Love, and Lives Lost

Today's LML Monday is a bit different, my friends. Because not only is it Monday, but here in the United States it is also the day that we celebrate Memorial Day, the day that "honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military." (If you'd like to learn more about the history of the day, I recommend this article from History.com, or this article from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.)

So today, as I consider the things that make me happy, and that remind me to love my life, I can't help but think about how grateful I am to all of those brave men and women who gave their lives so that I may live mine. I cannot properly express how much I respect and admire those dedicated individuals who love their country and their fellow citizens so selflessly that they sacrifice themselves for our sake.

We, as citizens, may not always agree with the choices that our government makes, or like the ways in which our military is used. But that should never, ever be held against the men and women who serve. To them, we should be nothing but grateful, and always remember and appreciate the sacrifices they have made.

And so for now I leave you with these beautiful images of remembrance, courtesy of The Memorial Day Site.

Ok. I shared mine - now it's your turn! Please feel free to leave me a comment and share some of your recent LML moments. Focus on the happy thoughts, and let's all have a great week!

And if you're a blogger and would like to get in on the LML fun, feel free to grab the code and join the blog hop! Your post doesn't specifically have to use the "LML" label (although you're welcome to use it if you'd like, and the graphic that goes along with it.) If you have any kind of happy, positive Monday message that you'd like to share you're welcome to join. The more happy vibes, the better the Monday!

The Family That Geeks Together

So, as some of you have heard, my husband and I are taking the kids to Phoenix Comicon this weekend.

Yep. We're going to geek out with the best of them. We might eat some Jello brains.

We might walk like Zombies.

We'll definitely party like Time Lords.

My kids are thrilled (because I'm doing a proper job of raising geeks) and I can't wait to watch their reactions to all the cool stuff we are sure to see.

I have no doubt that I'll come back with some great stories and pictures. I also have no doubt that I'll be incredibly exhausted and have no spare time for the entire weekend, so I'll tell you all about it as soon as I can. I promise.

You Don't Need Toys in the Forrest

When we started packing for our first camping trip, the kids talked about all of the toys that they wanted to bring with them. At first I said no, because
1) there wasn't a lot of extra space, and 2) I knew they wouldn't need any of the toys while we were there. So (to keep from sounding like a completely unreasonable mom) I told their sad little faces that they could each pick out two toys.

But those sad little faces kept looking at me, so I finally relented. I gave them a pillow case and told them they could bring whatever they wanted. Because, while I knew that they wouldn't need toys while we were camping, I realized that they didn't know it yet.

So they each picked out several toys that they figured they couldn't live without for three days. And it turned out that the only toy that even came out of the bag at all while we were there was the Frisbee.

They (along with several of their friends) had quite a bit of fun with it. But the other toys never even crossed their minds, as they enjoyed all of the other things that there were to see and do while camping.

Like gathering firewood.

And learning how to wash dishes while you're camping.

And scoping out nature.

And hiking to the lake, where you discover that there is still snow on the ground.

And realizing that even though the temperatures have already hit the 100s at home, it's still cold up in the mountains!

And, perhaps most importantly, enjoying some quality time with your best friend. Who needs toys when you have all of this?

A New-found Sense of Adventure

One of the best things about camping is the freedom that it offers. You can leave the troubles of city life behind for a little while and just enjoy what nature has to offer. Sure, there are still dangers out in the wilderness. But it's different. And, unlike in the city, the kids can be afforded a little bit more freedom to get out and explore on their own.

And explore they did, beginning the moment we got out of the car. As my husband and I set up the tent and unpacked, they examined everything in the immediate surroundings. And quickly (following the rule that they had to stay close enough that they could still see us) their range expanded, and they became more adventurous.

I wasn't at all surprised that my daughter was quick to set out without looking back, because she's always been the Independent Miss. ("I can do it myself" has been her most common phrase since she was about 2 1/2.)

And I wasn't too surprised to see my son head out with her. He's always been more self-confident and open to new things when she is there for company (and support.)

What did surprise me a little was how quickly my son took to exploring on his own. This is the kids that doesn't like to go anywhere by himself, always asking "Can I have company?" He just likes the security of having someone there with him.

But it didn't take long at all before he ventured off in his own direction, not worrying at all that nobody was right there following his every move. We were all still fairly close by, obviously. And I could still see him and be sure that he was safe. But for a kid who doesn't even like being alone in a room in his own house, it was really nice to see him grow and be a little bit more comfortable on his own.

Of course, the vast majority of the time the kids still stuck together. (Exploring on your own is nice, but it's even better with a friend.) And they loved getting to go hiking together.

And as usual, this was a common sight. The two of them, together, heading off to conquer the world. No matter how often I see it, this still melts my heart a little every time.

Yahtzee and Chocolate Chips

It's Monday once again, my friends. And as always that means it's time to reflect on the things that made us happy over the past week. And of course now is also the perfect time to set the tone for a great week to come! 

If you missed my take on LML, you can find it here. If you missed the explanation of LML Monday, you can catch up here. 

