Dear Santa...

Dear Santa...Thank you for all the goodies. I'm sorry I SUCKED at taking pictures this Christmas......

I don't know why?? If you know me, you know I LOVE taking pictures all the time. Usually my photos are accompanied by the phrase, "you'll love me for these later." And you always do. Let's be honest, the more photos, the better the odds of getting some good ones. I know all about odds, I took stats ladies and gentleman. So, yes, I love taking pictures. Especially when there is a reason. I guess this year I'll have to get pics from everyone else...I'm that girl. Oh well. Anyways. Christmas was amazing. I had such a fun week with the family. Christmas morning with Boston and Savy was absolutely hilarious. It was like over-stimulation X's 500. There were so many amazing new presents that they always just wanted to sit down and play with whatever they opened up. I loved it. I got a ton of fun stuff too! Among some of my favorites...the warmest North Face Coat, some new Steve Madden Boots, two Betsey Johnson Necklaces...ahhhh love them..., clothes, books, the most ADORABLE apron (My mom made it. She made 17 in fact, they are all different, and they seriously look like they came straight from Anthropology. My mom is amazing.) So fun! We spent the rest of the day watching movies, baking, and being lazy...I love Christmas. Oh, and I almost forgot...my most favorite little Christmas present of all...my new nephew, little Colston.

Feliz Navidad

I Love Christmas. I think everyone does, but there are so many things about Christmas that make me happy.

Family Birth of the Savior focus on Christ LOVE EVERYWHERE generosity GOOD FOOD PARTIES gifts; giving and recieving TIME OFF free time photo ops sleeping in christmas dinner DELICIOUS SMELLS reflecting on the year past and projecting the year to come friends surprises TREATS hot chocolate Christmas Music TRADITIONS Christmas movies SHOPPING wrapping presents SANTA CLAUSE christmas lights HOLIDAY M&M'S Decorations CHARITY

I just got back from Christmas Eve dinner with Les and Elaine. Is it selfish to say I love that I get them all to myself sometimes? We went to The Olive Garden for dinner and as per my request got some delicous Maverick ice cream cones on the way home. We're staying at Lindsey and Travis' tonight which will be so fun. A night full of putting the excited kiddies to bed, treats, games, movies, and anticipation for a great Christmas day. I can't wait :) Merry Christmas!

ahhhh the world wide web...

Time Magazine Released an article with the 50 best websites of 2008. VERY cool.

click HERE to read.

Don't be lying to me now Betsy...

Betsey Johnson + Target = A-MAZ-ING

Rumor has it that Designer Betsey Johnson may be joining forces with Target to do a new lower priced line. I feel good, reeeeaaal good about that.
If you haven't checked out any of Betsey's Johnson's crazy-fun dresses, shoes, jewelry, bags...etc. etc. etc. you surely should. They are so unique. and SO adorable.
And let's be honest. who doesn't love Target?

Check THIS story out.

Baby Colston

After lot's of anticipation Linds had her baby, Colston Travis Fitch, on Dec 15th! (Cute name, huh? Even though Savannah and Boston still call him Lewis or Chase.) He is BEYOND adorable, and such a little cuddle bug. I'm seriously in love. The stats: He weighed 8 lb 3 oz, was 20 inches long, and was born at 1:59.

FYI: This pic of linds was taken about 10 minutes post-delivery. Can you believe how hot she looks? I know...ridiculous. That is Linds for you! She wore the hospital gown I made her for her b-day and she looked ADORABLE! Cutest preggers i've ever seen. This pic of Trav was also taken post-delivery, he's looking great as well ;) With these two for parents no wonder this lil' guy came out looking so good!!

I love this pic of Ty, Mom, and Colston. SO cute!

Here is a close up. He's a little sleeper. I just want to hold him all day long. Linds is going to get sick of me!

Sweet, adorable, old people. Oh...and chocolate brown hair.

Today at church we had a great lesson about becoming charitable. I really got to thinking about how it is something that can become part of our nature. I made a mental goal that I wanted to make an effort to become more service oriented. I know there are opportunities all around us to serve, we just need to become aware and be willing! After I got home from church I was reading through some blogs and a friend of mine posted this quote on hers.

“Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others. I recall visiting a college campus where I heard the usual complaining of [students] about the pressures of school—as if it were a burden rather than an opportunity to partake of the knowledge of the earth—complaints about [roommates], [complaints about] housing and food. I counseled those [students] that if the pressures of school were too heavy, if they felt to complain then I could suggest a cure for their problems. I suggested they lay their books aside for a few hours and go visit someone who is old and lonely, or someone sick and discouraged. By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves” -Gordon B. Hinckley

