Christmas Baking

I LOVE Christmas Baking!!! This year is the first year that I did it alone, but I still had so much fun! I got up at 8:30 that day, started baking at 9:00 and didn't finish cleaning up until 9:00pm!! This is with an about 1 hour break to run to wal-mart! The day just seemed to go by sooo fast! Here is all that I made... along with Fudge & Sugar Cookies! :)













Goodie Bags ready to take to school!!!



Our Christmas Tree!!! I love it sooo much!




House Shopping

Landan and I also having something else exciting going on in our life right now! We have been looking at houses!! We started looking this summer, but really just started getting serious the last couple of months! It's really the perfect time, with the really low interest rates! It will also work out for us because we're just paying rent month by month, so we can be very flexible! Anyways, we put an offer on a house last week!! It was very exciting, but at the same time, we're trying not to get too excited because it could be a very long process. The house is a 'Short Sale.' This doesn't at all mean that it will be quick! It actually takes longer! A short sale means that the house has been taken over by the bank that holds the loan, but it is not a foreclosure. The house has been taken away because of unfortunate events that have forced the owner to no longer be able to pay. Our Realtor has sent the offer to the bank that own it, but it could take up to 45 days for us to get an offer.. So, we're just doing our best to wait patiently :)

2nd Grade

One Monday toward the end of October, I was sleeping in, because I was only subbing in Hartford that afternoon. The principal at Carlisle Elementary texted me as asked if I would be interested in a long term sub job. Of course I was!! So, she asked if I could come in that morning before I headed to Hartford.

We talked and I met the 2nd Grade that I would teach for. She was due with her baby in the end of November. We set it up so that I could shadow her the next day. I did, and it went well!

The next day I was not scheduled to sub, so of course I had my list of things I was planning on doing! Well... 5:45 I got a phone call! Mandy (who i would be subbing for) had gone into the hospital early that morning to have her baby! Crazy timing on this!! So, I ended up starting teaching the day after I shadowed her! Perfect timing!

Anyways, i've been teaching 2nd grade at Carlisle Elementary ever since! I love it! I have a really good class and the teachers on the 2nd grade team are great! They've been soooo helpful and fun! I've learned so much and it has been a very busy time for me! But I wouldn't trade this time for regular subbing any day!! It will be hard to go back to that! I will be in this classroom until the end of January!

It just turns out that Abby, the teacher across the hall, is pregnant with twins!!! A few weeks ago, she asked me if I could also take her long term subbing job!! Of course I am! They will take her babies April 15th if she hasn't already had them, so I will start this second job in March/April!! It will most likely take me through the end of the year! This class has a couple of kids that will be a challenge for me, but it will also give me more great experience with different situations!

Yesterday was our Winter Party... and our last day before Winter Break! It was a crazy day, but went well! I'm definetly ready for the break tho! Below are some reindeer cookies we make yesterday morning :)

Love Fall!!

Oh how I LOVE Fall!! I think it is my favorite season.. right behind summer :)

I love:

*Pumpkin Spice Lattes

*Cool (but not cold) Weather

*Pumpkin & Apple & Cinnamon Scented Candles

*Jean's & Long Sleeves

*Pumpkins

*Having the window's open and being snuggled under a blanket

*Pumpkin Pie Chex Mix

*Pumpkin Pancakes

*Pumpkin Cheesecake

*Pretty leaves

*Being outside! // Fresh Air!

There is one thing that I don't like about Fall.... the beginning of hunting season....

Just Kidding. I'm happy that my husband has a hobby that he loves!! I do get lonely sometimes, but I also enjoy having my own alone time. He has been good about not going out every night, so it has been tolerable :)

I wish we could only have 2 seasons.. summer & FALL! <3

Fall Snack Mix

MMMM.. I've discovered a really yummy new snack mix for fall!! Here's the recipe!

Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch

1/4 c. Brown Sugar

1 T Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/4 c. Butter

2 T Vanilla

2 c. Cinnamon Chex

2 c. Wheat Chex

2 c. Honey Nut Chex

8 oz Pecans

1. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar & pumpkin pie spice; set aside. In small microwavable dish, microwave butter on high about 30 sec or until melted. Stir in Vanilla. In large microwavable bowl, mix all 3 cereals and pecans. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly distributed. Add sugar and spice mixture and stir until coated.

2. Microwave uncovered 5 minutes or until mixture begins to brown, stirring every minute. Spread on wax paper or a cookie sheet to cool.

Pizza Casserole Recipe

I made the Pizza Casserole Recipe last night and it is really good!! So, I thought I would share it :)

Ingredients:

• 3 cups uncooked spiral pasta
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch
• oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer
• pink; drain. Stir in the mushrooms, tomato sauce, pizza sauce,
• tomato paste, sugar and seasonings. Drain pasta; stir into meat
• sauce.
• 
  
• Divide half of the mixture between two greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking
• dishes; sprinkle each with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers.
• Top each with pepperoni and Parmesan cheese.
• 
  
• Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15
  • minutes longer or until heated through.
  • Yield: 2 casseroles (8 servings each).

The fact that it makes 2 casseroles... I didn't catch until I was already making it. So, we'll see how it is frozen! :) Ha

Summer Coming to an End...

This summer has seemed to come and in the blink of an eye!!

We have been so busy, but also have had a lot of fun! We've been going to lots of weddings and on other trips! Last weekend was our friends, Brian & Aimee's Wedding in Dubuque. It was a long, expensive weekend away from home, but was also a lot of fun.

This weekend, Landan, me, Lane, Angela & Troy, are heading to Wisconsin to visit Lane & Landan's Aunt Karen & Denise! We are looking forward to the trip!!

My babysitting is also coming to an end. This is my last week, other than a few random hours next week. We're definetly had good time and bad this summer, but overall had a good time together! Here are a couple of pictures from our Zoo trip a couple of weeks ago.

I've also started another new journey! I'm now selling Premier Designs Jewelry! My sister-in-law, Angela, started selling it, which is what got me interested! I love all of my new Jewelry and i'm really excited to start my shows and earning some extra money!! Get in contact with me if you're interested in having a show or ordering some new jewelry!!

I'll upload some more pictures from our summer later when I get them onto my computer!

4th of July Weekend

I had a great 4th of July weekend!! Mostly because my best friend, Makenzie, came to stay with me!! She arrived on Friday night and we talked until like 1am! Then Saturday we rode horses and did the farm thing! Saturday night was our good friend, Allison's wedding! It was sooo good to see everyone!! Here are some pictures from the wedding.

Makenzie and I leaving for the wedding!

A nice little hole in the wall we stopped at before the Reception.

The Bride, Allison, and I!

My Friends :)

Makenzie, Me, Anna, Lindsay, Lindsey, Reilly, Stacy.