Day 362

Today I was thankful for the couple of hours of peace and quiet I got while the kids were gone. Alfredo's grandma's birthday was today, so Grandma Adela took the kids down to her house for a couple of hours tonight, and I was kid-free for awhile. It was nice and quiet - and a little weird. I got some knitting done, watched TV that wasn't cartoons, folded some laundry, did the dishes, and even ate something without have three kids hanging around and begging for some. And I did it all without once having to yell at anyone or put anyone in time out. It was so nice and over so quickly. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but time alone with no school work or anything else that has to get done is very few and far between. I loved every single minute of it.

Days 358, 359, 360 & 361

Christmas Eve, I was thankful that Alfredo got home from work early enough to not only hang out with us and watch A Christmas Story on TV, but he helped Donovan make his gingerbread house, and helped the kids decorate cookies for Santa. I love our laid back Christmases and even though he had to work earlier in the day, he was able to get home in time to enjoy some of the day with us.
On Christmas, I was thankful that we were able to provide the kids with a good Christmas. I know they're still pretty young, but since we don't always have much money, it's that much nicer when we are able to get the kids things they enjoy. I also loved the fact that we all got to hang out in our pajamas all day, playing games, relaxing, and even playing in the snow that night. The kids did not want to come in, but I was out there for more than enough time. Even Adelin, who just walked around in the snow had to be carried in kicking and hollering. I'm so grateful that the kids had a great Christmas, and I have to say it was a pretty good one for me too!
Yesterday I was thankful that I do not have to work retail any more. It was so wonderful to stay home and spend the day hanging out with the kids, watching TV, working on my knitting, and even making more cookies. I am so glad that I will  never have to work retail again, and every holiday I am reminded how much I hated having to work instead of spending the time at home with my family.
Today I was thankful that Alfredo had the day off, and we were able to go get the boys some new shoes. Both the boys are growing so fast, and right now they just have their Converse for everyday use. The shoes are fine, except that they let their feet get wet in the rain and snow. So, we were able to get shoes for Donovan and Giovanni. I was even happier with the fact that Donovan liked his new shoes so much that he wanted to wear them to bed! I'm glad that we are able to provide our kids with the things they need. Money may be tight, but I know that our kids are taken care of.

Days 355, 356 & 357

Friday I was thankful that I was able to drag myself out of bed and down to the gym by 5:30 in the morning so I could take a yoga class. It has been years since I've done yoga, and I really missed it, and I'm really out of shape. It was hard, but a good hard, and I found out I need to get my own yoga mat, because the mats they have at the gym are teeny tiny. But, I'm glad I was able to go and look forward to going again this week.
Saturday, I was thankful that I finally got the playroom all cleaned and reorganized. The kids have rediscovered toys they forgot about, and I have been able to keep them occupied with things other than TV, or the iPhone. It's good practice for the summer when we won't have cable anymore.
Today, I am thankful that Alfredo actually got home before the kids went to bed. He hadn't seen them since Friday morning because he got home after they went to bed that night, and worked all day Saturday, too. He got up and left this morning again before they woke up, but was able to get home around 5:30, so he got to spend the evening with them. He helped Donovan make a gingerbread house, and put the kids to bed while I was at the store. They miss him so much when he works, and I know he misses them. I'm glad he got home early tonight, and hopefully he will be home early enough tomorrow to help us make cookies for Santa.

Days 353 & 354

My thankfulness for yesterday is actually a bonus for the day before. Tuesday night was Giovanni's Christmas program for his preschool. It started by getting him in his costume, which was not exactly fun, but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. The next thing was getting him to keep it on, and then stay in the room with the rest of the kids. I was finally able to head out and find my seat with the rest of the family so we could watch. Giovanni began the program by crying - which was so sad, but I knew he would stop soon. And he did and then immediately made a break for the back of the group. It was really funny to watch him, and he didn't disappoint. He crawled around, went to the back of the little inn they had made, and then popped his head up to look out the little window. The poor kid who was playing the innkeeper had no idea how to handle him crawling around. Then he walked over to the drums to have a look, then he tried to make another break for it. They finally exiled him to the front on the stairs right next to a teacher. It was entertaining, and as stubborn as that kid is, I wouldn't have him any other way. It's a tough world out there, but I know my precious Giovanni is not going to take any crap from anybody and he is going to stick to his beliefs no matter what. I'm glad my mom was able to come down and witness the spectacle that was Giovanni.
Today I am thankful for my amazing husband. It is his birthday, and even though he had to work, I hope he had a good day. I can't believe we starting dating over 7 years ago, and now we have three amazingly beautiful children together. He is my rock, and he works so hard for us. I am thankful that God put him on this earth and brought him into my life. I don't know what I would do without him. Happy birthday, Alfredo. May this year be the best year ever for you, and may you spend many more wonderful years on this earth with me. I love you!

Days 349, 350, 351 & 352

So close to the end of the year, and still so much to be thankful for. Saturday was my first real day of Christmas vacation, and it could not have been more welcome. School is kicked into high gear until I graduate, and I was so looking forward to the break. I'm glad I was able to get everything I needed to done on time, and I'm so looking forward to the next three weeks off!
Sunday, Mom and Dad came down to visit for a little while and it was really nice to see them. I think the tragedy from Friday has got us all feeling a little more nostalgic for our family. So they met the kids and I at Bonefish, we got to eat brunch together, and then they hung out at the house to visit for a couple of hours. It was really nice to see them, and the kids enjoyed visiting with them, too. I'm sure the feeling was mutual. :)
Yesterday, was Alfredo's day off from work, so it was nice to just hang out and get some things accomplished. Around 7:00, we decided to get the kids in their pajamas and drive around and look at Christmas lights. My favorite part was listening to the kids talk in the back of the van. Giovanni and Adelin are really cute when they talk to each other, because I can't understand 90% of what they're saying, but they seem to understand each other. I love it because Giovanni is interacting more with Adelin and she gets such a kick out of him. They are adorable, and it was fun listening to all of them comment on the Christmas lights we saw last night.
Today, for the first time in I don't know how long, Alfredo made it to the gym with me. I have been trying to get  more regular with my gym visits, and it makes it much easier to get my bottom out of bed if I have someone coming with me. So, I'm thankful for the fact that Alfredo was able to drag himself out of bed at 5:00 in the morning to come to the gym with me.

Days 347 & 348

I know that this is supposed to be my thanfulness post, but there are other things that need to be addressed as well. It is amazing how many emotions one person can go through in one day. I began the day bright and early to finish my final project for today, then got everyone up and ready for their dentist appointment. The appointment went about as well as anticipated: Donovan and Adelin did great; Giovanni, not so much. I did find out that Donovan has his first loose tooth, so it was a little emotional for me as well.
After the dentist, we dropped Donovan off at school, then went home and I got my project together for class. At one point in time, the TV was on one of the spanish stations and I noticed they were showing some building of some sort in Connecticut. I couldn't tell what had happened, but didn't pay it much attention and finished getting ready. It wasn't until right before I left, that I got on Facebook and read everyone's posts and discovered what had happened. I couldn't believe it, and actually burst into tears more than once on the drive to school.
I was able to push the thoughts out of my head for the majority of classtime, and on the ride home I called and talked to my mom for a few minutes to tell her about the dentist appointment and talk about how Donovan has been doing in school. We briefly talked about what had happened, but soon hung up after telling each other "I love you".
The next hour or so was still pretty emotional for me. All I could think about was those poor children, and how Donovan was sitting in his own kindergarten class at the same time. While you never think something like that would happen to people you love, the events of today showed me that anything can happen at anytime. I kept thinking, "Expect the best, but plan for the worst". I wondered if the teacher had discussed with the class what to do in a situation like that. It's a difficult subject to bring up with five-year olds, but the events of today showed that it is an important one.
As I went to pick up Donovan, and walked onto his school grounds, I couldn't help but notice all the kids and how innocent and oblivious they were to the horrible things that had happened to other kids just like them. It was all I could do not to cry as I walked down the sidewalk. As I neared the area where I pick up Donovan, I could see him lining up. I know that he always scans the crowd looking for me, and as I walked up he turned and spotted me and yelled, "Mommy!" and came running over to the gate to be excused. It was almost too much for me to take seeing him so excited, and as he came out, I bent down so I was even with him and gave him a great big hug, a kiss on the cheek, and told him how much I loved him. He was telling me what a good day he had at school, and then we stopped to tie his shoe before heading home.
I held his hand for most of the way to the van, and for some reason, today he didn't seem to mind. Usually he lets go of my hand as soon as we cross the street, but today he held on for longer than usual. When we got to the van I asked him if his teacher had told him what to do if someone bad comes to the school. He was confused about what I meant and said they were supposed to tell her if someone was bad or hurting someone. I said, "No, what do you do if there is an emergency?" He replied that they go outside when the alarm goes off.
So, I told him that there was a school a long way from us, that had a very bad person go and hurt a lot of people, and I wanted to know if his teacher had told them what to do if that happened. He said no, so I told him that if someone bad comes to their school and wants to hurt people, he needs to listen to his teacher, find a place to hide, and be really quiet. Then he needs to wait until either his teacher or a police officer finds him and says it's ok to come out. Of course, my little hero said he would just kick the bad guy, so I had to explain that this bad guy came into the school with guns and hurt some kids really bad. I said I liked how he wanted to stop the bad guy and save everyone, but if someone has a gun he wouldn't be able to just kick him or throw something at him. Plus the guy would probably be bigger and stronger than him. I told him again that he needed to hide, and be really, really quiet - as quiet as he could possibly be, because if the bad guy was looking for people to hurt, I didn't want him to be able to find Donovan.
We talked a little bit more, and I cried and Donovan laughed at me for crying :) - but I told him I was crying because if someone ever hurt him like the guy hurt the kids at the other school, I would be very, very sad, so I wanted him to do whatever he needed to do to be safe. He seemed to understand, and we discussed it some more on the way home.
My heart breaks so much for the families who lost people today. As the mother of a kindergartner, I think today really hit me hard. I thought of Donovan and his classmates sitting in their room, learning, playing, being innocent five-year olds, and then to have to deal with something like this is horrible. The innocence that was shattered today, the senselessness of going after young children, knowing that I never know if someone will do this to people I love. I think of my baby boy sitting in his portable classroom at school, I think of his teacher and I think about what would have happened if that man or someone like him came into his school. It breaks my heart, but drives home so much the fact that we truly never know if or when something like this will happen.
My heart breaks for all of those parents who lost their precious babies today. I cannot imagine the amount of anguish and grief they are going through right now, and I doubt if they will ever be the same again. I pray that God is able to grant the grieving families at least some peace, I hope that we can rally together as a nation and as parents and do what we can to support these people and let them know that they are not alone.
I hope and pray that I will never take my family, my babies for granted. I hope that no matter what, I am able to see their beautifulness, to look at their perfect faces and remember to take the time to cherish them. Because even if we don't have to go through a tragedy, they are going to grow up so fast, and these days with them I will never get back again.

