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Friday the 16th: Culture. In the morning, I took the girls and my mom to story time at the library. Then we tried to go to the art museum. We ran out of time, but we got to eat at the cafe, and see some of the outdoor sculptures. Then, we went to hear my step-dad’s band play at a benefit. Lots of fun culture!
Saturday the 17th: Pedicure.I don’t really need to explain why I’d be grateful for a pedicure do I?
Sunday the 18th: Plans. We had some friends over for lunch, and planned a really fun vacation with them this summer! Now all we need to do is wait! Oh man!
Monday the 19th: Subbing. Seriously. Subbing is the best. No grading, no planning. Monday was a half-day job, too, so no pressure. I get to hang out with kids, see what they’re working on, teach a couple lessons (sometimes), and take off.
Tuesday the 20th: Growing.
Wednesday the 21st: Art.This time mom and I actually made it into the museum with the girls. And boy was it cool! There are some great exhibits at the U of O Art Museum these days. “Medusa Smack” was Alma’s favorite.
Thursday the 22nd: Pool.Alma loved playing in her pool for the first time this summer. I can’t wait for more swimming time with my little fish.
For years, I have been trying to plan a trip to the rhododendron gardens just right. I always seem to miss it. A couple weeks ago, I was sitting in my living room, looking at our beautiful red rhody, my neighbor’s purple one, and another neighbor’s yellow one. It hit me. This was the perfect weekend to go. So we went. And it was perfect.
I love that we are able to expose our kids to nature so easily. We are so blessed to live in a place with nature so nearby. Even though Hendrick’s Park is a very landscaped, planned garden, it feels wild and natural. It rises above the city, and surrounds you with flowers, and branches.
It is lovely. And I’m really proud that we finally went right on time.
Friday the 9th: Imagination. I am constantly amazed by Alma’s imagination. This is such a fun age.
Saturday the 10th: Play. I love how Alma can play while we work. Also, we saw an amazing play at Oregon Contemporary Theatre starring my beautiful and talented friend Hillary Ferguson. Go see it!
Sunday the 11th: Mothers.
Monday the 12th: Babies.
Tuesday the 13th: Work.
Wednesday the 14th: Daniel. We got to have lunch with my incredible brother, who is now on vacation in Europe before moving to Virginia.
Thursday the 15th: Forgiveness. I had to be very forgiving as it was possibly my worst day as a parent. Lots of different bodily fluids all over. Also grateful at my daughters’ capacity to forgive my frustration.
So glad it’s Friday again!
I’ve been called a Pollyanna before. I totally took it as a compliment (though I’m not sure it was meant that way). I have noticed over the years, that I tend to try to find the good in all situations. That isn’t to say that I don’t get disappointed or upset. I do. I sure do.
But, I always try to find something to be glad about – hence the Pollyanna Principle.
I know that the internet has really changed the way we communicate with people about our lives. Facebook, Instagram, and blogs are full of amazing photos of incredible vacations, happy kids, balanced meals, perfect houses, and enriching activities. The way we can instantly and widely share our accomplishments definitely gives a false sense of perfection to many people. I am guilty of doing this.
But I don’t feel guilty about it.
Why share this blurry, sad photo:
When I could, instead, share this adorable, (more) happy photo:
As a quote (perhaps falsely attributed to Abraham Lincoln (the internet it torn on this issue)) in the movie Pollyanna says, “When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will.” This can be said about ourselves as well. If I look for the bad in myself, I will become mostly bad. If I look for the good, I will focus on that and become good.
I know that I have bad traits. I try not to focus on them, but to be aware of them. I do, however, try to focus on my good traits. If I put my energy into the things I can do well, I feel that that goodness will spread into the things I can’t.
My One Little Word of the year is Gratitude, and this totally connects to my positive attitude. Every single day, I think about what I’m grateful for, and usually I have to work hard to find a single word that can express the goodness of my day. Even on my roughest, toughest days, I’m able to find something to be grateful about. This morning Alma peed her pants, drew on herself, and woke Harriet up. I felt myself getting really angry, so I took a moment to just be grateful for my beautifully frustrating 2-year-old, and remind myself that she is a 2-year-old. It took a lot of energy to be glad in the moment. But, after a couple deep breaths, I was glad.
