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I thought it only fitting that I "count my blessings" here since after all, it's that time of year and my blog is named after it!  I have too many to count really, and way too many to list here, but here are some that come to mind as I ponder on the year:

1.  Derek – his hard work on our behalf, his humor, his patience, his new passion for health and fitness, his creativity, his willingness to serve others

2.  Jacob – his love of reading, his tenderness, his love for me even when he doesn't want to love me very much, a new understanding about how he works and thinks and feels

3.  Caleb – his laughter, his jokes, his comfortable-ness in his own skin, his easy nature, his sweet love, his helpfulness

4.  Samuel – his words, the way he asks "tomorrow?" when I say "no" to anything, his giggle, his run, his blonde curls, his quiet and gentle ways

5. our home that allows us to entertain, host the church choir, and play and work beside each other

6. our Maggie – she is fun!

7. this blog – how would I ever remember my life otherwise?

8. good, sweet parents

9. living grandparents who I adore

10. siblings who make me laugh and who it is so fun to see happy

11. sister-in-laws who are so dear and kind and good

12. friends – lots of really wonderful, gracious, generous friends – some who feel more like family

13. responsibilities at church that have richly blessed and enriched me – teaching primary, programs for girls camp, trek

14. gourmet club – and the ease and delight with which i cook and entertain now

15. jacob's letter to president obama

16. caleb's artwork

17. the boys' teachers at school

18. our new village – Dr. Linda, Dr. Banks, Kristen, ECS – they help my kids in ways that I can't

19. progesterone cream

20. our neighborhood friends

21. our neighborhood park

22. the way samuel answers "dunno" to almost everything

23. our income that allows me to do SO much and worry SO little

24. derek's thoughtful and conscientious approach to our income and budget that requires me to spend wisely

25. my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ

26. the scriptures

27. living prophets and apostles who give wise and pertinent counsel for us and our families

28. the sounds of the piano – the boys who make those sounds – the teacher who teaches them to make those sounds

29. my washer and dryer for giving me 10 whole years of diligent service…let's shoot for a few more!

30. my Suburban that carts us around everyday without complaint (so far)

31. a comfy bed

32. a decent camera that allows me to capture some really fun things

33.  the opportunity to travel and see parts of the world that I never thought I would and stay in really nice hotels with really fun friends

34.  allergy shots

35.  Christmas music

36.  my laptop – boy is it used and abused and used some more, and I love it

37. Derek's ability to work from home

38. my kids' nursery and Primary teachers who are patient and diligent and kind

39. church magazines that come every month with messages of faith and hope and insight

40. friends and strangers blogs that inspire and teach and give me things to ponder

41. daily phone calls with my mom

42. my bathtub

43. caffeine free soda

44. book stores, books to read, and smart authors

45. Emma Smith, wife of Joseph

46. boys who unload my dishwasher

47. good health insurance

48. holidays

49. the life of Jesus Christ

50. the opportunity to be me, to live HERE (on this earth, in this country, in this home, town and neighborhood), to be a mother and wife, to be happy, to be surrounded by loving family and friends, to have peace and to love my life

Happy Thanksgiving!

Derek and I are ramping up when it comes to "trek" – our current church assignment.  So much to do, it is sometimes overwhelming, but it's crunch time and we are trying very hard to get this ball moving!  March will be here before we know it. 

Derek took the day off a couple of weeks ago so we could go do some more "recon" work on foot at the trail we'll be using.  We did 5 miles with Samuel on Derek's back.  It was a gorgeous, sunny, fall day.  And it was fun to be on a working "date".  We stopped at a great little small town "dive" afterwards for lunch and free samples of pie!

 
 
 
 

One of the perks of being on the PTA Board is getting to participate in really fun events like this one…the Boosterthon Fun Run.  It's a popular fundraising method used by many schools in the district…mostly because it's successful at raising funds, most of the work is done by the Boosterthon "team", and because it's a great event for the kids.  T-shirts, prizes, running laps to fun music for pledges, having people cheer you on…it can't get any better for most kids!  Samuel and I were out there for the whole 4 hours of racing.  He was a dream as usual…sometimes staying on the field with other moms while I ran around the school rounding up classes.  He just hangs out!  I love that.  I love interacting with the kiddos at the school who call me "Jacob's mom", "Caleb's mom", and "Box Top Lady" (even though I don't wear that hat anymore).  I gave approximately 2,500 high fives (can you say sore hands??).  I poured approximately 1,000 little cups of sloshy water.  I lead the congo-line of 100 3rd graders.  I raced my boys around the track (both ran the max of 35 laps).  And I popped one set of bam-bam sticks from using them so much.  So fun!  A morning well-spent.

