Thanks Dr. M for a beautiful day!

Today I had my follow-up with Dr. M. The only time that was available was 10 am. That meant I was able to be lazy this morning! Ben took the girls to school and I dropped Sugar and Spice off on my way to see Dr. M. As always, Dr. M, was amazing! It still surprises me every time that he is able to do his work without hurting me. I can think of two dentists from my childhood that could learn A LOT from him. So, after a pain-free hour in the chair-I was FREE! The girls were riding the bus home with a friend so I was child-free until 5:30. BEAUTIFUL! Where to start? First I hit up Cost Plus. I love this store, but it is that much more beautiful without children in tow. For example, since I wasn't chasing kids or begging them not to touch everything in sight I found some really cool stuff like artichoke pesto, a cute new necklace, and Easter pasta. Then I was off to the mall. Again, without three kiddos in tow the mall was actually a lovely place to wander around. I found some good deals- like $2 flip-flops for the kids and a new church shirt for Sugar and Spice. By then my mouth was partially useful again so I also indulged in a yummy pretzel that I didn't have to share with a.n.y.o.n.e! Next I was off to Michael's where I found some gifts for my visiting teaching sisters-best part, both gifts combined were under $10. Another great find! To my surprise I still had more than 2 hours to kill so I wandered into Target. I found some curtains for My Little Reader. They were on sale and thermal lined- perfect! I found a few fun things in the dollar spot, too. On my way back to real life I stopped at Dollar Tree and was able to pick up all the plates, napkins, cups for someone's upcoming 6th birthday. It was a great day filled with some great, cheap finds and lots of peace and quiet! Ahh...and tomorrow I am back to the real world. I hope it takes it easy on me...I will still be recovering from a very spoiled day! Who knew a trip to the dentist could result in such a peaceful, relaxing day?

The birthday that just keeps giving...

Wow! The flowers just kept coming! I got two more bouquets on Friday and two more on Monday! On Saturday, after surviving the sleep over, I got to spend some time with my awesome mom! I scored a Ann Taylor Loft skirt, pair of Chico's capris, pair of earrings, beautiful necklace, and a reindeer (that is missing an ear) for a whopping $12!!! Thank you mom and Value Village! Then we did some furniture shopping and I may have found a set of bunk beds that Sugar and Spice has to have. By then we were hungry girls! Our favorite home team was playing in a very important game so our first restaurant choice didn't last long and we ended up at CPK (for those of you who aren't already on a nick-name-basis that would be California Pizza Kitchen.) CPK and I are old friends. I was tickled pink when they finally came to Tucson. So, we got some yummy food and got to watch the game. Too bad about the final score, but hey- the apple/ice cream dessert was able to mute the pain. Then it was off to the store closing sale at Borders. I got some great bargains and mom bought me some new books! Oh...and I forgot the BEST part of my birthday this year. The part that is going to make my mom groan and probably call me as soon as she reads the next sentence. (It is something I have been giddily waiting to say for a month now....Are you ready for it???) My best birthday present was my mom sending me to Disney World! Now I can always claim that she took me for my birthday as a kid and as an adult! Thanks, mom!!

Slumber party

It wouldn't be a real sleep over without pizza mushed into the carpet, somebody bleeding, somebody who is too tired to get along, and somebody else that wants to go home to mommy. Good times. At least now they are all tucked in watching on demand Netflix. Here's hoping the next 18 hours are more peaceful than the last 3 have been!

Lucky Girl

Today is shaping up to be sooo much better than last year! Three new books by an author I fell in love with last week (more on that in another post) new lotion and shower gel. A cupcake for breakfast! Flowers from my students (3 beautiful bouquets!) and from my in-laws! 7 People I work with actually remembered my birthday this year! A HUGE improvement over being completely forgotten last year! And it is early release-the kids left 30 minutes ago!! Last but not least, a yet to be determined yummy dinner tonight. 34 is definitely better than 33! Now if only the cats could win tonight it would be perfect!

Spring Break- A trip to Mesa!

On Thursday we spent the morning cleaning up the house and packing for our trip to Mesa. We didn't manage to leave until lunch time. But that's okay-it's vacation! Our first stops were Lakeshore and Hobby Lobby. After we headed over to Moma and Opa's house. We hung out for a little bit before deciding that we needed to probably get some dinner. So. Being that it was vacation, we had dessert first! We headed over to Yogurt Land- which is Sugar and Spice's favorite. We all had a super appetizer. Then we headed over to Boston Market for some actual food. After that is was back home, bedtime stories, and off to bed. No fun pictures for today. But it was a nice, relaxing day!

Spring Break-Tucson Children's Museum

On Saturday night, while at dinner with the family, we ran into an old friend of Ben's and an even older friend of mine. She happens to work at the Children's Museum and gave us two passes for 4 free admissions each! It was perfect! We invited the Hussman family along to join in the fun. >We made sure to hit every room at least twice! We were extra lucky to be there on a "touch tank" day so that everyone could touch various sea creatures. Sugar and Spice's favorite part was being in charge of the map. It is a very important job, you know!

