We have had a pretty busy year, and I am happy to report that everyone is healthy! The kids are getting bigger and finding more activities to keep themselves busy. Let me run down our year:
Kayti turned 15 this year, and was very anxious to get her permit. Her dad gave her a few stipulations that she had to meet before that could happen, so needless to say she still doesn't have her permit. She starts Driver's Ed in January, though, so we will have to get it before class starts. I am not looking forward to it! I told her she was going to have to get a job to help pay for her insurance and gas... so far that hasn't happened either. Kayti loves to read and write, still, and the majority of the time can be found hiding in her room doing one of the two. She has started looking at colleges (YIKES!) and thinking about her major. As of right now she wants to be a high school English teacher while she continues to write and work towards becoming a published author. She loves going to Seminary, and is the class president right now. She is the oldest grandchild on Barry's side of the family, and has started babysitting lots for her younger cousins.
Josh decided that this year he wanted to play football for the school. He has always loved to get out and play with the kids in the neighborhood, but never participated with an organized team. Truthfully I have always been too afraid for him to actually play... he is such a runt. He started work-outs last Spring, and loved it. He made the team and was so thrilled! I was happy for him, and had to admit that once he had all of the padding and equipment on he didn't look that small. He only got to play for a total of 2 minutes in two different games, though, so he has now decided he is ready to go back to playing soccer. He is doing well in school. He is taller than I am now, and gaining on his dad. He just turned 14, and advanced to the Teachers Quorum. They are all going on a ski trip in a couple of weeks and he is so excited!
Kyle is in the 6th grade now, and will turn 12 on the 22nd of December. He had an excellent soccer season this year. He played goalie the majority of the time, but on the first game of the season he had the opportunity to play forward and scored the first goal of the season! He is a very loving and tender-hearted kid. He is on the "Character Council" at school. One of his responsibilities of the Council is to do the daily morning show at school. They take turns running the camera, being the host, and taking care of the script of the show. So far he has done all three. He was so nervous being the host, but he did a great job. I was able to sneak in one morning to see him and was so proud of him. He will be ordained a Deacon on Dec. 23. He is really excited about that, but scared at the same time. He is so afraid that he will mess up passing the Sacrament.
Megan is 10 and a little chatter box! She talks pretty much non-stop! She loves being on the farm with her Grandpa Jean, taking care of the cows. She is a real natural at it as well. She can herd those cows like nobody's business! She and Kyle were on the same soccer team again this year. After the season was over she let us know that she is ready to try another sport. She would like to try her hand at softball next year, so we will see how that goes. Megan loves to help me in the kitchen. She does have to remind me, though, that she is older than I treat her, and she is capable of doing more than I want to let her. I can't help it, she is still my baby! Earlier this year she decided that she wanted to cut off her hair and donate it to Locks of Love. She cut off over 12 inches! She was thrilled with her new cut, and I was so proud of her for making that decision. Her hair has grown down to her shoulders now, and she wants it cut short again. I'm not sure if I can convince her to let it grow long again.
Barry is still working at the credit union in their IT department. He fulfilled a dream of his this year by starting and maintaining our family website. He had the opportunity to travel to Conneticut this year on business... and hated it! Not Conneticut per se, but the travel in general. It was very short notice... his boss called him on Friday and he had to fly out on Sunday. He is such a home-body, and hates having to get out of that comfort zone.
I am still working at one of the local middle schools, but I got a promotion of sorts; I am now the school secretary! I work fewer hours a day, and have a ton less stress on me. I love the job, and get to interact with the kids, teachers and parents. I work a few more days throughout the year, but I am still pretty much home when the kids are. I am currently teaching the Laurels at church, and having a ball doing that. I love the girls so much! I was released as 1st Coun. in the YW back in March/April, and cried for a week. I was not ready to be released, and had so much that I felt I still wanted to do with the girls. Two weeks later the 2 Madison wards were reorganized into 3 wards. We were put into the new ward, and I was called as the camp director/personal progress coordinator. I was released from that calling about a month ago, and called to teach the Laurels. I'm just so happy to still be in YW! I am still also a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, although I seem to have less time to stamp now than ever. Stamping is still my stress-reliever, though, and I don't plan on giving that up any time soon.
Our family took a few fun trips this year, and then some of us went on trips without the rest. In January I was able to fly out to Utah for my neice's wedding. She got married on a Thursday morning in Manti, and on Friday my younger sister and I drove up to Idaho to prepare for her reception there. It was so much fun to be out there again, and see family and friends. The trip was way too short, and I want to go back soon! Our annual Mayfield Family Reunion was held a little closer to home this year. We rented two houses on a lake here in Alabama. It was a lot of fun! The kids had a ball riding jet ski's, canoeing, going down the huge water-slide and jumping on the water trampolines. After the reunion we went over to Atlanta for a quick visit. We took the kids by the temple where Barry and I were married a got a few good pictures of them. Josh's scout troop went to North Carolina for scout camp this year. He really enjoyed camp, and earned a survival merit badge. I'm glad that I didn't know before hand what all was involved in that! During Fall Break this year we took the kids over to the Smoky Mountains and stayed a couple of days. I love it there, and have been several times with my sisters, mom and my girls. This was the first time that Barry and the boys have been there, and they really enjoyed it as well. Not only do I love the mountains, but I love the outlet shops! We got in some great shopping while there! We are heading up to Nashville on Kyle's birthday to go to the Opryland Hotel to look at the lights. We haven't been since the kids were little, and I'm excited to go again.
We have been experiencing a terrible drought around here. Mom and Dad have had the water at the farm dry up a couple of times (they rely on the natural springs on the farm for their water). I was afraid that we were going to have a very ugly Fall, but we got several days of rain during October, which seemed to bring everything back to life. The trees were beautiful this year, but we are still in desperate need of rain. The weather has just been weird this year, though! Last week while the rest of the country was suffering from a terrible snow/ice storm, we were in the 80's! It was 70 yesterday, and 40 today. Needless to say, we are all freezing now!
We hope that all of you are doing well, and have a happy holiday season! For those of you who are far away, we miss you, and hope to see you all soon! Please leave us a comment, and let us know how you are all doing!
Merry Christmas!!
