OUR FIRST

We have never hosted a Thanksgiving meal before, that the preparations weren't carefully supervised by a more experienced mother figure. This time we were on our own. There was no one to ask how to roll out a pie crust, to share the best fruit salad recipe, or provide reassurance that the turkey is in fact, cooked through.

Okay. I got it into the pan. Now what?

We tag teamed the pie. Andrew handled the filling while I conquered the crust. Ready to bake!

Our makeshift place settings. We took our tiny kitchen table built for two, pushed it up against our skinny hall table, and covered it with a spare window curtain. We didn't have enough matching place mats for our three guests, so I just went with the mismatched look. Not only the place mats were different, but so were the chairs, and all of the dishes. Apparently, we're not set up very well to entertain.
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And I'm still wondering why I took a picture of the table...and not the people.
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But we enjoyed a lovely meal with belching Becca, her Canadian roommate, and Andrew's crippled Canadian business partner (ha!). Then we played card games, ate pie, and kicked our friends out, so we could hit the icy road. We were off to Utah for the next day's Thanksgiving dinner!

(The camera doesn't capture it, but imagine a whirling blizzard out that window.)

THANKFUL THURSDAY--I Scream

Dreyer's holiday ice cream flavors. Absolutely delicious. Even better with a warm brownie.
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My gratitude knows no bounds for these rich, creamy, festive desserts. Especially that of the Egg Nog variety...
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TEACHING SCENE TUESDAY--achin' for bacon

There is a student in my class who I love a lot. He is so weird and quirky and funny. He's the sweetest thing and makes me laugh on a daily basis. Recently, he quipped the following to me:

"Mrs. Ashmore, you know what we should do? At the end of the year, let's have a party with bacon ...because I like bacon. And cupcakes. Everyone likes cupcakes. Can we do that, Mrs. Ashmore?"

A few minutes later, I heard him exclaim to no one in particular, his head buried in his desk:

"That's where my mustache went!"

...And because I'm at a loss for a way to follow that, I'll just end now.

Until next time,

Mrs. Ashmore

MEMORY MONDAY--Fluffy

Fourteen years old. Gilbert Jr. High.
Mr. Granio's 8th grade earth science class.

"Grah-knee-O," he demonstrated the first day of class, pointing to his own knee at the appropriate syllable.

He was AWESOME. And totally weird. But that is probably what made him so cool in the first place. Let me share what I remember about Mr. Granio.

1.) He was great at multi-tasking. He could give lectures about tectonic plates while shooting at flies with rubber bands (the classroom door faced a horse field). I've never seen a happier man than the day he shot and killed one flying midair.

2.) When he thought something was funny, it wasn't a knee slapper...it was an ELBOW slapper. He'd laugh hysterically while slapping his elbow. Like I said. Weird.

3.) Mr. Granio reminded me a Fred Flinstone. Without the orange dress.

4.) One day, Mr. Granio excitedly told the class that his wife was having a baby girl. We got on the subject of names, and he got frustrated, as he described the difficulties of agreeing on a name. Apparently his wife just wouldn't cooperate. When we asked what he wanted to name her, he replied dramatically, with outstretched arms, his attentive students in suspense:

"...Beached...Whale..."

he said, staring theatrically at an unknown distant vision.

5.) We were never allowed to say we got a HAIR cut. He said this didn't make sense. Why would we go to a hair salon and pay to have ONE hair trimmed? No...we got a HAIRS cut.

6.) Mr. Granio had a pet rock. He named it Fluffy, kept it in a cage, and had students regularly change its food and water. He would even remove it from the cage, put it in a hamster ball, and let it get some "exercise." The strangest part was the fact that the ball would actually rove all through the room as if a real animal was running its little heart out.

7.) And he taught us a bunch of stuff about rocks...and space...and volcanoes. That was cool too.


It's amazing what an impact a teacher can have.

THANKFUL THURSDAY--thankful tree

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Every year, our class writes what they are thankful for on construction paper leaves, and arranges them on our thankful tree. 


Of course there are the usual and expected:
I am thankful for...

• my family
• friends
• mom
• dad
• Mrs. Ashmore
• school

But being from a predominately LDS community, our tree also holds leaves that say: 

I am thankful for...

• the scriptures
• the temple
• Heavenly Father
• Jesus
• the church

And then there are the unique ones that remind why I just love these kids: 

I am thankful for...

• ME!
• A voice
• doughnuts
• milk and water
• flowers in my yard
• a birthday
• sports
• turkeys
• Pokemon cards

SNOW DAY.

The alarm went off, and I smiled. The wind was still moaning against the window pane. This was a good sign.

I ripped off the covers and ran straight for the computer. Andrew was up right behind me, beelining for the radio in the kitchen.

No news yet.

I made my way back to bedroom, stopping several times to pull back the curtains and scrutinize the whirling snowfall. The wind seemed fierce enough to me. But you never can tell for sure.

I dressed slowly, despite knowing I would need more time to drive to work today. I was listening carefully to the newscasters in the other room.

Where was my phone? I quickly found it buried beneath the flannel sheets. Turning the volume up several notches, I slid it into my pocket and strolled off to brush my teeth.

Last night, I had viewed the accumulation with suspicion. In spite of an already prepared to-do list (just in case, you see), I couldn't allow for too much hope. This is Rexburg, Idaho, after all. Suddenly, I heard magical keywords floating in from the kitchen.

"...schools...."

"...closures..."

I skittered across the cold, wood floor in time to hear the morning DJ announce, "...after this song." Sliding to a stop, I forlornly turned and headed back toward the bathroom.

Meandering past wads of scattered Kleenex, I sighed deeply and ran my hands through my hair. Oh, how I need this! Homework, report cards, laundry...not to mention my sanity. I could imagine thousands of children and teachers, anxiously pacing their southeast Idaho homes. All going crazy with suspense.

Just then, the front door flew open, and Andrew stomped in covered with snow. He had been shoveling through the drifts across our driveway.

"We're the only house on the block with snow!"

I smiled at his exasperation. But mostly, I smiled at what was another very good sign.

After chugging a glass of water, he tromped back out, while I went to check the computer again for some news.

But then...there came, floating up from my pocket, the most joy-filled little jingle. I don't get calls at six in the morning unless...

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A combination of the wind, my hoarse sore throat, and Andrew bundled up to his eyeballs, I doubt he heard a word of my jubilation. But my quivering, happy dance on the front stoop left no room for question as to the news, I'm sure. The neighbor's double take at my celebration, from across the street, didn't even phase me.

Looking over the wind carved designs in our yard very nearly made me cry. It was going to be a glorious snow day.

SOME GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN LATELY

I bought a Christmas wreath for an amazing 50% off deal at the local craft store. I am head-over-heals and believe it only the beginning of what is to be a long, lovely relationship. Isn't it gorgeous?

It has been a very wet, drippy, slushy week. Rexburg can't decide whether to snow or rain or sleet. It changes its mind every couple of hours. 

I suppose the weather has a lot to do with the fact that this dinner was simply glorious. Aren't soup bowls the coziest of meals? 

We are having such a fun time designing a house! Andrew uses AutoCAD to draw up our sketches, before we analyze, discuss, and revise again. After months of drafts we are almost there. Just a few more kinks to iron out. It'll be a small, Craftsman style, 3-bedroom home. 

It sure is fun to have a builder for a husband, because even on our modest budget, he can do most everything himself. This allows for us to afford some pretty little extras. I've had trims, cabinets, wood, and paint on the brain for awhile now, so I'll have to share the decor ideas I've gathered soon. We'd like to start the process in the next six months or so, so stay tuned!