Four on a Friday.

August 31, 2018
Day 702

Thankful for:

1. A great first week of school.

2. A great first PTO meeting.

3. Dinner with a friend.

4. Friday night.

Tomorrow is Friday.

August 30, 2018
Day 701

Thankful for:

1. My students. They are sweet and funny and little. I'm glad I have an entire year with them.

2. Adelyn. She makes my heart happy. She's a singer and a writer and an artist.

3. Tobin. He talks about saving animals all day every day. He is passionate, and he makes me smile.

4. My husband. I love when he helps with the dishes.

5. Higbee and his cuddles.

6. My mom, dad, and Patty. Love getting calls from them.

7. Tomorrow is Friday. I'm excited!

8. It's a three day weekend!

Thankful.

Ten things on the 700th day.

August 29, 2018
Day 700

Thankful for:

1. Today is my 700th day of blogging.

2. Adelyn and Tobin were very sweet and baby-like today. Sometimes, I can see the baby days better than others.

3. Texts from my husband.

4. An easy dinner night.

5. America's Got Talent

6. Huge mugs of tea.

7. Time to lay in bed and sleep.

8. Higbee

9. Talks with my mom and dad and sister.

10. Bugs making noise outside.

Untraditional beauty.

August 28, 2018
Day 699

     This is what I've learned from living in the forest:

     There are the beautiful things. Fawns with spots eating pears in grass so green it glows. Rabbits nibbling cool clover under the light of the newly risen moon. The way the sunlight looks as it pours into the forest in the morning and again in the afternoon.

     Then there are the things that don't seem beautiful at first. They seem almost to detract from the beautiful of the fawns and the rabbits and the light.

     I've learned this:

     The forest would not be as beautiful as it is if it were not for all of the creatures living in it. The spiders are beautiful in their own way. They are graceful air dancers. Baby snakes are smooth and shiney. The bats come out at night to feast. I think they're on to something. Feasting under the moon with your friends and family? Seems like a pleasant way to spend the evening. Even the weeds have a place of their own in the forest. They are free to live and grow and be weedy and messy and no one pays them any mind.

     It wouldn't be so beautiful in the forest if it weren't for the untraditionally beautiful.

     Thankful for untraditional beauty.

First day of school.

August 27, 2018
Day 698

     This day was good. It was the first day of school, and my students are all very sweet. I love the first day of school. I have Adelyn and Casey in my class this year, and they are just as excited as I am. Thankful for a good first day of school. Thankful for sweet students. Thankful for a good night at home with my loves.

At just the right time.

August 26, 2018
Day 697

Thankful for:

1. A fine Sunday.

2. The first day of school tomorrow.

3. Cuddling with my babies and watching a movie this afternoon.

4. Cleaning house with my babes.

5. Shoe shopping with my babes.

6. Sunday family dinner.

7. Shopping with my dad.

8. Laughing with my family.

9. School clothes set out and ready to go for tomorrow.

10. Lunches made.

11. A very cuddly, and somewhat sad Higbee. When dogs are missing someone, they seem down in the dumps.

12. A brand new school year. I love new school years.

13. God gives me reminders of the things I need to know at just the right times.

Eleven things on a Saturday.

August 25, 2018
Day 696

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. A beautiful day. The sky was blue, the clouds were puffy, the sun was bright.

2. My beautiful babies. I love to kiss them and smell their hair and take care of them.

3. My pup. I love coming home to big ears and a wet kiss.

4. My husband.

5. My sister.

6. My parents.

7. Steph and Mario were able to come home from their vacation. I'm glad they were not stuck because of the hurricane.

8. An afternoon nap.

9. A full fridge and pantry.

10. School snacks.

11. One more day before the school year begins.

Finished my classroom.

August 24, 2018
Day 695

Thankful for:

1. A great meet and greet at school. I have so many sweet students this year.

2. It was a cool morning. I am so looking forward to fall.

3. It was a cuddly evening with my babes.

4. I finished my classroom.

5. I'm looking forward to a new school year.

Mugs of Tea.

