Gratitude Journal - 1 Year

1 year. Every day for 1 year I have written in my gratitude journal. 365 days with 5 entries every day....that's 1,825 all together.....and more since sometimes I wrote more than 5 entries.

The Start
Month 4
Month 8

I am grateful and thankful for....

The way Tim's hand still reaches for mine when we go for walks
The soft glow of my salt lamp next to my bed
Sleeping in till 8
The coaster Molly made for me at school for Mother's Day
Free samples at Costco to keep the children quiet and happy
Jamming to my youtube play list with the kids
Hearing Tim say, "Tim miss Anthony and Molly" when they are away at school
Agreeing to disagree
Laughing hysterically with Molly over poop streaks she left in the school potty during teacher conference
Homemade whipped cream
The kids helping me make blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes
Anthony's missing-tooth smile
The sun filtering in through my kitchen window in the morning
Listening to the kids giggle for hours on the trampoline
Watching an old childhood favorite of mine, Benji, with the kids
Tim's new favorite book "My Heart Is Like A Zoo"
Being able to buy the 5 acres next to us to prevent getting neighbors
Pretzels and cheese sauce
Dying Easter eggs with the family
Planting trees with Anthony and his class on his field trip
The nostalgic feeling of hanging laundry up on the line
Molly telling me that I am the nicest Mama
Letting things roll off my back
Watching the kids play Twister and figure out their rights from their lefts
My new camera after my other one went by way of the sprinkler
Seeing how handsome Anthony looked wearing his Cub Scout uniform to school 
The crackle of a fire
Tim saying, "Potty Power!" while running to the potty
Sam being smoke free
Planting trees in our yard to watch grow over the years
The cool air of the fan blowing on me while I sit in bed reading
Sitting under the glow of our colorful porch string lights 
Listening to Grandpa read to Tim
Seeing the ultrasound of my niece/nephew due in October
AC
Anthony being thoughtful and making us a snack of meat, cheese, and crackers while we worked in the yard
Looking pretty dang awesome in our Cub Scout gear
The vinegar smell of a clean bathroom
All the kids falling asleep in the car on the ride home....total silence
Reading with Molly
Overcast day to give us a break from the heat
Rug-doctoring our carpets
Biting my tongue
Watching Tim ride his bike while saying, "Look at me!"
Keeping my cool during a major grocery store melt down
Hand picked flowers from Anthony
Looking through the kids' baby books with them 
Fresh hand picked strawberries, rhubarb, garlic, and green beans from a friend's garden
Revamping the kids' bedrooms....thanks Overstock and Ikea!
Slip 'N' Slide fun
Sam getting off work early
The 3's and 4's on my children's report cards...hard work pays off
Finally getting in for a hair appointment
Astro turf
Kayaks to paddle around in while camping 
On the rare chance Molly gets bashful, she still hides behind my legs with a shy grin
Seeing my cousin
Sticky ice cream faces 
Scoring tons of books at the Goldendale Library book sale for $10
The pride of our Cub Scouts while marching in the 4th of July parade 
Molly wanting to be tucked in-just right-by her Mama and Papa
Train set all over the kitchen floor
Laughing at Papa's fart sound app on his phone
Tim crying on the floor and my heart melting when he says. "Mama, pick me up please!" 
The kiddos making me a birthday card
The sound of the sprinkler
Salted caramel mochas 
Advice from a friend
Anthony still calls my name when he's scared or upset
Walking into the boys' room and seeing Tim's baby face all lit up by his glowworm
Reaching my goal of 1 year

1 year was my goal, and now that I've reached it, I think I'll start something new. A journal for my children: Things I want to say to them.... Little things, big things, things I don't want to forget, my shortcomings and fears, good days, bad days, what they did or said that made me laugh or made me proud. Just...everything. And not written in daily, but as things come to me.

Another treasure for the future.

With love,
Mama Hauck

Love Notes

Love notes. How lucky am I to be the receiver of such love and kindness! I love them! Especially knowing that little hands wrote them. Little hands with big 'ol hearts. 

I hang them up on the fridge, I hang them up on my bathroom mirror, I prop them up on my bedside table.

I love them. I cherish them. They make me smile. They make me proud. They make my heart flutter. 

They are a reminder on those days that are especially long and exhausting that I am loved and no matter how hard the day is, all will be well. 

Anthony

Molly

Timothy

Here's a special one I got from all of them.

I even get love notes from Sammy. :)

Thank you, Babies. I love my love notes. 

With love,
Mama Hauck

The Report Cards Are In!

I know I've already said it many times, but this past school year, the kids had the absolute best teachers. In fact, so far there hasn't been a teacher at the Goldendale Primary School I haven't liked. I'm not only proud of my children and their academic success thus far, but I'm proud of our teachers, school staff, and school system as a whole. It is true we are only a few years into school and there are many, many more years of school ahead of us, but so far I couldn't be happier or more proud.

In my humble opinion, Goldendale and it's teachers and staff rock! I've seen it first hand. My children love going to school. They gush love of their teachers and their principle, their nurse, the ladies in the office, and other staff. Their love of school shows in their work. They give their best and it's paying off. Big time. Even this early in the academic game, I am so extremely proud and have high hopes for their continued success. 

Their teachers give their time and their dedication, going above and beyond...gosh, I have so many examples of this....like when I brought up at Molly's conference her stuttering sometimes and her teacher actually searched the whole school and found the speech therapist so I could sit down and talk with her before I left the school. Or when I was concerned in the beginning-middle of the school year over Anthony's low words per minute reading score and his teacher and I were in constant phone and e-mail contact with each other, working together to help him improve. And he did, by golly, he went from 33 to 117 words per minute by the end of the school year!!

Their teachers have put in the extra help when I've asked, shown concern when appropriate, given advice when wanted, and reassurance when needed. So awesome. I'm so thankful. We are so blessed.

Anthony and Molly both ended the school year with all 3's on their report cards for the last trimester! Anthony also had a handful of 4's. Wow!! I was blown away when I read their report cards. Hard work pays off! Sam and I could not be more proud of them!

Molly, you are such a smart cookie. Always reading. Always writing. The alphabet, numbers, your friend's and family's names, wish lists, love notes...writing, writing, writing. Your love of writing touches my heart. You are just like your Mama.

Anthony, your growth this past school year has just blown us away. I know reading isn't your most favorite thing, but ohhhh my have you grown in leaps and bounds! And you've discovered that maybe reading isn't so bad, and in fact....you kinda like it now. ;) Way to go, Anth.

With love,
Mama Hauck