Simply Joy Sunday #70

I may not post a SJS every week anymore, especially during the summer. If you are playing along, please leave your link in your comment for the next couple of months! I'm out experiencing the joys of life!

I took my kids to Mystery Cave in SE MN this week. I hadn't been there since I was in elementary school. This beautiful underground lake was really breathtaking.

There were storms rumbling all around us Friday night but we were bypassed. It was fine with me. I got to hear the thunder without any of the damage.

My Big kids were catching fireflies last night. Their giggles were a welcome sound. I'm pretty sure catching fireflies is a requirement for kids.

Two weeks of summer break gone and we've packed a lot of fun into those two weeks. It's going way too fast!

Simply Joy Sunday #69

I have slacked off on the Simply Joy Sunday posts lately. It's not because I'm not noticing those little things in life that make me smile. No, you can be assured that I notice. My eyes are always looking for beauty and wonder around me. Most often, I see this beauty when I have forgotten or chosen to leave my camera at home. Sometimes I choose to leave it because I know I will see beauty I wish I could capture with my camera.

My joys this week are more numerous than I will write about here but some that I want to share...

I bought annuals and got most of the flowers planted. I love how big they get over the weeks. It looks a little sad now but they will grow big.

D and I took my big kids to school then hurried to the airport to join my brother and sister-in-law's kids and my parents to watch my brother and sister-in-law take off for NYC. They even saw us waving as they took off.

And this beautiful little girl turned two years old yesterday. Can't get much better than that!

What are your joys this week?


Playing along:

Athena's Armoury

Random Simply Joy Sunday Thoughts

This week I am happy that we held our garage sale and sold a lot of stuff. We still have a ton of stuff, but...we got rid of a bunch so that is good. Many of our larger baby items are gone...we are finished having babies. It's amazing how much space baby items take up in the house.

We had the crappiest weekend so far this Spring to have the sale. We did well anyway but the sleet and rain and cold were not fun. Makes me wonder how much we could have sold if it had been nice weather.

I bought an ap for my iPad so I could return to running. I hope I can do it.

This is sort of a Random Thought SJS.

Even the sleet and rain were beautiful in their own ways. I love the perspective of seeing things in a positive light. I wish we could all see things the same and spread positivity. Surround yourself with positive people...like negativity, optimism is catching.

I took the K Man to a friend's birthday party yesterday. The birthday girl invited 3 guests, 2 other girls and my son. How beautiful that she invited so few kids and one of them was my son. Such a sweet girl, and my son is so special too.

Playing along:

Athena's Armoury

Simply Joy Sunday #67

When you take the time to stop and look around you, you will often notice little things in life that bring a smile to your face. That's what I'm taking time to notice with these Simply Joy Sunday posts.

Ms. D has become very particular about her footwear. For a while she insisted on wearing an old pair of M's sneakers every day. Now she's moved on to these pink shoes. No matter what, she wants to wear these shoes. Who can blame her really? It's so funny because my older two children have never been so particular about what they wear.

My husband may have gotten a little carried away with putting candles on my birthday cake. It made me laugh though and the kids thought it was hilarious that I left one candle lit. My son said he'd be my boyfriend.

Cake and wine. Mmmm. Another year older and so lucky to have the family I do.

What made you smile this week?

Yet Another Simply Joy Sunday...Do YOU notice the little things?

I'm lazy. Extra lazy.


I have been extra blessed this week. My husband gave me an early birthday/Mother's Day/10th anniversary gift. An iPad! It is so cool and I feel extra cool when I have it in public. (FYI, I am not that cool.)

We had a couple of thunderstorms. I love the sound of thunder when I have nowhere to go. I even bought an ap for the iPad that has white noises. I could sleep and relax for days with this.

The smell of the fresh rain on Friday...the combination of fresh water and earthworms...I want to inhale.

The excitement of the kids as we bought a new (used) minivan.

I priced a bunch of stuff for our garage sale! I have a lot to go through but any progress is good!

What are you loving this week>

Simply Joy Sunday #65

Are you noticing little things in life that make you smile? Since I started SJS I have been looking around me and seeing so many things that make life just a little more happy.

I took D to visit Daddy at work one day last week. She got some cheesy crackers and showed off her cuteness...and got to see where Daddy goes almost every morning. While we were in the area we went to check out the windmills. The modern windmills aren't as pretty as the windmills of old, but they still command attention, especially when there are several in one area.

I love a thunderstorm. I do. And the return of storm clouds makes me smile.

And my oldest child and her father sharing a laugh...this will always make me smile.

What made you smile this week? If you post on your blog, let me know here and I'll round up any players here. No blog? Just tell me here in the comments!

Playing along:

Athena's Armoury

Simply Joy Sunday #64

I am enjoying the little things in life. Please take time to notice the small things that make you smile. It is worth it.

I played Legos with my big kids during one of D's naps this week. I built most of the stuff but M and K enjoyed the time we spent together. Also? I am awesome at Legos.

Rain is much preferred to snow. And the rain has made the grass so green. Love the rain. Can't wait for more thunderstorms.

I took my kids to a hotel pool to swim this week. We all had a blast. So fun that we spent 3 hours there. This has been the best school break ever. I am reluctant to let M and K go back to school, but at the same time they have been fighting more the last few days so I guess it is time they go back to school. Sigh. I will miss them. Can't wait until summer vacation. We are going to pack in the fun in those 6 weeks. I hope.

