Happiness Is...

... a whole gallon of elusvie, hand-picked huckleberries safely stored in the place of honor in my freezer. You know you've arrived in Idaho if you've been initiated to the highly addictive, highly secretive pasttime of huckleberry picking! We like them in muffins, as the crowning ingredient in our homemade raspberrry freezer jam, on our daily yogurt parfaits, and celebrated the first day of school with huckleberry milkshakes!

...sleeping with the dogs at Gram's house!

...and sleeping with dogs at our house. Yes, we are dog people here. Nothing breathes satisfaction more than a happy child falling asleep with their arm around their canine best friend! On a side note, dog person though I am, if Bella didn't have the most gorgeous, clean, thin fur ever this would never happen. She doesn't even shed yet, bless her. We'll see what happens if any of that changes though - I'm kind of a neat freak.

...horseback riding lessons!

...little boy boots that have done their duty. If I had time or brain power to wax rhapsodic and do these boots justice, I would write a whole Ode to them, but as it is, I shall only say, "well done, thou good and faithful boots! You have been well loved and well used; rest in peace!"

...beautiful, happy, safe children.