Banana Blueberry Bread

Ripe bananas and blueberries yum. I was going to make plain banana bread, but I had some blueberries in the frig, so I added some to the mix along with a little orange zest. I like it. The blueberries pop with flavor when you bite into them and it is a nice change from the plain banana bread.

Just thoughts

No picture, but some thoughts. Danielle went back to Berkeley today. She made it back up north in no time.

After a very long work week with hubby out of town, and a lot of things going on I am tired. Just want to relax and then I turn around and then I have to get sub plans together for next week. I have to be out 3 days; 2 days for training and 1 for dentist. It is just go, go, go, and then crash at the end of the day.

Some weeks seem like a blur. But not all understand the trials and tribulations that I go through during a week. NO, they are disappointed in me that I am not jumping up and doing exactly what they want. Many times what I like is not what they want, so I don't even bother asking because their noise would turn up. I don't like conflict, so I know when not to participate or ask.. But then I get a different response that is totally unnecessary.

Anyway, it was nice to take a walk with the dogs to clear my head. I love to walk in the moonlight with the shadows. There were a few stars out tonight and the air had a slight chill to it. How nice!

Let me see? I am the one who always takes the dogs to the vet, I get home at 4 or 5 but don't slow down until 6 or 8 and then I still have work to do for school. I do all the bills and feed all the animals at 5 am and 5 pm very rarely does someone else step in to help. Litter boxes and poop pick up that's me. Non stop but yet someone is disappointed in me because I don't have dinner ready. Well whatever I make is usually not what the other wants to eat, so I don't bother being shot down. I have never bitched and moaned about having to do everything with the animals and the son; while the other person is working or on travels; and on top of that I have to make sure that I am doing my job to the standard that is expected. Which is very challenging.

But I am Wonder Woman and I can do all without any issues and I am not tired; nor do I get tired and I have all the energy in the world and want to please everyone. Wrong! Times have changed and I have to have limits other wise I get overwhelmed. Life goes on...

January Bulletin Boards for Classroom

Here are a few cute bulletin boards that Danielle help me put up this weekend. The first is of the students New Year goals. The second is a graph that we are going to do. Lastly is the student's writing wall.

School Tomorrow

Back to school I go. Went out to the classroom today with Danielle and we were able to get some bulletin boards up. I will post them tomorrow. It makes it a little easier to go back with some review of where we left off and where I need to go, since it has been two weeks.

I started this morning making cinnamon rolls with my new food processor. It took awhile for the dough to rise and then rise again. Here are a few snapshots of the end result. I made half with raisins and half without. I think they turned out pretty yummy. I used part of Paula Deen's and part of another random recipe.

Early New Year Celebration 2011

We went out front before Ethan's bedtime and popped some Poppers to celebrate 2011. Ethan got to stay up and watch the ball drop in Time Square then he had to get to bed. Here a some cute pictures of us celebrating early.

New Year's Eve Day

Wow, it is the last day of 2010. It was a busy year, but a good year. Here are some things that happened, this year. Mollie, our chocolate lab, passed away in January, this was very hard because she had been struggling with seizures most of her life and it finally took its toll on her, to where she was no longer able to walk. It was a very sad moment in time having to say good bye to such a sweet dog.

Danielle is up in Berkeley going to school, and her sister Lauren is in Oakland working at an arts college. Lauren and her boyfriend adopted a cute

dog from the local shelter and they named him Rupert.

For our anniversary in February, we made a trip up to Big Bear and had a very nice stay at a place called Lagonita Lodge. Ethan got to have his first lesson in snow boarding. We had a lot of snow and actually went back up the week after and took our dogs Gibson and Toby with us, because we had lost Ethan's favorite childhood toy a bear, aka. Beary.

In the spring Ethan and I made a trip up to see the girls, Lauren and Danielle. We stayed at the Berkeley Marine which was great. We also got to see our old cat, Cosmo, that Lauren took to college with her. When we were up there he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his jaw and passed soon after. We went to an ice cream shop around the corner from Danielle's place that is called Ici Ice Cream, it is the best ever!!!

Spring time and the end of my school year brought some other news. My district closed a school and did a major reconfiguration. My whole team was going to be sent to other schools and other grades. I escaped the stress by going with Greg and Ethan to Camp Surf, which is a YMCA camp. We had a lot of fun.

A new restuarant that we found in San Diego, Cafe 222, with banana peanut butter stuffed french toast and cool tea cup chandeler.

In may we adopted a German Shepherd puppy from the local San Diego GS rescue. She has been a real joy with a lot of craziness, but a lot of laughs too.

Ethan's 7th birthday at Boomers.

In July we finally got a chance to go to Ohio to visit Greg's dad and extended family. We had a lot of fun and a lot of good food too. It was very beautiful back there and everyone was very friendly too. Ethan had a great time in Nan's and Bebaw's swimming pool.

My sister's daughter Audrey and her family came down from Oregon and all the kids had a great time together.

Come August I had to regroup and move to a new school, new grade, and work with a new partner doing a new program, but Greg and Ethan were able to go to Florida to visit his grandma Karen and grandpa Jim. They were even able to go to the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They loved the butter beer.

Have inside classroom with no windows. Picture above is before and below is after setting room up with Danielle's help.

Ethan started school at our local school he is in 2nd grade this year and at least there were some friends that he had know in Fallbrook, when he attended school at my old school site. He is doing well in 2nd grade and is able to attend an after care that he went to when he was little, so he knows everyone and helps them out by reading to the younger children.

On Labor Day Greg invested in a brand new car. He got a nice Honda called a Crosstour.

Ethan joined Fall ball and he did a wonderful job. His last game was the best he hit the ball way out there. He played catcher, outfield, and on different bases too. He had a great season. This was his first time ever playing ball with a team.

My father's health is failing. His bone cancer is progressing even with treatment, we feel that this will be his last Thanksgiving and Christmas. I wish there was away to ease his pain; the pain that he will not show to anyone; but at times one is able to see a glimpse of the dad we once knew.

Margaux moved out with her dog, Toby, down to San Diego, the North Park area and is living in a house with some other friends who live a Vegan lifestyle. She works down in San Diego at the Ruby's restaurant down them Mission Valley. We see her on occasion, but she likes her independence.

Halloween for Lacie and Ethan.

Lauren and Danielle went all out for Halloween this year. Lauren was a Russian nesting doll and Danielle was a dead swimmer.

Birthday breakfast down in San Diego.

My big sister came down from Washington State to see my dad and we also celebrated our birthdays with my brother at the Macaroni Grill.

Ethan writing his letter to Santa to put next to the cookies he baked with LaLa.

Lauren came down to see Grandpa and to celebrate Christmas with all of us.

All in all we feel very thankful to have had a very nice 2010, a lot of happy memories and looking forward to more in the future.