Book Sale

Happiness is the Oak Park Library's used book sale. 

Taking our time with the dolphin

After watching Dolphin Tale over the weekend, Wylie was dead set on seeing the dolphin at the zoo. It was a joy to take our time, watching them as long he wanted. 

Face painting fun

Finn was extremely into being a lemur/raccoon at the zoo. Wylie insisted on Batman!

Thhh sound

Finn taught Wylie how to say "three" instead of "free."

A perfect day

Outdoors

So happy to get more time outdoors today!

Play date/happy hour/movie night

The best way to spend Friday night!

The joy of online shopping

And we're off...first t-ball season of the year!  Whew!

April Fool's!

It was such a joy to see Finn's reaction to my frozen Cheerios prank. 

Ahh, Spring.

Today, when I walked out of school, finally felt like Spring.  So the boys and I went to the park and savored it.

Truly Spring

When Hole in the Wall opens, we know it is Spring.

Mini-getaway continues

Extra cool viewing of the Lego Movie at Hollywood Theater, to finish off our mini-getaway.

Read for…anything?!

Heading to the Embassy Suites for a mini-mini-getaway, the boys were ready to swim before we even hit the expressway!

The Conservatory

A play date with Adam and Tessa.  The boys taking delight in the Conservatory, perfect.

Per Wylie's request

We made brownies and cookies before 9 am, then went to the fire station to deliver them, and of course, take in a mini-tour of the fire station.  Even better--Aidan came with us and we signed up the firemen to come to our block party!

Running free

Sign of Spring

Buds!

Doing good at school

Trying to encourage my students to help others.  Feels good.

Helping

In a crazy pre-bath moment, Finn is helping Wylie get naked for bath!

Writing Contest

Pleased that Sarah and I decided to use a picture I took for the the writing contest prompt.

Silver lining on St. Party's Day

A Shamrock Shake for the sick boy. 

Playing together

These days, the most joyous thing is the boys playing together nicely.

Two Brothers

If we are talking joy, an expansive flight of beer really captures the feeling.

Pat Moon

The day before the Iditarod and Pat Moon really got the kids excited to follow the race!

Icicles

As winter wears on, Wylie often points out icicles.  Here are some super long ones we observed this morning.  We even paused for a moment to look at them.

A moment of peace

Since the boys seem to be at the height of their first round of mega-sibling-rivalry right now, every moment of peace is pure joy.  That they wanted to take a bath together and did so pleasantly was a minor miracle.

Water experiment

Thanks to Finn's water study in school, I had two cooperative boys experimenting with water this afternoon.

Quiet

My joy today is quiet. A quiet breakfast alone with my book. 

Team Clock

This book is bringing me quiet joy. Joy over actually reading the book in time for tomorrow's meeting and doing so in less than one evening. Joy also in the hopes this book's philosophy will bring to Hauser. 

Candy land

Love paying games and this one was especially good as Finn created his own (logical) version involving a hand if cards. 

Finn's creativity

I was lucky enough to get a tour of Finn's amazing spaceship creation today. 

Me cooking

Cooking soup in San empty house, nice 

Finn's dollars

By some act of serendipity Finn found a dollar in the snow on Saturday and then another one on Sunday.  Nice surprise for him, made me smile.

improvising works

Some of my happiest moments in the classroom are when I'm improvising and the adrenaline is pumping and it actually works!

Writing Valentine's

Wylie's art

It made me happy to come into my classroom this morning and see Wylie's art on my whiteboard.

Sledding

Sledding is simply fun.  We should do it more often.

Pinstripes

Today I was grateful to be celebrating Jason's birthday in a different-than-the-usual-dinner-at-my-parents'-house fashion.  Bowling, brunch, and bocce ball at Pinstripes!

"Something in the Way She Moves"

The block progressive dinner tonight was all about joy, and Jason's birthday too, but this was a particularly good moment--Jason singing to/with me, just like he did on my voice mail 15 years ago!

100 Days of School Project

Finn's 100 paper airplanes (special thanks for airplane makers Grandma, Grampa, Mama, Papa, and Wylie!), just in time for the 100th day of school party tomorrow!  

Sick boy

Despite being sick and spending the day on the couch, Finn still managed to beat me at Connect Four!

Wylie, the Fastidious Boy

Wylie works very hard to put on his own gloves everyday.  It makes him happy and it makes me happy.

Zumba!

Fun to do a private Zumba class with a few of my colleagues today!

Using the little brother

Finn does not realize how lucky he is that Wylie is so willing to carry his backpack.  Makes me smile.

Little Symphony

Lucky to start the day with music. 

Rainbow Loom

My first rainbow loom bracelet took four or five tries, with Finn as my teacher. 

Lincoln Carnival

What could be more joyful than winning a carnival game!?

Go Dog, Go!

Wylie's current favorite for books time.