Some things that are making me happy
A semi-regular Monday feature around here, because we could all use some cheerful thoughts on Monday mornings.
The weather is gorgeous.
After unseasonably cold weather, plus several days of rain, yesterday's weather was heavenly. And today promises to be awesome as well.
Sunshine, mid-70s, low humidity.
Basically, perfection.
I had a great day yesterday.
The six of us went out for lunch after church and we got donuts for dessert (!).
Then we played baseball with our neighbors at our neighborhood ball field, which was super fun and hilarious.
I got sweet notes and presents from my kiddos and Mr. FG, we grilled an easy dinner, ate an ice cream cake, and we ended the day with a fire in our fire pit.
(We started the fire by burning our dried-up Christmas tree, which our neighbor ignited with a flame-thrower. As you can imagine, it was quite the sight!)
Joshua and Lisey did so well in their classes.
Joshua got As in all of his college classes, and same for Lisey in her tutorial classes (actually, she got more than a 100 in her science class, due to extra credit!)
What I'm most thankful for is that they have been so self-motivated and self-managing, and that they've put so much effort into their work. That's more important to me than results, as lovely as good results are!
Joshua's officially done with high school now, although it's kind of a non-transition-y transition because he's just been doing college classes all year anyway.
In another two years, Lisey will graduate, and I'll be down to schooling just Sonia and Zoe. And even Zoe will graduate in a mere six years.
I think this is the part where I say something cliched about how time flies. 😉
Joshua and Lisey both have non-sketchy jobs.
Last summer, they got their first jobs, and both of them ended up being rather un-fabulous businesses to work for.
But now Joshua's working at the coffee shop, which is such a perfect fit for him.
And Lisey's dream of working at a grocery store came true this spring, so she's pretty over the moon too. 😉
(Bonus happy thing: they are spending a little bit of what they earn, but they're mostly socking away their earnings for future expenses.)
Sonia and Zoe and I are getting close to finishing school.
We've finished everything except for history (8 more days), marine biology (umm, a lot more days) and math (about 20 more days).
So, the end is in sight! We are gonna make it.
Speaking of which, I should end this post and go knock out some of said school with my girls.
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Want to play along? Make your own list in the comments and perk up your Monday!
P.S. When I make a list like this, the risk is that you'll think my life consists of only happy things. But that's not true...I could make a long list of unhappy things too. But those things scream for attention all on their own, so there's not much point in listing them. The cheerful things in life, though? Those ones need some love and attention so that the sad things in life don't overshadow them.
This is so nice and hope-giving
I'm most happy about the fact that nothing on my body is unduly painful and I'm not currently ill with anything. After a month of mostly pregnancy-related (and minor, but still uncomfortable) issues, I definitely am not taking my mobility and health for granted. Also grateful for the fact that all four of my pregnancies have been mostly uneventful. After a scare with this one earlier on, that's something that was really driven home.
My husband left yesterday for a two week business trip, so focusing on the positive is needed around here to enjoy solo parenting four kids four and under. 🙂
1. We had a fabulous Mother's Day dinner with my mom and grandma yesterday. We all prepped a little of the meal (since my dh wasn't around to cook for us), and it was a simple evening of four generational fun conversations.
2. I started collecting fabric for a quilt in 2001. (It has 532 different fabrics in it.) I finally sewed it this spring, and I get it back from the quilter's tomorrow. Binding will be fast, and four-year-old daughter is so excited to sleep under it.
3. I gave up on finding a good deal on PJs for my 3- and 4-year olds, but I found a free pj pants pattern online today. We'll be using some of my fabric stash to make some to pair with old t-shirts this summer.
4. We're due for snow (!) on Wednesday, but the sun is shining and it's beautiful today, so we're going to enjoy the weather.
5. My 2-year-old decided to potty train himself last week. We still have a few accidents, but I'm guessing we'll be good to go within the week. I'm almost down to one in diapers!!!