Days 345 & 346

Yesterday I was thankful that Alfredo had the day off. I was able to get the majority of one of my major projects done. Plus it's just nice to see his face every once in a while. :)
Today was my last day in my practicum class for this semester, and I am so grateful for the teacher and the students I got to spend time with. They were such a sweet bunch of kids, and they all gave me goodbye cards today that they made. The more time I spend in a classroom, the more secure I am with my career choice. It may have taken me awhile to figure it out, but I'm thankful for every opportunity I have now and for every door that opens for me. I am so grateful I get to have such wonderful and enriching experiences. It makes me even more excited to graduate and finally get a real job!

Days 342, 343 & 344

Well, I'm thankful that I had a day to relax on Saturday and not do much before finals week. Granted, I could have been working on my projects, but the kids don't ever let me get much stuff done. So, I didn't do much of anything and geared myself up for finals week.
I'm also glad that we finally made it back to church on Sunday. Giovanni was finally in the preschool class instead of the nursery, and from the sounds of it he gave them a run for their money. I hope they let us come back next week!
Today I am glad that I got my final paper done for literacy a day early, and that Donovan had a good day at school. He has been having some behavior issues - talking and not doing his work - for the past couple of weeks. I was very glad to hear from his teacher that he had a great day today. Hopefully it will carry through to the rest of the week.

Day 341

I know it's early in the day, but I have to say that I am so thankful that I am able to drive Donovan to school in the morning. We don't live too far, so when the weather is nice I always try to walk with him to school. However, this morning it was SO COLD. I am so glad that we have vehicles that can get us to and from his school so we don't have to walk back and forth in the freezing weather. Momma does not like the cold!

Day 340

Today I am thankful that we finished our final lesson plan at the middle school, and I had my last official class for school. I have one class to go to next week during finals week, and another meeting for my practicum class, and then I am done for three full weeks!!! I am so excited. I have so much stuff I want to get done around here. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself for three weeks, but I'm looking forward to finding out! Yay!

Days 337, 338 & 339

Monday I was thankful that I had nowhere to go and nothing that had to be done. It was weird, because I kept thinking I had to do something, because I always have something to do. But, it actually was the rare day that the only thing I had to do was get Donovan to and from school that day. It was amazing and I am looking forward to Christmas break even more now.
Tuesday I was glad that Giovanni was feeling better. He spent part of Sunday and all of Monday being sick and not being able to eat much. It was so sad to see him just laying around, which made me even happier to see him getting back to his normal self. He still wasn't able to go to school, but he back to normal and he is all ready to go for tomorrow.
Today I am thankful that our dance project for the Integrating Art class went so well. I am again thankful that I was in a great group, and I think that we did a great job tonight. Even though I wasn't looking forward to having to do a dance in front of our class, I actually had a lot of fun tonight. Although I have had "Gangnam Style" going through my head for about the last six hours now. Oh well.

Day 336

Well, not much happened today, but I was able to get some homework done so I'm thankful for that. I can't believe I only have two weeks left of school this semester. I am so excited for the time off. If I can make it through these next two weeks, and get all my assignments done on time I will be so happy. I only have one paper, a poster, and two projects left to do and I will be done! Yay!

Days 334 & 335

Yesterday I was thankful that Donovan had a good day at school. He was having a rough week, behavior-wise, so it was nice that he was able to end the week on a good note. He is a cross between my talkative-ness, and Alfredo's daydreamy-ness, and so it is hard for him to stay on task and pay attention at school sometimes. Poor thing, doesn't stand a chance, really. But I made up a behavior chart, so now he has to earn minutes of game-time based on his behavior at school. Hopefully, this system will help him to not be such a disruption in his classroom. I guess only time will tell.
Today I am thankful that it is almost Christmast break time. I am quickly running out of steam as far as school is concerned and I am really looking forward to some time off. For example, I have an assignment, a final paper, and two big projects due within the next couple of weeks. I thought about starting on something quite a few times today, but just could never get myself to do it. I will absolutely be enjoying my time off. Maybe my resolution for next year can be not to procrastinate so much. Hahaha!

Day 333

Today was the first of two lesson plans that I had to do at the middle school, and I must admit that I was not looking forward to it. I don't like middle school, and after the initial observation of the classes we had to teach, I was half expecting it to be a little bit of a train wreck. Luckily, I got to work with two amazing ladies who helped make this day a great success! The students were well-behaved (mostly) and they stayed engaged and I think we all did a wonderful job. Plus, the teacher seemed to be very impressed, so I know we are going to get some good feedback from him for our instructor. After today, I am not in the least bit worried or anxious about next week's lesson plan. Although, I still don't want to teach middle school full time. They have to get up WAY too early for my comfort. Starting school at 7:40? No thanks!

Days 331 & 332

Yesterday I was grateful for the fact that Alfredo was home to help me get the kids ready for bed. It seems like a little thing, but most nights trying to get those three monkeys to brush their teeth, get into their pajamas, read a story, and then get (and stay) into bed is quite the achievement. It is so nice to have a helping hand every once in a while.
Today I am thankful that I only have two more weeks of school. These next weeks are going to be tough, but I am seeing the light at the end of this semester's tunnel and I am so excited! I can't wait for three weeks off to rest, and catch my breath a little bit. It is going to be nice to be able to get some of the projects done around here that I have been wanting to do for a while but just never had the time. And, I really lucked out this semester and don't even have any finals this time. Although I do have some pretty major projects and papers to get done, at least I have time to get them done before finals week. After this semester is over, I will only have three more semesters to go - then from then on I will be paid to be in school! WooHoo!

Days 328, 329 & 330

Saturday I was thankful that I was able to get some organizing done in the room. Thanks to my monkeys being, well, monkeys, it wasn't as much as I had hoped to accomplish, but something is something and I'll take what I can get.
Sunday I am thankful that we all made it through the day in one piece. Everyone was pretty much stir crazy by that day, and so the kids were even crazier than usual. I'm glad that we made it through and all lived to see another day.
Today, I am thankful that I was able to get myself out of bed early this morning so I could go to the gym. I have not gone in what seems like forever, and I am tired of being fat and out of shape. Enough is enough and it's time to get myself back into gear. I'm hoping I can stick with it for good this time, cause I would love to be able to wear a swimsuit next summer, without also having to wear all my clothing on top of so no one actually sees my in my swimsuit. One day at a time is all I can do, but I think I can make some real progess this time.

Days 326 & 327

Yesterday I am thankful I got the reminder that no matter how crappy my day starts out, I still have so much to be thankful for. I found it kind of ironic that on Thanksgiving I started out with one of the worst attitudes ever. But, I was reminded throughout the day how much I have to be thankful for, and that I just needed to get my act together and be happy. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family, both through birth and through marriage. I am surrounded by love and happiness on a daily basis and I am grateful for every single person God has brought into my life. Sure, we get annoyed with each other, but we're family and we move on. I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination and I am so happy that I am learning to let go of things quicker and to just be content.
Today I am thankful for family again. I got the opportunity to just hang out today at the house and I loved watching the kids interact with everyone. The kids all have such beautiful personalities and I enjoy seeing all of them, especially Donovan, interact with the family. I get a huge kick out of Donovan and hearing him talk to everyone and just be his happy, social little self. He is such a sweetie, and I am so happy that we are surrounded by people who get so much enjoyment out of all of my kids. I am thankful my kids are surrounded by people who love and care for them, and am grateful they have the opportunity to grow up close to their extended family. I didn't really get that chance, and I am so glad my kids will look back and have memories filled with grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Days 324 & 325

Yesterday I was thankful that Alfredo got to come with Adelin and I to watch Giovanni's Thanksgiving program at school. I was pleasantly surprised at how well he did. He did crawl across ot the other side of the stage a few times, but he didn't make an outright break for it. He was so cute singing his songs, and shaking his homemade shaker, and I am blown away at how big he is getting. My little monkey is growing up and becoming a boy.
Today I am thankful that I remembered my purse when I was leaving WinCo. I took Donovan with me, and he was sitting in the seat in the cart. I wheeled him over to the cart rack in the parking lot, and helped him get out and then headed to the van. I remembered right before we walked across the parking lot that my purse was still in the cart basket! Thank God I remembered. I am so happy I don't have to deal with the nightmare of a lost purse and all of its lost contents. So thankful for that one today.

