Lora's United States of Whatever

Only a few people know my biggest fears: frogs and old people. While I think frogs are scarier, I had a recent run-in (literally) with an old woman, that really rocked my world. I was driving down the Grand Parkway feeder road, and I stopped at Fry Road to turn right. As I was looking to the left so I could safely turn right-on-red, I felt a bump at the back of my car. Luckily, my mother-in-law was with me and she noticed it, too. I looked in my rearview mirror to see who the culprit was, and I couldn't see a thing because her car was so close to mine! Finally, with my back arched and my neck elongated, I got a glimpse of the person who hit me, or should I say I got a glimpse of the blue-gray perfectly set hair of the elderly woman that hit me! Since there was no way for me to get out of my car in that instant, I pulled into the first available parking lot. The old lady drove right past me! I shouted kid appropriate obscenities (Thanks, Mara!) as I got out of my car to assess the d...

I think Izzy has an imaginary friend. Just the other day when we were leaving the house, Izzy said her usual round of goodbyes, with an extra one added to the end: "Goodbye, Lucy! Goodbye, Icey! (my class pet from school, a beta fish), Bye, Sarah!" "What, Izzy? Who is Sarah?" I said. She looked at me like I was a crazy person and continued out to the car. The next day, she asked me if I could see Sarah. "Um, no... where is she?" I said, looking around. She looked at me, again, like I was a weirdo. Since then we've heard, "Hurry up, Sarah!", "Let's go, Sarah!", and my personal favorite, "Sarah did it." Here's a recipe I hope Izzy and Sarah will both enjoy! Ha ha! Sweet Potato Chips 1 large sweet potato extra virgin olive oil salt Peel and cut the sweet potato in to thin discs. Lay slices flat on a baking sheet. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with salt (I used Real Salt). Bake in a 350 degree oven f...

Izzy is taking some new vitamins, and my, oh my, have I tried every trick in the book to get her to take them. First, I asked her to chew them up. She spit them out. Next, I crushed them up and put it in her water. Of course, she wouldn't willingly drink think "vitamin" water. So I resorted to doing a "cheers", clinking my cup with hers. What do ya know? She chugged the whole thing! Great, I thought. I'll just have to "cheers" Izzy every morning and evening when it's vitamin time. Oh no. The next time Izzy took her vitamins, the "cheers" method didn't work. So I shoved one of her vitamins inside her favorite fruit: a blueberry. I thought this was pretty inventive, but Izzy totally knew that the vitamin was in the blueberry. Geez! Then, I crushed the vitamin, put it on a spoon and put a glob of almond butter on top of it. I got behind Izzy and strategically shoved the almond butter/vitamin mixture in her mouth. Izzy proceeded to ke...

Izzy's first week of swim lessons is over! As the youngest three-year-old in her class, I have to say she did a pretty good job... of distracting the other three students! Izzy has enjoyed splashing her friends, talking to them with really exaggerated hand motions (I wonder where she gets that from?!), and doing the opposite of whatever her teacher says. The lifeguards know Izzy by name... maybe that's because one of them had to jump in after her when she wouldn't stay up against the wall of the pool! All in all, it's been a fun week, and Izzy has improved her swimming skills. She did perfect "chicken-airplane-soldier" motions with her backstroke for her teacher today! In honor of my little fishy, I'm going to share the recipe we had for dinner last night. Fish Patty Cakes 2 cans of wild-caught salmon or mackerel (I used three bags of the Chicken of the Sea salmon), drained and flaked 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup finely minced onion or scallions, raw or lightly ...

Wow! It has almost been two years since I've blogged. While it makes me sad that I haven't taken the time to write (one of my most favorite things to do), life has been super busy! In the past two years, Greg celebrated his 30th birthday - Vegas style! Izzy finished her second year at daycare and her first semester in the PPCD program at Alexander Elementary. She is excited for a fun summer filled with swimming and friends! As for me, I've enjoyed my first two years teaching. It's undoubtedly the most challenging job I've ever had. I wouldn't trade my fifth graders for the world. I can't wait to see what next year has in store for me! Almost a year ago, I got a full set of braces on my teeth. While I'm excited to have perfect, straight teeth, I'm so ready to be out of these braces! I have to say that the braces have given me some great opportunities... I am looking very, very young these days! I have something to talk to my students about other than...