I have a mega post of our December all typed out and waiting to be posted. All of the pictures that I want to accompany the post, though, are on our desktop computer instead of my laptop, which is being used right now. So, it will have to wait, but that's ok! Before the night gets away from me, I wanted to post a quick review of our year.
January - Started house hunting, and found one we love! Kids were sick with pink-eye... NO FUN!
February - Moved!! Celebrated my 40th birthday. Dealt with tragedy of school shooting.
March - My baby became an official teen-ager!! Enjoyed Spring Break working around the house and at the farm.
April - Kidnapped my hubby for a weekend in Nashville! Started prepping my garden.
May - Kayti graduated high school!! Then she turned 18!! Summer break came!
June - Kayti started college. Worked in the garden. Celebrated Barry's birthday and our 19th wedding anniversary. Prepared for YW Camp
July - Went to YW Camp. Enjoyed the 4th of July with family. Prepared to head back to school and work.
August - Enjoyed a visit from my sister and niece (and her adorable baby boy). School started back. Soccer started.
September - Mayfield Family Reunion at Smith Lake!!
October - Fall Break... and trip to Savannah, Ga!! Soccer season ended.
November - Great month to reflect on our blessings. Two yummy Thanksgiving dinners - one at Nate and Alisha's, one with my family at the farm.
December - Lots of holiday fun! Josh turned 17; Kyle turned 15. Bought a new car for Barry (he has needed one for SOOO long!). Enjoyed a white Christmas... first one ever for Barry and the kids. I'm not sure about me... I think we might have had one or two when I lived in Idaho, but I can't remember.
I am looking forward to 2011. I'm sure there will be lots of challenges, as well as plenty of fun times.
I hope you have a wonderful new year!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mary and Christmas
I was blessed to have both of my boys born in December... their birthdays are only 10 days apart (plus 2 years!). When I was pregnant with Kyle I was asked to write a part for a Christmas Relief Society reading. It was to be from Mary's point of view about her feelings the night of Jesus' birth. I was very humbled to be asked to do this, and I'm not sure if I did it justice or not. But since then, I often think of Mary and how she must have felt that night. Every year when my boys celebrate their birthdays, I am reminded of my feelings. I don't know that I could ever adequately describe my feelings, but I can say that I am so thankful for Mary. I appreciate her sacrifice, and her willingness. I can't imagine the responsibility of raising our Savior, but I am thankful that she agreed to take it on.
I found this clip on youtube the other day, and thought I would share. I love this song by Amy Grant, and someone put it to LDS video, The Nativity. Merry Christmas, everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQs0H7dvwy0&feature=related
I found this clip on youtube the other day, and thought I would share. I love this song by Amy Grant, and someone put it to LDS video, The Nativity. Merry Christmas, everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQs0H7dvwy0&feature=related
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Happy Birthday, Kyle!!
Today son #2 celebrates his 15th birthday! And yes, he is counting down the days until he gets his permit... but he lost his wallet with his SS card inside, so we have to get a replacement before that can happen.
Here are some fun facts about Kyle:
He is very tender-hearted.
He is a loyal friend.
He is a fierce competitor.
He is the only child of mine who was not born on a Sunday morning... he made his appearance on a Friday evening.
He loves football, and is a HUGE Atlanta Falcons fan.
He loves soccer, too, but thinks he might take a break from it next year.
He loves his younger sister, and has always been her best friend. The night we brought her home from the hospital, he stood in his crib and said, "Baby" over and over and over again!
He is a thinker... he will ask a lot of questions to make sure he understands something.
He is also a brainiac! ;) He worries a lot about his grades, and works hard to make good grades.
He loves Mexican food... it is his absolute favorite!
He loves going to seminary, but gets very frustrated with some of his classmates... they can get a little rowdy sometimes.
He will be taking a class this next semester at Bob Jones, and will get to leave from seminary and actually go to the high school...he is pretty excited about that!
