The Happiness Project :: Sshhhhh...

...everybody's sleeping.  Except me of course, but that's by choice.  Everybody else in my house is still sawing logs.  Usually we'd all be up and screaming at each other by now.  You know, the hectic morning drill.  But not this week.  That's because my kiddos get the whole week of Thanksgiving off.  Which means no morning madness for us this week.  That makes me very VERY happy.

What about you?  Share your happiness over at Leigh vs. Laundry.  And have a very happy Thanksgiving!

The Happiness Project :: Insomnia

Hey, sometimes insomnia comes in handy...like last night when I realized, after staring at the ceiling fan above my bed for about 45 minutes, that I'd completely forgotten the Tooth Fairy's scheduled appointment with the little guy sleeping in the room directly above that ceiling fan.  Whew!  Dodged a bullet there!

Oh, and now that it's the morning after, I'm also happy for this stuff.  The little bottle doesn't lie, people.

And you?  What are you happy for?  Join the fun over at Leigh vs. Laundry, wont you? 

The Happiness Project :: The End of Soccer Season

It's Tuesday!  And not just any Tuesday.  It's the 1st Tuesday in...well...in a long time that we don't have any soccer practices.  Tuesdays have been my day from hell ever since school started.  The whole day was consumed with shuttling one kid here the other kid there.  Then back to get the kid from here to there and then off to get the other kid from there to here.  Ugh!  It's been brutal.  I never did figure out when to squeeze dinner in.  We all just kind of went hungry on Tuesdays.  And now it's OVER!  At least until Basketball season starts.

What's making you happy today?  Join The Happiness Project over at Leigh vs. Laundry and tell us all about it.

The Happiness Project :: Nobody

That's right.  Nobody's making me happy today.  And I have no picture to prove it.

What, you say!  Has she lost her mind?!  This is The Happiness Project.  You can't just post that nothing's making you happy today.  Just don't put up a post at all if that's the way you feel about things.

Oh, relax people!  Don't misunderstand.  I'm happy.  Very happy, actually.  Because I have nobody today.  Nobody in my house, that is.  No work-at-home husband dirtying dishes faster then I can get them washed.  No kiddos hey-mommy'ing me to death.  NOoobody.  And I'm ecstatic about it!

Oh, alright.  Since this really is a picture project, I'll post a picture of something else that's making me happy:

I'm really happy that this it the last one of these in my house.  I made 8 dozen Halloween-shaped sugar cookies last week and this is the very last one.  It's been expertly decorated by my Ladybug.  There's about 1/4" of icing under all those sprinkles.  And I'm gonna eat it.  Right now.  To get it out of my sight.  I'm sure I'll live to regret my decision, but I'm gonna do it anyway.

And what's making you happy today?  Pop on over to Leigh vs. Laundry and tell us all about it, why don't ya.

The Happiness Project :: A Beautifully Illustrated Children's Book

 

I'm a sucker for children's books.  I started my collection long before The Man talked me into having kids.  For the most part I'm pretty picky about the quality of the story/writing/message, but I'll make an exception for a book that's beautifully illustrated.  The images in Augustus and his Smile are so scrumptious I think I could live off them.  Oh, to be able to draw like that!  And the story's sweet, to boot. 

Augustus the tiger has lost his smile. He goes on a journey to find it, and discovers it's right there under his nose - when he does things that he enjoys. As a person who loses her own smile from time to time, I appreciate the simple reminder.

So what's making you smile today?  I hope you'll hop, skip and jump on over to Leigh vs. Laundry and share a little of your happiness today.  Oh, and please, take a look at Catherine Rayner's amazing illustrations.  I'm sure you'll find something there to put a smile on your face...whether or not you've temporarily displaced yours.

A note to Ms. Rayner:

If by chance you stumble upon this post, you will know that I did not ask your permission to to use your lovely Augustus.  I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me rather than sue me.  We have been leaning upon him these last few days, and I just had to share him with my little corner of the world.

The Happiness Project :: Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow (An Oxymoron)

Dear Slinky,

I am happy that that stupid coyote only got eight of your nine lives.

I am happy that a half crazy and very boisterous country vet declared, ‘We can fix her!’

I am happy that you were a fighter.

I am happy that I couldn’t bear the thought of putting you back in that barn where I found you.

I am happy that you were too mangy and scrappy and squirrelly and stinky for anyone to adopt.

I am happy that your scavenging rid my garage of its mouse problem – even if the same habit did result in other more complicated situations…like the time you got the spine from my salmon steak lodged on your canine teeth.

I am happy that you were not a “yacky” cat like the other two high falutin' pedigreed city cats you shared the house with. It’s hard to believe that in so many years I can count the furballs on two hands.

I am happy that the other two high falutin' pedigreed city cats taught you to talk - even though your voice was a bit shrill.

I am happy that the move to California didn’t kill you.

I am happy that the addition of two hairless apes and a move back to Texas didn’t kill you either.

I am happy that, at the end of the day, when the noise died down and the lights were low that you trusted me enough to snuggle up on my lap - even though you never completely lost your feral instincts.

I am happy that, although you knew the food supply was bountiful, you still felt the need to taunt, kill, and hoard your treats.

I am happy that on every vacation we took, the nervous look in the eyes of every bird, squirrel, and rabbit we passed reminded us of you -- and always will.

I am happy for the 15 years we had together.

I am happy for the millions of belly laughs you gave me.

I am happy that you are no longer laboring for each breath.

I am happy that you purred in my lap on the drive to the vet’s this morning.

I am sad…very sad, that you will not be sleeping next to me tonight, but I am happy that I found you and that you found me on that hot Texas day so many years ago.

Thank you, Sweet Slinky-Do, for bringing me so much joy.
 
 
 
Believe it or not, this kinda sad post was brought to you by Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project.  Sometimes the things that bring us the most joy also bring us sorrow.  I hope your day was filled with joy.  And if it wasn't...well, I hope you can find the joy in your sorrow.
 

The Happiness Project :: Spent Ammo

Water balloon carcasses:

Evidence of a hard fought battle where both sides were victorious.

 

What's making you happy today?  This post is usually hosted by Leigh over at Leigh vs. Laundry, but she's got a sick baby today -- which is definitely not something to be happy about.  But you should check out her Happiness Project anyway.  Because it really is a very happy project.  And while you're there, drop Leigh a comment with some good mojo for her ailing little one.  A little positive energy goes a long way.  Oh!  And before you leave, let me know what's making you happy today.  I care.  Really!