My Last Day of {Paid} Work

In November I put in my notice at work.  It was really hard, as I worked hard to get where I was career-wise and I did actually enjoy most of what I did.  Sean and I just felt like the best decision right now for our family is for me to be home (especially with my commute being so long now and also with the new baby coming).  I had agreed that I would continue to work as long as I could drop Ethan off at the bus stop and pick him up - until they found a replacement.  My replacement started at the end of January and  Friday (February 18th) was my last day.  It's very weird to think that I'm not working anymore, I've been working for the past 11 years. 

Top Things I Loved About What I Did/Where I Worked (and What I Will Miss Most):

• the people I worked with - everyone got along so well and really helped each other out
• The residents - they taught me so much!  Not just crocheting, history lessons from those who lived through major historical events, but also in small things like not taking things (such as being able to walk unassisted) for granted
• The sense of accomplishment when an issue was finally resolved (or when an insurance company finally paid after months of them beating around the bush)
• My lunch bunch <3

Top Things I Will Not Miss:

• getting yelled at when I was the bearer of bad news to residents/Power of Attorneys that, yes, they really do owe the full amount on their statement, even though yes, I realize it is thousands of dollars.
• The commute  (although 99.5 and the Kane Show made it a little more bearable)
• paying $5.30 for a cheese quasadilla and V8 Splash at the Cafe for lunch when I didn't pack one (which was almost everyday for the last three months)
• Residents passing away
• Medicaid (need I say more?!)

I have learned so much from working at this company - especially from my last position there - the Business Office Manager.  I now know more than I ever wanted to regarding Medicare (what it covers/doesn't, etc), Long Term Care Inusurance, health insurance coverage for skilled nursing, and so much more.  The company was a wonderful one to work for and I definitely recommend it to anyone. 

Yes, I will miss that place.

Part of the Gang.. 

Berwick, Natalie (who is taking over my position), Mariah, Michell,

Dana, Holly H., Jacopo

(Berwick, Michell, Dana, Jacopo and I were all in finance - Mariah and Holly

were in RG Admissions)

Recipe

Snap Peas 'n' Ham Alfredo

1 package frozen pasta, broccoli, and Alfredo sauce
2 cups fresh sugar snap peas
1/4 cup water
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Prepare pasta and sauce according to package directions.  Meanwhile, place peas and ater in microwavbe safe dish and cook in microwave for about a minute.  Drain. 

Stir the peas, ham, oregano, and pepper into pasta mixture; cook and stir for 3/4 minutes or until heaed through.

**Note:  I did not use frozen pasta, broccoli and Alfredo sauce.  I made pasta (using Rigatoni noodles), cooked fresh broccoli, and made the Alfredo sauce - then just mixed it all together when it was cooked.

SURVEY SAYS:  Keeper.  Not a favorite of mine, but Ethan loved it - aske for seconds and ate it all!  To me it was kind of plain.  Sean isn't home so I don't know what he will think about it, but hopefully he will like it because we have lots of leftovers!

Recipe

Chicken Shepherd's Pie
2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 oz. each), cubed
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 puch (3.6 oz) roasted garlic mashed potatoes
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2-1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
1 cup fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn

In a small skillet, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon butter until no longer pink; set aside and keep warm.  Prepare mashed potatoes according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat.  Whisk in flour until smooth.  Gradually add milk; stir in seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 3/4 cup Swiss cheese until melted.  Add peas, corn, and chicken.  Transfer to a greased 2 qt. baking dish.  Top with mashed potatoes; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.  Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

SURVEY SAYS:  It's a keeper:)  Sean and Ethan didn't really like it; however, Sean got seconds (and ate it all) and Ethan also ate all of his plate.  I liked it, so since everyone ate everything on their plates, I'm adding this to our "keep" folder:)

Another New Recipe

Cream Cheese Chicken
4 - 4oz chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix (You buy it on the salad dressing aisle where the ranch packets are sold also.
1 8oz cream cheese
Put chicken breast in crock pot. In seperate bowl mix the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the cream cheese together. Pour over chicken. Cook over low for about 4 hours. When chicken is done, shred the chicken into smaller pieces. Cut up the bar of cream cheese, and add to mix. Stir well until cheese is all melted. You could also add a little bit of water or chicken broth if you don't like the mixture so thick.

**If you don't want to do the crock pot, I have heard of mixing all ingredients including the cream cheese and pouring over the chicken in 9x13. Then bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until chicken is tender**

Serve over rice or noodles.

SURVEY SAYS.... YUM!  The boys both got seconds and we were all members of the Clean Plate Club:)  And it is incredibly easy to make - another bonus!

Ethan's Student of the Quarter Award!