He is not sure if he wants to be a doctor, dentist or engineer when he grows up.
He has always had more friends that are girls than boys. When he was little he could always be found in the middle of all the girls.
He loves music, and is trying to learn to play the guitar. He is really kind of teaching himself, but he loves to play.
When he was little he was a complete "mini-me" of his Uncle James, now he looks more like my side of the family.
His favorite car is a Camaro, and wants a red one with black racing stripes. I've bought several toy cars for him, but he is going to have to get the real thing!
He is now just a tad bit taller than his older brother, and catching up to dad fast. He is very proud of this fact!
We are so blessed to have Kyle in our family! We love him, and appreciate all that he brings to our family. Happy Birthday, Kyle!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Happy Birthday, Josh!!
Today is Josh's 17th birthday. I am floored to think that he is already that old. He was born on a Sunday morning, in a little cabin in the woods (I had my first two children with mid-wives), and was such a sweet baby. We have been very blessed to have him in our family. Here are some fun facts about our Josh-u-way...
He is a very hard worker.
He ADORES his younger cousins, and they love him, too.
He is an awesome pizza maker.
He is a dare-devil.
He has a sweet-tooth the size of Texas.
He is very athletic.
He loves to act - he can do both dramatic and comedic pieces equally well.
He is a very good video game player.
He has a kind, loving, sharing soul.
He likes to make people happy... even if it means he has to sacrifice to do so.
He loves to wear his hair very short, and it drives him NUTS that his brother likes to wear his hair longer.
He has an infectious laugh.
He is VERY tickle-ish. He used to tickle the insides of his own hands when he was a baby, and just laugh and laugh.
He hates to have his picture taken... and is usually making some sort of face, or posing in a goofy way in every picture I take of him.
He wears his heart on his sleeve, which scares me to death. I am so afraid that some twitty little girl is going to take advantage of that. :)
He loves animals, and when we are at the farm he can usually be found playing with the cats and kittens.
He loves to build things, and use his hands. I put him to work this past summer painting/finishing some tables that my dad made, and he did a beautiful job.
Josh is actually his middle name. His full name is Mykel (prounounced like Michael) Joshua. He was almost a Mykel Anthony, but his dad and I saw the name Josh, and loved it. It fits him so well!
He is looking forward to serving a mission... and hopes that he gets to go Brazil. Why? Because the next World Cup is being played in Brazil, during the time that he will be on a mission! I told him that didn't mean much, he wouldn't be able to go to any games. He replied that he knew that, but he was sure it would be on EVERY TV in the country, so he could at least see what was going on with it now and then. I'm sure that for just for that, Heavenly Father will send him to someplace where TV's are few and far between!
I love you, Josh! Happy Birthday!!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Congrats!!
Congratulations this morning go out to my very talented first born son, Josh!! He placed second in his category (classical duet) at this past weekend's state drama festival!! So very proud of him!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The past few weeks
Haven't updated in a while, so I need to play a bit of catch-up.
This is the first Halloween in YEARS that we have not gone trick-or-treating. My kiddos have been very thankful the past few years that they have younger cousins to "help" trick-or-treat, because it gives them a reason to go out. This year, though, the kids wanted to have a party. The invited lots of their friends, we decorated the house, and had lots of candy on-hand. The kids came in costume, and everyone looked great.
A few days later we found ourselves with a free afternoon, and so we decided to head to Monte Sano to enjoy the fall colors. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of color to see, but we had fun being out. We discovered a fun trail that had once been a road, so the walk was nice and easy, and there were other trails leading off of it for exploring. Barry and the boys had fun climbing around, and even managed to scare the crud out of me! The girl and I enjoyed kicking and crunching the leaves. The weather was a bit brisk, but it felt kind of good, too.
In other news... I don't think I've mentioned that I have a new calling. After teaching RS for about 2 years, I was released and asked to serve on the Activities Committee. This is the first time I've ever done this, and I'm really looking forward to it. I got called a couple of weeks before our Halloween activity, and that also happened to be the same time my mom was in the hospital, so I really didn't do a whole lot for that activity, but we are already planning the Christmas party, and I think it will be really fun.
