Yesterday, DC was socked in with heavy fog. It was spooky. But through the fog there was an abundance of bird calls. Even the kiddo was quieter on our walk to school as we listened. It was a sweet moment with nature.

Here's what else was good this week:

• Finally installed an exhibit we've been planning for months (and getting immediate kudos)
• Kiddo came home ecstatic that she just pet a dog
• Coming back to a clean condo
• Starting a charming, cozy fantasy novel
• Laundry room totally empty at a time it's usually busy
• Taking a long walk as a family on a beautiful day
• Working with a group of colleagues who rally around one another
• Kiddo sticking her stuffy's head outside her backpack, "So he can breathe"

On my walk to school with the kiddo, it was foggy. Not dense pea soup fog - just the misty hazy fog that makes everything feel mystical. It was also quieter than usual. The kiddo was a chatty Cathy on the way in, but I got to enjoy the calm vibes on my trip home. Both legs of my trip were a nice way to start my Friday.

Here's what else made me smile:

• Watching the US men's hockey game replay with my husband (*ignores aftermath which I'm super surly about*)
• Kiddo ADORED her first skiing experience
• Neighbor dropped off a mis-delivered package and saved me a trip
• There were some super engaged students in one of my classes
• Kiddo and her dad built a snow tower as tall as her
• Reading in a sunny spot
• My parents sending pictures of the excellent food they're eating in Italy

We decided to take our kiddo for her first skiing lesson this weekend. I don't know what's better - the kiddo's excitement or my husband's excitement at maybe finally having someone to ski with him. (I don't do cold or fast.) I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Catered lunch at work
• Second screening the Olympics while in the office
• Showing off our family-friendly study room
• Taking a cake pop class with the the kiddo
• Finding a survey template to reuse
• Reading my book while waiting for the kiddo to finish a double gymnastics session
• Catching up with my post-college roomies over dinner and sangria
• Making dinner out of leftovers in the freezer

Thursday and Friday are usually work from home days. This week, I was in the office every day since several of my colleagues were at conferences. I have to admit, I was a bit grumpy trudging to work today. But, things turned around when a someone else at our University showed up and started handing out little boxes of Valentine's chocolates. Then, an hour later, a colleague said their event overordered on breakfast items. I happily refilled my travel cup with decaf and snagged a mini croissant.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Using my second monitor or split tab option to stream the Olympics while working
• "Mom! Hug time!"
• Learning a student group was eager to work with the library
• Being able to walk to the grocery store
• Warmer temperatures
• Kiddo clearing out the library of Mo Willems books
• Having BLTs for dinner and hearing the kiddo exclaim, "OMG! This is so good!"
• Tossing together a conference lightning talk in an hour
• Being asked to serve on a conference panel
• Buying fun stamps
• Getting photos/videos from my family while they're at the Olympics

According to my weather app, it's 20 degrees out right now. I'm glad it was the Husband's day to walk our kiddo to school because it means I got to stay cozy in bed. (So glad we alternate morning duty!)

Here's what else made me smile:

• Was asked to serve on a panel about leadership at an upcoming conference
• Meeting up with a public library colleague to talk collaboration
• Spending an entire weekend with friends...
• ... and putting together three puzzles with them
• Winter boots
• Kiddo asked for more bacon in her pasta carbonara
• Tracking down an interesting reference query
• The town rallying to support WaPo journalists

DC is in the swath of the US that is expecting a major snow storm. I decided to hit the grocery store this morning because I figured our usual Saturday morning run would be pure chaos. Whelp, the store was still chaos, but at least I was able to get everything on my list (and I arrived before the store ran out of carts).

Here's what else was good this week:

• Nabbed a fully loaded bag of goodies from the local bakery for only $7 using Too Good to Go
• Kiddo is starting to read to us at bedtime
• New over the head headphones giving my ears a break
• Built my LEGO orchids to use as a centerpiece
• When kiddo saw her dad's papercut she said, "Dad, you have to be careful!"
• Did way more scanning than planned
• Cute TV romances
• Finally buying an electric kettle for the office
• Sneaking in a shower while dinner simmered
• Kiddo raving about the pasta and sauce I made

Last night, I went out to dinner with a friend. In addition to my yummy omelet, I had an apple cinnamon mocktail. It was delicious! Just the right amount of warming spice with some pleasant fizz. I'm glad that fancy mocktails are a thing. 

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• The kiddo remembered we needed to return her school library books (when I had forgotten)
• Seasonal window clings
• Meandering friend chats
• Mythbusters
• An utterly charming romance story
• Kiddo's excitement to do a 100-piece puzzle with me
• Finished providing edits on a book manuscript I was asked to review (I really hope it finds a publisher!)
• Finally worked on a project I've been putting off and made HUGE progress
• Reading alone on the couch when I was up way too early

I just spent three-ish hours setting up my materials for the classes I'm embedded in. Stealing an idea from a colleague, I made a complete roster of all the students in my courses. Right now, I've got 176 students on my list. That number will fluctuate until we hit add/drop, but I'm excited to be working with students again. The library is too quiet during breaks.

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Work provided lunch twice this week
• Trying a new-ish activity as a family
• Dropping off a ton of donations
• Restocking our family friendly study space with some new goodies
• Kiddo wrote her first thank you cards
• The walkability of city living
• Hoodies
• Nuking leftovers for an easy lunch
• Kiddo was still adorably fast asleep when I went to wake her up for school

Today, was my first day back at work since mid-December. Thankfully, it's also a work from home day. I'm greatly enjoying this slow ease back into things. I get to wear comfy slippers and a cozy sweater while clearing out my inbox. 

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Hanging a tinsel curtain for our kiddo to enjoy at New Year's
• Eating the last of the holiday baked goods
• Celebrating New Year's Day with friends
• Very light traffic while we drive our kiddo to and from gymnastics camp
• Finishing all of the tasks I set for myself during dead week
• Staring a brand new bullet journal
• Finding lots of things to donate during my annual winter weeding session
• Putting new sheets on our bed
• Catching up on podcasts while doing laundry
• Snack plates for lunch

Last night, the husband and I celebrated our anniversary at our first Michelin Star restaurant. The food was excellent (I would go back for the shrimp toast alone) and the service exceptional. It's not going to become a common thing for us, but it was certainly nice for a special event.

Here's what else made me smile this week:

• Kiddo asking for holiday songs as her lullaby
• Eating a snickerdoodle warm out of the oven
• Sitting down after a productive day
• Roads stayed okay when ice/snow were predicted
• A super quiet few days on the reference desk
• Sleeping in a little on a weekday
• Kiddo helped carry a basket through the grocery store
• My parents arrived early for the holidays