So yes.  2012.  Nice to see you.

December came and went quickly, much like the whole of 2011 itself.  We had a nice holiday with family although some audacious kindergarten punk had the nerve to give Isla a cold right before Christmas, so we passed that gift around.  The littlest one, Ev, not only had a cold but was also teething, which resulted in a few not so silent nights.  But halls were decked and we were, for the most part, merry and bright.  I even survived my first Christmas without stuffing.  That's some willpower, right there.  My mother-in-law made me some allergen-free bread, BREAD I COULD EAT, which was possibly the best gift of all, so that softened the blow.  

I'm still working on getting back into the swing of things around here.  There are new toys that need homes and laundry that needs doing but all I really feel like doing is eating chips and watching TV and sleeping.  Is that so wrong?  I may possibly be in a bit of a post-holiday slump.  It doesn't help that it is winter and I cannot get warm and wrangling children into an ungodly amount of snow gear is enough to make anyone want to kick themselves in the face. 

So this seems like a good time to focus on some happy things, yes?  I have plenty to be thankful for and overall 2011 was a pretty terrific year.  In no particular order, these are my top 11 HappyMakers for 2011:

1) My Children
An easy one.  I may gripe about the day to day frustrations of life as a mom but my kids are two seriously amazing tiny people and the frustrations are far, far outweighed by all the joy they have brought into my life. Every measure of time that passes with them sees some pretty wonderful moments and milestones, but 2011 was particularly eventful.  Our four year old, Isla, started school and is learning new things at lightning speed.  This was the year her imagination really took flight and the most incredible ideas and insights and hilarious songs come out of her mouth.  And as for our Miss Ev, well, there's a pretty huge leap between 6 months and 18 months old, which she'll be next week.  From barely sitting up to climbing and dancing, from the odd "dada!" to a constant stream of "thank you! again! open! up! dance! fuffin!" (that last being "muffin") and her current favourite "a nose!".  Seeing her personality reveal itself has been amazing and watching the love develop between the two girls has been very happymaking indeed.

2) Other People's Children
Several friends welcomed new tiny people into their lives this year, all baby girls as it happens.  There seems to be a baby girl trend, at least with the people in my life (amongst my closest friends, we have one boy and six girls).  But babies of any sort are most lovely and I'm so thrilled about the safe and healthy arrivals of these little ones.

Mirror Lake, Lake Placid NY, April 2011

3) My Husband
"Get a room!" I hear you shout.  I know.  At the risk of being all sentimental and embarrassing, I have to admit publicly that I do actually like my husband.  You might not know it, given that I don't mention him all that often, but I am in fact rather fond of him.  We celebrated 15 years of couplehood back in November and, while I dearly miss his adorable accent, I still think he's as awesome and funny and cute as I did back when I was 18.  He works damn hard for our family and he comes home every day and looks at his daughters like they're the centre of his universe, which they are.  And that's all I can really ask for.  I'll even forgive him for teaching our daughter the phrase "fish toots", although he's going to have to deal with any phone calls home from her teacher. 

4) Other People's Husbands
Jokes!  Aside from anything else, when would I have the time?

Forest Walk, Charleston Lake Provincial Park, May 2011

4) Family, near and far
I have a pretty fantastic family and they don't hear it enough.  Especially those who never contact me (burn!).  The ones who do though, and especially the ones who visit, are very appreciated.  We had several visits this past year from relatives from afar, some of whom we hadn't seen in 10 years, and I hope to have the opportunity to reconnect with others this year.  As for family closer to home, I'm incredibly grateful for my amazing in-laws and my mom and her partner for all of their love and support and tremendous kindness.  Oh, and the free babysitting.  Many, many thanks for that (and thank you in advance for your continuing support). 

5) The Adirondacks
Last spring, D and I took a trip to Lake Placid, New York with some friends for a few days and had a great time.  We did a little bit of hiking, a fair bit of drinking, and a whole lot of eating.  It was pretty awesome.  It was nice to have some adult time and to see a new place and to sleep in a little.  Oh my goodness the sleeping in.  Glorious.

The River at Marcy Dam, near Lake Placid NY, April 2011

6) Camping
A few weeks before Ev arrived in the summer of 2010, my husband announced that he had bought a camping trailer and he hoped I liked it.  There had been no time to consult with me on the purchase, you see, as it had just been posted on Kijiji for an insanely low price and he had to pull the trigger.  Lucky for him, I approved.  It's an awesome little trailer, just the right size for our family, although I will admit moments of frustration when I've been overwhelmed trying to do everything I do at home but in a significantly smaller and colder space.  For the most part though it has brought us much joy and we managed to get out camping four times last year.  A lot of amazing memories were made and in particular I will never forget my daughter Isla singing The Saw Doctors' Only One Girl by the campfire.  Amazing.

7) Halifax
I've written endlessly about the trip to Halifax my daughter Isla and I took in October, so I won't say much more.  But, setting aside the distinct lack of whales, the trip really was a highlight for 2011, most importantly because of the one on one time Isla and I got to spend together.  Hopefully someday we'll get back out that way as a family of four.

Closeup of Water, Charleston Lake, May 2011

8) Good Health
For all my complaining about having to breakup with dairy and eggs and sugar, I'm thankful that I became aware of my food allergies because it provided me with something positive and proactive I could do to take control of my health and reduce the frequency of my arthritis flareups.  Which I believe it has.  My RA flare-ups were always kind of intermittent anyways, so it's hard to know for sure if my diet changes are keeping the pain at bay, but I do know that when I have a flare-up it is pretty uncannily connected to my "cheating" and eating something I'm allergic to.  So I think I'm on a good path.  I began medication for the RA this year too, which I wasn't too thrilled about, but I think it was another good decision.  Although I definitely need to get exercising more, overall I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm grateful too for the good health of my loved ones and I hope that 2012 will only see more of the same.

9) Writing
I am so, so pleased that I started writing again this past year.  It has been a terrific outlet and so fantastic to feel creative again, and to give myself time for something that is only for me (although the positive feedback has been nice too, and I appreciate you all for reading).  I am feeling excited about some ideas I have for things to write this year and I don't think I would be writing at all, let alone feeling confident and happy about it, if I hadn't had pushed myself to start this blog and to submit something to a contest and just take the time to do it.  So now I just have to carve out some more time for it and keep the momentum going.

Killbear Provincial Park, June 2011

10) Morning Dance Party
For my last HappyMaker, something that has truly brought nothing but pure joy.  This year our family began the tradition of what we call "Morning Dance Party", taking some time most mornings to put on some good tunes and dance our butts off in the living room.  Both girls love to dance and their eyes light up and their feet get moving as soon as any bit of music comes on.  Such a fun way to start the day (and the cardio doesn't hurt either).With Isla in school, and our trip and then the holidays, Morning Dance Party kind of got put on the back burner for awhile but I plan to reinstate the tradition beginning tomorrow morning.  MmmBop?  Yes, I think so.

11) My Old (Golden) Girls
Ha.  I posted this entry and then realized that there were only 10 things in my "Top 11".  And its a good thing I have one left over because I neglected something pretty darn important: my pretty terrific friends.  I'm lucky to have a great group of girlfriends who have known and loved me (ha) for a very long time (hidden in between the scathing insults there is genuine affection, I'm sure of it).  I consider them my family and can't imagine my life without them.  For one thing, I don't know if anyone else would power secondhand shop with me with quite as much glee.  They are truly the Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia to my Rose (I'm pretty sure I'm Rose guys).

2011 was a pretty great year but onwards to 2012 I say.  So far so good and I'm looking forward to the rest.  Particularly the warm weather part.  That will be nice.

I will update again soon with my 101 Things recap for December and my plans for the project in 2012.  And other thoughts and musings and insights and brilliance.  Or, you know, haikus.  Perhaps some haikus. 

