Christmas 2011

I try not to over-do it. My kids get plenty. But not too much. A few gifts each. But when I got everything under the tree this year....YIKES! However I think that what most of the deal was that I had the children get presents for each person in the family this year as well. And they wrapped them on their own.....in gift bags! I now have no gift bags OR tissue paper. It was cute!

Weather

I don't think I can remember a time when I have noticed the weather so much as I have these last couple weeks. I have been in love with this LOVELY weather we are enjoying.  It was a perfect Thanksgiving with an overcast day, and only a few sprinkles. Nice and cool. And since then it has continued to get cooler and cooler. Yesterday I even had to trade in my sweater for a jacket. My jackets don't see the light of day too often. I think it made her happy to get to feel loved again. Don't you feel loved when you feel useful? I'm sure it's the same way with jackets. Maybe my scarf and hat will get to feel useful sometime this winter too.

Girls with spots

I was talking to the boy and I asked him if he had a girlfriend. It was a VERY quick and deffinite "No mom!" that I got as a reply. So then I asked him if he liked any girls. He said that he did. 2 to be exact. When he told me who they were I pointed out the he is mean to the first girl he mentioned. He said, "Oh. Maybe I don't like her then." I didn't mean to make him change his mind. Haha! And when I asked why he liked the second one he said, "Because I like girls with spots." I was confused and asked what that was. I got THE BIGGEST "duh mom!" look I have ever seen! But he explained, while wiggling his fingers in front of his face, "She has spots on her face."

I laughed. Spots indeed. But it fits. My kids are obsessed with them. Because they don't have any.
But in all reality- I am not ready for the children to start noticing. Not at all ready.

Get me out!

Sometimes the only thing that keeps you sane in a day is the thought of getting away from it all for a while.
That has been my day today.
And I will be leaving in about 40 minutes.

The MOST wonderful time of the year

I think I was born in the wrong season!
I was born in the summer.
I think I live in the wrong area!
I live in the Desert. Only 2 seasons- hot and cold.

I am an autumn girl through and through.
I don't own a Christmas Village.
I own a Fall Village.
THIS is my favorite time of year.

Halloween is over.
The weather is cooling off (oh so slightly)
I can start wearing sweaters again.
And Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

It's pure bliss!
I wish I didn't need to start thinking about Christmas already.

Building Memories.

Tonight I had the brilliant idea to look at the local listings (we don't pay for television) and see if there were any family friendly Halloween specials on.

It must have been inspired, because just the one I wanted to see was on! In a half hour! YAY! We hadn't missed it!
So I gathered my chickies and we ate dinner while watching the Wheel of Fortune (haven't seen that in years!), and finished just in time to snuggle up on the couch to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I LOVE good 'ol Chuck. And, happily, so do my kids.

I think it was a worthy memory making experience, that justified letting them stay up late.
Maybe next time we make a memory the husband will be able to join us.

Visiting Teaching

My partner and I visited 3 of our 4 sisters today. Yes, it is close to the end of the month. And we will not see the 4th one until Friday morning, which is even CLOSER to the end. But we did it. And it is always a joy to visit with those ladies. They all bring a smile to my face. Two of them are older. And such pleasant people to be around. In fact, and I totally agree, when we left the 2nd one's house my partner said to me, "I just love them! I hope that when I get older I can be just as sweet as B_____ and have just as much energy as D____!"  And then we got to visit with L, who is closer to our age and just fun. And the kids love running around and playing.

It made me smile today to see those ladies. My partner included.

It's SO sweet when........

Tonight I had to go to my PS MAPP class, so I took the kids over to my friend's house. The class is 3 stinkin' hours long. She's such a great friend to watch them for me. Every week. For 10 weeks. But we are half way through!

When I got there this evening, to pick them up, I found The girl laying in the chair looking REALLY tired. And the boy zonked out in the middle of the floor.

I love it when my kids randomly fall asleep. This RARELY happens. They are too much like their mother- too afraid of missing something. I am sure that it has happened less than a dozen times BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM. But for some reason it is something that just melts my heart.

I just hope he wasn't being too much of a stinker before he went out.

And on a side note: there has been a sad lack of posts on this blog. That does not mean that I have had nothing to be thankful for or happy about. I'm just lazy. I am trying to change.

It HAD to be!

I have a cousin who used to clog.

She may still. I don't know.

Before I heard her talk about it I thought clogs were just a type of shoe my sister had. And I wanted. 

