Yummy Mommy

Today was sweet...

It was a nice day today. Here is  a list of the things I have to be grateful for:

• My parents returned today from a 6 week journey to Hong Kong, India and Taiwan (where my brother and his beautiful wife live. I was worried about them a little while they were gone ~ while I know they can take care of themselves, it was such a long way to go. I think I have caused them their fair share of worry over the years, so I guess the shoe is on the other foot now. As always when they return from their journey they were laden with lovely gifts and amazing stories, so it was a pleasant evening.
• It was BEAUTIFUL out today, sunny and warm. It made spring seem a real possibility rather than the stuff of fairy tales (as it has seemed at times during this winter.
• Spring break is coming! Only 3 more days of school! While I love my job, I am looking forward to sleeping in a few mornings!
• We decided tonight that we should head out over spring break to my parent's cabin at Nuchatilitz Island for some R&R. I am so priveledged to have such a wild, remote, yet comfortable retreat to go to.
• My kids ~ they continue to astound me with their sweetness and intelligence and detirmination.
• Tomorrow is payday! My first payday as a full time teacher! It should be sweet.

Peace and love to y'all.

Great gifts

Like many priveledged North Americans, my family and I recieved a bounty of gifts for Christmas. We try not to go crazy with overgiving- we even draw names among the adults so that theoretically, you are only buying for one person. However, it's so easy to see stuff in the store and think, "Wouldn't that be perfect for so and so...I'm not supposed to be buying for them this year, but they helped me out so much with such and such, I'll just grab that for them." The next thing you know, your Visa's maxed, and your spending the rest of the year paying it off. This year, without even telling my husband, I am planning to set up a GIC that comes out of my account automatically, about $100 or so per month (with my new increaced hours, we shouldn't notice too much) so that  by next Christmas, we'll (theoretically) have $1200 in the account. We shall see!

Anyway, I thought I'd put some pictures of just some of the cute gifts we recieved ~ mostly kid ones of course. There really are so many wonderful toys out there for children, it is hard not to go crazy!

Well, first of all, here's me in my new jacket that I bought for myself with money that my mother-in-law gave me. (Ooo- you can really see the messy house in the background!You can also see the edges of the beautiful maple frame my dad made for the mirror) My husband's jaw hit the floor when I came back from shopping with another jacket, but I explained to him that I didn't have anything that was warm and a little bit dressy and longer so that it can be worn over dresses for going out in the winter. He kind of gave me a look like oooooo-kay. Men, they just don't understand...

This is a really cute 3D puzzle Chloe got from her Grandma (Britt's parents are known as Grandma and Grandpa and mine are Nanny and Pappy) made by a company called Melissa & Doug. I checked out their website and it looks like they have some pretty cute stuff. (Notice a piece is missing already!)

She also got these sweet little wooden toys from my brother.

Britt and Brodie got me this funny guy- it grows grass out of the top of its head that looks like hair. It's for my desk at work. Where I will be spending many more hours starting next week... scary!

Anyway, by no means an exhastive list of the gifts we got, just some cute ones!