#100happydays: learning

Doing everything you can to be sure that your kids have the best, most well rounded education, both in literal "knowledge" and in real life "knowledge". That's the best thing you can give then. This is one thing that Jeremy and I push for. We want our kids to have experience. To be cultured. To know how to think and feel and see things that other people don't or can't know and think and feel and see. We want them to believe that they can change the world. That they shape the future. And I'm so glad we can give them the tools to do all of the things that they need to make the future bright. From memberships to the Aquarium, to experiencing music and art, to helping those less fortunate. I can't wait to see how they use all of these things to shape a better tomorrow.

#100happydays: handmade gifts

My mom is the best you guys. I know that you guys have already caught onto that by now, but today we're celebrating her because she gives the best gifts. They're always perfect because she makes them. Dani was sooo excited about her gift from Grandma (and Grandpa because he "had to put up with her while she made that"...lol) and she couldn't wait to wear it. My parents make the neatest gifts. And they're always so perfect and personal. We're awful lucky. 

If you like handmade gifts that are super unique, look up Raghorn Studios on Facebook. That's the 'rents. They have premade stuff, or they'll custom make you whatever you like. Here are a few of my favorite pieces they've made for me.

#100happydays: best parents

                      

Finding a note from your 'rents after they've gone back home may be the sweetest, most thoughtful thing ever. My parents are incredible. Amazing. Seriously perfect. Every single nano second of every single day I am so grateful and so thankful and so full of love for these two people that aren't just my parents, they really are my best friends. I love them bigger than all the galaxy times infinity....infinity times. I really am the luckiest girl in the world.

#100happydays: fire

Most people don't look at this photo and think happy thoughts, but boy howdy! I saw this on my Insta-feed today and I was giddy. There is a special thing about being part of the wildland fire community that there aren't really words for. The energy on the line and at ICP is unlike any other that I've encountered. The commraderie is unlike any other. It's just...unique. And I love it. And I miss it. Every rough season I say "I'm not ever doing this again", and then, by March, I am so excited for fire season I can smell it. Like literally. The air starts to get warmer, and suddenly I'm dreaming of nomex and polaskis. I look around outside and imagine where a temporary repeater would best be placed. 

Ahhhh, bliss.

#100happydays: Jess and Jas

Jas sent me this beauty of a photo of Jess tonight, informing me I needed to post it to Facebook because if he did it, she'd kill him. Don't you guys wish you had a husband like Jas? Or I hott wife like Jess? Too bad. They are my favorite people on Earth and I'm so lucky to call them my family. Obviously we're not blood, but these people are my brother and sister. We are connected. I can't explain it...but if I'm having a horrible day, I'll get a text, out of the blue, from one of them telling me to smile, or that they love me. And that is usually exactly what I need, exactly when I need it. These two have saved me. Over and over and over again. I don't know what I would do without them. They're the H2 to my O. Yep, we make water. Believe it.

#100happydays: best dog, best dad

'Nuff said.

#100happydays: Savannah

                         

Sometimes people hit the friend jackpot. And, let me tell you, I certainly have.

Spotlight today is on Savannah. She's amazing. Her heart is pure gold. And today, she knew I was feeling crappy. It was mostly residual crappiness from yesterday, but she knew. So she came over to check on me. To share Jackson's giggles. To just make sure I was ok. That's just the kind of person she is. And I am so grateful to have her. And so happy the girls have her as their "auntie". 

....to the moon. xoxo

#100happydays: nightmares end.

The last four months I've experienced to many unexplainable emotions. And most of them bad. My thoughts have been consumed by hate and guilt and anger and bitterness. I honestly have no idea how I didn't break down and get admitted into State Hospital North. Probably because I had to keep my composure and my happy face for the littles. I still don't understand how a person can be so selfish and horrible. It absolutely breaks my heart that the girls have been forced to endure so much hurt, so many let downs, and so much pain because of how selfish their mother is...but it's finally over. This nightmare we have been forced to live in it FINALLY ended with the sweet script of Magistrate Fortier. And I am so relieved. So overjoyed. That is my happy today. That our lives can have some semblance of normalcy soon. Thank you, Derek Pica...you gave us so much reassurance and helped keep us positive through this hell. Friends: don't have kids with selfish humans then get divorced. It's a really bad idea.

