Cultivating Community & Making Time For your Most Fullfilling and nurturing friendships

Jer and I were in the car the other night....driving somewhere, can't remember. And I was thinking out loud (which means I'm talking - which is pretty much what i do best) And out came something that has been festering for a few weeks. It came about with all the books I've been reading....and blogs I've been following that seem to have the same ideas as me on life, and child raising etc etc...so anyways I came to the conclusion that I am happy. So happy. Like really happy. And I finally know who i am.....again. By again I mean I havn't felt this fulfilled since ten years ago at theatre school, when i knew who i was and where i was going. And I'm there again. It seems so trivial when you speak it out to the internets. But it was an awsesome revelation for me. I finally have found my niche. And I am so very happy. My picture of a life may differ from so many but it's mine and i am loving it, embracing it, proud of it and most importanly I am enjoying it. So anyways...to fit in the title of this post, I have discovered my second commandment so to speak from following the book the happiness projet. I came up with it a month or so ago and it's been quite a factor in becoming aware of my happiness. I have had to say a few goodbyes to aquaintances that were not true nurturing friendships and I have made time (wether I felt too tired or not) for the friendships that are two sided, that nurture me that are important to me and that i couldn't imagine loosing. It's been busier but not really. Because I have given up the time I dedicated to my so so relashionships and have spent that time with the goodies. Setting up specific friend nights has been amazing for me and for my family. Jer gets awesome quality time with the kids and the kids get a mommy that comes home to them rejuvenated and happy and refreshed and ready for the next adventure. Tuesday nights after choir have turned into wine tasting at lisa's, every three weeks or so have become dinner with the "core" where it's just me and some of my besties, and every month or so has turned into brunchies with another bestie and her beautiful expanding family. Play dates have gotten to be quite selective with the people my family and I absolutley adore and feel uber comforatle and happy with. If my last's years slogan was "Pick your Battles" I think my this years slogan has got to be "Quality not Quantity" what a difference a month makes!

Cell Phone Etiquette...

okay so mabye I am a little out of it because I REFUSE to text. However I do have a blackberry - (that sadly i do not use to it's full potential but i digress) But I am getting more and more infuriated by bad cell phone etiquette.
You know the ones, you are visiting a friend and she's like flipping beep beeping away and click clacking along and your like HELLO i am right here, IN THE FLESH visitng you because you invited me...so um could you mabye put that thing down - and while were at it could you mabye put it in the next room, because every time it buzzes or does whatever it does you like jump five feet in the air and it's kinda making me want to scratch my invisible itch..
or the ones who are constantly checking it to see the latest whatever while you are in a full blown rehearsal? Sitting next to you is annoying. I want to be moved, not because of your singing but because of your constant clacking...sweet jebus.
Then there's the movie goer iphone addict...i pay big bucks to go to the movies. Actually i rarley go anymore because i would rather see movies in the comfort of my own home and without the sticky soda resin left on my converse. However - when sitting in a dark movie theatre your screen (that you are checking at LEAST every 6 minutes and 5 seconds LIGHTS UP and blinds my delicate eye tissue. So STOP.
Oh i could go on...the iphone addict driver (plentiful in the beautiful city i call home) - the I'm in a public toilet texter, the smart phone stroller pusher (watch your ankles with these folk) but seriously am I just being a big fat cow or are these people hella annoying. I mean really what is so important when you have me, amy koop in the flesh....

The Happiness Project

So If you've checked out what's on my nightstand, one of the books I am into right now is called the Happiness Project. It's fairly simple and straight forward but has some awesome tips, resolutions, ideas and things to re think about living life to it's most awesome potential - reaching your personal height of happiness!
And I am pondering what my list of commandments will be to start off.
And here's what I think my first one will be!

1) strike up some serious silly's everyday (i think we all need to be a bit less serious in our everyday and make more time for some goofiness. It leads to laughter and that leads to some serious endorphin release that hello adds to the happiness factor. Today I impemented about 2 minutes of silliness (only two minutes) with cole on the swings at the park, the results were huge - because he started laughing uncontrollably and with a grin that only a cheshire cat could match, I in turn started laughing, and because we were laughing and being goofy baby K couldn't help but giggle her lil heart out in the stroller!

so only 9 more to go!

oh sheesh it's almost May!

Things have been busy. Between our wonderful month of sickness, we have been adventuring out more and more. Cole has had some wonderful extra days at pre-school with things like - class picture day, cinamazoo day, eye exam day, and all sorts of extras. Kyrie has had her 12 month shots, and a week or so later a lovley night at childrens hospital with her mother who must surley love her to bits to endure 12 straight hours in the middle of the night (not sleeping) All is well and all is good, just a high fever and some funny breathing.
We have been crafting, (for Easter, for spring, for birthday's and just for everyday) we have been thrifting (mamma has found some amazing vintage sheets that were oh so perfect for a baby girls crib! And a lovley vintage duvet for the bottom bunk that matches PERFECTLY with the grandma made pillows! The kids room is really coming together I am thinking I may post some pics! We have still been on our purge - donating more toys, clothes, and generally just stuff!
WE (I) painted and finally made our master bedroom a haven after three years of living here with it being dubbed "the dumping grounds!" Will have to post those pics too! Now it is beautiful and one of my favorite places to read and rest and reKOOPerate!
We have been bike riding! Oh yes as soon as Kyrie hit the one year mark or wait i think it was a week before that we suited up and went on our first family bike of the season! GLORIOUS, then a week later we went again! We have been spending a LOT of time at the beach, wether it be Gilberts beach here around the corner (with the amazing fort!) or east beach in white rock - The beach has become our new playground and i LOVE it.
We have also started watching the sunset from our roof every evening after dinner (if not out for a walk or at the park) And it has been a beautiful way to unwind as a family after a busy day or doing. Cole loves being on the roof - I love the fresh crisp before bed air (and so does K) And we all head down to start the routine of bedtime with a wee bit more energy and patience.
Here is a pic of our glorious roof top sunset....
We have been walking more, singing more, gardening more, dancing more, definatley reading more and springing more! As soon as I don't have a cute baby girl banging on the esc key I will post some pics - but I am alive and well and wanted to let you all know!