I wanted everything my sister had. She had EVERYTHING. (including pink and grey striped leg warmers AND a Wilson Phillips tape) She was SO lucky!

They looked pretty similar to this:

Anyway- when I heard my cousin talk about clogging I thought how COOL it sounded.

And I wanted to do it too. BAD.

But I thought it was only something you could learn in Utah.

I had never heard of clogging where I lived, so it only made sense. (to my young brain)

I eventually got over wanting my sister's clogs.

But not my desire to learn to clog.

As luck would have it, I have a friend who, a few years ago, started teaching clogging classes through our town's rec center. (she was from Utah. And so my feelings of only learning it in Utah were confirmed)

It was children's class. I was too old. No one teaches adult clogging. Right?

I immediately enrolled the girl.

I could live out my unfulfilled dreams through my darling daughter.

Fast forward a few years to now.....

My friends opened a dance studio in my town.

And they decided to offer adult dance classes.

AND ONE OF THEM IS CLOGGING!!!!!!!!!

I went for the first time tonight.

And it IS as cool as I always thought it sounded.

It HAD to be!!!

What unfulfilled dream are you making come true?

On the plus side......

I found the silver lining on the cloud that is the Arizona Summer!

One good thing bout 100+ degree weather is that- when you have a fever and you are freezing cold, all you have to do is go out in your garage and sit in your car.

It actually feels NICE!

Who knew that there was actually a time when this AWFUL heat could feel like pure BLISS!!?!

Did you find a silver lining today?

It may not sound like much.......

The kids are in bed & asleep.
The dogs ALL got haircuts, baths, & nails clipped.
I did a color and cut.
And a perm and cut.
We went and participated in the opening of a mission call.

That list looks extremely short.
But it took up my whole day.
And I feel good about accomplishing all of it.

The husband is still at work.
I am ready for bed.
But I think I'll stay up and wait for him.
I think he'll appreciate it.
It's been a long day for both of us.

Hope your list of accomplished tasks made you happy today too!

To the rescue

It's always a good day when you can save someone's life.
You don't get that opportunity too often. (if ever!)
But today we did just that.

 

Before

After

Please say "Hello" to Augustus.
Or Ahvgust.
Or Gus....
as we like to call him.

Dinner

Cooking is NOT my favorite past time. I don't enjoy being in my kitchen. It's small and, inevitably, whenever I go in so do 2 children and at least 1 dog....usually more. It gets crowded.

Wednesdays are CRAZY BUSY at our house. Dinner is a challenge on a good day. But ESPECIALLY on this day.

But I was very proud of myself today. I started making dinner at 3:30pm so that when we got home at 6:30pm we sat down and ate. It got done cooking right before we left and I just turned off the oven and left it there waiting until we got back. And it was still very warm.

That is a happy accomplishment for me.

Growth

And so our household has grown again. By 2! (or more if you include the plants I bought today, since they ARE living things as well)

I took the children to the craft store today. We bought vases.
I took the children to the home improvement store today. We bought plants.
I took the children to the pet store today. We bought fish.

We came home and put them all together. And we now have two happy fish swimming in their very own "water gardens".

One fish for the girl.
A blue-ish one.
She named him Rosalynn.
(because really, she wanted a girl)
One fish for the boy.
A red-ish one.
He named him Ferb.
(because we already had a Phineas years ago)

So we have 2 new "family members". And it was SO fun to see the excitement of the children. And it was SO funny to hear the girl say, "He doesn't do anything!" I had a good chuckle. But she did her recital dances for him anyway. And it was cute. And they went to bed happy tonight. Because they have new pets. That don't do much. All of which makes this mom VERY happy.

I will take pictures soon....once the husband gives me back my memory card! (that I'm not entirely sure he didn't hand over to brother6 tonight! hmmmm)

Something that makes me smile... Every.Time.

So have you heard of Pinterest?
Coolest. Site. Ever.
If you need an invite let me know.
I'll happily invite you.
Now- the thing that makes me smile.... Every.Time.
When you "re-pin" something, once it has finished, you get a great big
SUCCESS!
at the top of the page.
I love that!
It makes me happy to know that I have been successful at at least one thing that day.

TMI?

So I was in the bathroom earlier. Before I went in I turned my laptop on so that I could work on some stuff when I got done. When I came out I found this on my computer screen..........

