A Sign of Spring

FINALLY..

     My friend, Ann, and I could finally take her daughter, Miranda, to get manis and pedis for her birthday.  Miranda's birthday was in March, but we have basically had winter until today, so it hasn't exactly been sandal weather!!  We had a very fun time, and Miranda is very excited to have freshly painted toenails for her "Flip Flop and Fingers" day at school tomorrow.  It's supposed to be in the 60s...alleluia!! :0)

Manda had this cute princess station equipped with a DVD player.  She was thrilled!!

 Manda, Ann, and Me

 Manda and Me

Just look at that big smile and very happy girl!!!

San Francisco Sights

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Not Another One...

This picture would be pretty IF...it weren't April 18th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only ones that I know who are enjoying Winter Storm Yogi are the dogs!!

The San Francisco Treat

Remember the Rice-a-Roni commercial?! :0)  

 San Francisco was so much fun...

Details to follow when I get all of my pictures organized or my sister's scrapbook done!!

Chopsticks

While celebrating Michael's birthday recently, the kids tried (again) to teach me how to use chopsticks...

I just can't get the hang of it!!

Surprise!!

     Recently we attended a very festive surprise 50th birthday party for a friend and coworker, Kim.  Her husband and daughter did an awesome job planning and keeping this party a surprise.  Kim really had NO idea, so it was so much fun to see the surprise unfold!

     The theme was the "Fabulous Fifties."  There were old 45 and 33 1/2 records adorning the tables.  In the middle of each of the large records was a "milkshake" made with real shaving cream, fun straws, and colorful carnations (real ones).  Such a great idea!! 

Waiting for the guest of honor

     I captured her as she turned the corner and saw all of us.  Such a great moment!!  She was very touched as her family and good friends from Wisconsin even came for the night.  It was quite a varied crowd with school friends, her "art world" friends (even a really famous one), college friends, and her Big Lake community friends.  Bridget and I agreed that we'd both bring our husbands, so it was fun for them to get the chance to catch up with each other.

Bridget, Kim, Claudia, and Me

Kim, Tom, and Laurel...such a nice family!!

The first thing that Kim did was grab a glass of wine and DOWN it!!

She was so overwhelmed. It was funny to see!

One of her friends adorned her with special accessories; 

I don't think she liked this part too much!! :0)

She was overwhelmed by all of the gag gifts but mostly the thoughtful ones.

A story was told for each of the gag gifts.  

Some gifts were even used as props in her stories.  

Happy 50th birthday, dear friend!!

School Fun

 Just having a little fun with this talking dog.  

I was entertaining our lunch bunch without realizing someone was taking a video of it.  

I chose to only post the picture! :0)

 One of my students and her mom made 200 egg rolls over spring break.  Then CeCe stayed to cook them for all of the teachers.  It was such a nice gesture, and they were very yummy!!  She was so proud!!

 Alison (Mrs. Seth to CeCe) :)

 Vandy, Mike, Alison, and I enjoyed our egg rolls very much!!

Jessalyn came by to bake cookies with big sister, Dallas, and me.

Popovers and Icicles

     I joined friends for lunch and a matinee before Good Friday services.  Even though we are at the same school, we rarely see each other to catch up on life outside of school.  It was very fun introducing Margo to Anton's as she had never been there before.  It is enjoyable to go there in the summer with their outdoor scenery, but it was cool to look out the windows nearby our table to see these MASSIVE icicles.  

 

It was quite an adventure trying to stay upright on the ice to get this picture!! 

The best part of going to Anton's are their popovers with honey butter.
They are incredibly yummy!!

As evidenced by this picture, Margo enjoyed her fish tacos. 

 Simona, Jill, Margo, and Me

All That I Wanted...

     I was in need of a nice, relaxing bubble bath.  I thought I had the door all the way shut, but I was wrong...very, very wrong!!  As I slipped into the hot water and closed my eyes, it wasn't five minutes later that I heard the sound of water being lapped up.  Upon opening my eyes, I saw not one...not two... but all three animals staring me down!!! So much for my relaxing bath time.

Tea Party

Megann wanted a "GIRLS ONLY" tea party for her birthday, so her cousins came over (but not baby Justin since he's a BOY), her mom, grandma, Aunt Missy, and me (her pseudo aunt).

No, this is not a gigantic stuffed animal!!  This is Willow, their very large Goldendoodle.
No kidding...she is one enormous ten-month-old puppy.  

I just love this picture of the two of them!

She was pretty excited about the Hello Kitty outfit that I bought her. :)

Isn't she a doll?!  This is Megann's cute cousin, Emma.  

She dressed herself in this outfit (scarf and boots included) for the tea party.

Megann and Reba were banished to the front yard during the party!!