It feels like a relief to officially be into February.
January felt bleak this year, and though I realize the switching of calendar months is a construct, it still feels like a mini-reset.
A friendly reminder for anyone tracking FIGs in February: please send me links, photos, or lists BY MONDAY. I will be posting the first FIG Collective recap next Wednesday and would love to include a broad cross-section of gratitude moments. You can e-mail them to optimisticmusings {at} gmail {dot} com.
Okay, let’s talk Happy Things.
SKIING
I went skiing twice last week. TWO DAYS IN A ROW.
Skiing always feels like a chore… until I get to the hill. The gear is so heavy and bulky, annoying to load into the car, and annoying to put on. Everything feels inconvenient.
And then, when we’re finally all kitted out and zooming down the slopes, it’s wonderful. (Especially when it’s sunny.)
On Friday, I took Belle and a friend after they finished their last exam. On Saturday, Indy and I took his bestie and his mom, who had just gotten home from a month away. It was so much fun.
There were some misadventures with his friend’s gear (we discovered at the hill that his new boots didn’t fit his snowboard bindings, so his dad had to drive his old boots all the way to the ski hill). But everything worked out!
OUR 2026 PHOTOBOOK ARRIVED
It’s here! All that hard work is now in paper form, sitting on my shelf!
The kids alternate having “the cover” and this year it was Indy’s turn.
FIGS
What a perfect time to start tracking FIGs. I’m using the same notebook I used last year, and how cool would it be to do this for decades and have a written record of my February gratitude moments?
READING WIN
My kids like books but they do not LOVE books and so any time I see them engrossed in a book I feel a disproportionate wave of joy.
We found a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book for Indy to add to his collection at a thrift store this week (while waiting for Belle to finish at an activity). He got a jump start on reading it in the store!
BONUS HAPPY THINGS
- Exams are finished. Belle only had two, but still—it’s a relief to have that saga behind us.
- Sunshine. It’s sunny outside and only -3C which feels like bathing suit weather.
- Bumping into a friend while working at a coffee shop (Hi, Josy-Anne!!)
- Pickleball. I only made it once this week, but what a delight. It’s seriously so. much. fun. (My ring was charging during the day, so I promise I was not wholly inactive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m!)
- We had to wait at an office for a few minutes this week and Indy found a little face puzzle that was hilarious. I’d give him prompts (show me angry, show me sleepy, show me romantic) and he’d build it. I’ve never seen something like this before and it was very fun and whimsical.
- An oat banana muffin (warmed) with drippy peanut butter, cottage cheese, and pecans. SO. GOOD.
Okay, that’s a wrap for today. I’ll be back next Wednesday with more gratitude moments, along with contributions from all sorts of other people.
Happy weekending, friends.
Your turn.
- Tell me some Happy Things from your world this week.
- What experience always feels like a drag while you’re preparing (like skiing), but you never regret?
- Tell me about memorable exam experience from high school or university!
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Happy thing: baking lots of yummy things. My kids like bread, but I’ve been making rolls for dinner most days, and the shape seems to enhance the warm carb experience.
We finally had a day above freezing- it hit 40°F ( 4.5°C).
Too many exams to count- and too long ago! I remember walking into the hallway and crying after 2 tests in one class- however, it finally clicked and I triumphed on the final. Glad Belle made it through her exams!
My boys loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I found them annoying initially, but I think the characters became less annoying as they developed. Still don’t quite understand the appeal, but any book that will keep them reading is a plus.
There is nothing–NOTHING—like fresh-from-the-oven bread!
We had a warm day yesterday and it was balm to my very soul!!!
I haven’t read any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, I will admit. But Indy loves them and chuckles all the time while reading. I wish he loved reading more, but I’ll take what I can get.
Your photobook arrival must feel amazing after all that work! Mine arrived this week as well – it was for my parents and I had it sent directly to them in Switzerland. They were super happy with it (and it also made them aware that they have to take more photos when I’m not around, ha!)
Belle must feel very relieved! I guess these were her last exams before you leave for Europe?
Yup. Her last exams for Grade 9! Woot, woot!
Hooray! Great job on getting the photobook done (and smart to have it shipped directly to your parents). What a wonderful gift <3
It hit 0 C here a couple afternoons this week and it felt like SPRING. Amazing how warm it feels after prolonged deep cold. We’ve enjoyed more outside time this week than we had in a couple weeks and it felt great. Getting outside in winter generallly often feels like it’s daunting yet I never regret it. It’s not the cold that is daunting its the getting gear onto all the kids and dealing with the whining that they don’t reeeeeaaaalllllyyyy need to put on X or Y, and “ I promise I won’t complain I’m cold Mommy if I don’t wear it!” This ain’t my first rodeo kids, you need your snow gear when it’s snowy and -5 C…
Congrats Belle on her first round of High School exams being done!
