Take in the Beauty

I've said before here that taking photos makes me appreciate the beauty all around me a bit more.  But, really, folks.  Taking photos?  Makes me appreciate the beauty all around me.

Take, for instance, the amazing and wonderful New Year's Day party my friends Kirsten and Ben threw yesterday.  It was altogether a grand experience--good food, great friends, fun for the kids, outside where we could experience nature--all kinds of relaxing goodness.

But because I happened to have my camera in hand, I think I got to notice so many tiny beautiful moments that maybe not everyone else at the party was able to see.  Like a quiet tiny girl with wispy hair gathering pecans.  And a boy wielding a stick rather gracefully.  And sweet toddlers hugging their mama's legs before they ventured out toward the band of older kids.  And the bliss of being about to slide.  And also, grown ups enjoying their conversation.  Grown ups staring at fires.  Grown ups catching babies before they fell, without even thinking about it.   Just a protective instinct.

The Weepies sing, "All this beauty, you might have to close your eyes.  And slowly open wide."  And it's so true.

So, happy, happy New Year!  Enjoy each little moment of 2012!

How do you remind yourself to be in the moment, and to take in the good parts of your life?

Jump on Trampolines

Gretchen Rubin (of Happiness Project fame) says that jumping up and down can bring you a quick happiness boost, and I have to say, I agree.

We visited our friends Heather and Chuck, and their gorgeous kids last weekend, and they have a brand new trampoline!  The kids had so much fun jumping!  And I even got up there in my little sweater dress and jumped!  (Luckily no one snapped any pics of that!)  And it really did boost my happiness!  Maybe it was because I was following my happiness resolution to "Be Silly, Have Fun," or maybe it really is just fun to jump.  Either way, now I'm thinking that I need to look into used trampolines for the back yard!

And isn't baby girl just the cutest thing in the world???  I didn't want to put her down.  Ever.



Would you feel silly jumping in place, or would you be willing to try it for an endorphin boost? 

Be Silly; Have Fun

My happiness commandment #4 is, "Be silly; have fun."  When I pause in my whirlwind of chores and work and general busy-ness, and remember to follow my happiness commandments, this is the one commandment that I think does the most to make my relationship with Flanna stronger.

And I think that being silly together creates bonds between Flanna and her friends, too.

Take, for instance, Pajama day at Flanna's school last week.  The kiddos (and even Flanna's teacher!) wore their PJs to school last Thursday as part of a special Polar Express party celebration, and it was such a cute bonding experience for all of them!  They gasped at one another as they came into school that morning (I made sure to come into her classroom to snap pics!) and just laughed and grinned.  Flanna  was visibly beaming, and her sweet classmates were, too!

How can you be more lighthearted during this holiday season?

We found a turtle!

This morning, Flannery and her Poppa found a turtle out in the yard.  Flanna made it a nice little habitat for the day (we'll release it this evening) and has been watching its every move.  After it sat hiding in its shell for about 45 minutes, we finally got smart and offered it some fruit and lettuce, and it started to explore.  Flannery named the turtle Fuschia, and Fuschia has seemed to most enjoy laying in her water bowl.

Flanna's been taking notes in a tiny notebook, just like a real scientist, recording her observations of the turtle.  Here's what she wrote:

It walks.
It sits in water.
It eats.
It pokes its head out.

And that is about all Fuschia seems to want to do.  Sounds like a pretty good life to me.

What did you love to study/observe when you were a kid?  I used to love to watch my dogs, and to follow them wherever they'd go in the woods.  They found the neatest cool mossy places, creeks, and cool rocks to lie on.  

My Life in Pictures: Party Time!

Flannery's school had its end of the year party yesterday.  When the director, Mastaneh, throws a party, she reeeeally throws a party!  There were some bounce houses, an ice cream truck with free ice cream, a popcorn machine, face painting, yummy food, a DJ, and even goody-bags for the kids.  We had a wonderful time!

Indigo has been a great school for Flannery, and we're going to miss everyone there!

The ice cream made everyone feel like a kid again!

She chose a unicorn for her face-painting

Flannery with her teacher, Ms. Angelique

Flannery with her teacher, Ms. Jennifer

Flanna with her teacher, Ms. Sarah

What was your favorite ice cream from the ice cream truck when you were a kid?

Funny Flanna Quotes

Listening to her new Tangled (Rapunzel) soundtrack as we snuggled at bedtime:
"Mom, can I get out of bed for a minute? Because I just HAVE to dance to this song."

Flanna:  "Mom, was I white when I was born?"
Me:  "You mean your skin?"
Flanna:  "Yeah."
Me:  "Yes, you've always had white skin."
Flanna:  "Then why didn't you name me blanco?"

Dancing to the Tangled soundtrack:
"This is my pony dance.  It's a dance for slow and beautiful songs."

Cuddling before bedtime:
Flanna:  How do we know there are gold streets in heaven?
Me:  Well, we don't really know for sure.  We just take our ideas of it from the people who wrote the Bible.
Flanna:  But how do they know?  Did they die and go to heaven and come back?
Me:  No, I don't think so.  I think God just told them.
Flanna:  How did He tell them?
Me:  Sometimes God talks to people.  Do you ever hear God talk to you?
Flanna:  No.  He just listens to me.
Me:  He listens when you pray, yeah.
Flanna:  And He listens when I make a wish.
Me:  Oh, that too, yeah.
Flanna:  (whispering) But one time, I wished for a unicorn.  And God didn't give it to me.
Me:  Oh, you wanted a unicorn?
Flanna: Yeah, to ride to school on.  So you wouldn't have to walk me.  I could just go by myself, and then it could ride back with me after school and I could be home when you get home. 
Me:  Wow, that would be neat.  Well, maybe God won't give you a unicorn now, but maybe it will be waiting for you up in heaven with your mansion. 
Flanna:  Yeah, but it would be fun to ride it to school now. 

(That last conversation just happened as I put Flannery to bed.  Otherwise, I never would've remembered the whole thing.  That kid is such a thinker.  I just love her.)


What made you laugh this week?

Cute Cousins

These girls love one another so much.  It's so sweet to see them together.