I am grateful for 2 boys who were enthused and eager to get back to their spring break camps this morning.

I am grateful for a big honkin’ trip to Costco this evening. Bigger even, with the purchase of 2 kayaks. We’ve been thinking about it for a while, they were on sale, and so far anyway, I feel pretty good about it. We also picked up a used tandem one, so we’re all set for the summertime!

I am grateful for Julie. Among so many other things, she is such a great mom to our kids.

I am grateful for the leprechauns, who come every year and leave chocolate coins hidden all over the living room. Leprechauns are just one of many perks that come with marrying into an Irish family.

I am grateful for a friend who took Farley to a birthday party this morning, which greatly simplified things around here this morning.

I am grateful for time spent with my kiddos this afternoon. There are the moments they really REALLY push my buttons, but there’s also so much loveliness about them, and so much to delight in when they are working together on a racetrack for their lego cars, or putting together cardboard airplanes, or playing baseball with the neighbour kid at the park.

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I am grateful for the invitation to be part of the Opus Art Supplies Visiting Artist series today. I did two 90 minute sessions, where I talked a bit about my work, and then demonstrated painting in front of a good crowd of people at the store. It sounds more daunting than it is; especially as this was my second time doing this. There were some great questions, and I really enjoyed connecting with the folks who were there to watch. I’m already looking forward to the next chance I get to do it.

I am grateful for a pot luck at a friends house with a good crowd of grownups and kids alike. We weren’t able to stay long, but it was nice to be there for the time we were.

I am grateful to have the house to myself with kids in bed. That was a fun day, but it was busy. I am able to pull off being an extrovert for a good long while, but it’s exhausting, and I am much more comfortable here in my quiet living room in a state of introversion right now.

I am grateful for time at the studio this morning.

I am grateful for family fun night, Julie’s pick. There we 2 parts:

We drew flowers and wrote messages to place at a shrine (my word for it, anyway) of flowers, cards, letters and other items left with sentiments of peace and hope at our local mosque. Like so many others, each of us have been moved in our house by the stories on recent news of events in New Zealand. I am grateful for the shrine. It warmed my heart to see this outpouring of love and empathy on my community. I’m pleased my kids were so enthusiastic about contributing something to it, too.

I am grateful for part 2, as well. We went to see the first 2 hours of a 26 hour improv theatre marathon, put on by Paper Street Theatre. It was hilarious, and we all loved it. We may head back tomorrow, for more!

I am grateful for time spent in the studio this morning.

I am grateful for time spent with my lads this evening. Farley got to build a new Lego set he just bought (a 1968 Mustang Fastback – I wholeheartedly approve), and I helped him a bit with that when he asked. While that was happening, I played Ace of Aces, a picture book based WW1 air combat game that I haven’t played since forever.

I am grateful for time spent watching 80s music videos with Julie. Cheesey McCheesefest!

I am grateful for an abundant life. Right now it’s a bit busy for my taste, but that’s so much better than not enough to care about.

I am grateful for a day of setting tasks up and knocking them down.

I am grateful for some co-operation from my boys today.

I am grateful for lunch that Julie made for me.

I am grateful for time in the studio this morning.

I am grateful for a productive, quiet afternoon at my computer.

I am grateful for online grocery shopping.

I am grateful for time with my lads while putting them to bed.

I am grateful for time in the studio this morning.

I am grateful for time spent out in the world, doing errands. Nothing special, but under my own steam, on my own time.

I am grateful for Cooper’s Cub meeting tonight. Farley came too. We bundled up a bunch of bits of scrap wood, cut up bike inner tube, rubber bands, twine, zap straps, and the like, then got them into groups of 2 or 3 and had them build catapults; then held a quick demonstration of each to see which one could shoot the farthest. It was a lot of fun, and I think the kids dug it.

I am grateful for time spent taking it easy and watching TV with Julie tonight.

I am grateful for a lazy morning.

I am grateful for enthusiasm around our breakfast table for the scrambled eggs I made.

I am grateful for time spent watching Farley give his all at the little league Baseball assessment session he attended today. He’s never played on an organized team before, and I think it was a bit daunting, but he kept his spirits up and did great, and made his old man proud.

I am grateful for the first fifteen minutes of the first episode of the Marie Kando Tidying Up reality show on Netflix, which was enough to inspire me to go through all my clothes and declutter a big bag of them.

I am grateful for time spent with my lads getting them ready for bed.