More March happiness

M2B =) days 403 - 411.  Monday, March 14th - Tuesday, March 22nd.

Monday, March 14th happiness:  

A place full of books that you can just borrow whenever you want.  What's not to love?

Tuesday, March 15th happiness:  I was grouchy this morning, so when Sheri asked if I wanted to go with her to take the kids to see the new Joseph Smith movie at the temple today, the answer in my head was "NO!".  But, the answer that came out of my mouth was "Yes".

I am soooo glad I went.  What started out as a super grouchy morning turned into a great afternoon.  I really enjoyed the movie.  And, as a plus, there was a Walter Rane exhibit.  He is my very favorite LDS artist.  It was awesome.

Also, one of the great things about the temple grounds is the gorgeous flowers.

And I got to see this today:
It really was a great way to spend the afternoon.  Thanks Sheri.

Wednesday, March 16th happiness:  Watching American Idol with Brian.
We paused it for a minute, and this is what it paused on.  Joe thought it was hilarious.  

Thursday, March 17th happiness:  The satisfaction of a clean (ok, semi-clean) house.  I love my Dyson vacuum cleaner.  Too bad the house won't stay clean for very long.  It felt good today though!

Friday, March 18th happiness:  Tonight Joe spent the night at Sheri's (THANK YOU!!!)  So, Brian and I were a couple of couch potatoes.  We caught up on all of our shows.  It was great.

Saturday, March 19th happiness:  Went to Joe's farm grill for lunch.  Oh the deliciousness!  I love you Joe's farm grill. 

 Tonight Joe, Brian and I went to birthday party.   Lemon cheesecake, Pistachio cake, Brownies with chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate ganache - enough said!

I took this photo at the party because it looked like Brian had a tree growing out of his head.
Here is Joe, partying it up:
Good times!

Sunday, March 20th happiness:  It was a beautiful night.  Joe and I hung out on the patio.  
Guess how many days until our San Diego vacation....
Monday, March 21st happiness:  It was a beautiful gray day!  
Rain!  woo hoo!

Tuesday, March 22nd happiness:  First of all, I just need to say how much I am loving spring break.  It is going by soooo slow.  I love it.  

Also today:  I made chicken enchiladas with rice(fried rice with tomato, green chile and bacon).  It was a super long process, but so worth it.  Yum!

Happy Day!

chick-fil-a to lemon chalet

M2B =) days 395 - 402.  Sunday, March 6th - Sunday, March 13th.

Sunday, March 6th happiness:  Today I had the BEST BOWL OF FROSTED FLAKES EVER!

Maybe it was because it was Fast Sunday and we don't get home from church until 4:30, but man that bowl of Frosted Flakes tasted fantastic today!

Other happy moments today:  Joe was ordained as a Teacher!  When did my boy get so old?  I did my best to keep it together during the prayer, and only cried a little.  Also, Joe got his first home teaching assignment.   He was super excited to find out he was partners with Brother Munroe.  Woo hoo!  I am one proud mom today.

Also tonight was FHE.  I got to see this kid:

And all of the other kiddo's too.  I love FHE.  Also, Jared made his wonderfully delicious Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I love them so!  I should have taken an extra one home.  I think my mom took all of the extras.  

Today was a good day.

Monday, March 7th happiness:  As I was rushing around this morning trying to get ready for work and pack my lunch, I noticed we were out of pretty much everything.  The cupboards were bare.  So, instead I had to buy lunch today.
Yum!

Tuesday, March 8th happiness:  We had dinner on the patio tonight.  It was a beautiful night.  Also tonight, I got to hang with my sister Sheri.  We went for a walk, and then worked on a puzzle.  Loved it!

Wednesday, March 9th happiness:  Dear Excedrin Migraine, you kicked the massive headache I've had all day long.  Thank you!
Thursday, March 10th happiness:  Today was my 3rd graders music concert.  They played songs on the recorder.   They were so happy and proud to put on their concert, and so many of the parents showed up to watch.  It was great.

Also today, Brian turned The Killers on the ipod, so when I got in the car, "On Top", would come on.  He knows how much I love that song.  I thought it was pretty darn thoughtful.  

Friday, March 11th happiness:  Brian went to dinner and a movie with some friends tonight, and Joe was at youth conference all evening.  Do you know what this means?  I had 4 hours all to myself tonight.  It was heaven!  I can't remember the last time I've had that much time all to myself.   Also, today was the last day of school for 2 weeks.  It's Spring Break - woo hoo!

Saturday, March 12th happiness:  Brian and I went to a movie today.
It was very different than I thought it would be.  I really liked it though.