It was a happy surprise.
Don't I have THE SWEETEST husband!!?!!!

Blessed x 1,000,000!

So the Monday before I left for California with my mom and sisters, I was driving home from my parent's house and I hit a cow. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. Just me and the children in the car, with the husband in his car a few minutes behind us.

Here's where the blessing part comes in:
I KNOW this could have been fatal. Just think if the husband had come upon a tragic scene of his hurt family! As it is the only thing that was hurt was the car....well and the cow. And a car is replaceable. (Even if car shopping is a HUGE headache!) I know we were being watched over that night. And I am truly grateful for that! I am so grateful that it was not my time to leave this earth. I am not ready to go yet. I still have so much more work to do!

I feel super blessed!!!

Blessed

Yesterday afternoon the children were watching a church video. It was talking about miracles. The boy asked, "Mom & Dad, did you ever have a miracle?" To which we replied (at the same time, I might add), "Yes! You and "the girl" were both big miracles for us." He was so surprised by that answer and wanted to know how, or why, they were miracles. We told them why. It was a sweet moment. And I realized that I had not thought of my children with such tenderness for a while. I AM blessed to have them. I am grateful that the Lord sent them to our home. Sometimes I get so caught up in the trial of not having as many children as I want that I forget to just marvel in the sunshine of the 2 I do have. What a blessing!

I have this little princess that is so loving and kind. She wants to please and make people happy. She is growing so big and tries so hard to show us how big she is by wanting to help with everything. She is (usually) very willing to do whatever you ask her to do. And she doesn't argue or complain. She will help with whatever task she is asked too, which results in her cleaning up all by herself sometimes because she's just so willing to do whatever she's asked. And doesn't want ANYONE to get in trouble.

I have this little man that is so fun and full of life. He has more energy than any of us know what to do with. He is very compassionate and had such a big heart. He's very observant and will notice before anyone else if someone is sad. He wants to be as big as the rest of us and feels left out sometimes because he can't do the same things we can. He tries so hard to be a good boy, but that darn energy gets the better of him sometimes. He loves to laugh and make others laugh as well.

Two AMAZING blessings. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Today I'm just glad.........

that my dog's not dead
     {even if he is in a little bit of pain and I got scared to death- full story here}
that I took the kids on a field trip to Sky Harbor
     {even if it was the most boring tour ever}
that grandma's hair got done
     {even if I did forget that I was going to color it today}
that we got to visit with some friends
     {even if one of their kids had just thrown up}
that i am on day 21 of the 30 day shred
     {even if it will be the toughest 10 days yet}
that the tooth fairy FINALLY remembered to come
     {even if she was a couple days late}
that the husband was kind enough to run to the store for me
     {even if it was for feminine needs- he also brought chocolate}
that I got to sit on the couch with the husband and watch an episode of Chuck
     {even if I had to explain most of it to him}

All things considered- it was a good day!
     {even if the dog doesn't agree}

$$$$$$$$$$

Getting a GREAT deal always makes me happy!
Today I got one!
And it made me happy. (duh!)

As I try to organize things into groups (what to keep, store, get rid of) because of the move I realized I need more storage totes.
For long term/garage storage it HAS to be totes- not boxes.
While at the W-mart I passed a display in the middle aisle.
18 gallon totes for $2!
Those are regularly almost $6!
These ones were not the usual grey.
They were red or green.
Seasonal.
What do I care!!?!
They are 2 BUCKS EACH!
So I got 10.
Who knows if I even need that many, but I got them.

And I couldn't be happier!

Much needed...but maybe not the best idea?

Yesterday the boy was sick. Don't know why exactly, but he and I stayed home from church. The girl had a big day on Friday and Saturday. My point? 2 tired kids.

We had a pretty pleasant morning. And then after lunch was eaten I announced that it was time for us all to rest. The boy {GASP} was the first to  say, "OK mom." and slip off to his bed. While the girl grumbled a little as she druuuug herself off the her bed. It is usually a total reversal. But that is how I KNEW they needed some quiet R&R. This was around 12:30pm. 

I did a few things that I needed to, checked on each of them in their rooms, and then (about an hour or so after them) went to lay on the family room couch for a little snooze myself. I was awakened by my phone ringing the husband's ring. It was almost 3:30! 

My little sweeties slept for 3 hours today!.......and then proceeded to be crazy for the rest of the afternoon/evening. So my initial excitement that they took such great naps was short-lived. But at least their little bodies got to catch up on some of that much needed rest.

