Thursday, October 29, 2009

Farewell, First Grade

My last day of subbing for my wonderful first grade class was October 16th.
I miss them so much!

Here are a few more of my favorite moments from my last few days there:

Savannah walked in one morning with her jacket pulled all the way over her head. When I suggested that she take it off so she could see, she said, "But you see, I'm having a hair situation today."
"A hair situation?" I asked.
"Yup," she replied, "I woked up this mornin' and it was all stickin' up!"

After helping Beverlynn (a precious, tiny little girl--the smallest in the class) with one of the math problems she was struggling on, I said, "Ok, Pumpkin, you're all set!"
To which she promptly replied, "I not your punkin! I's your goat. Goats be heavy."

During Social Studies one afternoon, the children were supposed to draw a picture of their families. Ariel announced that she was going to draw her whole entire family, but since we were pressed for time, I encouraged her only to draw the people who lived in her house--mom, dad, brothers, sisters.
"I don't have a dad!" Ariel blurted out.
"That's ok, not everyone does," I said, trying to avoid any situation that could stem from that.
But it was too late. The kids latched onto her truth viciously. "You don't have a dad?" they questioned, "How can you not have a dad?"
"I don't have a dad," Ariel informed them matter-of-factly, "I was just born because my mom was with a man!"

And last but not least, every Friday, the first graders recite their Bible verse individually for a grade. The verse of the week was Psalm 25:4-5 : Show me Your ways, O Lord, guide me in Your truth and lead me.
Noah came up to say the verse for me, but he stumble a lot and it was obvious he hadn't spent much time working on it at home. "Show....show me...uh...your ways...uh...uh..."
I helped him out with the prompt "O,"
That seemed to make something click in his brain, and he began the verse again with a fresh start: "Show me your ways, O Baby!"


"I would like to be a teacher, so I get to pass out homework."


Farewell, First Grade! All you precious cuties, you!

Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

Thinking back to another windy Autumn day...



Two years...Can it be so long ago?



I love days like this, my handsome guy, when we leave everything to the wind and cherish time together.


Our favorite little spot under a crooked tree in Irvine...


How many hours each month did we used to spend there?




People-watching, bird-watching, enjoying silence, so many conversations about our hopes and dreams for the life we looked forward to spending together.






New love, invigorating feelings, all nestled tenderly under your arm, with only the birds to witness.




Once on a high and windy hill,
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still,

Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing,

Yes, true love's a many-splendored thing.

Double-Thick Potato Cheese Soup

I have a crockpot recipe for double-thick potato cheese soup that Jesse and I love. It's so easy! Totally one of my favorites.

2 pounds of baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 in. cubes
2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups finely chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
black pepper to taste

All you have to do is combine the potatoes, soup, 1 cup green onions, garlic powder, and red pepper into the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours (or on high for 4)

Add cheese, sour cream, and milk; stir until cheese has completely melted. Cover, and cook on high for 10 minutes. Season to taste with black pepper. Garnish with remaining green onions. Makes 7 servings.

Jesse and I love putting this in sourdough bread bowls. The bread just makes it even homier. It's such a yummy chilly evening treat!





*yum*yum*yum*