I've been crafting again... and I'm excited about it!! I've been busy working on some Christmas crafts, and can't wait to decorate this year. I'm planning on getting Christmas cards made this year, and I am excited to work on those, too. It's been a while since I have been excited to craft, and it really makes me happy that I'm so excited!
I've been counting some of my blessings... at least the ones I don't always think about... on my facebook page. I'll have to recap them all here soon. Of course I am very thankful for my family, friends, the gospel, and the obvious blessing I enjoy, but I wanted to focus on "little things" that often get overlooked everyday. I've been kind of amazed at all the little things there are everyday to be thankful for. I've not only gained an appreciation for them, but it has made me even more thankful for the "obvious" things as well.
So, to end things on a "thankful" note tonight, let me say that I am thankful that my kiddos are now home safe and sound from their temple trip; I am thankful that I can sleep in just a bit because I don't have to drive to seminary in the morning; and I am very thankful for the comfy bed I am about to crawl into!!
This is the first Halloween in YEARS that we have not gone trick-or-treating. My kiddos have been very thankful the past few years that they have younger cousins to "help" trick-or-treat, because it gives them a reason to go out. This year, though, the kids wanted to have a party. The invited lots of their friends, we decorated the house, and had lots of candy on-hand. The kids came in costume, and everyone looked great.
A few days later we found ourselves with a free afternoon, and so we decided to head to Monte Sano to enjoy the fall colors. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of color to see, but we had fun being out. We discovered a fun trail that had once been a road, so the walk was nice and easy, and there were other trails leading off of it for exploring. Barry and the boys had fun climbing around, and even managed to scare the crud out of me! The girl and I enjoyed kicking and crunching the leaves. The weather was a bit brisk, but it felt kind of good, too.
In other news... I don't think I've mentioned that I have a new calling. After teaching RS for about 2 years, I was released and asked to serve on the Activities Committee. This is the first time I've ever done this, and I'm really looking forward to it. I got called a couple of weeks before our Halloween activity, and that also happened to be the same time my mom was in the hospital, so I really didn't do a whole lot for that activity, but we are already planning the Christmas party, and I think it will be really fun.
I've been crafting again... and I'm excited about it!! I've been busy working on some Christmas crafts, and can't wait to decorate this year. I'm planning on getting Christmas cards made this year, and I am excited to work on those, too. It's been a while since I have been excited to craft, and it really makes me happy that I'm so excited!
I've been counting some of my blessings... at least the ones I don't always think about... on my facebook page. I'll have to recap them all here soon. Of course I am very thankful for my family, friends, the gospel, and the obvious blessing I enjoy, but I wanted to focus on "little things" that often get overlooked everyday. I've been kind of amazed at all the little things there are everyday to be thankful for. I've not only gained an appreciation for them, but it has made me even more thankful for the "obvious" things as well.
So, to end things on a "thankful" note tonight, let me say that I am thankful that my kiddos are now home safe and sound from their temple trip; I am thankful that I can sleep in just a bit because I don't have to drive to seminary in the morning; and I am very thankful for the comfy bed I am about to crawl into!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
I got to craft on Saturday night!
I'm getting excited for Christmas!! I asked the very talented Mandi Wight to cut the "Ho Ho Ho" vinyl, and I painted and decorated the blocks. I've got some other ideas for gifts in mind, and I can't wait to play some more!
I've got more cuteness planned for the entryway!! Just a few more weeks til it all goes up!
I've been in a real crafting mood lately... I might even get some Christmas cards made this year. ;)
I've got more cuteness planned for the entryway!! Just a few more weeks til it all goes up!
I've been in a real crafting mood lately... I might even get some Christmas cards made this year. ;)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
"Host" is coming!
The 18th Annual "Host of Christmas Past" is coming!!