Days 322 & 323

Yesterday I was thankful that I was able to get my homework done and turned in on time. I have almost nothing to do as far as school work goes for my Thanksgiving vacation, and I am so excited. It is going to be so nice to get a little break and hopefully get some of the projects done around here that I have been wanting to do for a long time.
Today I am thankful that our first parent/teacher conference for Donovan went well. Other than the fact that he is a talker, and sometimes a tattler and a daydreamer, and that he needs to practice his writing, I think it went very well. His teacher is really nice, and does a great job with the class. It was really fun after the conference because Donovan showed Alfredo and I around his school. He was so proud and it was great to be able to have a picture in my head now of what the rest of his school looks like. I am so happy he is enjoying school, and very proud that he is doing such a good job.

Day 321

Today I am thankful that my kids get such a kick out of each other. Now, they all have a major stubborn streak (don't know where they get it from) and get on each other's nerves too, but they do have lots of fun together. Now that Giovanni is getting older, it's fun to see him and Donovan play together. They use their imaginations and run around like crazy. Adelin is just now trying to keep up, and Donovan especially does such a good job with her. He loves doing things to make her laugh and it is so sweet to see them together.
I'm glad they love playing with each other, and hope that they continue to be close as they grow older. I hope that they build those relationships with each other that will carry them throughout their lives. Together, those three will be force to be reckoned with.

Days 319 & 320

With the weather getting colder, I am thankful that my family all has nice, warm coats to wear. I'm glad that we are able to provide our children with coats, hats and gloves to keep themselves warm in the cold winter air. I'm doubly thankful for those who have either given coats to the kids, or bought coats for them. It breaks my heart to see kids running around in just t-shirts this time of year, and I'm so grateful that I can at least say that my kids can stay warm during the winter months.
Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving break! My last class was last night, and I don't have another class until the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. That means I have 11 - count them - 11 days off from school! WooHoo! Granted, I still have homework to do, and lesson plans to make, but I do not have to drive myself all the way out to the opposite end of the Tri-cities for 11 whole days. That makes me happy.

Days 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317 & 318

Behind again! Well, this past week I am thankful that I got to spend some time with my friend, Kristi. She has been out of town for the past month and I was super excited that she was able to spend some time hanging out with me before she left again. She has been a very good friend to me over the past few years, and good friends are hard to find. I'm glad I got to see her for at least a little while.
Last weekend the kids and I got to go up to Othello, too. It was nice to just sit and relax with my parents. It was even nicer when the kitties decided to come upstairs and visit. Adelin LOVES cats and was so excited to see Ebony and Jetta. She would bounce up and down and laugh everytime Ebony would meow. It was so cute.
I am also very thankful that I FINALLY got to visit with the other Kriste for a couple of hours on Saturday. I haven't seen her for months and I miss her! It is really sad because we live so close to each other now, but schedules just don't permit spending much time together. So, I am very grateful that our schedules worked out - even if we both had to go out of town to accomplish it.
I'm thankful that I have such a handy husband. We had stopped and looked at bunkbeds for the boys a couple of weeks ago, but they were more expensive than we wanted to pay, so Alfredo built them bunkbeds instead. They are amazing! We have much more room with the bunkbeds, so Adelin is now able to sleep in a real crib instead of the portable one she has been sleeping in. So nice. I'm extremely happy I married someone who not only owns power tools, but knows how to use them.
Today I also just want to take the time to be thankful for my three healthy babies. I am so amazed by how bright and funny they all are, and I'm so happy they belong to me. Yes, I may complain about how they drive me crazy sometimes, but I cannot imagine what my life would be like without them. They are so unique and they each bring something wonderful to our family. I love my little monkeys and am grateful to have them livening up our house.

Day 311

Today I am SO thankful that we were able to find a last minute babysitter. We were having scheduling issues, and realized at the last minute that we wouldn't have anyone to watch the kids for awhile this afternoon when I was at school and Alfredo was at work. Luckily, someone was able to help us out at the last minute, and I am so glad that she was available. The kids had fun, and it sounds like they were well-behaved, so it all worked out. Plus, she had a cat that the kids were loving all over, so that made them even happier. :) Thanks, Britney for your help tonight. I don't know what we would have done without you!

Day 310

Today I am thankful for all the wonderful wishes and thoughts sent my way on my birthday! It was a pretty good day and I'm thankful for another year spent on this earth with the people that I love. Today I am especially mindful of all the blessings and gifts I have been given and I am so grateful that I have such a beautiful family and amazing friends. I am so happy I got to spend my day surrounded by people who mean so much to me. Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes. I am looking forward to another amazing year!

Days 308 & 309

Yesterday I was so thankful that the kids and I got to go to Othello to spend time with my family. My sister, Amanda and her family came over from the West Side, and my sister Julie stopped by to help celebrate my birthday. It was so great to see everyone, and I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to see everyone and to hold my baby niece Lucy. She is getting so big and is so sweet, and I loved being able to see Adelin interact with her. They were so cute together, and I am looking forward to them growing up together.
Today I am thankful not only for the time I got to spend with Alfredo, but I am also thankful that this was the last night my Monday class will be meeting for the rest of the semester. I am looking forward to the extra time to get stuff done and hopefully I can get this place under control before next semester starts.

Day 307

Today is Alfredo and my 6-year anniversary. While I only got to see him for a total of about 45 minutes today, I am so thankful to have such an amazing man in my life. He works so hard to take care of our family and we are so lucky to have him. He has brought so much joy to my life, and even though he does drive me crazy quite a bit of the time, I love him with all my heart. I am so grateful we found each other and am even more grateful for the beautiful family we have together. I love you, Alfredo and I can't wait to spend many more years together!

Day 306

Today I am thankful for the beautiful day that we had and the fact that I was able to get a lot of things accomplished. I washed all of our laundry and I got half of my homework done, so I won't be too overwhelmed tomorrow trying to get everything ready to go to Othello.
The sun was nice to have today, and I'm thankful we were able to get out of the house and run some errands without getting rained on. It is amazing how much you take for granted weather-wise, but we are very fortunate here in the Tri-Cities. I have lived in quite a few places, and we have some of the best weather here. I really feel fortunate to live somewhere with so much sunshine. It may seem like a small thing to be thankful for, but as we head into winter I am well aware of how much I will be missing the sun in just another month or two. I am going to be grateful for it now while I have the chance.

Days 301, 302, 303, 304 & 305

I'm glad I survived another week of school. It finally feels like I am on the downswing and I think the rest of this semester is going to fly by. It is nice that I feel like I am finally getting a little slack in my classes and don't feel quite so overwhelmed right now.
I am glad that Alfredo was able to take a couple of hours off work on Halloween so he could come with me to take the kids to trick-or-treating. It was so cute to see them so excited, and I loved watching Adelin staring down everyone who tried to talk to her. I'm thankful that she is wary of strangers and doesn't have random people pick her up like Donovan did.
I am thankful that I got to go observe the middle school classes today, and I'm doubly thankful that I got to go with some of my classmates. Those kids were crazy and I'm thankful that I got a reaffirmation that my decision to not teach middle school is the correct one! Here's to hoping everyone survives when we have to present our lesson plans.
I'm looking forward to this coming weekend. I am gearing up for my birthday in a few days, and plan on getting some things accomplished around the house before we go to Othello to celebrate with the family. So excited Amanda and her family are going to be here to help me celebrate my birthday. Yay!

Days 299 & 300

Yesterday I was feeling horrible. Some crappy stomach something or other that made me nauseous and feel yucky all day long. Today I am thankful that I woke up feel completely better. It is awful feeling sick when you have so much stuff that needs to be done. So, I am very happy that I am feeling better.
Today I am thankful that I got some downtime. With school and the kids I feel like I am constantly running all the time and never get a chance to rest. Today I took the time to rest. I know that I have stuff I really could have been doing, but more importantly, I really needed to get some relaxing in. I did get some homework done, and then I spent the rest of the day reading the Hunger Games book that I checked out over a week ago and just now started to read. I may pay for the day off tomorrow, but it was well worth it today.

Day 298

Today I am thankful for the opportunity I get every Tuesday and Thursday to drop Giovanni off at preschool. He is such a sweetie and I love spening a few minutes of time with just him and me. Today I was walking him in to school and I told him, "I love you." He said, "I love you too, Mommy." Aw, it about melted my heart. He is such a doll, and very lovey and cuddly, but he rarely says "I love you", so today was very special. I love my amazing little Giovanni and am so blessed to have him in my life.

Days 287 - 297

I hate the fact that I have been getting so far behind lately. I have been so busy with school, and the kids, that I barely have enough time to take a shower, let alone write my blog. I have been thankful for so much these past few days. I am thankful that I finally got over being sick, and that everyone in the house seems to be feeling better as well. We all seemed to be passing something around for a few weeks and it is nice that it is finally done.
I think the biggest thing I am thankful for recently is the fact that one of my classes will be over next week. I had a ten-week class this semester, and tomorrow is the last day. I am SO happy to have some more free time. I don't even know what I'm going to do with myself, but I'm sure I will find something. All I know is, I am beyond excited and cannot wait to have some more time on my hands to get things accomplished.
Hopefully I will be able to keep up with this more regularly. It is getting so close to the end of the year that I would like to finish it off the way I started. Fingers crossed I will be able to do it.

Day 286

I am thankful that this past week I was able to go through all the kids clothes and get them organized. I put away all the summer clothes and pulled out Adelin's fall clothes. It was lucky I did it when I did because it has been so cold the past couple of days. If I hadn't gotten that all done my poor babies would have been freezing! Thank goodness I was able to get it done earlier. Now, I just have to find Adelin's missing tennis shoe and we'll be all good.

