Family Meal Monday - Mini Nacho Cups

February is such a theme-y month! This week we have Groundhog's Day (what you don't celebrate that?), Lunar New Year, the Superbowl, and Valentine's Day right around the corner.

Well, in honor of the bowl, here are some cute little nachos. This recipe is from Parents Magazine, and is one your child could easily help with.

Mini Nacho Cups

Needed:
18 Tostitos scoops tortilla chips
1/2 of 15 oz can of black beans
1/3 cup salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350

*Put scoop chips in a baking dish
*Combine beans and salsa in saucepan on stove, heat on medium
*Spoon bean mixture into each scoop
*Add cheese
*Put in oven for about 5 minutes.
*Add a little sour cream if desired.
*Viola!

Add finally, a joke for your little one(s): 'What do you call cheese that isn't yours?' 'Nacho cheese!'

Breakfast Party!

Yesterday morning the three of us woke up early (good work Miss P in getting daddy up!) and had a little breakfast party! Armed with a Starbucks card (gift from one of E's students), I got us some goodies, found the new entertainment weekly and US mags in the mailbox, and we cozied up to watch the finale of Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker on dvr. Great way to start the day!

A day in the life...

Everyone who attended our kindergarten winter concert yesterday, was charmed by the cute kids in their matching shirts and decorated headbands. The kids sang sweetly. The teachers were all smiles. Here was my day behind the scenes.

20 minutes before concert:

student one arrives, quietly non-compliant, and crying, as working mom cannot stay for show. I hold him. (by the way he wasn't the first in the door, just the first in my little 'story.' I have 27 students.)

student two arrives, has been absent all week. student two is very young developmentally and is often confused by what is happening around him. Dad does not walk him into classroom to orient him after being gone. I catch him up.

student three arrives via before school care. I am told that he (extremely difficult student) has been out of control physically all morning and that before school care is taking him right to the principal, bypassing the classroom. 5 minutes later he is back. Principal not in office. I hand student three to my student teacher and take back student one, and sit him on my lap to start the day.

5 minutes before concert.

I resend student three and student teacher to office, with student three's favorite books for time being.

student two steps on stage. Say's 'NO!' and throws off headband. I decide he can sit to side of stage until he is ready. Halfway through the show he is.

During concert.
I see student three's dad in audience, I had asked him to come yesterday to help his son. I feel bad he wasn't able to perform.

After concert.
After much coordination, student three is sent home.

Students four and five, become hysterical, that their parents have left. I lead class with them on either side of me, rubbing their backs. We talk about our feelings about parents, the fun things we will do at school today, and ultimately both girls choose to make notes for their parents, sitting on the carpet on either side of me, sobbing the whole time.

Student one is non-compliant and won't move from under an easel. Principal stops by and takes student one for a walk, and calls his mom. Asks if mom can come to tomorrow's show.

Student two asks to go to the bathroom (right outside the room), and then stays in there to play. I send students to ask him to come back. (Student teacher is out of room meeting with supervisor).

After lunch.

All students have calmed down. Students four and five are happy and back to normal.

Student two, however, again asks to go to bathroom (in print in becomes so clear I should have had a better handle on his 'pattern' but there was so much going on that I'm not even including), he then wanders over to the office to visit. Principal returns him.

After school.
Talk with parent of student two for a long time about how we can support him.

whew! We'll see what today brings! Happy Friday!

Gadget Free Games and Play - Crazy Run

A simple game to play with one or multiple young kids - The Crazy Run. Get yourself a comfortable spot in the yard or park, and relax, while you call out these directions:

"Walk."
"Slow run."
"Now, Crazy run!"
"Walk again."

You can modify it to the age of your kids and what will make them laugh. Like, 'Clown run!' or 'Dinosaur run!' or 'Monster run!' and have some interesting conversations about what that kind of run will look like. Join in the fun too, and do your own 'weird run,' and then 'regular run.'

Schooly Shcoolerson

Tomorrow is the 100th day of school for Miss P and I. Here she is preparing her project. If you have a kindergartner or first grader, I'm sure this is in your future too. Easiest way to do it, have them count out items in 10 groups of 10. Then, together you can (re)count all the items from 1 -100. At our school, the kinders just bring in their collections in see through ziplocks. First graders 'amp' it up by hiding their collection in paper bags. On the outside of the bag are clues of the contents. Clever idea, I think!

Personally, yesterday was a doozy for me at school. I am getting all 'eye of the tiger' for today. Tonight a mom friend and I are seeing a showing of Race to Nowhere. So the theme for today is school! What have you learned lately?

Family Meal Monday - Tortilla Soup

I found this delicious, filling, soup recipe awhile back on Three Peanuts
I wanted to share it too, as it is a favorite in our family now! Easy to make and perfect for winter. Enjoy!


Tortilla Soup (from the cookbook Stop and Smell the Rosemary)

6 tbs vegetable oil

8 corn tortillas, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1 medium onion, chopped

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

2 tbs ground cumin

1 tbs chili powder

3 bay leaves

6 cups chicken stock

1 teaspoon salt

4 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cubed

Optional garnishes:

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

cubed avocado

Sour Cream

Tortilla chips

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add tortilla, garlic, cilantro and onion. Saute 2-3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes. Bring to a boil and add cumin, chili powder, bay leaves and chicken stock. Return to a boil. Reduce heat. Add salt and cayenne. Simmer 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the chicken. Reheat for a few minutes. Spoon into bowls and garnish with cheese, avocado, sour cream and/or tortilla chips. Yum!

I am....

Loving the gorgeous 70 degree weather we are enjoying...

Loving the date I had with myself this morning, working out, getting Starbucks and browsing through Borders

Loving Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project. Check it out here!

Loving that E and I had a 'like the good 'ol days' 90-minute conversation about everything under the sun last night

Love that I met my work-out goal this week!

Love that we have a date night tonight

Love that Miss P is happily engaged with a play-date right now, and I, shockingly, have nothing I have to do.

Love that I have new books and magazines piled up on my book stand!

Love that E has been all over chores lately, and is now getting my car washed

What are you loving today?