  
 

p.s.  A BIG thank you to those of you who got our phone call and were sweet enough to oblige my boys with a donation!  We appreciate you so much – and so do the "specials" groups at our school who will use the money well (art, music, p.e. and library).  Here's another perk of being on the PTA Board – being able to have a say in how that money is spent!

Derek was approached by a neighbor about participating in a team event called the "Mud Run".  Many of our neighbors were on teams and it was a highly anticipated and exciting event for friends around here.  A 10K race in the mud, military-style, does not really strike MY fancy, but Derek decided to give it a try.  And he had a good time.  Normally, we would go cheer him on in these kinds of things, but with only 1 day of having a puppy, I was reluctant to leave her for the 4+ hours that would be required of our time.  So his teammate, David, and his wife took pictures for us.  Good job, honey!  Way to get dirty!  The team finished in an hour and a half.

 
 
 
 

When I was in the 3rd grade we lived in a little place called Corsicana, TX.  Not our best year as a family…that's the year that my parent's marriage fell apart.  And the year that my teacher Ms. Wheel-a (Wheeler) made me cry everyday by using my head as a cane or yelling at me about long division.  1984-85, you are not missed.  Admidst all of that I have some fond memories too.  The snowcone man coming every evening after dinner is one.  My mom letting me create things in the kitchen using whatever ingredients were on hand (I recall a green rice krispie creation that did not resemble "treats").  Another is of the creeks.  I would take my yellow bike and, with a friend whose name I have long-since-forgotten, head to what we called our "honey factories".  These were little streams or creeks near or around our vicinity.  We played for hours there – "packaging" our honey (the water must have been honey-colored), selling, buying, tasting (gross!) and running our factories.  It was a great escape for me. 

I have always loved moving water.  Whether it's dirty, little Texas creeks.  Or beautiful, flowing Canadian rivers.  I love it.  It brings peace to my soul.

So it's not surprising that when I need to de-stress, or just "play" with Samuel, I take him to our neighborhood creek.  They've built a park and a beautiful tree-lined nature walk around it.  Our favorite pastime is to go throw sticks and rocks in the creek, and he is in heaven there (what boy wouldn't be?).

 

From the creek, I can hear the children on the playground at the school, and I could swear that I hear Jacob and Caleb's laughter admidst the sea of jubilant children's voices.

 

A cool breeze, the trickle of the creek, the crunch of leaves falling, and the sound of children playing happily.  This…for me…is a happy place.

Officiated by: Cordel Robinson, father of the groom
Best Man: Michael Robinson, brother of the groom
Bridesmaids: Amy Doak and Elizabeth Doak, sisters of the bride
Ring Bearer: Samuel Smith
Bride's cake: gorgeous!  with the cutest "toppers" I've ever seen – made by the bride's mother
Groom's cake: amazing!  Mark's favorite dinner is a "Nighthawk" frozen dinner (we had them lots growing up and Mark still eats them every chance he gets) – their cake was an exact replica – salisbury steak (topped with pats of butter) and mac & cheese – hysterical!
Ushers: Michael and Patrick Doak, bride's brothers
Mothers: looked stunning!
Program passer-outers/Door holders: Jacob and Caleb Smith who were perfect gentleman!
Award for best solo-dancer of the night: Samuel Smith who decided he "owned" the dance floor with his "bounce" to the music and wiggle his hips moves, at one point some friends got out and imitated his dance moves
Gaffe of the night: When I got a little too enthusiastic and overzealous with my camera during the family pictures and the photographer yelled at me to "stop now"…oops, sorry!!  I tried to stay out of the way the rest of the night…her pictures will be much better than mine anyway!
Best hair of the night: The bride – side sweep of her hair with a flower on one side and the veil on the other – gorgeous!!  She looked amazing!
Best use of bobby pins in hair:  ME!  I went to my hair stylist for an updo that afternoon and loved the work of "art" she came up with.  At 1 am though I was busy removing 44 bobby pins and 7 decorative corkscrews from my hair – took 20 minutes!  It was worth it though 'cuz I felt pretty!
The photo booth:  So how fun is this??  Mark and Anne had a photo booth at their wedding!  Guests could go in and take their 4 pictures (props were included if desired) and then they would print one "strip" for you to keep and the other strip for Mark and Anne to keep!  LOVE, love, love that idea.  And it was SO fun.  You can only imagine how much fun my boys had in there!  Another great idea was the "wishing wall" – you could write a little "wish" for M & A on red or orange paper and then stick in this little honeycomb type frame with holes in it.  So cute!
Other memorable highlights: Mark seeing Anne for the first time, Samuel walking down the aisle like a rockstar, Mark and Anne dancing, Michael sliding on both knees on the dance floor and ripping his pants!, Anne tossing her bouquet from the upper balcony at the Belo, getting to spend time with lots of extended family and loved ones, etc, etc.

