School's Out!

The older kids got out of school this week. Ahhhh, sweet summertime... Bittersweet for both of them. They both really enjoyed school this year and are actually sad to see that it is over.

So, Josh "accidentally" kept one of his teacher's classroom library books. (Organizational skills are not his strong suit.) So I emailed her last night (whatever did my parents do to contact my teachers?) and got the sweetest response back today...

If you could drop it by the school today, Friday, May 25, 2007, that would be great. Otherwise, you can drop it by Alexander Middle School on Old Alvin Road at the beginning of the next school year. The third choice would be to keep it. Josh sure loves to read. I think that he read every book in my classroom library this year.

Happy summer, and thanks for the Starbucks gift card.

M. Thomas

What a proud momma moment!


That aside, I am actually excited for the kids to be out of school this year. It seems I usually dread it, but I am happy for them for some reason this year...

My Bike...

Mother's Day and My darling Gillian...
OK, so she is in love with all things pink. The Komen Pink campaign is right up her alley. Target has had a lot of Komen Pink items lately, especially in the sporting goods section.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, Gillian found me the "perfect" Mother's Day present. Apparently, I "had" to have a new bike. The rest of the family had bikes, but I didn't... and it was pink, so it only made sense to her! She told everyone that she was getting her mom a pink bike for Mother's Day.

How could I not let her? This was something that truly came from her heart. She was so excited. So, I bought myself a $140 Mother's Day gift. I have never had that kind of money spent on me for Mother's Day, but the smile on her face when we went to pick up was worth every penny. It is permanently ingrained in my memory. She even told everyone we came into contact with at the store that it was my Mother's Day present.

I couldn't love her any more...



Family Adventures
As you can tell, along with my new pink bike, I had to get a bike trailer for carrying the littlest princess around. The first time out she screamed and screamed - all around the cul-de-sac. Once we down the road, however, she decided it wasn't so bad.

Fast forward to last Tuesday. I had a root canal scheduled for that morning, so I decided to take her to school in her trailer. Not sure yet how far that is, but it was far enough! She loved the ride to school. I picked her that afternoon as well. I am going to get my money's worth out of that bicycle!

Wednesday morning came and I had to go to work. I told Reagan it was time to go to school and she turned around and asked "trailer?". No, dear. Maybe this afternoon. Sure enough, I have picked her up from school everyday this week on that bicycle. We have turned it into a family affair, with the entire family biking over to Reagan's daycare.

Our return route varies, sometimes random side streets, sometimes we stop by a park... it is amazing the wonderful family time we are enjoying now that I have a pretty pink bike...

Health check...

Do you know how much stuff they can check for in just a sample of blood? Everyone in the family has been getting bloodwork done to see "where they stand" in regards to cholesterol and such since Stuart passed away. I seem to be really late to the game - but better late than never, right? So I went in last week to get my blood drawn - and I wanted to make sure they were going to check my blood sugar as well. The nurse said not to worry - the blood will be tested not only for cholesterol and such, but also thyroid, kidney liver, blood counts, blood sugar... and on... and on... in one sample of blood? Unbelievable what medical science can do.

Well, I got the results back today and the only thing that came back with an concern at all was my iron level. OK, so I am a bit anemic. Pop a few iron pills and have it rechecked in a month... *huge sigh*

True, I am overweight, so I am going to make that my new priority. Getting back into shape and dropping a few pounds. Gillian *really* wants to get me a pink bike for Mother's Day. She saw it in a Target ad last week. It is pretty. I think that will make a great gift.

I can't believe I put off going to the doctor so long. It is true that ignorance is bliss - but true bliss is knowing that I am healthy... and I plan on keeping it that way.

Sometimes a friend is all you need...

OK, I will admit it.... I have some online friends... a few years ago I would have thought anyone that deeply involved with online "strangers" was a bit off the deep end. That's the thing, though, these girls aren't strangers - at least not any more.

It has been just over a year since I met the first one in person. Since then I have had the opportunity to meet several more. There are many I have never met and may never meet, but that doesn't seem to matter. They are but a mouse click or even a phone call away.

I actually got to meet up with one of them for the first time week. She and her little ones were down from North Texas visiting her parents and we decided to have dinner together. It was like we had known each other for years - and I guess we have.

Another I talked to on the phone. We made plans to get together for lunch in a few weeks, as we have done many times before. We also discussed meeting up and taking our girls swimming before her daughter goes away for the summer...

It is so nice to talk to a friend. Relationships are so important to our physical and mental health. Just a few minutes with my friends leaves me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated - and able to take on whatever task is set before me.

As part of my teacher training, I have to observe 15 class hours of clasroom teaching. Next week, I will get to meet up with a friend I have known for nearly 30 years. She is a History teacher in Angleton and I am going to go observe her class. I am so looking forward to spending some time with her - making sure I get to the school early so we can catch up a bit.

Humans are social by nature... and my most fulfilling moments in life have been spent in the company of my friends...