5 Random Things

The Challenge: Post 5 random facts about you that most people do not already know.

1.  I know how to drive a stick shift.

2.  I have never been to Disneyland or Disney world.  I'm hoping to go next summer before Zac leaves on his mission.

3.  I like to Zumba.  I'm addicted to a lot of things; chocolate, TV, reading, food in general, but I have never been addicted to exercise.  Well, then I discovered Zumba.  I'm a little obsessed with it.  I like to look up routines on Youtube, download music from Amazon, and if I had Wii I would get Zumba Wii.  I like to Zumba because it is more dance moves than just exercise moves.

4.  With as much reading as I like to do, I've never read Lord of the Rings or any of the Harry Potter books.  I have seen all three Lord of the Rings movies.  I have seen some parts of the Harry Potter movies on TV because the kids were watching it.

5.  I hate bananas.  OK, maybe most people know that about me, but there are plenty of other foods that I don't like.  I don't like broccoli, mushrooms, peas, green beens, and melons.  I have never tried nor will I try calamari or octopus.  I like ketchup but not tomatoes, I like pickles but not cucumbers, I like green olives but not black olives.

Bacon Birthday Party

For Zac's 18th birthday party it was all about bacon.  As a gift we got a t-shirt with a pig on it titled Baconfreak.  I got it from www.baconfreak.com.  They also have bacon themed gifts and foods. I got some gummy bacon strips that were strawberry flavored.  It went well with the gummy eggs I bought at Essenhaus.

I bought Cheddar & Bacon Kraft Easy Cheese and I made a bacon cheddar dip that I got from Sam's Club.  These were great with crackers.

I made cheddar and bacon biscuits and displayed them in a bacon basket that I made.  Zac especially liked the bacon basket.  I placed a Pyrex glass bowl inverted on a plate lined with paper towels to catch the grease.  Then I wove bacon over the bowl until covered.  I placed that in the microwave for 4 minutes, checked it, 2 more minutes, checked it, then another 2 minutes.  I pulled it out and set it aside to cool and harden.  Then I placed another plate on top and turned the whole thing over, over the sink.  The bowl was easy to slide out.

The main course was grilled bacon wrapped scallops, bacon wrapped chicken, and bacon wrapped jalapeno chicken.

I also made Pull-Apart Bacon Bread.  This was really good, even Kyle liked them and he is not a fan of Ranch dressing. Here is the recipe:

12 bacon strips, cooked and diced or use 1 package of Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits
24 thawed Rhodes Rolls bread dough
2 Tbsp. olive or vegetable oil.
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 envelope (1 oz.) ranch salad dressing mix


In a bowl mix together bacon bits, mozzarella, and ranch mix.  Pour oil into another bowl.  Roll bread dough in oil then in the coating.  Arrange dough in a ring about 2 layers high on a greased baking sheet or in a dutch oven.  Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.  Bake for 30 minutes.

The birthday cake was just a spice cake and I mixed some bacon bits into the batter.  I coated the cake with maple flavored frosting.  I made some bacon 'roses' to hold the candles.

One of his guests gave him bacon flavored toothpaste and that guest was wearing a shirt that said Bacon Strips, Bacon Strips.

The activity for the night was just Xbox video games.  All boys, munching bacon, yelling, whooping and hollering as they played.  My sister Emma and her kids were there.  We adults hung out in the kitchen told stories, gossiped and laughed.

BYU vs. Utah

So the middle school where I work is having a food drive leading up to the BYU vs. U of U football game on Saturday the 17th.  To kick of the food drive we had the cheerleaders and mascots from both teams at an assembly.  Just before they left I was able to talk them into coming in my class and taking a picture.  It was easy because my classroom is right by the front door.

They agreed and I think I became a hero or rockstar to the students in that class.  It was awesome and everyone was so nice.

