Back to Work!!

Today was my first day back to work. Summer is over.

PROS:
Hanging out with kids everyday.
Seeing my awesome teammates, who have become really great friends, everyday.
My partner, Beth!
I get to socialize by butt off everywhere I go! Workroom, hallway, front office...
Everyday is different.
Laughing- lots and lots of laughing!
Having fun sharing my pregnancy with lots of moms and moms-to-be (I work with about 80 women, and 2 men. I love it.).

CONS:
I have to wake up early again.
I have to pack lunches.
I have to grade papers (barf).
Before and after-school meetings (extra barf).
Endless emails and phone calls to respond to.
Hearing my name called about a billion times everyday.
Being really, really NEEDED at all times between 8:10-3:40.
Professional development classes.

Ugh.

OK, let me read those pros again...

A Few Things to Try

1. This AMAZING Mac & Cheese Recipe (click here!)



I have been a life-long lover of mac and cheese. The box variety was my first love, but as I got interested in cooking I learned how to make a pretty mean homemade version. I've since gotten it just right... and when you need something warm and gooey, nothing tops it.



This recipe is completely worth every penny (the cheeses get a little pricey) and every minute you spend tearing bread for the delicious, crusty topping. It's heaven on a plate.



I made it recently for a big family gathering (my brother requested mac and cheese, so I thought I'd try this "fancy" version since it was a special occasion). It was an instant family favorite. I will DEFINITELY make this again!




2. Barbeque Sauce on a Regular 'ol Sandwich




This idea comes from my coworker and friend, Emily. We had a team meeting last week, and she brought over some sandwich fixings for lunch. Next to the mayo and mustard was a bottle of barbeque sauce. She said she likes it on her sandwiches, so I gave it a go (I've seen her lovingly make school hamburgers look like a goumet meal, so I thought she might know what she's talking about).



It was incredible! I downed my sandwich, and had another one! The entire team was finished eating and I was making another sandwich!



She brought Sweet Baby Ray's sauce (SO on my grocery list) and Boar's Head meats (Em calls herself a "Boar's Head Purist"). I suggest the roast beef and turkey with white american cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, barbeque sauce, and pickles! AMAZING!





3. The Tudors



This series is not kid or family friendly. I would actually suggest watching this all by yourself as a guilty pleasure on a late night with a bowl of popcorn.



If you haven't heard of it, The Tudors is a Showtime series about Henry VIII, and all his wives. I've been facinated by the history of his reign ever since I caught a miniseries on PBS a couple of years ago. It's really a tumultous time in history, and this version is full of juiciness (by which I mean nudity, violence, greed, and just about everything you don't want your kids to see).



Not every episode is created equally, but all in all I've enjoyed watching both the first and second seasons. I get a little giddy when the Netflix envelope comes in the mail!

I'm Not Alone!

WOW! I just read all your comments on my last post! I knew that all men had to be big turds, but you all have made me laugh SO HARD over your slobby-husband stories! We are SO in the same boat! I feel much, much better knowing I'm not alone! Thank you!!!

As a little wrap-up to that post... that night I had a little discussion with Sean about "helping around the house." I didn't let him have it like you may think I did, but I did get my point across. After we finished dinner (which I made, naturally), I sweetly suggested that Sean finish unloading the dishwasher and then, maybe, he could start putting the dirty dishes in it. He was very sweet about it. He usually is, honestly. If I ask him to do something, he does it (however usually on his own, extremely slow, timeline).

As he was cheerfully unloading the dishwasher, he said: "Hey, look at me unloading the dishwasher! I haven't done this in a long time!" (Tone of genuine surprise, and pride at his helpfulness.)

I reply (in my head), "No shit, Sherlock. Who do you think has been doing it for the last couple of months? The dish fairy?" (Tone of extreme sarcasm.)

I reply (out loud), "Thanks for doing this, Sean. It's nice to clean up together since it's so much faster." Yes. I've learned long ago that the sarcastic comments don't really help my cause. Although, sometimes they are worth it.

Good luck with your slobby men!

Gripe Session

I need to vent.

I understand that everyone needs and deserves a couple of days to break down every once in a while. Sit around. Eat junk and not clean up after yourself. I totally get it. I need that too, and every once in a while, when I do choose to act like a lazy slob, I don't want to hear anything about it.

I also realize that I should be a whole lot less self-centered and should consider cleaning and keeping my home as something I do to show my husband how much I love him. I can hear the KSBJ mantra in the background now... something about serving God by serving my family even when I don't want to do it.

I also understand that when I am home on summer break, I should take on a little more. Why not? I'm home more, it just makes sense.


That being said...

I hate house cleaning. I especially hate house cleaning when I am the only one who does it. I can be just as messy as my dear husband, even more so as gross as that is to admit, but the difference between the two of us is that eventually, I actually do something about it. I will finally suck it up and vacuum the floors and clean the kitchen and bathrooms simply because it needs to be done. Not because I want to. Not because I consider this a hobby. And certainly not because I consider this to be more important than other things in life. It just has to be done. Same with laundry. I hate doing the laundry. I hate folding clothes and hate putting them away. But someone still has to do it if I want clean clothes to wear.

If hubby slacks off, I pick up the slack. If I slack off, the house gets grosser and grosser until I kick myself in the butt and say to myself, "You lazy slob. Turn off the TV and get your butt off of the couch and GO DO SOMETHING!"

Why does it have to be this way?

I don't expect star treatment, here. I don't expect to throw a fit and have my darling husband say, "Sweetheart! I can't believe how much I've hurt you by not lifting a finger to keep our home clean! Please, go sit your fat pregnant self down on the couch and let me take care of everything! You shouldn't have to lift a finger! Here's a milkshake, Pookie, you take it easy!"

I would simply like a little of this: "JoDee. You're grocery shopping. You're cooking for us nearly every day. You're cleaning up the kitchen. You're washing all the clothes. You're cleaning the bathrooms. You're vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping. You're running all the errands and keeping track of our finances and making sure the bills are paid on time. You're not working now, but honestly, you do all this while you're working too. You must feel lonely. I'm going to pitch in more often. This home belongs to us both, and you shouldn't be the only one who ever takes the initiative to keep it looking good and sanitary to live in. "

Honestly, I'm probably over exaggerating. I hate to hear myself like this. How pathetic.

I know Sean does things for me. I usually don't have so much to gripe about. I'm just having a really hard time today. Now you'll have to excuse me. I need to finish the laundry and run to the grocery store so we both have something decently healthy to eat for dinner tonight. There's also a shit-ton of dog hair on the floor that is making me sick to my stomach. Must vacuum.