Days 283, 284 & 285

For Wednesday, I was glad that I got to do a read-aloud for my 3rd grade practicum class. I was kind of nervous cause I'm used to reading to my kids, not 3rd graders and I wasn't sure what kind of book they would like. I ended up reading Beware of the Frog by William Bee. This is one of my and my boys' favorite books. It was a big hit and I am so glad they liked it!
Yesterday, I was so absolutely grateful that my mom was able to come up and watch the kids. Alfredo had to work all day, and I had classes all day so we needed someone to watch the kids. Luckily, my mom was able to come up and watch the kids, and pick them up and drop them off at their various schools. So, grateful that she is close enough to come visit and/or help out.
Today, I am thankful that mom got to stop by again today! She came down to go to Costco, and stopped by with all sorts of goodies for the kids. It was a nice suprise to see her, and it was nice of her to bring by so many snacks, clothes, and presents for the kiddos. The boys each got a Dream Light, and this is the first time ever that they have asked me to turn the light off at bed time. Thanks, Mom!

Days 274-282

I am perpetually behind on my posts these days. I am thankful for a lot of things. I am thankful that I am almost completely over being sick, I am thankful that I am almost completely caught up on homework, I am thankful that I finally found time to go through all the kids' clothes and box up stuff to give away, I am thankful that we got to take Giovanni to the pumpkin patch, and I'm thankful that I got to spend time with my friend, Kristi before she left town for her new job.
I'm also thankful that it has cooled down just a little bit, that I have been able to keep my grades up in school, and that both Donovan and Giovanni are enjoying their time in school. I'm thankful that this semester is halfway over. The rest of the time is going to fly by. I'm thankful that I have to amazingly beautiful and intelligent children to keep me on my toes! :) Now if they would just let me sleep, everything would be even better.

Days 264-273

Thanks to my crazy schedule and then being sick for almost a week, I have gotten farther behind than ever. In the interest of catching up quickly, I will be making this one an all-encompassing thanfulness. This weekend my mom and dad took Donovan with them, which was amazing. It's amazing how just being down one kid can make things so much simpler. It also gave me a chance to spend more time with Giovanni.
I am so thankful for my crazy little Giovanni. I feel bad, because sometimes it seems like he gets overlooked alot - such is the life of a middle child. And, he was such a "challenge" as a baby, that it's hard to remember how much he's mellowed out. He is such a sweet, smart, funny little boy. I love how much he talks now and even his little attitude. Like how when he doesn't want to do something he will cross his arms and say, "Neva!"
He is also such a social little boy. He greets everyone with a "He-llo" and yesterday he went busting into Martha's room shouting "Surprise!" He spent this morning sitting on my bed alternating between playing games on the phone, and giving me kisses. Such a sweetie.
I love my Giovanni so much. He is such a joy and definitely adds some spice to our house. It's hard to imagine how boring it would be around here without him. Although I am glad he finally grew out of the constant grumpiness. :)

Day 263

Today I am thankful for the small unexpected kindness I experienced today. I stopped to get coffee on my way to school, and as I pulled up to the drive-up window, the cashier told me the lady in front of me had paid for my coffee! So nice and inspired me to do the same later on that day. It is so refreshing when people are willing to do nice things for each other - even if it is something as small as buying coffee. It made my day and I hope that I was able to inspire someone else by doing a small kindness as well.

Days 261 & 262

This is my first semester in the elementary education program at school, and while that in and of itself is pretty exciting, I'm thankful for having such wonderful people in my classes. Being in the program means that my classes are all specific to my degree, and therefore I am taking classes with other education majors. I am glad I have the chance to get closer to so many amazing people. It is nice having other people know pretty much exactly what I'm going through. We are all able to help each other, encourage each other, and even watch out for each other. Even though I will competing with these people for jobs in a couple years, I'm grateful for the opportunity to get to know them all now. Good company helps the workload seem just a little bit lighter!

Days 259 & 260

Today I am thankful for great partners in school. Within this past week I had to get together and collaborate on group projects in two different classes. In both cases I have had the pleasure of working with great people.
I generally don't like group work, but being able to work with people who are just as committed as you are to quality work and who are willing to work together makes a huge difference. I am so lucky that I got a great partner for my art project - which we did centered on Ai Weiwei, who by the way is a very intriguing individual. And tonight I presented a cooperative learning demonstration in my ESL class with two other wonderful ladies. I know we did an amazing job and it was because we were all willing to share responsibility and work well together. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with all of these ladies and am proud to be a part of their group!

Days 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257 & 258

I guess this week I am thankful that I am finally getting my schedule under control. Also, I am thankful that Alfredo's new work schedule is even better than it was before. Granted, I don't get one single day off with him, but at least our dropping-off and picking-up of kids from things is much easier, and we only have to worry about having someone watch the kids for a few hours a week.
I'm thankful that Giovanni seems to be liking school, and he must be doing well because I haven't received any angry calls from his teacher! He is such a smart kid and I'm glad he is getting the opportunity to get out of the house and play with other kids.
I'm thankful that Donovan hasn't had any more incidents with kids being mean at school. I got home Monday night and he was so upset because some kid called him a crybaby. It was so tough to deal with, my poor sensitive little Donovan - such a tender soul - it broke my heart to see him upset and wanting to go back to his old preschool. BUT - it seems like he has had no more problems, and is still loving kindergarten. I'm thankful I didn't have to go to school and rough up some five-year old for making my baby cry.
I'm also thankful this week for my classes. Yes, they are tough and a lot of work, but I finally feel like I am REALLY learning things that I will be using in real life. My teachers are amazing and I have been able to learn and discover so many amazing things recently. I feel like my brain is just constantly filling with wonderful information and I hope that I can retain at least some of it. I really am so lucky to be able to do what I am doing, and I hope that I can come out of this and be the best possible teacher.
On that note, I am also thankful that I am living and doing this semester's practicum in Pasco. It may seem weird to say that - I know it seems weird to me - but being here has opened my eyes to so many things and I am thankful for the chance I have been given to grow personally. I know that everything that I am experiencing now can only help me in the future and I am thankful for that.
Probably most importantly for this week, I am thankful to God for keeping Alfredo safe this week. He was driving to work a couple of days ago and while he was on the highway the hood of his car flew open. Luckily, his windshield only got a little crack even though his hood is all dented now. However, Alfredo was kept safe and I thank God for keeping His hand over him and averting what could have been a major disaster. Now, to find a replacement hood for his poor car that we just got back from the body shop!

Day 251

Thursday Giovanni was not feeling well at all - running a fever, with an upset tummy. The next day he was fine, but I noticed that his left eye was all goopy. I immediately worried that he might have pink eye and just kept praying that wasn't the case. By the time he went to bed Friday night, his eye was still yucky and of course, I thought it was starting to look red. I also could not ignore the fact that MY eye was also feeling itchy - I've had pink eye twice before and was NOT anxious to get it again. So, I sent a text to my mom asking her to also say a prayer that I was just overreacting, and we had nothing to worry about. Imagine how wonderfully surprised I was when Giovanni bounded out of bed this morning with two perfectly clear beautiful brown eyes. Thank you lord, because the last thing we need around here it to be passing pink eye back and forth! Praise God for small miracles!

Days 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249 & 250

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I posted anything! I am so busy this semester with my school, Donovan's school, Giovanni's school, Alfredo's work. Having only one vehicle has made it that much more difficult. So, I guess I will sum up my thankfulness for this past week by saying that I am happy we all survived and made it to where we all needed to be this week on time. I am doubly thankful that we finally got Alfredo's car back from the body shop. We have been without it for over a month and it is AMAZING to finally have it back, fixed, and all pretty. Alfredo is so happy, he has been out tinkering around with it for the past hour! Thankful we have two vehicles again. This will make life quite a bit more  manageable!

Days 238, 239, 240, 241 & 242

So many things going on that I keep forgetting to keep up on this. This week was Donovan's first week of school. Monday we got to go and meet his teacher and after that he was finally excited for school! I am so thankful that he has a nice teacher and he is having fun. He is so excited to go every day and I hope that he keeps that excitement for a long time. He even has a kid in his class named Giovanni - who he refers to as big Giovanni. :)
I am thankful that my financial aid situation looks like it is finally straightened out. The school has received all the money, paid all my outstanding charges, and now I am just waiting for them to release the funds to me. Yay!
I am also thankful that today is my Friday, and with the holiday on Monday that means I will have a four day weekend. That means I will have plenty of time to get caught up on homework, and hopefully work ahead a little bit. I have been so disorganized this fall and I am looking forward to the next couple of days so I can get organized again.

Days 233, 234, 235, 236 & 237

Well, there are a couple of things I am thankful for this week. First and foremost, I am thankful I made it through the first week of classes more or less unscathed. Second, I am thankful that while I don't have my financial aid yet, I am not the only one having issues and it should get straightened out soon. Next, I am thankful that I haven't completely lost it about Donovan starting school. He doesn't seem too excited, and keeps saying he doesn't like new kids (sounds like his mom) and it takes everything I have to not tell him he can just stay home and not go to school. BUT, I know that he is going to have a great time and make some great (hopefully) new friends. Here's to hoping I can continue to hold back the tears in front of him.
Today, I am thankful for free food! We get to go to Bonefish for their practice run for brunch and I am looking forward to some good food and great conversation with a couple of dear friends - and my kids. :) Anyway, I am looking forward to this day and am also thankful for the amazingly beautiful weather we have!

