Veteran's day hike

Veteran's day I didn't have to work which was pretty rad. Michelle and I went on a great hike. We were trying to find another hike but it was no where to be found. It was awesome to get out and get some exercise during the day when I normally wouldn't have. We had a grand time and took some pictures to prove it. Here is a glimpse of what you all missed. . .

Here is a synchronized jumping picture. We pretty much rock.

Advent Calendars

We have kind of slacked off when it has come to our craft/dessert night but it's the holiday season so things get quite busy. We did do advent calendars. Here are a few pictures of the first night we started them. Mine didn't get done until a little bit later but it is on the right.

Apple turnovers and truffles

This week we decided to make apple turnovers and truffles. This week our numbers increased a little bit. My friend Sarah came and so did Jayme a friend from the ward. Overall our desserts turned out beautifully. We did get into a sticky situation when we tried to melt the chocolate to cover the truffles. Next time we will have to do it a little differently. I am excited to see what we do next week! It is craft week! Any suggestions?

Here we are in the process of making the apple turnovers.



Here is the end result! Very delicious.



All the different kinds of truffles!


Here's a closer look of the goodness!

Saturday Craft Night

This week we decided that we would learn how to knit. Michelle was our teacher this week and taught us how to start (cast-on) and also do a basic knit stitch. Hopefully, I will be able to get the hang of it and actually knit something! It took me about an hour and a half to do 5 rows of stitches. In the beginning I thought big by wanting to do a scarf. I soon realized that I am not an awesome knitter and decided to think small and now I want to knit a bracelet. I think it would look rad.

Megan & I Michelle & Katie Me(pardon the immaturity)

First Dessert Night

This is the beginning of a new tradition. We actually decided to start our desert/craft club. On our first night we decided to make chocolate chip scones and hot caramel apple cider. It was a lovely fall night and everything was delicious. We didn't take pictures but I will do better next week.

Just throwing it out there

I have some ideas for some get togethers. This is for my own good so that I remember. I want to do a "make something new" night. Where a each week a group gets together and learns to make a drink, dish or a dessert. I like the drink called a tequila sunrise naturally, it would be minus the alcohol. I want to increase my skills in the kitchen.

I also want to do a craft night where a small group gets to learn a new crafty skill. I want to learn how to make beanies and other cute things.

On a side note, I got these rad John Deere fruit snacks. They are in the shape of a tractor, farm house, sun and even a cute little pig AND they taste good. Man my life is good.

Snicker Salad

I love snicker salad! It's quick and easy. It surely doesn't look pretty but it tastes delicious!
Here's the recipe:

Snicker Salad
1 (12 0z) tub of cool whip --I usually use the fat free kind
6 Granny Smith apples
2 cups milk
2 (3.4 0z) boxes vanilla pudding
6 regular snickers

First cut up the snickers and apples into bit size pieces. Pour milk into a large bowl and then stir in vanilla pudding until mixed well. Add the cool whip. Then add the apples and snickers. Stir all ingredients until mixed up nicely. Chill for one hour before serving.

Goals

So apparently I need life goals. What's this about? They never taught that stuff in college. Weird.

Just Spit it Out!

Okay here I go!

"Hi Reid,

It's Melissa...

Um...I like when you wear your glasses. (What I really want to say is, I think you are a good catch and really good looking)

The end...K Bye!"

Why is it so darn hard to say what you mean? I would really say that stuff! I totally sympathize with ya Reid. So call me!

Little Tidbits

1. I have commitment issues
For example, I can't sign a 1 year lease because I don't know if I will want to be there for a WHOLE year! AHHH! If I can't commit to a lease how am I ever going to be able to commit to a man! Yikes, I am in deep trouble.
2. I am socially clumsy
3. I admit that I enjoy to face-stalk. I have no excuse I just love it!

Question of the Day: Are _______ real?

I have been teaching 1t grade this whole week and have got some great questions thrown my way. This class is pretty well behaved but they have a hard time following/listening to directions so I explain it completely then I say, "Does anyone have any questions?" (I figure that they know I am asking them about the assignment--wrong) Here are some of the questions I have got:
~ Are owls real?
-yes
~ Are snakes real?
- yes
~ Are dinosaurs real?
- yes but they are extinct--which means that they aren't on earth anymore.
- "Are they in heaven?" (What do I say about that!!)
- Ummm, if that is what you believe then YES. (Apparently someone's been watching too much All Dogs Go To Heaven!)
~ Mia is going like this (as she sticks her tongue out) to me!
- Um is that a question?

It indeed has been a tiresome week. Tattling is ever present. Boogers are still a delicacy. Crawling around on the floor is a norm. Licking glue is still appealing to some. The upside to this whole thing is that one lone skittle has the power of an army. Let me explain. Skittles are for kids that are quick and quiet. If every one is loud and rowdy on the carpet all I have to do is whip out the Skittles and give one to the student that is sitting quietly.

If you want a taste of my life with a few laughs watch this clip. Love it! (Thanks Meagan!)

You know what bothers me?

Ok. I'll tell you. People who work at retail and fast food locations that don't know a thing about customer service.

Today, I tried to go to Quiznos for a salad. Did they have lettuce? NO. What the heck. You use lettuce for salad and sandwiches, and if that is what your store is all about, why don't you have lettuce? It is absurd. When I told the two boys (they were really grown men but they didn't act like it) that it was poor management they told me that "they couldn't do anything about it." So what did I do? Obviously what any rational person would do. Flipped them the bird and walked out. I am really kidding about the bird but I did walked out.



After this situation, I was still hungry so I stopped by Wendy's to get a chicken wrap. I asked the woman if the homestyle chicken wrap was crispy chicken. Does that sound like a question to you? It sounded like a question to me. Instead of answering my question she said "you want a crispy chicken sandwich?" NO! I don't want a sandwich. So I repeated my question. Did I get an answer? Yes, but not to my question she said "it that all for you?" FOR THE LOVE!!! NO. I said "I asked you a question!" So for her benefit, I repeated the question. Then finally she answered my question. Praises! I got my homestyle chicken wrap! Wahoo!

In other news, I have been trying to be positive rather than my usual negative self. It was working so well until my dinner situation. I didn't let the crazy utah drivers get to me or the little first graders that I taught or that I couldn't get out of the school parking lot for over ten minutes or I had to stand in the freezing rain for 15 minutes to watch the little children play with jump ropes. None of that stuff got to me. I had a great day! It really helps to be positive!

Heart Wrenching

Tonight I watched the movie, "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." It was very well made but it was extremely sad. My heart literally broke for both boys and their families. I am so grateful that I was not born in that time because I don't think that I would be able to handle a situation like a concentration camp. Unfortunately, horrible events like this happened and have continued to happen since. Perhaps not on the large scale as the Holocaust, but hatred runs deep. It opened my eyes to the tender hearts of children, if only I could be that great of a friend and have an open heart to all people no matter their station in life. If you have not watched the movie, I would recommend it because it opened my eyes to many things and reminded me how blessed I really am.

Quack!

I was subbing for an elementary school recently and there was a school assembly. My class did surprisingly well by being quiet and sitting on their 'pockets' (as we call them). While the speaker was talking it was extremely quiet and then randomly this kid impulsively yells 'Quack' just like a duck! There was a moment of silence so everyone could register what the heck just happened and then I couldn't control my laughter. I had to giggle like a school girl. . . very fitting considering the circumstances. Oh the random things that happen in the life of a substitute!

Love is in the air

Yesterday Jessica and Clarke got married. Jessie looked so beautiful and happy! It was truly a wonderful thing to see. Here are some pictures from the reception and outside the temple.