More info here
The perfect way to get yourself in the Holiday mood!
More info here
The perfect way to get yourself in the Holiday mood!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Fall Break Trip 2010
*Warning... mega long marathon post!*
First of all, let me say...
"YAY... it's FALL BREAK!!!"
Ok... now on to the post!
Last Sunday, Barry and I sat here trying to decide what to do for fall break. We didn't have a lot of money to spend, but knew that we didn't want to sit around here, either. Our first thought was to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. It looks breath-taking, and would involve one of our favorite family activities... a long road trip! But, as we looked into it, the more we realized it was not something that we could do right now. (Total side bar here... and forgive me for sounding like a commercial... When you have a family the size of ours, it can be difficult to find hotel rooms to accommodate... you either have to get two rooms or you have to lie and sneak all the kids into one room. Fortunatley, though, a few years ago we discovered the Comfort Suites hotels, and for the same price as any other hotel, we can get a room big enough to fit all of us. And they are clean... and they offer an indoor pool and a free breakfast bar!!! Now back to our story... ) We could find hotel rooms at the beginning of the parkway and at the end, but nothing in the middle. We knew that we didn't want to hurry through the trip, and with it being Fall, we didn't want to have to camp in the mountains half-way through. (I am a big baby... I admit it!)
So, what to do?? Barry mentioned heading to Atlanta and visiting the bookstore, and wondered if there was anything in that direction that would be fun to visit. That set my mind to whirling... and my fingers to flying on the computer. I've always wanted to go to Savannah, Georgia, but we have just never taken the time. I presented my idea to the family, and everyone was quickly on-board. We knew we couldn't stay long (only a couple of nights), so we researched all the things we wanted to do, printed out maps, made out packing lists, and waited in anticipation!
We left home on Thursday morning. We decided to head over to Atlanta on mostly back-roads... well, not really back roads, but we avoided the interstate as much as we could. We went to Fort Payne, then to Rome, Ga. Barry took this route with some co-workers a few months ago, and had been wanting to go back with the family. He remembered seeing some cool places to explore, and wanted to take us there to do the exploring (the co-workers were not so much interested in stopping as they were getting to Atlanta). We found the place he wanted to stop... Little River Canyon. It's a beautiful area, which is part of the National Park Service. We got out and walked down to the falls, and we were amazed at the scenery.
Our next stop was in Atlanta. We went to the LDS bookstore (which is no longer called the "Liahona"... it's now named, "This is the Place".) I love walking around the bookstore. I bought myself President Monson's biography, Kayti got a new CTR ring, Barry got himself a CTR bracelet, Kyle and Megan each got a cool poster for their room, and Josh picked out a tote for his scriptures. I wanted to get the new Joseph Smith Papers book for Barry... but it's $100, so that was a no-go.
Next we headed to Savannah!! So excited!!
We got in pretty early in the evening, got settled in our room, ate some dinner, found a Wal-Mart (we are just such exciting people!), then had dessert at Dairy Queen. As we got ready for bed, we planned out the following day... beach in the morning, then city in the afternoon/evening. We had researched several historical sights that looked interesting, and we planned on heading by those if time allowed.
Can I tell you that I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve going to bed Thursday night?! I really had a hard time sleeping, woke up way too early, and had a hard time not making everyone else get up at 6:00 AM! I was nice, though, and let them sleep until 9:00.
Our first stop of the day was Tybee Island. I have always been fascinated with lighthouses, and couldn't wait to see the lighthouse there. I was not disappointed! The lighthouse and grounds were completely charming. We paid for admission into the lighthouse, the buildings on the grounds and the Battery museum next door. I am proud to say that I made it to the top of the lighthouse! Yep, I walked up all 178 steps to the top!!
