Day 90 Things that make me smile - pedicure

As usual, I have neglected my feet all winter.  Tonight I went for my first pedicure of Spring.  I am ready for sandals and that makes me smile.

Day 89 Things that make me smile - 2048

Not like I need another "time suck" in my life, but this weekend I discovered 2048. 

Goal of this game is to combine like numbers until you get to 2048.  I have gotten close, but still have not reached 2048.  I will though, the challenge makes me smile tonight.

Day 88 Things that make me smile - March College Sports

Free Saturday + college hockey + college basketball = good day 

And that makes me smile. (Gopher hockey and Union hockey both win!)

Day 87 Things that make me smile - Nothing scheduled

Looking ahead at my calendar this weekend and there is nothing scheduled.  A free weekend makes me smile tonight.

Day 86 Things that make me smile - A Healthy Dog

Today was Ella's 6year check up and shots.  Everything looked good and she got through all of her shots and blood work. She was even excited to be there. A healthy pup makes me smile tonight.

Day 85 Things that make me smile - My Little Beggar

Treats on the table + dog knowing they are there = standing staring at the table for extended periods of time

That makes me smile tonight.

Day 84 Things that make me smile - Kindle

I love to read! My Kindle and Kindle app lets me have access to the book I am reading any time, any place and that makes me smile.

Day 83 Things that make me smile - Found Friend

Brought in Ella's bag inside from the last time she was boarded, inside the bag was her penguin who she hasn't play with in a long time. Like a long lost friend she played with it for a good 30 minutes throwing it around the room and running to "catch" it - and that made me smile.

Day 82 - Things that make me smile - BookBub

I like to read, a lot.  Today I spent most of the day reading.  As I looked at all the books on my Kindle app, I had to smile knowing I got a bunch of them through BookBub - a site where you sign up to be informed through email of free or cheap ebooks available on Amazon, Apple or Nook based on genres I chose.  

Day 81 Things that make me smile - Sing-a-long Sound of Music

I have wanted to go to Sing-a-long Sound of Music for a number of years, this year I finally got to go.  Hope and I went down to the Ordway for this unique film experience.

When we entered we got this bag of "props" to use throughout the movie.

The show started with a costume contest. People were so creative! 

Brown paper packages ties up with string

Von Trapp Kids grown up (they brought the Captian, well Captain Morgan in the brown paper bag) in the center 

Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti

Next we learned how/when to use our props and certain greetings for different characters throughout the show.  And then we enjoyed the movie and sang along.

Such a fun way to watch this classic film! Thanks Hope for going with me!

Sing-a-long Grease is coming this summer - who wants to go? :)

Day 80 Things that make me smile - Wall of Art

For whatever reason, I have not gone downstairs to watch TV, but instead stayed mostly upstairs.  Tonight I ventured downstairs.

At the bottom of the stairs is a wall of artwork created by my nieces and nephews.  Paintings and drawings that made me smile tonight.

Day 79 Things that make me smile - A Good Hiding Place

My dog it not normal.  While most dogs eat their treats, Ella chooses to "hide" her treats and save them for when she needs them.  

The process is always the same. Wander around looking for a good place to hide it.

Find the hiding place - usually a blanket, pillow or a corner of the couch or chair.  "Dig" a spot for the treat using your paws. Use your nose to "fill" it in and hide the treat.

Decide that it isn't a good hiding spot - and look for another.  Repeat the process...

Finally in a good spot!

And the rest - cuz that was hard work!

This familiar routine makes me smile tonight.

Day 78 Things that make me smile - Failure

Have you seen all of the knitted cowls people have been making by arm knitting?  Well, I tried it tonight and failed... Really bad.  But I will be trying it again, another night, even though i failed - learning from my mistakes - and that makes me smile.

Day 77 Things that make me smile - Good Customer Service

Don't you hate it when you call customer service and you are treated rudely? When I receive good customer service, however, I like to tell people.  Tonight I got really good customer service from Wells Fargo and that makes me smile.

Day 76 Things that make me smile - Guitar music

Did you know I play guitar?  Well not well, but good enough to have fun with my students when I was in the classroom - can you say Mr. Sun or Tingalayo?

Tonight was the second show of the North Metro Performing Arts Series - Montreal Guitar Trio and California Guitar Trio.  They played separate and together with a wide variety if music.  They were very talented and slightly better than my playing;) and tonight that made me smile.

Day 75 Things that make me smile - End of another season

Today marked the end of Jerome's Bantam A hockey season.  While it didn't necessarily end the way he would have liked, they played hard and fought til the end. While this season is done, I know there is more Jerome hockey in the future and maybe a lacrosse game or two.

(Jerome - you played hard today!  I am proud of you and your hard work!  Love you lots! Auntie)

Day 74 Things that make me smile - State Tournaments

Tonight I got to watch two different state tournaments.  First, I went to Jerome's State Tournament in Coon Rapids - Edina vs. Alexandria.  They won and will play in the consolation champ game tomorrow morning.  It was an interesting game - with the other team getting three 2 and 10 penalties - lots of people in their penalty box.

When I got home, I got to watch the exciting end to the State AAAA High School Boy's Basketball Game. (while I enjoy all the hockey,  basketball still holds a special place in my heart.)

Watching all of these talented young adults made me smile tonight.

Day 73 Things that make me smile - Josie's skating

For the past several years, my niece Josie has participated in ice skating.  Each year they have a recital that I try to make sure I get north to see.  Today Josie participated in five numbers in the 2014 program.  She skates with grace - spinning and gliding over the ice.  She looked beautiful out there and did an awesome job.  She has come a long way from being pulled out on sled.  Josie's beautiful performance made me smile tonight.

