hope he knows that."
i write this because i need this blog world to know we care. i know i can't be the only teacher doing this. feeling this. we care. and it is flippin HARD work. exhausting work. FULFILLING work.
i would not trade it for anything.
but still.
it's friday.
i have a date with my mom and ayla at 8:30 am tomorrow and i.am.thankful.
that's all.
just know how deeply the teachers care.

truth is...

when my kids mess up, i feel like it is a direct reflection of ME.
and what is even crazier, when my STUDENTS mess up, i feel like it is a direct reflection of me.
do i need counseling??

so much

there is SO much going on around here!
we are still mid-bathroom remodel.
i see a light at this very long tunnel, though.

paul and i have been texting back and forth. we need to get away with the kids. fun family weekend. we are fortunate enough to know an incredibly generous family who lets us use their house every fall for our annual apple-picking trip. they have been trying to convince to go up there during the winter season for the past couple of years. they offered it up again this year and we decided to take them up on the offer. we leave friday right after school. just staying for the weekend.
there is a hot tub.
and last we knew there was snow. which i could use a little dose of. so as of 4 pm friday WE ARE OUT OF HERE.
i'm excited.
we have all the winter gear packed up. we are bringing sleds. and snow pants. and hot cocoa and peppermint schnaaps and swimming suits. it will be a glorious 36 hours, i'm sure.

and then we have bachelor/bachelorette parties in minneapolis next weekend. looking forward to another fun weekend.
i will be spending the end of february preparing for parent/teacher conferences because I AM GOING TO MEXICO come march 1. we get home the night before conferences. the LOVELY miss leah is getting married there and i have the pleasure and honor standing up with her. could not be more excited!!!!! paul and i will both be going. it will be the quickest trip to mexico ever. but i promise to pack it FULL of fun. :)
when we return we have 3 days until a 10 day spring break. wow. time is flying.

so lots going on. all good. all exciting.

From Pinterest to real life...

i've been a pinning fool lately. and i'm beginning to wonder how i ever survived without it! it's my online cookbook and classroom idea page and dreaming page and online shopping storage page.
it's great.
recently i starting putting together those recipes. the percentage of ones i love is high. actually, i've only come across 1 so far that i did not love.
so i decided to link up to some of these.
you need to remember that for the most part we are going meatless these days. i've been searching high and low for yummy, fresh recipes that the kids will love, too. and you'll notice another theme as well. quinoa. i love it. LOVE it.
so here you have it.
some of my recent favorites...
Quinoa Chowder with Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Feta and Scallions. just made this tonight. LOVED it.
Pasta Fagioli. this is lani's favorite. i've made it a couple times already and sent it to school with lani for lunch.
Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa. i've brought this to school for lunch so many times this past month. love it!
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos. Threw this in the crock pot before work, came home and shredded the chicken and had dinner a few minutes later. they were delicious! the kids loved them, too!
Broccoli Quinoa Casserole. An alternative to broccoli rice and cheese. YUM!
Black Bean Soup. we've been making lots of soup and then taking it all week for lunch. i love black bean soup. and this was great!
Creamy Crock Pot Hot Cocoa. made this at christmas for all the kids. (oh...and the adults may have mixed it with peppermint schnaaps).
Garlic and Thyme Quinoa Patties. melted hot pepper cheese on these and topped with avacado. makes a big batch and we ate them all week as well.
Green Chili. made this for supper and then turned the leftovers into huevos rancheros. awesome!
Pink Grapefruit Margaritas. need i say more?

ok...that is MOST of what i've tried. there are a couple more. but i don't want to overwhelm you. if you aren't on pinterest...you should be. if you are, share your favorites!!
thank you pinterest. i love you. :)

The bathroom BEFORE

I am hesitantly posting these photos with hopes of having the AFTER photos posted SOON.
as in "before i lose my ever loving MIND" soon.
because really...we have been living with this for months...

i'm not kidding.
months.
all 5 of us get ready each day in our little 3/4 bath downstairs.
i'm ready to have my own again.
our bathroom is going to have a clawfoot tub.
we found it on craigslist.
um yeah...can you say fixer upper??

i can't wait to show you the AFTER pics of it!! so fun!!

but i really shouldn't complain too much.
because even though we have been under construction for months, we have always had this...
she's staying right there, so that's been nice.
luxurious even in the middle of the night.

i am hopeful that it won't be long until you get to see the AFTER.
i'm praying.