#100happydays: rock the vote

Before I begin, I beg, IGNORE my makeup free face. I rolled out of bed late this am, realized we were out of milk and cereal, so was forced to cook French Toast for breakfast...between that and getting the littles ready, there was no time for me to pretty up.

Ok, now that we have that out of the way, it was School Levy Election Day here in District 2. And that, pretties and gents, is a big deal. A huge deal in fact. If your school district was holding a levy election today and you didn't rock the vote, that's a big shame. For two reasons. First, our Founding Fathers gave us a right that most people in the world aren't afforded: free elections. For everyone. You get to have a voice. Thousands and thousands of men and women have fought and sacrificed and died to protect that right. And that's not something to take for granted. Second, it's for education. If our future generations aren't educated, then, well, we have nothing. Education to me is the single most important thing there is. Education brings understanding, tolerance, and a desire to help make the world better. It's a really, really big deal. 

You see, friends, voting is important...especially when it's for schools. And I am SO HAPPY that I voted for schools today. And I hope you did too. And I hope that if you didn't, you think about doing it (and DO IT) next time. It's a pretty big deal...did I say that already?

#100happydays: bed

My happy right now is finally getting home, after a whirlwind trip, to my warm bed. That's it. Sweet dreams.

#100happydays: this love.

For reals, you guys. Two years ago I was SO happy to be in a relationship that I knew was a dead end. In fact, I sought out men based on their never-getting-hitched appeal. Enter this guy. He drives me bat shit crazy. He makes me want to pull out my hair and scream out at the top of my lungs. And he makes me the happiest effing lady on the planet. He gets me and I get him and we drive each other NUTS but he is my person. And I never thought I'd have a male-marry me-stuck with this guy for life sort of person. I wanted to die single. I loved being single and free and independent. Until this guy. I guess that's love. You don't know how great it is until it slaps you in the face by the recycle bin and you call your BFF and tell her "I think he's my Jason"...

#100happydays: Moving

Those of you who have known me a long time, know I've always been a gypsy of sorts. In the last ten years I've lived in three states and seven cities. I never stayed one place to long. That is until I met them. Now moving makes me super anxious. I worry about the girls making friends, getting cultured, growing up to fast. I stress over all the details that never mattered in my bachelorette-hood. But now they do matter, because I have two beautiful, brave, smart girls who depend on their daddy and I to make the best decisions for them. And, you guys, sometimes that's scary and hard. So I brought them to their new "home" this weekend. Anxiety was high. I was scared to death that they would hate it. I was scared of so many things. But they love it. Even when, in typical Seattle fashion, it's pouring down rain. So my #100daysofhappy is happiness in the rain. Gum walls, aquariums, markets, and family are awesome whether it's raining or not. And if the girls love it here when it's pouring, I know they'll love it even more when it's not, and that is something to smile about.

#100happydays: Playing Together

Being stepmom to two beautiful human girls and momma to one beautiful pooch us hard work. Sometimes it makes me want to dig a hole all the way to Australia and disappear into the outback. Other days my heart is full of so much love and appreciation for them that I think it could burst. And sometimes, like when the three of them are playing and having fun with one another, I'm filled with happiness and gratitude. That they can be innocent, fearless, smart, and full of so much laughter. I love it. Every second of all of it. Even the seconds when I want to dig a hole to Australia. 

#100happydays : the challenge

I've been kind of really slacking on the blog thing. Like two years slacking. I needed something to kick start me and get me going on keeping up with the Joneses. Enter #100happydays challenge. Basically, the idea behind 100happydays is to post a picture once a day of something--anything--that makes you happy. It's a pretty terrific idea actually. And I'm excited to get started. Technically I signed up to begin today. And I'm going to post a picture to my Instagram today, but I'm going to start blogging my photo challenge tomorrow. If anyone else is up for the challenge, please send me a link or your insta/facebook usernames, and I'll follow you too. So excited!!