The Toothfairy and Birthdays!!

Rachel just had to share these photos for everyone to see!! She was so excited to be toothless again!!
The black smile widens!!

Cory had a hockey game in Kelowna yesterday, (which they lost by a long shot) and after going for a great lunch at Montana's with Curtis, we hit Costco and the mall. On our way home Rachel hit her mouth with her waterbottle and knocked the little tooth into an even more wiggly state. So when we got home, I pulled it out! Hers just seem to pop right out!

At first she didn't want to put it out for the tooth fairy, but then decided she should. She thought the tooth fairy would make the water yellow, but as you can see it was orange. Cory has a theory that the tooth fairy changes the water to all the colors of the rainbow!! We'll see....

She was also very excited to find a loonie in there!!

I also had a great day today!! My husband surprised me with some daffodils (a true sign spring is almost here:) and an iPod for my birthday!! The iPod wasn't really a surprise, but I am thrilled to have it. Now I just have to figure out how to actually load some music onto it! That is my next project after this post!

Heidi also brought me a great present at work today! She is so crafty and made one of her beautiful frames...check out her page for one similar! and also some Tim's Gift certificates :) Friends are true gifts...and having ones that we can grow older gracefully with is even better! It is even better when they are older than you!!!

I have never really been one to make a fuss about my birthday, but Angella inspired me this year and made me realize that it is a special day. One about me!! So here it is...a list of 34 things that I have accomplished in my 34 years!!

1. Married the best man in the world! I love you Brian!

2. Had a very sweet little boy (who is already 8!)

3. Had a princess whose giggle can make you smile on your worst day

4. Had another princess, who can make you laugh for no reason at all

5. Went to university to get a teaching degree

6. Taught a different grade almost every year since

7. Made a difference in the lives of many students (I hope)

8. Had 3 wonderful best friends at different stages of my life

9. Learned to speak French (although I have lost some of it now)

10. Developed a relationship with Jesus

11. Graduated with honours from high school

12. Learned how to parent from some of the best (Thanks Mom and Dad)

13. Made many mistakes, but learned from them

14. Lived in many different places, and learned it's not the place, but what you make of it that makes it feel like home!

15. Learned how to run and love it!

16. Travelled to Mexico with a bunch of crazy university girls and lived to tell about it

17. Learned how to drive a standard from a parent (not recommended!)

18. Bought a house

19. Renovated a house, marriage still intact

20. Went to the provincials in field hockey and badminton while in high school

21. Followed my heart

22. Taught my children to love each day

23. Learned to love each day myself...and appreciate the little things

24. Had three children

25. Lost all the baby weight (and then some!!:)

26. Became a pro at multi-tasking (mom of 3, full time teacher, wife, daughter, etc...how can you not??)

27. Perfected the art of procrastination.... isn't that what blogging is for?? (especially at report card time!!)

28. Set goals and didn't stop until they were achieved

29. Made many lifelong friends(some of whom I have lost touch with...it is a goal of mine to get better at keeping in touch:)

30. Been inspired by the determination of my sister

31. Learned that I can't do it all by myself

32. Learned that it is OK to ask for help

33. Travelled to the happiest place on Earth..twice! I love Disneyland!!

34. Realized that getting older really isn't that bad... and gray hair can be coloured!!

Wow, as we age, we sure do learn a lot!!

TGIF

What a busy week!! Last night was Show and Share at school..you know the time when the children show their parents all their wonderful work. I know the parents love it, but from a teacher standpoint...it is very tiring!! Two late nights at school in a row...the day before was a staff meeting!! So today, after being on duty, I picked up the girls from daycare and headed straight to Walmart with the 3 kiddies. It really was the last thing I wanted to do, but we needed valentine stuff and I thought if we did it tonight I could lounge around tomorrow morning! The kids were awesome..we found some cute valentine stuff, wandered through the toy aisle and found some great deals. My birthday cupboard is stalked once again and the girls both spent some money they had received for Valentine's day! Cory, only wanted to look in the sports aisle...and found nothing of great interest. He decided he'd save it...he is so much like his dad!!
By the time we were out of Walmart, it was supper. So, off to McD's! Not my choice, but it was delightful. We talked all the way there about what to order. Rachel said, "If its a good toy I want a happy meal, if not just a cheeseburger and root beer!!" well after looking at the toy, she decided it should be "just a cheeseburger". I ordered and Cory, being the little man that he is, organized his sisters. He found a place for us to sit, got some straws and handed them to Amy so she felt she was helping too!! Rachel helped Amy get settled in her seat and then proceeded to help Cory carry all the little ketchup containers to the table. We had a lovely dinner (well, conversation wise) and then headed out for the rest of our shopping. Watching my kids helping each other and not whining when I said no playing in the play area, really was what I needed tonight! They were so sweet!
Then..off to Shopper's Drug Mart in search of hockey valentines. First I thought I'd pop into the dollar store to look for some valentine pencils for my class. While looking around, Amy runs to me..."Mommy, I have to pee!" I asked the two young clerks if they had a washroom...."No, the closest one is in Safeway!" obviously, neither of them had any experience with a two year old...when they have to pee, you don't have time to walk across the parking lot to another store. I went directly to Shopper's next door, where although they dont' really have a public washroom, they are at least empathetic to the needs of a two year old and her mother!! peeing done, successfully!! Hockey valentine's, no such luck. Then Cory remembers that Daddy said he had seen some at London Drugs. (why didn't he buy them then????) so, back into the van and off to London Drugs! Success...hockey valentine's and he also found something to spend his valentine's money on!! A new laundry hamper! I am not kidding!! His choice...of course, it is a very cool Canucks laundry hamper, that just happened to be on sale for 50% off!! happy children make for happy mommies!! We came home, unloaded everything and then raced over to the curling rink..... yes, if you are wondering where Brian was this whole time...he is curling this weekend in a bonspiel. The kids wanted to kiss him goodnight, and he wanted the van as he is supposed to be providing a taxi service to the hotels later tonight!
So, after I got the kids to bed, I sat down to begin this post! It had been awhile...when all of a sudden, BANG! BANG! BANG! iceballs hitting my front window. It scared the heck out of me!! I looked out the window only to see another iceball coming toward me!! Three young pukes took off....I opened the door and yelled at them. Probably not the smartest thing to do...but it made me mad. Then I called the police...and asked them to step up patrols. My neighbor then called me and said they had done the same thing to her house. Where are these kids' parents?? I really think it is more a parenting issue than anything. Shouldn't they know where their kids are and what they are doing? If I knew who they were...I would've called. As a parent, if my child were out roaming the streets making trouble, I would want to know. So to everyone out there with kids... watch out and let parents know when their kids are doing wrong..it is not ratting them out...it is caring for them!
I am off to bed now...less grumpy than I was before. My kids showed my tonight all that I have to be thankful for! which truly is a lot!