I am Grateful that my Wish List is Small

I've been thinking lately about all the things I am blessed with that I would really want if I didn't have. Did that make sense? Let me back up. I've been listening to Christmas music whenever driving around in the car, and that's been a lot, with lots of Christmas-related errands to run! And I've noticed the frequent theme of "All I want for Christmas is yooooooooooou!" So I was thinking how grateful I am to already have a True Love! So that made me think about the other things that people really want that I already have.

There are so many people that aren't able to have children that want them desperately. Or have been blessed with one but want more. And people with sick children that just want their children to be healthy. Or even people with only boys that want a girl and vice versa. I have been very, very blessed to have three wonderful, smart, healthy children. I have my two handsome boys and one pretty princess of a girl. And while they drive me crazy at times, I'm glad they have their strong spirits that can help them become great people.

We have a house (two, actually...) with heat, running water, electricity, and plenty of room. We have a good sized, fenced backyard, with a big deck and play structure, that only needs some work next spring to make really great. We have two cars, one of them nice and big. We have three computers, two tvs, a Wii, and so many toys for the kids that I am able to rotate them so they get "new" ones every so often.

And I have Danny. I know I mentioned that first, but it needs to be repeated. Even if I had all these other things, my life wouldn't be full without a wonderful loving husband. He is my best friend, and I love spending my life with him!

So this year, my Christmas list is short. I want a pretty comforter (Ryan can show you which one, Danny Love...), the new Super Mario game for the Wii, and to get a new dishwasher with the Christmas money from Dan's parents (but not because I don't have one, just because the one we have is really loud and not very good) . That's about it. I'm sure I could come up with a few more if I thought about it, but I don't want to turn my focus that way. I am just so grateful that I already have all these things that give my life so much happiness and meaning.

Thanksgiving Pictures, only a few weeks late!

We got to have Thanksgiving at our house this year! We were going to have it at Grandma & Grandpa Smith's house, but they were in the middle of having carpet replaced and it was taking longer than anticipated. Now, I've made Thanksgiving dinner a few times, but only for our little family & Dan's sister Jen. So I was a bit nervous about hosting my parents & sister and my grandparents! But my mom & grandma both did lots of the work, so, for me at least, the day was incredibly stress-free! I did not, however, feel relaxed enough to take any pictures. Dan did, although he definitely missed some shots I would've liked. Like of the group, or at least people that knew they were having their picture taken. Maybe next year. Instead, he took a nice one of the food:


And several of us getting ready. Hannah, why aren't you helping?!?

I like how in this one you can see the womenfolk all blurry from working hard, while the boys sit around, clearly bored. We should've put them to work, too!

And one of the pretty carnations my mom got for me.

Now look at all the clean up to do, and I'm all alone. I don't actually remember being abandoned, helpers are probably just out of the frame. But it sure looks like I'm doing all the work! Oh, and Molly looks plenty willing to clean out the bowls!


Katy loves it when Aunt Hannah does flips with her. And Aunt Hannah has way more energy and patience for it than I do.

There are many, many pictures of flipping, and both girls look very happy in all of them!

Katy sure loves her Aunt Hannah!

Sweet Ryan

"Mom, Katy's crying and I can't get her to feel better!"

She had bonked herself on the futon, so Ryan hugged her. And when that didn't work, he called for me to help. Not to make her stop crying because it was annoying, but to make her feel better because she was sad.

My insides are all melty warm right now. I love it when they show me that I'm not completely failing as a mother!

love letters already?

"Dere David I im so happy that you are my badr Love Jessica"

Not sure what a badr is, but apparently Jessica likes David being one!