10.31.21 - Joy status: Halloween on FB

Halloween is one of the best days on Facebook. I love all your costume and decor pics!

10.29.21 - Joy status: broccoli cheddar soup

I was having a frustrating day because Clara woke up sick and things hobbled along from there. BUT. Merlene (my MIL) watched the girls so I didn't have to reschedule an important work call, and when I finished the call I came down to the kitchen to find she had also made broccoli cheddar soup! And it's all rainy and gloomy outside so it's a perfect soup day!

10.23.21 - Joy status: David from Schitt's Creek

GIFs of David from Schitt's Creek

10.17.21 - Joy status: leisurely Sunday morning

Leisurely Sunday morning. With Jack and I both working full-time now, I'm normally running around trying to get done as much as possible even on the weekends. But today Jack is working, my in-laws are out of town, Clara is at my mom's house because she spent the night last night, and so the only people in the house are Jane, Calvin, and me. It's giving me the opportunity to pay a little bit more focused attention on them than I usually can.

We made chocolate chip pancakes. Jane helped a lot with pouring milk and cracking eggs and even putting some of the chocolate chips in. We ate them as we made them. It made the whole house smell wonderful and feel very cozy especially since it's nice and chilly outside (woooooo fall!) We listened to the entire Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack followed by the soundtrack to Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin.

Then Jane and I played a Thomas the tank engine memory game. We started with just 4 pairs of cards but slowly expanded until we were using 12. She's getting pretty good at it. After 5 or 6 rounds of that, she wanted to play Connect Four. I tried to teach her the real way but eventually let her and Calvin play their own version that involves racing to put as many pieces in as possible. They really enjoyed it.

Now I'm reclining on the couch brainstorming Christmas wish list ideas for the kids (at my mom's request because she gets started ridiculously early) and the kids are each doing their own thing in the living room peacefully. So nice to take a morning off and just hang out with them.

10.11.21 - Joy status: autumn day

Today was such an autumn day. 

Woke up to thunderstorms which the kids watched eagerly when they were supposed to be getting ready for the day. As I drove Jane and Calvin to in-home daycare, Jane (4yo) kept wistfully remarking at how beautiful the sky was with dark blue mixed with sunrise gold. She said "oh! It's such a lovely day!" It rained on and off all day and I loved it. Currently I am working out of an extra room at my mom's house, and when I got there this morning she had put up all of her fall decor on her front porch and in her living room and it was incredibly cozy. I had autumn squash soup for lunch. And then this evening I went on a long walk through a park by a lake with my sister-in-law and it was very breezy and cool and there were leaves of all kinds of colors covering the path the whole way. It was beautiful.

10.10.21 - Joy status: Calvin and Hobbes thrifted

I got all of these today for a total of $2.50! (Once Upon a Child) I think I'm going to make them Christmas gifts. My kids are still a little young but Clara is getting old enough she could practice reading with them.

9.21.21 - Joy status: overcast and chilly, and Once Upon a Child

 It's overcast and chilly today.

This evening I went to Once upon a Child and got one new Halloween shirt for each kid. They were really excited when I showed them at home and wanted to try them on immediately. Calvin was so pumped when I put his on that he ran around the living room a couple times. Then we put on songs from Nightmare Before Christmas so they could dance.

In general I really love the last quarter of the year with all of the best holidays, and in particular I have enjoyed it more since having children and getting them excited with themed clothes and books and making decorations together and all of the anticipation of each event. It is so much fun!

9.15.21 - Joy status: Hank Green TikTok

This video! I love Hank Green (guy on right) and dude on the left adds a lot.

8.20.21 - Joy status: Clara prepares for kindergarten

Clara is beside herself with excitement to go to her first day of school. This morning was kindergarten orientation, and she was literally dancing around before we got in the car. She was thrilled to go inside the school, see her classroom, meet her teacher, and meet some of the other children. She said she can't wait for "real school" on Monday. I am relieved and delighted that she's finally getting to go.

8.11.21 - Joy status: Panera coffee deal & Merlene's piano

Panera has unlimited coffee for like $9/month. I go to coffee shops to work very often. I used to go to Starbucks, which is like $5/visit, so the Panera deal is saving me a small fortune.

My mother-in-law plays the piano really beautifully.

7.31.21 - Joy status: trains and compliments

Riding the train at the St. Louis Zoo.

When I compliment a woman's clothing and she tells me she got it for $5 at a thrift store.

7.21.21 - Joy status: Finished genetics

I finally finished the genetics course that's been annoying me the last few months! I thought the final went well, we'll see. Then I had a wonderful time with Aaron at dinner. Awesome day.

7.19.21 - Joy status: faster playback speeds

Being able to listen to audiobooks or watch videos at faster playback speeds.

7.16.21 - Joy status: hummingbirds and cardinals

The backyard often has hummingbirds and cardinals flitting around.

7.10.21 - Joy status: RAIN

Absolutely loving all the rain we're getting. It's rained more in the month we've been here than probably the last 18 months in California. Looooving it.

7.7.21 - Joy status: full size washer, less carpeting

A full sized washer and dryer, and a place for my kids to eat their meals that isn't over carpeting! Details that make domestic life a little bit easier.

6.29.21 - Joy status: trading child care with Julie

My sister Julie and I have started trading watching each other's kids once a week. This would already be a nice setup on a practical level because we each get a child free day every other week at no cost. But when I dropped my kids off this morning Julie also talked about how excited she is to have a house full of chaos and children.

6.23.21 - Joy status: suburban privacy

Our bedroom windows no longer face directly into someone else's living room windows a few dozen feet away. Right now we are on a second floor that faces the space in between two other houses that are across a street. Hurray for suburban privacy!

6.21.21 - Joy status: Calvin's bedtime routine

The main lullaby I sing the kids is "Baby Mine" from Dumbo, so sometimes Calvin asks me to sing "A E Mine." Recently he has started singing it along with me in that sweet toddler voice of his with a big grin on his face. Last time when the lullaby was done I said "good night, I love you" and he laughingly said "gah night!" as if it was some great inside joke of ours

6.15.21 - Joy status: stomp away

We no longer have anyone living below us, so I no longer have to keep telling my kids to stop jumping or stomping.