This week I’m thankful for…

• waking to the sound of rain
• rain that stops just in time for recess
• chocolate covered pomegranate seeds
• my NaNoWriMo writing buddies
• rain boots
• parent volunteers who literally did all the heavy lifting for me on our field trip when my back was out
• the chiropractor who opened his office on Saturday and put me out of my misery
• ice packs
• my hubby, who does everything in his power to make me feel better
• Mexican food
• the scent of rain on asphalt
• the kid who dressed as Clifford the Big Red Dog on Halloween
• my little ones who are donating their Halloween candy to Treats for Troops
• the safety of my loved ones and my home

This week I’m thankful for…

• cherry flavored soda
• Siri
• cheeseburgers on pretzel buns
• pumpkin shaped candy corn
• walks with Jack the dog
• my husband, who holds me until I fall asleep
• The Writing Project
• the fact that in one more day I will no longer be master teacher to a student teacher.  Seriously, I shouldn’t mentor anyone.  Ever. Again.
• my teacher friends who have taken a sworn oath to repeatedly punch me in the neck if I ever take on another student teacher
• pink carnations from my little ones on Think Pink Day
• writing with my little ones who constantly surprise me with their wordplay

This week I’m thankful for…

• the sounds of train whistles echoing up from the canyon
• Library Day
• parent volunteers
• walks with friends
• my husband’s arms
• unexpected cash
• thank you notes
• the men who continue to hammer and drill and make a clatter outside my classroom every day trying to get my air conditioner to work
• the colorful words aforementioned clattering men shout outside my door when their attempts fail.  I can count that as vocabulary instruction minutes, right?  Right???

This week I’m thankful for…

• my husband who tells me I’m smart.  Since he’s genius level smart, I absolutely swoon when he tells me I’m smart, too.
• my student teacher who climbed in the A/C closet every morning for two weeks and battled spider webs to manually turn on our classroom air conditioner
• the little one who beaded me a keychain with my name on it.  My last name is long, so it was quite the gift.
• my little ones, even the one who pulled the fire alarm.  Maybe especially him.
• my parent volunteers
• the families who donated extra money to make sure everyone in our class can go on field trips
• the return of Parenthood.  I just love that show.
• So You Think You Can Dance.  I know for a fact that I can’t dance and I’m left in awe each time I watch an episode.
• my Ugandan sons
• frozen yogurt
• the opportunity to help my friend buy her very first computer
• days spent helping That Laura decorate her living room
• the firefighters who worked tirelessly these last few weeks to save homes and forests
• my friends at Writers Forum

This week I’m thankful for…

• a new school year
• my student teacher
• double stick tape
• freshly sharpened pencils
• the sound of my husband’s voice as I drift off to sleep
• parents who are already offering to volunteer in class and/or take tasks home to complete
• the firefighters working so diligently to put out the fires burning all around me
• my Ugandan children