How exciting?!?!

I have a few scrapbooking blogs that I read. But one of my favorite ones is http://www.knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/scraphappy/ . I first discovered Lain's blog through her podcast that I read about somewhere when I got my iPod last Christmas. Lain has podcasts that review scrapbooking products and she also does interviews with some "famous" scrapbookers. I subscribe to her podcasts through my iTunes and after 3 months without a podcast from her I discovered that she had a new one Saturday when I was updating my iTunes. So yesterday while at the go-cart track while waiting for Tyler to race I was able to listen to her podcast. She had a great reason to come back to the podcasting world because of a new book that she has just released called "Snippets". This is a book that I look forward to getting my hands onto. She has such a witty sense of humor.

So last night I decided to comment on her blog regarding the release of her latest podcast and how excited I was to find that she had returned to podcasting. I just checked my email and Lain sent me a message back! How cool is that! I am very excited!!! Here is the link to her podcast if you are interested... http://www.scraphappy.mypodcast.com/

Here is her message back to me...
Aww, thanks! I am going to do another one this week. :)Stay tuned!xoxo
L
Lain Ehmann
Contributing Editor, Simple Scrapbooks Magazine

Today I am thankful for...

...a nap. After enjoying 5 days off of work because of the Thanksgiving holiday I am really not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. This morning I got up puttered around the house, went to the grocery store, made lunch and laid down on my son's bed while the boys were playing in his bedroom and took a nap. I slept for about an hour and a half and when I woke up I really had no desire to get up. It was a rainy Sunday and a great nap day. I decided not to cook dinner tonight too.

Today ends my final day of my thankful posts although I think I may try to recap once a month the things that have made me thankful. Some blessings are small and some are huge but they are always there we just need to take the time to reflect and be thankful!

Thanks Sherry!!!

Today I am thankful for...

...the fact that Tyler gave it his all. He has been racing go-carts for about a year now and today was the 2nd to last race of the season. My husband borrowed a michron (sp?), a technical thing attached to the go-cart so we know how fast he goes each lap he races.

A few days ago we were talking to Tyler about a race that was coming up this Saturday and he made the comment that he would finish 3rd. 3rd is not a bad place to finish but if your expectation is to always finish 3rd and not aim for anything higher then why race. So dh and I had a nice chat with him about that. We borrowed the took for today's races. Every time he went out he got a few tenths of a second faster. So instead of him racing against the other racers today he raced against himself.

He gave it his all and although he did finish 3rd we are proud that he tried to beat his time every time he went out on the track.

Picture will be coming later once I upload them...

Today I am thankful for...

...Rachael. Rachael is our babysitter and she is one of the best that I have found. I trust her with my boys and I know that she has fun and enjoys being with them. She is home from college for the long Thanksgiving weekend. Eric and I were able to have a date night because of her being home. We went to dinner at Outback. Outback just recently sent coupons to our school for teachers that are good for $6.00 off an entree and you can use it as much as you want to until 12/31. Plus I had a $25 gift card there, again thanks to the fact that I am a teacher as it was a gift from one of my students last year. So our $45 dinner turned out to only be about $13 plus tip. Not too bad for two steak dinners. :0)

After dinner we did some Christmas shopping...starting with Game Stop where we walked out empty handed. Then off to Toys R Us...where we walked out about $200 later. Next we went to Wal-Mart...$70 later, but Eric also picked up some stuff that he needed for racing and stuff for the truck. Our final stop was to Target...$60 later. Oh, actually that wasn't our final stop...we tried going to Cold Stone Creamery because I had a gift card there thanks again to my students, but found out they were not longer in business. :0( I thought we were on our way home when Eric suprised me and we went to Dairy Queen instead for Blizzards. YEAH!!!

All money well spent but the priceless moment tonight was spending time alone with Eric...something that doesn't happen very often and something that we need to keep our relationship healthy!

Today I am thankful for...

