Day 174 - Luau

We were shopping last week and my sons found a bunch of leis on sale for fifty cents each. They wanted to get them but I told them we needed a reason to buy them. We'll have a party, one of them said. So today we had our version of a luau. With leis and festive party plates, grilled pork tenderloin, grilled pineapple and vegetables, fruit salad with fresh grated coconut. We played island music and generally just had a blast. A luau brought joy to this family today!

Day 173 - Rain

We moved into our brand new home smack dab in the middle of the worst drought in decades. All of our new landscaping suffered. We lost some things. We replaced, coddled and protected. And finally, we have rain. Lots and lots of welcome rain. I know it's Memorial Day weekend and the storms are ruining lots of plans for many. But I'm finding joy in rain!

Day 172 - Movie Night

Tonight was movie night at Chez Joy. Popcorn. Staying up late (for the kids, anyway). Cuddling and snuggling. Laughing and enjoying. It's a time for us to enjoy a movie together in the comfort of our own family room. I love our movie nights. Family time joy!

Day 171 - Pansies

It's getting a little too warm here for my pansies. They've lasted since October (a record!). And they're showing their last hurrah. I love the colors I chose this year and I hate saying good bye to them. It's time to plant some begonias or impatiens (I haven't decided.) But I so love my pansies. They brought me joy all winter and now well into the spring! Thank you, pansies!

Day 170 - Strawberry Picking

Every year I tell myself I will go strawberry picking at least once while the kids are still in school. And I don't. I wait until they're out and then the first week of summer vacation we go. Like today. And we have a blast. And we pick loads and loads of strawberries. I freeze some and then wish we had more. And then the season is over. Sigh. The lady at the farm today said the season is a short one this year. She doesn't think they'll have any more strawberries after a few more days. So this was it. Again. But let's not focus on that. Let's focus on the pints and pints of strawberries I just put in my freezer. Because strawberry picking brings joy in our freezer!

Day 169 - My Students

I was going to be joyful for something else but when I began writing this post (starting with Day 169) I remembered my silly, joyful, fun and funny students. In algebra, whenever an answer or page number or coordinate had the number 69 in it the class would erupt into giggles. As if I'd never heard THAT joke before or I didn't know what they were snickering at. Ahhhh, to be young and carefree and silly and goofy again! Hmmm. I will! I'm giggling at day 169. Because 69 (and my former students) bring me joy!

Day 168 - Hershey Kiss Peanut Butter Cookies

Our family loves cookies. And my boys love to bake with me - especially if they get to be "testers." After a day out in the sun I needed to keep my fair-skinned youngest inside. We baked our favorites, Hershey Kiss Peanut Butter Cookies. One batch is never enough. So we made two! Double joy!