The second week in May is now affectionately known as Teacher Appreciation Week in schools across America. In an attempt to help my fellow educators feel honored and appreciated here are some of my best ideas for showing your child's teacher(s) just how thankful you are for the influence they have in your child's life.

I just finished reading Joey's blog and while I enjoyed it immensely, it made me a little sad.

My dad, in his all knowing way, approached me last weekend right after Patrick left for Prom with the idea of me going with him to South Padre Island for a whirlwind trip. He's doing some work down there and knew that life had thrown me a few twists and turns recently and thought I needed to get away. I had no reason to say no, so early Sunday morning he pulled up outside my house with my step-mom and step-sister in the car and we headed to the airport for a very quick trip.

I hurried into the service on Sunday morning, already late but not wanting to miss another moment.
My friend, Trina, stopped me and whispered in my ear "Linda, your hair is going all directions. Just thought you'd want to know!"
She smoothed my hair and I hurried into the already crowded sanctuary looking for a place to sit. Once I located a friend, climbed over 3 or 4 people to the empty seat, asked the teenager next to me if she was saving the seat, and took my seat I finally had a minute to collect myself.

Today my husband got on a plane and flew to Cincinnati for his brother's surprise 50th birthday party. We have this little thing we do when we fly...we check out the pilot and decide, simply by looks and age, if we think he is capable of handling the plane and getting us to our destination safely. Somehow this little check makes us feel better about flying and gives us hope that we'll get there safely.

Ingredients:
2 excited little boys
1 favorite babysitter home from college
1 teacher
1 bag of M&M's
1 bag of Fruit Snacks
1 small Fruit Punch
1 small Sprite
1 very large elephant and a bunch of WHO's
1 trip to Brookstone to look at hairdryers
1 relaxed mom
Mix together with a bunch of love and a pinch of patience for a memorable afternoon.
Pictures say it all!

I HATE CHANGE!
I like my life being in a neat, structured little bubble. I like knowing what will happen each day. I like the structure of a routine. I like predictability. I like being able to count on everything being status quo.
At 47, life is no longer neat and structured. I don't know what will happen each day and the older my kids get the less structure and routine I find in my day. With kids coming and going all the time predictability has flown out the window. Things are definitely NOT status quo in the Smith house anymore.

"Put your brain in gear before you put your mouth in motion"
For MANY years as I was growing up that was my dad's most often used statement with me, his firstborn, and the one who always wanted to have the last word.
I've grown out of needing to hear that, (sometimes) but often want to shout it at others around me!

I got a phone call a week or so ago from Kaitlyn, my oldest and Sam and Luke’s favorite sitter, “MOM…we have to take the boys to see Horton! Call Angie and see if she’ll let us take them!”
I was not at all surprised when Angie not only gave us permission, but thanked us for even asking!
So we’re planning to take the boys…soon.

Patrick, now 18, came home from school on Friday with an ax to grind.
In his hand he carried a “Saturday school” notice and a copy of his homework. He went on to explain to us about how he had done 5 of the 6 problems on his physics homework yet the teacher counted it as incomplete and had issued the “Saturday school”. He was NOT happy. What he didn’t know is that I already knew about it because a copy had already arrived via email. :)