Dancing Queen

The girl had her dance recital today. She was in 5 different dances. It was a 3 hour recital. It was fun to see her dance multiple times. This semester she took 2 classes and was asked to participate in a technique class. She had a ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz number and then also her technique number as well.

She also went and did her ballet number, with some of the girls in her class, for a school talent show this morning. It was so cute! They did a great job!

Puppy cut

Today I gave foxy Roksi her first haircut. She is 4 months old today and I figured I had better decide how I would like her hair to be groomed. All of my other dogs got their first puppy cut at like 6 weeks old. And after a week of being gone, I came home to a dirty, stinky, scraggly dog that I couldn't handle. So I got on line and looked at some options. Then took her in the kitchen and did my best to duplicate the one I liked most. (pardon the picture it was taken with my not-so-awesome phone camera)

Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. (now I just need to do the other dogs. blah!)

Then later today she got to go play with her litter mates. That was a funny site. I think she was just so super happy to be around other dogs that would actually play with her for once. All the old geezers at our house just think she's annoying. She's been exhausted ever since. Maybe we should go play more often!!

Recognizable

So many fun things lately.
Haven't posted any.
Sorry.
No internet to use.
Been house sitting.
But tomorrow we are back to real life.

Today the girl said the funniest thing. Gotta share.......

I was having a convo with sister7 and mom.
Sister7 was getting ready for her Cub Scout Pack Meeting (she's the Cub Master).
She was talking about the birthday gift they were giving to the Committee Chair.
I said, "How great that you are doing something nice for her! I have been in Cub Scouts for 3 years and not once have I been recognized for anything."
And the girl, sitting near by, pipes up, "Maybe it's your hair color!"
We ALL busted up laughing SO hard.
I guess if I would quit changing my dang hair color people could recognize me!
HeHeHeHeHe
Cute girl.

Is Gatsby Great?

um YES! Especially with a little help from sister1. We had the funnest book club ever tonight! What a fun, talented, amazing, creative, dedicated sister I have. (OK actually I have like 6 or more of that kind of sister. I'm so lucky!)

Pictures of the Great event coming soon....like hopefully tomorrow. But you might need to look at the other blog for them.

Other Great things from my day:

1. I sewed. 
2. I went visiting teaching
3. No puppy accidents in the house (until this evening when I wasn't home)
4. Happy children that didn't fight ALL day
5. The boy randomly fell asleep on the family room floor

Oh- and this is what I made-
1 dress
2 ties
2 t-shirts
We are ready for Easter...at least in the clothing department.

It was a Great day!

Little-er

Today I pulled on a pair of pants. I had to go to my closet and get a belt. The belt could stand to have another hole put in it. I am noticing a trend lately- my clothes are a {little} bigger. I think it's cause I am a little littler.

If that's not something to be happy about I don't know what is.

I knew it'd be OK

"We got one consolation honey, in the whole history of the world there's never been a child brought up right."

~Roger Hobbs
Jimmy Stewart's character in Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation

pricesless is...........

the confidence in the girl's face when she came out of testing today.
"So, how was it?"
"Good."
"Did you do the reading part?"
"Yes."
"Did you have to read yourself, or did the teacher read it to you?"
"I read it. In my head not out loud!"
"You did!? That's awesome!"
"Did you understand all the words?"
"Yep!!"
"I knew you could do it!"

AND

the boy being on his best behavior all afternoon while the girl was at her testing. We went to a couple stores while she was testing and the boy stayed right with me, folding his arms (because that's how we show we are behaving in our family), and not touching EVERYTHING in sight. At one point I got out of the car and was about to shut my door, only to discover that he was still sitting in his seat, seat belt still buckled. I asked if he was coming and he said, "I'm just folding my arms mom!" I guess he wanted me to notice how good he was being before he got out too.

Yep-Priceless parenting moments. LOVE it!

and also the husband got the taxes mailed in today. WOOHOO! I am chomping at the bit for that return.....got a few plans for it.

God is EVERYWHERE

Put on your big girl pants

• Courtesy of Sister7's FB status this morning:

"if you get mad......get glad in the same dang ol pants you got mad in!! and that is a final! and i'm not being smart with you, i'm being serious"

This just made me laugh when I read it. And also, just so you understand a little where this could POSSIBLY have come from- she takes calls and schedules appointments for a moving company. 

