Valentine's Day...

This was a FUN Valentine's Weekend...

Yes, I said weekend, because it lasted all weekend!

Friday I got these delivered to school...

I have always dreamed

of the day this would happen.

They came with a very sweet note inside too!

Saturday started with the girls' birthday party...

Then we went to the zoo...

Then we stopped here...

For this...

Then took his dog for a walk.

Then to dinner at our favorite place...Hopworks...

Then Sunday we exchanged cards and gifts...

As long as we are remembered...

I had grief group last night.
I love that place...but last night I hated it.
I hated it because I sat there looking at those sad people...thinking I didn't want to ever be one of "those" people...wait...I AM ONE of "those" people.
In my group, I think I am the most "removed" from my death...to me meaning that I am the one who's said death happened the longest ago. Mine is 8 years...some are as little as two months. We are a large range. I am there for different reasons that some of the others, but then again...we are all there for the same reasons too. I don't look at myself as a "tragedy case". There is always someone worse off. I have had two immediate family member deaths and my fair share of extended family as well. I have grown from them, learned from them, and now embrace them. They have made me who I am today...still causing some weakness though. I wouldn't trade my deaths for anything of the things I just mentioned...but it is what it is...this is what I have been handed...and I CAN HANDLE IT! I think...
I like to go to know I am not alone...

Last night I had a reality...I mean I have definitely thought about this before...but last night it head me in the face...HARD.
One of my fellow grievers is a widow now. His precious wife passed away. He is so young and she was so young. I can't imagine loving someone so much and then their lives being taken away in a split second. I do not want to be him...but I don't know what the future holds. I have faith it will treat me well...afterall, I have had my share plus some! THE ONLY thing I can do about this...is live life to the fullest. Tell everyone how much they mean to me anytime I can.

I found this quote that goes perfectly with this post.
"We live as long as we are remembered..."

The Way I See It...#11

This morning Teacha and I stopped at Starbucks on our way to "the training". Boy is it a good training too! (sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm)
I am sitting in it as I write this...perhaps I am not being a "good student" today.

Anyway, my drink is finished and sometimes I like to read my cup...you know "The Way I See It's" they have on those cups?

Mine stood out for me today...

"Why are we inspired by another person's courage?
Maybe because it gives us the sweet and genuine
surprise of discovering some trace, at least, of the
same courage in ourselves." ~The Way I See It # 11, Laurence Shames

I love that...

Bebe Lovin...

Well Friday was the day! I got to see all my bebes'!

It was super fun to see my sweet cousins all "plump".

They got a million presents and lots of belly love from Auntie MegPie!

Rylee gave me a few kicks to let me know she was diggin the lovin!

Adison and Aubrey weren't so active...their mama didn't want me to wake them up...she mumbled something about being uncomfortable...who doesn't love a good kick in the ribs once in awhile?!?!?

Here are some pics!

Mama #1, Mrs. Jensen, Rylee, and Auntie MegPie

Mama #2, Mrs. Gay, Aubrey & Adison, Auntie MegPie

I heart Field Trips!!! SIKE!

Thursday called for a field trip...our first of the year to be exact.
My ONLY experience with field trips have been in Kindergarten. Kindergarten Field Trips= BIGGEST NIGHTMARE OF MY LIFE!
I always took two classes...TOO many parents...AND didn't have enough patience! My last Kindy field trip involved a a cop, 2 buses for 6 classes (if you do the math we needed about 4 buses!) a lost kid we fondly named Little Richard (btw had no idea he was lost!), a kid hiding in the bushes, me in tears, a puker, and a tantrum thrower (like on the ground screaming and kicking)...that is pure awesomeness people!!!!

First grade field trip=MUCH better...more calm....less parents.

Yesterday, we attended a play downtown. We took a school bus down, saw a play, got right back on the bus and back to our place of education. Pretty simple day. I can't complain...although I have a top ten list of things I have to share about it...

Top Ten Things I Loved about Yesterdays Real World Education:

1. Kids crying because they are going to wet their pants
2. Extremely nauseas children on the bus ride
3. Parents also a little nauseas from the bus ride
4. Ushers that don't like children...or adults for that matter!
5. There's nothing like the smell of 500 kids that have gas! They have no manners!
6. The show involves the kids clapping to music...UGH! I hate that! The kids have no idea when to stop!
And they have no rhythm!
7. Duffel bag I have to carry full of medications: from EpiPens, to Benadryl, to inhalers, to bandaids.
8. Counting your children 100 times an hour to make sure you didn't lose any.
9. Having to just sit in the bus with 50 kids for 20 minutes because we are too early!
10. KIDS FALL ASLEEP ON THE BUS ON THE WAY HOME!

Happy Weekend!

Oh yeah..Sunday I get to go to DQ's Birthday! Yeah!!!!

4 more days!

4 days till I get to love on my bebes'!!!!!

Chicken Soup...at the grocery store

I was in line at the grocery story this afternoon. I was extremely tired, and kind of "out of it" probably staring off into space. I chose a bad line to get into, but really what else is new?

As I stood there I saw someone kind of flag me down from another aisle. He wanted me to cut him because I didn't have a cart and he did so he wanted me to be able to put my stuff down.
How incredibly nice of him. I KNOW he doesn't read my blog...but I want YOU all to know I will pay it forward....and HECK...his kid could be in my class next year! =)

Thank you shopping cart man!