Now, considering that I am T.E.R.R.I.F.I.E.D. of heights, I'm not really sure why I did this. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of being there, but I took one step outside of the thing, and that was the only step I took while up high and on the outside. I took a few quick pictures, so later I could appreciate the view from up there, then ducked right back inside. Then, as I was having a mild panic attack, I realized (like a total dork!) that I now had to go back down those stairs. All the memories of me falling down the stairs in our apartment came flooding back to my mind... and I had a death grip on that hand rail. :) By the time I got down, I was seriously sick to my stomach. We went into one of the buildings on site and watched a video on the history of the lighthouse, and thankfully sitting in a cool room for a bit helped the ill feelings to pass. Looking back on it now, I can say that I am thankful that I did it... and I'm also thankful that I didn't fall and kill myself on the way back down.
After we went to the lighthouse, we went into the Battery Museum. The boys were too excited for this... they played with a working periscope, saw a large display of old guns, and we were able to go up on top of the building. While we were out on top of the Battery, we could smell something yummy cooking next door at this cute little beachside cafe. Our tummies decided it was lunch time and headed over.
The food was yummy, and the place was pretty cute. The windows were open, and there was a great breeze coming in. Our waiter was awesome, too. We told the kids that they needed to try something new, preferrably seafood. The boys are not huge fans of seafood, but Kyle decided to be daring and have a crab cake sandwich. He took about 3 bites, and could eat no more. We had pity on him and hot him a hot dog... and our waiter didn't charge us for the sandwich. Kyle was thankful, and left happy!
With out tummies full, we headed to the beach!! The kids rolled up jeans, ditched shoes, and ran full-steam ahead! I had to stop and take pictures of the driftwood, the lighthouse, the, the, the... the list is a bit endless, and I won't bore you with all the pictures. Just a few of my favorites of the kids, the waves splashing on the rocks, a cute crab...
I have to admit that I prefer the sand of the Gulf much more than this sand. It was a bit tough on the feet... lots of bits and pieces of broken shells in it, and it was large-grain and brown. The water was really too chilly to be in, so in the end it turned out ok that we didn't plan on swimming in it. But, I am proud to say that I have put my toes in the Atlantic Ocean!
After spending 4 hours at Tybee (we only planned on being there 2), we headed to downtown Savannah! I am so in love with this city! I could move there and be very happy. I could let me daughter move there and be delighted in the fact that I could visit her there! It was just breath-taking. I wish I had a week just to explore the fun shops of downtown. And maybe that wouldn't even be long enough. I plan on going back someday. Don't know when, but this will not be my last trip to Savannah! Here are just a few of the highlights...
The cobblestone streets down by the riverfront
The shops at the riverfront... could easily spend a day just on these!
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The Lady and Son's restaurant... this is the back side of the building. (Funny story here... the line of people to get into this place for dinner was incredible. I didn't plan on even trying to go. Instead, we ate dinner at this absolute dive next door, which had some of the best hamburgers and chili fries on the planet! I would love to eat here someday, but it will have to be a girls trip... the hubby would NEVER go for it!)
The Marshall House Hotel... this would be a fun place to stay!
The tree-lined streets
The trees dripping in Spanish Moss
These huge lamps had real flames lighting them... awesome!!
The fountain at Forsyth Park... it was a must on my list.
We parked up near the riverfront, and walked all over the downtown area. This was the last thing on our "must see" list, and the sun was starting to set before we got to it. The lighting is not very good in this picture, but the fountain is beautiful.
We made it back to our hotel room that night totally exhausted, but thrilled! We didn't make it to everyting we wanted to see, and I hated to have to leave the next morning. We all slept pretty well, and got up and got ready to head out. Kyle has been BEGGING us to go eat at a Waffle House. Not sure why, but we decided to indulge him that morning. Of course we told him that if it was gross we all got to punch him! Much to his relief the food was good, and we had the cutest little southern waitress! I tried to get a picture of Kyle in front of the restaurant, but he wouldn't cooperate!