Footprints (Mama and Isla), Killbear Provincial Park, June 2011

I've been dealing with a pretty bad RA flareup over the last few days - lots of achiness and fatigue - but my fingers aren't too bad tonight and I think it would do me good to focus on some of the things that have brought me joy this week.  So without further ado, here are my Top Ten HappyMakers of the Week (in no particular order):

My Friends

Okay, well, this is in no particular order but it's no mistake that this is first on my list.  Last weekend I hightailed it out of Kingston, Pickering-bound, to visit with my three closest friends, Jacquie, Erika and Kristen (I have listed them in no particular order also...or have I?).  Erika and I have been friends for 25 years and the four of us bonded in high school.  We all have spouses and children and very busy lives, and we live in different towns, but we make a point to get together once every two to three months, after weeks of planning and copious emails.  I consider these girls my family and feel very fortunate to have them as a part of my life.  (I had planned to get a photo of us over the weekend but apparently we were too busy gabbing).

Secondhand Shopping

When the ladies and I get together, our main activity is hardcore bargain shopping.  We are pros at it.  If there is a deal to be found, we will find it.  We leave no Value Village unturned.  Last weekend we filled up Jacquie's van with our purchases and, as Jac pointed out, it would be interesting to figure out the total retail price of what we bought versus what we paid for it.  I'm sure it would have been vast. 

I seriously do not understand why people pay full price for things in regular stores.  I don't get it.  Because there is such great stuff to be found secondhand, at ludicrously awesome prices. Nowadays I buy almost everything secondhand - probably about 98% of the girls' clothes and most of mine as well, plus almost all toys and books - so much in fact that I can no longer stomach paying regular price for anything.  $20 for a shirt sounds preposterous to me, because it is.  I can find that same shirt for $4, I guarantee you.

My best find this past weekend was this Melissa and Doug puppet (I mention the brand because parents will know it's a good one...really good quality and not cheap!):

I bought it for $3 and I saw it brand new at a toy store the other day for $33.  What a deal!

P.S. Please don't mention this puppet to my daughters as Santa will be bringing it to them for Christmas.

Pretty Rainbow Bowls 

It seems I might have a thing with bowls, given that bowls were on my last HappyMakers list too.  Jacquie had just bought these awesome multi-coloured mixing bowls which come with lids and I coveted them.  Fortunately they still had some at Kitchen Stuff Plus, still on sale for $15, when I stopped in on my way out of town.  Happiness!  Seriously, aren't these fun?

I enjoyed some popcorn in the green bowl last night and I'm pretty sure it made the popcorn taste better (it must have, because I ate the whole damn bowlful).  Exciting times, around here.

Handwritten Letters

One of the greatest sources of joy for me this past week was the arrival of a handwritten letter from my friend Jen!  Such a fun surprise and it really did make my day.  It didn't hurt that the letter included fun colour photocopies with annotations.  I'm rarely this enthusiastic about an email so it has hit home that handwritten letters really do mean something and can brighten someone's day substantially.  Thanks Jen (keep an eye on your mailbox)!

Smartwool Hiking Socks

When we were heading to the Adirondacks to do some hiking last spring, I picked up some Smartwool hiking socks.  As soon as I got them on my feet I'm pretty sure I swooned.  So freaking comfortable (this should be their slogan).  After we got back from our trip, I washed them and tucked them into my sock drawer and it was only this week that it occurred to me that I don't have to be hiking to wear them!  What a revolutionary idea!  So I pulled those puppies out and joy joy joy. 

Marcel the Shell

Okay, anyone on Facebook has already seen this I'm sure, but I have to say it made me smile (I also just found out I can embed a YouTube link here....fun!):

Kindergarten

My feelings about kindergarten have done a complete 180 from how they were at the start of September, when the thought of my little girl being away from me for hours was heartbreaking.  Okay, it's still heartbreaking, but every day I'm seeing how amazing kindergarten is for her.  She's clapping out syllables, and singing O Canada, and practicing phonics.  She loves her teacher (as do I) and she is so excited to see her friends in the kindergarten yard every morning and to tell me all about what they did at recess, which apparently this week involved making salad out of stones and leaves. 

I had the opportunity on Wednesday to join her class for a short classroom visit at the start of the day, and it was awesome to see them all put their lunchbags in their cubbies, count how many girls and boys were there that day (they were all met: 16 boys and 4 girls), be letter detectives and look for particular letters in the Morning Message their teacher had written out, and to sing their letter songs.  And then it was time to practice writing their letters and quick like bunnies they all went to their particular tables (Isla is in the red group) and started writing and colouring away and there she is writing K like it ain't no thing.

