This week I’m thankful for…

• white peaches so juicy that I have to eat them over the sink
• time alone in my classroom to get organized
• opportunities to put on my big girl pants and read something I’ve written.  Out loud.  To other people.  Gulp.
• running into former students around town
• leftovers
• reading and writing in my favorite Chico coffee shop
• carpooling with friends
• my workout buddy
• a fresh haircut
• the hot tub after a long day of travel

This week I’m thankful for…

• turning my alarm clock off for the summer
• a sweet last day of school with my little ones and some of my awesome parent volunteers
• making cookies with a friend
• vases of fresh flowers given to me on the last day of school
• homemade strawberry blackberry jam made by a friend
• ice-cold watermelon
• warmer weather

This week I’m thankful for…

• the rain that held off for our field trip to Turtle Bay Museum
• the rain that held off yet again for our swimming trip to the Aquatic Center
• my sweet little one who said “Mrs. McCauley, we’ve been a lot of great places this year, but the swimming field trip was the best!”
• my wonderful parent volunteers who make field trips seamless
• my first grade team
• my husband, who opens the door for me every single time
• riding my bike up hills that are so hard I want to puke
• somehow not puking on those hills
• reading in bed
• ice-cold watermelon
• my new writing critique group
• the last day of school tomorrow.  It will be bittersweet, but mostly sweet.  And that’s what I’m most thankful for.

This week I’m thankful for…

• days when I’m organized enough to leave school shortly after my students
• when the mailbox has something good in it like a magazine or a package
• the Northern California Writing Project and the opportunities they give me to learn and collaborate with my colleagues
• nights when I don’t dream about school and the well-rested mornings that follow
• Q Tips.  I don’t care that they’re not intended for my ears or that in putting them in my ears I may somehow puncture my brain.  I love the feeling of cleaning out my ears.
• getting all four of the hotel pillows to myself
• television finales and the return of summer shows
• my husband, who attended our class musical dress rehearsal and said lovely things about my children
• the looks on the faces of my little ones as they performed our class musical for their loved ones
• teachers being moved to first grade this year who are comfortable enough in their own skin to ask for help
• the opportunity to share what I love with other teachers
• wearing my flannel pajamas, slippers and winter robe in May