Yahtzee!
But not just any Yahtzee. It is, in fact, the Doctor Who Yahtzee that my awesome husband got for me last week. As you can see, the kids were just as excited about it as I was.

Yes, the dice cup is the TARDIS. And yes, it lives on my bookshelf in between games.

National Chocolate Chip Day
Wednesday was National Chocolate Chip Day (sometimes also referred to as National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day) and I almost missed it! (That, friends, is what happens when you get busy and don't look ahead on your calendar.)

It was late in the afternoon when I realized the day, and it really seemed like one holiday that we just shouldn't pass up. (How could you miss out on an excuse to have cookies?!) But I was about to head out the door to pick my son up from school, and still had grocery shopping to do, and homework to supervise, and dinner to make, etc., etc. I was trying to figure out how I could also squeeze in a homemade batch of cookies when my husband, in his infinite wisdom, suggested that I just pick some up while I was at the store.

I was a little sad, because store bought just wouldn't be the same as homemade. But then, more wisdom from my husband. If I got them at the store I could get several different kinds, and we could go on a cookie-tasting adventure to discover which ones we liked best. (Like I've said before, it's all about how you spin it.) So that's what we did. The kids thought it was cool, and we got to have a little something extra after dinner, in honor of the day.

Ok. I shared mine - now it's your turn! Please feel free to leave me a comment and share some of your recent LML moments. Focus on the happy thoughts, and let's all have a great week!

And if you're a blogger and would like to get in on the LML fun, feel free to grab the code and join the blog hop! Your post doesn't specifically have to use the "LML" label (although you're welcome to use it if you'd like, and the graphic that goes along with it.) If you have any kind of happy, positive Monday message that you'd like to share you're welcome to join. The more happy vibes, the better the Monday!

Capturing the Awe

My kids may not be growing up "out in the country" like I did, but they still love getting out into nature every chance we get. They love picnics, and hiking, and (as we recently discovered) camping. And every time I see them exploring and having fun outdoors, I am reassured that their "city life" upbringing ins't dampening their love of nature in the least.

 You could say they were a bit excited to finally be going camping.

And while the desert has its merits, we were all happy to be escaping it for a little while. Goodbye dry, flat views.

And hello changing landscape. It's nice to trade in the saguaros for some real trees now and then. 

The drive up to the mountains was great, because every time we'd turn or come over a ridge and see a new vista open up in front of us, the kids would "ooh" and "aah" delightedly. My favorite quotes included "Whoa! That's awesome!" and "Look! It's so beautiful!"

And of course the "oohs" and "aahs" continued when we finally reached the campground. (With some of my own contented sighs along with them.) This was the view from our campsite. Complete bliss!

We were fortunate enough to be able to go up a night early, so we had some free time to explore before the official Cub Scout camp out started.

So we got to visit the lake.

And do some hiking up on the rim.

It was wonderful to be able to share this with my family. No cares. No worries. Just a weekend away enjoying our awesome surroundings.

Back to the Land of the Manicured

It's funny how things in your life can take on new meanings, isn't it? And sometimes those new meanings can kind of change your perspective on things. And sometimes it can kind of blow your mind. (Or, if you want to be less dramatic, it can at least make you think a little bit.)

If you know me at all, you know how much I love nail polish (and have since I was a kid.) Sometimes it's muted colors, sometimes a little more wild. Sometimes I go for the cute look, and sometimes a little more funky. It's just one of those little things that I can do to add some style and personality to my look. And it's fun.

But in preparation for my family's recent camping trip, I had removed the polish and cut the nails short, knowing that I would probably be breaking them out in the woods anyway. (Which I did, starting about five minutes after we got to the campground.) I was perfectly fine with that, really. But on the way home it did cross my mind that it would be nice to be back home, and clean, and nicely manicured once again.

And that was the plan. As soon as I could find a moment to sit down with my box-o-tools I would give myself a manicure. Only I didn't do it. Just like I didn't do a lot of things in the two weeks that followed. Like I mentioned, the week after we came back from camping was a pretty bad pain week. And that was frustrating, and depressing.

It was made even more frustrating by the fact that the pain had been caused by something that I really enjoyed doing. And I have to admit that it made me a little bitter. I had all these wonderful pictures and stories to share. But every time I thought about the trip, it just reminded me how much pain I was in, which made me cranky, and sucked out all of my desire to write (and, eventually, to do anything that made me happy.)

But you can only live like that for so long. For me, at least, being cranky and depressed starts getting really irritating after a little while. So I decided to make an actual effort to feel better, instead of just going along with feeling bad. It took a couple of weeks, and a lot of inner dialogue, but I finally got through it.

And then I sat down and painted my nails. And it made me smile. Which made me feel a little better. And once I had that little glimmer, I had something to build on, and eventually let go of the pain and frustration that I had been letting control me. (And it turned out that being "back home...and nicely manicured" was much more of a metaphor than I had realized.)