...Sherry! I need to thank Sherry for posting this challenge. This past November has been a hard one on me. I have been dealing with some issues with my oldest son that I will finally get answers to in two weeks. I found out that my dad did something that my mom is very bitter about. Plus there are some medical issues that my parents are dealing with that I was not told about and called my sister who I asked to share with me what was going on. Now my mom is mad at my sister for telling me. I also found out that my cousin is getting a divorce. We were very close growing up and have stayed some what close even though 10 years ago I moved to FL and she is in PA. Within the past years the phone calls have come less and less frequent and I should have known something was up but just assumed that we were both focusing more on our families. Unfortunately that was not the issue for her. I know there are others things but my brain cannot wrap itself around those right now.

But Sherry has helped me find things to be thankful for this past month leading up to Thanksgiving Day. Some days have been harder to find things then others.

Today I am thankful for...

...my 3 year old, Reed. He is my love bug and will always be my baby. He is full of spunk and has quite the little personality and on occasion the ornery side comes out. Reed is an eater and will pretty much eat anything you give to him...if his brother doesn't comment that it is gross prior to him trying it. I am sad that his blonde hair is growing in darker as he gets older. He wants to do everything his big brother does.

Today I am thankful for...

My 3 favorite boys that I love to spend time with!


...the next five days! One of the greatest things about being a teacher is that you get to have off of work most of the days the students are off. The next five days I will get to spend time with my boys. I wonder what we will get into besides the obvious on Thanksgiving Day? I have set the record straight with my seven year old that there will be time restraints on the Wii, TV, and computer. The weather is gorgeous here in South FL and I informed him that we will be spending time outside. He has already to go on a bike ride, so tomorrow morning we will strap on the helmets and go for a ride. I also look forward to snuggling up with my boys on the couch and watching the Thanksgiving Day parade. Will they actually join me? Who knows but I will be there and that is what will be on the TV. I am also very excited that dh will get to share 4 out of those 5 days with us.

We will make the most of it and hopefully make some memories that will last a lifetime!

Do it, Done it!

Put the items you've done in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - Does Vegas count??? LOL!
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (chalked)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - I was an extra in Major League.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone -fractured/close enough right?
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Today I am thankful for...

...things that please my son. When I got home from work today, Tyler ran to his room and shut his door which I thought was very strange, but he is always up to something. I let the dog out and the next thing I know Tyler wants to wrap his Christmas gifts that he bought at the school's holiday shop for his daddy, cousin, and brother. Thankfully they provide holiday bags to place the items in. He was so excited about the items he purchased and wanted to get them wrapped before anyone could find them.

As I was getting his brother ready for bed tonight I heard Tyler's bedroom door slam once again and his daddy was in there with him. I wonder who's gift they were wrapping then...???

Christmas is over a month away but Tyler is prepared and has his gifts for giving ready to be placed under the tree.

Thank you holiday shop for making my son excited about Christmas and for giving him the joy of picking his own presents out for the ones that matter the most!

Today I am thankful for...

...dvr. Without it I would miss some of my favorite shows. I love the fact that I can watch something in less time then it takes to appear on tv, because I can fast forward through the commercials. Today I was able to get caught up on Days of Our Lives. Such a great story line with a murder being solved. I have some other shows that need to be watched and caught up on as well. Hopefully this week...since it is only a 2 day work week!

Today I am thankful for...

...pizza. It has made my family happy for 3 dinners now. Wednesday I stayed at work late and ran to the grocery store for frozen pizza and dog food. Thursday night I had Bunco and asked the boys what they wanted for dinner...PIZZA! Today some of the third grade teachers ordered pizza for the students as it was their student teachers last day. They had left over pizza and offered me a pie to take home. Of coure I graciously accepted...free dinner. I was actually shocked when Eric wasn't upset about having pizza for the third night in a row. I am sure it won't work 4 nights.

Today I am thankful for...

...preparation/organization. I am not usually so disorganized at school, I am a teacher. My student teacher just finished up her teaching last Friday and I am trying to get my act back together. I spent 2 hours after school today organizing my classroom and getting things ready for tomorrow. Today was such a blur at work, I wasn't prepared. I am prepared for tomorrow and my students will be much happier because they will have a prepared/organized teacher.

Today I am thankful for...

...the fact that stores sell clothes to fit me. Yes, there is sarcasm in my post tonight and I am hopefully that it will kick my butt into gear. The weather has been cooler here in South FL so for the past few days I have had to search my closet for something that fits me that is warm enough to wear for the cooler weather. I had enough this morning after spending 20 minutes trying on clothes from my closet. I went out to the store tonight and hopefully bought my last outfit in the size that I bought tonight. Tomorrow hopefully will be a new start to my new life. I am going to try going back to WW points system and get this body of mine moving.