August 23, 2018
Day 694

Today, I am thankful for these things:

1. Today was so lovely. The sky was blue. The clouds were puffy. The air was crisp and cool. It made me happy to be alive.

2. Thankful for my sister.

3. Thankful for Matt's mom. She watch our kids for us today because we didn't have child care.

5. Thankful for mugs of tea.

6. Thankful that tomorrow is Friday.

7. Thankful for homemade ice cream leftovers.

Wednesday Nine.

August 22, 2018
Day 693

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. America's Got Talent. I love watching that show with my family.

2. Make-shift, easy, fend for yourself type dinners. It happens sometimes, and when it does, you just have to roll with it.

3. Lunch with my good friend.

4. My classroom carpets got cleaned today.

5. I finished organizing my classroom today. Well...just about finished.

6. Tomorrow is Thursday. That means the next day is Friday. And the next day is the weekend.

7. My kids folded laundry for me today.

8. Everyone was happy to see me when I got home tonight.

9. I had a nice conversation with Matt's mom this evening.

A good Tuesday.

August 21, 2018
Day 692

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. A clean classroom.

2. Work to do.

3. A lovely home to come home to.

4. Babies to come home to.

5. My husband to come home to.

6. My bed to fall asleep in.

7. Friends at work.

8. My sister at work.

9. A good Tuesday.

I would be lost without her.

August 20, 2018
Day 691

     Today was Adelyn's official 8th birthday. I cannot believe God chose to bless me with Adelyn Bailey. I am her mother. She is my daughter. I do not deserve such happiness with her. She makes every day lovely and light and colorful. She makes me happy to be alive. She is everything good and wonderful and fun and admirable. The most amazing moment of my life was when the doctor put her on my chest, and I looked at her for the first time. I had never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life.

     Thankful for my Adelyn Bailey. She makes life beautiful. I would be lost without her.

Celebrating our lovely girl.

August 19, 2018
Day 690

Today, I am thankful for:

1. Family.

2. Adelyn Bailey's birthday party.

3. Pretty presents.

4. Good food.

5. Ice cream with all the fixings.

6. Kisses from my girl.

7. Slip and Slides.

8. Blow-up water slides.

9. Phone calls with Jason.

10. A lovely day at home celebrating our lovely girl.

Birthday prep.

August 18, 2018
Day 689

     I spent this day making homemade ice cream for Adelyn's 8th birthday celebration. I made these flavors:

1. Mint chocolate chip custard
2. Chocolate custard
3. Vanilla ice cream
4. Vanilla pistachio ice cream
5. Orange sherbet
6. Vanilla chocolate chip ice cream
8. Vanilla peanut butter chocolate candy swirl ice cream.

Tobin, Matt, and I decorated. It's going to be a lovely celebration of our favorite girl. I can't wait.

Thankful for Addy B. Thankful for family and friends coming to celebrate her tomorrow.

Seven years in heaven.

August 17, 2018
Day 688

     Today is River's birthday. We had a relaxing day. We spent it quietly.

     Patty came over for River's birthday party. I made corned beef and cabbage.

     The kids were going bonkers. It was storming very loudly outside. So when the kids disappeared to the toy room and Patty suggested we continue the party in the lovely silence, I agreed.

     We sang to her. I made a wish for her. I blew out her candle for her.

     River, oh how my arms ache for you. In all my life, I will never rid of the ache I feel to hold you close again and mother you.

     I am thankful for you, my daughter. And until we see each other again, I am thinking of you always.

   

Whopper

August 16, 2018
Day 687

     Today, we went to Matt's grandparents house to celebrate his grandma's birthday. It was a sweet celebration. I made soup and sandwiches. I also made a chocolate chip cheesecake. I was happy to make her feel special.

     The end of this day was hard. There are just some instances where one needs to go through the Burger King drive through and get a Whopper Jr. with cheese and bacon. Sometimes, the whopper is a necessity.

