These are the Christmas cards I made this year.

We took a walk this morning and everything was so pretty with the snow!

Playing after the walk

Brin

Sammy

Busy! Busy!
I decided to make my own Christmas cards this year using my cricut. I'll be posting pics of them after I send them out. I've only made about 20 and I need a whole lot more than that...The plan is to make as many as possible this weekend (maybe come up with a more simple design so I can crank 'em out faster). My sister and nephew are coming to visit, so I can make her and Z-man help. Diana is so good at the crafty stuff and is going to teach me how to sew(starting this weekend).
School is going well. I'm anxious to get back to the regular schedule after the holidays- I feel like we haven't gotten a whole bunch done lately with all the plays and general crazyness. Needless to say, I'm so excited for Christmas break! We go up until next Tuesday! We survived both the big and little kids Christmas programs and they were so cute!
Bill starts a new job with APex this Friday. I'll blog more about that when I understand it more :-) so thoughts and prayers that it goes well would be appreciated!
One of my best friends (that came to our wedding about a year ago) recently was engaged and has set the date to get married in Vegas at Ceasar's on July 31st! Katie and I met in college when we were both doing a summer program for kids in Sicily. I'm going to be part of the bridal party! I'm so excited!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday! We had the Bentz side of the family over to our house for dinner. Everything was delicious and it was a fun night!

We put up the tree this past weekend

Sammy didn't like being a reindeer...

The man's version of putting away the leftovers:

Yes, that is mashed potatoes, still in the pan, and chicken on a spatula in the fridge...

So, a teacher started with a new class in Columbus. Wanting to make a good impression, she told the class she was an Ohio State fan. She said, "Raise your hand if you're a buckeyes fan too". The whole class raised their hands, except for one little girl.

The teacher said, "Sally, you don't like the bucks?"

Sally said, "No, I like Purdue."

"Why?" The teacher asked.

"Because my mom and dad like Purdue" Sally responded.

"You don't have to like and do everything your mom and dad do. You should figure out what YOU like. What if your mom sold drugs and your dad stole from stores? What would you be?"

Sally says,"A Michigan fan"

I accidentally shocked myself with a dog collar today and it hurt! No wonder the dogs have learned so quickly!

It's getting to be that crazy time of year when it seems like you barely have time to breathe!


First of all, the Bentz side of the family is having Thanksgiving at our new house! We had it last year too and it was very fun! I'm not nearly as nervous this year about the turkey, but I am wondering what else I should make- the plan is to keep it simple, but delicious. The MIL is bringing the pies and stuffing, and SIL said she'd bring whatever I wanted her to. The tricky part is Bill's father is a very picky eater, so I want to make sure he has enough to eat- I guess I'll just tell Kristin (sil) to bring something Chuck-approved and he'll eat turkey and rolls and what Cheryl (mil) is bringing. I don't think anyone will go hungry...


Speaking of dinner and going hungry, (the only reason I write this is because I'm fairly certain the hubby doesn't read the blog...) Bill's new favorite thing to do is, while I'm making dinner, he'll be on his computer or whatever, and if I make any kind of comment, he'll say "Just wait a minute and I guess I can come show you how to cook" or some comment like that... this coming from the man who makes a killer mac n cheese or omelet (or at least pretends like that's all he can make) He thinks it's hilarious. I think that's why they don't let donkeys attend school...


It's coming up on a year that we've been married already! I can't believe how quickly the time has gone! We have so much fun together and I think we compliment each other well, especially in the sense that he's so easy going to balance out my need to plan everything! I sincerely am lucky and am enjoying my life so much (despite constantly being sick)!


I honestly don't remember a time when I've been so sick so often. I think it's been a rough year for everyone- I missed 2 days this week, which were spent sleeping and coughing. :-( I know it doesn't help that I see over 500 kids/week and touch all the computers/mice that they do! It's all part of teaching the lovely little ones!


Not to keep rambling or anything, but the funniest thing happened the other day at breakfast duty- I was walking by this group of boys (4th & 5th graders) and I heard the word "MoFo" being tossed around. So I go up to the table (a little thrown) and ask what they were calling each other. They repeat "mofo" and I launch into my "school appropriate language" speech. One of the boys stops me and says, "What's wrong with saying that?" So I say, "Well, ummmmm, what do you think that means?" and he says "You know, a cross between a mohawk and a fro?".... ohhhhh. Mofro! So relieved, but they're probably wondering why Mrs. B was so scandalized at the word... Hope I didn't accidentally teach them something new! I'm enjoying teaching for the most part this year and feel a lot more comfortable with the subject and the older kids than I have the past 2 years.


My commute is so much better since we moved to AV. It's such a pretty drive. In fact, the other day on my way home from work, I saw a bald eagle just sitting in a field! It was amazing! Bill, however, started a new job that's in the Polaris area- it now takes him about an hour each way. He says he doesn't mind it and is such a good sport, but I do feel bad for him!


