Day 243 Things that make me smile - One More Day

I love my job and am excited for the new school year.  But tonight, I am thankful for one more day to get some things done and that makes me smile.

Day 242 Things that make me smile. - The Pied Piper of Rice Creek

Tonight I went out to the campsite where friends were camping for the weekend.  While on a normal day, this would my thing that made me smile, but magic happened when Ryan arrived.

From the moment he arrived, until I left, Ryan had a stream of children following him like the Pied Piper.  From the magical lighting of the tiki torches to the snipe hunt.  He had the kids under his spell and that made me smile tonight.

Day 241 Things that make me smile - An Easy Rehearsal

The last couple of weddings I have had have been complicated in different ways.  Tonight it had a really easy rehearsal, so I am hoping it is a sign of an easy wedding - making me smile tonight.

Day 240 Things that make me smile - Celebrating Brittany's Little One

The day is getting close for Brittany's little ones arrival. Today we celebrated  and that made me smile today.

Day 239 Things that make me smile - iPad Rollout

The past two nights we have handed out iPads to Grades 7-12.  While it was some long nights, it was fun seeing the kids get them back and that makes me smile.

Day 238 Things that make me smile - Spring Lake Back to School Kick off

Today was the Back to School Kick Off.  What a fun and inspiring way to start the year.

The auditorium was packed with our great staff!

The dance line performed.

Jan Burda, TOY spoke

Theater camp students sang.

Few other speeches and videos that all ended with an inspirational keynote from Conseulo Castillo Kickbusch.

 It was a great start to the year and it made me smile today. Did I forget to say there was confetti?

Day 237 Things that make me smile - Spring Lake Park Schools

Today marks the beginning of my 15th year in Spring Lake Park.  I love what I do and the district.  The start of another great year makes me smile today!

Day 236 Things that make me smile - Shrek Marathon

TBS has a Shrek Marathon on tonight.  Just what I needed - fun tv to watch tonight.  It made me smile. 

Day 235 Things that make me smile - Day with Ella

I had big plans today - I was going to MOA, new outlet mall, Ikea and maybe a musical.   But as woke up this morning and my little one snuggled in just a little closer, I decided it was a great day to stay home, read, nap, play and snuggled with Ella - and that made me smile today.

Day 234 Things that make me smile - Almost Zero Inbox

Good day at work - got a lot done -went from an inbox of almost 500 down to 16 email I need to complete next week and that makes me smile.

Day 233 Things that make me smile - Day 2 New Teacher Induction

This year a Design Group Redesigned the New Teacher Induction Program. I was a thoughtful process that I was proud to be part of -  Today was day two for the new teachers and I felt really good about the design and the teachers introduction to Spring Lake Park went well. So hats off to the Design Group - we did an awesome job!  You made me smile tonight.

Day 232 Things that make me smile - New Staff

Lots of new staff in Spring Lake Park. Today was their first day in district - excitement in the air!  Fortunate to be able to work with them!  Today this made me smile.

Day 231 Things that make me smile - Dad's Fav Sugar Free Pie

Today is my dad's birthday.  He didn't like cake, but loved pie, sugar free pie.  

In honor of his birthday, I got a sugar free pie.  Remembering my dad on this special day makes me smile.  Miss him!

Day 230 Thing that make me smile - First Birthday

My cousins little one, Megan always has a big smile on her face.  Today she turns one - that makes me smile tonight.

Day 229 Things that make me smile - Backup Thundershirt

This week Ella's pink backup Thundershirt came in - today we used it. It worked perfectly, that made me smile.

Day 228 Things that make me smile - Aladdin

It has been a sad week with the passing of Robin Williams.  Mork and Mindy will always be a favorite from my childhood.  

One of my favorite movies of his was Aladdin where he was the voice of Genie.  Tonight flipping through channels it was on TV and I watched it. It ended with this tribute and it made me smile.

Day 227 Things that make me smile - Creating ELOs

Today I spent the first prt if the day creating ELOs for a new Computer Science Course as the HS. 