Just to add a little excitement to the trip home, we decided to go to Augusta, Ga, then skip over the river and go into South Carolina. Our GPS is pretty old (well... it runs off of a DVD that is pretty old), and for some reason we could not get the Augusta National Golf Club (where the Masters is played) to display, so we didn't see it. The city is beautiful, though, and we enjoyed the riverfront.
We decided to come back home from Atlanta on the same route we took... through the small towns, avoiding the interstate. So glad we did. The scenery was beautiful, and reminded me why I am glad to live in the South.
I am so glad we took this trip! And we have all decided that this won't be our last trip to Savannah.
Today we are all resting and recouperating... my legs hurt so badly from all the walking we did. We have one more day to rest and relax and sleep in. Not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but I am thankful that we have one more day to play together. So like I said earlier... Yay for Fall Break!!!
First of all, let me say...
"YAY... it's FALL BREAK!!!"
Ok... now on to the post!
Last Sunday, Barry and I sat here trying to decide what to do for fall break. We didn't have a lot of money to spend, but knew that we didn't want to sit around here, either. Our first thought was to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. It looks breath-taking, and would involve one of our favorite family activities... a long road trip! But, as we looked into it, the more we realized it was not something that we could do right now. (Total side bar here... and forgive me for sounding like a commercial... When you have a family the size of ours, it can be difficult to find hotel rooms to accommodate... you either have to get two rooms or you have to lie and sneak all the kids into one room. Fortunatley, though, a few years ago we discovered the Comfort Suites hotels, and for the same price as any other hotel, we can get a room big enough to fit all of us. And they are clean... and they offer an indoor pool and a free breakfast bar!!! Now back to our story... ) We could find hotel rooms at the beginning of the parkway and at the end, but nothing in the middle. We knew that we didn't want to hurry through the trip, and with it being Fall, we didn't want to have to camp in the mountains half-way through. (I am a big baby... I admit it!)
So, what to do?? Barry mentioned heading to Atlanta and visiting the bookstore, and wondered if there was anything in that direction that would be fun to visit. That set my mind to whirling... and my fingers to flying on the computer. I've always wanted to go to Savannah, Georgia, but we have just never taken the time. I presented my idea to the family, and everyone was quickly on-board. We knew we couldn't stay long (only a couple of nights), so we researched all the things we wanted to do, printed out maps, made out packing lists, and waited in anticipation!
We left home on Thursday morning. We decided to head over to Atlanta on mostly back-roads... well, not really back roads, but we avoided the interstate as much as we could. We went to Fort Payne, then to Rome, Ga. Barry took this route with some co-workers a few months ago, and had been wanting to go back with the family. He remembered seeing some cool places to explore, and wanted to take us there to do the exploring (the co-workers were not so much interested in stopping as they were getting to Atlanta). We found the place he wanted to stop... Little River Canyon. It's a beautiful area, which is part of the National Park Service. We got out and walked down to the falls, and we were amazed at the scenery.
Our next stop was in Atlanta. We went to the LDS bookstore (which is no longer called the "Liahona"... it's now named, "This is the Place".) I love walking around the bookstore. I bought myself President Monson's biography, Kayti got a new CTR ring, Barry got himself a CTR bracelet, Kyle and Megan each got a cool poster for their room, and Josh picked out a tote for his scriptures. I wanted to get the new Joseph Smith Papers book for Barry... but it's $100, so that was a no-go.
Next we headed to Savannah!! So excited!!
We got in pretty early in the evening, got settled in our room, ate some dinner, found a Wal-Mart (we are just such exciting people!), then had dessert at Dairy Queen. As we got ready for bed, we planned out the following day... beach in the morning, then city in the afternoon/evening. We had researched several historical sights that looked interesting, and we planned on heading by those if time allowed.
Can I tell you that I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve going to bed Thursday night?! I really had a hard time sleeping, woke up way too early, and had a hard time not making everyone else get up at 6:00 AM! I was nice, though, and let them sleep until 9:00.
