The Happy Pages

Gabriel is finally able to say his own name. The sounds have always made it too hard. Gabriwo he says now. The closest he’s ever gotten.I didn’t realize it would be so tough to say or write when we picked it.

He also says he wants to write his name, although he’s such a perfectionist that he hates to do things he can’t do write and keeps giving up. But yesterday, I sat down with him and wrote out his name. I started on the G, but just asking him to copy the letter was too hard. Instead I showed him the proper way to hold the pencil and also we practiced drawing circles. In the end, he had success with a lowercase g instead of the uppercase G and managed a couple of wiggly “g”s. Then he said he wanted to try the A, because that was more fun, so we worked on a couple of “A”s also wiggly. Then he got tired, and that was fine, because he did a bunch, and I told him how many things he had learned in those few minutes, even if he hadn’t managed to write his name yet.

And Ivy peed in the potty TWICE. She usually sits on the potty and doesn’t pee. I should really step up the potty training, but I’ve been expecting to move for so long, that I keep putting it off for the move, and then the move keeps getting delayed so I could have done the potty training way back when. Well, maybe I should just do it anyway. I’ll probably end up with a girl who refuses diapers but has no control on a flight across country. Ah. but this is the happy pages so let’s just ignore that.

Getting things done yesterday. Remarkable how accomplished mopping the floor makes one feel.

The multivitamin is working. I have more energy although I still can’t wake up easily.

My creativity chapter is starting to take form. Yay for journals.

Woke up to G playing Harmonica in his room. It was kind of nice, even though he can’t play, and I could ignore it until I wanted to wake up.

G then came into bed with me. He’s finally figured how to work a doorknob and we cuddled until one of the littles forced me awake.

Dancing with the kids. First to Sesame Street (Ivy loves to dance) then to some Dan Zanes. How we cut the rug all the way around the room.

Felt very productive at nap today. Did some cleaning, some posting, made some important emails. Sometimes, I feel like I have a handle on things, just a little.

I liked my daily paintings from the night before. And I did TWO, which I’d never done before.

I dropped off the kids with Grandpa and me and my mom went to search out bargains, estate sales and that perfect treasure.

I had 24$ to spend. I made off like a bandit.

I got
a tiny canvas tote bag for a purse for Ivy
2 cool beanie babies (a black panther and an octopus)
2 tank tops
3 antique frames, tiny.
2 pyrex dishes, small, rectangular, and bright orange/red.
1 plastic bead necklace, dark blue
1 chunky metal ring necklace
4 videos for the kids, including the Little Mermaid and some Noggin shows and a Scooby Doo
and the piece de resistance
1 antique Duaflex II camera so I can play with cool effects using Through the Viewfinder technique.

To top it all off, my mom bought me the hat in the picture as an early birthday present. It cost almost as much as my entire haul. (22$, still a bargain.)

This trip reminded me of my love of thrifting. I even took pictures of things I thought were beautiful but had no place/use for. Kind of like going on a photo safari.

Plus, it reminded me that I want to wear clothes that reflect my style again. It’s been a long time.

Who doesn’t love Sesame Street? Nobody in this house. We spent the whole hour dancing and counting and laughing

Singing songs at bedtime. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Row Row Row your boat, Mares Eat Oats, and I tossed in a little Moon Shadow.

Dancing the wiggle dance in the garden.

G and Ivy hiding together in the garden, drinking their milk.

The drawing I did last night, my little witchie poos on their night out.

Showing the kids my drawings.

It made me happy to go through every single last goal on my list and take stock of where I was and what I was up to.

I’s been busy.

Miss you guys. Miss my three happy things a day.

But I have been doing better about paying attention to happy things, and I decided it is better for me to write occasional posts about happiness than to feel guilty about not doing my everyday posts.

I’ve got to go and paint a picture now.

That has made me happy, that the painting has come back.

It’s been 4 years since I’ve painted for real. Now I’ve got to go tend that business.

