um, about that....

I had the best intentions with my "happiness project" (notice my deflated tone there, hence the lowercase). I did. In fact, I must admit that I was sort of expecting a call around day 147 of the project from some fancy publisher wanting my blog to go all "Julie Powell". And eventually, I was sure, it would be picked up by a producer somewhere and would go all "Julie and Julia" minus the food but plus the happy. I had already narrowed my list of actresses to play me down to Gwyneth Paltrow or perhaps Sandra Bullock since she is the it girl right now and she does look good as a blond, sort of.

BUT, I forgot one crucial element in my big plan: There's no gentle way to say this; but I am not known for following through with grand plans. For that matter, I have a hard time finishing off a bottle of shampoo before starting a new bottle, much less finishing something that takes 365 days. I think I was being a bit optimistic.

And I have discovered that I just don't want to talk to my blog everyday. Sometimes, I just want to be alone. I like that I can abandon it for a few days without having protective services knocking on my door. And this project just won't allow that.

So, humbly and a bit shamefully, I am cutting the project. I could blame it on budget cuts or lack of support from the higher ups, but truthfully, its just me. I overextended my abilities to follow through- I should have made it a one week project and I would have OWNED it all over the place.

But don't think that its the complete end, because its not, it will pop up when you least expect it, in little nuggets.

hello weekend!

12-happiness is a hot shower in the morning while husband watches the kids!!

13-happiness is cadberry mini eggs for breakfast.

caught up!

Hope everyone is having a good day. Its gotten chilly again. Yesterday, I packed every long sleeved thing away so I am about to go dig up some stuff so we can get out to walmart today. I do this every year- pack up and take out and pack up to take out once more the cool weather clothes. Oh, how I want the sun to come and stay.

No frills here

Oh, I am not doing well at all with these little happy posts for two reasons: 1. I can't keep up with them every day and 2. I am using them as a substitute for actual blog posts.

Oh well. It is what it is and I guess we can deal!

Beautiful day at the park today with the kids and Brittany. Britt brought kites for her and Adler. It was pretty entertaining watching the two of them running around with their limbs flailing about, the kites dragging behind them. I think Brittany thought she was a kite runner.

And that's my happy thing #9- watching Brittany and Adler running around in the grass, both red faced and smiling.

Then then there's one from the day before the day after yesterday: Happiness is all my cousins together, laughing, making fun and being made fun of, and "feeling the love" of my family.

And then the other one I missed (the day after 4 days before today)- Happiness is seeing the mail-man coming down my road.

Eight

Happiness is hearing Adler tell me that I'm the purty (because he's country like that) princess named Belle and he's Prince Charming and that he thinks we should cuddle.

On second thought, I may have a little trouble on my hands in a few years if he is still using that one....

Momentos

I am a firm believer in sticking notes or momentos like ticket stubs or even grocery receipts in books as I read them. I keep a lot of my books and will reread them over and over if they are good. Nothing makes me happier than to be reading and discover a receipt from 2002 for coffee. I think, "Oh, that was me, in 2002, buying coffee to drink while I read this book. I was on page 64."

A good friend of mine gave me a paperback that he got from a friend who got from a friend who got from who knows where. But its my favorite book on my shelf because every person who has read it made little comments in the margins or underlined words and phrases and stuck in between its pages little things like a tattered business card, plane ticket stub, and other little pieces of ordinary life. There is a school photo of a blonde headed beauty circa something like 1982 stuck in between pages 178-179 and I just don't know what I would do if she suddenly wasn't there when I got to that page. She is a friend, this mysterious girl, and she belongs right there between those pages.

So that leads into my happy thing #6- happiness is found momentos in old books.

And #7 since I missed yesterday- happiness is walgreens brand starlight mints- a beautiful marriage of butter and peppermint that just makes my tastebuds want to curl up in front of a fire with a snuggie.

The mind is on babies

I mean, newborn babies. Don't tell E! My sister had her baby two months ago; several facebook friends had or are having in the coming weeks babies; my old friend Tashia had her baby this week; and then my sister in law, cousin, and several more friends are having their babies in the coming months. There is NOTHING like a brand new, just days old baby. They sleep; they cuddle; they mew; they make cute faces; and they smell like cotton candy. We have decided two is a good number for our family, but it doesn't stop that desire for another, even when I still have a baby in the crib. I am telling you, this baby thing, its addictive, especially when you your family and friends start having them. I am loving every stage my own children have gone through thus far, but there is something about that super short newborn stage that leaves me wanting more!

On other stuff, yall, I don't know what I feel about ghosts and spirits and if I believe in all that, but something really wierd has been happening around the Mason house the past few days. On several (3) different occasions I have been in Hazel's room with her playing and her baby swing has turned on all by itself. There is no one on that side of the room, and all of a sudden, the swing just starts rocking. I am sure it is just a battery malfunction, but it still seriously creeps me out. And then last night, her little crib toy, which plays songs or has this little voice that coos and laughs, turns on in the middle of the night. It makes the little silly laugh noise. I go in the room to manually turn it off, and it is already off.

Spooky. I am sure its nothing, but it is wierding me out enough to pray over it as I am getting her to sleep. Long before we had kids, my friend was over and was sleeping the spare room (which is now Adler's room) and said she got some wierd vibes and sensations while she was trying to sleep. I slept in the room to see for myself and never felt anything wierd though. Every once in a while, we smell cigarette smoke pretty strongly in the house, but I guess that could just be from old insulation.

I am sure its nothing, but I don't like it!

Okay, happy thoughts. Let's move on to the happiness project, day 5- Happiness is rocking Hazel to sleep: feeling the weight of her on my chest, her warm cheek against mine; and her little chubby hand resting on my neck.

Day Four

Happiness is accidently typing http://www.foofle.com/ instead of http://www.google.com/ and discovering google still comes up. I just love those people at google.



PS- I am not abandoning the actual blog here, just been short on words, may post something later on today....

Day Three

Happiness is finding red dirt on the softball glove I haven't used since 6th grade.

Day Two

Happiness is how warm and soft and wonderful my bed feels after a 3am feeding.

On other news, please continue to keep Nanny in your prayers. She has been sleeping the past few days and seems to be comfortable. Everyone is just loving on her and praying for her.

The Happiness Project: One

Inspired by a birthday gift from my happy little sister (who I am considering stopping linking her blog to when I mention her because her last update was in 1987), I have decided to launch a new project here at the Apple.

Its so easy to overlook the "little things" God has given to us to inspire joy in our lives. I love those little things, that in the middle of the day, when all is amiss, just brings you a complete and utter sense of contentment, even if just for a moment. I think that kind of happiness is better than the kind that comes with Disney world or something else momentous and grand because it is unexpected and simple. So for the next 365 days, I will consciously think about those small things, and write one a day here. I will give myself allowances, because I don't get on the Internet everyday (okay, okay, you got me. I usually always get on at least once a day, but for that day or so I don't, I will give myself allowances), but I may do make up days where I will list more than one.

I encourage you to do the same- if not on your blog or facebook or journal, just in your thoughts, make a conscious effort to look for those small tokens of happiness each day.

So here's my #1:

Happiness is tomatoes on soft white bread, lots of mayonnaise, salt and pepper.