You nailed my feelings exactly: it’s daunting… and I don’t regret it. The gear is such a hassle; honestly, putting it on bothers me less than dealing with all the wet stuff when we come in. Everyone’s socks would be wet, and hats and gloves and ALL THE THINGS. It is a whole ordeal, and every child you add to the mix means a whole other set of gear. But, like you said, WORTH IT! My favourite is when the snow isn’t too sticky so you can be outside and have fun, but gloves and hats aren’t caked in snow.
I have a comparison to your skiing-going to the beach when the kids were little!!! SO daunting to pack up the sand toys, snacks, water, towels, change of clothes, umbrella… and get everyone sunscreened. it was always worth it when we got there, but the prep was hard.
I LOVE the cover of the photobook!
January usually drags for me, but this year it went quickly. I don’t know why- maybe because our trip to Tampa was a week later this year so it broke up the month more? Anyway… I’m happy for February (and FIGS!)
I don’t go to the beach a lot but it is SO DAUNTING. All that sand. And sunscreen is just the worst.
I think breaking up the doldrums of January is so helpful. I really should make more of an effort to fit in a little trip (an overnight or day trip somewhere in Nova Scotia) in January as it is my least-favourite month of the year!
Huzzah on Belle being done with exams! 😀
I’ve never been skiing but I like the idea of snowboarding (I feel like I’m less likely to hurt myself than on 2 skis, lol)
Isn’t it amazing the difference the sun can make?! Our sun came out and it was so lovely I didn’t even bundle up to run fresh water out to the chickens – and it was still only 20* LOL!
I kinda wish I had learned on a snowboard. It feels like easier gear to manage. And people say it’s harder to learn but easier to master. Oh well. I think I’m too old and too timid to try learning it now!
I LOVE the sun! It makes such a difference in my mood.
Leaving the house with small children is always so much work but I (almost) never regret it! I did a lot when my kids were tiny and now (at 9 & 11) their (and my!) tolerance and ability to do things out in the word is higher than their friends. We did a full moon hike at our local national park at 12 degrees F and I suggested inviting a friend and no one wanted to go! One of the hardest “leaving the house” things I’ve done is fly with the kids across the country to visit my family specifically for Christmas. There was a year when they were maybe 1 and 3 that was so hard that I thought it might be the last time but when it came time 2 years later (we go every other year) to make a plan, I remembered that Christmas fondly and was ready to go again! And we’ve been every other year since! My kids have a wonderful relationship with my parents, even so far away and all the hard parts have been worth it! We don’t have a family motto but I think “we can do hard things” would be a good one! Though my husband wishes I could make life a little easier sometimes, lol.
We say “you can do hard things” all. the. time to my kids.
Just this very second I am dreading gathering gear and heading to the ski hill today even though I know I’ll love it. My experiencing and remembering self will be so glad I went… my preparing self is not feeling enthused.
A full moon hike sounds SO COOL!!!
It was above freezing last night when I took out the dog and this morning, too. We are PUMPED in our house. (No worries. It’s going to get cold again tonight and stay cold.) Hannah wagging her tail running through the snow is THE BEST thing.
I was so grumpy yesterday morning. Indy told me it was -14.5C and I thought he was joking. The day before it had gotten up to 0C. What’s with that???
But then it ended up being sunny and beautiful and I’d almost rather sunny and -14.5C than 0C and overcast. I love me some winter sun! It makes the snow look so pretty.
I’ve never made a photo book digitally – I made a few physical scrapbooks and loved it, and thought I wanted to continue, then didn’t, and I now have regrets on both fronts. Oops, I am having a bit of a tough day, but happy things did happen this week and I will blog them – thank-you for the reminder. I had a friend over last night even though I had slept really badly and was in pain, and it was wonderful and I was really glad I hadn’t cancelled. My sister and her husband are heavy into pickleball and I wish there was a place nearer to us where we could try it. Skiing and pickle-balling – impressing activity record for the week!
Oh my goodness, scrapbooking was an ERA and I was there for a bit of it. Also, it was SO much work (and very expensive). And the albums were so big.
Pickleball was the sleeper hit of my 2025.
I love Happy Things Friday! What a nice post to read. I think you are amazing and brave to go skiing and to play pickle ball! I had a few rough things this week, but also some really nice things, and the FIG worksheet helped me focus on the good things.
I’m sorry you had a tough week, my friend, but so glad that tracking FIGs brought some joy and delight <3
Yay for two days of skiing! I agree with you that it’s a bit of a hassle to get to the slopes but then the reward is priceless 🙂
I am still so delighted that you love pickleball. Which smart ring do you have?
Such a hassle to get there. I am actively dreading going today, even though I’m sure I’ll love it.
