SMILE:)

I am watching little Leah today and she always puts a smile on my face:)

She is so darn cute! She is talking more now and keeps trying to kiss my hand! We dropped Cora off at pre school and she went and gave her a hug and walked away then turned back and said "bye bye". So adorable. She is such a happy little girl!

Stopped to see Grandma and Grandpa Sunday and actually saw glimpses of the old grandpa. Held his hand and he wouldn't let go when I tried to get up:) So sweet. Then when we left I said my usual I love you to him and he said "thank you". Just like he use to, he also thanked me for talking to him earlier. It was the first time I left them feeling good. Usually I feel depressed when I leave there. I feel so lucky that my kids get to see their great grand parents and get to know them a little bit. They are very special people. I am so grateful to have them in my life still.

Happiness

1. Throwing leaves up in the air with the kids and watching it rain beautiful colorful leaves:)

2. Cora saying she was going to marry Dylan and Lauren was going to have to find someone else to marry b/c she was marrying him and NOT Lauren!!! TOO FUNNY!

3. Cora giving her bday present Silvermist barbie to Ella w/o a second thought b/c Ella likes Silvermist so much.

4. Finding a place that prints picture in matte finish, I don't like that glossy finish all the time!

5. A girl's night out with some girl's I don't normally go out with. We shared and opened up to each other and I think all felt better when we left!

6. Clothes fitting looser, I've lost some weight:)

Okay that is all I have for now since I have a needy 5 year old.

*****ALERT***** THIS IS A BLOG HIJACK!

You aren't posting enough, so I have to hijack your blog now.......

Last night when Cora opened her bday presents she gave her sister one of them:) It was one of the sweetest things EVER!!!! She got a tinkerbell barbie and a silvermist barbie and she told Ella she could have the silvermist barbie since she likes silvmist so much! How sweet is that???

A new post;)

1. Looking at some cool art Friday night!

2. The beautiful weather and fall colors definitely make me happy:) I sooooo LOVE fall, I wish it stayed around longer.

3. Finding our from the eye dr. that Ella's eyes are ok, her weird side looking is just a habit! Nothing wrong with her eyes!!!

4. Snuggling everynight on the couch with my cat:)

5. My weekend away with Tracey!

6. Going to the zoo with the kids, a perfect day with them:) Just the 3 of us and I couldn't have asked for a better day, truly perfect in every way:)

7. Seeing grandma and grandpa, although it makes me sad, I am happy too b/c they are such amazing people and I am so thankful to be able to stop and see them and still have them around and in my life.

8. Learning something new. A friend of mine taught me to make a real cool headband so now I can make them on my own and the kids will love them!

9. Watching the 1 year old down the road. She is such a cutie. She cracks up at Cora! It is the cutest thing and make me and Cora laugh too! She is a very sweet little girl.

10. Going to visit a friend that had a baby that I haven't seen in about 8 months! We both got busy with life and I have missed her, she is a very sweet person. She just had her 4th baby! Good to catch up again!

I know I have been terrible about posting things on here:( I will try to be better! I will shoot for once a week or every other week!

Smiles

1. Sitting on me deck and reading:)

2. Eating dinner on the deck with the neighbors!

3. Fundraiser is done!!!!

4. Singing made up songs and dancing to them with my kids:)

5. Listening to Ella read a chapter book and her not wanting to stop:)

6. Cool weather!

7. Spending the day or rather a few hours wandering aimlessly in stores just because I finally had some free time (not in school for once volunteering). Looking at random stuff and hardly spending any money at all:)

8. Ella trying out and making the cubs jumping rope team:) I pushed her to try out and she was so proud to make it on the team:) I didn't tell her I think everyone made it on the team;)

9. Watching the kids at gymnastics! Ella standing in line waiting dancing to the music was pretty darn cute:) Just seeing them try so hard to do the different skills and overcome some fears is cool.

10. A date with my husband:)

a few smiles

1. Cleaning out the kids room. It needed it BAD! It looks so much better and I bought some stuff to hang on the walls but didn't want to hang the stuff until the room was CLEAN! It felt good to see it all cleaned out.

2. Went to a play with Ella, The Secret Garden. It was put on by kids and it was really good! Ella really enjoyed it too. Wasn't sure how she would like it but she loved it. We had a lot of fun on our "date".

3. Hearing parents say the appreciate all the work I am putting into the fundraiser. Not many have said it but the ones that have make me feel good. Nice to know that someone appreciates all the hours we are putting into the crazy/stupid thing!

