lovin' the search for the happies...

In the hour that I had to pack to get to Illinois earlier this month, and which I swear I did with my eyes closed because we have nothing of what we need, I forgot to grab my HAPPINESS PROJECT book. But if I am remembering correctly, I got anxious in February and read ahead to March (each chapter is assigned to a month). The March chapter applied to work and your work attitude and atmosphere. Well, as a Stay-at-home-mom, there is a change in that atmosphere hour by hour and attitude - well, it's just questionable all the time with a house of 4 females...so I didn't take that chapter to heart too much.
BUT I am still constantly searching the little "happies" in life that I might have left unnoticed before really concentrating on the search.

When I come to my parents house, after saying hellos, I always do a tour of the house. Usually to see what has changed because my dad is one who loves projects - if a room looks one way this month, I guarantee you, next year at this time, it's going to look entirely different. I guess I inherited that gene from him. Looking for change, yes, but I am also looking for the constants that make their home my old home.

Here are just a few of the "happies" I love in their house...

a living room chair that has seen many different fabrics, this one being my absolute favorite...

and seeing Maddie enjoy it as her reading chair.

these little jars that sit by the kitchen window that I gave to my mom one year.

a sculpture of my mom and dad running made by a well known local artist who has since passed away.

My parents used to be avid runners, and when my dad had the roof replaced years ago, the artist used the leftover copper to design this sculpture. How's THAT for a conversation piece?

a family picture of my sister and I with my parents, from 2006, and when I first learned how to use the "cloning tool" on photoshop. There isn't a wrinkle to be found on our faces -- we could all pass for 20-something in this picture, RIGHT???  (FYI-I've learned to accept the wrinkles now -it's inevitable!)

the chalkboard that is now 15 years old, on which all granddaughters have played teacher and written their ABC's --Izzy of course will do so in the future.

my mom's willingness to make room for me to hang the girls' clothes during our visits despite her large clothes collection which takes up three closets.

a breast cancer sticker that remains on her bathroom mirror

 from a 5k Race that my mom and I ran together in Chicago in 1999.

one shelf of knick-knacky trinkets from my mom's childhood and my own that is now in what used to be my bedroom. cabbage patch kids, baby blocks, pez dispenser -- all makes me smile!

after 20+ years of running, my dad's bib from running his first marathon in Chicago in 1999

 I remember the day like it was yesterday!

All is probably meaningless to a stranger who enters there home, but to me, they are memories.

Have a Happy Day!

An extra long unexpected visit...

We have now been in Illinois for a total of TWENTY days. Before making the changes to the trip in order to be here for my Grandma, we were going to be here for three weeks. Well, now we are here for over thirty-some days. Whew! Lemme tell you, it's hard to be a guest that long and it's hard to host someone that long, EVEN when it is your own mother and father that is doing the hosting. There are eggshells to be walked on and there is exhaustion on both sides. My children upped their whining ever since arriving and my baby just prefers me, no one else -- all these welcoming arms waiting to snuggle with her and she just. wants. me. the picture below shows my view of her most of the time. I've learned how to walk with her hanging on to a leg. I painted an armoire today with green paint while holding her on my knee in one hand and dripping green paint all over the armoire, me and the baby with the other hand.

But I must say, I am enjoying the time to "just be", and not be rushed and not counting the days until we go home again. I feel like we live here for the time being. The clothes are out of suitcases into the drawers, the kitchen is stocked with baby food and way too many sweet treats for the girls. The girls have a set of scooters and bikes here, just as they do at home.

I like it.

It's nice to be here.

I've been enjoying the sights a bit more, especially the old homes on the "west end" as we call it here and love the character of each home and the vibrant blue color of so many of them.

And I've been reminded of my own high school days as I spend time with my niece who is a freshman and oh so in love with her new boyfriend. To be young again.

And the twins decided to teach themselves how to ride their bikes and within minutes, they succeeded.

Training wheels -- into the trash can!

I'm home.

and thankful.

painting eggs...

Through the many crafty blog parties that I am obsessed with each week, I came across these painted eggs using the cheapo plastic eggs that we all have in our Easter bins.

With eggs, a blue and white paint mixture, and some brown and white paint for splattering,  I went to work...

the result -- a pottery barn knock-off. These are PB's pricey eggs above...

These are my cheapies below...

Not Bad?

Find a nest....

(this is a large crow's nest that a neighbor found and gave to me!)

And you've got a cute birds nest with eggs...

Next step -Acquire the patience to borrow yet another idea from PB and stamp the names on the 2nd batch of eggs that I created here at my mom's to add to each of the kids' Easter baskets.

our birthday girls...

1, 825 days 

of pure joy, unconditional love, and giggles.

or

FIVE YEARS

of living with two twin girls named Mia and Maddie.

Our little ones are 5 on Monday.

March 22nd.

 It's such a monumental age -

 the baby stage is way gone,

the toddler stage now over,

the preschoolers soon behind us,

and now...the kindergartners will soon arrive.

I specifically remember the excitement of creating this picture to send out on a mass email announcing our news. I was just 5 weeks pregnant when our first ultrasound showed us not one, but two babies on the way. We were leaving for Costa Rica the next day and my doctor ordered that I not go. Well, I went anyway. I knew that he was afraid of miscarriage, but I thought if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. And in reality, I knew with twins on the way, I would not see any type of vacation in the near future -- 5 years later I am correct on the assumption (although we are taking our first family trip here in a few weeks!)

So no one, not even my protective doctor, could take that Costa Rica trip away from me.

Those of you that are thinking I am nuts for ignoring those orders, let me get off track here and show you THIS is where I got to take my daily baths...

and THIS is the view I had from our rainforest cabin while I rested and read on the bed while everyone else went hiking.

NOW DO YOU THINK I AM NUTS?

It was a relaxing and peaceful trip and all went well.

Back to these twins of mine...

I went from being presentably-pregnant

to "take me to a park in a wheelchair so I can at least see the outdoors" pregnant.

78 pounds people!!!

these little ones added a whopping 78 extra pounds to my body.

ok, so I did more than my fair share of eating for three, but I was quite big!

Well worth the 78 pounds and discomfort because I soon had these beauties in my hands...

We went in to the surgery all prepared to bring home our Cooper and Caden, our twin boys, but here came two little girls. We didn't find out ahead of time what the babies were, but we always assumed that since I was a tomboy and my sister had already had three girls, that somehow I would be the mother of boys.

But how blessed to have two little girls.

Our Sweet "Moo-Moos" and "Meezee-Peezee"

We have loved every day with you and look forward to the next 5

...and the next

...and the next.

...and so on...

Have a seat please...

Way back when I first started my blog, I confessed to my chair obsession here and I showed you a few of my thrifty chair finds

I found a few more in the Grandparents' basement, and if they'd smoosh down into the suitcase, I'd pack 'em up!

I might be checking into just how much it is to ship a chair - that pink chair needs to come home with these three little girls of mine. and that step stool could be handy ...and the yellow one is quite retro and fun...