Steve and Jenny Valentine

After I took this picture and saw it on the computer, I was reminded that sometimes I want too much. Many times, it's things that don't really even matter. When I took this picture, I just wanted one where all three kids are smiling, but we all know that can be a tall order. However, as you see, success...all it took was Steve doing a silly dance and there you have it! So you may be wondering what the problem is then, why did I find myself wanting "too much" when I looked at this picture later on. If you look closer, you will notice that we don't have a tree skirt (as evidenced by all the wires sticking everywhere) and barely any ornaments on our tree (maybe soon we will have our things from the States). Then I glance at their sweet faces and think, we have three of the cutest little humans alive, what is wrong with me to think about tree skirts and ornaments!? I get frustrated with myself for swinging from one side to the next of want vs. contentment. I can ...

Before moving to Poland, we were told (and briefly experienced on our first visit here a couple years ago) that many people here do not have the same demeanor as many Americans. What I mean by that, is people are not necessarily going to smile or wave when you pass by on the sidewalk or chat with you while you wait in the check out line in the grocery store. This can be taken as someone being rude (through an American perspective) but it's not, it's a cultural difference. However, we have figured out, that people here will in fact, smile at you on the tram and begin chatting with you randomly only because of one thing. Our children. Yes, we attract a lot of attention out and about with our three children (all still very little and obviously close in age) and it draws stares, many, many stares. On several occasions, it lures people to talk to them (and us) which in turn provides mutual smiles. And don't you worry if we are on a tram and the kids are sitting down while we sta...