Thankful: Day 3: Friends

Yup, it is official...I have failed the "thankful challenge!" So here I am...two days late...but at least I'm still here...right?!?

Friends.

I know what you're probably thinking...

here she goes again,

another pity party,

again.

Well guess what?

You're WRONG!

HA!!!

No pity party here!

Today is all about celebrating the amazing friendships in my life!

Past,

Present,

Future!

I am so thankful to have so many amazing people in my life.

Friends that...

stood with us on our wedding day,

 we have celebrated holidays with,

 4th of July

 Halloween

Christmas Tree Lane

and that we have gone on vacations with.

Mexico

Avila Beach

We have celebrated eachother's weddings,

babies,

 Me, 9 months pregnant...Frank, unknown! :o)

and of course birthdays!

Ashley's "Dirty 30"...yes, I am 6 months pregnant!

Frank's 40th birthday cruise!

Most of all, we have been there for one another

in the good times and the bad.

We have shared many laughs, many tears, many frustrations, and overcome so much together.

 All in all, we have done life together. It may not have always been pretty.

We may not have always seen "eye to eye"...but that's what real friendship is all about...being there to love and support one another!

So, to all of the amazing friends that are in my life today...thank you!

Thankful: Day 2: My Job

See, it is only the second day and I am already behind! Now you know why I couldn't handle an entire month of this. :o)

Mrs. Lofgren

If you ask one of the 25 children that I get to spend each day with, they will tell you that is my "fake" name. I say that because each year...and this is my 8th...how did that happen...anyway...each year one of my students politely asks, "Mrs. Lofgren, what is your 'real' name?"

I always respond, "What do you mean? Mrs. Lofgren is my real name!"

"No," says the student. "You know, like my name is Zach, what is your name?"

Every year I get a little laugh out of it.

Why? Oh so many reasons.

Mainly because I think it is so funny that they think I have some sort of super secret identity...like Clark Kent or something.

Yes, I am so thankful for my job.

The place where I can "transform" into Mrs. Lofgren.

The place where I am sure that I spend more waking hours than at my own home.

The place that I get to completely redecorate each year.

But my job is so much more than a place.

So much more than a job.

Each day I get to go somewhere where I am surrounded by people who have the same passion as me.

My job has provided me with so many friendships that I would have totally missed out on.

People who have become my nearest and dearest friends.

Not only do I get to have amazing people as coworkers...

I get to experience a year...or maybe more :o)...of life with families.

Families that become part of my family.

Families that trust me to inspire their children to learn more,

remind them to wash their hands before lunch,

teach them how to read everything in sight,

how to make art out of  everyday objects,

to love them when they are hurt,

to hold them accountable when they make a mistake,

to cheer them on when they finally pass their math facts,

and most of all...

to care for them as if they are my own.

When I say life.

I mean life.

Birthday parties.

Dance recitals.

Church plays.

Hockey games.

Baseball games.

And even...a baby shower!

Sure there are days when I would rather stay snuggled up in my bed.

Yes, there have been times when a parent has made assertions about my teaching abilities having never stepped foot in my classroom before.

They have said things that have broken me inside in ways that they will never know.

They have shown the other side of "Character Counts!"

Yes, I know...I could have gotten a degree in some other field.

Made more money...because after all..."those who can't, teach!"

But then I wouldn't have the chance to work the McDonald's drive thru to help earn money for our school.

 I wouldn't be able to dress up like my own fictitious super hero and race a scooter in front of nearly 800 people to celebrate how well our students did at the Jog-A-Thon.

I would never be a cover model for InStyle magazine.

 

 And more importantly I would never get to share moments like this...

with the students who have touched my life in ways that they will never understand.

So, while I may take papers home on weekly basis, do some grading while I am watching The Real Houswives of Beverly Hills, spend a Saturday here or there hoping that my cheerleaders perform their hearts out, collect other people's garbage for a future art project, get giddy inside at the thought of fresh new crayons, spend most of my vacation time thinking of ways to make my classroom more like a home, and spend more money than I even want to know on sanitizing wipes so that all of my darlings stay healthy...I wouldn't trade it for any other job in the world.

I mean...I do only work 8-3, and get three months off in the summer you know! :o)

Thankful: Day 1: Family!

So, a lot of people have been doing a daily "thankful" post...either on their blog or on Facebook...since the month of November started. I have loved reading everyone's posts and really wanted to join in the fun. Since I am just a little bit Type A...ha...I knew that it would drive me absolutely, totally, completely, unbearably insane if I missed a day. Of course, things always seem to be a bit hectic so I knew that I would miss a day...or I would be up until midnight doing my thankful post...and honestly...I have just needed some time to...breathe!

So, instead of doing the entire month...I decided to do the week leading up to Thanksgiving. I know, if I was going to do a week, I should have started last Thursday...oh well...baby steps people...baby steps! :o) Here we go...a week, well I guess four days...of thankfulness!