Sunday, March 13th happiness:  Eating Lemon Chalet's on the couch tonight while hanging out with Joe.  Does it get any better than that?
Happy Day!

There is a Light That Never Goes Out

M2B =) days 390 - 394.  Tuesday, March 1st - Saturday, March 5th.

Tuesday, March 1st happiness:  Tomorrow is crazy hat day at our school.  I was telling Brian that I wish I had a crazy hat to wear.

Guess what he brought home from work today:

I really like this picture because both of us look like we are on something.  It makes me laugh.  And, I have a crazy hat to wear tomorrow!

Also for today's happiness:  Paul Macdonald.  I love love loved his song tonight on American Idol.

Wednesday March 2nd happiness:  Crazy hat day was a success!  I actually had 3 hats that I brought that I kept changing around.  It took the kids a little while to realize that I kept changing hats.  When they asked me about it, I totally acted like they were crazy, and I didn't know what they were talking about.

Here are Max and Ben on crazy hat day:

Also, In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday today, and in celebration of Read Across America week, at 2:00 p.m. every class in the school took their books out to the playground, and we all sat and read for a half an hour.  This may be my favorite day at school ever.  I rarely have time to read much anymore.

I got to read for a half an hour straight.  My current book:
So far, I really like it.  

Thursday, March 3rd happiness:  The shoes we ordered Joe for his birthday finally arrived today!  
He can now add this move to his footwork:
Why does this make me happy, you ask?  Because now I don't have to answer the question, "Do you think my shoes will come today?"  every five minutes.  =)   Also, Joe having his shoes makes him super happy, and as his mom - when he is happy, so am I.

Also today, I went running (well, it was more like walking/running) at my mom's tonight.  Did I mention how much I love my new running shoes?  No more shin splints and I feel like I am running on clouds.  They are possibly the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned.  I love them so!

There is nothing like my ipod and a little exercise to chase the grouchies away.

Friday, March 4th happiness:  Today was crazy sock day at school.  It made me happy to see all of the fun socks.  Even some of the boys participated.  If you know me at all, you know how much I love fun socks!

Also today, a girl in my math class came up to me at lunch and gave me these:
I was a little surprised.  She is a very quiet girl, who sits in the back of the room.  It made me happy that she wanted to share with me.

Tonight Brian and I sat out on the patio for a while.  We just sat and enjoyed the cool breeze, listening to the wind in the trees.  Fantastic.

Later we watched Social Network.  I really liked it.  I was also happy today that Max and Ben could spend the night.   

Saturday, March 5th happiness:  I like it when Max and Ben spend the night.  It makes Joe happy.
Ben discovered the joys of the slanket (I am not kidding - they are fantastic), but Joe didn't want to share.

He finally gave in, and let Ben use it for a while.

This afternoon, I sat in the computer room, turned on my blog and enjoyed some of my favorite music.  My favorites today:  Guster - Careful; Keane - Everybody's Changing; and The Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out.

I love music.

Happy Day!

Finishing February

M2B =) days 382 - 389.  Monday, February 21st - Monday, February 28th.

Monday, February 21st happiness:  No school.  Woo hoo!  I took Joe to go hang out with some friends from school today.  They met near the library to make videos of themselves dancing.  There was no way I was just going to drop him off, but he didn't want to be embarrassed by having his mommy there, so I parked a ways off and I read a book in the car.  It was nice to have some down time to just read.  I rarely get that anymore.  It was also really fun to peek in the rear view mirror every so often and watch him making videos with his friends.  

Tuesday, February 22nd happiness:  So, a while back Joe and I were visiting my Grandmother.  Something we like to do. =)  You can't visit Grandmother without her offering you something to eat or drink.  While I was there I tried some juice she had.  It was so yummy good.  I asked her what it was.  "White Cranberry Peach".  Then I asked where she bought it, so I could run out and get some.  She wasn't sure, but thought it was Costco.

I have looked at Costco every time I have gone for the last year, hoping to find the delicious juice.  To no avail.  

Then, recently I was at Walmart doing some grocery shopping.  I went down the juice aisle for some apple juice.  Lo and behold, I spotted it out of the corner of my eye:
It wasn't Costco.  It was Walmart!  I was sooooo happy to make that discovery.  After a year of searching.  Mystery solved.  

Wednesday, February 23rd happiness:  Valerian Root.  A friend of mine at work suggested it for me because I have trouble sleeping.  I am loving it.  This is like the 4th night in a row that I have had an awesome nights sleep.  That is some sort of record for me.  Love it!

