list three things every day that made me happy

1. Ramona peed in the potty three times today! This is momentous.

2. Danced some with Ramona. That girl has some moves. Her favorite song is “I Like to Move It” from “Madagascar.”

3. A. brought home a self-esteem building worksheet from her Human Growth and Development class where she’d completed several sentences. Lots of sweet things in there, including “Ramona loves me”; “Mom always makes me feel good about myself”; and “The person I look up to most is M.”

4. Turned on my cell phone today to find that M had changed my welcome message to say “I love you Mom—M.”

5. Great walk on the treadmill, and I didn’t get to do it until P got home, which usually means I don’t get around to it at all.

1. Mother-daughter book club (M & I are in it) was great. It helped that it was a book I loved (Life as We Knew It)
But it was also one of the best discussions we’ve ever had. We discussed the book nearly the entire time, for over two hours!

2. Warm day! It got up to about 40 today. Felt like spring! So much like spring in fact that I felt compelled to buy some tulips when I went grocery shopping. Tomorrow it’s supposed to snow, but the tulips will still be on the table.

3. Finished the socks I was knitting, the first pair I’ve ever knitted for myself. They fit great, and I love them!

1. Took A to get her ears pierced, something she’d wanted for a very long time. The earrings look very cute on her, and we had time to hit a couple of stores M wanted to visit too before P and Ramona met us for lunch.

2. In last night’s forensics meet, M did very well. In a normal year she’d have easily gone to the state tournament. Unfortunately, the forensics program was poorly run this year and the team didn’t get signed up for enough meets for M to qualify. But I’m still very proud of her.

3. Found a stuffed Pigeon at the bookstore. When you squeeze it it says, “Let me drive the bus!” The Pigeon will be in Ramona’s Easter basket.

4. Colored my hair. Put it off too long this time, so it was much needed.

1. Worked with A on her project some more. Fun stuff, choosing pictures to send with her to school and helping her write memories about each year of her life for her First Decade of Life project. Lots of laughing and sweetness over what a cute little girl she was (and is).

2. Ramona peed in the potty today, so I got her the heart balloon I’d promised for potty use. I made the offer when heart balloons were plentiful, and was starting to worry that they’d be completely gone (or else restocked for next Valentine’s Day) before she used the potty. But she went today, and I found a heart-shaped balloon for 90% off!

3. During the night, in her sleep, Ramona said, “I don’t want to play Guitar Hero!” Has P been forcing her to jam with him?

4. After being quiet for a long time, Ramona said, “And the little engine went to the top of the hill! . . . . Can we read The Little Engine that Could?” And I didn’t even think she was listening when we read it yesterday. I guess a person can listen and yell CHOO CHOO! CHOO CHOO! at the top of her lungs.
3.

1. A. felt better today and went to school. I’m glad she’s feeling better.

2. Ramona lovesDon’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems, a book I love too. It’s becoming a several-times-per-day requirement.

3. I made risotto with peas and asparagus for dinner tonight. Unbelievably yummy, and so easy in the rice cooker.

1. Took Ramona to gym class for the first time in a couple of weeks. Last week she was sick, and the week before that, P didn’t have to work and he took her so I could run errands. For some reason halfway through class she demanded to go home, and after discussing it with her, I complied. But up until then she seemed to be having a great time. She’s getting pretty great on the balance beam.

2. I usually read for an hour or so in bed before falling asleep, but instead I knitted and listened to the “Stash and Burn” podcast. I don’t know whether it was the change of pace or the uninterrupted knitting time, but it made me really really happy.

3. Watched a few Simpsons episodes with A, who was home sick.

1. Knitting circle was fun. Four of us there, and a pretty lively group.

2. Out of nowhere Ramona said, “Daddy wants to be a Guitar Hero. I want to be a Guitar Hero too.” But when I asked her if she wanted to play Guitar Hero, she said, “No, fanks.”

3. Music class was fun, as always. I was sorry that Ramona refused to get a snack next door at the coffee shop with a couple of music class friends, and I was puzzled that she also refused to go to the library after class. But I’m glad she was able to tell me what she really wanted to do (Home! Let’s go HOME!) instead of waiting till we got somewhere and throwing a fit.

1. Looked at old pictures with A for a school project she’s working on. What an adorable baby and toddler A was! I especially enjoyed all the pictures where she was playing dress-up, and the one where she got up before anyone else and emptied a can of Ovaltine onto the floor and was eating it.

2. Ramona sat willingly on the potty twice. Nothing happened, but willing potty sitting is a plus.

3. Walked on the treadmill for my 275th workout. I really really hope I can find a way to continue exercising.

1. Exercised for the third day in a row. I’m trying so hard to get back into the routine. It feels so good to work out.
2. P fixed the toilet in the kids’ bathroom. It had been running for hours at a time each time it was flushed, and it turned out to have several broken and worn out parts. P replaced them and now everything seems fine. I’m so grateful to have a husband handy enough to just go fix something like that.
3. After hearing P and me play Guitar Hero, Ramona was singing “Slow Ride” by Foghat. She changed the lyrics a bit: “Slow ride, take an engine!” and sometimes “Soup bye, take an engine.”

1. P drove us to Costco so I got to knit all the way there and back. Boy, did I need that knitting time.

2. Ramona didn’t take a nap, which was unfortunate, but when P and I both laid down to try to get her to nap, she was hilarious. She kept jumping on us and at us, and singing, and counting her fingers and toes, and talking about what letters start what words. Eventually we gave up, which meant she fell asleep a bit earlier than usual and slept until 8 a.m.!

3. Watched the rest of Season 5 of Curb Your Enthusiasm with P after Ramona fell asleep. We might have to get HBO once we’ve finished watching what Netflix has.