Date Night

Friday was date night....we had so much fun.  We have the sweetest babysitter...her name is Dianna and she works at a Katy daycare and is a UH student studying to be a teacher.  It was so funny, she came to the door and asked if it was ok if she could bring the daycare hamster inside.  We said of course.  She worked all day long, got off at 7 pm, and then came right over.  She volunteered to take care of the daycare hamster on the weekends.  The girls LOVED it!!!! 

We met Christa, Brad and her co-worker and husband, and many of his firefighter friends.  We had sushi and then went to a sports bar.  We had fun, but I was sooooo tired!!!!

Field Trip

Dave and I were sooo nervous!!! Today was Isabella's first field trip.  The kids went to the heath museum.  Isabella was so excited and ended up having a blast.  She said the best part of the field trip was riding on the bus (she said, don't worry mom, we all wore our seat belt).  I didn't get home until 9 pm last night from open house.  I had so many parents show up.  They were all super nice.  Today was good, but I think I am just drained from lack of sleep.  I came home and Dave has been so wonderful.  He told me to go lay in bed and work on my graduate assignment.  I feel I have over extended myself, but will just trudge along...life is good...we are blessed:)  Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! Dave and I are going on a date!!!!

Enchildadas...best recipe ever!!!

Ok, so I don't like enchiladas... or I like them, but they are not on my top recipe list.  The best enchiladas I have ever eaten (besides Lupe Tortilla) came from Dream Dinners...I have been on a DD hiatus because I haven't had time to go get them, but remembered the awesome recipe...I found a similar recipe online, and made them tonight....they were AMAZING!!!  What makes this recipe so good is the creme cheese, sour creme, rotel, and cheese mixed together....add the rest, and wow!!!!

Here is the recipe:
Ingredients


4 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup sour cream

2 cups prepared salsa

2 cups shredded cheese, cheddar or Monterey jack

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken

1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

½ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon cayenne

salt and pepper to taste

4 scallions, thinly sliced

14 soft, round 6-8 inch tortillas

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sour cream. Stir in the salsa. Stir in half of the shredded cheese.

In a second bowl, toss together the chicken, corn, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and the scallions. Add the chicken mixture to1/2 of the creamed mixture and stir to combine.

Place about 1/3 cup of the filling on a tortilla, roll up and transfer to a baking dish, seam side down. Repeat process for remaining tortillas.

Pour remaining cream mixture over enchiladas, spreading to coat all of them. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Enchiladas may be made up to this point 12 hours in advance.

Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with remaining scallions and serve warm. Enchiladas may be reheated, covered with aluminum foil.   I used the really low calories tortillas (50 calories) and they were good, but I imagine if I used the higher calorie ones, it would be that much better...but the 50 calorie ones tasted good because the sauce was divine.   We found at good news...Abby's test results came back negative. She had a swollen lymp node taken out of her neck and we were all worried....God is GREAT and has blessed our family.   

A lot of my AP Macro kids are getting how hard my class is.  It is not that I want the class to be hard, but AP Macroeconomics is tough.  We had our first test and some people did not study and then you can imagine their grade.  I did have several A's, but I had lots of grades.  I told the kids they needed to read the book.  It isn't even that many pages.  A lot of the kids who did not do well admitted they did not read.  Some of the kids read, came back and said, "Ms Wilcox, I get it.  I am so glad I read".  We shall see.  I really enjoy teaching all of my students.  I don't want to see any of them drop, but they have to be willing to put in the work.  Tomorrow is going to be a long day because we have open house at 7.  I have a feeling I will have A LOT more parents than in years past.  Life is good.  We are blessed!

Turn off the tv and read...

Tonight we decided we were going to turn the tv off and read....read lots of books...the girls had a blast.  At one point they were fighting over who got to turn the page...Sophia got her feelings hurt, started crying and stormed off to her bed...Sophia has such a sweet, STRONG personality:)  Isabella went and apologized and then they were best friends again.

