That function is set under your user cp -> edit options -> message editor interface. If it's set to basic that's why you can't see them, choose one of the other options.
ok this is a user profile setting, enter your user cp, then edit options then look for the last setting: message editor interface. If it's set to basic thats why you can't see the smilies choose one of the other two.
All the old avatars can be found here:
Avatars
They aren't really named anything useful though so you'll probably have to check through them all to find yours.