(Josie - if you read this, yes,
you made the thing that made me smile today:)  You are growing up to be a beautiful young woman.  You did an awesome job skating and I am so very proud of you!  Love you lots - Auntie)

Day 72 Things that make me smile - Como Zoo

Como Zoo has always been a favorite zoo of mine.  No, it isn't fancy, but it is just the right size to walk around with little ones.  Today was a beautiful day to go out and enjoy.   I was fortunate that Katie, Erin and Megan could go with me.  It was really a fun morning. 

"I should probably..."  "We should probably..." Suggestions from my two year old zoo guide made me enjoy one of my favorite places today and that made me smile.

Day 71 Things that make me smile - Peter Pan

Do you know how Peter Pan got his name?  Do you really know how Captain Cook lost his hand?  Do you know where John Darling's top hat comes from?  I do after going to Peter and the Starcatcher tonight at the Orpheum.

Peter and the Starcatcher is the prequel to Peter Pan for adults.  It was a very fun play and I would recommend it.  It is here through Sunday and has student/educator rush tickets.  Decided to go by myself - often single tickets are better seats - tonight I was in the first row center in the balcony.
Knowing more about how Peter Pan came to be makes me smile tonight.

Day 70 Things that make me smile - Frozen

Yep, I am late to the party, but today I went to see Frozen. (Doesn't it come out this week or next on DVD?) Anyway, I love Disney movies and the music and message in this one is one I really enjoyed.  Sister power makes me smile tonight. (Now if I could just get this song out of my head...)

Day 69 Things that make me smile - spotting grass

Today we reached over 50 degrees - perfect weather in my book!  With this warm weather, the snow is starting to melt and in the one spot where the plow pushed back the snow for Ella to have a spot to go to the bathroom, we now have grass.  Yes there are still huge piles of snow in my yard, but this glimpse of grass made me smile today!

Day 68 Things that make me smile - clocks

Today is the the day we "Spring back" in daylight savings time.  While most people are scrambling to switch all of their clocks back (with the exception of all those clocks that switch on their own), sat back as all of my clocks were once again correct.  Not changing them in the fall makes me smile today.

Day 67 Things that make me smile - Tony

Happy 7th birthday to my nephew Tony!  Tony has a great imagination and is never at a loss for words.  He is an awesome kid and I can't wait to see him this weekend!  Just getting off the phone with a very excited 7 year old made me smile today!  Enjoy your day Tony, love you lots!

Day 66 - Things that make me smile - "Being at a game" virtually

Back when I was growing up, there was no internet, no twitter, no Facebook, no cell phones, you get the picture.  If there was a big game and you couldn't go, you either had to wait for the result on the news (if your parents let you stay up that late) or wait until you got to school the next morning to hear the news or see it in the newspaper.

With the technology we have today, you can be at a game without being there.  From the text messages sent throughout a game, to following games on twitter, to being able to watch games online - I have been fortunate to "be at games" several times this year when I couldn't be there in person.  Tonight I watched Ben play for the Waterloo Blackhawks online, being there, but not being there - and that makes me smile.

Day 65 Things that make me smile - Kris

Today is a big birthday for my sister-in-law Kris, she is celebrating her 40th year.  I am sure she celebrated big with two little girls planning the day!  So glad she is part of our family - that makes me smile tonight!

Day 64 - Things that make me smile - Ash Wednesday

Today is the first day of Lent, a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter - and that makes me smile.

Day 63 Things that make me smile - Still alive

Last week I got a really nice surprise at work, flowers from Jerome (and Ben too) thanking me for hanging out with him. (yeah, neither of them knew their mom sent them)  They were very pretty and smelled great!

Tonight, as I look over at the flowers, they are still mostly alive - with the exception of the roses that are drying up in a beautiful way - and tonight they make me smile.

Day 62 Things that make me smile - Spring Lake Park High School Bands

Spring Lake Park High School has four bands - Varsity Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.  Tonight all four bands performed in the concert Music as Imagery and Storytelling. The evening started with a percussion ensemble - which was fun!  Up next the four bands performed starting with the 9th grade Varsity Band and ending with the experienced Wind Ensemble.

It always amazes me to see the progression of the bands as the night goes on.  I smiled as I watched the young man playing tympani in the Varsity Band count the measures waving his sticks and tapping his leg.  I smiled as I watched the two percussion players juggled a variety of instruments in the Concert Band - even playing multiple instruments at the same time.  I smiled as the students introduced the different pieces and what they meant to them.  I smiled when the video played and the students explained the composition project and then smiled more when some of the student composition film projects were shared.  I ended the night smiling after the last number where the students performed while a cartoon film played above them.  The night started out good and kept getting better - tonight the talented Spring Lake Park Band made me smile.

Day 61 Things that make me smile - Going to state

My nephew Jerome plays for the Edina Bantam A hockey team.  They were undefeated in their region and were the champs.  They will now play in the state hockey tournament in two weeks.  Jerome played hard and I am proud of him - today the Edina Bantam A team made me smile.

Day 60 Things that make me smile - Sofia the First

First, is anyone else impressed that I made it to day 60?

I was introduced to Sofia the First by my Goddaughter Erin - I now own a few apps on my phone.   When shopping for Ella's birthday I knew that I needed something princessy and got her Sofia the First doll. I didn't open it until tonight. Watching her play with her Sofia tonight made me smile.