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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Not just happy

I am thrilled!  
Tomorrow is Nashville day.  
Tomorrow is the start of girls' weekend.  
Tomorrow is going to rock.  
The whole weekend will.  
To kick it off, I got my toes done.....
ORANGE.  
hey it's a fun color and makes me happy.


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

oh so happy...

I was thrilled when I realized Xander was quiet for 30 minutes.  Playing alone.  

Here he is.... playing with polly pockets. lol




Tuesday, May 27, 2014

New Hair.

Getting to take time to get my hair done (only a couple times a year).  That makes me happy!  Just in time for Nashville. 


Monday, May 26, 2014

Monday...

Today we are leaving Chicago.  Looking at my photos from our trip and this makes me happy.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Happy Sunday

Today was a good day.  
We went to breakfast, and to the History Museum, plus for ice cream.  

Looking through my pics from the History museum the pictures below made me happy.  

First, who doesn't remember (and love) Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs and Mouse Trap.  


and

this reminded me of  my Grandma Wellen's house (the remote)...so it made me smile. 


Saturday, May 24, 2014

Needle in a haystack.

Finding something to be happy about every day is kind of hard.
 You have to be willing to see the happy no matter how crappy things are going.
That being said I feel like I am reposting the same or similar happy things
but I guess those things make me really happy so I will go with it. 

Today I met a coworker...well I guess former coworker..... for a drink with his wife.
No pic of us, the drinks or even Wrigleyville
but here is a pic of a Cubs cup while there so this will symbolize our drinks.  

Thanks Czajka. 


Friday, May 23, 2014

Friendships

They make me happy.
I am thankful for the ones I have.
new and old, close and far.
I have some awesome friends. 
This makes me happy.
I cried...a lot.
This note was on my car in an envelope yesterday morning along with some gas cards. 

Plus good friends who take care of our dog while we are gone and 
good friends who run our house key home so person can take care of dog.  



Thursday, May 22, 2014

Today is the day

I am happy, I am sad and I am overwhelmed. 
 
 
Today is the day.  My last drive to St. Louis for work.  My last day of working for attorneys and last day with coworkers I have worked with for the last 9 years. 
 
I am happy to be leaving.  It was time for change.
 
I am sad to be leaving.  I will miss some people.
 
I am overwhelmed at the thought of starting somewhere new in 5 days.  
 
I cried twice before 9 a.m.
 
However, this made me happy:

A new plant for my desk at my new job. 
 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Happiness....

I had lunch with my office manager and coworker as a farewell.  That made me happy. 
It made me even happier when I realized my first lunch working downtown St. Louis (at Holtkamp) was at Fridays and that's where my farewell to St. Louis lunch ended up being. 
 
 
(no picture)

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Monday, May 19, 2014

day 6

I had lunch today with a friend.  We have been friends for years but see each other often.  No pic today sorry!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

another "happy" thought

Driving home from chicago and this song came on my radio...

Golden Girls Theme Song: http://youtu.be/KiQzUEc_FmI

This song made me happy.  I have amazing friends.  Some new, some old.  Some close andsome 100 miles or more away.  So this song made me happy..happy to think about and realize how amazing my friends are...friends that text, friends that call, friends that email, friends that watch our dog when we leave town, friends that watch our kids, friends that offer me dinner instead of fast food.  Every single one of you make me happy in your own way or thoughtfulness. ...

Saturday, May 17, 2014

What is happiness...

getting to see this man...aka Dad. 

Sorry for the bad pic.  I am at their house and I took a picture of a picture on their fridge.  I like this picture.  He is smiling and happy and this is before he got sick.  before cancer.  before treatments and surgeries, transfusions, tubes and trachs.  

But even with all of that, he is strong and determined. 

I love you dad and seeing you still have fight in you makes me happy. 

Friday, May 16, 2014

Don't worry...be happy

This man makes me happy!


I do not give him enough credit and lately have been very stressed, high strung and simply put...mean.  But he puts up with anyway.  He makes me happy.  He holds down the fort so I can go to Chicago by myself.  He doesn't really question it and goes with the flow.  I am glad he is supportive.  It makes me happy. 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Change

Change is scary, but sometimes very necessary.  I have been with my job for 9 years.  Well nine years on May 24th.  My last day is May 22.  After much reflection, praying, discussion, worrying, etc, I decided to make a big career change.  

I have not been happy at my job in a while, but who is.  I know no one truly loves their job day in and day out.  But lately I have been beyond cranky and angry when I get home.  I want nothing to do with anyone.  Not a good thing when you are married with two kids.  I knew it was getting bad.  You know it's bad when your husband is on board with you making the change because it's affecting your family that much.  Or when your daughter writes in her Mommy and Me journal that she is glad you are getting a new job because you are not happy anymore and she misses you being happy. Yep, that blows but it's a wake up call.  One that I needed.   I already made the decision and turned in my notice before I read this so this just reiterates I am doing the right thing.  My mom, my stepmom, my aunt, even most people at my job say I am doing the right thing.  They probably just want me out of there but they seem genuine.  

So in 12 days I will start my new chapter.  Working a few blocks from home versus 41 miles away.  Working 8 hours a day instead of 7 hours a day but still gaining 2.5 hours a day because I don't have the long commute.  Time is something that is hard to come by.  Time is important to me.  My kids are not getting any younger.  My youngest will be in kindergarten.  My oldest is only about 2 years from starting high school.  I don't want to miss out on my kids' lives because of the almighty dollar.  Unfortunately money is what makes the world go round or at least the keeps the power on, water running and the roof on our heads.  Money is necessary but so is sanity and happiness to an extent.  
Don't get me wrong.  I loved my job and the experiences I have gained here.  Good or bad, they all made me the person I am now (again, good or bad - you decide).  I have made some friends here and in all honesty I think those friendships will do better not in a work environment so I look forward to developing those more.  I have grown a lot here and a lot has changed. 
 Here are random things that happened while here (in no particular order)
Serena was 3.5 when I started here.  She is 12.5 now. 
The picture on the left is the first picture I had my desk
and the one on the right is what is currently there. 

I got married.


   We bought a house!

and got a dog!

I turned 30!


I lost 3 extremely important people...

My cousin Luke (pictured), my friend Jason and my grandma Wellen.


 Went on our first girls trip
(and planned another)!
 Bought two cars.  (only have picture of new one)

 Went on a family vacation as a group!

And I had our youngest!


I also gained 3 nieces and 2 nephews, in addition to the niece and nephew I gained by marriage.

I watched both my brother's graduate grade school, high school and one from college. 

That's a lot of life events at one job.  (I know people have been at other jobs longer...just fun to think of how much life has changed in 9 years)

If you're happy and you know it....

DRINK SOME STARBUCKS.  :)
Starbucks makes me happy.  I love it.  I drink it (a lot) and usually more in Chicago because they are on every corner.  So here is my "happy" for today.


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

100 days of Happy. Day #1

I saw this on Facebook and decided to try it.  I debated it for a few days and decided today to take the plunge and even more motivitated when my 100th day will be on August 22, my dad's birthday. 

So here it goes. 
Day 1
This makes me happy!  This reminds me of what a wonderful daughter we have. 
Our photobook from Serena's Relay for Life Skate Party.
I just received it today (well yesterday but just opened it this morning).