Mr. & Mrs. Christiansen: January 2012

Friday, January 13, 2012

Passing on the Legacy

Ever since I can remember my dad would spend many days off work experimenting in the kitchen. Not only is my dad a fabulous cook, but his creations in the kitchen are incredible! My dad took making sausage a passion. He created many of his own recipes from Italian Sausage to Chilean Longaniza to his own creation Chicken Pesto Sausage. Not only do I have a father who loves to cook but a wonderful cook in my husband!! YES!! I love it :o) Wyatt and I actually both like to experiment in the kitchen, but I must say he is a little better at throwing random ingredients together to make them taste DELICIOUS. This past Christmas my parents bought us a Kitchen Aid. WE WERE ECSTATIC! My dad being the sausage maker he is also bought us the sausage making attachment along with other attachments which we are so grateful for. My dad never had a son to pass on this legacy and now he does! Wyatt could not wait to get his hands on that machine! Here was the process in action!

Pork Shoulder!

Chopped up Pork Grinding


Grinding a second time!

Voila! Sausage Wheel

Yay!! And there it is!! We will be eating and sharing a lot of sausage!

Monday, January 9, 2012

New Start

Today was the first day of my new job as a reading intervention teacher! I am very excited to start this program. I won't get to meet my students until next week, but this week I will be able to get acquainted with the structure of the program and gather the supplies and resources I need. I am working with such a great mentor who I will be able to observe and learn from. As a reading intervention teacher, there were will be 5 students from each grade level, Kindergarten through 6th grade that I will work with throughout the week every day. These students are low performing, intensive and strategic learners. Most are English Language Learners which plays a huge factor since English Language Learners have a different primary language than English, but these students are not RSP students. The intervention program guides students who are low performing, but have not yet tested for RSP. Hopefully, if the students are doing well and improve with the more intimate groups that reading intervention has to offer, they will improve and be at grade level and at their standards and expectations goal. I can't wait to meet the students and help them excel.Watching a student progress and understand the importance of achieving academically is such a beautiful reward, I am looking forward to being apart of it all.

Wyatt also started his new semester today of 16 units. A LOT of math and science classes for this future Engineer! Wyatt is the Vice President of the EST club which is really exciting! It's a new club that just got started last semester that is right up his alley for his major. We will be busy bee's for the next 6 months but he is such a great motivator when it comes to setting a firm schedule. He helps me to stay on track, and keeps me balanced. After getting back into the swing of things all I want to do is SLEEP!! haha that will hopefully change soon. If not, then a lot of cat naps are in my future. School (lots of big tests and papers this semester!), Work, Church, ~~MAINTAINING A CLEAN HOME~~, family, friends, and summer planning ;o) play a huge factor into our busy lives. Without all of that though it wouldn't be life so we embrace it and take it day by day. Now we are off to enjoy a nice little Family Home Evening. Just the two of us for now :o)

Friday, January 6, 2012

Let's go 2012!

Starting off a new year is always very exciting! We are able to set new goals for ourselves and hope that we stick with them not just for more than a few days but the entire year! I have always loved keeping a journal and documenting important moments in life. I recently found out that a blog can actually be turned into a book! I must be behind on the times, but I was ecstatic! Not only is a blog beneficial for that reason, but also for our family and friends who do not live close by to keep updated with mine and Wyatt's new adventures as a married couple. I will try to keep the blog updated, but even if nobody reads it, at the end of the year I will turn this into my 2012 hard copy, which will lay nicely on our center table in the living room :o). Looking forward to a fabulous 2012, I will be finishing up my Credential/Master's program, and Wyatt will continue going strong with finishing up school. I AM SO PROUD OF MY OH SO SMART INTELLIGENT HUSBAND! HE GOT A 4.0 THIS past semester with 15 units and working 6 days a week! He is one hard working hubby! I am also looking forward to my new position as an Intervention Teacher. This should be a wonderful experience! I absolutely love the school and the district where I work. Wyatt and I have so much to be thankful for and continue to count our blessings every day.

Here are some HIGHLIGHTS from 2011. Such an AMAZING year!