Highlights

I thought a good way to improve my overall mood and outlook on life these days, amid the challenges that continue to face us, would be to write about a positive experience each week. A highlight or event, that made me smile, helped me to relax, encouraged me or just made life better.

So this week, my highlight came in the form of two text messages sent to me by Scott on Friday afternoon. He had taken the day off, and I was at work on a day when we were just being slammed with calls and I couldn't wait to get home and start my vacation. As I stepped out into the sunshine on my 30 min. lunch break, I found these on my cell phone:



I knew that Scott was planning on taking the kids to the California Railroad Museum and I was happy that Austin and Harlie would be spending some time together before he left for his mom's for most of the summer. Later, I found out that Scott decided to make it a train themed day and take the lightrail downtown. This proved to be a wise choice since the Jazz Festival would have made it diffcult and costly to find decent parking.

Of course I wished I had been there with them, but instead of just feeling resentment because I had to be at stupid work, I was just so happy that they were all having a good time and that Scott was enjoying his long awaited day off with his kids. I was glad that Harlie was able to hang out with her big bro who only usually ever graces her with his presence at the dinner table, and I was happy for Austin that finals were over and he could now celebrate summer!

Seven

They say to keep your marriage healthy, you need to constantly work on it.



I'd volunteer for overtime if I could do this everyday.

Cheers honey! Best date ever.

Some things never change

Me: So Aust, are you getting too old for this yet? (handing him the KIDS National Geographic magazine that had come in the mail.)

Austin: When you spend most of your childhood doing something, like I grew up reading this magazine, you just always like it, so no.

Ain't that the truth?

In good hands...

Harlie had her first day of not-at-her-auntie's-house daycare today. After much internet searching and thoughtful consideration, we settled on a new in-home daycare center that the sister of my childhood friend was opening, just a few miles from our home.

Harlie has been excited to start "preschool" like her big cousin Mazzy, so to help her prepare, we took her to Target to pick out her very own backpack.



Unfortunately, my attempts to capture a photo of Harlie dressed for her big first day were thwarted by the GROUCH MONSTER that inhabits her body most weekday mornings.

In the weeks leading up to today, I was filled with anxiety, wishing and hoping and praying that she would be comfortable in her new environment and that she would not be the "wierd" one or "bad" one of all the kids.

Lucky for me, the day was a huge success...and I think this new arrangement is going to work out just fine. Fingers Crossed!