Happiness Is...Volume 4, Part 1

Happiness is...
* Receiving valentines from Salem on my pillow
* Making valentines with Oaklen, and using the stamp
* Oaklen learning how to read and jumping in with two feet, he has no qualms to try to pronounce a word.
* Ezril's leg not being broken (after 3 days of not walking, it's a miracle!)
* Figuring out my family's responsibility chart
* Getting all the tile we need in the laundry room for $1.16!
* Getting an extra fridge/freezer for the basement
* Darrell working hard to clean out the basement
* Teaching preschoolers about how to make bread
* Ezril going to bed willingly around 6:00 pm
* All three of my boys wearing footed pajamas
* The Home Depot kids workshops
* Being able to visit different wards & primaries with my stake calling
* Ezril saying "Albert" (the name of our smiley face, for the responsibility chart.)
* 20 kisses for bedtime
* Darrell putting the canopy back up on our bed
* The check engine light turning off in our car
* Listening to Girl from Beck
* Oaklen secretly talking to Grandma on the phone for over 20 minutes!
* Salem getting his own library card
* Salem emailing me cute love notes
* Oaklen acting out the machines from Mighty Machines
* Oaklen galloping out of preschool
* Darrell liking my Curried Quinoa Pilaf
* Playing UNO with my boys & Darrell
* Having closet doors for the laundry closet
* Making gifts for friends that they appreciate
* The ability to play the piano
* Ezril saying "happy, happy, happy, ..." in the checkout line
* Listening to Darrell speak in church
* Getting our water storage in order
* Doing proxy sealing ordinances in the temple with Darrell on our anniversary
* Salem writing his own talk for primary and speaking well
* Ezril helping me make green smoothies every day
* Oaklen letting me floss his teeth
* Ezril saying good night to everything (good night wall, good night light, good night building blocks, etc.)
* Making others happy :)

Happiness Is...Volume 3, Part 2

Happiness is...
* Getting A's on my assignments
* Adding smiley faces on our family chart
* Getting together with old friends on a short notice
* Ezril's laugh when his brothers do something funny
* My boys' naive humor with a whoopie cushion :)
* Uncle Cabot taking Salem to school
* Getting the railing put back up on the porch (after two long years)
* The fact that it's starting to get dark earlier...easier bedtimes.
* Darrell telling me that the pasta I made was fantastic (first time in our 8 yrs of marriage)
* Getting a turtle sandbox for free
* My boys having a blast with the sprinklers and slip-n-slide this summer
* Salem making fossils with chalk & leaves
* Oaklen's imagination and sound effects
* Salem collecting rocks...just like I used to
* Ezril being old enough to go to nursery
* Being able to talk about my studies with my husband
* Darrell fixing our van and the guys at the shop being impressed with the good job
* Email communication (Have I said this enough?)
* Being able to pay bills online
* Feeling needed by family and friends
* Friends and family asking for advice because I've already "figured it out."
* Ezril understanding how to pray
* Ezril knowing to get the Book of Mormon when it's family scripture time
* Salem getting upset one day because his brother (Oaklen) couldn't play with him. He said "But mom, he's my best friend."
* Oaklen being excited to do laundry and fold napkins
* My boys playing "TV" with a big box
* "Firecracker tomatoes" exploding in your mouth
* Going to the Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base, it's free!
* Being able to clean the Salt Lake Temple one night. I vacuumed all the spiral stairs up to the top of the 8th floor and under the 4 spires.
* The boys taking Costco field trips with Grandma & Grandpa
* Oaklen singing Take Me Out To the Ball Game "Buy me some crackers and cracker jacks..."
* Salem building his Lego pyramid during the first part of the summer then saving it all summer for an activity to do for his birthday party.
* Spending the summer outdoors with my family