My sister and her family came to stay with us last weekend and we had such a good time! We went swimming, cooked lots of good food, played and watched football, and played cards (once the kids went to sleep). See Sharon's blog for a few pics and cute stories with the kids.


We're in the process of training the dogs with the invisible fence... which is what my grandma would call "interesting". Sammy and Palmer are actually doing very well. You show Palmer the flag and he runs the opposite direction. I was taking Brin out this morning and she started shaking when I put the collar on her :-( Needless to say, we didn't train- we just had fun and barked at a couple deer. She's a good listener and pretty good about staying around anyway, so we'll see. I'm trying to come up with a good Christmas card that will rival the ones I've sent out in years past (using all 3 instead of just Brin) but haven't gotten one together yet- hopefully I will...


I got a notice to join a page on facebook the other day for my 10th high school reunion!!!! It startles me that it's been that long! So crazy! AND I just realized that I'll be 28 in less than a month! Goodness!


Wow! I guess I had a lot to say! If anyone is still reading, hope that was a cure for your insomnia!

Diana and I went to the Bucks/Aggies game today. We had so much fun! I do have to admit (much to Bill's dismay) that my favorite part was the half time show. Since it was Halloween, they had a special spooky program- the band spelled out Halloween at the beginning. They played twilight zone music and made a Dracula and a jack-o-lantern. They also played "Thriller" and had Michigan zombies, which the drum major beat up (and of course, they all did the thriller dance). Ghost Busters was the next song and Brutus was riding in the car. The band made the stay puff marshmallow man and the ghost buster symbol. I was so impressed! Oh, and Ohio State won 45-0, so that was good too :-).

We went to BJ's for some delicious avocado rolls and pizza afterwards. It was a very fun day!!

Game day!

Wow.

So, I know I'm not a parent yet and have no room to tell anyone how to do their most important job, but really. I don't think it's parenting skills, but common sense.

Let me back up for a minute... This morning, I was in the cafeteria when a FIRST GRADER made a racist comment. First grade. Really? I wonder where he heard that...

Are we really living in a time/place that it's acceptable for people to think, let alone speak out loud in front of a child our views in which we judge others based solely on outward appearances? How insanely ignorant.

I've been using the site www.swapadvd.com and it's great! I post old movies that I don't watch anymore and get new ones in the mail. All it costs you is the price to mail the DVD (about $1.90- which is cheaper than a rental and if you really like it, you can keep it!). Anyway, if you decide to join, make sure you put me down as the one that referred you (I'll get swap credits!). My user name is Rachel B. Thanks!

I love fall!

We had fair break on Monday and Tuesday of this week and I've had a wonderful four day weekend! Saturday, I cleaned, unpacked, organized, and baked. Sunday, I spent the whole day with Shan- we shopped and went to a japanese steakhouse for lunch. Monday, Bill and I spent the whole day together- dr's appt, errands, movie (Love Happens- alright movie), and visited with Kristin, Mike, Riley, and "blueberry". Today, I met Sharon, Charlie, and Annika at Polaris. We let the kids play on the playground (and got to catch up), went to a bunch of different stores and the Cheesecake factory for lunch (see the pictures below of C and A enjoying their icecream). It was a wonderful weekend! What do you mean I have to go back to work tomorrow??? :-)

making dog treats

The squirrels are for Roscoe. This is how Sammy stood the entire time
...and this is how the others waited

Diana, Ryan, Zander and Moose all came to visit. We had so much fun! Bill and Ryan went golfing while Diana, Zander and I went swimming. Z is soooo brave around dogs that are three times his size and sticks his face right up to the dogs, just hoping to get kisses. We all agreed that he actually thinks he is a dog.

It's that time of year!

All I want to cook lately is soup! I made veggie soup last week and potato soup tonight... so delicious!!! A couple people asked for my recipe and I truly take after my mom in that I don't follow recipes very well. I usually don't measure and I add whatever I think sounds good so here's basically what I do:

I saute chopped onions and celery.

Add chicken broth and cheddar cheese soup and wait til it boils.

Add potato flakes.

Add baked, chopped red potatoes (I leave the skins on) and some cheddar cheese.

Make sure it's warm through.

Serve it with fat free sour cream, turkey bacon, and a little more cheddar on top.

I made some Tastefully Simple beer bread with it.

If you look on allrecipes.com, you'd probably find a better recipe (if you're into measuring and all that nonsense)

Better yet, just come over some time and I'll make it for you:-)

I love all the beautiful deer around here!

I found Bill's camera, which I was using about a year ago and wanted to post some old pictures.

Nieces and nephews...

fun fall festival last year

These are from the night we got engaged :-)

Shan and me