You can do this, Amanda!!
I can't believe you have snow forecast. What??
I'm having a fabulous day.
1 - It was a gorgeous weekend here for us, so we enjoyed plenty of time outside. By outside, I mean hanging out on our patio and playing with the dog, and it was fantastic.
2 - Iced coffee. MMMMM.
3 - I'm going to the pool later today and very much looking forward to it. It's an indoor pool, and I'm in the mood for some laps.
4 - The dog did not flip out on his walk despite other dogs barking at him.
5 - I'm going to make homemade chocolate peanut butter cups!
I felt happy just reading your post. I'm loving the beautiful weather too! The fact that Joshua and Lindsay did exceptionally well in their classes is a testament to your hard work and capability as a great teacher. 🙂
1. My daughter's, 8 and 5, fixed me breakfast in bed yesterday. It was a BIG bowl of oatmeal that had honey, marshmallows, small bits of something crunchy/mushy, and a few more unknowns mixed into it. I ate it with grace, the best I could, and just enjoyed the moment. I know this innocent time won't last for too much longer.
2. The weather here is also nice but starting to get really hot. Scorching summer is coming fast so I will enjoy these next few weeks.
3.I'm looking forward to a beach getaway with my family this weekend and hoping to snag a few quiet sunsets alone with my husband.
4.We are eating healthier this week. It makes us all feel better.
5.I'm glad the school year is ending soon. My kids and I are tired of being rushed in the mornings and we are looking forward to evenings with light meals and playing in the pool.
I completely agree that this weather is perfect-especially the low humidity part.
I am happy that my peonies are poised to bloom this week. I have one bush and it has been budding so long it seems, just waiting for a burst of warm air to bloom!
I am thankful we only have two more weeks of school left!
It sounds like you had a fan-tabulous Mother's Day! And the kiddos are all doing great, too. 🙂
I'm happy this week because:
1. I was away on work travel for a lot of the week and I finally got to see Mr. Picky Pincher. We didn't see each other for FOUR days and it was such a tough time.
2. I'm happy that I can work from home. That means I can sit on the porch while I write a client proposal, which is pretty nice. 🙂
3. I'm grateful for Mr. Picky Pincher. My new job isn't all it's cracked up to be and I was pretty upset about it, but he's been so wonderful and supportive. I'm a lucky lady. 🙂
Oh man, that stinks about the new job. But yay that Mr. PP is being so sweet to you.
1.It's been rainy, and very cold, and I'm glad to have a roof, bed, heater and hot food.
2. This morning I was interviewed on camera as part of a long term career-based research study in which I am participating, a) the crew were lovely and good fun, and b) I didn't feel awfully self conscious, since I have lost a pile of weight this year.
3. My sister completed a 100mile walk from London to Oxford, in aid of British Heart foundation. I am so proud of her!
Yes! The weather is my number 1 as well. After a week of cold and rainy, I will take 70s and sunny the rest of the summer please.
But there is so much more.
Wednesday my husband and I celebrate our 14th anniversary! We are taking the morning off to walk through a new exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts we are both dying to see. Then we're having lunch before heading back to work. We've discovered that we actually prefer going out to lunch more than dinner. We have three small children, so lunch is not only a cheaper meal because of the price of food, but also daycare is already paid for.
Then this weekend we are actually going away without the children! I have lived in Virginia all my life, and I'm a historian, and I have never been to Mount Vernon. For my birthday my husband reserved an airbnb in Alexandria and coordinated with our moms to watch the kids. We are going to tour Washington's house, ride our bikes along the Potomac, and go out to eat AT NIGHT. It is going to be so amazing. I might have sobbed with happiness when he told me about it.
We signed our three year old up for "soccer shots." I am not a sports person and loath the idea of spending my Saturdays watching little kids run up and down a field based on some vague assumption that it is good for them. Our six year old has shown little interest in sports, so we have happily indulged his interests in science for extracurriculars. But our three year old has two little best friends in daycare who have now both moved on to preschools. Soccer shots leaves our precious Saturdays open (its on Monday night) and gives James the chance to hang out with his buddies. Watching our kids have happy relationships makes my heart happy.
