#100HappyDays2018: Day 73

#100HappyDays: Day 73
Finished up the summer break with a trip to the zoo. Had a great time.
#100DaysOfSummer
#ElPasoZoo
#JustMe
#100HappyDays2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 57

#100HappyDays: Day 57
A fun craft for Astronomy Camp that worked out better than expected.
#100DaysOfSummer
#StarGazer
#LearnForALifetime
#100HappyDays2018

It's the Little Things: Day 198

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we? 

• How can this year already be more than half over? I'm enjoying this blog series so much. It has become one of my little things. I don't get to post it as often as I'd like since I can't blog from my phone or my tablet, but whenever I get the chance to review some of my blessings, that's a blessing in itself. 
• It's as simple as a Pandora music station that plays only songs you love and gets smarter and smarter the more you play it. (Currently playing, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound radio.)
• It's a week on my own at the office. Which isn't necessarily a little thing, since it allows Jodi to have a week of stay-cation, but her trust in me to handle the students is a wonderful gift. 
• It's Hercules and DT spending a whole day together playing Minecraft and hanging out. Mama got to work in peace and they had a ball together. And neither of those is a little thing. 
• It's a hilarious Facetime visit with my 'Shua, Lauren and Caden. Little Punk was NOT all about sitting still to talk to {Grand}Mama K. At. ALL. But it was fun to visit with 'Shua and Lauren in their new house looking so happy and content. 
• It's getting a gift of candy corn from one of my this-week-only students. 
• It's my breakfast nook roof not leaking anymore thanks to some extra attention for Dan earlier this month. This is NOT a little thing, but I'm mentioning it just the same. Monsoon season is upon us and it's raining at least for a while nearly every day, so this repair came at just the right time. Thank you, Dan!
• It's an hour to blog in between students. And with DT at home with Dan again today, it's only interrupted by the office phone ringing. And that's good news for the business so that's okay with me. 
• It's pulling random ingredients from the fridge while I'm still sleepy and bleary-eyed this morning and once I woke up, realizing I've got ingredients to make a spinach salad topped with honey-chipotle chicken tenders, tomatoes, cucumber, zesty Italian dressing and Cheez-It crackers as croutons. Not bad, indeed. 
• It's looking forward to "Swing on the Plaza" tonight if I'm not too tired. Free swing dance lessons, followed by 2 hours of music and room to dance. Dastroyah recently discovered swing dancing (with Z Benson's help) and it has changed his life. Even if I don't have the energy to dance, just enjoying the weather and watching the youngsters dance will be pleasant. Plus, food trucks will be there with Taco Tuesday specials. One can hardly go wrong in that environment. LOL! 

All of these and more make up my little things list this week. Isn't it so difficult to not see the blessings once you start looking? What's on your little things list today? 

 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 38

 #100HappyDays: Day 38
LEGO Day! 3 happy kiddos played Legos all day AND then picked everything up without a fuss. Woot!
#100DaysOfSummer
#LEGODay
#100HappyDays2018

It's the Little Things: Day 184

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's a successful day of work, which involved making kites, walking to the park, watching Mary Poppins, and laughing at the kiddos antics.
• It's being SO ridiculously grateful for Air Conditioning in this insanely hot and humid (for Cruces) summer that we are enjoying. 
• It's having an easy peasy and tasty dinner ready to eat in 5 minutes.
• It's having big kids that means I can slip off to Starbucks around the corner to enjoy a free iced tea and blog for an hour (or two).
• It's that same big kid that still enjoys having me read him bedtime stories. I KNOW I'm on borrowed time and I'm trying to soak up every minute. 
• It's a friend requesting that we have our annual Independence Day bbq and then donating all the money to make it happen. (We are so blessed, guys!) 
• It's celebrating with 'Shua and Lauren over the purchase of their first home and a successful and safe move last weekend. They live 6 blocks from my mom now. Woot for GiGi! 
• It's a friend offering a free Herbalife shake to help me start my weight-loss journey. And enjoying some delightful mama chatter while doing it.
• It's a bestie that calls to ask how things are going...not the socially appropriate answer of fine. How are things TRULY going? And being able to answer without fear of ridicule or a scolding reminder that others are worse off than I am right now. She's a gift, that's for sure.
• It's having brake lights that WORK again after some attention from Hercules and Dastroyah. I feel so fancy and special now! 
• It's a new sermon series by Pastor Dennis that rocked my socks off and caused me to rethink several long held ideas about my commitment to the Lord. And that's always a good thing. 

 

What's on your Little Things list?

