It's January.

In case you haven't noticed it's cold and dreary and everyone is sick.

So what do you do?

I will tell you.

You buy this CD and then you turn it up really loud in your car.

It is akin to sitting down to a whole box of Godiva chocolates.

At least to me.

And I need that because I am one up on you in the misery category because I have two big research papers and finals this month

and they are trying hard to suck the joy out of my life,

but don't worry about me. I have plenty of highs in my life right now too.

Such as...

1. Seeing poop in Piney's little potty. That is a big one.

2. Keeping up with all the blatantly biased, slanted, corrupt news channels and Internet sites about the primary election (I should really stop)

3. Scaling down the stress in our lives by buying less stuff and appointing Sundays as a "NO- T.V., Computer or Electronics day" and instead a "Family Togetherness" day.

4. Making little homemade boats for home-school and floating them in the bathtub to see which motor works the best. Why is it always the boat which is supposed to go the fastest is the one that sinks?

5. Learning about each continent in depth- we are currently learning about Australia. Did you know that the Aborigines did not "discover" Australia, but rather England did (according to our really stupid workbook). But despite that moronic part I have learned a lot. Anytime you want to quiz me on the capitals and stuff... I'm good.

6. Getting to pretend to be Elmo every night (we have a puppet which Piney loves)... singing in my best Elmo voice, "If you are happy and you know it scratch your nose, etc, etc." Nothing like a good sore throat and a nose scratch every night.

7. Planning our Japan trip. We were able to get a five star hotel in Tokyo on priceline for really cheap. I love that site. It might actually put a dent in the extravagant prices that Tokyo thinks is normal and O.K.

8. Reading my environment books that are telling me to only use 2 squares of toilet paper at a time and buy all my clothes at goodwill. I don't think they would have said that if they had visited the thrift store on my base. All of the clothes are from the 1960s. We bought my son's Halloween costume from there. Then again. They would probably still want me to shop there. If you see upcoming pictures of a bag lady. Those are me.

9. Funny moments like this- Pineapple tells me it is time to go. I say, "Really?" She surprises me by pulling up her arm sleeve, bending her arm and then bringing her wrist up to her face as if looking at her watch and announcing, "Yes! It is 8:00! Time to go!" (And IT WAS 8:00!)

Well, that's about it. Any highlights in your life?

Labels: after adoption: transitioning successfully, fun family activities