Happiness Is...Volume 3, Part 1

Happiness is...
- Salem's Leviti-kiss (Leviticus)
- Ezril's smiles
- Darrell never complaining
- Oaklen putting his hand on his hip
- Oaklen saying "Team Geotrax!" and raising his fist in the air
- Ezril leaning his head into my lips to get a kiss, and again, and again...
- Being able to use my computer in every room in the house
- My boys playing well together
- Flying kites with Uncle Cabot & Aunt Jen
- Watching Salem learn how to ride a bike
- Watching Darrell teach Salem how to ride a bike, he's so patient!
- Oaklen snuggling with me "like red-band bananas"
- Ezril babbling thinking you can understand him.
- Viewing the bum scoot marks in the sand after Ezril scooted around
- My pink clematis vine in full bloom
- Getting my garden in
- Blueberry waffles for dinner
- Darrell knowing how to fix things in our house
- Having a camera that I use to take pictures plus video
- Having an MP3 player that I can use to record voice
- Getting 100% on some of my homework
- Getting help with the kiddies so I am able to study
- Smith's double coupon day
- Having beautiful white flowers (Star of Bethlehem) randomly come up in my yard. They're unwanted "weeds" to some people but I like them. Here's a picture I took:

Happiness is...Volume 2 Part 3

Happiness is...
* Ezril wiggling his whole body with excitment when we sing him the good morning song
* Darrell constantly wanting to get things done
* Darrell never complaining
* Oaklen's hiding place
* Eating a banana every day
* Ezril's smile when you don't expect it
* Oaklen praying by himself
* Salem reading to Oaklen & Ezril
* Oaklen "reading" the scriptures by himself - "And Jacob came into the house and killed them."
* Salem being in a great program at his school
* The front porch being done before winter
* Ezril getting excited whenever we pick Salem up for school
* Family Home Evening when everyone is happy and participating
* Ezril loving bath time
* Salem putting a note on the door for Santa, already!
* Christmas music in the middle of November (yes, I'm one of "those" people)
* Darrell, Salem & Oaklen having a fun time at the Home Depot Kids Club
* Salem not the least bit scared to do his part this year for the Primary Sacrament Presentation
* Watching our neighborhood squirrel scurry across the trees in the front yard
* Oaklen being self sufficient in the bathroom (except when he uses way too much toilet paper)
* Playing Candyland
* Having a warm coat
* Driving a nice van and being able to afford the gasoline
* Oaklen say "Mommy...ya know what?..." (In the middle of the night, in the morning, all the time.)
* The fact that my 6 year old boy still likes and wants to snuggle with me
* Dinners not made by me - they always taste twice as good when someone else makes them
* My boys learning how to "play rough" (Oaklen is finally old and big enough to take on his brother.)
* My boys remembering to pray for certain people who need extra blessings that day
* Being able to multi-task while wearing the baby sling
* Darrell and Ezril's striking blue eyes

* The boys having more fun giving out treats on Halloween than actually going trick-or-treating

Here is a glimpse of our beautiful porch. I'll post more pictures of the porch later.

* Salem's stories he writes for homework and the pictures that go with them.

I love the "wow" face that I have in this drawing. I'm so impressed with him sweeping the floor.

* Oaklen's motor going when he enjoys what he's eating (which is almost always.) (See video below)

This is Oaklen a while ago, but he still makes his motor sound whenever he is enjoying what he's eating.

Happiness is...Volume 2 Part 2

Happiness is...
* A soggy sandwich. (Yes, really!)
* Ezril starting to smile and focus in on my face.
* Oaklen trying to close his eyes.
* Beautiful and fragrant spring flowers on my kitchen table.
* Pink blossoms.
* The pink magnolia tree outside the library's front doors.
* Watching our two squirrels chase each other between our trees in the front yard.
* My baby's duck-farts :)
* Oaklen's happy noises when he's eating something he likes.
* Salem reading a book through a microphone on the stage for the ward talent show.
* Singing a hymn or primary song before family prayer each morning & evening.
* Darrell spending every possible moment to re-do our laundry/mud room.
* Oaklen calling me Wendy (I'll explain in another blog post.)
* Darrell getting his own blog. :) (Ask him the address if you're curious, I don't want to link.)
* My pink woobie.
* Cheerios on sale when I'm down to my last box. (Can you believe I let my stock get this low?)
* Oaklen's expressive eyebrows.
* Salem making cards for me and other loved ones.
* Tagless shirts
* A nice foot soak
* Healing herbal tea
* Darrell posing for the camera and showing his beautiful smile & blue eyes.
* Baby snuggles
* Salem writing a letter to the Easter bunny telling him that the eggs are in the fridge and then posting it on our front door.
* Oaklen wearing the big ear muffs for noise and his making his cheeks more chubby.