#100HappyDays2018: Day 11

#100HappyDays2018: Day 11
A full week of Art Appreciation leaves the children with a full portfolio of famous artist's remakes and learned styles. — at Learn for a Lifetime

#100HappyDays2018: Day 5

 

  #100HappyDays:Day 5
Taking a pack of monkeys to the zoo and having a grand old time!

#100HappyDays2018
#ElPasoZoo
#100DaysOfSummer — feeling happy with Derek Meyer and LaVonda Smith at El Paso Zoo.

It's the Little Things: Day 147

 

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's a lovely hour and a half long chat with your bestie after she calls to announce that she's just dropped her daughter off at my house. The last one we lived in while we were in IL. #ItsASmallWorldAfterAll
• It's using and enjoying Wal-Mart's free grocery shopping app so I don't have to wander through the grocery store on a holiday weekend. Plus, it helps me avoid impulse buys...or snacks to keep my shopping 'helpers' happy. 
• It's having friends and family to celebrate with for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. That's not a little thing, but something to appreciate for sure.
• It's getting a new bookshelf at the LFAL office so we can bring in more books to add to our lending library. 
• It's having an overdue convo with Dan after a compelling sermon by Pastor Dennis in regards to our marriage and how we can improve it. Good stuff.
• It's having another stellar week of community group. I'm loving our study by Rick Warren- '40 Days of Love', a study based on a book called "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" and also the topic of our current sermon series. 
• It's getting a phone call announcing big news from my daughter-in-love. No, they are not pregnant, but it's still big exciting news that will be made public in the near future. Sometimes, secrets are fun.
• It's keeping the counters clean and dishes done this whole week again. 
• It's another fun, late Game Night. Adam learned how to play 7 Wonders, we all laughed ourselves silly over Bananagrams and Farkle, and then once everyone else was gone, Dan, myself, Pat and Nathan played Golf until like 3:30 in the morning. Eek! 
• It's a friend that wants to you come play paper with her and when you are too busy, she brings it to you at a more convenient time. 
• It's being invited to Little Miss's birthday party. DT and I had just been talking about her this week.
• It's a friend that wants to set up a toe-nail painting party and checks with you three times to make sure the time is good for you so you can attend. 
• It's a working lunch on a Saturday with your sister and nephews while admiring your new bookshelf, filled to the brim with books.  
• It's a nephew that comes early to Game Night to share dinner, help set up and to squeeze in some extra visiting time because he's moving away soon and won't be able to attend anymore. 
• It's your sons knowing that they can bring home friends without first asking for 'permission' and that their friend will be welcomed without question or reprimand. It's satisfying to know that our children know our home is a safe place for not only them, but for their friends that are struggling at home. 
• It's a friend that you can truly talk to about your life. Not the perfect soundbite options you post for FB fodder, but the gut-wrenching, brutally beautiful, bittersweet, take-your-breath-away moments. Everyone should have a bestie like my Lizzie. 
• It's the truly simple things, like cutting my own boys' hair. It's a happy little time every few weeks when we get to chat, just us. Or when I pop my head in their room just to say hi and end up chatting for 30 minutes. It's when they wander into the kitchen and start helping make a meal while we are laughing together. 
• It's paying off your ridiculously high library fines so you can start checking out books again. (Some day, there will be a plaque in my honor for all the fines I've paid. I just know there will. LOL) 
• It's a high capacity washer so that even know I've only done one load of laundry this week, it will only take me 2 more to get caught back up. Phew! 

Life is so full of little blessings, happy moments, and beauty. If we only take the time to look at it, we will realize how rich, and how deep and how sweet our lives are. Take a minute to look around. 

What's on YOUR little things list today?

And Just Like That...Another School Year Is In The Books!

Friends, we are done, we are done, we are DONE! Mr. T and Slick have completed their best school year ever as of yesterday and now it's time to let the good times roll. Our 180+ days have been completed, we've MORE than accomplished what we set out to do this school year and they both have grown by leaps and bounds over the past 9 months.

They finished their 3 Rs with "Aunt Jodi Mom" this week and all that's left to complete is a few lingering Teaching Textbooks lessons. They will continue to read and work through DuoLingo over the summer but their formal lessons for the 3 Rs are complete.

As for their MFW curriculum with me, we are switching to "Homeschool Lite" which will be a short lesson or two every other day until we wrap our curriculum, which should be well before Jodi and her boys take their vacation in July. In the afternoons while Jodi is teaching classes at the office, the boys and I will head to the newly created 'teacher's lounge' and do a little work. I'm pretty excited about it.

To the boys, I say, "Well done, sirs! You have worked hard and accomplished much. Enjoy your well earned rest."

As for me, I've already brought all our extra books home, just the MFW core is left at the LFAL office, and the homeschooling shelves in the lounge are looking light and airy.

Best. School. Year. Ever. 