Days 229, 230, 231 & 232

This past weekend I was glad for a couple of things. First I was glad that the cold I had didn't last very long. It sucked while it lasted, but I was lucky that it only lasted a couple of days. I was worried I would be sick when school started, but luckily I was almost completely better by Sunday.
Saturday I was thankful for the opportunity to see my sister, her family and my Aunt Lela. Amanda and Matt came over with Lucy to attend a wedding, so the kids and I drove to our parents to see them for a couple of hours. Even though I was still sick and had to keep my distance from Lucy, it was great to see them. Also, my Aunt Lela was heading back home the next day so I'm glad we got to see her one more time and to have some of her delicious tacos before she left.
Yesterday I was glad that we were able to make some new friends. One of Alfredo's coworkers invited us to his daughter's birthday, so we all got to go and not only did Alfredo and I find a great couple to hang out with, but all of our kids got along great! I'm glad that we found some new friends that we all can enjoy!
Today I am thankful that I am back at school. Yes, this semester is going to be tough, and yes I am still anxiously awaiting for my financial aid to go through, but with each day that passes I am one step closer to achieving my goal. I am thankful that God continues to have His hand over me and my journey and I am thankful and excited to continue on this path. I am looking forward to what this school year has in store for me!

Days 227 & 228

Yesterday I was so thankful that I found money while cleaning up in our room! It was a blessing to say the least - we are more than broke right now and every little bit is a huge help. Plus, Alfredo's dad gave me some money so I could buy Donovan some new clothes for school. I was planning on using some of my financial aid money, but since that still hasn't gone through I wasn't sure when we would be able to get him some new clothes that fit him. Thanks to our new-found money, we were able to do that today.
Today I am thankful for the extra coupon I got while shopping for Donovan. I had a coupon from online, but I also got one in-store (I love Kohl's, by the way) and because of the extra money I saved, I was also able to get Donovan his lunch box. It may not seem like much, but I have been trying very hard not to stress about my financial aid going through and to just have faith in God that He would take care of us until that happened. The little things that took place these last couple of days have just been proof to me that He is taking care of us. I know that He hasn't brought me on this journey so far to not have everything work out and I need to continue to just relax in Him and let Him worry about today. So, thank you Lord for taking care of us and providing us with the means to get most of the necessities Donovan needed to start this new stage in his life. I am still learning to give up my stress and worry and to just have faith that all will work out according to plan.

Day 226

So tonight I had orientation for Giovanni's preschool, and as I was leaving the building I was really hit for the first time by the smoke from the fire in Cle Elum. The entire horizon all around me was hazy with smoke, the smell was distinct in air, and you could see it hang in the air as you drove down the street. I started this project the beginning of the year to find one thing every single day to be thankful for. Sometimes, though it is hard for me to think of something - whether it is because nothing stood out, or I had a bad day, or whatever. However, seeing and smelling the smoke tonight and knowing that hundreds of people have lost their homes or their livelihoods because of this fire I wonder, "What the heck is my problem?" Why is it so difficult for me to recognize all my blessings every single day? How come I am so selfish that it takes the suffering of others for me to realize how wonderful my life really is? Sure, we are dead broke - we live paycheck to paycheck and we have no money for any extras - ever. BUT, I have three amazingly beautiful and healthy children who are smart and funny and fill my life with joy and laughter. I also have a wonderful husband who loves me very much and works so incredibly hard every single day to take care of us. My children are surrounded by grandparents and family who love and care for them so very much. I have a roof over my head, heat in the winter, air conditioner in the summer, food to eat, clothes to wear, a car to drive. I am able to go to school to pursue a career that I love, and I have a wonderful part-time job where I get to teach kids to do new things.
The fire that is devestating the area not far from our home is a stark reminder that everything I have could be taken away in an instant. It is a humbling thought. What makes me so special that I still have everything that I do, while others now have nothing but their lives? Why is that not me? Why after all this time is it still so hard for me to relax and trust that God will always provide for me everything I need? When will I finally learn to be satisfied with what I already have and not worry about what tomorrow may - or may not - bring? It is so easy to get caught up in the logistics of living day to day, and forget about the big picture of what really matters. I hope that I can learn to take an honest look at my life and recognize everything that I have. I am so very blessed and I want to be able to find joy in my circumstance and appreciate all that God has entrusted me with. I hope that God will forgive my selfish heart and help me to learn to make the most of what He has already given me.

Days 223, 224 & 225

Saturday I was thankful for our air conditioner. Alfredo found one at a yard sale on Friday and it fit in our little window perfectly. It has made a HUGE difference and I am so thankful for it. Even though summer is almost over this year, it will be wonderful to have for next summer!
Yesterday I was thankful that Alfredo was able to go to church with us. With his new schedule, he has been working every Sunday morning, so I have had to take the kids to church myself. They make that pretty challenging sometimes, plus I hate sitting in church by myself. It was wonderful having Alfredo there yesterday. I wish he could have Sundays off more often.
Today I am thankful that we were able to get quite a bit of our room organized. This is a project I have been wanting to tackle for awhile, but it is a little more difficult when you have little ones getting into everything. With Alfredo helping today, we were able to get quite a bit accomplished. We still have a long ways to go, but it was nice to make some progress today.

Day 222

Today I am thankful that our encounter with the yellow jacket didn't turn out as bad as it could have. The family came with me up to WSU so I could turn in some paperwork. We took the kids out behind the buildings so they could play, and as we were coming in, a yellow jacket attacked and stung poor Adelin. Alfredo picked her up and it kept coming after them, swarming around them and wouldn't leave them alone. Poor Adelin was crying so hard, she was obviously in so much pain. We finally got the thing to go away - I think Alfredo killed it - and took Adelin inside. She had a bloody spot on her nose, and her cheek was red and slightly swollen. It was so sad. However, after all of that, I have to say that I am so thankful that she only got stung once, that she is not allergic, and that Alfredo didn't get stung at all - because he IS allergic. Thank you God for looking after my baby today and letting her incident only be a minor one. I'm glad that she is still too young to remember this. I know that she was in so much pain for a couple of hours after - thankfully it is all just ancient history already.

Days 219, 220 & 221

Tuesday I was thankful that Alfredo started his vacation. It will be nice to have him home for the next week. Maybe I can get some stuff done before school starts. Although for two of the three days he's had off so far, he has had to go in to work to do orders. I thought vacation meant NO work - oh well, I guess I'll take what I can get.
Yesterday I was thankful for our safe and fun trip to Silverwood. It was the kids' first time and they all had a lot of fun. I am really impressed with the lack of fear my kids showed in going on rides. Donovan wanted to go on almost everything, and with the exception of the roller coaster he went on, he was not scared of anything! Next year, we are planning a two-day trip so we can spend one day on the rides and one day in the water. That way we can do everything we want to do and not have to rush. And I can actually go on more than one ride. :)
Today I am thankful for the scholarship I got offered out of the blue. I got a call from a lady at WSU and she asked me if I wanted a scholarship for this year. Um, sure! I just have to get my paperwork handed in to her tomorrow, and go to a breakfast next Friday for the recipients. Yeah, I'll take money for going to a free breakfast. :)That was definitely a nice, unexpected little surprise. Thank God, because the more money I can get in scholarships, the less money I have to pay back later.

Day 218

Today was H-O-T! For this reason, today I am thankful for air conditioning. Plain and simple. I'm thankful for the air conditioning in the house, and in the van. I cannot imagine having to go through today without it. I and my poor babies would have melted. So, today I am thanking the Lord Almighty for allowing me to live in a house with air conditioning, and for providing us with electricity so we can use it! Thank you, Jesus!

Days 216 & 217

Yesterday I was thankful that my mom and aunt were able to stop by and visit for awhile. It was great seeing them, and I enjoyed hanging out with them - I know the kids did too (minus Donovan, who had gone to a party). I haven't seen my aunt since last year, and she is over visiting for a couple weeks - so I am really happy we got to spend some time together yesterday. I miss her and wish she lived closer so we could see her more often.
Today I am thankful for being able to sleep in. I had every intention of going to church today, but Adelin wouldn't sleep very well last night, so I decided we would skip it. I ended up getting to sleep until 9:30 which was AMAZING. Never would I ever have thought I would consider getting up and 9:30 sleeping in - but thanks to my children I do! I loved it and am hoping I can do it again a couple more times before school starts.

Day 215

I am thankful that I gave birth to three little readers. I enjoy the time we all spend together before bedtime reading stories. Adelin stands up and watches from her crib, Giovanni repeats every word I read, and Donovan is following along and paying attention to everything. It makes me happy that we can share this love of reading and I am glad to know that they are all starting off on the right foot and will hopefully carry this love of books throughout their entire lives.

Days 211, 212, 213 & 214

I'm thankful that Alfredo had a safe trip to and from Kansas this weekend. I'm bummed that I wasn't with him for his first airplane ride - but I'm glad he had fun anyway.
This week I am thankful that I got everything straightened out for my final paper in my class. I was able to turn everything in, and got my grade back up to an A-. Yay!
I'm glad that we are close to our library and the kids and I are able to get over there at least once a week so they can play and check out books.
I'm also glad that Giovanni has been sleeping MUCH better. He rarely wakes up crying at night anymore and has had several nights in a row where he slept all night long. It has been wonderful. Now if only I can get Adelin to sleep all night, we'll be set!

Days 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 & 210

This past week I am thankful for my beautiful children, the fact that we have a van that works, my hard-working husband. I am also thankful for the wonderful weather, the fact that I have an internal filter on my mouth so I don't say the things to people that I would often like to say.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to drive over to the coast with my mom to go pick up my aunt - I'm thankful for the safe journey and the fact we were able to stop and visit with my sister's family both coming and going.
I am thankful that I have three weeks of nothing until school starts back up again - and I'm thankful that I should not have to ever take another online class again.

Day 203

Today I am glad that I am almost done with my online classes. Tomorrow marks the first day of my last week and I am so happy! It is going to be so nice to have three whole weeks off before school starts up again. I have so much stuff I need to get organized around here and I'm hoping I can do that in my time off. I don't like that I have to write a 4-5 page paper this week, but thankfully I've been able to get a lot of my other assignment already done for the week, so I don't have too much else to work on. T - 7 days until my official summer break finally begins!