I have an Oura ring.
Your breakfast (that was breakfast right?) looks really good! That is one thing I am missing; I am currently in an apartment with no oven, only one pot (my fault for not asking beforehand) and also the food “comforts of home” are expensive here. So I would love to have some peanut butter! On a muffin! That was baked with love. *sad face* I also would love to go skiing with my family, but before I do, I need to get new boots, because last time I went mine exploded while I was skiing down the hill (well, one of them did). Also it is so expensive now unless you get a season pass, and do it very early (like almost a year beforehand I think)! I am glad you guys had a good time and can just go easily from your house!
It was a snack, though technically I usually don’t eat breakfast, so I guess I could call it breakfast. Whatever the name it was SO good.
Oh my goodness, peanut butter is one of my true joys in life! So good.
Skiing is definitely an inaccessible sport financially. Our hill is TINY so season’s passes are incredibly inexpensive comparatively (under $200) BUT there are only 4 real runs. It’s perfect for us, though.
Seeing your kid engrossed in a book is the best feeling! I love that picture of Indy reading (in what looks like such an uncomfortable position!!).
We had a really nice week. The weather warmed up above freezing which felt amazing and the sun came out! I had a nice visit to the library with the boys on Thursday night. We used to go on Saturday mornings but now Paul has golf so that slot doesn’t work. So when I don’t travel, we go on Thursday after dinner as the library is open until 9 that night.
He really does pick the WORST positions (IMO) for reading. He’s always very contorted! My back would not handle that.
I love a trip to the library. A highlight of the week for me, for sure.
Love the cover of your photo book! And that pic of Indy reading is hilarious! It’s such a satisfaction to see our kids loving to read.
Happy thing this week was to have my numb finger fixed with one physio session.
I’m so glad you had such great results from physio. That’s wonderful news.
I remember my first high school exams. I was so stressed. They were a piece of cake. That face puzzle is cute. I’ve not seen something like that.
I finished a book for my book club – I’d been stressed about not being able to get a copy and another book club member shared her audio book with me. It was so helpful. I just started (a little late) Age of Innocence and now I’m getting caught up on that. Stressful situation with Reg’s epilepsy has led to me connecting with a nurse on campus and I now have her personal cell #, and Reg’s meds were increased. He seems to be feeling better, but what a challenge. No rhyme or reason/unpredictable – that makes it scary. I’m gonna stick with Reg feels better and we have contact with the medical people on campus that we need contact with – as a positive. (but it made for a very draining thursday and I slept 9 hours that night).
I can’t imagine the concern as a parent with something like epilepsy which can strike so suddenly. It only makes sense you’re overwhelmed and stressed by it all, but I’m so glad you have a good contact and have had concrete adjustments to his medications.
Love these happy things! Congrats to Belle for finishing her exams! And good on you for going to all the trouble of skiing, how rewarding it must feel indeed to zoom down those slopes 🙂 I’ve forgotten to do everything for weeks – write in my 5 year journal, keep track of FIGs – oh dear. I’ll try to get back on the bandwagon this week. My happy things – watching Owen SWIM across the pool (this kid was afraid of water for many years and cried through swimming lessons. In the end Al taught him this summer and now he’s throwing himself into pools with abandon!). Watching Eleanor’s pure joy at her new tamagotchi hatching (they are back from the 90s, and she is obsessed). Making progress on my novel. Going shopping and writing at a cafe while the kids are safely watched by their grandparents, living their best lives.
Swimming lessons can be SO fraught, so this is wonderful news! Owen has many years ahead of happy water play now.
Tamagotchi – what a throw back!!!!
Great work on the novel. I’m so proud of you <3
Going to the ymca… it’s a drag, for sure, albeit it’s seven minutes from my house. But once I’m there, it feels great.
Going to theater. Research the show, purchase the tickets, wait for the day, research parking, decide on an outfit, find your seat. And ahhhh, the magic starts when the show starts.
There is NOTHING like the magic of a live performance, and you really go the extra mile with looking so fancy, often taking a kid to experience it too. LOVE THIS and I think it’s amazing you make it a priority.
The whole skiing thing DOES seem like a lot of effort just to get started. I’ve never done it, but that’s what my brain imagines.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover of your photobook. That’s the most incredible photo!
Yay for getting those exams done; I bet you’re both relieved.
That face puzzle is the best.
I’ve so many good things these past weeks, but also a few not-so-good. Selling two properties tops our list—and lightens up some space in my brain. XO
Like most things in life, making memories takes time, effort, and various investments (finances/energy). We’re set to go skiing again on Friday and that will probably be about it for my season.
I’m sorry to hear about your in-law’s health. That’s a very hard sad thing to navigate, especially with all the major housing transitions. Sending hugs.