We started budgeting last year, and we love it. My husband and I have never budgeted. We're frugal, and have never had a problem saving. I've always been scared that a budget would actually make me spend more. ("Well we have another $50 in the clothing budget this month, may as well spend it!") But then I started listening to Dave Ramsey, and I was intrigued by the idea. I taught the class at our church so we could learn to budget. My husband and I decided to try it for a few months. We are now on month eight, and I don't think we'll ever stop. I always thought the purpose of a budget was to limit you. I guess some people use it in that way. But we are frugal anyway and have no problem finding ways and means to spend less. We love budgeting because it helps us have total clarity about what money is going in and out. On Sunday afternoons when we drive back into town from our country place I tally up the weekly spending and we have a quick check in about it. It makes me so happy.
Congrats on 14 years!!
I am thankful that:
I have a wonderful greenhouse because it means tons of tomatoes and cukes later this summer. (Can't really grow them outside with much success where we live)
I have a husband who helps with heavy garden chores even though he detests all vegetables except for potatoes. (He will eat the tomatoes and cukes, but only because it is good for him!)
Two dogs that make us laugh every single day.
Someone gave us a Netflix subscription as a gift, so we could spend a rainy Saturday evening watching the new Anne of Green Gables (Called Anne with an E) and Queen of Katwa, the true story of a young girl from the slums of Nigeria who became a chess champion.
A sister with whom I am still very close even though we are adults and live a continent apart.
Thanks for the Netflix recommendations! They sound great.
1. I have a lot of time on the books at work so I was able to take a 4-day weekend after a particularly tough period at work and it barely put a dent in my leave balance. And best of all, I was actually able to enjoy it without stressing about what is not getting done in my absence.
2.The weekend was coolish (my preference) so I was able to get a lot of work done in the yard without getting sun sick.
3. Our DMV has FINALLY implemented an appointment system and so I was done renewing my license in 12 minutes on Friday. The time before that I had to wait more than 2 hours. This made me crazy happy.
4. I am meeting an old friend for lunch today. We will sit in the sun at a rooftop restaurant and laugh and talk. Happy. Happy.
5. I got a shorter haircut for the up coming warm weather. I tend to let it grow long during the winter and its always a bit of a pleasant shock to feel the sun on my neck.
1. No. 2 child graduated from college.
2. No 3 child graduates high school in 4 days.
3. Everyone has coordinated clothing and camera located and charged for 2nd ceremony.
4. Weather is mild and we continue to be comfortable with fans and windows opened.
5. Looking forward to a family meal on Friday night with all my children.the
- Barrcini dark chocolate covered graham crackers, sold by the convenience store at work. Someday I hope to find a direct source instead of having to buy them retail but until then, the $1.65 a couple times a week (at most) does the trick.
- May have found a solution about what to do with the dog while my roommate is away for a couple of weeks this summer. The dog is so very protective about his territory that I thought he might attack any non-resident who let himself in. But he didn't object too much to the neighbor's adult kid (Alex visited, then leashed the dog for a walk), so maybe Alex can do it.
- Friend coming into town next weekend.
If you lived by me, you could hire Sonia and Zoe! That's their job for one of our neighbors (both adults work, so they let the dog out during the day).
So, just move here and we'll solve your problem. Ha.
I'll get to work on that right away!
Clearly the simplest solution. 😉
Those Graham crackers sound amazing......I am totally going to be on the lookout for those....
They are amazing. The graham crackers are thicker than usual, which balances out and supports the generous coating of high-quality dark chocolate that covers them.