Days 201 & 202

Yesterday I was thankful for the uneventful day. I was also thankful that we have such an amazing insurance company. They have always been so helpful and so nice and I know that we are in good hands with them. (No, we don't have Allstate - haha)
Today I am thankful for my babies. I know I've said it before, but with all the time I get to spend with them lately, I am so amazed at how much and how fast they are growing. Donovan has such an imagination and just talks up a storm! Now I know what it was like for my mom when I was little! I try my best to always listen to him, but he talks so much it's hard to sometimes. As long as he thinks I'm listening I think we'll be fine. I love my little chatterbox!
Giovanni is turning into the funniest, most beautiful little boy. Yes, he still throws his fits and he thinks it's funny when I get mad, but he also says "Sorry, Mommy" all the time, too. He is so cute when he asks for things and I think he has the most beautiful big eyes! I love my monkey!
Adelin is growing so much and saying new words all the time. She has this stuffed bear that we found in my mom's basement and she loves it! She sleeps with it and has to take it upstairs with her every morning. She cuddles it and pats its back - so cute. She likes to go into the bathroom and sit down on the little potty chair, over and over and over, BUT she will not sit on it without her diaper on. I think it freaks her out that if she sits down all the way, her feet don't touch the floor. She is such a cutie pie and such a momma's girl. I love cuddling with her and listening to her little voice. I love my sweetheart!
I have to say, that even on days when we all go a little stir-crazy sitting at home, I still am blown away by how amazing my children are. I may be a tiny bit biased, but I think I have the most beautiful, most intelligent babies ever. I love them will all my heart, and am excited to see the people they will grow up to be.

Days 199 & 200

Yesterday I was thankful for the day spent at home. Sometimes it is just nice to sit around and do nothing and yesterday was one of those days. Yay for lazy days.
Today I am thankful that no one was hurt in our action packed evening. We had quite some goings on here, and thankfully other than Alfredo's car, everyone else was fine. I am thankful for Pasco's finest for being so fast in their response time. Hopefully they'll catch the guy who is responsible for our newly wrecked car. :) Talk about some excitement.

Days 194, 195, 196, 197 & 198

This past weekend, the kids and I went up to Othello to visit family. My sister, her husband and their new baby were coming over to visit and so we went up to see them and then we all went over to my other sister's house for a barbecue. I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to visit with my family. We didn't always get along so great when we were growing up, so it is especially nice now to be able to hang out and just enjoy each other's company. I'm also thankful that my kids were able to make a new friend in my niece's daughter. After just a minute of some apprehension, they all got along wonderfully. I love watching my kids get along with others. It makes me happy to see them playing well together. All in all, I love my family and I am thankful that we got to spend some time together this weekend.

Days 191, 192 & 193

On Tuesday, Alfredo, Martin, the kids and I went to one of the parks nearby to go swimming in the river. I am thankful that we were able to get out and have fun. I'm also thankful that all three of my kids loved the water - even if Adelin was a little bit apprehensive at times. We had so much fun and I'm so happy we all got to spend some time together.
Yesterday, was Alfredo's day off again and I am so happy that we got to just stay at home and relax. It is nice to be able to have some quiet time just enjoying hanging out with him, and I know the kids loved having the day with him too. He works so hard to take care of us, and I am so thankful of the time he gets to spend at home with us.
I know today is still early, but I am thankful today for my amazing children. Sometimes I just look at them and am so overwhelmed at the beautiful little people they are. I don't know what I did to deserve my three little angels, but I am so grateful that I was chosen to be their mommy. I love being able to watch them learn, play and interact with each other. I love hearing them talk and laugh. My heart is so full of love for them and I try everyday to become a better person and mother for them. They are my world, and I would do anything to protect them and keep them safe.
And on another note, I'm also thankful that my friend Sarah is coming over to visit today. It has been weeks it seems of us trying to get together but for one reason or another, it just hasn't worked out. I'm glad she is finally able to come over and spend some time with us. Yay!

Days 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189 & 190

Summertime has got me slacking on my blog. Oh well, what are you going to do? So, since I have a lot of days to be thankful for, I will keep this as concise as I can.
First of all, I'm go thankful we got to go meet the newest member of our family: my baby sister's baby, Lucy Elizabeth. She is tiny, sweet, precious and looks just like her daddy! I'm glad Alfredo, the kids and I were able to make the trip over and back safely to get to meet her. I can't wait to see her again!
I'm also thankful for the wonderful Fourth of July we got to spend with family. Alfredo's family all came over to the house and we just hung out and ate food. It was delicious, and nice to sit and relax and visit with everyone!
These past few days I am also very thankful for the basic things that I often take for granted: we have a van and a car that works, we have three beautiful and healthy children, we have a roof over our heads to shelter us and help keep us cool, we have a yard for the kids to play in, and I have a computer to do my homework on while keeping and eye on the kids.
I am truly so thankful for everything that I have been blessed with. I know sometimes I focus only on what I don't have and lose sight of all the amazing things that I have in my life. I really am a very blessed person and I am still striving to be more mindful of what I have and to express my thanfulness and gratitude for all that I have.

Day 183

Today I am thankful that my kids didn't make me want to lock myself in the closet like I wanted to do yesterday. They kept busy with a variety of activities, and I'm looking forward to our trip to meet my new niece tomorrow. Hopefully they will be behaving themselves tomorrow too. Lucy, you are in for a treat tomorrow! Brace yourself cause your crazy cousins are coming to visit!

Days 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 & 182

Well, once again I find myself falling behind. Now that it's summer time and I don't have a set schedule, it is harder for me to remember. I'm off my routine and it's throwing everything all wacky. Oh well. I guess I will just say that this week I am thankful for the beautiful weather, I'm thankful for my husband who works so hard for us, I'm thankful for my laptop so I can take online classes this summer, I'm thankful for our nice cool room at night, and I'm thankful for my family. Now hopefully I can get myself back on track. :)

Days 175 & 176

Between yesterday and today, I am thankful for everything that I was able to get accomplished. Granted, the monkeys make it a bit more challenging because I am constantly keeping them out of things, getting them to settle down, feeding them, changing them, separating fights, keeping them from escaping outside, etc. However, between yesterday and today I was able to get 90% of the bedroom cleaned, the kids' laundry done, the playroom cleaned, the kids' rug cleaned and vacuumed, some homework done, and some of my new niece's blanket done. All-in-all it was a pretty good couple of days. Now I'm going to work on some more homework, so I don't have as much to do during Alfredo's days off and I can just concentrate on spending time with the family.

Day 174

Today I am glad that I got my mid-term paper done and turned in. It's not due until tomorrow, so I started working on it today, and was surprisingly able to get it done this afternoon. I got it turned in early and that makes me happy because that means I have no homework for tomorrow, so I can actually get a head start on next week's assignments. Now, whether or not I got a decent grade is another story, but that's something to worry about another day.

Days 170, 171, 172 & 173

Well, it's time for another multiple day thankfulness post. This week I had a two-day conference in Spokane for the 21st Century program. It was so interesting and informative and I'm very happy I had the chance to go. I'm also very happy that Alfredo and the kids were able to come along with me. Yeah, they had to hang out in the hotel for most of the day, but it was great to spend the evenings with the whole family. Plus, Donovan really liked the hotel and keeps asking when we're going back!
I'm thankful we had a safe trip up there and back, and I'm thankful that the kids got some good quality Daddy time.

Day 169

Today I have a pretty amazing thing to be thankful for: my sister and her husband just had their first baby today! She wasn't due until July 1st, but she decided to make her appearance a little early. Good for my sister though, cause I don't know if she could have gotten much bigger. :)
I am so excited, and I'm so glad I got to talk to her before all the excitement went down. I was very surprised to hear she had the baby already. Labor went very fast for her, and it seems like everything went smoothly because they were able to go home from the birthing center within a couple of hours.
I can't wait to meet my new baby niece, and I am so happy that my sister and I are now able to share the experience of being a mommy.
I love you, Amanda, Matt and Lucy! I am so happy for all three of you and I am extremely excited to welcome baby into the family. I can't wait to meet her!

Day 168

Well, with it being Father's Day and all, I'm pretty bummed that Alfredo had to work today. But, that's how it goes when you work in the restaurant business. I am, however, so thankful that my kids have a daddy who works so hard to take care of them. We are beyond blessed to have Alfredo in our lives - especially the kids cause they wouldn't be here without him!
I know how hard it is for Alfredo right now because he works so much that he doesn't get to see the kids as much as he would like to. But it is amazing that he would sacrifice so much so that he can take care of us. I can't wait to be done with school so he can take a break from the restaurant and spend more time with the kiddos.
I love you so much, Alfredo and I am so happy that you are in my life. You make me so happy and I am so proud of everything that you do. You are a wonderful dad and an amazing husband. I couldn't ask for a better partner in life and I am so happy I get to spend every day with you. Thank you so much for everything that you do for us. I know you work so hard, and I want you to know that I appreciate all of it.
I know you had to work today, but I hope you still had a wonderful Father's Day. You deserve it!

Day 167

Today I'm glad that I was able to finish the book I needed to read for a paper due tomorrow. It was one of those things where I knew it was coming up, but just realized this week that it was due now. I had to scramble to read the entire book so I can write a paper that is worth 10% of my grade, so I can't really blow it off. Oh well, I finished the book, thankfully, so tomorrow I can write my paper. Yay!

