1. Today is my 33rd birthday!

2. It’s the 1st day of school!

3.  My sweet husband had to leave today on a business trip but he still made me feel special for my bday:)

4. He gave me a load of lottery tickets (won $18 so far!) and a certificate for a pedicure…woohoo!

5. Happy that I got fun musical cards from the girls

6. Even happier that one of them was an Anniversary card

7. And the other said something about me being old.

8. Because no matter what card they picked out…it would be my favorite!

9. Not thrilled Alex had to leave today but so happy he has a job and I am able to stay home with our girls.

10. We all woke up in plenty of time to get ready and not be rushed today (crossing my fingers for lots more days like that!)

11. And of course that means Mom gets to take lots of 1st day of school pictures!

12. Happy for a picture with my girls…

13. And one with my hubby and the girls…

14. For this sweet girl that’s in 5th grade now, making this the 8th year (including preschool) that I have taken her to her 1st day of school.

15.  Happy she ditched me the moment we went near the school gate because that means she is confident, excited for school and independent.  (…thinking of the positives here!!)

16.  Extra happy that her goal for the year is to get straight A’s.

17.  And happy about this little peanut that is now in 1st grade.  (when did that happen???)

18. Happy for her that her little love interest is in her class…even though she almost choked on her Jolly Rancher when she found out.

19. And that when I took her to her class she was still a little bit shy but sat down in her chair and didn’t come running after me multiple times like she did last year.

20.  Happy the girls go to a great school.

21. And that Abby got a “fashionable” teacher…because she loves to notice things on pretty teachers like how pretty they dress and how they do their hair and make-up. (secretly afraid of what she might say if she has an “unfashionable” teacher! haha…yes these are conversations we have!)

22.  Happy that even though Abby was mostly faking the “I love my sister so much look” that she still makes it look like it so  10 years from now I will get all warm inside when I see this picture…

23. Happy that my mom is driving 4 hours to hang out with me for a few days!

24.  And for all the phone calls and text messages from my friends and families.

25.  And the oodles of birthday wishes from all my wonderful friends on Facebook! (Really loving this!)

26. Happy that I have 7 hours of ME time – 5 days a week – starting today!

27.  Oddly enough, happy to spend 90 minutes taking my time in the grocery store by myself today

28. And saving 90 dollars on my bill!

29.  Oh, happy that my neighbor called and invited me to a birthday lunch!

30.  I turned her down because I was going to pick up the house a bit before my mom got here…but  happy that I decided to write this instead because it’s my birthday and my mom loves me even if my house needs vacuuming.

31. Happy that the phrases “I heart Chocolate Creme Pie” and “Death by Chocolate” are on my menu plan for this evening.

32.  And happy that I found the “light” version of  “Death by Chocolate” because…well…I guess just because it makes me giggle.

33.  And happy that I could easily think of 33 things to be happy about!