This is such a timely post. We had a rough weekend with a sleepless, grumpy baby and I started my Monday by realizing I'd inadvertently brought my husband's car keys to work with me! Here's my happy list:
1) Baby slept better last night
2) Baby is still happy during the day and super adorable
3) Hubs didn't get upset about the keys
4) I'm wearing gold eyeliner today
5) I had a salad for lunch that was yummy and nutritious!
Ooh, gold eyeliner! Gonna have to google that, as I'm not sure I've seen it before.
1. I'm off work tomorrow 🙂
2. I leave for a family reunion in two-and-a-half weeks.
3. The weather is nice
4. My fridge is clean!!!! I put all the parts through the dishwasher, wiped down the inside, got rid of some very elderly condiments.
5. I'm finally getting caught up at work.
Happy Day. I love Mondays,even when I worked.Am now retired but Mondays still have that fresh feeling to me!
1. Our renter is leaving our mountain cabin and we get it back to use ourselves! Yippee..escape form summer heat in Arizona! I get the key tomorrow!!!
2. Am doing a great job of cooking and meal planning for our new vegan diet.After 5 days,I already feel a huge difference in my digestion,bloat, and some old joint pains have magically disappeared!
3. A fresh breeze,mild wind, is rustling though the palm trees today and blowing fresh air into my house--I love days like this!!
4. I got to enjoy a nice hour and a half with my next door neighbor/friend,having coffee at Bold Roost and catching up.I am blessed that my neighbors are also friends.
5. I found a few items we've needed for the house/cabin on craigslist and saved tons of money!!
I'm cycling through a cold very fast. Forced convalescence, vitamin C and a "Yeti pot" bought at a dollar store to irrigate my sinuses are doing it.
Finally accepted the finality of a breakup.
Made delicious foods over the weekend: chicken enchilada casserole, borracho beans, and a pie of cranberry and blueberry that, while not perfect yet, has a to of future to become one of my signature dishes 🙂
It sounds like you had a wonderful Mother's Day, congratulations!
1. I had my 38th wedding anniversary on Friday. I can't believe it's been that many years.
2. I spent Mother's Day going to the church service with my husband, my kids and their families, then we all went out to lunch. Love my family!
3. We finally got some rain again. It made it humid, but we really needed the rain.
4. One of my Mothers' Day gifts involved dark chocolate. Yay!
5. My mother and grandmothers are gone, but I'm still thankful for them!
6. The blooming wildflowers are so beautiful. I'm glad we planted them in our yard.
It sounded like you had a great Mother's Day! Notes, letters, and handmade cards always a great gift to have from kiddos. My weekend was busy between graduation parties and Mother's Day celebration but it was so fun!
Love this dose of positivity! I'm a Monday hater (don't judge! ) Loving the great weather. Not a Mom but cooked a healthy meal for my parents that everyone enjoyed and purchased my Mom's Mother's Day gift at a thrift store for the first time ever and she loved it. Did a ton of yard work which feels mentally great if not physically. Looking forward to an out of town shopping trip later in the week.
Your postscript is such a good reminder to shine the light on the positive things in life because, as you say, the not-so-good things tend to get a lot of attention without even trying and can stop us from being productive and grateful. I appreciate the reminder because I really needed to hear it right now. Thanks.
* Being an "on call" employee. I've been doing this for the past 9 months and I'm really happy about the flexibility this gives me. I'm happy I'm able to take an extra long vacation with my kids this summer (7 weeks!!), allowed by my being "on call"
* Taking outside walks in the sun!!
* A 5 days "week-end" ahead of me, visiting the in-laws
* My house! I loooove my house!
* Being able to see a therapist for free for a couple of sessions, through my work-program.
Had our homeschool review today and it went very well. So thankful that is over and done with. We only have a few lessons left and we will be done.
Em did very well on testing and was accepted at Granite Classical for next year, still homeschooling but she will go to 'school' twice a week.
All the home selling buying crazyness is over and we will move very soon...NO MORE YARD WORK woohooo!
Looking forward to spending lots of time at the pool which we can walk to! So thankful for that.