Our first stop of the day was Tybee Island. I have always been fascinated with lighthouses, and couldn't wait to see the lighthouse there. I was not disappointed! The lighthouse and grounds were completely charming. We paid for admission into the lighthouse, the buildings on the grounds and the Battery museum next door. I am proud to say that I made it to the top of the lighthouse! Yep, I walked up all 178 steps to the top!!
Now, considering that I am T.E.R.R.I.F.I.E.D. of heights, I'm not really sure why I did this. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of being there, but I took one step outside of the thing, and that was the only step I took while up high and on the outside. I took a few quick pictures, so later I could appreciate the view from up there, then ducked right back inside. Then, as I was having a mild panic attack, I realized (like a total dork!) that I now had to go back down those stairs. All the memories of me falling down the stairs in our apartment came flooding back to my mind... and I had a death grip on that hand rail. :) By the time I got down, I was seriously sick to my stomach. We went into one of the buildings on site and watched a video on the history of the lighthouse, and thankfully sitting in a cool room for a bit helped the ill feelings to pass. Looking back on it now, I can say that I am thankful that I did it... and I'm also thankful that I didn't fall and kill myself on the way back down.
After we went to the lighthouse, we went into the Battery Museum. The boys were too excited for this... they played with a working periscope, saw a large display of old guns, and we were able to go up on top of the building. While we were out on top of the Battery, we could smell something yummy cooking next door at this cute little beachside cafe. Our tummies decided it was lunch time and headed over.
The food was yummy, and the place was pretty cute. The windows were open, and there was a great breeze coming in. Our waiter was awesome, too. We told the kids that they needed to try something new, preferrably seafood. The boys are not huge fans of seafood, but Kyle decided to be daring and have a crab cake sandwich. He took about 3 bites, and could eat no more. We had pity on him and hot him a hot dog... and our waiter didn't charge us for the sandwich. Kyle was thankful, and left happy!
With out tummies full, we headed to the beach!! The kids rolled up jeans, ditched shoes, and ran full-steam ahead! I had to stop and take pictures of the driftwood, the lighthouse, the, the, the... the list is a bit endless, and I won't bore you with all the pictures. Just a few of my favorites of the kids, the waves splashing on the rocks, a cute crab...
I have to admit that I prefer the sand of the Gulf much more than this sand. It was a bit tough on the feet... lots of bits and pieces of broken shells in it, and it was large-grain and brown. The water was really too chilly to be in, so in the end it turned out ok that we didn't plan on swimming in it. But, I am proud to say that I have put my toes in the Atlantic Ocean!
After spending 4 hours at Tybee (we only planned on being there 2), we headed to downtown Savannah! I am so in love with this city! I could move there and be very happy. I could let me daughter move there and be delighted in the fact that I could visit her there! It was just breath-taking. I wish I had a week just to explore the fun shops of downtown. And maybe that wouldn't even be long enough. I plan on going back someday. Don't know when, but this will not be my last trip to Savannah! Here are just a few of the highlights...
The cobblestone streets down by the riverfront
The shops at the riverfront... could easily spend a day just on these!
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
The Lady and Son's restaurant... this is the back side of the building. (Funny story here... the line of people to get into this place for dinner was incredible. I didn't plan on even trying to go. Instead, we ate dinner at this absolute dive next door, which had some of the best hamburgers and chili fries on the planet! I would love to eat here someday, but it will have to be a girls trip... the hubby would NEVER go for it!)
The Marshall House Hotel... this would be a fun place to stay!
The tree-lined streets
The trees dripping in Spanish Moss
These huge lamps had real flames lighting them... awesome!!
The fountain at Forsyth Park... it was a must on my list.
We parked up near the riverfront, and walked all over the downtown area. This was the last thing on our "must see" list, and the sun was starting to set before we got to it. The lighting is not very good in this picture, but the fountain is beautiful.
