366

It's Leap Day! I'm not quite sure why, but this time around, this rarely occurring day was fun and more interesting than it ever has been before. I did stupid things like share ridiculous facts and write 2/29/12 in as many places and times as I could. I suppose I feel like we've been given an extra day and we might as well do something different and special with it!

An extra day to be thankful...for this, I am thankful.

Time to Blog Hop

If you haven't ever found your way over to my friend Kim's blog, it's time to do so. She and her mom have teamed up to write letters to her daughter Ellie (Nico's friend) to share and preserve beautiful stories of friendship, family, and love. You can't help but smile as you read and I promise you, you'll get sucked in quickly.

Kim, you are such an inspiration and you have deeply touched my heart. For you, I am thankful!

iConnect

Chris just got an iPhone in Friday. I love it! It's SO much easier to get in touch with him now and I love that. We both have such busy schedules during the day and often wont talk until we are both on our way home from work. Now, it's nice just to see a quick note saying "hey lady" and know my hubby is thinking of me just as much as I am of him.

Welcome to the 21st Century, my darling. For our new connection I am thankful.

My Sweet Girl

And for this, I am thankful:

Ready, Set, Go...But Wait!

Today we had a late start...not because I was running late, but because the weather caused a delayed schedule at school. While students didn't have to arrive until an hour after school normally began, I still had to show up at my regular time. Boo.

I strapped the kids in the car at 6:30 and we made our way through the snow and ice very slowly. I was stressed about being late for work but realized that even if I was late, it was OK. There wouldn't be a room full of students waiting for me today. I had time.

I took a breath and concentrated on the drive. Once the road cleared, I even called and had a little morning chat with my 91-year-old grandma. It was the perfect way to slowly start the day.

And for this, I am thankful.

My Melting Ice Core

I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed at work today. It was one of those days where there just wasn't a minute to slow down. I felt like I was thinking in 12 directions at the same time...and it showed.

Tomorrow, I'll be doing an ice core experiment with students to help them understand how climate has changed throughout Earth's history. It's a really cool lab and I'm super excited to do it with the kids.

So excited that I forgot to bring my sample home to finish adding the layers tonight. I realized tonight while sitting in church that I'd left my sample mixtures sitting on the window ledge right outside my classroom door.

Ah well. No layered ice core to demo. I'm just thankful that I've got a great lesson for the kids to do and a cool way for them to understand climate change over time. Let's hope it works!

Yes, I Took A Break

I went to Washington DC. I took a break. For 4 days.

I spent time with some of my oldest and dearest friends. I laughed, slept, and ate ridiculous amounts of food. I had an absolutely incredible time!

I took a break. For 4 days. And for this, I am thankful. :)

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Today I cleaned off my desk, left a quiz and sub notes in a neat little stack, and locked my classroom door behind me. Tomorrow I won't be there. I'll be on a plane on my way to Washington DC to meet up with my college roommates and life-long girlfriends. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about this trip!

Just girls. No schedule. Lots of laughing. It's going to be an amazing weekend! And for this, I am thankful. :)

Fresh Start

I has one of "those" days today. Not bad, not great either. It's days like these that make me feel grateful for an opportunity to start over again tomorrow.

Feelin' Love

Flowers and some chocolate from my husband, a dinner made of nothing but hors d'ouevres and a card that said, "You're the best mom ever!" from my kids.

Yeah, it was an awesome Valentine's Day. :) It feels good to be loved and love in return.

And for this, I am thankful.

Tastes Like Chicken

I cooked!

...and it was GOOD! :) I made this awesome recipe I found on Pinterest called Cheddar Chicken -- super easy and delicious. It was a huge hit and I can wait to make it again. Anything, and I do mean anything, that is both easy to make and delicious are a good combo for me! And for this, I am thankful.

Check out the recipe if you're interested!

Are We Really Back?

No fevers. No puking. No stomach anything. 


Could it be that we're actually back on track to being healthy in this house? I think so!

And for this, I am thankful!!

I Want To Dance With Somebody

With my sister and I buckled into the backseat, my mom used to crank up Whitney Houston on the stereo. We'd sing our hearts out and then laugh like crazy. Such good memories!

It is so sad that we lost such a music icon today. For her incredible voice and the memories that were made as a result of her music, I am thankful.

Corner Office

For the first time in my career, I have a room with a window. And it's not just a window. It's a WINDOW! Floor to ceiling and wraps around the corner of my classroom. I put my desk in the corner so that the window wraps around me. Being on the second floor, I feel like I'm sitting on the edge of the world. I love it!

Today the sun streamed through the glass and was so warm on my back. For just a moment, I let myself drift away on a mini vacation. It was just perfect and sooooo what I needed to finish out the week.

I love my corner "office". And for this, I am thankful.

One, Two, Skip a Few

For the first time in over a year, I skipped a day of posting. I woke up almost feeling in a panic this morning. Weird! But then I realized, it's ok.