Spring Break-A trip to the dentist

Tuesday, not as much fun. A little while ago I lost a filling in one of my back teeth. To say that I have put off taking care of it would be...well, a generous version of the truth. But the fact was that it didn't hurt. So it was easy to ignore. But, alas, I finally made the call. My appointment was at 8:30 all the way in town. My amazing friend Jan came and watched the kiddos for me. Unfortunately, it was the second time that tooth had lost a filling. Actually, one filling, one onlay. Drats. So, now I have a temporary crown. And an appointment for a permanent one. DOH. On the plus side. It didn't hurt. Well, at least not until afterwards. And. I finished a great book. How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal. Lucky for you...no pictures of today's adventure.

Spring Break- Zoo and BTO

On Monday we hit the zoo!

I was such a lucky girl to get a zoo membership for Christmas this year.

Though we have wanted to, we hadn't made it to the zoo yet!

The weather was perfect!

After the zoo we were in need of some sustenance!

Being that it was Spring Break

that must mean we needed ice cream!

By the Ounce here we come!!

Another great day!

Spring Break-Festival of Books

We started our first full day of Spring Break by heading to the

Festival of Books at the University of Arizona.

Our first character experience was with none other than

The Cat in the Hat!

We got some cool, free turtle hats from TMC children's hospital.
I was already a big fan of TMC after our experience last summer.
Free hats were like icing on the cake!

Daddy making funny faces!

Just this week my new special education aide was telling me about an author from New Mexico, Joe Hayes, and his story, The Bubblegum Rattler. It was our lucky day!
We stumbled upon Mr. Hayes just as he was telling this very story!

More characters!
Maisy, Max, and Curious George!

This picture was actually taken at the zoo later in the week,
but it shows off G's new parasol.

Next we were off to an author visit with
Anna Dewdney.
She is the author of the Llama, llama books.
There was a time when Llama, Llama, Red Pajama was ready
every.single.night.
in our house!
Do you think this girl is excited???

Her brother...not so much.


Afterwards, we were able to wait in a really long line
for some one on one time with Anna.
She even signed our book and drew a picture of Llama, Llama!

It was a good day! I think that next year we will aim to get there earlier as it got a little warm!
After our fun day we headed home for a quick nap and then met the family for dinner.
The food and company were the perfect end to our first day of Spring Break!

Let the vacation begin!!!

Spring Break officially began at 11:51 today. That would be precisely 1 minute after the buses drove away! I love my class, but it has been a rough week. They are definitely paying me back for having taken 3 days off last week. I am hoping that by the time they return on the 21st they will have forgotten all of that nonsense. <

But...that is NOT what this post is about. This post is about Spring Break!!! Let me tell you...we dove in with two feet! Since precisely 11:51 this afternoon we have already taken in a cheap movie, gone to a birthday party at Chuck-e-Cheese, and I have had dinner and shopping out with a friend. It was a beautiful start to the week off! Tomorrow-Festival of books, another birthday party, and dinner with family. Sunday will include a baby blessing, our own church and an evening in jammies! YES! On Monday we are hitting the zoo with the Hussmans and maybe dinner with other friends. Tuesday, I am visiting my favorite dentist to fix the hole in my tooth. Although it is not my favorite way to start the day I know that he is amazing and the less than fun numbing shot will be the worst of it because, like I said he is my favorite and he is amazing! Wednesday we will spend some time in the classroom before heading up to Phoenix for some fun visiting with Leslie, Moma and Opa, and Bedelicia. Then if that wasn't enough Saturday we are hitting the Renaissance Festival with the Martin family! Holy moly we have a lot of friends and a lot of plans. I guess that means this won't be the week I organize the linen closet. Oh well, there is always summer break. Which, by the way, will be here before you know it! Only 9 weeks of school to go!

Spring Fever

There is something about the ending of the 3rd Quarter that always stirs my spring fever. Suddenly, the school year is almost over and I find myself with a constant need to prepare for summer break. By summer break I don't mean scheduling swimming lessons or planning a family trip. I am not even thinking of popsicles and watermelon or cheap trips to the movies. No, not yet. Those are my rewards. My rewards for completing the monumental task in front of me. Right now all I am thinking about is how on earth I am going to once again squeeze all of my teacher belongings on to a tiny piece of linoleum. Really, the world's smallest piece of linoleum in any classroom E.V.E.R. For some reason the Monday before Spring Break I always seem to look around my classroom in both shock and wonder. Where did all of that come from? Where on earth am I going to put it all? How much of this am I going to haul home for the summer? And suddenly it becomes clear that Goodwill and the recycling bin are going to be my good friends once again. And thus the itch begins. The itch to purge and pack and clean. It is silly to give in so early because really we still have almost 2 months left. But truly, the last month doesn't count and April is a mess. So the time is now. Yikes! Where to start??? I think I am going to need a bigger recycling bin

P.S. Baptism pictures and thoughts and Florida recap to come---probably at some point when I am procrastinating cleaning something that I really don't want to. :)