This isn't the first time I've been through a pain cycle like this, and I'm sure it won't be the last. But if there is a bright side (and you know there always is) it is that I was reminded of a few very important things:

1) It's not so much about where you are. It's more about how you feel. (Your physical location doesn't matter nearly as much as how you react to it.) And once you're in a good place mentally, everything else is brighter too.

2) It is incredibly important to find - and do - those little things in life that give us a reason to smile. Paint your nails. Read a book. Watch a favorite movie. Go for a walk. Whatever you do for your "me time" - make time for it.

and 3) Feeling better doesn't happen instantly. Even when you "decide" that you're going to get over things and move on, it takes time. But it's important to keep at it, because eventually those little things that make you smile will add up, and smiling will be your way of life again.

Dinosaurs and Handmade Gifts

It's Monday once again, my friends. And as always that means it's time to reflect on the things that made us happy over the past week. And of course now is also the perfect time to set the tone for a great week to come! 

If you missed my take on LML, you can find it here. If you missed the explanation of LML Monday, you can catch up here. 

Dinosaurs (a great way to spend Mother's Day)
My husband had to work yesterday, so he and the kids took me out to dinner on Saturday to celebrate Mother's Day, and then the kids and I took my mom out yesterday to celebrate again. We had a nice relaxing lunch, and then (because we were sort of in the neighborhood) the kids asked if we could go to the "dinosaur museum."

Much to their delight, Grandma and I agreed, and we spent a nice afternoon checking out the dinosaurs (and other great exhibits.) It was exhausting, as that museum always is, but having some fun playing with my mom and kids made it a pretty great Mother's Day.

Handmade Gifts
One of the best things about Mother's Day - for me, anyway - is the great handmade gifts from my little ones.

Like the cards they made for me at my son's last Cub Scouts meeting.

And the wall hanging that my son made in class.

And the hand print bouquet that he made in art class.

Motherhood may not always be sunshine and lollipops. There are sleepless nights, and stress, and frustration, and headaches, and messes beyond belief. But those are nothing compared to the rewards. These two little people are my world, and I wouldn't trade them for anything.


Ok. I shared mine - now it's your turn! Please feel free to leave me a comment and share some of your recent LML moments. Focus on the happy thoughts, and let's all have a great week!

And if you're a blogger and would like to get in on the LML fun, feel free to grab the code and join the blog hop! Your post doesn't specifically have to use the "LML" label (although you're welcome to use it if you'd like, and the graphic that goes along with it.) If you have any kind of happy, positive Monday message that you'd like to share you're welcome to join. The more happy vibes, the better the Monday!

Dodgeball & Dorky Facebook Pages

It's Monday once again, my friends. And as always that means it's time to reflect on the things that made us happy over the past week. And of course now is also the perfect time to set the tone for a great week to come! 

If you missed my take on LML, you can find it here. If you missed the explanation of LML Monday, you can catch up here.

Dodgeball
No, I'm not talking about the movie (although it is always good for a laugh or two.) Last week was field day at my son's school, and my husband and I had the joy of supervising the dodgeball station. It was a whole lot of almost-controlled chaos, but it was a good time. (Completely exhausting, but entertaining. And totally worth it.)

But I do have to say that kids today have it way too easy. Remember when we were kids? There were no soft foam balls for dodgeball - we used the hard rubber kickballs. And no "one bounce rule" to cut down on people getting hit in the head. If you got hit in the head, you learned to be quicker next time. These kids don't know how good they have it. ;)

Dorky Facebook Pages
Last week was a pretty rough pain week (which is the main reason for the lack of recent posts.) I mostly managed to meet my most important commitments, but beyond that I wasn't able to do a lot. (I made it to field day, because I had promised to be there, but the next day I could barely get out of bed.) I wasn't writing, my e-mail was going unread, and I barely glanced at Facebook. I was pretty much just in survival mode, without an over-abundance of joy.

But last night, I decided to feel better. Or at least to fake it until I actually felt better. And (as usual) that really did help. So I started trying to catch up a bit on things that had been going undone, part of which was checking out what I had been missing on Facebook. (It's a little thing, but getting back into your routine after being so out of it for a week can make a big difference.)

So as I caught up, I visited some of my favorite pages, and remembered that I can always count on them for a laugh. Laughter being the best medicine, and all, it helped a lot in my quest to feel better and get out of my pain-induced slump. It's mostly nerd humor, because that's how I roll. But if you find yourself in need of a laugh, you may want to check some of them out.

George Takei
The Dork Side
Nerd Banter
No Hope For the Human Race
This isn't the page you're looking for, move along

Know any other good dorky sites? Please share! I'm always looking for more good nerd humor.


Ok. I shared mine - now it's your turn! Please feel free to leave me a comment and share some of your recent LML moments. Focus on the happy thoughts, and let's all have a great week!

And if you're a blogger and would like to get in on the LML fun, feel free to grab the code and join the blog hop! Your post doesn't specifically have to use the "LML" label (although you're welcome to use it if you'd like, and the graphic that goes along with it.) If you have any kind of happy, positive Monday message that you'd like to share you're welcome to join. The more happy vibes, the better the Monday!