It's the Little Things: Day 44

 

 I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's a day of home education for two wiggly silly little boys that found them working diligently and earnestly, allowing us to make some extra progress towards a half day off this Friday.
• It's a mom who KNOWS that the thrill of the never-ending Pantry Challenge (Hello, week 6!) has totally and completely worn off and just 'happened' to accidentally make too much of a tasty egg casserole, and brings it to you so you don't have to cook one.more.meal without the benefit of going to the store for ingredients.  
• It's getting all your necessary house chores accomplished before Hunky Dunky comes home so that you have time to hang out with him. 
• It's your teenager chatting with you on purpose and telling you about his date he has planned for Valentine's Day tomorrow. (He's giddy, it's adorable) 
• It's a fun online Tupperware party that I'm hosting with a new friend, where all the ladies are having such a good time. Tupperware, anyone?  
• It's chatting with another gymnastics mama, who is new to the game, and reassuring her that competitive season DOES end, and there is life after traveling every other weekend for what feels like forever. And that it's OK to step back from the craziness and make your own decisions. 
• It's finally feeling competent enough to run the office without Jodi to back me up (she went home sick today) 
• It's all the details for my mom's 70th birthday tea party starting to fall into place. *squeal*  

 

#100HappyDays: Day 72

 

 Day 72 of #100HappyDays
DT's friend Samuel spent the night and today they spent the day with me at work before heading off to their first night at Youth Group together. Games were played, food was consumed, laughs were had. A good day all around.

#100DaysOfSummer
#MPCCYouth
#BestFriends — feeling happy with Alexandra N Tommyt Howard at Learn for a Lifetime. — with Alexandra N Tommyt Howard.

#100HappyDays: Day 71

 

 Day 71 of #100HappyDays
New-to-us brain game courtesy of happy mail from Heather. All the children are loving it already! Thanks Heather!

#100DaysOfSummer
#LearnForALifetime
#BrainGames — feeling happy with Jodi Starnes at Learn for a Lifetime.

#100HappyDays: Day 57

 

Day 57 of #100HappyDays
Games with this prankster. (This game is called Suspend and it is all about balance.) Looking forward to many more as we learn together this year.
#100DaysOfSummer
#LifeIsABalancingAct
#GamesForDays — feeling happy with Jodi Starnes at Learn for a Lifetime.

#100HappyDays: Day 51

 Day 51 of #100HappyDays
The website works again! The Learn For A Lifetime website is up and running again! Wooty woot woot!

#100DaysOfSummer
#WhoKnewICouldBuildAWebsite
#ILoveItWhenIWin — feeling happy at Learn for a Lifetime.

#100HappyDays: Day 22

Day 22: Fun at the new office
    DT and I have been having lots of fun hanging out at the new office, trying out all the new games and toys. Hopscotch is a new favorite.

 If you like this challenge, head over to www.100happydays.com to sign up. You can choose a start date, your favorite photo posting platform and even a custom hashtag if you want to be more original. Do it, you might just decide you love it.

#100HappyDays: Day 21

Day 21: First Paycheck from the new job!
Wooty woot woot! I'm already pretty excited about this new job and what it will mean for my family, but getting the first paycheck is a fun day for sure!

If you like this challenge, head over to www.100happydays.com to sign up. You can choose a start date, your favorite photo posting platform and even a custom hashtag if you want to be more original. Do it, you might just decide you love it.

#100HappyDays: Day 12

Day 12: I spent a few hours at the new job working on that master book list again. With Jodi away for a few weeks and the office officially closed, I can set my own hours for a while. I can live with that. The boys and Dan were all busy so no one was missing me right then, so I used the time to earn a few more dollars to tuck away for a later summer adventure. Sounds good to me!
In other news, any excuse to eat next door at Enrique's is a good excuse. LOL!

Starting the Master Book List: EVERY Thomas the Tank Engine book ever written.

If you like this challenge, head over to www.100happydays.com to sign up. You can choose a start date, your favorite photo posting platform and even a custom hashtag if you want to be more original. Do it, you might just decide you love it.

#100HappyDays: Day 10

Day 10: My first day on the job with Learn For a Lifetime! Hello better hours, helping children, reading tons of books and getting paid to make lists! Today I started a master list of the books in our lending library, which I realized quickly was going to take me a kajillion times longer than I had anticipated, give or a take a millennia. But a job that allows/encourages you to take a break from the "work" to play a game with this sweet little face is the kind of job I want in my life.
SO, can you Guess Who?

Mr. T joined me for a game of Guess Who

If you like this challenge, head over to www.100happydays.com to sign up. You can choose a start date, your favorite photo posting platform and even a custom hashtag if you want to be more original. Do it, you might just decide you love it.