4. Ella asking me how we feed the ducks ( they are little keychain rubber ducks). How funny is that? I told her it was pretend feeding. Then when I told her we don't feed them every day she said "but they will be hungry." Kids, they are so cute!

5. Cora telling me she loves me more than a chair and then more than a trash can:)

It's been awhile smiles:)

1. Exercising with the hubby. Although the workouts are killer and I pretty much swear through them and hate them, it is nice to do them with Eric and know that we are trying together.

2. Having breakfast with 5 other mommmy's the other day b/c all of our kids were in school, except for one baby:) Such a mix of mommy's there and such fun hanging out and chatting for 1 1/2 hours with nowhere to be!

3. Being silly with Cora. Taking pictures of each other on the kids camera and adding goofy things to the pictures like a pig nose. She couldn't line up the pig nose on my nose so I have a pig nose eye and a pig nose mouth:) What fun to just be silly with her and giggle together!

4. Writing back and forth with my sister. Means a lot to me and just to stay connected is a great feeling to me. Makes me feel not so alone.

Day before school smiles

1. Spending half of the day with just Ella. Don't often get time alone with just Ella and it was nice to be with just her:)

2. Went swimming with friends and the kids had a great time!

3. Cora passed out before dinner and finally woke up and sat on my lap and ate her dinner in total silence. Ate quite well not saying a word just eating and giving me sweet smiles and laying her head down on me while chewing. So sweet!

4. Kids in bed by 8:00, YAY. Wasn't sure we could do it but we did.

5. Sisterly love...saw it several times today. First Ella was filling out a questionnaire for school and it said I am happiest when... and she wrote "I am playing with my sister". Then later Cora was overtired and crying and wanted a blanket from upstairs and I didn't want to get it and Ella ran up to get it without being asked by me or Cora. Ella ran up and brought down several and asked Cora which one she wanted. Sisters...there is nothing like them:)

Saturday

1. NO HEADACHE:)

2. Going to a friend's house and watching the kids ride on their horse:)

3. Watching House Hounter's International and the couple were buying a house on St. John so it reminded me of my wonderful sister:)

4. Watching Cora talk with her hands, I have never really seen her do that before and she was talking to me about something and using her hands like CRAZY, it was pretty funny.

5. Ella hit her funny bone at dinner but she called it her "silly bone". But she didn't laugh when she hit it. Then of course Cora had to try and hit hers.

Yesterday smiles

Had a headache so I couldn't post last night:(

1. Having someone tell me during a meeting how well my girls play together:)

2. After that same meeting that lasted 2 hours someone who doesn't know my children told them how well behaved they were. Makes a mom proud!! They were angels:)

3. Going to the concert in the park last night with the family. We use to do that all the time but have not done it in a long time. It was a nice evening, it wasn't as humid and even had a little breeze. Nice summer event to just sit and enjoy a local band. Ran into some friends and relaxed!

4. Kids took a 2 hour nap. I got to lay still for 2 hours on the couch which was much needed since I had a headache that I couldn't get rid of.

can't seem to remember anymore. It wasn't a real good day since I had a pounding headache ALL day and night:(

Wed. Smiles

1. Kids playing all morning, really all day together with no fighting:)

2. Eric had the day off (BIG SMILE).

3. Sleeping in and in my own bed!

4. Watching Cora go around pretending to be pregnant.

5. Catching up with some friends that I haven't talked to in awhile since I have been on vacation.

6. Reading a wonderfully long email from my sister:)

Tuesday Smiles

1. Listening to Cora sing or try to sing along with a song in the car that she had never sung before. The song name escapes me right now but it was really cute.

2. Hearing the kids yell "Daddy Daddy Daddy" as we came down the street. He was outside doing something when we came home.

3. Being home, I wasn't really ready to come back to reality...but it is always good to be back in your own house once you are there. And see my kitties:)

4. Seeing stairs on the deck!!!

okay that is all I have today.

smiles, it has been awhile!

1. Spending time with my best friend:)

2. Went to a movie with Tracey!

3. Snuggling with Cora and Ella and Tracey and seeing Cora snuggle with Tracey!

4. Watching Luca teach Ella to fold napkins around the silverware the way he does it, so very cute and sweet.

5. Snuggling with Luca, he says he doesn't like it, but he smiles an awful lot. I told him I was his substitute mom and I would do it for only another minute and all of a sudden he looked and his watch to time me and stopped squirming and let me hug on him for one minute without complaint:)

6. Eating dinner that mom made, which was good of course, with just me, Tracey and the kids at the table. It was very nice.