Isla complains sometimes that the days are long, which I totally understand, but it's rare that she complains about going to school, which makes it easier on me.  I am still going to completely lose it when it's time for her to go full-time but for now, it's all really good.

Memory Foam

Whoever invented memory foam needs a medal, perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize.  We have a memory foam mattress topper, which makes our already extra deep mattress ridiculously tall, and it is the most comfortable thing ever.  My weary joints have been very grateful this week.

Mandarin Oranges

How delicious are these things?  And seedless and convenient and in a paper box instead of the wooden crates that clementines come in which pile up in our garage because what do you do with them?  The girls are equally excited about them and look how pretty:

A Warm Home

I was out and about with the little one yesterday, in and out of stores as we ran errands, and damn it was cold out.  It wasn't even less than 0 celsius but it felt bitterly cold.  And it occurred to me rather quickly, as I was feeling a little sorry for myself shivering during the minute and a half it took me to get from my car to the door, that I have a lot to be thankful for.  I have warm clothes on my back, and a car with heating (and heated seats for goodness' sake!) to get me where I need to go.  And I have a lovely warm home, filled with everything I could ever want or need.  Including a pretty great family.

So while it's good to find joy in the small things, I'm also trying to keep in mind the big things to be grateful for.  My HappyMakers list doesn't include "finding half a sandwich" or "panhandling enough money for a coffee" or "getting a place to sleep out of the wind for a few hours", as it may for others.  I have much to be thankful for.

Including you, dear readers.  I don't say it enough, or ever, that I appreciate that you read my insane ramblings.  It's no quick read, that's for sure, but I hope you find some joy in it.  And if not, get some bowls and socks.  Seems to do the trick for me.

I have two book responses to complete and I should really keep going with my 101 Things rundown, but I think tonight I just want to write something a little more lighthearted.  And so, without further ado, here are

My Top Ten Happy-Makers for the Week of August 21st!*

Wherein I list the top ten things that have brought joy to my life this week.  Please take it as a given that these are the top ten things after my children and husband and family and friends and home and health and general well-being which of course always make me happiest.

*This title suggests I will be doing this weekly, but who am I kidding?

1.  Pretty Blue Bowls!

I bought the loveliest ever little teal blue bowls at Value Village this week, for $2 a piece.  I don't generally think of myself as a particularly materialistic person, and I don't think I have great attachments to very many things, but I may have genuinely lit up when I saw these.  I picked them up immediately but then put them back down, saying to myself "Yes they're pretty, but I don't really need them."  And so I wandered around the store some more, but found myself constantly distracted by the thought that someone else might get my blue bowls and so I raced back and shouted "Back off!  They're mine!" and hurried to the checkout before someone could tackle me for them.  Here's a photo I took of them today (if you look carefully you can see me in the reflection, leaning over the table to take the shot).  Pretty, no? 

2.  Ly's Place

D and I had a date night this week and wandered around downtown Kingston trying to find a restaurant that had food we could eat.  This was no small challenge.  If it weren't bad enough that I have a million trillion food allergies to contend with, D is on a strict diet nowadays which essentially limits him to protein, vegetables, and legumes.  So it was tricky.  We scoped out menus for a good 45 minutes and on most, our choices narrowed down to salad or salad.  Hmm.  But then we had a look at the "Fine Asian Cuisine" on offer at Ly's Place, a fairly tiny but quite nicely appointed little place on Wellington Street.  Success!  D was able to order an extra serving of veggies instead of rice with his meal and I happily dug into their Vietnamese Chicken Curry and all was delicious.  And now we have a place we know we can go when we have the occasion to go on a date night again some day. 

3.  Hot Yoga

I'm two weeks into an "Intro to Hot Yoga" series of classes at Yoga Samatva and loving it.  I love yoga and have been wanting to learn more, and I thought that I would give the hot class a try because I've heard so many good things about it.  I can see why.  Every stretch just feels better which I'm assuming is because your muscles warm faster.  I also truly think that my love of hot yoga may be connected to my Finnish heritage, as the hot yoga studio is really just a few degrees, a ladle of water, and some steaming rocks away from being a sauna.  