Family.

Some families are small.

Some families are huge.

Some are all boys.

Some all girls.

Some are nice mix of both.

Mine...well, mine is just the way I like it.

Mine!

My little family of three!

This little family of three is what keeps me going each day...

and is often what makes me want to go to bed each night!

Sure, we started out as a family of just two.

Then we decided to add this young man to the group!

Oh this little man.

This little man that is so full of life, fun, love, laughter, curiosity, adventure, hugs, destructon, cries, drool, giggles, energy, determination, and joy!

This little man that will drag out every curling iron so that he can "curl" my hair.

Who pinches his nose and says "P.U." when you take off his shoes.

This little man that will try with all of his might to climb anything he is near.

Who is sure to bring you a goldfish cracker and put it in your mouth for you.

He is a lover of all foods...well...all accept tomatoes.

He will jump in his bed and call to the cats with his sweet little "meow."

He loves to run down the hallway and show you where his diapers are, where he goes "ny-ny," and even where he has hid his shoes.

This little man has taken over a cabinet in the bathroom and turned it into his own safe deposit box...filled with the remote for the t.v., one shoe, my hair brush, ribbon from my craft room, his light up 4th of July toy, a diaper...and who knows what else.

This little man that will come running, full speed, and tackle you with a hug.

He will pull out a blankie, bring it to you, crawl up in your lap and cuddle with you forever.

Oh this little man.

Then of course there is this big man.

This big man that has been my partner in life for almost 10 years now.

The man that loves heavy metal, any kind of sport...except baseball and auto racing... any form of competition, and anything that can get his adrenaline flowing.

The man who will research almost any purchase he makes.

Who thinks things through. A lot.

The man that is pretty quiet in most social situations.

Who does not like to be the center of attention.

The man that can drive me completely crazy sometimes because we do not think a like.

He refuses to show his excitement for anything but...

man is he an amazing husband!

He is strong when I need him to be.

Funny when  I need a laugh.

Stern when I need a bit of a reality check. :o)

Sweet and sentimental when I least expect it.

Oh...and he is the most amazing dad in the world.

His son means the world to him.

And that means the world to me!

So today, on my first day of thanks, I am thankful for my amazing family of three!

*Family photos by Whitney Frank at www.whitneyfrankphotography.com!

*Wedding photo by Pamela Leeds Photography.

One Little Monkey...

jumping on the bed!

When I went into Landry's room yesterday to get him from his nap...this is the "new" talent he had to show me!

When Chad got home and saw the video I was told that this isn't a "new" talent...he does it all the time! :o)


***Sorry that it is sideways! I took the video with my phone and have tried a bajillion times to turn it around on YouTube...no such luck! :o(

Trick or Treat!

So, I swore to myself that once the month of October was over...my life would calm down. Hmmm...we are only two days into November and it still feels crazy...and I already feel behind...yikes!

If you have been following me on Facebook you know that we had quite the costume battle at the Lofgren house last week. Mommy spent a lot of time, lost a lot of sleep, making an AMAZING (no, I'm not too shy to admit it) costume for my handsome man...and he hated it! Screamed. Ran. Stomped his feet. Cried HUGE crocodile tears whenever it was brought towards him...and this was all before he had any contact with the hat...or the beard!

I am proud to say that he gave in...and let his "inner gnome" shine! Since I am a big believer in the fact that if your child cannot say, "trick or teat," they have no business being drug door to door for candy... we went and visited some of those nearest to our heart! :o)

First stop...Auntie Kaitlin's house!

As you can see...Auntie Kaitlin's dog, Lady, wasn't so sure about the gnome costume. :o)

Then we went to Nawnie and Papa's!

Of course Nawnie had to give Landry a piece of candy to eat (and about 5 for his bucket) before we left.

Yummy, Reese's peanut butter cup!

Next we went to our good friends' house to see Kelley. She has a beautiful Husky named Niko. Landry wasn't so sure of Niko so we weren't able to get a picture with Aunt Kelley. :o(

Finally, we stopped by Frank and Sheri's! They went ALL OUT decorating for Halloween and can I say...the scarier, the better in Landry's opinion...he LOVED it all! Go figure, he "dislikes" pumpkins...but loves scary music, flashing lights, ghosts, graveyards, etc. Once again, wonder who he gets that from? :o)

Frank and Sheri had a TON of kids in their neighborhood. Landry was a HUGE hit! Everyone loved his costume and thought he was the cutest gnome they had ever seen...duh! :o) I also loved how he played right into character...stood as still as a statue while all of the kids were running around getting candy...classic!

All in all it was a great night! Landry loved tolerated his costume and we got to visit some of our favorite people!

Now it's time to start thinking about next year's costume! Just joking...kind of! :o)