It was a lovely night and I loved seeing my sweet, unassuming brother so genuinely happy.  I couldn't be more thrilled for them! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kathy, the bride's mom, made all 3 of my boy's ties and this adorable ring pillow that has an embroidered "R" for Robinson on it…loved how sweet these little touches made everything.
 
The programs were round "wheels" that turned to show different names and facts about the wedding.
 
 

 
  
 
Wonderful, good, happy times!
 
p.s.  the hair!

 

Since the rehearsal dinner is the groom's families responsibility I had a good time playing a role in this event.  Mom and I had gone to lunch at La Duni at Northpark Center this summer and really thought it would be a great spot for the rehearsal dinner.  Mom was in charge of choosing food and how it would all be served, plus the timing and running of the night.  My SIL Olivia did all of the flowers (she's a master at it too!)…they were lovely.  I did the photo slideshow…17 minutes of pictures and music of Mark and Anne and those they love.  I LOVED doing it and loved how it turned out too.  I also did the "favors" – orange and red lollipops (those are her colors) with a tag tied to them saying "So sweet of you to come…Mark and Anne's Rehearsal Dinner, November 13, 2009".  I also did a little table with orange and red candies for the table assignments and some pictures to sit on it.  One picture was of their honeymoon desination, Bora Bora.  It had a little tent that said "Sweet Escape".  Another was of their new home and it said "Home Sweet Home".  The other was of their proposal and it said "Sweet as sugar…The Proposal".  Loved playing with this "sweet" theme.  Dinner was yummy!  Cupcakes served for dessert were delicious!  The toasts were fun and meaningful.  And most of all I think (hope!) that Mark and Anne had a wonderful time.  There were 60 friends and family members there to celebrate with them.

 
 
 
 
 

Around 9:30 or so (during the toasts) Caleb laid his head on my mom's lap and fell dead asleep!  We later transferred him to Derek's lap where Samuel was also trying (but not successfully) to fall asleep.  Late nights for these boys – but they were fantastic!

 

And here we are at the actual Rehearsal itself.  They got married at the Belo Mansion downtown Dallas.  Pretty location!  

 

A family friend of Anne's and her two aunts held a wonderful bridal luncheon on Friday to kick off all the festivities.  It was relaxing and a nice way to start the weekend.  Anne's friends and sisters had me laughing the whole time, and it was fun to hear newlywed stories from Anne's SIL Laura and to hear about her new adventures in New York City.  Lovely group of ladies!!  Lovely bride.  Lovely luncheon.

 
 

I have a whole lot of blogging to do about our wonderful-wedding-weekend.  But until then enjoy one of my favorite pictures from the weekend…Mark and Anne leaving for their honeymoon (with rose petals being thrown).  Can you tell they're happy??

is now OVER!  She waltzed right and stole our hearts (and it's only been 3 days!).  Yes, she did.  Despite the sleepless nights of her crying and more poop/pee that I know what to do with, and grass all over my kitchen floor and need after need…despite all that we love this little dog and are having a great time with her.

Here she is…our Maggie: