It’s a double post today. This is the one I had planned before the after school incident took place.
I was thinking today how awesomely lucky we are with our daily commute to school. This is the traffic jam I was in on my way to pick up the kids: 
And this is the view on the way home:
It was so awesome that Jenna had to get out and do her holding the world in her hands picture
Happiness drive. Happiness moment
When my kids are arguing and fighting with each other I have a standard speech that I give. You guys will be each other’s best friends in life. No matter where you go or what you do you need to know that you have each other’s backs. So, even though you disagree no one will ever know you or love you like each other.
They have moved so much that there have been many times where they have only known each other and have had to rely on each other. They can still fight like you wouldn’t believe, but they are good friends and look out for each other.
Today I was late picking them up after school. Not late just a few minutes late. I have no idea where the day went. I picked them up and Jacob told me about their after school incident.
They were sitting on the ground beside the school, hooked onto the wifi playing a game. A kid came up to them and said ahhhh haaaa you guys are watching porn? Then he came right over beside Jacob and looked down and said oh no I was wrong they’re just having sex. At this point Jacob stood up and towered over the boy (Jacob laughed telling me and said obviously the kid didn’t know how much taller Jacob was).
Once Jacob stood up the kid took off. Then Jacob said you know what it’s like when auntie Cherie takes off on her horse after a cow? That’s what I was like after that kid. He caught up to the boy and stood over him and said you need to go back there and apologize to her. No one talks like that to her. Then he herded the boy back to where Jenna was sitting. The boy said I’m so sorry, sometimes things just come out of my mouth and I don’t know why. I’m so sorry. Then he took off.
Proof that they love each other and in fact DO have each other’s backs A happiness moment in a tough after school incident
My happiness moment today was a family drive out on the ranch. My parents, my kids, my sister, her kids. All together. It was a really special and fun time. We are so blessed to be able to all spend time together.
Today was a double happiness moment First of all the kids and I were invited by my extremely patient cousin to go help (and I use that word loosely) chase cows. Mostly we just sat and watched and then walked around on the horses. But since horses are my most favorite thing on the planet and it was the first time my kids were riding out by themselves on the ranch it most certainly was a huge moment of blissful happiness.
When I was pregnant with Jacob we were part of a birthing and babies class. For the first year or so after they were born, our group would get together once a week for a play date. I became good friends during that time with one of the moms. I hadn’t seen her in at least 10 years though – ever since we moved away. Well tonight she had us and one other family from the group over for supper. We had a fantastic night eating supper, catching up on 10 years, watching our kids play, playing board games and laughing ourselves silly, and watching the Flames win (Go Flames Go). An extra special happiness moment and something we have missed out on for years. Just getting together with friends.
As one more special treat, my sister and her kids are down for the weekend so we get special family time too.
It was a blissful happiness day.
Today I drove my mom’s van into town to pick up the kids from school. After much arguing over who got shotgun, Jacob had it the first part and then switched at the recycling drop off with Jenna.
So we are driving along, Jenna and I talking while Jacob is stuck way in the far back (the middle seats are out of the van).
Suddenly we see a stick waving around between the front seats. I look and it’s Jacob waving an ice scraper in our direction and trying to poke it at Jenna.
I look at him in the rear mirror and he says what? It’s my FOMO stick. Don’t forget about me back here.
FOMO or the fear of missing out. It’s a real thing.
Happiness moment. That kid makes me laugh
Jacob came home and said if we still lived in Roanoke I would be in school until 3:30. Instead now I finish at 2:30 and I get two recesses every day!!
And I think that he’s right on by being excited. He used to get dropped off and go into school and not come outside again until the day was over. Now they have a morning recess and then one again at lunch time. You’re never too old for recess.
I get stories every day now about what he’s doing at school and most of those stories happen at recess. It makes him bright and alive (full of ojas) when he’s talking about being outside with his friends.
PLUS he gets to go to school camp this year!
Happiness moment is the joy of hearing about the fun the kids have at recess. We should all take a recess every day and go outside and play for a half hour.
I spend my recess on my walk or standing at the corral talking to the horses
This afternoon my cousin helped me out and brought my kids home from school. I’m lucky because this cousin – M – her kids go to the same school as mine. Which made being the new kids (and the new mom) so much less scary because there were familiar faces this time.
I returned home from my meeting to see her kids and my kids and her sister’s kids all playing outside. What a wonderful sight!
M and I are only 4 months apart and spent most of our childhood running that same yard – having adventures, getting into trouble, climbing trees… You name it.
When I moved away my kids were 4 years and 5 months old. Her kids weren’t born yet. So they haven’t grown up knowing us adults or each other. I feel so blessed that I am now getting the opportunity to get to know her family better and on an everyday basis (instead of as a visitor).
Happiness moment for the day was watching those kids run up and down the field laughing and screaming while we stood out there and visited.
Family ties.
Two happiness moments for the day
My dad is home from the hospital. So wonderful to have him back where he belongs. Home is more complete now.
Went into AMA to see what I needed to do to switch my licence from Virginia to Alberta. When we moved to the states I had to take both the written and driving test. Nightmare. I’ve need driving legally for 30 years. I was terrified at the thought of having to do that yet again. Well, I don’t have to do the test again. Just fill out some paperwork. Happy and relieved.
Today was an absolutely glorious spring day. I grabbed the dog and went for a sun worshiping walk along the road. It felt so amazing to have the warm sunbeams giving warmth and love to my soul. I met my cousin on the road and we had a whole conversation about how glorious the sun felt on our skin today. No wind made a world of difference.
So nourishing.
At the beginning of my walk I passed a newborn calf. (S)he is the one lying down beside her mom. I didn’t want to stay for too long and upset her, but it was such a glorious sight that I had to stop for a little while.
On my way back I was lucky enough to see the calf get up for her (his?) first wobbly steps. New life. It was so amazing and exciting It most certainly was my happiness moment of the day.
Merlin is a horse that has been around the ranch forever I’m not completely sure of his age but I can remember kids riding him around when I was in my early 20s and I’m now 44. He’s been a good friend to many kids and especially to my cousin’s daughter. She’s grown up loving good old Merlin.
Today Merlin waited for them to come see him and then he went on to the happy hunting ground in the sky. He was taken and put to rest, with lots of love and heartache I’m sure, beside my dear old friend Pirate.
Although this comes with some heart sorrow, my happiness moment of the day is the memories of my best friend Pirate and the moments of my childhood through to the moments of my childrens’ childhood that I shared with him.
Those four legged beasts touch my heart in amazing ways. Much as I know there’s a little girl sad tonight, I know that we are always blessed to have the love of a horse. It’s an honor to be able to have that kind of pure love. It hurts to let it go, but loving truly and deeply comes with that risk.
Here’s an old photo of something I spent many days of my childhood doing. Out exploring with my two pals, Pirate and Buster. This is what my bliss looks like.
Happiness.