Saw Hellboy II and it was great. Much better than #1. You forget that this is the same director who did Pan’s Labyrinth, and then you watch and you’re like, “oooooohhhh!” It’s good to see a movie you love. It doesn’t happen often.

Hugs from Ivy at bed time, she hangs on tight and pats. Nothing quite like it.

Ivy likes to be tucked in now. I tell her to get in her crib and get comfortable and I will tuck her in, so she lays down and squonches up until she’s happy and I put the blanket on her.

G is getting better at potty. No accidents today!

G discovered how to take photos with my digital camera and spent a half hour wandering the garden snapping away. Oh the big smile on his face.

We made birthday cards for the kids’ Uncle E. It was my new project with geometric construction paper scraps. I painted their papers with glue and they put the scraps down. I made something that looked like balloons or flowers. G made a car. He was very happy with his car. I bet he won’t want to give it to his uncle.

Dinner was yummy. Whole wheat pasta with shrimp, mushrooms and peas. I should write the recipe down, because it was good.

Painted a picture in my journal according to the Inspire Me Thursday prompt of “yellow.” Yellow is not my thing, but I thought I’d try, and I struggled for maybe two hours. Layering paint over paint to try to get the colors and the outlines right. I started out liking it, then moved into hating it, then went back to liking it, even loving it.

Reread my 9/11 Memorial post. It’s sad, but it feels significant.
http://warriorgirl.blogspot.com/2008/09/iswas.html

I feel kind of like I am having a renaissance. Just a little. It’s been so long since I had my creativity flowing without stress. Even if I was writing, I have been unable to incorporate creativity elsewhere. Finally I feel like I am getting somewhere with being a mom. Finally I am getting some creative projects with the kids going. Before, I couldn’t even conceive of them, now I think of them, I collect supplies and I do it. Unheard of for the last four years.

Listening to Barack Obama’s speech, it occurs to me that I WANT to vote for him. I believe in him. He believes a lot of what I believe. I was a Hillary Clinton supporter before and was disgruntled by them both soon after. But I like O too! Enough to vote FOR him, and not just AGAINST the Republicans. Woo hoo for a glimmer of hope and faith in the system!

My best friend from High School found me on Facebook. I have been looking for her for I think years now. I did not know her married name, and she moved to New Jersey. But now we have initiated contact again! Wee!

Some slow and steady successes with potty training the boy.

Made myself an honest to goodness sandwich for lunch, with coldcuts and mayo and lettuce and tomato and everything. I don’t usually do that, but it did the job very well, thankyouverymuch.

Ivy has decided she likes to run around with a blanket on her head. I can’t tell if she’s a monster/ghost or if she is wearing an outfit. The girl does like her clothes/hats/shoes/lip gloss. Help me.

G and Ivy were playing tag. G would tag her and run away. They would run around the table a few times, then G would catch up with her again and tag her again. I don’t think she quite got the point, but she liked the running.

Inspiration Thursday picked MY illustration as one of the showcases for last week! Shrink was the prompt. http://www.inspiremethursday.com/2008/08/08/spotlight-on-shrink/

Getting in touch with an old college friend on facebook. I hadn’t talked to her in so long, and for once, it was a GOOD friend, not just a casual friend.

A package for the kids from their grandma. Oh they love getting packages.

An important email from a friend who is living in Costa Rica. Even though we are far, we can still be close.

G and Ivy ask to call papa on the phone. Particularly Ivy. She is quite clear about wanting to talk to him.

Going to bed early. I didn’t even read. Just turned off the light and passed out.

My art supplies came from Dick Blick. I haven’t had the chance to use them yet, but what fun to open up a box and see all the wonderful colors. Ooooh, all the potential.

G and Ivy had such fun playing with Uncle today. They love him.

G sitting up in bed and “reading” Alice and Wonderland.

Walking through the garden and taking a moment to listen. Sounds through out the neighborhood. Someone singing as they rid by on a bike. The neighbors having dinner. Birds. A child crying because she doesn’t want to go to bed yet.