The only downside to hot yoga was that I seem to have bruised my neck attempting a shoulder stand.  I should probably be a bit more cautious but you know, when your instructor is 7 months pregnant and can do the yoga poses with no issue, there's a little bit of pressure.

4.  The Glee Project

Did anybody else in the universe watch this show?  If you love Glee, then you must find repeats of The Glee Project airing somewhere and watch it (don't click that link though if you think you might want to watch it...there be finale spoilers).  Essentially, the premise is that 12 contestants vie for a seven-episode role on Glee.  It's essentially what happens on Glee but in real life.  With singing and dancing and Glee actors guest-mentoring! 

Now, a word on Glee.  I happen to be a fan of Glee, but I can totally, totally see why others are not.  It's one of those love it or hate it shows, I think.  I happen to think there's nothing wrong with a little singing and dancing and happiness once in awhile.  Don't you like happiness?  What's wrong with you?  The only part I don't really like about Glee, I'll admit right here at my peril, is Will Schuester.  I can't get past the inappropriately sexy performing in front of (and sometimes with) high school students!  But all the rest is definitely happy-making.  I think I may have even enjoyed The Glee Project just as much as Glee.  And I felt very satisfied by the end results.

5.  Girls Night

I went out on a girls night with some friends, three lovely ladies who are spouses of D's work mates and who I've known for quite awhile.  It was no crazy night on the town, out partying and causing a raucous (can you tell I'm out of touch with what people actually do when they go out?).  We spent a relatively well-behaved evening chatting and eating sweet potato fries.  It was so nice to be out and to reconnect with friends and speak to grown-ups, although my social skills are a little rusty.  I'll just have to make sure to get out with friends more often to get more practice.

6.  Sweet Potato Fries!

What else do I need to say?  Delicious! 

7.  Relatives!

What else do I need to say?  Delicious!  Also nice to have around for a visit.  My aunt Helen, cousin Tammy, and Tammy's two sons came to visit last weekend and it was really awesome to reconnect with them as it had been a few years.  There's something very nice about being in a room full of people that you are connected to by blood and history.  I.e. people who are forced to like you. 

Bonus happy-making:  I'm checking off Thing #55: Reconnect with three long-lost family members.  Woot woot!

8. My first born

Okay, so I already said that the kids are a happy-making given, but this has been a particularly big week in our house and I do want to share that our firstborn, Isla, learned to write her name this week!  I am so unbelievably proud.  I have been helping her with her letters off and on for awhile, but we haven't had much of a chance to sit down together to do it lately, but her Granny took some time to work on it with her this week and lo and behold...she's got it!  As someone who has a grreat love of literacy and writing, I am so excited that she is starting to figure out written language and I'm really looking forward to watching her learn more.  And hearing your daughter say "I'm going to go write my letters now" and run to the pen and paper with such excitement, and beam with such pride in herself when she does it...well there's just no better feeling.

9. My second born

Not to be outdone by her big sister, this week our little one, Miss Ev, really got the walking going.  At the beginning of the week, she would usually do 3 or 4 steps before falling, and the most we had seen her do was about 7 at a stretch.  Today she was walking clear across the room with no issue, picking things up and standing back up, pivoting to move in a different direction.  The developmental leaps are just unbelievable.  It's just so exciting to watch her figure it out and to see her joy at finally being able to get where she wants to go.  The only downside is I'm realizing that she is now becoming a toddler, and won't be my baby girl much longer.  Gah.  Too sad.  Back to happy!

Bonus happy-making:  she had two two-hour naps this week.  It's too soon to say if I've cracked the code, but I am feeling optimistic.

10.  Potato Man!

Last weekend I was cutting up some potatoes for dinner and came across this little guy:

I just could not bring myself to eat him.  We think he looks a little like The Snowman, although sitting on our kitchen counter as he is, he also reminds me of Teeny Little Super Guy from Sesame Street.  In any case, Potato Man is awesome and I really want to figure out some way to preserve him so he can stay with us always. 

Bonus happy-making:  bed time!