Another reason for the need for a new outfit is that tomorrow is class picture day...the teacher cannot be wearing too tight clothes in the picture that will be placed possibly in scrapbooks or picture frames.

Today I am thankful for...

...cell phones.

I can keep in contact with my friends and family pretty much whenever I want. I don't have to worry about digging around for change to use a pay phone (which I don't think exist too much any more) if I have an emergency.

How did we ever survive without one???

Today I am thankful for...

...cooler weather. I got up out of bed this morning, got dressed, put the dog's leash on and went for a walk. It was a cool brisk morning. When the wind blew it felt colder than the 59 degress that the weather man said. Living in South FL most of us get excited when the cooler weather comes to us. It has been in the mid 80's this week and it has still been very humid so high 50's low 60's is a nice treat. My boys have been playing outside. My windows are open. Eric is outside working cleaning the shed out which is not a fun task to do in the heat. I will be out there joining him soon cleaning up the backyard.

Today I am thankful for...

...extended family. There is nothing better than playing with your cousins. Today we went to Eric's aunt and uncle's house. Some of his aunt and uncles were there along with his grandmother from MD. My boys got to play with cousins if I am figuring it out right they would be third cousins.

I have such fond memories of spending Sunday's and holidays with extended family, playing with my cousins. Such good times. My children very rarely get to see their extended family since we live several states away from them that when it does happen it is a blessing. I hope my boys will remember and cherish these times like I do.

Today I am thankful for...

...the weekend. Some weeks seem longer then others with this week in particular. Even though this weekend will be crazy busy. I don't have to get up at 5:20 a.m. and can sleep in to uh about 7 a.m.

Today I am thankful for...

...music. It just soothes my soul. I have been meaning to post about this since last Friday. At the end of the school day last Friday around 3 p.m. I found myself alone in my classroom. I turned the radio on and went to work with just me and the music. I left work that day feeling good because I had some me time. I was a better mom and wife because of it.

It doesn't really matter to me what I am listening to I just find that it helps relax me. I do find that when I get stressed I will grab my iPod and shuffle the songs.

Music can also take me back in time. Sometimes it just puts a smile on my face and sometimes it makes the tears run down my face. Music is so moving!

Today I am thankful for...

...Facebook. I have recently reconnected with so many people that I went to school with. Not only people I spent high school with, but people way back from kindergarten. I grew up in a small town and most of the people that I went to kindergarten with also graduated with me. I just got done chatting on FB with a friend from school. The Internet is a great thing! Just think of how many people I haven't heard from in over 15 years, that I now get to catch up and chat with because of it!

Today I am thankful for...

...the US Veterans. The men and women who stand up and fight for our country and help us remain a free country.

Today I am thankful for...

...my son Tyler.

Tyler is a very sensitive young man, very much like me. I can see myself in him in so many ways. His feelings get hurt very easily and he will cry at the drop of a hat. My husband and I have tried so hard to toughen him up so that he doesn't cry over the little things in front of his peers...so far it has not happened. Unfortunately I am sure he will learn not to cry in front of his peers the hard way...which of course will make him cry even more. He easily makes friends and wants to be part of the group.

He has big beautiful green eyes...the one trait that I wished while pregnant that he would get from me.

He is caring, honest, gets good grades, and from what I hear a very good boy in school.

He is also not like me in so many ways. He loves sports and is a very good soccer player. He looks very much like my husband and his metabolisim is just like my husbands which is a very good thing that he didn't get from me.

Tyler is a very unique boy and I look forward to watching him grow up and become all that he wants to be. May all your dreams come true, son!

Today I am thankful for...

...the fact that it is Saturday and I didn't have to wake up at 5:20 a.m. like I have to Monday through Friday for work. Today I woke up a little after 7, it was wonderful to say the least. Not having to turn the alarm off and jump in the shower, make and pack lunches, get myself and the kids dressed and out the door by 6:45 a.m. Tomorrow will be another morning of sleeping past 5:20 a.m. and I can't wait!

