:-)

Lunch with friends

Yesterday, I had lunch with friends and all our children. My daughter got the kid time she needed and I got the girlfriend time I needed. I was still smiling about it today!

Potty Training Success

Yay! We've made it over some potty training hurdles. Today my daughter pooped on the potty and went in on her own. Hooray!

Ice Cream...

On a school night! Tonight my daughter and I made a trip to the local dairy farm to have a delicious ice cream even though it was a school night. Yum!!

Maine Apple Sunday

Back to school

Another school year has begun so I have much to smile about in my career as a teacher, but I'm also very busy, and somedays too busy to post what makes me smile. I've just finished my first week back with kids, and I think this photo sums it up!

Awesomeness

I did it!

Got a tattoo (my first and only) to mark this next chapter of my life of G and I going forward.

Sand castles

It had been about 20 years since my last sand castle... Before this weekend. I vow not to make it that long again, it was so much fun to build and play in the sand!

Fruits of our labor

This year my daughter and I planted a garden. Each time we pick the fruits of our labor it brings a smile to my face.

My new hobby

This was how I felt before...

Finding pictures on my iPad

Yard sale "people"

Had my first yard sale in a decade today... I love the people you can meet at yard sales. Most of them are friendly and have interesting stories to tell. Not only did I get rid of old clothes, but I made money, and heard some wonderful stories in the meantime.

Two Year Olds

Making a Change

Why I Do My Job

Beach Day

Haircut

I got a haircut yesterday. Besides being pleased with the outcome, I enjoyed the experience. My stylist was the right mix of chatty and quiet. I enjoyed some grown up time and came home refreshed.

Optimism

Saw this quote on the Facebook page of one of my favorite local children's authors.

Free Music

To debut the Amazon Cloud player, Amazon sent me $4 in free downloads. I was able to download 5 songs for only $.59!! I love free music :-)

Strawberry Pie

Yesterday we went strawberry picking. Today I made my first ever strawberry pie. (Even the crust is from scratch!)

The BIG Things

My Dad

Today, and lots of days, my dad made me smile. My daughter currently does not have her father involved in her life for safety reasons. Today my father let her celebrate Father's Day with him. He has always been someone I've looked up to and today was no exception. Today, and many days, my father made me smile. Happy Father's Day!

Running

Last night I ran my first race in a year. It felt great.

Strawberries

Today I was able to pick the first ripe strawberry of the season. We both had a bite and it was delicious! Looking forward to more soon.

Kiss This Guy

That is one of my favorite sites and it's all about mistaken music lyrics. This week my daughter and I were singing along to the Tangled soundtrack. She was singing and the line actually is "on your own you won't survive" my 2 1/2 year old's interpretation was "on your own you are Super-Y" I loved it! A much more positive spin on Mother Gothel's song.

Memorial Day

Honoring soldiers in a small town says memorial day to me. This year my daughter and I went to enjoy the celebration and to begin teaching her about our country. Today our small town parade and celebration of troops past and present made me smile... And a little teary too.

Old Friends

Today old friends made me smile. I have a friend who has been dear to me since birth. Despite living most of our lives apart, we managed to stay close throughout our childhood. As we grew into adults, it became harder with our own families, but spending time with her is always easy. Today we spent the morning together with our daughters. It was so relaxing and nice to spend time with her. I am looking forward to the next time we have a girls day with her and our daughters. An old friend, who has literally known me forever made me smile today.... Even long after my daughter and I got home.

Piggie toes in the pool

It was finally warm enough to open the pool today. The water was cold so we could only put our piggie toes in the pool. It was a wonderful beginning to summer! Piggie toes in the pool made me smile today.

Sing Alongs

I have always been a huge fan of singing in the car. In fact, when I got my first car, I had a list of "rules" and one of them was, if you know the words, sing along! Now, my daughter loves singing in the car. Today, we sang the Rapunzel Soundtrack followed by Here Come the ABCs by They Might Be Giants. Singing in the car always makes me smile... even more so when I have such a wonderful duet partner.

Half Birthdays

Today my daughter is 2 1/2!

Mother's Day

Took my girl to the beach on Sunday and we had a ball. She loved the waves and didn't even mind that her piggie toes were cold. Lovely day. I'm a lucky mommy.

Pintrest

Pintrest is my new favorite site! There is so much to look at and great ideas too. This week I used pintrest to find teacher appreciation crafts for my daughter's daycare teachers. Pintrest makes me smile :-)

Dance Photos

My daughter is involved with a mommy and me dance class. Today we had recital photos. Watching those 2 year olds in their adorable costumes all holding hands and dancing together made me smile- how could you NOT??

Friends

I have mentioned this project to a couple of friends. They have now made it their mission to be sure that I have multiple things to smile about each day. Today, it was the joke of the office, what can you do to make *T* smile. It was a good day today.

Wordless Wednesday

Although there are a few words..

A Good Book

Moments of Wonder

Perfect Timing

Today I went to a seminar on supporting children who have witnessed or been involved in domestic violence. While there and feeling down about our situation, I received a text from a friend...
It was perfect timing.

Hope

My life is really not where I had anticipated it being. Most days it feels like nothing will go our way, but still we move forward.

This morning, I was home with a vomiting toddler and between cuddles and fussing, I looked out the back window. There's not much out there, the woods and a compost pile. In the middle of the compost pile was a gorgeous red tulip.

The tulip was standing strong and bold and tall with nothing else of beauty around it. The tulip made me feel hope. Although right now, things are a lot like the compost pile- things decomposing and full of things I don't want. But I have hope, that like the tulip, someday Gab and I can once again rise up, be tall and beautiful.

Wordless Wednesday

Quilting Fabric

A Run

I've not run since my last race... in June 2011. Today, I was able to take a run for me. Turn up the iPod and just enjoy. It was a great start as I train for another race in June this year. I'm starting to run again for me. For me time, for my health, for relaxation, for happiness.

Today, a run made me smile!

Princess Bed

We've just upgraded to a big girl bed. How does that not make you smile??

Wordless Wednesday

Daycare

I am on vacation this week but I sent the Gabs to daycare anyway. Today, daycare made me smile. It was great to have some mommy time, and I missed her greatly when I picked her up. Now we are both rested, and ready for a mommy daughter day tomorrow!

A change of luck

This four leaf clover made me smile today. Hoping for a change of luck soon!

I am back!

This project began as a way for me to cope with infertility. That was a challenge that was overcome and now I have been blessed with a gorgeous daughter. I had so many smiles in my life, I no longer had to find them. I have missed this project, and am back.

Yes, things in my life are not going well again and I once again need to make an effort to find the smiles in my world. I hope, that by continuing this project, I will be able to find the smiles all the time.