What are you thankful for?

So as I mentioned a while ago, I read several blogs every day. Today I was catching up on my Google reader and read Katie's post at My Life as a Wallace about being thankful. She said that her pastor's wife challenged her friends to post everyday about what they are thankful for. I think that this is something I might be able to accomplish.

I am thankful for the gift of laughter.

After a rough day at school, then going to the office and feeling pretty crappy about my current employment situation, I felt like no one liked me! I sometimes feel used and that my abilities are under appreciated. Well, after voicing my pitiful opinion of myself on facebook, my friends made me laugh! Sometimes I guess I just feel bad for myself and get paranoid that others think the same of me. It takes a little bit of reassurance from my friends and being able to laugh at myself to make me feel better. So thanks to my friends for making me laugh (at you and myself)!!

~*~

Let's see...a recap of yesterday....well, we sat around the house for a little while, I got in the shower at 12:30, and we went to Bob and Fran's to weigh in. I gained a pound. Booooo! So that's 9 lbs total that I've lost. Bobby lost another 2.2 lbs, so he's at 14 lbs in 9 weeks! I'm so proud of him, because he wasn't going to do this at all and now he's the one that's lost the most weight!

Last night we had dinner at Bob and Fran's to celebrate Jason's (that's Janelle's husband) birthday. We had delicious stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes. YUM! We also had yellow cake with cool whip/pudding icing, and chunked pineapple on top! DELICIOUSNESS! Aaaaannnndddd...that's about how exciting the day was! Haha.

This morning, my alarm went off at 6:30, just in case the school called. Well, as soon as my alarm went off (which is on my phone) my phone rang. It was Penns Manor. They needed me at the elementary school in the third grade. It wasn't a bad day...at first...but as the day went on, the kids got more crazy. I wound up being so upset with them at the end of the day that I was actually GLAD that the I was going to my other job. Haha. What a joke that was!
So yes, I did go to the Coach after school. I have to say, that most of the ladies there are fantastic. I do really love them, and they have become great friends over the past 3 years...BUT..some of them have such a lousy disposition on their lives. They're so miserable that they drag everyone else down! GRRRRR!!!!

TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY!!!!
That is going to be my motto for the week...no matter how bad the day is, the next day can't be any worse, can it? At least I hope not!

Let's see...what else to share...ummmm...We are going to Hershey/Harrisburg for Thanksgiving. My mom, brother, Bobby, and I are going to go stay near my mom's brother and sister to spend a few days with them. I know my grandparents are going, too, but I'm not sure if my mom's other brother, his wife and kids will go, though. This is going to be our first major holiday without dad. It's going to be rough, and I think the best way to deal with it is by being surrounded by family. I hope it works.
For those of you who have lost a loved one, is it better to be alone on holidays or with family? I would really like to hear what you have to say. Please tell me!

That's about it! It's 10 pm and I'm ready for bed. We'll see if the phone rings in the morning!

Bad Wife?

Do you ever feel like you're a bad wife? Or maybe that you aren't appreciated for what you do?

All week I taught and I went to my other job a few days as well. After spending the day with 500+ kids and having to constantly be on my toes I'm exhausted. I have to make sure that they aren't talking when they aren't supposed to, that they're keeping their hands to themselves, understanding what they're supposed to be doing, reading, doing independent work, spelling, math...singing, playing an instrument...which includes checking fingerings, the embouchure, how they're holding the instrument, if they know the name of the note, how long it needs to be played, are they resting...ugh! It's crazy! I love what I do, honestly, but my brain is engaged from the minute I walk in the door of the school until I walk back out to my car.

So when I get home, I'm drained. I am not ready to cook and clean when I get home. That housewife switch doesn't turn on. I feel like I'm letting my husband down because I don't cook dinner for him every night. I wait until the weekend to do laundry and some of my other housework. Does it make me a bad wife because I don't care if I do my wifey jobs everyday??

How do those of you who work balance all of those things? Does your husband help you? Mine doesn't very much. It makes it even harder to get things done when I do it all on my own! Suggestions? Help?! Please?!!??!

Ooops!

Wow...I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I've posted anything. Sorry about that.

I have been at Penns Manor Elementary all week subbing for the band teacher, who's really sick. It's been a fun week of lessons and rehearsals. I've gotten to spend some time practicing some instruments that I don't often get to play. I can never remember slide positions on the trombone, so the kids have been teaching me! It's great practice for them, because then they really have to think about what they're playing to show me how to do it!

Did you see my new camera? I put a picture of it on facebook last week. Bobby got me a Nikon D60 for a late anniversary/early christmas present. It's faaaaaaantastic! I have been taking it everywhere with me and snapping lots of photos!

Last time I posted, I had mentioned the annual Penns Manor craft show. I thought I was going to be able to make some jewelry and sell it there. Well...it's on November 14th and I CAN'T DO IT!!!! That day we are going DRESS SHOPPING for Noelle's wedding dress and to find dresses for the bridesmaids!!!! I am excited to go dress shopping, but I was really wanting to do the craft show. SOOOOOOO...instead, I'm going to ask if you know anyone that might like some pretty things for Christmas or who might need gifts for their bridesmaids for an upcoming wedding to point them in my direction. I'm looking to try out some new things...

Like these: (all photos from artbeads.com)

pretty every day earrings

something fun and summery!

This one's cute right??? I like the little birds in the center!

See something you like??? Let me know! How?? EMAIL ME, find me on FACEBOOK, or leave me a comment on one of my posts! There are so many great sample designs on artbeads.com! I also have some magazines at home or I can do something original. Remember, Christmas is coming and it's never to early to shop! I do have a couple orders from some friends that I'll be working on this coming week to get them finished. I'll post pictures as soon as I finish them!

Nothing too exciting

Things have not been too exciting lately. There really isn't anything exciting going on in our lives.

OHHHH!!! One thing that is REALLY, REALLY, REALLY EXCITING is that Noelle (Bobby's little sister) got ENGAGED last week! I'm so excited for her! They are going to get married NEXT summer in June 2010. Bobby and I will both be in the wedding!We love our Wella and we love her man, Derek, too! Can't wait for the wedding!

Bobby's cousin Jenni is about ready to pop! She's due on April 30th, but she's going to pop that baby boy out any day now. Her step-brother's wife just went into labor tonight...Bobby got a text message that little Piper Burr will be welcomed into the world soon! I'm so excited for all the new babies!

Did you see dancing with the stars tonight?? They kicked off Maks and Denise Richards. I cannot believe it! Steve Wozniak should have TOTALLY been kicked off instead! I'm so mad! I hope that American Idol doesn't disappoint me this week!

Tonight, I had rehearsal with a quartet at my church for this Sunday's service. The quartet is meeting with the choir tomorrow night, and we perform on Sunday morning. I love playing my instrument and I wish that I could play more often, but I don't have the time.

Last Tuesday we went to the Penguins game! It was soooooo much fun. I had a BLAST! I haven't been to a Pen's game in 5 years. It's been too long! I have some pictures...but not on my computer yet. Bobby put them up on Facebook if you want to look there.

I'm closing my Home Interior party on Friday night, and actually, Thursday I'm closing my Party Lite book party. I was crazy to have both parties going on at the same time...but everyone wanted stuff and so did I, so I just decided to have both!

I'm subbing at Westmont in the morning, working from 4-8, then rehearsal...subbing Thursday and Friday at Penns Manor...I haven't taught in almost 2 weeks, I miss being with the kiddos. Hopefully tomorrow will be fun!

Time for bed! 5:45 is waaaaaaayyyyyyy too early for me! Nighty night!