I picked up the girls late because I met with a couple of teachers who are new to teaching economics.  They were super nice and appreciated the resources.  When I picked Isabella up, I got a notice that her class was taking a field trip in a few days to the Museum of Natural Science.  She is so excited.  She has to wear the school shirt and pack a cold lunch.  I guess they will take a bus- she is such a big girl!!! I can remember her starting there and me getting excited that one day she would get to take cool field trips and walk next door to the beautiful library. 

Dave and I are both trying to eat well...Campbell Soup is trying to market soup to a younger generation....we bought several new flavors...I am trying a new one out for lunch tomorrow. 

Few favorites....

Yesterday was very relaxing.  I spent the first part of the day working on graduate work.  I really am liking this career counseling class.  I had to research family education and work values and analyze the data.  We hung out with Danny and Ashlee yesterday because they moved to Katy!!! We are so happy.  We watched the Long Horns play (they crushed the other team)..there were lots of great college games played...University of Louisiana at Monroe upset Arkansas which is ranked.  The Rajun Cajuns won, so did LSU.  The funny thing about college football is that Isabella goes on and on about LSU...she refuses to cheer for Texas...she does it because she likes the attention.

Today we are taking it easy.  I am doing a few more assignments and watching football.  The Saints and Texans are playing right now.  I am also trying to get the girls to take a nap.  Dave went to help Danny and Ashlee with the move.  When he gets back we will go to HEB and buy groceries.  Isabella has requested gumbo....There are a few things I have been obsessed with lately from the grocery store...we are on a salad kick at our house...I love the wantons that go in a salad...they are not that high in calories and they provide the perfect crunch...I also really like the Lite Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame dressing...it seems to have a hint of peanuts or peanut butter...it is REALLY GOOD!!! Finally, La Madeline has started making reduced fat tomato basil soup....very tasty...

Fantastic Friday

Friday was awesome.  After work I picked up the girls and surprised them with little manicures.  I needed to get my eyebrows waxed and decided to treat them.  It was only 5.00 each and they had the biggest smiles on their faces.  After we met Christa and Tara's family out at Willie's by our house.  I really like that place.  I got a steak and it was SOOOOO good!!!  We are super excited because today Danny and Ashlee are moving to Katy!!!

Hope...

Ok...I am soft hearted....I am writing this while watching Joe Biden give his speech...which is funny because I have tuned out everyone else. both parties...I voted for George Bush Jr twice...and I voted for Obama...so I feel I really am independent...I vote for the person I liked George Bush Jr....I liked Obama, but really voted for him because I disliked McCain more...and now....I watch Biden...I have always liked him...he reminds me of Bush...puts his foot in his mouth, but he is human...he lost his wife and rebuilt...his speech is good....very good....

Moving on...today was a VERY good day...I had a good day with my students...for 13 years I worked my butt off...I taught so many different subjects (Algebra I, Physical Science, World Geography, Economics, AP Macroeconomics, Government, AP Government, Sociology, US History, and World History.... a lot of topics!!!!)....I worked so hard and most of the time had 2 or 3 preps at a time and have always taught in lower socioeconomic schools.  I have had kids curse at me, parents curse me, and have seen a lot....I don't know how I made it...yes, actually I do...my parents taught me to be a hard worker...I have worked so hard and appreciate that I learned that from both of them.  The reason I am bringing this up is because I reflected on this today...things have been tough because of the miscarriage.  I have been very sad.  I get that this is my dream job...I am starting to get better every day...Today, I really enjoyed my new job. My students are AWESOME!!! I am so grateful for my job... I told Christa, that it feels that for 13 years I worked so hard and I had to teach AP Macroeconomics which is so hard, but I worked so hard to learn it...now I get it...and I do such a good job teaching it...Hard work does pay off!!!! (and I am grateful)

I worked out and picked the girls up...we went to HEB and then came home....The girls painted with marshmallows while I cooked pasta...Dave came home and started sending Brad funny pictures talking smack...life is good....great actually!