Mac 'n Cheese Quest

If you don't already know this about Robbie, it's time you knew.

Robbie loves mac 'n cheese.

His favorite is good ol' Kraft. Like he would eat it multiple times a week if I let him (yikes). I enjoy it as a comfort food once in a while, but I cringe every time I think of how unhealthy boxed mac 'n cheese is. Being the health nerd I am, I always have to eat a ginormous salad with it. So, Robbie and I decided we were going to find the best tasting homemade mac 'n cheese. The good news is that it only took us two different recipes to find one we loved.

The first recipe we tried was in the crock pot, and a couple of the ingredients included pepper jack cheese and cayenne pepper. Oh my lanta it was spicy!! Our throats were burning and our nasal passages got a good cleaning from the spiciness. It wasn't a very enjoyable dinner experience.

I did some more research, and found another recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff (love their recipes!). Guys, it was delicious. Robbie loved it and said we could stop our quest with this recipe. It's a winner! It's definitely not super healthy, but I'm convinced it must be healthier than boxed mac 'n cheese. And hey. Some things are just healthy for the soul. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Creamy Macaroni and CheeseIngredients:2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (I used 1%)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes and drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Heat over medium high heat and stir until the cheese melts. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Combine cheese mixture, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper in your slow cooker. Add the drained macaroni and stir again. Cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally (I cooked mine for about 2 hours and stirred it twice and it was perfect).

I Finally Get It

I was 18 years old and my mom and I were out running a few errands. I was sassily telling her about a friend's latest posts on her blog about how her husband was gone on a trip. She wrote every day for like three days in a row how much she missed him. I thought it was way too dramatic. "Blah, blah, blah. I don't get it, mom. Why doesn't she just pretend like her life is back to before she was with him? Then she wouldn't be so dramatic." My mom, being the wise woman she is, just smiled and said, "Honey, someday you'll understand."

Well, folks, that day has come. I finally get it.

Robbie left yesterday for a business trip to Chicago, and is coming back tomorrow evening. I'm so glad he could go be with the men in the family and have this experience, but to say I miss him would be an understatement. There is no way on earth I could just pretend like my life was back to before I knew him. NO WAY. Bear with me as I get a little mushy (I love having excuses to be mushy. #newlywedsforlife), but I have to say that there is no going back when love has affected you as deeply as it has both of us. We are different people than before we knew each other, and thank goodness we only move forward from here!

It's fun to miss each other this much, because you know what that means? It means we're both completely in love!

So to you 18 year-old girls out there who think I'm just being dramatic (well, I guess Todd is the only one out there that is reading this and is closest to that age...and he already knows I'm crazy), someday you will fall in love with a wonderful man that will leave you surprise videos on your phone when he leaves out of town, and prepare a 13-step treasure hunt for you to do around your cozy apartment while he's away, and then you'll get it.

#comehomealready

Robbie in Chicago! Haha, this guy. He's the best.

Happy Two Months of Marriage To Us!

Yesterday, Robbie and I celebrated two months of being married! Hooray! It's been a wonderful two months and we love each other so much. Marriage isn't the easiest thing we've ever done, but we're working at it. Robbie is such an amazing man.

I was feeling pretty under the weather yesterday, which wasn't fun. I actually ended up taking a half day today (it is the best feeling to leave school in the middle of the day). Anyways, I was just finishing up dinner last night and Robbie came home (cue favorite part of the day). He gave me a big hug and kiss, and then pulled out two roses for me. "Happy two months, babe! Now, you're probably wondering why I didn't get you one for our one month anniversary." He then proceeded to pull third rose out from right outside the door. It was seriously the best and totally made my day. He took such good care of me the rest of the night. He wrapped me up so I'd stay warm, confined me to the couch so he could do dishes (an every day occurrence), put me in bed early while he finished homework, and just did all he could to make sure all my needs were met and I was happy. I am so grateful for Robbie!!!

What a good man!

Confined to the couch all bundled up.

Happy two months!

Happy and grateful wife.

We are so blessed to have each other. I can't wait to see what happens when we've been married for like 213 months. Good luck with that one, babe. Baha.

Oh, the Irony

Let me tell you a little about myself:

1. I have a hard time being up in front of people. It's definitely not where I am most comfortable. I would much rather be in the crowds.
2. I feel more comfortable following, rather than leading.
3. I get stressed very easily when I have a lot of things to accomplish. I don't do very well under pressure.
4. I don't see myself as a very creative person. I am much more comfortable using other people's ideas.
5. I am a little bit of a pushover and it's hard for me to put my foot down. I just feel for people, alright?

