I am grateful for time spent with Julie this morning, mostly driving around getting some errands done.

I am grateful for lunch with my old pal Greg.

I am grateful for time spent quietly sitting at the Gage gallery, and for Hazel Harris’s show there. She has a delightful and whimsical way of painting the characters in her life.

I am grateful for family fun night: my pick. We ate BLT’s, then played a board game in the back yard, where Farley could swing and bounce on the tramp when it wasn’t his turn. After egg nog ice cream sandwiches with cookies Cooper made for dessert, we retired inside to screen a few videos of when the boys were little before putting them to bed.

I am grateful for time spent with Julie in the hillbilly hot tub tonight.

I am grateful for an enjoyable end to an otherwise somewhat stressful week.

I am grateful for Farley’s baseball game. Today Farley’s team won 12 to 6, and while his team had only 5 players, the opposing team had more than 10. That meant that they had fielders and a shortstop, but we didn’t. Farl’s crew have really learned how to coordinate plays together, and it’s been fun to see that happen over the last month or so. Farl got 2 outs and several good hits. It was awesome.

I am grateful for Coop, who was FREAKING OUT about a homework assignment earlier today, but then started plugging away at it, and made good progress and felt better about it by the end of the day.

I am grateful for time spent painting in the garagenous zone today. Some of it was spent with Farley underfoot, colouring and drilling holes in scrap wood.

I am grateful for news of Farley’s 2 outs that he got in his baseball game, one catching a hit, and the other tagging first base before the batter got there.

I am grateful for a run birthday party that Coop attended today, and for the stack of books he picked up at the library conveniently located at the same pool the party was.

I am grateful for a screening of Inside Out, the Disney/Pixar one about emotions. Great flick, that one.

I am grateful for a soak and chitchat with Julie in the hillbilly hot tub this evening.

I am grateful for a fun visit with my brother on Monday and Tuesday. There was kayaking, home projects, and good eats. I always have a great time with that fella.

I am grateful for a fun time at Western Speedway with my buddy Peter and our kids. Monster trucks were the big draw, but the drift cars, demolition derby, and jet powered golf cart were perhaps even better. We all agreed the evening exceeded expectations.

I am grateful for time in the studio today.

I am grateful for time spent watching my kids at martial arts class with Julie tonight.

I am grateful for an action packed camping trip with my mother in law and my two lads at Sproat Lake. There were kayaks, petroglyphs, fireworks, and campfires. Our camping neighbours were good folk and there were other kids to hang out with. It was a great trip.

It was also exhausting, so I am also grateful to be home. Win-win!

I am grateful for time spent chin wagging the phone on two different occasions with two different old comrades who both called for purposes other than friendly conversation, but we’re both mutually amenable to that pastime.

I am grateful for time spent snuggled up on the couch with Coop, while I took care of some work on my laptop as we both listened to a few podcasts from the Memory Palace.

Iam grateful for time spent with Farley helping him out with yet another birthday Lego set, and then reading to him at bedtime.

I am grateful for every minute with Farley, who turned 7 today.

I am grateful for the sight of Coop and Farl having a fun time together playing with the basketball that was Coop’s consolation big brother gift this morning before school.

I am grateful for a plethora of unrelenting to-do list items crossed out.

I am grateful for time in the studio, then the gym.

I am grateful for the opening of presents, the eating of pizza, the beating of a piñata, and casual time spent with some neighbours and friends for Farley’s family birthday festivities tonight.

I am grateful for time spent chillin’ in the hillbilly hot tub tonight with Julie.