I am on vacation this week and enjoying the time at home. The kids are still in summer school for one more week so Tyler and I are getting things done at home. We are cleaning out the toys and the bedrooms! It feels great to be home getting this done. Today Tyler is having friends over which he does not get to do too often. He is happy!
We have also joined the Y. Toni and I went last week at 5a and met a friend there for a workout before work/school. This week we are enjoying sleeping in and we are going with everyone after school. The kids loved swimming. Next week it will probably be hard to go back to getting up so early!!
Today is TJ's birthday!! It is so fun to be a kid on your birthday! The whole day is just yours!! I hope he has a great day!
*gratitude journal* I'm grateful for the gift of time, for the opportunity to do service for others, for having big kids and little kids, for the wonderful weather that we are having that is not too hot.

Time sure flies! It has been busy around here but not too bad. Very Hot!!! The kids are getting through summer school. TJ is the only one who has missed a day (and a half). The school offers each kid $75 if they attend every HOUR of summer school. If they miss then money is deducted. I think TJ is down to $25. He doesn't seem to mind though. Toni and Troy are interested in the money and don't even complain about going. And well Tori just goes and doesn't say much either way! I have been working more this past week but it has been nice. Like I said before, my June class is so good, it makes the day go by so fast. They are making a lemonade stand and then will make lemonade to sell (with fake money that they make) to the other classes. The kids are so excited about it that they are disappointed when they get picked up early! I have also been able to make a lot of progress with my classroom. So things are moving right along!

*Gratitude Journal* I am grateful for continued learning; uplifting and motivational talks that even capture my children's attention! spring cleaning (at least when it's done); and friends.

Toni and Troy

Toni and Troy have been after me to add them to my family. So I finally took pictures, put them on my comp and will put them on here. Hope you like them! Here is one of Toni's new glasses.

This has been a very productive week so far. At work I am changing classrooms, I will still be Pre-K but I am moving into a bigger class. I have been cleaning, organizing and rearranging and have gotten a lot done. I am anxious to get it all done and be moved over. I am really excited for next school year.

***gratitude journal*** I am thankful for a house full of noise. A little boy who loves to hold the doors open for me and be a gentleman. A warm summer breeze, phone calls from family and pizza for dinner.

Saturday was the last of the soccer games for this season at least. I have a feeling we may spend many seasons at a soccer field. I'm glad it is a fun sport to watch! Tori and I were able to go on a date Saturday night. She chose a pizza place, CiCi's for dinner. Then we did a little shopping and went home. She was very funny! She was worried about which boy to marry and wanted to know all about how I met Marcus. It was funny to see that side of her. It made me realize how quickly she is growing up. And how important those one on one dates are. The child really opens up when no one else is around. I am looking forward to continuing those.

I also realized this weekend that I bit off more than I can chew concerning school. I signed up for 3 classes for summer. After seeing the syllabus for 2 of them I realized I signed up for 2 to many! So I re-evaluated, realized there is no rush and that it is not worth killing myself over trying to do all of this. I settled with taking Technology for Teachers this summer. It is going to be a lot of work but hopefully I can get through it.

***Gratitude Journal*** Today I felt especially grateful for the opportunity to be at church. As I sat down I realized it is not very often during the week that I just sit and "fill my cup" spiritually, without distractions. And to think that each Sunday we get 3 whole hours of it!! That was nice and I look forward to next Sunday.