Tuesday

Interesting day...this weekend was great.  Sunday we attempted to make it to church.  My fault, I got the time wrong. We showed up at 10:45 for the 11 AM mass...but it wasn't until 11:30.  I got aggravated that they charge 5.00 per kid in the daycare...who charges at church.  Sunday evening we headed over to our friends house for chili...it was good!!!! Monday I hit it hard at the gym...I told my trainer I was disappointed I had not lost weight....I get why I haven't...I haven't been great about eating and drinking...but now I am committed...especially since he is costing a pretty penny:)  He came up with a formal training program and a food guide.  So far it is 2 days and I have done awesome!!!

October weekend...

Great weekend...Friday evening we took Isabella and Sophia to the YMCA festival.  They dressed in their Halloween costumes and we met up with some friends.  Saturday we took Molly to my school for the Senior dog washing fundraiser.  We had a blast.  Ashlee and Danny came over for a few hours.  This evening we decided to take it easy and watch the UT vs Baylor game.  Dave was out of town last weekend and then had to go to Dallas Wed-Friday for a conference...we are all super tired.  Tomorrow we are going to our friends house for dinner.  Life is great.  I had a ton of graduate school work due this weekend.  I have 99% of it completed.  I spent a few hours grading papers...I can't wait until I can just enjoy family time without school work hanging over my head!!!

Full Circle...the Kindness Chain...

Today came full circle.  It all started last week when I received the nicest email from a parent saying how much her child enjoyed my class...It made my day...I decided that every day I would take a few minutes to email a few parents to say how much I enjoyed having their child in my class...That is easy...at Stratford my students are so wonderful.  They treat me with respect, pay attention, and really enjoy the classroom.  When I see them in the hall they always smile and say hi.  I have always taught nice kids, but at Stratford it is different.  I can't pin point it.  Anyway, so I start emailing parents nice things.  Yesterday one of the parents forwarded my email to my principal (my new boss)...he sent me a nice email this morning.  From the parents response it dawned on me that in his Principal's message to the parents he mentioned how nice it would be to email a teacher about the great job they were doing...I did not realize this, had a parent do this, and then I payed it forward....All of this was free....I felt good, the parents felt good...And, I really meant every word I was writing.  I really like my students.  I struggled trying to figure out AP Macroeconomics and now that I really understand it, I am excited about it and want to present the information to the students in a way that is not so intimidating...

Isabella went to Dewberry Farms on a field trip today...She had a blast...especially the hayride.  Sophia wanted to go, but was ok with the fact that she would have to wait until she go bigger.  I feel bad because Isabella is at an age where she is getting invited to lots of birthday parties and gets to go on field trips.  Sophia is so close to all the same exciting things happening.

On the potty training front.  Sophia wore big girl panties all day...I was so proud of her.  Tonight she came and said "mommy change my poo poo"..she snuck and put a pull up on so she could poo poo...the problem was that she did not take her panties off first!!! Oh well...we will get this!!!!

Tired...

That is the only word I can think of...Today was great, but I went and worked out with my trainer and by the time I got home I just wanted to go to bed...except that I can't...Isabella and Sophia were their cute selves tonight.  Dave picked them up and when they got home we had dinner.  I made ribs in the crock pot.  I have never made ribs before and they turned out really good....

I am still really appreciating my work out sessions with my trainer.  He makes me do all these machines and exercises I would never do on my own.  I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I can tell I am becoming fitter and stronger. 

Tonight I have to work on graduate work and make a couple of tests for my kids.  Life is good...really good!!!

Joy...

My family brings me joy.  Isabella and Sophia are two of the sweetest, happiest little girls.  They smile and laugh, and love.  Today was great.  I started sending emails to parents sharing positive news.  I am blessed to teach really good students who care.  I am going to send nice emails everyday.  I got a few responses from parents who were super nice and excited to hear good news about their child.

After school I went and picked up final touches for the girls Halloween costumes.  Isabella wants to be a witch and Sophia a kitty cat.  Funny story...when Paige was 4, she was a witch- Christa says she remembers that it was all Paige's idea- just like Isabella...both girls look super cute....Friday we are going to the YMCA fall fest...we have gone the last couple of years.

Isabella is super excited about another field trip she has coming up.  Her school is taking them to a fun pumpkin patch.  I feel bad because Sophia can't do field trips until next year.  Sophia has been a great sport.  She was really good about missing out on 2 birthday parties.  The only think she complained about was that Isabella got a little trinket watch as a party favor...Isabella wore it and Sophia kept saying "that's not fair"...note to self, I need to pick her up a little watch...she loves watches and would appreciate it!

birthday parties...

This weekend Dave was in Austin at a bachelor party.  The girls and I were on our own:)  I am so grateful that Danny and Ashlee did not mind watching Sophia while I took Isabella to two birthday parties.  The first was at a jump place and the second place at My Little Gym.  Both were great parties.  I got a chance to just watch Isabella interact with her friends...she is such a social person...talks and talks and talks some more:)

After the parties the girls and I, and Danny and Ashlee went to Lupe Tortilla for dinner.  We all then came back to the house to chill out and watch a movie. Ashlee is so sweet.  Isabella is super excited about learning to read.  Ashlee made her a little book to read about her two birthday parties. 

Today is going to be low key.  I am going to do school work and grocery shopping.  I can't wait when I can just focus on my family:)  Life is great!

Grateful for a WONDERFUL day!!!

Today was very nice.  Lots of nice surprises.  Waking up at 4:30 am this mornig was not so nice, but the workout was.  This afternoon I received a very nice email from one of my student's mothers.  It made my day.  She just was telling me how much her daughter enjoyed my class and talked about it at home.  It was such a nice surprise. 

Later I picked up the girls and they were super happy.  Sophia's class had a potty party.  She even got a small gift bag with panties....too cute.  Isabella was so proud to go home and read a story to me and Dave.  We are so proud of her....both of these cute little girls.  Tomorrow is Friday and for that I am grateful.  I get to have 2 full days with the girls:)