A couple of weeks ago Ethan brought home a note from his teacher in a sealed envelope - when I opened it, I found a letter from the principal, vice principal, and the counselors stating that he was selected to be Student of the Quarter because he was recognized "for showing good character."  The school would be hosting an assembly for the kids and asked that the parents come as well.  Yesterday was the assembly - it was so hard to not say anything to Ethan while we got ready in the morning!  I took him to the bus stop like every normal day and then went back home for a couple minutes and then Sean and I headed to the school. 

As Sean and I were sitting in the gym waiting, they announced all of the children that were selected over the loud speaker and asked that they go to the gym.  They were lined up outside and all filed in.  It was so cute seeing them - they all looked so surprised and slightly confused as to what was going on. 

Sean was in charge of the Flip and I was in charge of the camera.  They announced each child's name and a little blurb about them.  The announcer was talking fast, so Sean and I were both a little caught off guard when she announced Ethan, but Sean was able to capture Ethan at the stage getting his certificate (and TGI Fridays coupon and pencil) and part of the blurb about why he was selected.  At the end of the assembly,  Ethan stood up and looked behind us and finally saw us!  His face lit up and when we reached each other, he said, "how did you know?!"  I told him that we were told to keep it a secret. 

Ethan showed us where the cafeteria is and the bulletin board that someone had made for the "Students of the Quarter" and then to his classroom.

I am so proud of him!!!

Ethan next to his spotlight on the bulletin board

Some of the wonderful reasons he was chosen:)

My Scripture Study Inspiration

One of my New Years Resolutions for this year to have meaningful scripture study.  I often find myself (especially during the last six months) simply reading the scriptures and not really getting anything out of it because I didn't really put much effort into it aside from opening my scriptures and reading. 

I recently stumbled upon this blog:  http://theredheadedhostess.com/?tag=scripture-study-journals.  What an inspiring lady!  I am in complete awe of all of her hard work and inspiration that she has gained through creating these journals. 

For the last couple of years, I have had a journal in which I take notes from each General Conference talk, notes during Institute (when I used to go), etc., but it is not organized by topic, which would be extremely helpful, especially when I need to give a talk about a subject.  Don't get me wrong, I love re-reading what I have written and find it very inspiring, but having it by topic would be much better. 

So, inspired by "Shannon," I am going make my extra journal (that I happen to have already) into my Scripture Journal.  I'm going to pick a topic, study it, and take notes in this journal.  I can't wait!  I already have a list of topics I want to start with: 

• Gifts we are blessed with
• Zion
• timeline of Joseph Smith's Life
• History of the Church
• Prayer/Personal Revelation

I'm going to keep up with my old journal, too, as I find it very helpful to go through G.C. talks and take notes - and also so all of my notes from stake conferences, etc. are in one place.

:)

I'm Pregnant!

Much to my surprise, I found out I was pregnant a couple weeks after we got married. I was constantly tired and decided to take a pregnancy test.  When it came back positive, I was in absolute shock.  Sean was out of town and had mentioned that he may have to stay in NC over the weekend.  I insisted that he come home-I could tell that he was surprised by my insistence, but I didn't want to tell him over the phone and I was bursting to tell him!  Before we got married we had casually talked about how he wanted to be told when we were going to have a baby, and he said that he wanted me to surprise him.  So, this is what I made:

Ok, so not the craftiest thing I have made, but I was still in shock and didn't have much time (plus, my good scrapbooking stuff was already packed in boxes).  When he finally got home it was late and he insisted on getting settled (unpacking, starting his laundry, and even clipping his fingernails!).  All the while, I stood there patiently waiting for his undivided attention.  When he was finally done, we sat on the couch and I pulled out the gift bag.  When he opened it, he said, "Are you serious?  This is fantastic!"  He wanted to wait until Christmas to tell our families and friends.  It was so hard - especially not telling my mom! 

I ended up telling my mom the Monday before Christmas (December 20th).  Ethan and I were sleeping over at their house (to cut my commute to work in half) and I asked her if she was ready to be a grandma again... she just gave me a confused look and then I told her we are having a baby in July.  She started crying and was so excited!

This is what I made for our parents to open on Christmas morning:

Everyone is so excited for our new little baby!  The extra bedroom at our new house is already painted a soft yellow - which is perfect.  We don't have any baby things (aside from the rocking chair from when Ethan was a baby and a baby swing that a friend was giving away), as I gave all of Ethan's things away as soon as he outgrew them.  I can't wait to buy new baby clothes and things!

We told Ethan on Christmas Eve - at first he didn't quite understand, and then we showed him the ultrasound picture and it "clicked."  He looked at me and said, "You're pregnant? How come you aren't fat?"  Haha!

We will find out February 28th if it is a little boy or little girl.  I think it's a boy, but Sean and Ethan both really want a little girl.  Sean and I call the baby Gummy, because it looks like a gummy bear:)