     Thankful for a good visit with Matt's grandparents. Thankful for junk food when you're feeling sad.

Sue

August 15, 2018
Day 686

     Today, Matt's mom took Adelyn shopping for her birthday. When Sue does something, she does it all the way. She got Adelyn beautiful new clothes and shoes and jewelry. It was a special day.

     Thankful for Matt's mom. She is so kind and generous and loving. I'm thankful to call her: family.

Today was the best.

August 14, 2018
Day 685

     Today was the best.

1. Matt and I took the kids to the Children's Museum in Winchester.

2. We got lunch at an awesome burger spot.

3. We came home and relaxed on the deck. The kids and Higbee played in the yard. I sipped wine. Matt and I marveled at our home and the many things we've been blessed with.

4. We watched America's Got Talent and ate popcorn and pops.

5. We voted for our favorite acts.

     This day was an awesome day to have my last week of summer vacation.

     Thankful.

More days of summer left.

August 13, 2018
Day 684

Today, I am thankful for these things:

1. A lazy day at home with my family. We've all just laid around all day, and that's perfectly fine with me. Even Higbee has been lazy.

2. Thankful that tomorrow Matt and I are going to have a fun day with the kids.

3. Thankful for the opportunity to babysit Patty's kids tonight. I love spending one on one time with my other babies.

4. Thankful for the thunder and rain. It has been rumbling around all day, and it is so lovely.

5. Thankful for leftovers.

6. Thankful for kisses from my babes.

7. Thankful for projects to do at home. Thankful to have a home to do projects in.

8. Thankful for my parents. I love that I talk to them every day.

9. Thankful for more days of summer left.

It's a good one.

August 12, 2018
Day 683

     This was an awesome day. We spent the day celebrating my love, Matt. We had a big family dinner. We had smoked ribs, smoked chicken, smoked sausage, mac and cheese, macaroni salad, lemon bundt cake, chocolate chip cheesecake, and cookie bars. Matt's mom brought the "damn dip." The name is an old family joke. She also brought deviled eggs and other goodies. We spent the day celebrating. I love celebrating family.

     Thankful for a good day with family. Thankful for Matt. Thankful for his life and for the life he has provided for us. It's a good one.

Desserts awaiting consumption.

August 11, 2018
Day 682

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. An impromptu grocery shopping trip with Matt's mom.

2. Chocolate chip cheesecake.

3. Lemon bundt cake.

4. Cookie bars.

5. All of those lovely desserts awaiting consumption at Matt's birthday party tomorrow.

6. A clean house.

7. A fun day scheduled for tomorrow.

Jason and Jen.

August 10, 2018
Day 681

     This is how you know when two people have long gone from being friends to being a part of your family:

1. When they ask you and your husband to come stay in a castle in Italy.

2. When they provide you with the most delicious food in Italy.

3. When they ask you to come stay with them in their house in Italy.

4. When they make you homemade pici cacio e pepe. From scratch. Just because it's your favorite.

5. When they get lovely things to eat and drink like olives and mozzarella and the best red wine because again...it's your favorite. 

6. When they surprise you with the most beautiful picture of your daughter that you've ever seen. When it's in a beautiful frame that had to be picked up special in DC. When the frame has a monarch butterfly on it because they've read your blog and they know that fluttering monarchs mean that River is very near by. When tears are shed but it's okay, because they're family.

     So very thankful for my dear friends who blessed me beyond what words can say. I will never forget the love and thoughtfulness and kindness they showed me.

Spiderwebs.

August 9, 2018
Day 680

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. Lazy evenings at home with my loves.

2. Spiderwebs in the forest illuminated by the electric afternoon sun.

3. Deer crossing my driveway when I walk Higbee.

4. My kids saying, "Can we play outisde?" And my answer always being, "Yes." I love where we live. And I love that my babes can play outside by themselves.

5. Reading with my babies.

6. Higbee being super cuddly. It's rare, so I love it all the more.

7. Books to read.

8. Blankets to crochet. I'm working on one for Odette right now.

9. Dog hair everywhere. It means I have a sweet animal living in my home that loves me.

10. Tomorrow is Friday. We get to go to dinner at our good friend's house.

Five on a Thursday.

