Thankful Tuesday

1. The kids enjoyed playing dodge ball at gym class on Friday morning. This week it will either be kickball or soccer depending on the weather

2. The weather was heavenly on Saturday (high was 83) for the kids' first soccer games and a 3 mile walk in the afternoon. I was thrilled with how Ian played soccer!

3. We enjoyed having Paul's parents up to see the soccer games on Saturday and to church on Sunday to hear the kids sing. Ian has improved so much over the past year when it comes to singing on a church platform!

4. Nadia, Ian, and I enjoyed seeing the musical, Mary Poppins at Milton High School on Sunday afternoon.

5. Oliver didn't take a nap yesterday (albeit I tried for one solid hour to get him to do so). I think it was because he took a three hour nap on Sunday. I think two hours is the longest he should nap. I was very relieved when he took a two hour nap today.

6. The flowers have started blooming. So far the daffodils and hyacinth are in bloom. Beautiful! I will be mowing the lawn for the first time this year sometime this week. Hopefully soon the trees will be green!

7. Oliver, Ian, and I enjoyed having dinner at Perkins yesterday while Nadia was at gymnastics. Because I used a coupon for a free meal, our bill including tip was less than $7. Nadia and I enjoyed dinner at the Watson Inn tonight. Because my meal was free, our bill was less than $10 including tip. I brought home half of my chicken parmigiana. It was lovely to have that one-on-one time with my daughter!

8. I really enjoyed watching The Miracle Worker with the kids (the 2000 version). I remember enjoying the 1979 version of it when I was a child. Similarly, I have been enjoying seeing Pollyanna again (1960 version).

9. Paul and Nadia came home with flowers for me yesterday. Nadia picked them out. They are so pretty!!

10. Paul's last labs were last week. He met very briefly with his two lab sections this week, and next Monday will be his last lecture for the semester. He is looking forward to having about four months off of teaching and is hoping to make progress with a research project.

11. I received several lovely birthday cards through the mail and a couple in our mailbox at church. It's so nice to be remembered in some cases by people whom I haven't seen in awhile.

12. Most weeks there are only three people I talk with on the phone - Paul, my mom, and Paul's mom. Today I also had the treat of talking to my sister, Yvonne (who lives in Turkey)! Her whole family serenaded me with the birthday song. Loved it!

13. I received several wonderful birthday presents. Yvonne gave me an air pump for blowing up air mattresses. That will make it much easier than blowing up by mouth! Paul's parents gave me some money. Paul gave me three wooden letters that spell JOY (photo prop I hope to use with the kids in the future), four new cereal bowls, and a step stool so Nadia can get things out of a kitchen cabinet without climbing onto the counter (which is what she had been doing lately). My parents got me three things for my camera (lens, reflector, and white balance filter). Photography has been my favorite hobby the last few years. I look forward to learning how to use the new "toys" as I take pictures of my three precious, dearly loved children.