Thursday, February 24th happiness:  I got to see these cuties today:

Friday, February 25th happiness:  Brian and Joe went out for an early celebration of Joe's birthday.  Joe loves gelato.  We almost never get it.  So, for his birthday Brian decided to take him to get some.

When they got home, they had brought me both a shake and a gelato.  I jokingly asked if they were trying to fatten me up?  Joe replied, "It's so we can eat you." =)  

While they were gone, I finished my puzzle.  It was nice to have some down time.
Also tonight, Joe and I watched Despicable Me together.  I forgot how much I really like that movie.  It was a great day today!

Saturday, February 26th:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!  

I can't believe my baby is 14.   Time flies, and I don't like it.  Joe's birthday was pretty low key.  We took him to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  And later this afternoon, we took him to Coldstone Creamery so he could pick out a cake.  He got red velvet with strawberry ice cream.

I love this kid.  He is awesome.  I thoroughly enjoy being his mom.

Sunday, February 27th happiness:  Brian got me sourdough bread to go with dinner tonight.  mmmmmmm  good.  

Joe and Brian put together our patio furniture this afternoon (it finally came in!)  Now we have somewhere to sit when we go out back.  Fantastic.
Monday, February 28th happiness:  Today was crazy hair day at school.  It was fun to see all the kids with their silly hair styles.

That's it for now.  

Happy Day!

Happy Valenbirthiversary =)

M2B =) days 373 - 381.  Saturday, February 12th - Sunday, February 20th.

Saturday, February 12th happiness:  Joe's Farm Grill.  Brian and I had lunch there today.  I don't know if it's because I hadn't been there in so long, or because I was so super hungry.  But it was soooo good.  

Sunday, February 13th happiness:  Brian helped me make these today:

Cake pops.  I had never made them before.  It was a long process, and would have been sooo much longer without Brian's help.  I made them for my 3rd graders for Valentines Day.  They turned out cute, and yummy.
Monday, February 14th happiness:  Happy Valentines Day!  I will admit.  I am not a huge fan of Valentines Day.  I think it is kind of a ridiculous holiday.  You shouldn't need a special day of the year to show love to the people in your life.  It seems forced.  I want someone to be nice to me because they want to, not because they feel like they have to.

Ok, I am done with my Valentines rant.  That being said,  we do have some traditions that we love to do.  My favorite is the Heart Attacking of Joe's room.  Brian and I stay up late the night before Valentines Day and decorate Joe's room while he is sleeping.  Then he wakes up to all this love:
I love that he is a teenager, but that he still looks forward to the tradition.  

Brian sent me these at school:

Beautiful!  He was also super sweet this year and sent flowers to Mrs. Johnson as well (the teacher that I work with).  

My kids showered me with all kinds of sweet valentines.  I love my class.

Poor Brian did not have a happy valentines day.  He spent 3 hours in the urgent care with a severe migraine.  After some rest and 3 shots in the butt, he finally got to come home.  He is almost always sick on Valentines Day (maybe another reason I don't like it so much).  

Tuesday, February 15th:  I had some time to read today.  Reading always makes me happy, and I don't have nearly as much time for it as I used to.  So, I really appreciate those days when I get to read.  My current read:
I love it so much.  A super cute, fun book.  

Wednesday, February 16th happiness:  Joe's Nasal Spray.  You may think that is an odd thing to be happy about, but no!  I have been congested for a week, and it is affecting my sleep and giving me headaches.  Joe was sick last week and the doctor prescribed a nasal spray to help clear him out.  So, being desperate I stole it, and I used it! (I cleaned it first).  To my happiness, it worked incredibly well and I could totally sleep.  

Thursday, February 17th happiness:  One of my kids gave me her snickers bar.  They were studying fractions in their math class.  The teacher gave them mini snickers and they talked about what 1/2 would be, 1/4 and so forth.  When she got back from class, she brought it to me.  I asked her "Don't you like Snickers?"  she said, "I do, but I want you to have it".  I thought it was really sweet of her.

Friday, February 18th happiness:  The best part of my day was driving home with the windows down, enjoying the clouds and cool weather, listening to Good Old War turned up really loud on the radio.

Here are a couple of photos I took today:

Saturday, February 19th happiness:  Anytime it rains in Arizona, that will probably be the best thing that happens that day!  I love rain and it makes me happy.  I loved being out and about in the rain today.

Sunday, February 20th happiness:  Happy Birthday to my lovely sister Sheri!
Thank you for letting me crash your birthday party, for letting me work on your puzzle with you, and for feeding me strawberry shortcake.  I love you!

(sorry for another long post.  I really am trying to catch up).

Happy Day!