I took this picture Friday morning as I was walking with one of my fourth graders to the sensory room; the kindergartners were having a Happy Birthday dance party with one of the assistant principals. Meanwhile, at the same time in the new wing, the fifth graders were also having their usual Friday morning dance party. I love this about our school! What fun times this is for all of us. I told one fifth grader I'd join them next week. The day before when I was walking to the bus loop down the kindergarten hall, I walked up on a few of the teachers doing cartwheels in the hall. They're so fun!
I hung out with Chris after work on Friday, and again on Saturday.
Look at the difference a couple of weeks makes! The trees are bare now; it looks and feels like winter now.
We went to our favorite little coffee spot, The Brew. I got The Dixie this time: it was a mocha frap with English toffee. It was delicious! Look at their pretty tree.
I came back home that afternoon and did things around my house that always need doing by the time the weekend arrives: dusting, vacuuming, putting things away where they belong, starting/emptying the dishwasher, laundry, and cleaning the bathrooms. I did all of that after I showered and washed my hair and watched a Hallmark Christmas movie. I made dinner that night: broccoli cheddar soup. It's really easy if you want to try it this week! Here's what you need and what I did:
3 stalks of celery
1 medium onion
4 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup flour
2 cups half and half
4 cups chicken broth (that's a whole box)
1 large bag frozen broccoli florets
2 cups of good cheese (I used extra sharp white cheddar and smoked gouda)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (don't skip this!)
a few dashes of salt and pepper
Sauté the celery and onion in the butter and olive oil; when it's translucent, add the flour and let cook for a couple of minutes. Add the chicken broth, half and half, broccoli, and nutmeg; stir and let simmer for about 20 minutes (don't walk off or the half and half will scald). Off the heat, fold in all the shredded cheese. You can puree it a bit if you don't want larger chunks of broccoli, but I leave mine as is.
This was wonderful! I hope to eat on it some this week, but I also made some to share with Drew, since it's his favorite. It was kind of an easy night and I didn't do much. I had church on Sunday; Chris went with me. I loved having him there with me, even if people stare at us and one friend told him if he hurt me that he'd kill him. (I'm not kidding, it was an intense moment.)
A December Sunday OOTD; I still love these little red shoes I bought last year! After church, we met Mom and Bill for lunch at Casa Mexicana. It was so good, and I have lunch for today from the leftovers. Woohoo!
Chris left after lunch; I came inside and got cozy for the afternoon and took a nap with the baby dogs. Stella is the one standing up; look how big she's gotten! Chloe is my nap dog and curls up with me anytime I lay down. I love this and her sweet little (very naughty) self!
For the rest of the afternoon I worked on my blog for the week to get a head start; I anticipate an extremely busy week because of the Christmas production taking place this coming weekend, and because sweet friends want to see me for my birthday. I have plans almost every (maybe every) night this week! It'll be another really quick week between that and working. Once again, I'm so grateful for my job! I love being at work, and I genuinely miss it when I'm not there. The break will be lovely for Christmas, but I know I'll miss it as well!
What did you do this weekend that you loved? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!
Jenn ❤️
One thing is for sure- I´ll bet Chris didn´t have hearing that he may be murdered on his going to church with you bingo card! Great pic of you guys together!! The Christmas tree is really pretty at the coffee shop. Our trees are all bare now, too. Would you believe in Central Park a few trees still had a few leaves on them? That surprised me quite a bit. Have a great Monday!
ReplyDeleteRight? He said he expected that kind of thing, though, since my church family walked through my divorce with me. Thanks for that! I'm surprised that Central Park still had trees with leaves on them. Wait...that means you got to see Central Park?! I need to hear more about this! Have a great day, my friend. xoxo
DeleteWe had a pretty quiet weekend mostly at home with a date night thrown in on Saturday and a quick overnight visit with Alec on Friday who was dropping off his preliminary load of stuff before coming home for winter break this coming weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds nice! I know you'll be glad to have Alec home for the holidays!
DeleteI might make that soup this week! Thank you! I love broccoli cheddar! What a nice weekend you had. I love when businesses decorate and they are really doing a great job this year!
ReplyDeleteYes, you are in your two busy, busy weeks of the school year and you have your bday on top of that! Yay! Enjoy it all! I looked at my red (and black) flats I bought last year from Walmart. Mine are satin, though, but I bought them on your rec I think. Did you get the regular leather/pleather?
You should, it's so yummy. Use good cheese, though! It makes it more decadent. It was a great weekend! I love that, too, when places decorate. I plan on soaking up all the fun busy that comes my way over the next two weeks! I forgot you bought some, too. I bought the regular "leather" ones, but the satin would be cute!
DeleteI bet Chris won't be going to church with you anymore, church is the last place one expects to get death threats! So I assume this same person tried to kill your ex?
ReplyDeleteNo, this man never knew my ex. It's because of what this man knows my ex did now that he said that to Chris, but Chris actually said that he expected to hear that kind of thing from a lot of people just because of what I went through. He plans on coming back often!
DeleteI love reading how much you love your job- those kids are so lucky to have you and I can imagine the joy you feel while being there! Loving your festive attire and of course your time with Chris :)
ReplyDeleteI really do! Thanks for that, my friend. I hope you have a great Monday! xoxo
DeleteI love your festive outfits, I don't think I own one Christmas sweater or t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteThe dance parties at school sound like so much fun and yum to that soup!
Thank you! I know a lot of people who don't own anything festive like the things I wear. I think I'm the strange one, though...I love Christmas so much!
DeleteI love your red shoes! I never think about making broccoli cheddar soup but I do like it. My hubs and i both had a small bowl at McAllisters a couple of weeks ago and it was delicious. I might try your recipe. Enjoy all the fun things happening at school this season and time with Chris too!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I never think about it much, either...but something triggered a memory of it this weekend, and I had to make it again. It's so good, let me know if you decide to give it a try! I hope your week got started off well, my friend!
DeleteEnjoy your festive week! I'm glad Chris went to church with you and that he knows that you have a big circle of friends who want the best for you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, friend! I like that, too. I hope your week got off to a great start!
DeleteSounds like you had a great weekend. Your soup sounds delicious, I want to try it without pureeing the broccoli. I never had it that way. We had a busy weekend celebrating Brian's birthday.
ReplyDeleteIt was great! The soup is so good; I don't puree the broccoli either. I'm glad you had a good weekend, too!
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