Day 151 Things that make me smile - Minnesota Heart Walk

There are several reasons I walk in the Minnesota Heart Walk, first I am a heart survivor having a heart attacked 3 1/2 years ago.  Second, in my memory of my dad who passed away from heart complications. Finally, for all the others in my family who have heart related disease. For the second year my family walked together - Team Gramps. Over 2.5 million dollars were raise, with over 25,000 walkers at the Minnesota Heart Walk.  The sea of people walking for something that means a lot to me made me smile today 

Day 150 - things that make me smile - Spring Lake Park Class of 2014 Graduation

Tonight the Spring Lake Park Class of 2014 graduated. SLP does a Livestream of graduation and I got to watch it on my TV via Chromecast.  It was fun to hear familiar names and listen the different speakers.  With 97% of the senior class set with future plans, I wish them the best - and tonight that makes me smile.

Day 149 Things that make me smile - TCICs

Over the past two years I have been fortunate to be able to work with the Technology Conyinuous Improvement Coaches.  These six individuals have been instrumental in our 1:1 Digital Learning Initiative - we would not be where we are today without their work.  Today we had our last meeting of the year, we reflected on successes, challenges and where we want to be this time next year.  I am proud that I get to work with this great group and all that they have done this year makes me smile tonight.

Day 148 Things that make me smile - Getting Ready for IPad Collection for seniors

Today I spent time getting things ready for iPad collection for the seniors on Friday.  As I was going through the names and putting stickers on collection bags, several names starting jumping out at me and I soon realized these were students I worked with in Kindergarten and first grade when I first came to the district. Memories of all the projects I did with them came back to me and made me smile.

Day 147 Things that make me smile - Sister Act

A new musical for me tonight - Sister Act.    It was fun musical with new music (for those going songs from the movie are not in the musical). The energy and fun of this musical made me smile tonight.

Day 146 Things that make me smile - Memorial Day

Today is a day that we honor all of those who have served to protect our country.  Thank you to all of the service men and women - today you make me smile.

Day 145 Things that make me smile - Children's Museum

I was first introduced to the MN Children's Museum when I was teaching at Tesseract.  I remember having to take turns standing by the door making sure students wouldn't leave the room we were in.  The museum has changed over the years as I have gone there with classes and nieces and nephews.  

Today I got to go enjoy the museum with Katie and the girls.  It was fun playing with Erin in the different rooms and hanging out with Megan.  Watching Erin discover the Children's Museum and hanging with Megan made me smile today.

Visiting the dinosaurs

Watching her sister

Dancing

Checking out groceries

Playing in the water

Selfie with Megan

Day 144 Things that make me smile - First day of a long weekend

Long weekends seem to come at a time when I need them the most.  Rest, relaxation and reading  are a few things that are on my list for the weekend.  Today I spent reading and relaxing  and that made me smile tonight.

Day 143 Things that make me smile - New DVR Box

Last week I called Comcast to get rid of my landline.  Instead of dumping the landline, I was offered the opportunity to upgrade my equipment for a significant savings while keeping all the same services.  Tonight the cable guy came to install the new DVR boxes and they are really nice - ok I am a geek.  I can now record more things at once and watch recordings on multiple TVs and that makes me smile tonight.

Day 142 Things that make me smile - PBL 101

The past three days I have had the pleasure if learning along with a cohort of educators around Project Based Learning.  I worked with a great team from Spring Lake Park on two different projects.  What I enjoyed most was taking time to think and plan how this will fit within our other initiatives.  Great learning makes me smile tonight!  Follow #MNPBL on twitter for cohort posts.

Day 141 Things that make me smile - Dancing with the Stars

Just got done watching Good Morning America featuring the final four from Dancing with the Stars one of my favorite shows.  Maks has always been one of my favorites and it made me smile watching him and Meryl dance one more time tonight.

Day 140 Things that make me smile - Spring Lake Park Retirement Celebration

With over 500 year of service, tonight we celebrated the retirees of Spring Lake Park Schools.  It was fun to see current staff, retired staff and families come together to celebrate and that makes me smile.

Day 139 Things that make me smile - Last Orchestra Concert of the Year

Ben has been playing cello for several years, tonight was he last concert for his Junior year.  They did a great job, and he even had a solo.  The concert was beautiful and it made me smile tonight.

Beautiful music

Ben and Gramsie

Ben and his Grandmas

Ben and Grandma Sandy

Brothers

Day 138 Things that make me smile - Celebrating Anna

My niece Anna turned 8 earlier this week.  Today my mom and I drove to St. Cloud to have dinner and celebrate Anna.  Anna chose LaCasita for dinner - good meal and opening of presents and seeing that beautiful 8 year old smile made me smile tonight. Love you Anna!