Now I am off to shower and get some laundry done so we can go to Tyler's soccer game and then off to Eric's race. The rat race still continues but not so early. :0)

Today I am thankful for...

...quiet time. I believe I found my key to happiness today. I am a second grade teacher. There are 29 students in my classroom. The classroom that I teach in is a co-teach/inclusion classroom. Let me explain that to you. I have my own homeroom classlist of 16 students. My co-teacher has 14 students on her homeroom list. Because we are an inclusion classroom, meaning the students who have an IEP for learning disabilities, there is an inclusion teacher that comes in for literacy and math time. I have a student teacher. My co-teacher has a practicum student, she needs 90 hours in a semester. Is any of this becoming clear? Let me continue. I leave school after picking up oldest ds from aftercare. Go to the daycare to pick up youngest ds. Cook dinner for the family, dh gets home. So when do I get quiet time??? Pretty much never.

Today my student teacher left early as well as the co-teacher. I was alone working away in my classroom by myself. Ahhhh, bliss. I turned on the radio and cranked out my work. I didn't have to talk to anyone, I wasn't in a hurry to rush home to run one of my boys here and there. I really enjoyed the time, I felt like I accomplished something and was at peace with myself when I left.

Got home with my 2 boys today and didn't yell and scream at them because I was stressed out. Actually cooked dinner without stressing over what to have. It was fantastic and I feel like a better mother and wife because of it.

Now if only every day could happen like this one...

Today I am thankful for...

...my wonderful husband who stepped up to the plate for me tonight. I ended up with a terrible headache late this afternoon. I got home and let the kids play on the Wii (something else I could be thankful for today) while I went and laid down in my bed just holding my head. DH called on his way home from work just like he does everday. I told him that I wouldn't be able to make dinner tonight that my head just hurt too bad. He immediately said what do you want me to bring home? Yea! He ended up bringing home McDonald's, something that would make the kids happy and I really didn't care just wanted something to eat.

Today I am thankful for...

...hmmm...today is a tough one for me. I am down in the dumps today. I had someone ask me how my son was and I was able to answer her, then I stood there continuing to work on what I was working on and we kept talking, well wouldn't you know it but the tears started to well up. Then one of my student's parents walked up over heard the conversation and asked what was going on. I was able to tell her even though by this point the tears were coming down my face. She told me everything would be fine and she would pray for me. Then one of my very close friends walked through the door and just walked over to me and gave me a hug. She didn't say anything, just gave me a hug.

So today I am thankful for my friends and all those around me that do care and give me the daily support that I need to get through tough days.

Today I am thankful for...

...the right to vote! After work today I took my 7 year old to go vote with me today. Even if my candidate doesn't win I at least made a choice to vote. I am pround to be an American!

August 26, 1920, the United States Secretary of State signed the Anthony Amendment into law, just in time for women to vote in the fall presidential elections.

Today I am thankful for...

the wonderful student teacher I have been blessed with this semester. Her days in my classroom are winding down and she will be done November 21st. Amy is going to be a great teacher! Today she had her summative from the principal and was rewarded with a job well done by the principal. One of our 2nd grade teachers is retiring and Amy has been offered the job! She will be fantastic and if she decides to stay in the area my oldest ds who will be entering 2nd grade next year will have an excellent teacher! :0)

Challenge: Today I am thankful...

This month long challenge is from MidniteScrapper in Cali.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

This month I challenge all of you, my blogging friends, to post a gratitude post daily. If possible, post a picture to go along with it! As an extra incentive, I will offer up something special for those of you that participate in this every day...I'll start counting from November 3rd since some of you may not see this until then. Everyone that participates daily starting no later than the 3rd will be entered in a drawing at the end of the month. Keep it simple or go all out! Comment and let me know if you're up for the challenge!



Today I am thankful that I got to spend quality time with my 3 year old. It was a beautiful day in South FL, even though it was windy. We went to the beach for a few hours this morning. The beach that I chose has a 1/3 mile boardwalk that leads out to it that we walked and watched the animals. We saw many different types of birds and fish jumping. It was raining all around us and there were dark clouds above but never once did a rain drop fall while we were at the beach. It was windy which helped keep us cool.