5 (really good) things

1.  I'm off of work for 12 days!  T-W-E-L-V-E   D-A-Y-S!!  With nothing planned beyond getting plenty of exercise, reading, watching a stack of library movies, enjoying time with my daughter, seeing some friends and maybe doing some sewing/jewelry-making/craftiness - we'll see how industrious I get.  But TWELVE DAYS!  Such joy!  Such leisure!

2. My kiddo cracks me up - more and more every day.  For example:  Last Sunday, my church bag was heavier than usual, but I didn't find out the reason until I got home.  My girl had packed herself some 'snacks'.  The photo below is what she chose to bring.  I love trying to figure out how her mind works.  

 

3.  Have you seen the new Squam Art Workshops website?  It's beautiful.  I'm honored to have my story posted, as well as a photo or two.  Some of my very good friends are teaching classes, and I'm so proud of and excited for them and their students.  It's such a wonderful event.  Take a look. 

4.  My week has been downright calm, especially for the usually insane rush before Christmas.  Since I had everything done early, I have been able to enjoy a random evening with my favorite Alisha, and lunch with G Love.   Grocery shopping is done, all presents are wrapped, and all lists Tomorrow will be spent at the movies and baking cookies with Riley.  Not a bad way to spend my pre-Christmas days, huh?

5.  After a month of a nasty inversion, the air cleared and the sun made an appearance yesterday!  I snapped this photo out my car window, while on my way to meet G for lunch.   The blue skies are making me so happy today!  Now, if we can just get some snow so I can ski and snowshoe....

 

What's good in your world?

Gratitude Friday

Today, I'm grateful for:

*Feeling like things in my home life are clicking along, all is well with me and my Girl.
*Her ever expanding vocabulary, which currently has acquired the phrases "please speak to good purpose" and "I'm owning my actions."
*Dedicated and talented preschool teachers who teach her these phrases (and so much more.)
*Figuring out how to fit baking my own bread into my schedule. I find the entire process so soothing and gratifying.

*Riley's increasing willingness to try new vegetables.
*Finding peace and contentment within the walls of my own home.
*Seeing my friend realize big dreams.
*This announcement means I'll be gainfully employed for the next three years (really proud and excited to be working on this.) 
*The newly renovated hot tub in the basement of my building.
*only 8 more days until Christmas, and then I can stash this holiday away for a year (all things considered, it hasn't been too bad.)
*contemplative evenings with my journal - I'm un-inviting some things into 2012. 
*my upcoming 12 days off work- I have no major plans, no major projects, no traveling - I'm just going to do what calls to me. 

Right Now: What I love about her

Her sweet, helpful heart.  She's very thoughtful and is often on the lookout for ways to help others.  She asks me often whether there is a job I need her to do or a way she can help me.  I am so happy to be raising a little one who can see past herself and is learning the value of giving to others. 

Her friendly spirit.  We live in a condo building and have some great neighbors, and if Riley had her way, she'd visit each of them at least once a day.   She says Hello to anyone who makes eye contact with her, and smiles at every passerby.   More than once, I've had someone stop to tell me her smile made their day.  It's a gift I hope she continues to give to others. 

Her active imagination.  Today our hallway was a pirates' cove, chock full of alligators.  We had to jump and leap to get through safely.  Yesterday, my bed was the inside of a rocket ship and she was getting ready to fly to the moon.  She is, on any given evening, a princess, a dancer, a doctor or maybe (to my personal wonderment) an orphan.  Her imaginative play is so much fun to observe, and even more fun to be a part of.  I love seeing what she'll come up with next.

 Her silly personality.  She has a great sense of humor, tells goofy stories and loves playing practical jokes.  She hides my keys and tells me, very innocently, that maybe I'm going crazy, or will sneak in and shut off the lights when I'm taking a shower.  Life isn't dull with her around. 

Her inquisitive mind.   The questions are endless with this one, and I find myself looking up random things to satisfy her - the latest:  how hot popcorn kernels need to be to pop (about 356 F, FYI.)  I love that she wants to know about the world around her and is willing to keep asking and wondering until it makes sense to her.

Her sassy, confident attitude.   I've heard her tell herself, while staring in the mirror, that she is the prettiest, smartest, funniest (insert complimentary adjective here) girl she knows.  I love that she thinks this about herself (I agree with her!) and that she hasn't yet learned to be hard on herself or to dwell on her shortcomings.  I hope this is something she holds on to for her whole life.

Her loving, giving soul.  I can't count the number of times she tells me each day that she loves me, or that I'm her favorite mama, or that she thinks I'm so, so, so, so pretty (yes, I love this. I"ll admit it. )  I see her treat others kindly and often hear her say nice things to strangers and friends alike.  She hugs easily and shows affection constantly.  Her sweetness is one of the things I cherish about her right now. 

Fa-la-la-la-la

If you know me, you probably have heard me complain about the Holidays.  I don't really like them.  It's not that I have anything against celebrations or Santa or playing in the snow or the birth of Christ.   I love all of those things.  What I hate is the madness, the busy-ness, the tension, the focus on money and consumerism and 'stuff', and the things i dislike seem to be taking over the things I love.   It stresses me out and makes me irritable, right in the middle of a season that is supposed to be filled with joy and cheer.

Fa-la-la-la-la la-la-freakin'-la.

So...this year, I decided to make the season as positive as I could by getting rid of as much of the stuff I dislike about the holidays, and focusing on what I like and what I enjoy.  So, I made sure my Christmas shopping was done before Thanksgiving.  I made a list and I have stuck with it.  I set a budget and didn't budge (hehe) from it.  I decided which of the holiday parties and social events I will attend, and which I will respectfully decline.  And I am really trying to make sure that the things I do that keep me sane (working out, eating well, getting enough sleep, seeing my friends) aren't sacrificed to the cause of those that make me insane.

I can't say that I'm completely in the Christmas Spirit (that would be an outright lie) but I'm not a complete downer about it, either. So far, I've enjoyed helping watching Riley decorate our tree- all the ornaments are clustered on two branches- and I'm helping with some clothing drives, which is rewarding.  Riley has a short list of Christmas things she wants to do (Go see Santa, enjoy the lights at Temple Square, etc.) and other than that, we're trying to stay on our routine as much as possible.

It's just a few weeks out of the year, and I'll get through them happily enough.  But I will say that the spa day that I 'heard' Santa will be leaving for me - well, it's doing it's part in keeping my spirits bright.