Are you playing along this week?

Athena's Armoury

Simply Joy Sunday #63

I had many, many moments of joy this week but I decided to post just a few joys from yesterday.

The kids dyed Easter eggs at church yesterday morning. They were very in to the yellow this year for some reason.

They also made these candy nests. They all only like the jelly beans from them, but they had fun making them.

My mom and I took the kids to a "carnival" at the local armory except my kids didn't play any of the games. They just wanted to do the inflatable toys. All three had a blast. My favorite part was that the two big kids helped Ms. D through the obstacle course many times.

What are your joys this week?

Also playing along:

Athena's Armoury

Mrs. Dragon's Den

Simply Joy Sunday #61

I'm still trying to notice the little things around me that make me smile. Are you?

Did you notice the little things?


Also playing:
Athena's Armoury

Simply Joy Sunday #61

I am too cranky and tired for SJS.

Simply Joy Sunday #60

I am continuing to try to notice the little things in life that make me smile. Please join me!

Ordinarily, the above scene would not make me smile. It would probably have made my blood boil even 3 months ago. But, the day that Miss D had a blast throwing cereal all around the living room this week? It didn't faze me a bit. She had a great time. I picked it up with a little of her help. We went on with the day and it was wonderful.

I found 3 pairs of jeans for Miss M on clearance. They fit her in the waist fine with the adjustable waistband but were too long for her. I actually got all 3 pairs hemmed while sitting in the car line at school. Go me actually getting something done in a timely fashion!

And the K Man? He paid attention at swimming lessons for a change and swam a few strokes of the front crawl finally. He was very proud of himself and I was happy I had the camera to capture his pride. He also made my heart melt once again when we were at the mall with Amma yesterday. He was bugging her to give him money to play one of the rip-off games they have stationed in the food court area and she grew tired of him asking every 3 seconds so she finally told him that she was too poor to pay for that. He grew very somber and said: "Oh I didn't know that! I have some coins in my bank at home that you can have."

Pretty sure my heart burst wide open with that one. My children are amazing people.

Are you noticing the simple joys of life? Please share them here in the comments or on your own blog. (Link here if you play along on your blog and let me know so I can link you here too.)

Playing along:

Athena's Armoury

Wishing you a week of simple joys.

Simply Joy Sunday #59

Are you taking time to notice little things around you that make you smile?

This is our church. I think it is really beautiful.

These pants were M's, and now D has pretty much outgrown them too. I just think they are such pretty pants. I am a little sad that they have been outgrown, but there are more cute clothes to come!

And this photo just made me smile. I love my camera. There is no way our old camera would have caught the kitty yawn.

Are you noticing the little things that make you smile? Let me know in the comments and I'll link to you here. (Please link to me too! :)!!)

Playing along:

Mrs. Dragon's Den

Athena's Armoury

Simply Joy Sunday #59

I urge you to take the time to notice small things around you that can bring you joy. Since I started noticing, I notice all the time and wish I had my camera and the opportunity to snap photos at will. There is so much beauty and joy around us.

This is our church after choir practice last Wednesday. I thought it was pretty even though the sun had ceased lighting the roof as it had earlier in the evening.

I noticed this bunny or squirrel trail on Thursday evening.

And Friday evening, the moon was delicious.

Saturday morning my oldest participated in a cookie booth for Girl Scouts. She had a fantastic time (I did too) but I was so frozen after 2 hours outside that I soaked in the bath for 45 minutes. She earned her goal and then some. She's thrilled, I'm thrilled. We had some girl time. Ms. D was sick so I was a bit worried about her while I was gone, but her Daddy is more than capable and took excellent care of her while I was gone...and continued the care when I got home so I could put away laundry. Have I told you that my husband is a joy? Well, he is.

Link here I link to you, yadda yadda yadda. What made you smile this week?

Simply Joy Sunday #58

It's been more than a year of noticing the little things around me that make me smile. Are you noticing the beauty around you?

I see this gate nearly every day. I've always thought it was such a peaceful setting.

The sun appeared most days this week. Beautiful morning light.

Ms. D's shoes. They are so little and cute...just like her.

Is anyone still playing along? **sniff sniff** You can join in any time! I like to take photos of my "little things" but you can participate any way you'd like. No blog? Just tell me your joys in the comments.

If you post on your blog, link to me and let me know you're participating and I'll link you here as well.

Playing along:

The Dragon's Den

Simply Joy Sunday #56

Enjoying life just a little more by noticing little things that make me smile...

Valentines from my kids...
Valentines for my kids:
My husband is reinventing my scrapbook table to go in the new addition. I wish I'd thought to take a before photo but I'm not that smart. It was all white and had white tile in the center. It will soon have a solid center and will be very striking. That's all I'll say about it for now. I'll take a photo when it's done. It's going to look awesome.
Also, if you're not reading in a reader you may notice something different around here. I love it. New year (still near the start of the new year, right?), new look. I haven't had time for a new header yet (I still like to make my own headers). Thanks to NWDesigns (napwarden on Twitter) for the new look. I wanted something simple this year and it's just right.

How was your week? Did you notice little things that made you smile this week?