Now, let me tell you about the job of a teacher:

• You are up in front of 25-30 kids (and sometimes an adult) 5 days every week.
• You are expected to be an influential leader that changes lives.
• The stress and pressure levels you feel are incredibly high.
• You are expected to teach to the high kids and the low kids and the kids in the middle. You are also expected to make lessons fun and engaging. Creativity is a must.
• You deal with discipline issues every day, and if you aren't firm you get completely stepped on.

And to think I chose to be a teacher? Yikes.

I remember the first time I really disciplined a child last year. We have something at our school called "Think Time" where they are sent to another class to fill out a paper and essentially think about their bad behavior. I didn't send someone to Think Time until after Christmas Break. No, I did not have an angel class. I was just nervous to do it! What if they started crying (and knowing me, I'd start right along with them)? What if I couldn't stay firm and told them they could have another chance? But I tell ya, it was liberating! And after I sent one kid, the other kids knew I meant business and it changed things. It was awesome, even though I felt bad for the little sweetie for like two seconds. 

Nowadays? I don't hesitate to send someone to Think Time. If they deserve it, then they're outta here! Firm, but kind. Firm, but kind.

I have learned and grown so much the past year and a half as I've jumped into the whole teaching thing with two feet. It is HARD stuff. I can't tell you how man times I've cried on a Sunday night because I couldn't think of facing another week of teaching. I am just thankful that the people I have to be up in front of every day are sweet, kind (most of the time) children that are non-judgmental and full of love. I can handle that, and it has made getting up in front of adults a ton easier. I am thankful that I can be a leader in quiet ways. Those kids look to me as an example, and I can influence their lives in a small, positive ways. I am grateful that teaching has given me an opportunity to learn how to better deal with stress and pressure. I've learned to focus on doing my best, and then letting that be enough. I've learned to take deep breaths and keep an eternal perspective. I've learned to rely on God, family members, friends, and fellow faculty members to help me deal with the stress. Oh, and about the creativity? The beauty of that is that teachers all borrow from each other! This means that I don't have to come up with 15 cute ways on how to teach your vs. you're. Other teachers have already done that for me, and often those resources are free! Lastly, disciplining has been easier than I thought it would be. It was just that initial "Okay, that's it, Adam! Grab a paper and go to Think Time" that was hard. Once I was past that, it became easier and easier. 

I'm not gonna lie. I have called myself crazy for thinking I was cut out of teaching and had the personality that could handle it. But I know teaching is what I am supposed to be doing right now in my life. And when you know something is right, somehow it all works out. I've tried to focus on how my strengths help me as a teacher, and that has been super helpful. Kindness, sensitivity, laughter, and patience sure come in handy as a teacher.

Most of the time, teaching really is a beautiful thing. It's not my favorite thing in the whole world and I don't love it, but I sure do love how it has helped me to stretch myself and grow. I am a much better person than I was a year and half ago before I started teaching.

One more thing. Let me tell you a few more things about the job of a teacher:

• The kids greet you every day with a big smile and a, "Hey, Mrs. Simons!" as they tell you about a dream they had last night or about their lizard or their new hamster.
• They write you sweet notes and draw you pictures about the most random things.
• They count on you to be a mother figure when they get hurt playing at recess, or when their feelings get hurt. 
• They say the funniest things and keep you laughing all day (better to laugh than cry, right?).
• They just want to please you and make you happy.
• They teach you lessons and remind you of what is most important in life. It is amazing to watch them comfort one another and serve one another. Children are so sweet and selfless.

The hard and the rewarding both make teaching absolutely worth it. 

Cornbelly's, Yo.

Boy, do we love our Fridays! For our date night last Friday, Robbie and I went to Cornbelly's! I don't do scary, so I figured a nice corn maze with my my hubby would be the perfect Halloween activity. Michelle and Justin Smith gave us two free passes to get in for our wedding gift, which was a perfect gift. It included all of the attractions there, plus hot chocolate and kettle corn. We felt spoiled.

As we were walking in, we were talking about two of our favorite people from our last ward, Brittany Hill and Vanessa Storey. We talked about how cool it would be to see them there! Well, about an hour later, we hear, "Rachel! Robbie!" and here comes Brittany running towards us. It was the best surprise. We seriously love her and loved catching up on her life. She was there with a few other people we knew. It's always great to run into our friends that we don't get to see much anymore.

We went through the corn maze quickly (thanks to Robbie's mad maze skills), watched some great little plastic duck racing, got some hot chocolate, and stood in line for the Creature with Brittany and her group. I knew it wouldn't be crazy scary and evil and gross, so I just held on to Robbie the whole way through and tried not to be that one girl they know is scared so they trigger you. Yikes. Thankfully, we had a whole group of 12-year-olds behind us that did enough screaming to take all of the attention. We definitely heard them ask for one of the worker's phone numbers. Let's just say I am grateful to be past that age.

We finished the maze!

Robbie's mad skills.

Until next year!