kids

DianaK

Appreciations 11/11/16

I so so so appreciate the wonderful people who’ve been showing up on Friday nights to talk about race. I am incredibly grateful for this space to talk about race and racism and privilege. I’m so clunky about it and I know that I can sink back into the comfortable bubble of privilege so easily.

It feels important to talk about this and about other challenging issues…even – or maybe especially – with people whose views are different from mine. Can I find a way to connect, to listen with curiosity to other people’s experiences and ideas, to build on common ground? I feel so fortunate to be part of a group of people who want to do that. It gives me hope.

I also super appreciate the massive kid group hugs I got tonight! I was a walking tower of affection! What fun to have little ones I love all crowding in for hugs. Breathing is a secondary concern in that situation. 😉

Awesome license plates and kids who know to send me pix of them. 💜

123-go-license-plate
DianaK

Appreciations 4.112

holiday cardsMore fun with drawing. What a nice way to relax!

Planning more fun plans, looking forward to fun plans, executing fun plans. All the plans!

Decorating the house and trees with the kids. And Toby. 😛 toby wrapping paper

DianaK

Appreciations 4.111

The wonder of both an appreciation practice and spreadsheets. It’s an amazing thing to sit down to write the day’s appreciations and to be treated to whatever was wonderful about the same day last year. 💗💗💗

Listening to my kids sing and make music. One of the sweetest sounds on the planet.

The fascinating way that life is sprinkled with challenges, opportunities for growth, beauty, fun, and love all at the same time. It really is all there, all the time. Hmmm.

DianaK

Appreciations 4.108

Coffee date with Katie and Cina! The coffee gave me just enough energy to withstand Katie’s bout of pun-itis. It was a shockingly persistent case. 😛

Getting some of our holiday decorating done… it is always best to start with an adorable little tree. 🙂 Though I will say it was strange to go to the tree place when it wasn’t freezing cold, 15 minutes before they close for the night, and a only few days before Christmas. 😉 #breakingtraditions

All the dishes done and kitchen cleaned up in time for me to crash before 9 pm. Busy weekend=tired mama!

DianaK

Appreciations Year Three: Day 345

Oh! Day 345. That is fun to type!

Beautiful Ruby 1 Beautiful Ruby 2

The most amazing book Ruby made for us! (This is just a sample.)

Being around kid energy…. so many giggles over a dropped noodle. From that perspective, everything is fun!

The way things work out just right… Like not being able to get on the internet to work after Ruby went to sleep….which led to me looking through T & E’s books for something to read – and finding The Tao of Pooh which I’ve owned and started, but never read all the way through. Turns out it is exactly what I need to read right now! ❤

Looking forward to a productive morning of work, getting more ceiling tiles installed this afternoon, and then a fun rehearsal with Alison.

DianaK

Appreciations Year Three: Day 282

11012062_825740414172145_5803556339232214410_nDiscovering Gravity Glue. These awe-inspiring and beautiful sculptures and photos by Michael Grab fill me with a sense of wonder and peace. Now that is a kind of meditation I could totally get into!

Getting to work with people I really, really like and support them in work that I think is super cool. What a good job!

My kids. I love listening to their goofy banter, hanging out with them, knowing them. I am so lucky. ❤

The guy directing traffic in the liquor store parking lot who was dressed up in pantaloons and a plumed hat, and did awesome fancy-dancy moves to direct the cars. Stones, rainbow shoelaces, synchronicities, Schenectady (it is just so fun to say!), peppermint.

DianaK

Appreciations Year Three: Day 278

Tylenol. Ohhhh how much I appreciate that today.

My dad and his willingness to hunt down good deals and offer excellent advice on computer shopping. 🙂

Laid back evening hanging out with the kids. ❤

Sunshine peeking out after a rainy weekend. Hello, sunshine!

Pillows, quilts and blankets, comfy robes, slippers, socks, so many comforting things for snuggling. Sweet.

DianaK

Appreciations Year Three: Day 274

irises may 2015Walking around our neighborhood with my kids. Great talk, gorgeous gardens, beautiful weather. Perfect!

Improving energy — enough to work, go for a walk, spend some time looking for a job, go to class, and socialize after class! Almost like the good ol’ pre-health-craziness days. 🙂

Feeling hopeful and optimistic. What a comfort it is to live in that space!

Alison for her ability to make me laugh, smile, giggle, ponder, wonder, aspire, hope, blush, consider, stretch and grow. I love her quick and wry sense of humor, her goofiness, her big, generous open heart, her beautiful smile, infectious laugh, and excellent hugs, her directness, candor, and sweetness. Among other things. 😉 How lucky I am to be surrounded by wonderful people like her in my life! ❤

Dandelions, lions, Lyons, Colorado, donuts, dodos, cheetahs.

DianaK

Appreciations Year Three: Day 263

Lovely pre-Mother’s Day Saturday brunch with my family honoring my most wonderful mama. ❤

daisies from melanieThe way these beautiful flowers from Melanie look against the green outside my window. Thank you for this little bit of sunshine, Melanie!

Despite not feeling well, managing, with the kids’ help (well, they did most of the work…), to get the car washed, lawn mowed, and the front yard mostly weeded yesterday. And to, um, get all the burrs off my sweater and out of my hair.

  • Pro gardening tip #1: Don’t wear a fuzzy sweater to pull out dead stuff and weeds.
  • Pro gardening tip #2: Put long hair into ponytail before commencing with same.

Coffee with my kids today. What more could a mama want?

The vinegar and baking soda worked to clean out the horrible-smelling drain. Hooray! No plumbing projects for us today. 🙂

My kids’ wonderful ways of cheering their slightly overwhelmed mom… like sending me photos of our super cool cat, Toby, and making sparkly not-mother’s-day cards for me. IMG_4526

DianaK

Appreciations Year Three: Day 247

The Minneapolis night skyline. I never get tired of it.

children's hospital 2The color of the Children’s Hospital. I think of how much I appreciate that every time I pass it but never remember to add to my appreciations on the same day. 😉

Looking out my kitchen window at trees leafing out and the lit up stained glass window of the church just beyond them.

My kids. I really like them.

Pam for a gazillion reasons. So happy she’s making friends with Silli and is into the next phase of her spa adventure. ❤

All kinds of rocks, learning more stuff each time I build a new website, tools, tulle, paint, zippers, zip-zap-zop, hot water for tea and coffee, tea and coffee, blankets, sleep, photographs.