Fun learning and collaborating with others.  That made me smile today.

Day 226 Things that make me smile - History of Spring Lake Park Schools Through 1976

Working on some projects for next week at work.  One of the projects has me looking for facts about Spring Lake Park Schools. 

Took home the binder of the book about Spring Lake Park Schools through 1976. Learning a lot about the district - that made me smile tonight.

Even found my mom's name in the book.

Day 225 Things that make me smile - Mail for Ella

This weekend there was a bit of a rumble in the weather.  Ella got a got a bit nervous, but I didn't know where her Thundershirt was.  This isn't the first time this has happened, so I decided to order a spare, in pink.  It came today - having a spare makes me smile.

Day 224 Things that make me smile - Highlighters

I used highlighters to cross things off my list at work.  Today I used my highlighters a lot today - and that made me smile.

Day 223 Things that make me smile - Soft Kitty

Big Bang Theory is one of my favorite TV shows.  Tonight flipping through the channels Sheldon and Penny were singing Soft Kitty, and that made made me smile.

Day 222 Things that make me smile - Perfect 10 Car Wash

Clean car inside and out makes me smile tonight.

Day 221 Things that make me smile - A Big Wedding

Today's wedding was not big in the regards to the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, but with everyone else that was there.  In addition to the wedding party, there were three priests, seven alter servers (mostly seminarians) and a master of ceremonies (also a seminarian).  We had "bells and smells" as the groom put it and several musicians.  My favorite part was after the rite of marriage, the bridesmaids sang a song a capella  during the Dedication to Mary - quiet, beautiful.  The bride and groom were very sweet and they made me smile today.

Day 220 Things that make me smile - DLT Fall Retreat

There are a variety of things that symbolize the start if the new school year and the District Leadership Team Fall Retreat is one of them for me.  It was a day of learning with my colleagues and today it made me smile.

Day 219 Things that make me smile - Brain Breaks

Working a lot at night, sometime need just a 5 minute break.  Have my go to games for a brain break, they make me smile.

Day 218 Things that make me smile - A Simple Message

Tonight scrolling through twitter I came across this post by Seth Godin:

This blog caught my attention for a number of reasons - one I like data, but more because I need to lose weight and be healthier.

So tonight, I jumped back on the treadmill after a long break.

Reset my pounds lost jars.

And my cheerleader was beside me cheering me on.  Tonight that made me smile.

Day 217 Things that make me smile - Brandon's Fringe Festival Play and Dinner with Friends

Tonight marks the third play I have attended written by my talented colleague Brandon Taitt. This play was part of Fringe Festival and was called After Life. This play was more serious than the others have seen by Brandon, it was well written and acted and made you think. After we went and had a very nice dinner.  Congrats to Brandon and his cast and crew.  This fun night made me smile tonight.

Day 216 Things that make me smile - Support from Ella and Josie

Some days you don't have many things that are smile worthy, but when you take a step back there are supports that can help or try to help.

Today was one of those kind of days (nothing like having the power go out right before a tech training via webinar)

But when I got home, my support Ella seemed to know it wasn't the best if days and has stuck pretty close all night.  

My other support tonight came from Josie.  She texted me tonight and when She found out it wasn't a great day, she spent the next few minutes sending me jokes trying to get me to smile - love that girl.

Having these supports make me smile .

Day 215 Things that make me smile - Andrew's Baptism

My cousin and his wife recently adopted a beautiful baby boy.  Today was the baptism day for this so wanted and loved little one.  In addition to the baptism, my cousin gave a beautiful speech and they had an entrustment ceremony with the birth mother.  It was a wonderful day and it made me smile - a lot!

Day 214 Things that make me smile - A Productive Day

Do you ever have a day where you get a lot accomplished? I had one of those today and it made me smile.

Day 213 Things that make me smile - Dinner at Christmas Lake

Tonight I went to dinner at my sister's place on Christmas Lake.  I haven't been there in a while and it is so nice to have dinner on the deck.  Good food, good company made me smile tonight.