Happiness is...Volume 2 Part 1

I haven't done a happiness post in a while. That must mean I'm miserable! :) Although these pregnancy hormones make me happy, sad, or miserable within seconds I still have things to be happy about.

(Some of these I wrote a while ago, so they may be Christmas related.)

Happiness is...
* Oaklen closing the door for me to use the bathroom and saying "You need your priva-seat?" (privacy.
* Coming up with silly names for the baby with my boys.
* Watching Frosty the Snowman with the fam for the first time.
* Oaklen yelling "Happy-yeah!" when we tell him something exciting.
* Teaching Salem what a commercial is (at 5 yrs old!)
* Getting Christmas cards from good friends.
* Knowing that I am a child of God.
* Feeling the Christmas spirit, all year long.
* Listening to Oaklen roll-play and pretend with his little people and toys.
* Watching our quail family in our backyard.
* Oaklen telling Darrell that he belongs at the man-village. (From the Jungle Book)
* The boys having fun with moonsand.
* Oaklen recounting or "reading" the book A Fish Out of Water.
* Picking Salem up from school every day and asking me "Do you have a surprise for me?"
* Oaklen then telling Salem "I don't have a surprise for you, Salem."
* Watching the garbage trucks with Oaklen on Thursday mornings.
* Oaklen realizing the difference between feel-good food and junk food.
* Salem making good choices with his eating.
* Salem making his own breakfast. He prepares ane egg from start to finish, and even puts his dish away.
* Oaklen looking at my hangnails and saying "I'm sorry!"
* Brother hugs and baby brother hugs.
* Giving 20 kisses to each boy before bed then singing the goodnight song.
* My boys giving me comfort when I start to cry. They come to hug me and give me a tissue.
* Oaklen wearing his pajamas and looking like Uncle Fester.
* Naked bums...then me saying "who has a naked bum?"
* Oaklen saying "Jesus Christ has wounds?" loud and clear during the sacrament ordinance at church. Then later saying "Is it time to go?"
* Salem finding joy in such simple things and projects for "mom & me" time.
* Staying up later and talking with Darrell.
* Salem wanting to reserve the same books at the library instead of spending money and buying the books from the school book order.
* Oaklen coming in my room early in the morning and saying "Mom, can I snuggle with you?"
* Having an eternal family.

Happiness Part IX

Happiness is...
* Being able to change my email inbox to a pink background.
* Finding matches to all the socks in the load of laundry.
* A hot shower
* Finding a tv converter box for free.
* Saving a bunch of money on my car insurance by calling around (no not Geico.)
* Getting new windows for free.
* Receiving the phone call from Salem's teacher saying they will most likely do all-day kindergarten starting in January.
* Looking at pictures of my babies and falling in love with them all over again.
* Listening to Christmas music, any time of the year.
* Darrell thanking me for the little every-day things I do.
* Seeing my houseplant thrive.
* Salem reading books to Oaklen.
* Being more than half-way done with this pregnancy.
* Communicating through email.
* Getting together with family for good times.
* Darrell never complaining about all the work he does, at home, at work, at church.
* Crunching the leaves as I take an Autumn stroll outside.
* Watching my boys get so excited to play together as a family.
* My boys saying "sheep" as I sing them their goodnight song. (It's the last word of the song.)
* Oaklen repeating everything I say then saying "Mommy?" at the end of the sentence.

My boys...I love 'em.

Happiness according to Oaklen & Salem

Happiness ...this is what Oaklen & Salem would write about if they did a happiness post.

