Day 364/365 Things that make me smile - Made IT

I made it to the end of the year and there is only one day missing that I can tell - I am happy I made it after my last try...  Makes me smile tonight.  Looking forward to 2015.

Day 363 Things that make me smile - Appointment scheduled

Getting new appliances in 2015.  Wanted to get things measured before I order anything - I went and scheduled the appointment.  Made me smile today!

Day 362 Things that make me smile - A Win...Long time Coming

Benilde has been off to a rough start this year.  Yes there were the two wins to start the season, but only one after that - most recently ties and losses.  Today they came back from being down 3-0 - it was fun to see them win again and it made me smile.

Day 361 things that make me smile - Good Intentions

Yep - I was going to get a whole lot done today, but instead read and napped - it was good.  Made me smile tonight!

Day 360 Things that make me smile- Home Again

Love going home to Ely, but love coming
home after to my routine- made me smile 

Day 359 Things that make me smile - Day with my Mom

While I spend the past few days with my mom, today we went to Fortune Bay and basically just hung out - Ella also got her last snuggles in, made me smile.

Day 358 Things that make me smile - Christmas

Fun time with family - thanks Tom and Jen for hosting everyone.

Day 357 Things that make me smile - Christmas Vigil Mass

Tonight is Christmas Eve.  I was the fourth person in church - listening to the preservice music by the choir my mom is in.  It is odd to be there alone without my dad, but made me smile.

Day 356 Things that make me smile - Home

While Coon Rapids is technically my home, Ely will always be my real home - coming home made me smile tonight.

Day 355 Things that make smile - Done Shopping

Today I ran my last errand and finished all of my Christmas shopping.  I think I chose well and it made me smile.

Day 354 Things that make me smile - Staying in Jammies all Day

Somedays are Jammies days - today was one of those days made me smile.

Day 353 Things that make me smile - Staying home

Some days you can be invited to several different events and while you would love to attend all of them, sometime the best choice is to just stay home. Tonight it made me smile.

Day 352 Things that make me smile - Memories of my dad

Today marks the two year anniversary of my dad's passing.  Memories filled the day - I miss him a lot, but cherish the memories, they bring smiles and some tears too.

Day 351 Things that make me smile - Holiday Lunch

Today was the annual holiday potluck at the DSC.  It is a time where we get to spend time with DSC, we also get to see retired staff and that makes me smile tonight.

Day 350 Things that make me smile - They Didn't Lose

But they didn't win either... a tie game is better than losing and that made me smile.

Day 349 Things that make me smile - Benilde St. Margaret Christmas Concert

Off to Benilde tonight for their Christmas Concert - Ben's last Christmas concert with the orchestra and Jerome's first with the choir.  Nothing like some good Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit - made me smile tonight.

Ben and Jerome after the concert

The boys and their grandmas

Ben on the right

Jerome in the choir

Day 348 Things that make me smile - Nieces Performing

Today Josie, Anna and Emma all performed - Josie skating, Anna and Emma in their church Christmas Program.  

I got a text from Josie at 8:53 am that she was going to be skating at Mariucci at 9:30 am.  It is about a 25 minute drive to Mariucci from my house.  We made it their right as they were announcing the Ice Delights were taking the ice.  We got to see Josie skate (she did great!), got to chat with her and were on our way back home for the next event, Anna and Emma's performance in Sartell.

We had hoped to get to Sartell, but a call from Jerome about the fog had us staying in the cities and looking forward to seeing a recording of their performances.  My talented nieces make me smile tonight.

Day 347 Things that make me smile - Lazy day with Mom

My mom brought Ella back to the cities yesterday.  Today we hung out, shopped, etc - a lazy kind of day - that made me smile.

Day 346 Things that make me smile - My Baby Brother Tom

Happy 40th birthday to my baby brother Tom! The one person who has made me laugh and smile, irritated the heck out of me throughout my life.  He can tell a story that will have you laughing so hard tears will run down your face. He has a big heart and he makes me smile today!

Always has had a keen sense of style.

Talented musician (although I would have passed on the times when I would call home and instead of giving the phone to mom and dad you would put it on the floor and make me listen to your latest song)

Day 345 Things that make me smile - Cleaning

I hate to clean, but tonight I got every looking good and that made me smile. 

Day 344 Things that make me smile - Opportunities

I am fortunate to work in a district that provides me with a variety of opportunities.  I am greatful this week to have been able to attend the Learnjng Forward conference and have a conversation with John Hattie - made me smile today.

