Thursday Five

Here is this week's 5 that have made me happy, giddy, joyful, excited, and appreciative!

1. We all really enjoyed the family (Derik's fam) coming to visit this past weekend. I enjoyed getting spend some time with Laken, my almost 17 year old niece who I see very very little of. We all enjoyed playing games together. Please note the girls beat the guys at Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader and Sequence. (These were tournaments, not just one game!) Go girls!!

2. I've spent time this week preparing for the next school year in PTA. We have a great group of parents that are all enthusiastic about being involved. I have high hopes of increasing the volunteerism and making a real difference for the students at our school. I am switching jobs, from Treasurer to President. As of today, I am done being the Treasurer. I still have to go through the audit and do the tax stuff in the fall, but I am down right giddy about not being solely responsibly for the PTA books anymore!

3. I am reading a memoir, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (which I borrowed from my niece Laken). It is an incredible story. This girl, the children in this family, suffered an unimaginable upbringing. Just makes me feel ridiculously blessed to have the lifestyle, husband, parents, and creature comforts that I have! Excellent book! Check it out!

4. This weekend is 4th of July! Saturday, after backing out of a garage sale with other families that I had previously agreed to, we will be enjoying a patriotic parade and visiting my grandmother. Sunday, we will be heading to New Mexico with my mom & Bill for a couple of days. Camping in their RV in the mountains. Hopefully Derik will forgo the tents due to being in bear country. Don't think I would get much sleep!

5. Tomorrow is my father-in-law's birthday. He passed away last year on Father's Day. I am greatly appreciative of the 9 years I knew this sweet man. The last several years, he and I became closer and had a unique bond. We all miss him dearly and will be thinking of him tomorrow and always.

My father-in-law, Rick, having fun with the kids.