Happy Things Friday: 1 March

I’m so conditioned to post every week that it feels positively wonky to be consolidating fourteen days of Happy Things. As per usual I kept a list of things making me smile in my weekly planner spread and am here to share the scoop.

*(Don’t forget – if you happen to like coffee or chocolate – to enter yesterday’s giveaway; comments/entries are open until next Tuesday, March 5th).

ROMANTIC DATE

John and I got away for 24 blissful (child-free) hours. We went to Halifax for an overnight getaway; nothing too fancy or exciting, but we ate delicious food – sushi at an incredible little spot tucked away on an unassuming street plus a steak dinner – spent hours relaxing at the hotel, and fit in some thrifting.

I took exactly one picture on our vacation and it was of one of the outfits I wore because I am starting to plan clothes for Barcelona and thought I’d like to take this combo along. Demerit for not getting a single picture with my spouse or our delicious food while we scooted away together.

*I lied.

I just discovered I took another picture – here’s a funny sign I saw at a thrift store which I texted to Kae for a laugh.

WINTER CAMP

Last year A was scheduled to go to a weekend winter camp and then we got a huge snowstorm and frigid temperatures and it was cancelled. This year the forecast wasn’t looking great (rain, snow, and freezing rain), but everything worked out in the end and she had THE. BEST. TIME. She was a bit nervous but ended up being in a cabin with a close friend and she loved everything about the experience.

So did we. Going from two kids down to one is a surprisingly big shift, especially when their personalities are SO different. We had a very delightful few days home with just L and everyone was happy. Win, win, win.

SKIING

I will be doing a Demerits and Gold Stars post next week and skiing will be high on my Gold Stars list! Last Monday the kids had a day off school (Heritage/Family Day here in Canada). L hasn’t been skiing regularly and, as a general rule, doesn’t love it. Like his mother, he is NOT a fan of the cold. But when I had all the gear ready for A to go, he insisted he’d like to join too. Since I’m cheap and he doesn’t have a season’s pass, we just went for the morning and it was perfect. Someone had gifted us a few sets of toe warmers so I gave each kid a set and I think it made a huge difference in his staying power. A went off and did her own thing, and L and I hung together all morning.

The crowds were…insane. Mid-morning the ski hill ran out of rentals! We had to wait in very long lines, but that was okay.

The next night I was back at the hill with A. The kids’ school organizes trips once a week, but they overlap with drama practice. She has been desperate to go so she can ski with her school friends and, as luck would have it, drama ended up being cancelled! She had so much fun, but I was kinda miserable. It was SO cold and she wanted nothing to do with me (#TweenMom) so I skied on my own and was very ready to leave when the time came but I’m glad we went. She had a blast with her friends and it was worth the potential frostbite to see her in her element.

OUR MANTLE

I love this space. It makes me so happy. John has the lights set up with a fancy plug so it comes on each morning BEFORE I LEAVE MY BEDROOM. Speaking of little joys. It makes me happy every single day to see twinkle lights seconds after getting out of bed.

And for poops and giggles…here’s what it looked like the day we moved in.

BONUS ROUND

• One of A’s friends came over after church for an impromptu lunch and then they laughed all afternoon. It gets so much easier to entertain your kids as they get older because you bring a friend over and THEY ENTERTAIN EACH OTHER.

• The noise of mini sticks in the hallway is hard to describe in words. So loud. Also a Happy Thing – choosing not to paint the hallway since moving in so I don’t care, in the slightest, about the hundreds of mini-stick black marks all over the wall (you can’t really tell in this picture but in person they are quite something!).
• The marquee jokes at a local farmer’s market this month. Week 1. What kind of party does an apple throw? A gala. Week 2. What is Darth Vader’s favourite type of apple? Empire. Week 3. Who makes the best homemade apple pie? Granny Smith. I hope they keep up these little jokes/puns…forever!
• Sleeping one night for TWELVE hours.
• A customer service rep going above and beyond to help us with an issue.
• Delicious homemade spaghetti (prepared by John) with roasted broccoli.
• Bedtime yoga.
• Sunshine.
• Waking up and discovering it is LIGHT OUTSIDE. Spring really is coming.

• An impromptu coffee and chat at my parents. The simplicity of the mug, the creamy coffee, and the sunshine streaming in through the window all made me smile.
• Cold water.

• Skiing with L – it was a really special experience.
• My favourite run at the ski hill was FINALLY open. I went down it so many times and each was thrilling.
• Having a library card.
• Going to the library.
• Looking at the new pile of books on my bedside table – so much possibility!
• Feeling excited to go away with my spouse! Being in love is a delight.
• Outfit combos my kids come up with – I either need to laugh about some of the combinations or I’d cry. Occasionally I put my foot down if we’re going out somewhere, but the colour and pattern combos can be WILD.
• Hot tea sipped slowly.
• Freshly laundered clothes.
• The cutest card and sweetest Valentine’s note from Suzanne. Receiving this snail mail made me smile!!

• Having meals planned ahead for the week and all the ingredients I need in the fridge.
• Our small group at church – I love this time and I love these people.
• Crossing things off lists.

Your turn. What have you been up to these two weeks? I hope everyone has a few happy things to share, but laments are welcomed as well!