Happiness Week 15

I've been wondering the last week or so what would these posts look like if I decided to photograph what makes me unhappy each day? It's an interesting thought. (Of course it wouldn't make good blogging material that's for sure.) Sometimes it would be easy....the day Ainsley drew on my computer monitor, the mess of kids toys scattered about right after I clean the house, the piles of laundry that need to be done, the thousands of weeds that need to be pulled. But more often the things that make us unhappiest can't be seen and are hidden inside our heads. Luckily though that's not the nature of my project. Still, even though it's easier to photograph the happy things in life, it not easy. My days are busy and this project is a challenge on many levels.

So on that note here it is.......

What Made Me Happy - Week 15

04/09 Shepherd's Pie

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I'm learning things about myself doing this project. One is that quite often food makes me happy. I don't know about you but my whole family loves Shepherd's Pie. I love it every single night that we have dinner as a family and not.a.single.person groans and says "Awwhhhh!" when I announce "what's for dinner".

04/10 Goodwill Finds

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I LOVE the hunt for treasures. If I had the time to shop estate sales I would do it all the time. Next best is the Goodwill on Dearborn. It's more like a giant garage sale than estate sale but I did pick up some treasures when I went there today while I was in Seattle for a dental appointment. I've been wanting some soup mugs and "whattadayaknow" there they were! The sweet Asian teacups with miniature inlaid hearts I didn't need but had to have.  I also found an adorable antique shabby chic end table for $20 that I think I'm going to use in my dining room.  "Retail therapy" can be fun on occasion I just wish the effects were longer lasting, even when it is cheap.

4/11 Orchid Bloom

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Some people like to treat themselves to fresh flowers in their home. I like to buy orchids instead because it's a better value since the blooms last for months but it's always so sad when they finally wither and fall off. I always hope my orchid will re-flower but I've never been able to get that to happen. Let's face it, an orchid plant without the flower just isn't as nice. I was so super excited when my last orchid re-bloomed! I wish I could take credit for this mini-miracle but I think it's just in a better location at the new house. By a window in the kitchen, and it happens to be above the instant hot water tap, which I think makes it ideally warm. Just maybe this will be the last orchid I have to buy.

  04/12 Measuring for SMOs

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Ainsley has been faithfully wearing her rigid AFOs to school every day but when she gets home she cries until we take them off. I fought to get a prescription for SMOs to use when she's relaxing at home. After much consideration we decided to try SureSteps because we have friends whose kids love them.  I LOVE that they are custom but no casting is required. They are made to treat instability due to low tone pronation which is exactly what we need. With any luck we will have them in a few weeks and I'll do a whole post about them.

 04/13 Playing on the Grass

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Our old house had a very small patch of grass in the back yard. It was a 9ft circle and was more decorative than useful. I was so happy today when my kids were able to have neighborhood friends over after school and play outside. On the grass. And it was even better because Ainsley wanted to play too and she wheeled right out there in her walker. That is one of the many reasons why we bought this house, I'd hoped she would some day be able to play in the yard and it's looking like she will.

04/14 Playing Dolls with the Girls

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I need to take the time to play with the kids more often. It was a beautiful day and it was so nice to spend a short while in our pajamas on the patio dressing Evie's dolls before we headed to Adrian's baseball game.

04/15 Children Helpers

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I try to instill a work ethic whenever I can. After all it's a fact of life is that we must work to earn a living and to get what we want in life. (I don't want my kids to go into shock when they venture out into the world as young adults and reality hits.)  My area of focus for April is the yard. I could say it's to connect with nature but that is really glorifying the situation. We have massive amounts of weeding and pruning to do and not enough time to do it. I want my yard to look good so I've got to get to work. So we've been paying Evie and Adrian $1 an hour to keep Ainsley happy so we can work. Today after Adrian was done watching Ainsley he decided he wanted to help us. For free, he didn't even try to negotiate payment. It was so sweet, but what was even cuter was that Ainsley decided she wanted to help too. In years past she wouldn't even go on the grass because of sensory issues. Today she crawled across the grass out into the pine needles to help rake up pine cones. We were amazed and thrilled.

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I hope you have a funner week than I will. I have spent so many hours on my hands and knees that I can barely stand up straight or walk. I wish I could pace myself but if I do it won't get done and the weeds will just spread. In fact that is the problem, I am now paying the price for last year's neglect. Later this week we have a consultation at Children's Hospital for Physical Therapy. I'm hoping to hear back about the AAC device, SMO's, and make all the final arrangements for our medical trip to Cincinnati next month.

To view a slideshow of the entire Happiness Photo Project click here. Confused about what this is or why I'm doing it? Click here for an explanation of what it's all about.