Day 343 Things that make me smile - Rockettes

Went to the Radio City Christmas Specatular tonight at the Grand Ole Opry.  So much fun - made me smile tonight.

Day 342 Things that make me smile - Downtown Nashville

Good food, good music - made me smile today

Day 341 Things that make me smile - Outdoor Nativity

There is an outdoor nativity at the hotel we are staying at - playing the story from the bible - simply beautiful - made me smile tonight.

Day 340 Things that make me smile - Streaming Video

I was not able to be at Ben's game today, but with social media and online streaming, I was able to keep up with the game.  That made me smile today.

 

Day 339 Things that make me smile - New Meds

The PA changed my medication to something previously not approved by my insurance.  Today I found out they will cover it and that makes me smile.

Day 338 Things that make me smile - Blendspace

Getting ready for a presentation and used the website to make sure everything is organized well.  Made me smile today.

Day 337 Things that make me smile - Text Messages from Ella

It is really quiet here while Ella is visiting grandma.  Luckily Ella has figured out how to use grandma's phone to text me about her time up north - makes me smile.

Day 336 Things that make me smile - First Last Home Game

Tonight was Ben's last first home game - bittersweet. So proud of him - made me smile.

Day 335 Things that make me smile - Helpful Salesperson

Tonight I had to run to the apple store for help with my phone.  On my way out I stopped at Macys wandering over to the purses - kicking myself because I had picked out the wrong shade in the purse I really wanted.  A kind salesperson stopped over to tell me about the sale starting Wednesday - I shared my story about picking the wrong shade and she asked when I bought it and even though I was using it at that moment said let's trade it for you- and proceeded to do an even trade.  My purse now matches my work bag and that makes me smile.

Day 334 Things that make me smile - #twizzard

Went to the Mall of America shopping today.  In the rotunda they are encouraging tweeting with the hashtag #twizzard.   For every 1000 tweet, it will "snow".  Today it made me smile.

Day 333 Things that make me smile - This Guy

Quick trip to Ely today for a funeral meant I got to see Tommy today.  As the kids get older and busier, it is not often I get to see them.  While it was short, I got to spend sometime with this guy and it made me smile.

Day 332 Things that make me smile - Sweater Weather

Ella doesn't wear clothes, but when we travel I sometimes throw a sweater on her for the drive.  She started the trip with it on - it made me smile.

Day 331 Things that make me smile - Thankful

As I reflected today, I am thankful for my family, friends and coworkers - I am very lucky to have great people in my life - today it made me smile.

Day 330 Things that make smile - Holiday Start

Getting into holiday spirit today White Christmas at Orpheum and 8th floor at Macy's....made me smile today

Day 329 Things that make me smile - Start of HS Hockey

Today marked the start of Ben's senior year of playing for Benilde.  It was a bittersweet game - so excited for hockey to start, but sad that this is his last year - he played well and the made me smile.

Day 328 Things that make me smile - New Toys

Grandma says she has too many toys, but we picked these up yesterday when we were at PetSmart. Ella has played with them on and off all night - that makes me smile.

Day 327 Things that make me smile - Goodwill

Had a pile of stuff ready to go off to Goodwill from when Josie was here. Finally got it dropped off - that makes me smile.

Day 326 Things that make me smile - Happy Birthday Mom!

It is a special day - it's my mom's birthday!  Happy birthday to the best mom out there😃. Today you make me smile - love you!

Day 325 Things that make me smile - Dinner with the O'Connells and Spamalot

Dinner with Katie, Brendan, Erin and Megan + Spamalot at Wayzata HS = a good night. Makes me smile tonight.

Day 324 Things that make me smile - Bedtime routine

Ella has a bedtime routine, I just follow.  Around midnight/1am she decides it is time to go to bed.  She waits patiently close to the door until I am ready - then waits by the bed until she gets a lift up has her two snacks and then curls in close - watching her wait for me to comply to her routine makes me smile tonight.

Day 323 Things that make me smile - Flex Spending and Insurance

Went to eye doctor today - looks like allergies. Dr. Prescribed two things- one covered by insurance $35, the other wasn't $145 thank goodness for Flex spending - that makes me smile.

Day 322 Things that make me smile - Huge Snowflakes

There is wimpy snow and pretty snow - tonight was a pretty snow with huge snowflakes and that made me smile.

Day 321 Things that make me smile - A Cold Day

There is nothing like going outside when it is nice and cold - it makes me smile.

Day 320 Things that make me smile - Master Chef Junior

I don't cook, I wish I did.  Binge watching the first two episodes of Master Chef Junior tonight and these kids know more about food than I will ever know - that makes me smile.