Curly Straight

We have a Kindness Jar in our home and whenever someone does something really nice or kind, they get a little note in there. Every now and then when TJ does something nice, he demands it gets documented and put in there, but mostly it's when we catch them committing a random act of kindness.

We have filled it up twice since we implemented it in October or so.

It's nice to sit and read the kind acts that the kids have done. After John and I take turns reading each kindness, we all applaud. Mostly it ends up that TJ gets a lot of praise because although Julia is pretty sweet and kind, she hasn't quite figured out the good deed thing yet at her tender age. In the future, I'm sure she will have many more.

Here are the kindnesses we read about as we emptied the jar on Saturday evening.

TJ got Julia her milk when she couldn't reach.

Julia gave TJ his car. He was sitting on the potty.

Ava (TJ's little friend) gave Julia a book so nicely.

Julia is always smiling in the morning.

TJ shared his eggnog with Julia.

Julia gave TJ a hug just because.

Thomas put Julia's coat away for her. Also, at school, he cleaned up when she took out a doll.

TJ helps Julia get down from her chair.

Julia let TJ read a story to her.

TJ whispered in the morning so Julia wouldn't wake up.

TJ and Julia played so nicely with her new dollhouse.

TJ helped Mommy make delicious beef stew.

Julia helped pick up all the cars.

TJ and Julia shared their spiders.

Julia gave TJ his shoe.

Julia gave TJ a Christmas kiss.

TJ gave Julia a pizelle out of the kindness of his heart.

TJ helped make his lunch.

I have a sweet son and a sweet daughter.

I find it amazing what a difference in the day it can make waking up to a clean kitchen.
And entire house, for that matter. Although I would have no idea about the latter.

Le Grand Pinot Noir

(Black Sheep)

A nice, delicious, light red.

Introduced by Gail.

Every time Julia sees a picture of a baby in the house, she says "Baby TJ."

Today, she was looking at one in a pink polka dot frame that says Thank Heaven for Little Girls.

Julia: Baby TJ

Mama: No, Julia, that's you. That's Baby Julia.

Julia, with a big smile on her face: Baby Yaya.

Got my first Etsy earrings today. Super cute and they make me happy.

I'm thinking of a cuter name for them than rainy skies, that sounds too drab for these little delights. Drab with cool colors, but still.

Silver dots in the sky? Happy Gray Day? Circles of rain? Dropping dots? Hmmm.

I really want to see a silversmith in action.

TJ: Mama, did you know dinosaurs used to be all over the earth?

Mama: Really, they were? What did they eat?

TJ: Ham, meat and plants.

Hello Etsy! So nice to see you again...

Am I addicted?

Maybe.

Here's the description of my latest purchase.

It makes me want to be a sterling silver earring artist.

I twisted and I curled and I coiled 18ga sterling silver wire to create these very organic hoops. They are THE perfect everyday earrings. I wear my small curled hoops all the time and get so many compliments for them.

Haven't received any of my orders yet...waiting patiently. As usual.

Doing tricep pushups during Group Power.

Somehow pulled my trapezoid muscle. Ow. Hurts. Try to rub it out, but can't. Can't turn my neck without deep, searing pain for the rest of the day. Hurts on the left. Wake up from the pain in the middle of the night and it hurts on both sides, now badly.

Make a massage appointment with Frank on Tuesday. He gets right into it. None of this working into it stuff. It's a good, deep, strong massage. Deeper than I have ever had. He almost went through my body. Hurts the next day from where he was rubbing my neck muscles but it's feeling better.

But not healed.

Chiropractor.

Go in. He manipulates me and rubs me and has me hold the foam cylinder and lays me down and my back cracks.

I have to tell him to tell me to think of something else when he tries to crack my neck. I tighten up before he is going to crack my neck, because who wouldn't, really?

"Distract me!" I tell him and he tells me to think of my toes "slowly, slowly, move them into toward each other." It works, I crack.

I feel so much better but that painful pull is still deep inside me. Hoping sleep will help it tonight.

Wish I could do yoga tomorrow but such a full day. Friday, for sure, I bet that will be the final healing help.

Everyone battles with self esteem issues.

Half the battle is believing that you're cute. You think you're cute, so will other people.

Accessorizing with nice shoes and funky belts and cute earrings helps too.

Does it even it out if I eat potato chips right after I eat a piece of celery?

Darn. Probably not.