She typed this as some person said it to her on the phone this morning. 

A direct {and original} quote and good thought as it was said. 

Now how often do you get that kind of opportunity!??!

• This was on another friend's FB status this morning and I really liked it:

even on my weakest days i get a little bit stronger

• And last but not least (for today)  

I have to say thank you to my friend Charity for making me feel SO loved today. Her sweet comments on a couple of my blog posts had me weeping a bit. Thank heaven for good friends who make you feel so very loved and appreciated!!

Alone Time= Quiet Time= Heavenly

Today I was able to spend 2 FULL HOURS alone.

At my house.

No children.

No husband.

Just me. 

(and the dogs & bunnies)

I cleaned.

And I loved it.

A gift from above

I wasn't feeling so great today.
So I stayed in bed a little bit later than usual.
And enjoyed the rest.
Finally I got up and took the puppy outside.
I was greeted with the most glorious surprise!
A beautiful gray sky above my head.
And lower tempuratures than we have been having.
And though it STILL has not rained, we did enjoy a few sprinkles.
And I hear it's supposed to be a cloudy, gloomy, rainy weekend.
WOOT!

When in the service......

 

I spent some time doing service today. 

And it made me happy. 

I was able to go with 2 of my good friends and serve in the cafeteria at the Mesa Temple.

It was great- 4 hours of non stop standing on my feet, washing dishes. 

OK. So maybe that was a lot of hard work and my back was killing me by the end. 

But I was happy to be in the service of my fellow men. 

And my God.

One hour?

I sewed today. That is always fun. On my new machine. I forgot I had it. So when I started to think about getting out all of my stuff to start sewing I was so happy to remember that I had the new {quiet} machine. Instead of the old {loud} one. YAY!

I am sewing a 1920's style dress. It is called a dress in an hour. You are supposed to be able to sew it in an hour. It is instructions, not a pattern, and based totally on your body measurements. SO it should work for anyone. I decided to make one for the girl first, with fabric I already had, just in case I didn't do it right.

But guess what!? I TOTALLY got it! UNTIL I started sewing. Then once I got to the plaits and hip dart. Totally clueless as to how to sew that part. I worked on it for, you guessed it- over an hour. Still no luck.

However- I am not defeated! I will get this!

What a GLORIOUS weekend!

I spent a good part of my weekend watching this

It was wonderful.
Some of my favorite parts:

• My children sat and listened better than ever
• The boy getting a tissue and wiping away my tears
• The girl REALLY listening
• The family testimony meeting at my sister's house this evening
• Snuggling with the husband on the couch
• The boy behaving himself so the rest of us could listen
• Hearing a prophet's voice
• Making bread and tortillas for my family while listening to the talks yesterday
• Having the spirit in my home instead of the contention we usually experience trying to get people to sit and listen

 The girl spent the majority of the time sitting like this, paying attention, and listening for the words on the cards so that she could put a sticker on the card with that word on it. The boy came and went, but did it sometimes. The husband suggested that maybe next time we do words for the girl and pictures (that represent the words) for the boy. Good idea. And after Conference was all over, they both got a prize. They LOVED it. And so did I! It was the best conference so far....since the kids came along. I hope it just gets better from here.

Smiling through the heat.......

There were a few things that made me smile today:



The children being excited about the new t-shirts they got from the girl's school. (I got one too) The girl had to have a vision and hearing screening today, on the way there the boy asked, "Mom, will she get a sucker after?" I said, "Probably not." I was right. They got the shirts instead. Who knew.



Going shopping with my sister. Sorry you had to miss going to the gym today sister. But thanks for letting me use your Costco card!





Puppies with bows. (and watching her struggle to get it off! haha)







Fresh produce all cut up and ready for quick snacks and quick salads. YUM!







Trying to take a nap in the afternoon...... even if it was with a puppy on my head. That's the norm lately.





And the nap was unsuccessful anyway. One guess why.






Something that didn't make me smile:
The 100 degree weather!
My grandma in the hospital.
(but that's not for this happy blog. ☺)

I know it's in there SOMEWHERE

I think I have talked about my boy before. Not on this blog, but on my other one. I know I have. And there are plenty of pictures of him (and his sister) on this blog. Anyway I know I did a post in which I talked about him and how he can be such a stinker AND such a sweetheart.....all at the same time.