August 8, 2018
Day 679

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. New paint in my classroom. It's super hard work painting, but the outcome is worth the work.

2. Loud music.

3. A nice walk through the woods with Higbee.

4. A cuddly day with my babes.

5. Matt. He is the sweetest husband ever.

The One.

August 7, 2018
Day 678

     Today was Matt's birthday. We celebrated him all day. He is an amazing husband, father, and friend. He has given me the life of my wildest dreams. We have everything we ever wanted in this life. He's worked hard to make it happen. He's worked hard for us; with our happiness and comfort in mind.

     He loves me like I need to be loved. He looks at me with gentle, kind, and loving eyes. He plays with me. He makes me laugh. He believes in me. He thinks I'm beautiful. He's the one. He always has been. He always will be. The one. My one.

     Thankful for my love. So, so thankful. Cup overflowing, cold drink of ice water on the hottest day, man of my dreams thankful.

Four things on a Monday.

August 6, 2018
Day 677

Tonight, I'm thankful for:

1. A fun day with my family.

2. My kids were able to catch dragonflies today.

3. I got to hang out with my sister.

4. I'm laying in bed with my love and my dog in the home of our dreams with our babies sleeping in the next room. Sometimes, I just can't believe this is my life.

So thankful.

I still have time left in this sweet, sweet summertime.

August 5, 2018
Day 676

This was the best Sunday I have spent in a long while. We were crazy lazy. We laid around all day watching TV. We ate good food. My parents spent the night last night and were lazy with us today. Patty came over this morning to be lazy with us. It was the best Sunday morning.

Thankful for lazy Sundays. Thankful for my parents and my sister and all our family. Thankful for leftovers. Thankful for cake for breakfast. Thankful for muggy weather. It makes the house feel so much more refreshing when you walk in from the heat.

Thankful for a fresh new week. Thankful that I still have time left in this sweet, sweet summertime.

My dad's birthday celebration.

August 4, 2018
Day 675


We celebrated my dad's birthday today. We had family over. We had seriously good food. There was nothing but laughter and love. This life is good. And I am undeserving.

Thankful for my dad. Hero of heroes. Fixer of all things broken. The best and the strongest man. He is the definition of the words: dad; and hero.

Thankful for food. Thankful for laughter and love shared. Thankful for our lovely home in the woods to host parties at. I never thought I would be here. Living my dream life at the age of 36. But God is good and kind and merciful. And despite all the things I've done to wreck my life, God has done more to bless it and make it wonderful.

It's a wonderful life, and I'm thankful. So, so, so thankful.

A new fresh day to write your life on.

August 3, 2018
Day 674

This day was hard. But there was still good in it. Good things like my bed, my sister, kisses from my babies, a blanket to crochet, my dog, hot tea with honey, and sleep.

Thankful that after each night comes a new day. The reset button is pushed, and you have a whole new fresh day to write your life on.

Thankful.

Six things on a Thursday.

August 2, 2018
Day 673

Tonight, I am thankful for these things:

1. A fun morning at Chuck E Cheese's with Patty and all the kids.

2. Rain.

3. Cloudy days.

4. Quiet evenings spent at home while thunder rumbles low in the distance.

5. Time to sit quietly and watch a show and crochet.

6. Texts with a dear friend.

My dad; my hero.

August 1, 2018
Day 672

Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. My dad. Today is his birthday. He is, literally, my hero. He rescues us when we need help. He is an amazing human being. I am lucky to call myself his daughter. He is the best, and the strongest, and the most amazing, and the smartest.

2. A day spent at home cleaning, reading, writing, and playing.

3. We went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner. It was a school spirit night.

4. It's a rainy evening, and I'm going to clean the kitchen and watch shows.

5. Tomorrow, I'm going to go work in my classroom. I'm excited to get in there and start setting stuff up.