• last time in my classroom for a while, it's ready for students and parents to see in a few weeks!
• making final decisions on important details such as my management plan and homework policy for the upcoming year, hoping they bring success
• moving into my own house again
• enjoying dinner around the island with the 5 of us - this will be a rare combination from now on
• practicing Blessings by Laura Story
• counting down the days... hours... so close!

• waking up in NYC
• lucking out with front row student rush tickets to see Memphis on Broadway!

• plenty of time on lines to catch up
• create your own salads for lunch
• a huge, but lucky umbrella - by carrying it around all day, we never had to use it despite forecasts for rain, rain, and more rain

• matinee show that allowed us to get home earlier
• devouring whole boxes of chocolate candy during the show
• sitting so close that we could see every facial expression
• phenomenal talent - singing & dancing, even from the understudies!
•  "couldn't be better" timing on the trains
• discussing what show we want to see next

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2011

• catching up with my husband, counting down the days!
• french toast for breakfast
• peace and quiet on the dock, curling up with a good book and reading for hours
• finding bargains on the clearance rack at Target
• wearing a new ($5!) dress
• meeting up with a best friend in New York City
• my very own "taxi" to pick me up from Penn Station and bring me to my destination (A's boyfriend is a keeper!)
• yummy dessert drinks at Cafe Lola
• strolling through the upper west side, taking in the views from a pier on the Hudson
• scoring a city apartment for the night

. . . mmm . . .

"Praise the Lord, O my soul.

   O LORD my God, you are very great;

   you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

He wraps himself in light as with a garment;

he stretches out the heavens like a tent

and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind."

Psalm 104:1-3

• lazy lake day
• walking to the end of the lake with mom, enjoying the view of the cove
• finishing my book, looking forward to my next novel of choice The Help
• extended family joining us for dinner
• fast and slow boat rides
• sunny beams reflected on the water

• lending a hand in the school office
• help from a friend to get supplies organized, finding nothing missing!
• relaxing pedicure, who doesn't love a good foot rub?
• Martha Stewart Living
• lounging around in dad's comfy pants
• making a delicious pasta salad with mom
• rays of sun peeking through the clouds at sunset

• sneak peek photos from Friday's wedding
• eating ice cream out of the carton
• sprinkles
• time for phone calls
• special 2nd grade pencils
• printing made easy
• sense of accomplishment, making every day count as I prepare for the start of a new year at school (and get it mostly done before my hubby comes home!)

• helping paint a mural in our school, many hands to pitch in
• fresh and fun new logo
• scrolling through hundreds of edited wedding photos, recognizing some as ones that I snapped
• my Cricut machine
• dinner at Chili's, catching up with a friend - so happy to see her in high spirits!
• newly acquired photoshop knowledge being put to good use for my own projects

• hearing my husband say, "I'll see you next week," filling him in on my weekend stories
• hours and hours of The Bachelorette, she picked my favorite!
• tenant successfully moved out of the apartment, getting the keys back and handing them to my brother
• checking items off 'the to-do list' at school
• receiving a package
• mailing a special set of invitations