Days 164, 165 & 166

Wednesday I was so thankful that our family got to spend some time together.  With Alfredo's work schedule, we don't get to see him much so it was wonderful to have some nice, quality family time.  We took a little drive, had a picnic, and just enjoyed each other's company.  Very nice.
Yesterday I was thankful that I got to sleep in a little bit.  Granted, I should have gotten up and gone to the gym, but it was so much nicer to sleep in.  I enjoyed every minute of it and am looking forward for my next opportunity.
Today I am thankful that I got to hang out with my niece and her baby girl.  I hadn't seen either of them in months and it was nice to visit with them for a little while.  I loaded the kids up, picked up Ashli and her baby, and we all went to the park.  The boys made friends with another group of people there - mooching  cherries and sunflower seeds - and I got to visit with my sweet niece for a while.  It was great to see her and her baby and I'm hoping we get to spend some more time together again soon!

Days 162 & 163

Yesterday I was thankful for the time I got alone with Donovan before bedtime.  When Alfredo works, I have Donovan lay down with me until Giovanni goes to sleep.  Last night I got to cuddle with my Donovan and talk to him.  I love getting to spend time with him and talk to him.  He always makes me laugh and he is so sweet.  Last night I asked him to promise me he would still love me and want to spend time with me when he is a teenager.  He told me that being a teenager was dumb.  Yes, Donovan, being a teenager is dumb. :)  He also said that he wasn't going to get married until he was 55, then he asked if that was old.  Well, maybe you could get married a few years before that.  I love my Donovan, and I love getting to spend some time with my sweet little boy.
Today I am thankful for some more mommy time.  I love the playdates my kids get to have with Kriste's kids, but I love the mommy nights I get with Kriste even better!  It was great to get to spend a couple of hours tonight with her, talking and drinking some good Costco wine!  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love mommy night!

Days 159, 160 & 161

I hate getting behind.  Now that I don't have anything going on, all the days blend together. So let's see....Friday, I was glad that Alfredo got home before it was too late. He made it back before 9:00 I think and that was nice. I hardly get to see him now that he is a manager, and so it was great to be able to spend a little bit of time with him before we went to bed.
Saturday, I was thankful that I got to go to the gym. I have been hit and miss the past few days, and I'm glad I made it in the morning. I hate it when I don't make it to the gym, I feel so worn down and unenergetic, so it was nice to be able to make it.
Today, I am thankful that the sun was finally out. It wasn't the warmest, but it was not raining, and that is good enough for me. I'm also thankful that we made it to church for Donovan's promotion to the kindergarted Sunday school class. He got his very first Bible today, and I'm excited and happy for him to get acquainted with his Bible. I hope that I can help him navigate through it to learn more about Christ and begin a lifelong relationship that will help carry him through whatever life may throw at him.

Day 158

Today is Donovan's fifth birthday, and I am so thankful for my wonderful little boy. I can't believe how fast he is growing up and that he will be starting kindergarten in the fall.  I love him so much and am enjoying watching him grow into this amazing person.  He is so smart and funny, and he makes me laugh all the time.  Yes, he can be a little stubborn at times, but given his family that is to be expected.  He has such a sweet, tender heart and is such a great big brother to Giovanni and Adelin.  I am so grateful every day that he is in our lives.  I hope that I can always provide the support and love he needs to be confident in himself and his abilities to follow his dreams.  I know that he can do anything his little heart desires, and I hope that I can provide whatever he needs to make that happen.  I love you so much, Donovan and thank you for being the amazing person that you are!

Days 156 & 157

Tuesday I was thankful that I got to spend some time with my mom getting our hair done.  I have not even had a haircut since before Adelin was born, and I can't even tell you that last time I got my hair colored.  Mom got me highlights and a hair cut and I love them both!  Thanks, Mom.  And your hair looked great too!
Yesterday I am thankful that I finally got a chance to try a Zumba class at the gym.  It was my first time, and I felt a little lost and uncoordinated at times, but it was so much fun.  I worked up a sweat, but I had fun doing it and I felt great afterwards.  I can't wait to go again.

Days 145-155

I realized the other day that I have fallen extremely behind, and I am just going to have to do a blanket thankful entry in order to get caught up again.
A lot has happened the past couple of weeks.  Donovan finished preschool, I finished at the middle school, we had the boys' birthday, and most recently I took a trip to Seattle with my mom.  Mom, Amanda, and I went to the Daughtry concert yesterday and it was so much fun.  I loved getting to hang out with my sister who I don't get to see often enough, and it was great spending time with my mom.  Mom ended up getting us VIP tickets to the concert so we got to go early and watch the band do three songs for sound check, and then get out pictures taken with the band.  They were all so nice, and I'm so happy Mom got the chance to pose with her Chris.
I am thankful that summer is finally getting into swing, and I can't wait to spend the summer with my kids and getting ready for Donovan to start school.  I think I am going to need the entire summer to prepare myself.

Day 144

I got to spend this morning with Donovan and I am so grateful for the time with him!  He is such a sweet, funny boy and he makes me laugh everytime we are together.  I am glad that I got a couple of hours alone with just the two of us.  I am looking forward to more Mommy & Donovan time again soon!

Day 142 & 143

Monday I was thankful that I got to go to Donovan's birthday celebration at school.  It was also his last official day of preschool, and I have definite mixed emotions about that.  I can't believe my baby boy is growing up so fast!  He was so cute standing up in front of his class, going over the pictures I brought of him over the years, and was so happy as they sang him Happy Birthday.  I liked being able to sit at the table with him and his classmates as they ate their snacks.  They are so cute and fun to talk to, and I'm happy I got the experience to be in his class one more time before he was done.
Today I am glad that Alfredo is back home.  He was gone the past couple of days for a conference for work.  He had a lot of fun, but we missed him a lot back home, and we are all very grateful he made it back home safe and sound.

Day 141

Today is Giovanni's 3rd birthday, so today I am absolutely thankful for my crazy little boy.  He definitely keeps me on my toes and has been a tiny thorn in my side since before he was even born.  He still rarely sleeps through the night, he throws amazing tantrums, he can pierce your eardrums with his scream, and he bites and headbutts like a street fighter.  He also has the cutest laugh, he loves to cuddle and give kisses, he is funny, and he is one of the smartest kids I've ever known.  I love watching him grow up into this beautiful little boy even if he is a tough one to handle sometimes.  He is STUBBORN, but I am content in the fact that I know he will never be talked into doing anything that he doesn't want to do.  Peer pressure will have nothing on him.  He marches to the beat of his own drum, and is perfectly content with that.  However, he is also the perfect little mimic and loves to repeat what people say, and copy whatever his brother does.  I love my unique little Giovanni so much - even if he is going to be the one to eventually break me.  I couldn't imagine our family without him.  He is this amazing dichotomy of vinegar and sugar.  One minute he is trying your patience, the next he is making you laugh.  However, as much as he makes me want to pull out my hair sometimes, I still love spending time with just him.  He is so sweet and smart and I am happy I got to go shopping today with just him.  He was such a good helper, looking for things on our list, counting off numbers and reading letters off the signs.  He kept waving at people and saying hi - the older he gets and the more he talks, the more he likes interacting with people.  Giovanni, you are one of the most amazing little people I know.  Even though you are constantly pushing my buttons, I can't imagine you being any different.  I love you so much, and don't want you to ever lose that fire that makes you, you.  You are a special and amazing little boy and every day I am so grateful that you call me Mommy.  (Although I did liked it more when you call me Mama' - with an accent.  It made me feel sophisticated and a little European.)  I love you, Giovanni, and I thank God for giving you to me every single day.  Happy birthday, my little monkey!

Day 140

Wow!  Today was the day that never seemed to end!  Adelin woke up especially early this morning, so I feel like today was a LOOOOOONG day.  However, I am grateful for the beautiful weather that allowed me and the kiddos to go for a walk.  We walked over to check out the school that Donovan is supposed to be going to next year.  I am so freaked out about that - if I knew I could manage it, I would home school him!  Still it was a nice walk, minus the two pitbulls that scared my baby girl and Giovanni.  I thought I was going to have to crack some doggy skulls.  But, they stayed on their side of the fence, so no doggies were hurt today!  I guess that's something they can be thankful for. 

Day 139

Yesterday I was able to work on my homework while Donovan was at school.  Next Wednesday is his last day and I am going to miss my homework time.  I am so grateful that for most of the year I was able to get some good solid time to work on my homework uninterrupted.  I'm hoping that for the rest of my online classes, I will be able to find some time during the day to work on what I need to.

Days 135, 136, 137 & 138

I keep saying I'm not going to get behind again, and then before I know it four more days have flown by!  Anyway, for Monday I am glad that I have been able to keep up going to the gym as consistently as I have the past four weeks.  I haven't lost many pounds yet, but I have noticed a difference in my stamina, and my strength.  I may not LOOK much different, but I certainly FEEL different.  I know if I stick with it, the outside will catch up to the inside.  Hopefully by the end of the summer, I'll look like a totally different (and hot) woman!
Tuesday I was thankful that I made it through the after-school program at the middle school and no students were harmed.  They were out of control that day, and it took everything I had in me not to strangle one or six of them.  I love them to pieces, but somedays I am SO grateful I only have to deal with them for two hours.  Tuesday was one of those days.
Wednesday I was thankful that the middle school group was small, and well-behaved.  After a day like Tuesday, I was extremely grateful that Wednesday was much smoother.  Hooray!
Today I am so happy that Mom was able to come up and help me take the kids to the dentist this afternoon.  Donovan and Adelin were great, but Giovanni was another story.  I don't know what the deal is with that kid, but he has never had a doctor or dentist appointment that did not involve him screaming at the top of his lungs at some point.  Needless to say, I was very happy to have an extra set of hands to help out and especially to take a non-cooperative Giovanni outside when his appointment was done.  Thanks Mom!  I literally could not have done it without you.

