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!