Indiana Vacation

My family had a reunion in Middlebury, Indiana where I grew up.  We left Wednesday night after Zac got home from work and drove through most of the night.  We stopped in Eagle, Co. for a nap.  We took I-70 East.  This route let us see some cities we don't normally see when we go to Indiana.  We usually drive I-80.  We stopped in Kansas City, MO and ate at Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue.  I feel like since we have a BBQ concession stand that eating BBQ in Kansas City has given us some street credit.

We drove on spending the night in Independence, MO.  Sadly we did not take the time to visit some LDS historical sites (I'm saving that for our next trip out).  We did stop in St. Louis, MO and had BBQ at Bandanas. I loved the country decor of this place.  We visited the arch taking the tram to the top.

We drove on to Indiana arriving at the cabin about 2am.  There were 19 people staying there, but surprisingly we all got along fine.

Saturday morning we had breakfast at the Essenhaus.

Then we did some sightseeing in Shipshewana.  We got back to the cabin for some reunion talent show and games.  Sunday we went to church and visited Elkhart I and II wards.  My nephew was baptized that afternoon.  Then for dinner we went to an ice cream supper at my uncle Tony's.  From there I met up with 2 friends, Rachel and Jennifer, at Rachel's house.  We had a nice chat with her parents and my brother.

Monday we went swimming at Lakeside Park in Syracuse, IN.  I got sunburned.  We got some nifty pictures of my parents napping.

And Zane flashing things.

That night we had an Amish Dinner at Uncle Leo's. After dinner more family showed up and there was a comedy routine performed by Professor Schnitzel (my dad's cousin Merv or Merf as I heard him called).

Tuesday we did some more sightseeing/visiting in Middlebury/Shipshewana.  The kids got buggy rides at Cousin Susie's.

I went to Davis Mercantile, I got to chat with my cousin Heidi at her Red Wagon Toy Shop.  Eat lunch at cousin JoJo's Pretzels.

We ate so much food during this vacation.  I'm sure I've gained at least 6 lbs.

Then we went to Cedar Point where we rode some serious roller coasters.  We went on Mantis, Millennium Force, Iron Dragon, and Top Fuel Dragster to name a few.

Wednesday and Thursday we drove back along I-80 for home.  Our van started breaking down so we stopped in La Porte, IN.  The van spent a couple of hours in the shop.  It had a broken rocker arm at cylinder 6 (if that means anything to anybody).  But we got to check out a cool store, The Co-Op Shoppe and have dinner at Martin's Pizzeria where they have delicious cheese rolls.  We spent the night in Davenport, IA and Laramie, WY.  We arrived home Friday about 4pm.

Graduation

Well, it's official, I have graduated college and now have a Bachelor degree.  Here I am with the Dean of the McKay School of Education of Brigham Young University.

I chose to walk with my class in April even though I needed to defer my actual graduation until June because I had to finish up two general education classes on Independent Study.

I got my diploma in the mail and Kyle said, "Well, it's official.  They can't take it away from you now."

I have earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with a Severe emphasis.  Also, I have my teaching license that states I am a Level 1 teacher.

In some ways I can't believe I've made it.  I don't have anymore classes to take (at least until I want to get my Masters).  I don't have anymore homework assignments except for what I assign to others.

This year I will be working at South Hills Middle School in Herriman.  I will be teaching 7-9 graders in an ID Cluster Unit (Intellectual Disabilities).  I will  be commuting again this year.  But, I am thankful that I have a job this year.  It seemed like several school districts have been making budget cuts through lay offs, job consolidation and furlough days.

I am also excited about making a full-time teacher salary.  I know, I know, teachers don't get paid much.  But working for 12 years as an aide and 1 year as an intern it is still an increase for me (like, double what I've made in the past).

I am looking forward to using the increase in funds to fix this old house, sell it, and buy a new house.  Maybe get a new (to me) car that gets better gas mileage.  Also, start saving for my kids' missions and college funds.

Big plans, I've got big plans.