A quiet weekend and a sneaky valentine

We had a wonderful weekend together. Not much happened but I think we needed that. We've been rushing around so much that it was nice to just slow down and relax. We spent Valentine's Day appreciating being a family and I really did feel loved. Here's my girls enjoying their Valentine's Day gifts. They each got a set of little people. I know they don't need anymore, I feel like everywhere I go I'm surrounded or stepping on them but they were cute. One set is princesses and the other is mickey mouse.

As I mentioned Alyssa has been quite a little jokester lately. She has also been finding it funny to sneak up and yell boo. Most of the time I know she's coming but every once and a while she gets me. So I had to share her peeking and trying to sneak up on me :)

Super Teacher

I really love being a teacher! I obviously enjoying working with kids and teaching them something new. It is a completely exhausting job but well worth it. I cherish those teachable moments when I can stop and really reach that child...aka the aha moment. I love when I assign projects that my class seems really excited about. When my kids feel that sense of pride in a job well done and I know I helped give it to them...that's more of what I love. Most days I feel like I am super hero. Here are some of my special talents.

Super Teacher~
can be in multiple places at once.
has eyes in the back her head.
repels the germs of all the sick students in her class
can complete all her paper work, lesson plans, and report cards in the blink of an eye.
can fit everything that has to be done into a 7 hour day.
doesn't have to use the bathroom for hours on end...or at least until her special or lunch.

And those are just a few of her many talents. But seriously another awesome thing about being a teacher is the vacation time and snow days (although remember we actually have to make snow days up).

She makes everyone smile

I often wonder. What my girls will become as adults but I can just imagine the possibilities. Lately though I am noticing that Alyssa loves to be the center of attention and it makes her happy to make people laugh. She is sure to be something where she is in the spotlight. I can pictures her being an actress or a comedian. She really makes me laugh and she does have jokes too.

This morning she had to go to the bathroom and she really had to go so we are rushing over and I say come on my little lovey and she says your little lovey has to poop.

Then there is her dancing. Everywhere she goes she dances and sings. At the last family get together she got into her cousins dress up clothes and came out as a fairy. She started turning everyone into a horse, a witch, or some other random thing. Then she added a song and dance of I'm a fairy and no one can stop me now. She had the entire family cracking up. I wish I got it on tape.

Most of the time, childrens jokes don't make sense. My five year olds jokes often ends with the punchline underpants on your head no matter what the joke was. Alyssa told me yesterday why did the chicken cross the playground...to get to the other slide. She knew it was funny too.

Simply Happy

A few weeks ago I was tagged the task was to make a list of things that make me blissfully happy. Now lots of things make me happy but I really had to think about the blissfully part. Of course spending time with my family Gillian, Alyssa, and Jeff brighten my day no matter what is going on with me or what kind of day I've had. But for this I decided to stick with the simple things that I may not notice everyday but I love these moments and things. They do make me truly happy. I guess it made me realize it doesn't take a lot to make me happy. I'm pretty simple and now I just have to take to time and enjoy them when they are happening. I am not going to tag anyone else since I am so late in doing this myself but when and if you comment I'd love for you to post one thing that makes you blissfully happy too.

Snuggling and hugs

Getting a card or handwritten letter in the mail

A fun day being outside

New socks

A night of uninterrupted sleep

Teachable moments with my students and my own kids.

A good cup of coffee

Guacamole and pickles!!! (not necessarily together though)

Comments on my blog :)

There are so many more but these were the ones I had floating around in my head at the moment. Hope everyone has a happy weekend!

Name My Team

This is something that I've wanted to do for a while and I know it's a long way off but I'm ready to start building my team and raising some money. This May I will participating in the Kidney Walk to benefit the National Kidney Foundation. This is a cause that is close to my heart because I lost my mom to kidney disease and I wanted to do something in her memory and I think I've found it. I've gotten in contact with the local office and the woman who helps organize events and volunteers is amazing. She is one of those rare people that has enthusiasm that is truly contagious. I can't wait to get going on this.

My problem is I need a team name. I looked at some of the team names that were already chosen and some just were a business name and others were in honor or in memoriam of a person of which I prefer the person's name. My mom's name was Sue. So I came up with Sue's Striders but I'm not sure on that. There were also the one's that were cute or made me laugh like The Kidney Beans or Urine Trouble. I need some inspiration and I'd love to hear suggestions.

Alyssa's First Haircut

So I finally broke down and took Alyssa to get her haircut and Gillian too. Alyssa's hair was looking a little like a mullet. Not a lot was cut but here are the results. In the shot bellow she looks a little mad but I wanted to show off Gillian's new bob too. I think they both look pretty cute!

Alyssa was very serious the whole time but so good too. I was a little worried that she wouldn't sit still, I have to admit, but there wasn't any need. Her favorite part was the lollipop at the end. So then I started digging for Gillian's first haircut photos and I found it. Wow time does go by so quickly. It reminds me that I really should take the time tyo enjoy each day and all the "firsts" that I have left.

This one to the right is Gillian's first haircut in 2007. It's amazing how alike they look.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

A Happy Holiday

I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas! We enjoyed celebrating with our familyThis was the scene at our house on Christmas day. Our family get together has gotten smaller but it was filled with just as much love. Even Sonny (our dog) got in on the family photo.

Here's one of the girls favorite gifts. I can imagine them playing with it for many years together. Who am I kidding I want to play with it too.