7. The kids going to bed relatively easily tonight. Not really any talking or fighting after they got in bed:)

WOW, that was 7 and it didn't take much thought at all! That is a record. This staying at grandma and grandpa's house thing must be working for me!!!!!

Monday Smiles

1. Having my house back, company gone. Nice to have David and Marlene here, but nice to have routine back.

2. Deck floor is done:) Sitting on the deck is so nice!!!! No rails yet but I can sit and enjoy!

3. Girls night with Ella. Cora was at a friend's so Ella and I went to dinner, Target, then for ice cream. She was very excited to have mommy time. We both had fun.

4. Cleaning...not my favorite but boy did my house need it. Sure was nice to see some improvement after everyone left and I could finally clean some grunge away.

5. ??? Uh oh can't think of another:(

Sunday smiles

1. Seeing my deck floor almost done!!!

2. Watching our mini fireworks display:)

3. A cookout with my aunt, uncle and Eric's dad...what a great way to spend the 4th. Even if I am tired of having people in my house:) Still nice to have David and Marlene here!!!

4. Nice talks with Aunt Marlene.

5. A quiet house.

Sat. smiles

1. The deck looking more like a deck:) All the framing is done!

2. Ella jumped off the diving board 3 times and swam to the side of the pool...GO ELLA!!! (in the neighbors pool_

3. Cora was swimming w/a noodle kicking up and putting her face in the water like crazy all on her own. This is what the swimming teacher was trying to get her to do and she wouldn't really do and now she is doing it like a pro all on her own!

4. Shopping with Cora today for a bday present for the neighbor. It was fun to be with just her on an outing:)

5. My bed, I am not there yet but I can't wait for the peace and quiet...it has been a loooong day:)

Friday Smiles

Hmmm...it was a long day not sure I can come up with 5.

1. Drinking my coffee outside, it was so pretty w/a breeze.

2. Seeing a little progress on the deck.

3. Cora swimming across the length of the pool holding a little noodle.

4. Ella going to a sleepover and they had a piano she declared "now's my big chance to play Mr. Frog is Full of Hops on a real piano". She was so excited. First thing she did when she got there.

5. Cora telling me when she missed her sissy she would think about the color pink. She misses Ella so much when she isn't here, it is so sweet and sad at the same time. She kept talking about her after we dropped Ella off at the sleepover. Love that they are so close.

Thurs. Smiles

Oops forgot to post last night and I don't know if I can remember:) I will try!

1. Talking with Aunt Marlene throughout the day about various things.

2. Aunt Marlene taught Ella to draw some animals. Ella's animals were very cute and interesting:)

3. Teaching Ella "Mr. Frog is Full of Hops" on the little piano we have. She was soooo excited when she learned it and has played it non stop since learning it.

4. Talking in bed with Cora about school.

5. The absolutely GORGEOUS weather!!!!

Wed. Smiles

1. Having Aunt Marlene and Uncle David here.

2. Watching Aunt Marlene play with the kids and how the kids adore her:)

3. Cora kept going over and curling up in Marlene's lap and telling her how much she liked her!

4. No humidity or a lot less, it was an absolutely great day outside!!!

5. Pool bday party for one of Ella's friends and both kids had a great time at it. Such fun to watch them in the pool and with friends.

Smiles

1. Watching 5 little friends, my kids included, playing in the water sprouts all giggling and being kids! Oh what fun! Made me want to be a kid again too.

2. Ella and Cora made bday cards for me today cause they ran out of time yesterday. They were very cute and sweet:)

3. Eating local corn on the cob and watermelon for dinner that I got from the farmer's market this morning, YUMMY!!!

4. Talking to Tracey on the phone, she actually called me out of the blue:)

5. Cora asking me how many legs a ladybug had and I said 6, 3 on each side. She tried to count 3 and 3 and came up with 5. So Ella held up 3 fingers on each hand and said here Cora count. Cora then came up with 6 and said "Yup mom you are correct!"