Anna and the new American Girl Doll clothes.

Day 137 Things that make me smile - Night with Erin and Megan

Tonight I got to babysit my Goddaughter Erin and her sister Megan.  We played zoo, played operation, did arts and crafts read books and just had fun.  Megan is a smiley little one and Erin is a bright two year old who kept me smiling tonight!

Playing operation - I was told we didn't need to use the tweezers, we could just use our fingers.

Megan - all smiles!

Concentrating on arts and crafts

Jumping wears me out

Princesses are visiting the zoo!

Day 136 - Things that make me smile - Shrek

Tonight I 

ended my spring musical run with a trip to Burnsville to see Shrek with my mom.  It was the perfect way to end my streak of musicals, fun and well done.  It's a Big Bright Beautiful World and that makes me smile.

Day 135 Things that make me smile - A Spring Hockey Game

It's been about two months since I have been to a hockey game.  This weekend Jerome is playing in a tournament in Blaine, not far my house and tonight went to their first game.  I have to admit, I have missed it and watching tonight made me smile.

Day 134 - Things that make me smile - Anna

Eight years ago, I got a phone call letting me know that I had a new niece.  It seems like yesterday that I was driving to St. Cloud to meet this new addition to the family.  She is a talented, smart little girl and today she makes me smile.  Love you lots Anna!!

Day 134 - Things that make me smile - Anna

Eight years ago, I got a phone call letting me know that I had a new niece.  It seems like yesterday that I was driving to St. Cloud to meet this new addition to the family.  She is a talented, smart little girl and today she makes me smile.  Love you lots Anna!!

Day 133 Things that make me smile - Kids Sharing Their Experiences

We had visitors today to learn about our 1:1 Digital Learning program.  My favorite part of these visits is listening to the students share how they are using the devices in their learning.  Their favorite apps, how the take care and organize their work, projects they have done...listening to all of these stories made me smile today.

Day 132 - Things that make me smile - Revenge

I am not a fan of dramas, but for some reason I got hooked on Revenge.  The twists and turns of "Emily Thorne" seeking revenge on the Grayson Family has me looking forward Sunday nights.

Tonight I watched last nights season finale - the last 10 minutes had me wanting an episode next week.  When the announcer said watch for episodes again in the fall, I smiled knowing there is more to come.

Day 131 Things that make me smile - My Mom

Happy Mother's Day to my mom!  Thank you for all you do for me. Love you lots - today you make me smile!

Day 130 - Things that make me smile - All Shook Up!

2 days = 2 musicals  Went to Coon Rapids High School musical All Shook Up! It was a fun musical featuring Elvis music.  I had not seen this musical yet, not Evita, but it made me smile.

Up tomorrow - Music Man

Day 129 - Things that make me smile - Minnetonka's Spring Musical Evita

Third Spring Musical was Minnetonka's production of Evita - it was awesome!  Such a talented group of students!!  Dinner with my sister and cousin and this seeing this great musical made me smile tonight.

Day 128 Things that make me smile - L&T Advisory Retirement

This past year I have been the chair of the Learning and Technology Advisory at TIES.  Today we had our last meeting of the year. These meetings are great time to learn and connect with people who are in similar position as mine.  Today was extra special as we celebrated the retirement of one if the Directors, Marla Davenport and today that made me smile.

Day 127 things that makes me smile - Someone's Glad I am Home

Nothing makes me feel better after a long day of work than to come home to a pup that is so happy to see me and thinks I am the best thing alive. That unconditional love made me smile tonight after a really bad day.

Day 126 Things that make me smile - Jerome's choir concert

Tonight was Jerome's 8 grade Choir Concert. Five wardrobe changes, good songs and sweet dance moves made me smile tonight.

Wardrobe change #3

With the grandmas

Jerome and his mom

Day 125 Things that make me smile - Margrette and John

It's a day late, but happy anniversary to my sister Margrette and her husband John.  It seem like yesterday that we were in Ely on a snowy May day.  Thank you for all you do for me - today you make me smile.

Day 124 Things that make me smile - A Day with Josie

Today I got to spend the day with my beautiful niece Josie.  

I picked her up at the Waterpark of America and we spent a few hours shopping at the Mall of America.  There she got her wonderful horse mask - long story...

After that, thanks to the Easter Bunny and a birthday present from Jenny, Tom and the kids, Josie and I got to go to Stars on Ice.  The show and seats were awesome, but the best part was being with and watching my niece Josie.

There were a lot of laughs today - I love my niece and getting to spend quality time with her made me smile today.