Today in the class that I was subbing for, we read a poem called "Dreams" by Langston Hughes.

Dreams

Langston Hughes, 1902 - 1967

Hold fast to dreams 
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

This poem is so great because it is so true. Just think about it. Everyone, I don't matter who you are, has some kind of dream, something you want to achieve in life. It might be a certain job that you want to attain, finding your soulmate, traveling the world. We all have a goal, or multiple goals, that drive us and motivate us. If we didn't have those dreams, then what would be the point of living? Wouldn't life be so boring if we just got up, went to work, came home, slept, and did it all over again? Having dreams keeps us going in life and gives us something to work towards.

For me, my current dream is to have my own classroom and be a full-time teacher. This is a dream I've been trying to reach for at least 10 years now. I can't remember the year I decided I wanted to be a teacher, but I knew in my senior year of high school which was exactly 10 years ago, that I wanted to go to school to get a teaching degree. And now it's crazy that 10 years later I still have the same dream of being a teacher. And I'm working towards that dream by substitute teaching. I'm hoping that this fall will be my year to start my teaching career.

Another dream I have is to make tons of memories with my husband and 2 kids. I hope that we can visit new places together and just enjoy the time we have as a family. There have definitely been a lot of reminders within the past year alone that have proven the point that life is too short and you never know how much time you have left.

So what are some dreams you have? I would love to hear them!! Have a great rest of your Monday!!

I am back!

So from July 5th-July 12th, me and the kiddos were at my mother-in-law's down by the beach while my hubby was on a work trip. I've decided that from now on, anytime my hubby has to go away for work, me and the kiddos are going to either have someone come stay with us or we'll go stay with someone. It definitely makes it more enjoyable for me when we do either of those while my hubby is away. Plus, it gives me some help that I otherwise wouldn't have if it was just me at home with the kids for a week. I honestly don't know how single parents do it by themselves 24/7 so huge props to all of them out there!

Our week away was great! I missed my hubby like crazy though and was so glad when this past Wednesday came around! Here are some pictures from our trip.

So now that me, the kiddos, and my husband are all back together again, it's time for the kiddos to head off to my dad and step-mom's for the weekend!! We had this planned way before my husband's trip and our trip to the beach was planned, but it couldn't have come at a more perfect time! We've been away from each other for a week and now we get a whole weekend to ourselves!! We're going to kick off the weekend by enjoying a nice meal out together! I'm letting him pick where we go but I gave him 2 rules: it has to be a place where we eat the food there, not carry out and take home and it can't be fast food! That second rule got added because he tried to pick McDonald's. We also might go see a movie at some point but the one thing we will be doing the most of is video gaming!! We've been so busy the past few months with other work trips that my hubby had, visiting family, and having family visit, that we haven't had that much time to play anything. And while I was pregnant with Big E and then after she was born, we would play video games all day long on Saturday and Sunday. But as she got older and started doing more than just sleep all the time, we had to say goodbye to those video gaming weekends. It will be nice to just relax and spend time with each other for once! This will be the first time we've been completely kid-free since May 20th, 2016. That was the last weekend before Little E was born and Big E went away for the weekend. Since Little E has been born, Big E went to my dad and step-mom's for the weekend but Little E hasn't gone with her yet because of me breastfeeding him. But now that he is no longer attached to me, we can start sending both kids away for the weekend! We're going to start doing this once a month! It's nice for us because it gives us some time to spend together without the kids which is great for every marriage. And it's also great for my dad and step-mom because they don't get to see the kiddos that often since we live about an hour and a half away.

Well, I've got less than an hour until the kiddos wake up from their nap then I'm gonna love on them as much as I can till 5:30 tonight when my dad comes to pick them up! Have a great rest of your Friday and a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Starting today I'm going to write a post each week with what I'm thankful for. 

I am thankful for my husband. I don't know what I would do without him. I'm thankful that he is able to provide for me and my 2 kids so that I can stay home with them. I've said multiple times that I hope I die before he does because I don't know what I'm ever going to do without him. Of course we have plenty of time before that happens though, I just turned 27 this year so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon!!

I am thankful for my kids. I always wanted to be a mother and I couldn't have asked for 2 better kids to be the mother of. Time is precious and since becoming a mother that is so much more true! People have told me that they grow up so fast and in the beginning (especially during the first year), time just seems to be going so slow! But once they get out of the baby stage and start becoming more independent, you look back and think "Where did my baby go?"

I am thankful for my moms club. As I wrote in my post yesterday, I am so glad I found the moms club I'm in because without it I have no idea how I would have made any friends in the area! I'm not the type of person to just randomly start talking to someone at a place like the park. So I'm glad this club has allowed me to meet people who have at least one thing in common: being a mother!

I'm thankful for a lot more things but if I wrote about them all, this post would be way too long! What are some things you are thankful for? Leave me a comment!