One Last Push

Tomorrow is the March of Dimes March for Babies.

This is Team James and Jake from last year.

We are a smaller team this year, but we still have big goals.

Personally, if I raise another $41, I will have raised $1600.

As a team, if we raise another $150, a rocker will donated to a NICU of Beth's choice in James and Jake's names. Wouldn't that be awesome?

If you are feeling generous tonight, please consider donating to our wonderful team.

Just click on the widget in the sidebar.

Anything you can donate would be so appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Come back tomorrow night and I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures from our day.

You Capture / Pink

For the second week in a row, school came through for me for You Capture.

I found these pretty pink tulips outside the staff lounge.

I love the raindrops on this one.

I even found a coworker doing dismissal with a pink umbrella.

If you'd like to be in the pink,

head on over to Beth's.

So Lucky!

More than once today, I realized how truly lucky I am.

I spent part of Easter morning in church with my family and I was so proud. But even more, I felt blessed. I was with two of my daughters, a son-in-law and my three beautiful healthy grandchildren. How could you top that?

Later in the day, I was at my mom's house for dinner with my extended family. Once again, we had more beautiful healthy children. It is something that I don't take for granted. I know how quickly that can all change.

I lost a baby to miscarriage many years ago. There isn't a holiday that goes by that I don't wonder how our lives would be different if that baby had lived. Was it a boy or a girl? Would it have dark hair and eyes like our girls? What would he/she be doing with their life now? Would we have more grandchildren? That baby would be 30 now.

I know families who lost their babies later in their pregnancy. They knew what sex they were. They were able to cuddle them and say goodbye. No matter when or how you lose a child, it is devastating.

I am in the final week of fundraising for my March for Babies walk. The March of Dimes helps so many families in so many ways to cope with loss. They also help even more families fight to save their children from illnesses. The money raised for the walk is invaluable.

I think this is one of the most important things that I do in the course of a year. It is a cause that is very close to my heart.

If you would like to help Team James and Jake reach their team goal of $5000, please click on the widget in the sidebar and donate. No amount is too small.

Please help us. It will make you feel good. I promise.

Happy Easter Everyone!

You Capture / Spring

I was beginning to think I wasn't going to be able to do You Capture this week.

Spring just hasn't found its way to my neck of the woods yet.

It has been in the 30's and it even snowed the other night.

Then... I found a few signs of spring at work.

These are some buds on the viburnum bush outside my classroom window.

In a week or so, it will smell like heaven when we open the window.

Daffodils along the pathway in the garden also right outside my classroom.

A tulip bud that I think might just be pink in time for next weeks You Capture.

Last but surely not least, I remembered about the 20 chicks that just hatched in the 1st grade room this week. They are so cute!

So, now it's your turn to go over to Beth's and see all the signs of spring.

You Capture / Smiles

Our little man had his 1st birthday today.

I still can't believe that a year has gone by so quickly.

I was definitely able to capture some smiles today and at his party on Saturday.

Check out the shirt.

He loved the ride on truck we brought him today.

The boy loved his cake.

And he left a chocolate ring around the tub.

Head over to Beth's and see all the smiles over there.

Random Thoughts and Pet Peeves

Bullet points, I think.......

1. We had our Zumbathon for March of Dimes on Friday night. We had a great time and raised $1058.22 for Team James and Jake. I'm very proud of that.

2. Jack had his 1st birthday party on Saturday. I can't believe that he is going to be a year old on Wednesday.

3. People that don't answer emails drive me crazy.

4. I like My Fitness Pal so much better than Weight Watchers. It is much easier and I am getting better results.

5. Why is it that the people who think it is their right to say anything that comes into their heads are the same people who think nobody should ever say anything to them?

6. It was a perfect day outside today. It was 82 and sunny. A little windy, but I can handle that.

7. In the course of an hour boot camp class, I did over 100 push ups (girlie style). 60 of them were in a 10 minute circuit. That is huge for me. When I started boot camp, I was doing my push ups against the wall. My next step will be to get to military push ups. Those scare me. I am the oldest person in my class.

8. I love Army Wives.

9. I got my hair cut and I don't love it. I don't hate it either. I think I just have to play with it and get used to it.

10. We are going on a big family vacation in August. We are renting a lake house in Michigan with my sister and brother-in-law. Both of our kids will come and go through the course of the week. We haven't rented a vacation house together since my oldest was Natalie's age. I'm really looking forward to it.

Okay, that's it for now. I have to finish the laundry and get to bed. 5:30 rolls around pretty early. Have a great week everyone.

You Capture / Fun

We had some fun this past weekend when two of the grandkids spent the night.

They had a ball riding their jeep for the first time of the season.

They had fun chasing poppa with the jeep

. Lizzy thought it was funny to get wrapped up like a taco in the yoga mat.

Lastly, Natalie and Lizzy both thought that having a parade was a fun idea.

That's our fun, how about yours?

Checkout the fun at Beth's.