1.06.2009

what i'm happy about...

i've been sweetly commanded to blog, and it's just as well, since i'll be back to school on tuesday the 13th and don't imagine i'll be blogging for awhile. my final semester of school, and it will be a rough one. but four months and i'll be an MPA grad! even though i'm nervous about ALL i have to do before then, i think i'm about ready to go back. this break has been wonderful--just what i needed. i feel renewed. we had a relaxing and fun christmas and new years, and we got to spend good time with both of our families, and--yeah!--with each other.

now that it's 2009, my goals are very meager.
1) graduate
2) move
that's about it. sure there are all kinds of things i'd like to do, but in all honesty that's pretty much what i'm aiming for. finish and move on! it's time.


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.

my big boy joshua. recently he and i have read james and the giant peach, ralph s. mouse, and sideways stories from wayside school together. right now it's boxcar children. it's one thing just he and i do together, and it's probably my favorite mom thing to do. i love it. joshua has taken to spontaneously giving me hugs and saying "i love you mom." such a sweet, sensitive boy.


i can't even say how happy this mischievious little boy makes me. he is a one compact bundle of joy. and he loves to give hugs and kisses. "i wanna give you a kiss mom! i wanna hug you!" he has the silliest giggle and, although he has a temper to run from, he so quickly recovers and gives you that killer smile that you can hardly hold it against him. and i don't. he's his mom's son, after all.

josh turns 30 next week--crazy! i'm close behind. we're moving on up. josh is too good to me, unbelievably thoughtful and forgiving and supportive. it has been so nice to relax with him and enjoy his company. he is one an amazing dad. i hope some day my boys know how lucky they are to have him. josh recently got a big promotion--goldman's latest associate! he deserves it, i don't know anyone who works harder. now he's applying to business schools and we both are so excited for it--somewhere new! we're ready to move on and see what life holds next. i love him, and feel very content with our life. i think we're where we want to be. i can't think of anything more i could need...


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.

i'll admit--i've been choked up the whole time i've been writing this. nothing spectacular going on but i have felt SO HAPPY and so blessed lately. i adore my family. i have so much to be grateful for.
more on that later...

10 comments:

The HousewifeTravels said...

You must be pregnant.Hee Hee. Sooooo glad you blog so we can check in on all the amazing things you're up too.

Cormorant said...

I LOVE the family pictures! Your boys are adorable and you and Josh look great. I'm glad you're happy; we all need to be.

ToddS said...

AMAZING family pictures! Who took them for you?

brooklyn said...

Yay! It makes me so happy to see your cute family and hear how happy and content you are with your life. I'm so excited for you be a Master of the universe in a few months! You should be so proud of yourself. That's no small feat with two little ones. Love you! (and I'm still hoping you guys land here...)

The Kemps said...

I love all these pictures! It's so great to be reminded of what makes ME happy! I'm so excited that you're almost done with school..YEY!!!

Sansego said...

I'm hoping you guys end up at Stanford...but Harvard would be too good to pass up. Just happy for you guys in the big change that's coming for you this year.

Glad to see a new blog post finally!

j janell cf said...

Ronelle: definitely not pregnant! but yes, i agree, i love the online world (blogging and facebook especially) for that very reason.

great to hear from you becki. i'm going to post a link to all of these family pictures because they really were great. can you believe it's been almost a year and now I'LL be graduating--yeah!

todd--my friend kendi took them, and yes, she is amazing. i'm going to post a link to more photos and to her blog as well. any baby?!?!

b-you should be glad since it was your very kind remonstrance that made me decide to blog yesterday!

thanks liz! i wish we could have seen all of the kemps over the holidays--love you guys!

and thanks nick. i know you are a faithful reader and i usually disappoint! stanford and harvard are both HIGHLY unlikely at this point. probably chicago, northwestern, ucla or duke. any of which we would LOVE. we'll see...

Marianne said...

I'm glad for your goals too, except that I selfishly don't want you to move!! Our lunches just won't be the same without you!!

Lis said...

Ahh, so sweet Janell. I love to see you so happy!

Sheri said...

way to go on school, keep up the good work it will all pay off ! Here's to happiness!!!