christmas cards! it's so much work that every year i wonder if i'll ever do it again. but then seeing those smiling faces on my mantle--the faces of all those people i love--well worth it.
running! i know i talk about it, and it may be annoying because you're like "yes janell, you run, okay." but i can't really tell you how much i love it. it makes me happy, it calms me. i love how it makes me feel. i totally look forward to it. even when it's cold and icy and snowy and dark--still love it. it's part of me and i hope i can run into my grave.
optimism. i've been realizing lately that i am a happy, optimisistic person. i feel hopeful about the future even when things are hard. i love to smile and to laugh, and it comes very natural to me. i feel i have every reason to be happy, and so little reason not to be. even when things are very busy or really tough, i generally feel calm and happy about things. i'm not a big stresser. it's a mindset i hope i always retain.
the moon. i love full moons. especially when the mountains are covered in snow so that they glow and the sky looks midnight blue instead of black and the world looks lit up. i see this often when i drive home from studying at 12 or 1230 at night, listening to nighttime jazz or norah jones, and the world feels peaceful and calm and magical.
people. i love people and have no desire or inclination to judge them. i am not trying to say i'm awesome--i'm horribly flawed. but i pretty much like everyone, and can't think of anyone i hold any grudge against. i think i am blessed to be able to see people in the best light. i make every effort to try to understand others and not to question their motives or sincerity. i only mention this because it brings me great joy to be able to love people.
high heels, sweaters and coats. i'm grouping them together because i don't want to sound too materialistic! i LOVE high heels and would like to wear them most days and have a million fun pairs. i saw the cutest gold (not shiny, just yellowish) heels with very pointy toes and this big bow over the toe. so cute! don't worry, i didn't buy them. i couldn't because i DID buy my bright, shiny red 5 inch heels that i am in love with. i also love boots, especially knee-length boots. small joy. as for sweaters--who can have too many of them? v-neck, turtle neck, fitted, baggy--they are good for every occassion. i probably have 10 black sweaters alone. love it! and coats--for christmas i got the cutest black wool peacoat with a hood and it's stinkin cute. i love being a girl.
these two monkeys. aaaaahhhhh! can you even believe their cute/fun/silly-ness?! i'm crazy over them. really. i have the best kids EVER. that's right. this picture is them trying to be strong like their dad. some mornings he does sets of push ups, sit ups, etc--with his shirt off. so the boys have their shirts off and attempt to do some workout. jacob is holding his stomache since he couldn't get the 6 pack effect by flexing his gut. really, you can't blame them for wanting to look like their dad. i mean seriously, have you seen him with his shirt off lately?! todd should back me up on this one.news and politics. the new york times makes me very happy. i'm a nerd. i especially love reading op-eds and the latest research. and i am forever grateful for those wonderful friends--like katie w and david b--who, although i may disagree with them more often than not, will have thoughtful discussions about things that matter, and yet STILL be able to laugh at the political craziness on both sides of the aisle. and lets not forget inauguration day is january 20th. sweet! barack obama is definitely something to love.
this family. it makes me happy to see us because i think we look as happy as we are. from christmas lights at temple square.by the way, here is a link to more of our fabulous family photos. i LOVE them! there are some great family photos, amazing individual shots of both boys and adorable ones of the two of them together. there are even some shnazzy ones of a good lookin' couple. i love looking at them--it really makes me very happy. my friend kendi took them and she is wonderful, not only because she takes great photos but because there's nothing worse than having a photographer who gets impatient with your kids for being kids. argh! but kendi takes great photos AND is a lot of fun. check her out. 
if this photo doesn't whet your appetite for more cuteness, you're hopeless!
i feel unbelievably happy lately. i think part of that is that i'm getting sleep. the other part of that is that i've got the greatest family ever. we were sitting around playing cars with the boys on sunday and i felt like everything i need is right there. so happy. josh is amazing, and joshua and jacob are so much fun! really. i love being with them--they make me very happy. i am a lucky woman. 
here's the big fam. my mom and frank-o were here for thanksgiving which made ALMOST a full crew. we still missed my bro john. i like this picture though--all those kids! and what is better is that they all LOVE each other! they get crazy and noisy together and we love to see it. their cousins are their best buddies, and i am quite attached to my niece and nephews as well. what a great family!
look at these beautiful women! my mom is the best, and i love my sisters. there is so much in them to admire, and i often feel woefully inadequate compared to them. it was great spending thanksgiving with them all, some christmas time, and a hilarious new years. i haven't laughed that hard in a long time! it is such a gift to be by family, and we are appreciating it extra as we know we may be leaving soon.