I write here as an outlet and a way to provide balance in my life. The last few days all I've been able to think about is how to get Sofia better and have, without question, lost some balance. I haven't slept well, eaten well,  functioned well.  I've never seen my daughter so ill and I didn't care about me.

But now, I think things may be looking up. I'm hoping that life begins to return to normal here soon. We all need it to. For now, I am going to revel in the watching my kids actually crack a smile for the first time in days and for finding a few moments of balance in today...even if it took me an extra day to get here.

And for this, I am thankful.

Little Magic Pills

I can't believe how long, lanky thin Sofia looks. This stomach bug and ear infection has really taken a toll on her.

After nearly 36 hours of not being able to keep even a few milliliters of fluid down, the pediatrician prescribed a dissolvable Zofran pill to relieve the nausea and vomiting. I think it's finally beginning to work as it's been nearly 5 hours since the last rendezvous with the special white bowl on the couch.

Thank goodness for this little magic pill! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it does it's job all night so the four of us can get a little sleep.

Year 2 Starts With A Barf...err, Bang!

I'm going to be honest: the last 24 hours have been BRUTAL. Our kids are siiiiiiick. Thankfully, Nico was on the tail end of his stomach bug, but Sofia came roaring into the picture with full force AND a double ear infection. Chris and I had to divide and conquer in order to make it through night -- he on the couch with Sofia and the barf bowl and me in our room with a toddler who refused to sleep.

Around 3 a.m. I heard Chris shouting for me from the living room because he saw a shadow of something standing on the kitchen table dancing around. But it was no shadow...it was Nico! When I dozed off, he  escaped from our room and climbed up the chairs to create a stage our of the dinner table. Stinker! I quickly scooped him up and finally calmed him down enough to fall asleep for a few hours.

Sofia was a trooper all day. I haven't seen her this sick in a long time. She even fell asleep on the exam table at the doctor's office!

More than anything, I am glad that I have a partner during this crazy time. What essentially could have been World War III, was much more manageable thanks to teamwork. Being a parent is no easy task -- especially when kids are sick! I'm so thankful I don't have to do it alone. :)

Day 365: A Day Just Like Any Other

I'm not sure what I expected when I woke up today.

I came out of the bedroom to the normal Sunday routine and "normal" continued throughout the day. I thought I might feel different today, but I don't.  It's my 365th day of posting! Shouldn't there be fireworks or confetti or flowers or something?


Nope. It's just another day. A Sunday. A day that my kids are fighting fevers and a stomach bug. A day, that despite fighting fevers and stomach bugs, we still played outside in the super awesome snow fort that Chris and our neighbor built in the 20 inches of snow we got over the weekend. A day that the house was cleaned and disheveled no less than 5 times.

A day that just so happens to be my 365th day of gratitude.

Holy cow. I've never stuck to a goal like I have this one in my life. Aside from marrying the love of my life and creating two amazing children with him, this is quite possibly one of my most proud accomplishments. It's because of my incredible husband and children that I could even dream of refocusing my life for the last 365 days as I did.

Today is a day just like any other. And today, I am simply thankful. What an experience this has been!

On to Year 2... :)

Day 364: Only Up From Here

There's something about holding a brand new baby that just makes all the wrong in the world dissolve. As I held my friend Andrea's new son today, I couldn't help but think about what an incredible life this little boy is going to have. So much to look forward to, dreams to be fulfilled and journeys to experience! Seriously, being a baby has got to be the best gig in the world! :) Everything only goes up from there.

It was so wonderful catching up with my dear friend and holding the newest addition to her family today. And for this, I am thankful.

Day 363: Just Right

It was an awesome day. Between school being called off, an impromptu visit from my friend Carrie and then lasagna dinner to follow, today was just the right way to end the week.   And for this, I am thankful. 

Day 362: Hello there, long weekend.

Meteorology in Colorado is nothing short of inaccurate. Those mountain ranges are tricky! :) However, the weather hunters have seemed to get this giant storm right and school for tomorrow has already been canceled! Woo hoo! The snow is coming down at an unbelievable pace and we are predicted to get anywhere from 15"-24" of snow. I don't care if we end up with 2". It is just such a nice feeling to get ready for bed tonight knowing tomorrow I don't have to wake up before the sun does.

And for this, I am thankful.

Day 361: Friends with Benefits

Each day my children get dressed, bundle up and head off on their merry way thanks to the help of many wonderful friends. No, it's just me who follows the kids out the door, but it is our loving friends who have passed on countless items of clothing to them. These kids are set! Shoes, boots, jackets, pants, sweatshirts...you name it, friends have passed it along. Sometimes it simply stops me in my tracks. We are SO lucky to be involved with a network of people who care so deeply about our children. Plus, it's fun to pass our own items along to others in return. 

Back when I was in high school and college, my girl friends and I would hold "benefits". We'd gather at someone's house with items of clothing we were tired of and trade. Instant shopping spree free of cost! While I don't typically do this type of "benefiting" anymore, it's really cool to see how it's all evolved based on the needs and stations of our lives. 

It's all become a big cycle. We all benefit. :) And for this, I am thankful.