Oh, Oh... It's Magic!

My college professors always preached that teaching was equally a science and an art.  I have come to terms with this idea through the last two years and I can say with 100% confidence that teaching ten year olds the week before Christmas is definitely an art.  It's all about survival, ladies and gentlemen!  

Today I decided to try an experiment I saw on Pinterest... and, it's magic.  Everyone likes a little Christmas magic, right?  

Start with a plate of milk.  (Skim milk works best.)  

Drop about four-five drops of food coloring into the center of the milk.  

Then, take a dropper and drop a single drop of dish soap into the center of the dye.  

Annnndddd.. Instantly:  

BAM!  You can only imagine the shrieks that occurred in Room 209 after this.  

Now to make this even more festive, I had each child cut out a coffee filter snowflake and dip it into this magical liquid.  Now our snowflakes turned out a littttle more brown, but here's the jist:  

Now, watch the magic for yourself:  

Enjoy!

Fiesta!

I frequently tell my roommate Rosie that I could eat salsa with a spoon.  And.. confession, sometimes I do.  A fellow fifth grade teacher makes THE BEST salsa in the world.  It's delish.  Yesterday, I decided to give it a go.  And let me preface this recipe with the fact I had to text my mother in a frenzy so she could go over the difference between diced, minced, chopped and sliced.  (Her response:  Just cut it all the same!)

12 oz. can sweet yellow corn, drained

15 oz. can black beans, drained, rinsed

1 c. grape tomatoes, sliced

14.5 oz. can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained

1 bunch cilantro, minced

1 red onion, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 large avocado, diced 

1/4 c. lime juice

1/4 c. olive oil

Basically chop everything up and mix together.  

Now, next time I make this.. I promise not to forget chips at the grocery store and cause myself to make an extra trip to the store.  Classic mistake.  

In other news:  Three more days of school and eight days until Christmas!  

Now.. All I need is this wrapping paper to wrap all my gifts!  Ha!! 

Techin' it Out

A great resource for all, 

and to all a good night!  

One day!

If I were a baker, I would make this for you Mason.  But since I'm not... Here is a picture:

Oh Happy Day!

I got my computer back!  After one shot hard drive and one hefty check I got my baby back.  Oh happy day.  Now to catch up with all the blogs, videos, tv shows, and pins.  Woooooo.

Tis' the season to be thankful.

I have been blessed with the most thoughtful (thoughtfullest?) family and friends.  Who understand that it's the little things that mean the most, and can have the biggest impact.  Who are there with warm hugs, lasagna dinners, encouraging texts, who let me win in words with friends, send funny videos, and knit cozy socks... even if they don't see the significance.  They are the best.  Today I recieved a very special piece of mail, a simple gift... yet touched my heart. 

"She will watch the old house

where she once lived and wandered,

and the people who loved her inside.

All cats love Heaven,

they know the way there,

they know where the angel cats fly.

They'll run past the stars

and the moon and the sun..

..to curl up with God in the sky."

-Cynthia Rylant

Love you Phoebie McNoebie Screobie Marie Kazanowski. 

And you too Aunt Vicki.

Thank you!

A long time coming.

I intended to blog about this awhile ago, but with parent teacher conferences and the worst cold in the universe, I'm a little behind. 

Before I begin, I owe all of the credit to this project to pinterest and my mother.  She is the crafty one.  I like to think of myself as more of the obnoxious entertainer, who tunes in for the fun parts.. then I somehow get distracted with the piddly boring parts- but nonetheless, my mom has a lot of patience with me.  But look at the scarf we made!

This is probably the most idiot proof DIY project out there.  Basically, get a HUGE t-shirt.  The larger the better.  Cut off small strips from the bottom, and stretch them out as far as possible.  (That was my job.)  Magically, they coil around themselves into little tubes.  Gather five, and attach with a flower.  Double loop and voila!  A scarf!  

 

In other news: I think it's time to start rehearsing our parts again Mason!

It's getting cold outside!!