So on Tuesday he went to pre-school. And when I went to pick him up I got this report from his teacher, "He had a hard time today. Lots of pushing and pinching. It was really hard to keep our hands to ourselves today." UGH! So frustrating. He really just can't resist bugging others. (Maybe he's his mother's son)

So we talked about that. And decided that Thursday things would be different. We would try harder to do better.

As we walked into the room today I left him with one last reminder, "What are we going to do today?" And he told me, "Not hit or pinch or push." I said, "So we need to what?" "Keep our hands to ourselves." was his little reply, as he went off to the bathroom to wash his hands while I signed him in. As I was leaving he rushed after me to give me a kiss good-bye. (the joy of having a LITTLE boy- they aren't too embarrassed to give you loves in public yet)

When I came back to pick him up later, I got this report:

(in case you can't read it: {the boy} is doing great today. Being respectful and following rules)

He did fantastic today! Then I find out that it was partly to do with the fact that, for pretty much the full 2 hours, he laid on a giant dog under the table. His report to me was, "I didn't do anything!" I had to chuckle at that. And as soon as we were walking to the car he said' "Mom, where's that thing they gave you?" Talking about the little packet of papers they give each day with the report for the day. I handed to him and he said, "Read it and see how I did." He was SO proud to tell me how well he did.

I knew that sweet kid was in the somewhere! Just waiting for his chance to shine.

Thanks for the lessons sister dear!

Today I was standing at the counter making lunch.
Good 'ol PB&J.
All natural PB
and homemade J.
MMMMM mmm

I was joking around with the kids.
At our house we like to change words around.
Switch the first letter.
Example:
"Mom can I have a drink?"
"What? you want a sink?"
"No! A drink!"
What? A kink?"
You get the idea.

I was doing something of that sort, when whatever it was I said made me think of something from my childhood. So I said it!
"What? You got ants in your pants that make you do a boogie dance!!?"

They BUSTED up laughing!
So I laughed too.
And then the girl says to me
"Did Aunt G---- tell you that!?"

I guess all things silly come from sister7.
Who, most recently, sang them a song called
"If I was you mother".
Which made them want to stay with her.
And be her children.
The boy was even getting his shoes on.
Until I told them it wasn't true.
And she wouldn't really ______________
(fill in blank w/ all kinds of great promises)

Maybe I'll get a recording of it sometime.
It's a doosey!

ps- i find myself seeing/thinking of more than one thing a day that i could post about. and then i think- oh i could save that one for tomorrow! because what if i don't find something tomorrow!?
but i guess that would be cheating. and i always find something- as long as i look. but there are so many great things to share when i actually get right down to it!!

Hatching some Reading Eggs

The girl has been struggling with her reading this year. Which is frustrating to me (as well as to her I'm sure), and concerning to her teacher. Next year reading becomes even more important, and she is just not up to level right now.

I had a phone conversation with her teacher today in which we discussed different ways to help the girl. And one thing that the teacher suggested was to try this web site.

 The girl "played" on it for over an hour this afternoon! I started her well below her level, but it is with the hope that she will build confidence and move up quickly.

I am blessed that my daughter has such a great teacher that is so willing to help my child as much as possible. Because there is really not much doubt in my mind that if she was in the school she previously attended, this issue would not have been caught and she would be moving into the next grade and struggling through the year over there. As it is we have come up with some plans to {hopefully} help her want to learn to read better and to become a more confident reader and not fall too far behind before she catches up AND (most importantly) not be heading down a path that leads to hating school.

Don't want to count my eggs before they hatch {☺}, but I think we have something here.

When you look, it's easy to find

As I went about my day today I had in the back of my mind the thought "Keep your eyes open. Remember to look for something happy today." Trying to remember to do it for my blog. Trying to keep the reminder there so I would have a happy something to report at the end of my day.

And so as I went into my day the thought of, "Wow! The puppy didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning." was a good way to start. And a bit later I realized it was 7:00 before the children made an appearance. Not too bad either. At 10:30 I took the boy over to play at a friend's house and he was exuberant that it was HIS turn, with no sister around, to have a play date. His face made me smile. As we left to go pick him up from the play date I noticed a hummingbird drinking from the flowers on my Aloe Vera plant. We gave the puppy a bath. She looked like a drowned rat- miserable. But it was cute, so I smiled at that too. After the bath she was tuckered out, and laid down to take a nap. I could not find her, until the girl pointed out to me that she was laying under the curtains. The BLACK curtains. Pretty camouflaged, that little pup. (look for that photo on my picture blog) And shortly thereafter I noticed another hummingbird at the Aloe. (both times I wished I had my camera) I looked at my sister's health and fitness blog and saw some of the goals she has set for herself, and I am SO happy for her and want her to succeed! It brings a smile to my face that she is brave enough to put it all out there for the world to see....accountability and all that.