According to Oaklen
Happiness is...
* Finding the fridge lock accidentally unlatched
* Eating...almost anything
* Hearing mom or Salem say the word "rhombus"
* Being able to pull or hold mom's hair
* Holding hands
* Taking my shoes off
* Talking on the phone with Grandpa
* Pretending to make waffles with the kitchen set and wooden blocks
* Looking at pictures of Oaklen
* Being able to turn on the hose and get soaking wet
* Getting my own drink of water from the bathroom then spilling half of it on the floor
* Daddy playing the dancing song on his guitar
* Getting into the van and sit in my chair all by myself
* Singing "Jesus want me for a Sunbeam" or "I am a child of God"
* Humming as I eat
* Playing on the playground
* Trying to ride Salem's tricycle
* Watching the water pour into the washing machine
* Someone chasing me
* Showing my belly button
* Dreaming about orange garbage trucks
According to Salem

(I asked him to fill in the sentence "Happiness is...")
Happiness is...
Love
Joy
Feelings
Kindness

(Here are other things I thought of for Salem...)
Happiness is...
* Mom & me time
* Riding the bicycle with Dad
* Riding my scooter
* Coming up with cool activities
* Looking at pictures of Salem
* Playing Starfall or Sesame Street
* Reading books
* Learning new signs (sign language)
* Doing math
* Being able to wear anything I want
* Dressing up as a character
* Eating bananas
* Going to the library
* Doing the activity for Family Home Evening
* Helping mom make food
* Eating goldfish crackers from Aunt Marie & Uncle Neil
* Snuggling in my blanket

Happiness is... Part VIII

Happiness is...
* Fresh garden tomatoes eaten like an apple.
* Oaklen climbing into my "nest" when I sit cross-legged on the floor.
* Salem learning how to do math.
* Salem writing and counting up to 100.
* When the city comes to pick up the bulk trash each year.
* A clean section in the basement.
* Changing into a t-shirt & pajama pants after a long day of wearing a dress or skirt.
* The silence after the kids have been rambunctious right before bed and then suddenly asleep.
* Smiling when you answer the telephone, even though you don't know who it is.
* Holding Oaklen's hand almost all night long.
* Chocolate dipped grapes - fresh from my grapevine.
* Finding a seedless variety of grapes amongst the plethora of seeded grapes on my vine.
* Sleeping-in on a Saturday morning then waking up to breakfast in bed and the kitchen already clean.
* The little dance my boys do when Darrell plays a certain song on the guitar, it always makes them start to move.
* Listening to audio books in the car.
* The boys talking to my belly and saying "a-waw-boo baby." (I love you baby.)
* Thinking of silly baby names with Salem.
* Playing board games with Salem out on the porch.
* When the batteries die on certain toys.
* Getting a new camera and learning all the cool functions.
* Watching my boys have such a fun time at Lagoon.

Happiness Part VII

Happiness is...
* Watching Oaklen look at the pressure cooker top rocking and then he rocking his head to mimic.
* Finding & a dish that is your same pattern at a thrift store, especially when one just broke.
* Always being able to find a recipe online...I love the internet! :)
* Watching my boys hug and kiss each other good night.
* Listening to Oaklen say "Ready guys? Alright!"
* Salem getting on his hot polyester spiderman costume for the 4th time each week.
* Knowing that Darrell enjoys his job.
* Oaklen drawing "grass" on the chalk board.
* Going to the park each day so my boys can eat the free lunch.
* Salem learning how to read.
* Finding new meaning in a scripture that you've read a thousand times.
* Not being sick due to pregnancy (sorry if any of you have!)
* Knowing that Heavenly Father is looking out for me and my family.
* Salem having friends in the neighborhood to play with.
* Watching my garden grow bigger every day.
* Holding a sleeping child.
* My boys holding a cheerio between their index and middle fingers and saying "hoon!" (I don't know what it means, but it makes me laugh.)

Happiness is... Part VI

Happiness is...
* Living in a walkable community.
* Darrell getting up on Saturday morning anxious to do yard work or home repair.
* The pitter pat of little feet upstairs (when Oaklen gets up from his nap.)
* The boys imitating the noise from the coffee grinder every morning.
* When everyone likes the meal that I make for dinner.
* Discovering that I can check out past issues of my favorite magazine from the library.
* Oaklen saying "a-waw-boo" (I love you.)
* Exercising to my own music with my own moves (I probably look hilarious, but it's fun!)
* Salem & Oaklen playing hide & seek.
* Darrell making a magnificent meal out of nothing.
* Getting on the bathroom scale and it reading "88 lbs" (but then Oaklen getting on and saying he weighed 1 lb; later it was fixed.)
* Darrell making waffles.
* Oaklen speaking in two-word sentences, or using adjectives ("shoe off, white cheese, daddy sleep, wash again.")
* Salem's drawings.

