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.