Finding Joy Friday

Here's a short rundown of what's making me happy happy this week:

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - super-delicious recipe in the latest issue of Cooking Light.

Black-Eyed Susans and Goldenrod - maybe, just maybe the weather is finally going to turn and fall will arrive. I hope so; it's my favorite season.

Cannonball! - this is what Jack yells as he leaps from pillow mountains. You'd really have to hear a recording to get the full effect.

More artwork from Amelia

Ray's dimples - I love seeing his dimple when he smiles and I love that our son has one in the same place.

What's making you happy?

Beleagured Ken or Mauled Horse - What's a Mom To Do?

Jack and I were building Lincoln Log houses tonight until a dinosaur destroyed the stable and ate the horse alive - again and again. Jack squealed with delight as his plastic dinosaur growled and slobbered (well, if plastic could slobber, this dino would have) over the tiny Lincoln Log horse. Almost incoherent with giggling, my boy would say, "You be the horse, Mama! You be the horse!" Over and over, my little horse would run away from the evil dinosaur only to be caught and devoured.

In the middle of the carnage, I realized that if Amelia and I were playing together, she'd be forcing me to be Ken, the constantly nagged, put-upon husband/boyfriend. (Please God, I hope she's not modeling this on my relationship with Ray. Please.) Sometimes I'm also the "Grandma Barbie" or the babysitter.

If you get right down to it, whatever the kids are playing, I'm getting the worst of it. But you know what, I love it. I really, really do, and not because Barbie's going to banish me to the junkyard (no kidding, this has happened to Ken before) or because I'm going to be eaten alive by a dinosaur.

Finding Joy Friday

What is it about the week after a holiday? We drove up to Birmingham for the weekend and had a nice visit with Ray's parents. But I feel like I've been playing catch-up ever since we got back home.

In the midst of stressing about a messy house, the pile of clothes headed to the consignment sale that still need tags, and other chores, this regular Friday post is a good reminder for me. So, here's a short list of what has made me happy this week:

• Meals in the freezer
• Artwork from both kids
• Hugs
• Slightly cooler weather over Labor Day weekend
• Solo trip to the library
• Knitting (maybe I'll manage a blog post next week about some projects on the needles)

Wishing everyone a sweet and joyful week ahead.

Finding Joy Friday

So what brought you happiness this week?

For me, it was this picture I found on Amelia's bed the other morning. She couldn't sleep and drew it in the middle of the night. Her artwork always makes me smile, but this one was over the top. I'm loving this yellow dress (I don't even own a yellow dress, but maybe I should?). I think the hair color was influenced by her first grade teacher's hair. And the random head with earbuds and iPod - hilarious. You might not be able to see it in the picture, but I have six fingers on each hand. I love that, too.

But what I really love is that in about seven years I can remind her that once, along time ago, she loved my "fashin." How cool is that?

Wishing you many joyful moments in the coming week.