Day 131, 132, 133 & 134

I can't believe that now that I hardly have anything to do, I am constantly getting behind.  Oh well, but now I'm so far behind I can hardly remember what happened for the days I need to catch up on.Well, for Thursday I am thankful that I was able to spend most of the day with Alfredo.  He finally had a day off after working for 8 straight days.  It was nice - those kids were right on the verge of pushing me over the edge.  I'm glad I finally got some back-up!  Plus, it was nice to see Alfredo's face again.  I almost forgot what he looked like!
Friday I am thankful that I got two of the textbooks I have been waiting on for my online classes.  I have quizzes due every week that are kind of difficult to complete without reading the text, so it was nice to get those on Friday.  However, I am still waiting on about four more, so hopefully I can be thankful those arrived soon.
Saturday I am so thankful that I got to co-throw a baby shower for my little sister.  It is amazing (and a little weird) that my youngest sister is expecting a baby in the summer.  I am so excited for her and her husband and can't wait for my new niece to be here.  It was a fun shower and I'm grateful I got to visit with my sister. 
Today I am thankful that I got to spend a beautiful day at home with my kids.  I'm not going to lie, they have been driving me a little crazy today and I did not get to do a lot of what I wanted to today, but that's ok.  I was able to spend the day just hanging out and I was able to finish my homework for the week.  It's a bummer that Alfredo had to work today, but we will be able to celebrate Mother's Day later this week.
Whew!  I'm finally caught up!  Hopefully I can stay on top of this a little better from now on!

Day 129 & 130

Yesterday I got to go to the Mother's Day Tea at Donovan's school.  It was so bittersweet to see him up there with his class singing songs.  He is such a doll and I can't believe that he is getting so big.  I'm still not ready for him to go to kindergarten next year.  I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go and spend some time just the two of us.  It is rare to get any alone time with any of my kids and I am so happy when it happens.  Even if for a short while.
Today I am thankful that I am able to work on homework while Donovan is in school.  I generally go sit in Starbucks with my computer and wait for Donovan to get out of school.  There have been a lot of days recently that I haven't had the opportunity because of something else going on.  I just started two online classes for the summer and I am glad that I will at least have the rest of this month to go work on my homework three days out of the week.  I'll take what I can get, and will put it to good use while I have it!

Day 127 & 128

Yesterday I got back home with the kids and we got to have carne asada for dinner.  It was delicious, as always.  I'm thankful I get fed some of the most wonderful food.  I'm thankful for a husband who knows how to cook it up just the way I like it!  I'm getting hungry just thinking about it now.  Yummy!
Today I am thankful for the beautiful weather.  I love days where it is just warm enough that you don't need your jacket, but not too warm that you can't enjoy being outside.  It's wonderful that it is nice enough to let the boys go outside and run off some of their energy.  I am so happy that spring is here!

Day 126

This weekend, the kids and I drove up to Othello to visit my parents.  My sister drove over so she and I could go to the local women's conference and hear my mom speak about her experiences the past 12 years.  For those who don't know, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago, and was told that she would not survive the summer.  Twelve years later, she proved them wrong and is still going strong.  I know that for myself, even though she was technically "sick", it was difficult to picture her that way and I often had to remind myself how serious the situation really was.  Looking back, I am beyond grateful that she is still in our lives.  I don't know what I would have done without her love and support these past few years. 
Hearing my mom speak about her journey and realizing how much of a miracle it is to have her with us is not only humbling, but eye-opening as well.  She is a constant reminder to never take life for granted.  No matter how we live, or what we do, we never know what is waiting for us around the corner.  We need to always cherish every moment we have with those we love, because we really don't know when that could all end.  Tragedies happen all around us, but I'm grateful that Mom showed me how to face them with courage, strength, and determination (or stubbornness - depending on how you look at it).  Every day that we are breathing is a miracle in and of itself.  It is up to us to appreciate that miracle and make the most of it.
I love you so much, Mom.  I cherish every day you are here and I am beyond grateful that you get to see my children grow up into their own miracles.  Thank you so much for always being there.  And even if it doesn't seem like I'm listening, I take every word to heart and hope that I can be the same example of strength to my children as you have been to me.

Days 122, 123, 124 & 125

I am getting really behind, but I am blaming it entirely on finals week.  Last week was my last week of the spring semester, and I was feeling fried in my brain.  It is all kind of a blur now, because I had so much stuff that needed to be done, and so little time to do it in.
Because of this, I am lumping all these days together and saying how grateful I am that I survived finals week.  I am so thankful that I survived and even found enough time to study with people for the various tests I had.  I cannot believe what a difference it makes to have someone else to study with.  I am happy I made it through and am pretty confident I did fairly well on everything.

Day 121

Last night I had the opportunity to hang out with one of my most favorite people in the world.  Without kids - just her and me.  It was amazing to be able to talk with her one-on-one for the first time since she and her kiddos moved back.  I am so grateful for the "mommy only" time we got last night.  It was a couple of wonderful hours of talking, and drinking wine, and I loved it.  I hope that we can find time to do this again soon because I have missed her so much since she's been gone.  I am so glad she is back, and so glad that our kids get to grow up together.  I see some great times together in our future! 

Day 120

So, I'm a couple of days late, but for Sunday, I am most definitely thankful for my baby girl, Adelin.  On her first birthday, I think about the amazing little person she is becoming and I am so grateful she has come into our lives.  Even though three kids about makes me want to lose my mind sometimes, I could not imagine life without our precious Adelin.  She is our princess and she fills our lives with joy.  She has the sweetest spirit and exudes her sweetness to everyone around her.  I am truly blessed to call her my daughter and I hope that I can always be the kind of mother that she needs and deserves.  I love you so much, baby girl.  Thank you for picking me to be your mommy.  You bring joy to my life everyday, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch you grow into a beautiful young woman.

Day 119

Today I am thankful that Giovanni has finally expressed an interest in potty training.  He is definitely the type of boy that you cannot convince him to do anything until he is ready.  The first time I tried to sit him on the toilet a few weeks ago, he acted like I was trying to drown him in it!  However, he has started asking to go potty on the toilet and has had a few successful attempts - although not as many as the unsuccessful attempts.  I am glad he has decided to give it a try, and I am so looking forward to getting him out of diapers!  Yay!

Day 117 & 118

Yesterday I was thankful for the rain.  Don't get me wrong, I love the beautiful weather we've been having.  But, sometimes you just need some rain.  We don't get too much around here, so I try to enjoy it when we do.  It was nice to get a little reminder yesterday that it is actually still spring.
Today I am thankful I remembered to turn in a paper that was due today to the teaching department.  I will be starting my practicum (student teaching) in the fall, and had to turn in a form and some other papers so they could start coordinating a classroom for me to work in.  Today was the last day to turn it in and I kept forgetting to take it to school with me.  I am SO grateful I remembered before I left for class today so I could get it dropped off on time.  Yay!

Day 116

Today I am thankful that I got a big chunk of homework out of the way even though I had my monkeys running wild this evening.  Those boys were out of control running, biting, bowling in the kitchen, running over their poor sister.  But through it all I was able to get it done - mostly.  I'm not stressing over it and that is what really matters.  And for that I am grateful.

Day 115

I know I had kind of a crummy day yesterday, but today I realized that I am truly blessed anyway.  I may get frustrated and stressed out over money - or lack thereof.  And school really puts a burden on me sometimes, but I today I realized that I need to stop focusing on what is wrong with my life and just be grateful for what is right.  I have a wonderful family, a warm roof over my head, food to eat, and cars to drive.  I have a lot more than many other people, and I am thankful for everything I have that I have been blessed with.  From my beautiful children, to the shoes on my feet and even the computer I am typing this on right now.  I am truly blessed and I am more grateful today than I ever have been before.  Thank you God for the amazing blessings you have given to me, and I pray that I learn to be a better steward of what you have given me.  I want to show how grateful I am with a happy heart.  I hope to never take any of my blessings for granted.

Day 112, 113 & 114

I can't seem to keep up these days - the end of this semester is killing me.  But, here we go anyway.  Saturday I was thankful Mom and Dad stopped by for a little while so I could tell Dad happy birthday.  We are so grateful and happy that he is still here after the scare he gave us a few years ago.  Even though I don't always show it, every birthday we get to celebrate with him is a blessing to me (and the rest of the family).  His birthday is a great reminder that every day we get to spend with our loved ones is a great day.
Sunday I was thankful for the beautiful weather.  I am so glad that spring is officially here and I plan to enjoy the beautiful weather as much as possible before it gets too hot.  I love spring and am thoroughly enjoying the blue skies and sunshine.
Today I am thankful that I survived.  It was not the greatest day, so I'm glad I made it through in one piece and I have a roof over my head.  I'm grateful that my family is happy, healthy, and we have everything we need.  And now I am going to go to bed and hope that tomorrow will be better.

Day 110 & 111

I missed yesterday, so I am once again playing catch-up.  I am almost at the end of the spring semester in school, and honestly the days are beginning to blur together and I really can't remember much from yesterday!  One thing I can think of was in my psychology class we finished watching the movie, "Young At Heart".  It was a very sweet documentary about a senior citizen choir.  We spent two class periods watching it, and it was touching and emotional.  I think even the professor was a little choked up at the end of class.  I highly recommend it to anyone and I am grateful I had the opportunity to watch it.
Today, right now, at this moment, I am thankful for silence.  It's that time of night when all three of the monkeys have finally drifted off to sleep, and all I can hear are people walking around upstairs, and my keyboard clicking while I'm typing.  Before you have children, you really don't ever appreciate the silence.  Now that I have children, I relish it.  It's comforting to know that all my babies are sleeping soundly, dreaming whatever their little minds conjure up.  Now it's my time to relax and get myself ready for dreamland too!  Sweet dreams and even sweeter silence!