Happiness is... Part V

Happiness is...
* my downstairs bathroom faucet, I love that it's big so you don't have to hug the back of the sink
* taking a shower with actual hot water and no screaming children behind the curtain
* finding cilantro in my garden from last year
* Oaklen climbing onto his bed with a book and saying "nuggle" (snuggle)
* getting a Britax carseat for $50
* when Darrell offers to give the kids a bath and help them get ready for bed instead of me
* doing Tae-bo with my kids and Salem saying "Go mom!"
* second-day hair
* getting breakfast in bed
* listening to Oaklen learn how to pray
* having Salem make up a poem that I have to write down
* watching Salem run to 1st base in tee ball, then doing a little dance when he got there

Happiness is... Part IV

Happiness is...
* dropping your make-up and finding that nothing broke!
* listening to Salem sing his cowboy song that he learned at school (to the tune of "I'm a little teapot.")
* being able to email my midwife about anything! :)
* the lint in Darrell's belly button, it's so cute!
* Darrell bringing home the bacon (literally) and other items.
* a vase full of fresh flowers on the table
* apples n' peanut butter (and watching Oaklen do the sign for them)
* coming home to lots of happy phone messages on my birthday
* Firefox and their new spell check feature (it's a web browser)
* an empty kitchen sink
* listening to Salem make up words then saying "Mom, that's how you say [dog] in Spanish."
* watching Oaklen do his mischievous face...the one that says "I'm cute, so I can get away with it!"

Happiness is... Part III

Happiness is...

* watching the sunset with my boys out of Salem's bedroom window
* showing my sons how to blow bubbles with their hands using soap & water in the tub
* playing the ABC game with Darrell
* talking to my mom on the phone
* watching Salem "dance" the soap on his body while taking a bath
* getting to know people through blogs
* getting some Spring cleaning done
* seeing Oaklen use sign language to tell me he wants something or needs his diaper changed
* playing with your childhood toys, with your own children
* dinner time conversation..."What is something that made you happy today? Sad? Grateful?"
* watching Oaklen's face when he tries to use the squirt bottle
* being able to renew that library book or DVD one more time
* discovering that my children unraveled the entire toilet paper roll, yet not getting mad at them (although I told them it was the first and last time!)

Happiness is... Part II

Here's another round of happy things. It's been a running list for a few weeks so now I'll finally post it.

Happiness is...
Finding the last "drive cart" at the grocery store
Watching my boys eat cheerios with a fork
Finding a lot of "red-band" bananas
When the grocery store actually owes you money after all the coupons & sales (yes it's legal.)
Being able to get up earlier in the morning to exercise
Empty laundry baskets and hampers
Listening to "Movin 100.7" (I gets me goin'!)
Hearing Salem pray...about his light saber!
Singing the good morning song to my kids
Playing "My father owns a grocery store..." with Salem
Watching Darrell speak or conduct a meeting at church

Happiness is...

My life is so happy! When I was a kid, my brother had a Peanuts Gang book entitled "Happiness is..." I remember looking at it and thought it was a good idea. I often think about writing my own phrases. Here is a start...

Happiness is...
- Watching my boys and their cousins wait patiently at the cookoo clock anticipating when it will start to cookoo.
- Listening to Salem sing with his "sweet angel voice"
- Watching Darrell take off his socks at the end of the night and squish his feet in the carpet to scratch them.
- Watching my baby fall asleep and look so peaceful
- Cuddling with my husband, it's my favorite place to be. Of any place in the world I'd want to be, it would be in the arms of Darrell.
- Listening to Salem pray asking if he can go bowling tomorrow or thanking Heavenly Father for his family
- Listening to Oaklen learn new words like "owl" "book" and "applesauce."
- Dancing around with my boys to the elephant marching song from the Jungle Book soundtrack.