• finding out that my class was well-behaved for the sub yesterday (and hearing that they missed me)
• prepping for the Post Office opening tomorrow
• lifting mom's spirits with a belated Mother's Day gift
• meeting the family for an ice cream run
• the hubby's last exam for the semester - summer is approaching!

• long weekend get away with life-long friends
• beautiful gardens in the heart of Boston

•  a new umbrella
• an opportunity to "play" with my camera
• two gorgeous (& willing) models

•  sunshine after the rain
• cute new shoes (on the biz!)

•  late nights & lots of pillow talk
• craft-filled apartment
• delicious (and gigantic) "kiddie" sized ice cream cones

• lots ... and lots of laughs
• spending our well-earned a.j.e.less designs money on good times together
• warm Italian meal in the North End, followed by the largest cannolis I have ever seen

•  spending time with old & new friends

• a Monday morning stroll through the cute town of Concord
• vanilla chai lattes from Main Street Cafe

• a gracious, and always apologetic, host
• reminiscing on "old times"
• taking a personal day to extend the trip

• coming home to my husband
• looking forward to having A, J, and E together again soon

• heading up to Boston to spend the weekend with some wonderful people! (blog posts & pictures from the weekend to come on Monday!)

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011

• wrapping Mother's Day gifts made by 8 year olds
• National Day of Prayer (encouraging all of my students to participate by praying aloud - huge stretch for some, but they did it!)
• special guests in 2nd grade
• my husband's last late class for the semester!
• packing cute outfits for an upcoming girls' weekend
• family dinner

• an eventful day in Eagle Town!
• lots and lots of student smiles
• catered lunch provided by the PTO
• parents who spent the day at school to assist with today's activities
• thank-you notes
• planning ahead so I can truly enjoy this upcoming weekend
• mindless TV

• things coming together at the last minute
• students excited to learn and teach others about Asian culture
• local Chinese restaurant willing to donate 20 pair of chopsticks
• collages
• burger on a hard roll at mom and dad's
• Teacher Appreciation notes from students and their parents

• fun projects at school
• stories that make me laugh
• creative and flexible grade level partner
• feeling appreciated
• a husband that manages to balance home and school even in the busiest times of his semester

• making waffles for breakfast
• an eventful week to come at school (less planning on my part!)
• catching up with mom
• walking to pick up bagels after church, quite possibly a new tradition
• planning for a reunion with college friends