not so novel

Eventually, I want to be a stay-at-home mom and run my own in-home child care center.

This is a goal for the far future. I don't even have a husband, much less kids. And I rent an apartment...so no home, no in-home child care.

With our economy failing and more and more people out of work, the idea of staying home with the kids and making money from watching other peoples children in your home is no longer a novel idea.

Craigslist is flooded with postings from moms offering to watch your kids from her home. it's all the rage. though, if everyone is being laid off and staying home with their kids, there aren't many children left needing care.

This is the dilemma we are facing at my work. No jobs, no need for childcare. Our enrollment is low. This is the same for just about every other preschool around. My class is small and I look forward to having more children in my class. However, until people can go back to work and need someone else to take care of the kids, I don't have much hope in getting a full roster.

blame the dog

My dog, Winnie, and I are spending the weekend in Salem with my sister and her family. I love my niece and nephew! They are so cute. And two-year-old Kayla is so very smart. The more time I spend around the kids her age at my work, the more obvious it is that she is quite advanced. And I love bragging about her.

Anyway...
Yesterday, Makayla filled her diaper with a, uh...gift. And boy did this gift smell! I walked in the room and said, "Someone smells stinky!" And Makayla replied, "Winnie pooped! Winnie's stinky!" Haha. That little booger tried to blame it on my dog!

Assistant TO THE Director

As you may know, I recently started a new job as a preschool teacher. I LOVE IT. Seriously, it's great.

Though I interviewed for a teacher position, I was offered (and I accepted) to also be hired as the center's Assistant Director.

My sister, Valerie, recently asked me about my work as the Assistant Director. I started to explain my position when she interrupted with, "Wait, are you the Assistant Director? Or the Assistant to the Director?" Haha. Who doesn't love a good "The Office" reference? ....That's what she said.

Basically I am being trained on the duties of the director so that I can serve as her substitute for when she is out or on vacation. It's difficult to be trained right now since we just opened a little over a month ago, and there is still so much to be worked out before there will be smooth sailing, or smoother at least. I am in the classroom all day with the kids (since I am the ONLY preschool teacher until our enrollment increases). So, that doesn't leave much time to be sitting with the director, learning all her wonderful ways of running the place. But I'm picking up a few things here and there.

So I guess right now I'm more like the Assistant to the Director. But one of these days I'll know enough to truly feel like the Assistant Director. ;)

Cookies

I have recently discovered a passion I have for baking cookies. It all started because of my friend Kim; she loves to bake. After sitting in on a couple of her baking projects, I ventured out to make a cookie batch of my own. I found recipies online, on flour packages, butter boxes, and I also asked my mom for hers.

My first cookies were oatmeal rasin. I'm not a big fan of oatmeal cookies, but my dad had left a box of oatmeal from when he visited, and I most definitely do not like to eat oatmeal. I decided to put it to good use. The cookies turned out great! They were a big hit at work.

I then went on to make chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. I started buying better bakeware and more baking accessories. I was making investments in my cookie adventures.

I asked my mom to send me the cookie recipie she uses for the sugar cookies I so fondly remember from my childhood. I tweaked the recipie a little, but I still tell people it's the recipie my mom used when I was little.

I made sugar cookies for the superbowl, shaped like little footballs and frosted in the colors of the teams playing. It was my first batch of sugar cookies. I was discovering how thick or thin to roll the dough and how smooth to make the frosting. I still made it too runny and it dripped down the sides of the cookies.

For Valentine's Day, I made six batches of sugar cookies! I cut out 5 different sized hearts, made 5 different colored frostings, used 4 types of sprinkles, and delivered 9 plates of cookies to friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

Also, I made thicker than usual cookies and slightly runnyer frosting so that the kids in my class could enjoy decorating cookies as a class project this past week! It was so fun. The kids loved it, I was proud of it, and we all enjoyed eating the cookies!

I think I really got this sugar cookie thing down now. I have mastered the frosting to make it smooth on top without running off the edges. But I still need to work on my decorating frosting. You know, the kind you squeeze out to draw designs. Guess I'll just have to make more cookies!

I really enjoy the whole process of baking cookies. I especially like eating them. But you know what, I LOVE giving them to people! Cookies make people happy. And it's fun to show off my edible art. I get to be creative with sugar cookie decorating. It's passion you can taste!

Death and Taxes

I started my taxes as soon as I got my W2 forms. I was disappointed by the smaller than expected federal refund (though thankful I didn't owe), frustrated to find out California isn't paying out its returns (because they are broke!), and mad that I owe so much to Oregon (though it's less than what I saved this year in would-be sales tax).

After all was said and done, I will get back (less what I owe), about enough for one month's car payment. Look on the bright side, Amy...at least you don't owe money on all three returns!