I absolutely love it. What a true and inspiring principle. I feel like President Hinkley was always good to remind us that it is only when we point our arrows outward that we will truly be able to be happy. What an opposite principle from what the way the world thinks. The world would have you believe that if you are unhappy you should take "me time" to make yourself happy. Quite a contrast....So after I read this lo and behold our neighbor came in our door and told us they were going to go sing at an assisted living home and they wanted us to come. My adorable roomies and I were mid-lunch and in our PJ's so we gave a 1/2 hearted..ehhh ummm...k...maybe...and then he left. As soon as he walked out of the door we decided we really should go, so we hurried and changed and went and met the group. It was a good thing Roxanne, Benita, and I decided to go because we double to the numbers of the group. There were only 7 of us, and the other 4 were ward members that I didn't know very well. We headed over to Jamestown Assisted Living Center and the people at the front desk gave us a list of the individuals who we could go and visit. Can I just say ADORABLE. We spent the next hour and a half talking to these amazing individuals who you could tell were so happy just to have visitors. We sang to them and got to know them a little bit better. It was almost heart braking to leave because you could tell that they were pretty lonely. As we left I just felt so good. Despite the realization of the lonliness of some of these sweet people, I felt like we'd really helped bring happiness and love, and it was so easy. I will definitely be going back. I think it made me happier than it made them.

Oh yeah, and yesterday. I dyed my hair brown. Traci and I have been joking about it for the past few times i've got my hair done because my hair has been so boring the past little while, not much change. SO, she helped me be brave, and she did an AMAZING job. I really like it! Here's a preview...

Scrum-diddly-umptious!

Ok, So all credit here goes to my sister Nichole. I stayed at her house over Thanksgiving and she had made these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. I seriously died over them. I couldn't believe how good they were....we're talking melt in your mouth good. So I bugged her for the recipe forever and she sent it to me. If you like pumpkin bread or cookies or anything like that you will LOVE these. I promise. I made them a few days ago, and I was reminded once again how good they are.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

3 cups sugar
6 eggs ( I used 4 eggs and 4 egg whites)
1 T. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 T. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 c. milk chocolate chips
2 c. butter (I used 1 cup butter and 1 cup of applesauce)
1 large can pumpkin
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 T. vanilla
1 T. baking powder
4 1/2 cups flower

Mix butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add spices and flour. Mix in pumpkin slowly. Add chocolate chips last. Fill in muffin tins. Bake @ 350 for 15-20 minutes ( maybe longer depending on oven check with toothpick)

This recipe makes a ton, so I froze a bunch of them. They taste so good after you pop them into the microwave for 30 seconds...melted chocolate chips..mmmm. Thanks Nichole!!

Come again?

It cost me $19.00 to fill up my car yesterday. It was completely empty. Umm...can you say amazing? I can, and I did. Several times.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble....

For Thanksgiving I went to AZ to visit the fam. It was SO fun! We always manage to fit in all my favorite things while I'm there and I just love it. It was a weekend full of eating out, shopping, working out, going to movies, playing games, and watching Christmas movies (Kiley and I managed to watch a different Christmas movie every night, so fun!). I ended up staying at the Barney's with Kiley who was nice enough to let me share her bed with her. Ki and I had so much fun all week playing together. It is so crazy to me, she isn't the little girl i used to babysit! I feel like she is my age, I think she feels the same way ;). We all ran the 10K turkey trot on Thanksgiving day which was a fun way to start the day. Nichole was my workout buddy while I was in AZ, and we ran together and made some good time. Bryson my 7 year old Nephew ran the 6 miler as well. It was so fun to see him challenge himself. I was proud of him! I see a future olympian. Here are some photos from the week.

Ki and I pre-meal.

Dad Carving the Turkey. His Job is to whip up the turkey and the stuffing and he did a mighty fine job, once again. He always does!

Ty, and Mom outside enjoying the beautiful day. I was so glad Tyler and Jodi were able to come down and join the fam for the feast. It is always so fun to hang out with them! Mom did an amazing job with the food. I seriously don't know how she does it. Fancy pants Elaine is right.

Jodi being a good sport while i snap photos like the paparazzi. She made some delicous new dishes for the fam that we all really liked. We were so glad that she came along to enjoy the holiday!

Here are the boys making the traditional apple turkeys my mom has set out for them every year. She always has fun things for everyone to do. I love it! Here's the table before we sat down to demolish it. My mom's attention to detail always amazes me. She has specific Thanksgiving dishes...wow. She's adorable. Please note the famous candied cinnamon apples in the righthand corner. Mom was real glad Ty was there to enjoy them with her.

My mom had these cute name settings with all of our names on them. Again. She's adorable.

We of course had to squeeze a movie in. It wouldn't be a Smith Family Holiday if we hadn't. The kids and Denny ended up seeing a different movie than we did and somehow it ended up that there were 7 of us in Dad's car on the way home. No worries, we're all friends. Here is my beautiful sis and I squished up front. Thanks for letting me crash at your house Nich! I had so much fun with you!!

It was so fun to be home, even if it was only for a few days! We were so sad that the Fitch's and Tam and Jas weren't there. You were definitely missed. Thanks Mom and Dad for making it such a fun week. I love you guys! Can't wait to see you soon!