10 happy things about this past week

1.  We made our first visit to the library here.  We love library trips.

 2.  It's a constant struggle for me to find time (MOSTLY a struggle to find motivation) to workout, but with that said, I'm back in my routine.  As much as I try to avoid it, exercise makes me happy.   After years and years of being a member at many, MANY different gyms, (none of which I could ever really get excited about... not the fault of any of the gyms, the gym thing as a whole just isn't my match.)  let me tell you what I have found that seems to work for me.  Once the kids are in bed it's just me and my DVD.  There's no extra time spent driving to and from a class...no extra pairs of eyes to watch me trip up all over my uncoordinated self...no having to coordinate who is going to watch the kids while I'm away.  My clothes don't have to look presentable and the BEST PART OF ALL...I have a nice and quiet and PRIVATE shower that waits just for me when class is over!

3.  Licking the bowl always makes me happy.  This guy too!  Isn't the batter always just better?!

4.  We got a call from Ryan's  old (okay, not OLD...sorry 'bout that Rick!)   previous roommate,  to tell us he and his bride of one week were going to be in San Francisco for a bit before heading home from their honeymoon.  We couldn't be happier for these two and it was such fun spending an evening with them.   We all agreed, however, that San Francisco is EXHAUSTING...and expensive.  I'm not a fan of paying as much for parking as we did for dinner.  I must learn how San Francisco is "done" 'cause we're just not getting it. 

5.  This picture doesn't really need an explanation...it's just happy.

6.  Russell and I have been working with a learning system called "eyeQ phonics" to help him to read.  This being my first time teaching a child all the different sounds that "A" can make (we have a seriously confusing language by the way!) I didn't really know where to start.  I have been super pleased with his progress and feel much more confident with integrating some of my own ideas with it now that I've been guided a little bit.  What a fun stage he is in.  I love this kind of thing and it is so rewarding watching your own child when it just "clicks" for them.  It makes HIM happy and so proud that he's able to put sounds together to make words.  It makes his mama pretty happy and proud too!

7. A couple of ladies from church came for a visit and brought these. 

Aren't they beautiful?   They've been making me smile all week.

8.  I've been eyeing one of these for a year and a half and am happy to report I'm now a proud owner and have used it plenty this week already.  Bring on the beans from food storage!...and bring on the lentil recipes!

9.  Last Sunday we met with our new bishop.  In his office on his desk was a big tub of this stuff.  Russell couldn't take his eyes off it and kept whispering in my ear if he could have one.  After our meeting we asked the bishop and he said that Russell could earn a piece if he came back the next Sunday and recited an Article of Faith.  Licorice has always worked as a great motivator for me!  It seems to do the trick for Russell too!  He got down the first Article of Faith after just a few times through.  We'll see how it goes for him when he goes to report back to the bishop tomorrow to collect his prize! 

10.  We had some pretty yucky stains on our stove from previous tenants.  Thanks to this stuff and a good thirty minute scrub our stove is looking quite lovely.  Happy.  Happy!

Looks like I have another picture so here is

 #11 happy moment of the week. 

 I went to check on the kids after tucking them in one night and found this.  I love that they love their books, even if most of the time Rylee is "reading" hers upside down.  They're allowed to have the light on to read for as long as they'd like just as long as they stay in their beds.  Seems to do the trick! 

The End.  :)