Happiness Is...

happiness is having Graham delightedly exclaim, "We're working together!" as he, Rosie, & I fold a crepe paper streamer

Happiness Is...

happiness is a cashmere sweater

Happiness Is...

happiness is hearing Rosie say, "You're my friend."

Happiness Is...

happiness is Cami's excitement as she plans her birthday party

Happiness Is...

happiness is harvesting rose hips on a sunny November day

Happiness Is...

happiness is listening to Rosie sing to herself

Happiness Is...

happiness is being friends with Jason

Happiness is...

happiness is a mixed handful of caramel and salty popcorn

Happiness is...

happiness is Cami's excitement at seeing Gracie take her first real crawling "steps"

Happiness Is...

happiness is pulling on warm clothes that have been drying in the airing cupboard

Happiness Is...

happiness is seeing Gracie's delight as she makes friends with the baby in the mirror

Happiness Is...

happiness is seeing an unexpected (and unfamiliar) bird outside the kitchen window

Happiness Is...

happiness is reading blog messages from loved ones far away

House Rules

Some childless friends stopped by recently and saw the "House Rules" posted in the kitchen. One of them observed, "Those wouldn't work in our house."

Here they are:

1. Only Say Kind Things
2. Only Do Kind Things
3. Inside Voices
4. Listen More
5. Do It Now!

The first three are mostly for the kids, the last two are mostly for me.

Yesterday was chaos because I didn't obey #5.

Graham had asked me to hang out with him in the family room, rather than doing my typical morning routine. Because I agreed, we were rushed getting everybody out the door for school, I didn't look at the calendar & totally forgot that Cami had a dance exam until she asked, "When's my dance test?" (as it was starting -- talk about a panic moment but it all ended ok), and I spaced it that a couple of friends were stopping by in the evening.

So, I got up when I woke up at 5 and got started on all those things I didn't do yesterday morning. Things feel much better. Now, to combine #4 & #5, I'm going to help Graham make pancakes.

Happiness Is...

happiness is having Gracie sleep in my arms

Happiness Is...

happiness is six months with this little girl

Happiness is...

happiness is laughing with the kids -- and then having Jason tell me that hearing us was a "happiness is" moment for him

Happiness Is...

happiness is showing Rosie that the lettuce seeds we planted earlier this week are sprouting

Happiness Is...

happiness is watching Gracie trying to figure out how to crawl

Happiness Is...

happiness is having a friend take the kids to school when someone is unwell -- thank you, Kate!

Happiness Is...

happiness is seeing Cami's face when I tell her what a good job she did in her school assembly

Happiness Is...

happiness is hearing Graham say he loves his school teacher

Happiness is...

happiness is having a dishes fairy (aka a dish washing machine) work its magic

Happiness Is...

happiness is being able to share our new home with friends

Happiness is...

happiness is hearing Cami say "thank you"

Happiness is...

happiness is going for a walk through the fields with a friend (thanks Bethany!)

Happiness Is...

happiness is watching Rosie as she performs her newest composition among the trees: I seem to be lost, I seem to be lost

Happiness is...

happiness is listening to Cami & a school friend giggling in the backseat of the car

Happiness is...

happiness is Gracie's smile when I get her out of bed