6. Getting out for bit by myself tonight to go to Barnes and Noble to learn a little about my Nook!

Today's Happy

1. All the Happy Birthday wishes I received!

2. The kids telling me how nice the stairs looked after I vaccumed them.

3. Eric surprising me with a Nook! He never surprises me, but he got me this time:)

4. Playing tinkertoys with the kids and watching Cora create with her imagination, today she made a massager:)

5. Running into a friend at the grocery store that I haven't seen in awhile.

6. Going to the mail box and having more cards than bills in fact I don't think there were any bills today, YAY!!!

Little Happies

1. Eating popsicles with my girls outside with a breeze blowing. Why is it grownups don't eat popsicles more? They are fun and remind me of childhood when I had no worries.

2. Cora falling asleep on me after she came down from her nap.

3. Making a stepping stone with the kids.

4. Ella giving my hand kisses then kissing me all over then of course Cora had to join in. Ella then claimed how much she just loved me.

5. Talking to Eric about how to change things in the house so I have a craft area:)

Happy Saturday

1. Sleeping in:)

2. Eric cutting down the tree in the back and it is almost all cleared out of the way!

3. Cora asking in the car about the words to a song "did they just say bacon wheel?" I don't remember what the real words were but they were nothing close to that!!!

4. Physical work outside, not that it was really fun...it was hotter than hot but it did kinda make me feel good to do something physical. I pulled weeds and hauled the big branches from the chopped down tree to a brush pile. Of course I complained but it felt good to do it.

5. Ella snuggled up on my lap half asleep:)

Happy???

1. Watching my sisters video of her son when he was 1 eating bubbles, ADORABLE:)

2. Reading my sister's responses to my blog from yesterday.

3. Watching Ella swim so well today and then jump in the deep and and swim to the side!!! WOO HOO!!!!

4. Hearing Eric's car pull in the driveway. Happy dance inside, I was exhausted relief was here!

5. My 2 kids fighting to lay on me and cuddle with me.

I thought today's were going to be hard but once I sat here and starting writing/typing them out it wasn't so bad. It just felt like a boring blah day. Tomorrow will be better! Oh and I called to ask about the therapist referral the Dr. was suppose to give me. Had to leave a message but hopefully I will here something soon. I guess that should be my #6. I finally called the dr. about the therapist, I felt good about that b/c I have been putting it off and I finally did it today!

Uh Oh A Blah Day

Today's List is going to be tough since I have had more negative than positive but I will try hard.

1. Leah's pure joy and giggles over watching the cat play.

2. A sleeping baby or rather one yr. old on me for a nap.

3. This one shouldn't have caused a smile or happiness but did... Ella getting upset and almost crying when she got beat by the computer in sword fighting on the wii.

4. Cleaning the toilets and mopping the bathroom floor. It is a stretch but it did cause some happiness and self satisfaction cause it looked a whole lot better after I was done!

5. The fact that my shorts are feeling loose, at least looser than last summer.

I have realized from doing this that I really need a life. A life that is more than sitting in my house day after day wondering what it is my life is. I need to find some meaning, something that gives me something to look forward to and something that gives ME happiness besides my kids. What that is, I have no idea and I have no idea how to find it.

Hmmm...

So here it is almost noon and so far it is looking bleak as far as my happy day goes. I guess I better get on the ball and start trying harder to find my happiness.



1. Watching Ella swim by herself across the short end of the pool. THRILLED!!!! Lots of smiles on that one:) :) :)



2.Guess I will keep looking and come back later! Okay so Cora singing "I love you a bushel and a heck and a hug around your neck". Love it every time! Not sure why it is a heck and not a peck but makes me giggle everytime:)

3. Watching Cora kick butt on sword fighting on the wii without having a clue what she is doing!

4. Having toilet paper in the house again. No really we only had one roll and were sharing it between 3 bathrooms, it is the little things in life!!!

5. Talking to a friend and making plans to see her when I get to Michigan.

I made it to five today...this is helping! All day I am looking more for the good and seeing the good even in the little mundane things.

My First Attempt At a Blog!

Ok, this is for my sister:) As a mom of 2 and a person who suffers from depression she wants me to blog and write about things that make me happy/smile each day. I have no idea how to blog. BUT, I think I can write things that make me smile. Today my list:

1. Watching Ella swim with half a noodle across the pool by herself doing her kicking and breathing.

2. Cora in the bath tub checking out her "Nu Nu" and saying it was "complimented" and boys have complimented "Nu Nu's" but they are called a penis.

3. Listening to the sounds of 4 kids laughter in the pool being silly and realizing that that is what childhood should be all about, pure silliness and joy.

4. Talking to my sister on the phone.

That is it for today. Not bad for my first attempt. As you can see...it is all about my kids!