As I went through my day, every time something came up, I thought, "Could this be it? Is this what I want to share today? Is this the one?" And as I come to the close of my day I realize that my happy thought for today has been that when you take the time to look for something happy/uplifting/positive/bright/cheerful you will find it. Everywhere. In everything. All you have to do is look. Or take the time to pause and recognize. You don't even have to stop, just pause! We are all busy. Who has time to stop, let alone slow down? But to pause? I think we all can take the time for that!

Just LOOK! 

You'll be amazed at what you see.

Manly things

I remember as a little girl watching my dad polish his Sunday shoes. I remember thinking it was SO cool. I don't exactly know why I thought it was so cool, but I just did.

I remember being amazed, when I got married, that the husband ALSO shined his shoes. And thinking how neat it was. And how did he know how to do that? I guess it's just one of those "guy things" that they just know how to do. Like shaving their face. (I don't think I could do that.)

And today I was sitting in the kitchen, eating my breakfast, when I hear the husband talking to the boy.
"Are you dressed for church?"
"Yes."
"Where are your shoes?"
I assume the boy got them and took them to his father, because the next thing I hear was the husband telling the boy to "watch" because he was going to polish them. And so there was a moment between father and son, where one of those manly secrets was passed from one generation to the next. And so the boy watched his daddy, his hero, not even realizing that some seeds for manly skills were being planted.

After I finished my breakfast I went into my room to take a shower. And there were those cute little shoes sitting on the end of my bed all shined up and ready for church. And my heart smiled, because of the teaching moment that took place between a father and son at my house this morning. And the husband's {bigger} shoes were sitting on the floor all polished and ready to go too.

And honestly- I'm glad he did that today for one more reason- I was looking at those shoes last Sunday thinking how much I don't like them and how scabby they looked. Now I think I can handle them for a while longer- because really, he still has a bit of room to grow in them.

My trials are MINE

Today the husband told me a story that he had heard on a CD he was listening to. About a man that was riding his motorcycle, turned his head to look at something for 2 seconds and when he looked back the semi in front of him had stopped. In an attempt to miss hitting the semi, he laid his bike on the side and slid under the truck. In the process a hole was worn in the gas tank from rubbing on the road and because of the sparks and the leaking gas, it exploded. He was burned over 75% of his body. And he lost all of his fingers. Then if that wasn't enough- after he had recovered from that, and was doing great, he learned to fly planes. During the take off of one of his flights he forgot to do ONE check off on his list, and the plane crashed. He was paralyzed from the waist down. The husband says- but one good thing to come from that is that since he no longer needed his feet they were able to amputate his toes and graft them onto his hands and he now has fingers again. What experiences for someone to endure! And through them he CHOSE to have a positive & happy attitude.

Amazing people are around me everyday. I look at what they go through and wonder HOW they even survive. I would have broken long ago if those were my trials! And I realize, once again, that I am grateful for my trials. Because I know that I can handle them, because they were tailor made just for me. So I'll keep mine and you keep yours and we'll call it even. Sound fair?

From my kitchen window

Are you blessed enough to have a window over your kitchen sink? Have you ever really noticed the view from there? I do. And I have. And usually the things I have seen from there have brought a smile to my face. I love the things I can see from my kitchen window. I don't have a vast expanse of land. Or beautiful gardens to greet my eyes. But I have a swing set smack dab in the middle of the yard. And two cute children that LOVE to play on that thing. And grass. I used to have a tree....before it died. But I even saw cute things playing on that dead tree.

Thinking of my kitchen window makes me smile because it makes me remember all of the fun things I have spied through that window. Happy things. And so I named this blog "From My Kitchen Window" because I want to devote it to positive happy things. I need to focus on those things a little more. And I'm going to. I want to find at least one thing every day that is positive in my life. A picture, a cute thing one of my children did, a quote or saying, something nice I did for someone else (or the other way around as is usually the case), etc. You get the point.

So come with me on my journey to find the happy things in every day life, as I share the view from my kitchen window with you!