There is a lot of genuine positivity on the internet. I wanted to share some of my favorite blogs and vlogs where the Pollyanna Principle is living and breathing:
First is my friend Evynne Hollens’ YouTube channel. If you want to hear some beautiful music, and watch a new mom’s journey, please check out her channel. Evynne has always been one of the most positive people I’ve known, and she is also one of the most successful people I’ve known. I am going to say that those two things are related. Watch this video about her amazing attitude, and this beautiful cover of Alma’s favorite song.
These are my three favorite blogs. Whenever I do a reader clean-up, these three stay on the top of my Favorites list. They are all inspired.
Kal Barteski is an amazingly strong and beautiful artist. She has her own Girl Tribe. She understand the power of encouragement and positivity. Check out her project that tells people all over the world how awesome they are. Kal is truly awesome.
Elise Blaha Cripe has a lovely attitude, and a lovely blog. Her little corner of the internet is full of great tips, and beautiful photos.
The blog that is mostly likely to make me cry (and I love a good cry) is Girls Gone Child. Rebecca Woolf is giving her four children the most amazing childhood full of music, dancing, creativity, expression, adventure, camaraderie, and love. She isn’t one to shy away from the difficult or the mundane, and that is why I keep going back to her.
I’m working on a more organized and savvy system for the blog and the H & A Baby shop. I’m excited to see where all of this might end up.
You never know if you don’t try.
Check back for details soon!
Friday the 2nd: Education. My last day at my long term job.
Saturday the 3rd: Finley. Our sweet little buddy had to have his appendix removed. We were all so grateful that it went well!
Sunday the 4th: Friends.
Monday the 5th: Alicia. Alma was sick, so we went see ‘Doctor’ Alicia. She’s actually a physician’s assistant, and we love her.
Tuesday the 6th: Science! We got to go to a benefit dinner for The Science Factory. Experiments are still awesome.
Wednesday the 7th: Studies. H and I participated in a pilot study at the university. I love that we are surrounded by smart people who are trying to make a better world.
Thursday the 8th: Justice. While subbing, I got to witness some of my favorite girls exercising their rights by staging a protest.
Maybe now that I am not working full time, I will be able to post my Friday Gratitudes on Fridays!
Friday the 25th: Tequila. 🙂
Saturday the 26th: Parents. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such great, caring, giving, funny, smart, and talented parents – both our own, and all of our friends who are parents. We have an amazing community.
Sunday the 27th: Home.
Monday the 28th: Kids. My mom brought my kids to school at the end of the day. I loved introducing my kids to ‘my kids.’
Tuesday the 29th: Mom. She had been so generous to watch my girls while I worked.
Wednesday the 30th: Cedar. Can’t believe this boy is 5.
Thursday the 1st: Play. I took my 6th graders on a walk, then let them play capture the flag. I was surprised and excited to see the playful spirit they still possessed.
The other night I totally had the urge to sew something. Since I’ve been working, I haven’t made anything, and I’ve been missing my hobby. While I’ve made quite a few dresses in the past, they have all been sort of complicated.
I have been wanting to try to make a simple dress pattern, so I just gave it a shot! I sketched out a simple sun dress, then drafted up a pattern. I just took one of Alma’s dresses and used it to estimate the bodice proportions, then made a couple simple ruffle layers.
I’m really happy with how it turned out! I love the colors together, on Alma. She is really into foxes these days, so it was fun to include those.
I will definitely be making more patterns and dresses in the future!
It’s so much fun having a daughter who is old enough to understand Easter this year. She is starting to get the whole Jesus thing, but she totally got the Easter Bunny.
We had a great day at church, and egg hunting, and eating with friends and family.
I was fun to start a new tradition of making the girls’ Easter dresses. These got to serve double duty as dresses for Harriet’s Baptism.
And then they... 