We made it back to our hotel room that night totally exhausted, but thrilled! We didn't make it to everyting we wanted to see, and I hated to have to leave the next morning. We all slept pretty well, and got up and got ready to head out. Kyle has been BEGGING us to go eat at a Waffle House. Not sure why, but we decided to indulge him that morning. Of course we told him that if it was gross we all got to punch him! Much to his relief the food was good, and we had the cutest little southern waitress! I tried to get a picture of Kyle in front of the restaurant, but he wouldn't cooperate!
Just to add a little excitement to the trip home, we decided to go to Augusta, Ga, then skip over the river and go into South Carolina. Our GPS is pretty old (well... it runs off of a DVD that is pretty old), and for some reason we could not get the Augusta National Golf Club (where the Masters is played) to display, so we didn't see it. The city is beautiful, though, and we enjoyed the riverfront.
We decided to come back home from Atlanta on the same route we took... through the small towns, avoiding the interstate. So glad we did. The scenery was beautiful, and reminded me why I am glad to live in the South.
I am so glad we took this trip! And we have all decided that this won't be our last trip to Savannah.
Today we are all resting and recouperating... my legs hurt so badly from all the walking we did. We have one more day to rest and relax and sleep in. Not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but I am thankful that we have one more day to play together. So like I said earlier... Yay for Fall Break!!!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Bad Day
So today has not been the best day. Actually, the past few days at work have been pretty bad. I have just been really stressed out, and have had NO patience for anyone or anything. Today was really bad, and by the time I left work all I wanted to do was get in the car and drive. At first I didn't care where I went or what I did, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go here:
My happy place.
But, the weekend is too busy to run away from. Soccer practice tonight and game tomorrow. Post-camp party, birthday party, and hubby to get ready to leave on Sunday. He is leaving on Sunday and will be gone until Thursday. He is headed to Denver and New York on a business trip, and we will miss him. Really I wish I was going with him, but that can't happen.
So, instead of running away, I moaned and groaned a bit, locked myself in my room for a bit longer, then got up and headed out to start the "running" for the night. We did manage to have some quiet family time tonight... we watch "The Blind Side". I love that movie. :)
Tonight I am feeling pretty calm and foolish for being so stressed out today. I've got a lot of work that needs to get done by Tuesday morning, and not sure that I am going to make it, but oh well. The world will not end if I don't get it done. I've got what is most important around me, and that is all I need right now.
So, I guess in the end, my "bad day" really wasn't all that bad. At least it ended well, and I guess that is really the most important thing.
My happy place.
But, the weekend is too busy to run away from. Soccer practice tonight and game tomorrow. Post-camp party, birthday party, and hubby to get ready to leave on Sunday. He is leaving on Sunday and will be gone until Thursday. He is headed to Denver and New York on a business trip, and we will miss him. Really I wish I was going with him, but that can't happen.
So, instead of running away, I moaned and groaned a bit, locked myself in my room for a bit longer, then got up and headed out to start the "running" for the night. We did manage to have some quiet family time tonight... we watch "The Blind Side". I love that movie. :)
Tonight I am feeling pretty calm and foolish for being so stressed out today. I've got a lot of work that needs to get done by Tuesday morning, and not sure that I am going to make it, but oh well. The world will not end if I don't get it done. I've got what is most important around me, and that is all I need right now.
So, I guess in the end, my "bad day" really wasn't all that bad. At least it ended well, and I guess that is really the most important thing.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Mini vacations
The past few weeks have been busy. My sister came to visit, and while she was here her daughter and her new baby came. Here are a few pictures of sweet baby Tuck:
He was 7 weeks old in these pictures, and just so adorable!! And huggable... and he smelled heavenly! We enjoyed our visit, and hated to see everyone go.
This past weekend we enjoyed Mayfield Family Reunion 2010 at Smith Lake. We enjoyed a weekend of shopping, swimming, boat rides and great food. We stayed at the beautiful Magnolia Manor - named for the beautiful large magnolia trees surrounding the property.
On our way home on Monday we decided to take a large detour and head over to the extreme northeastern side of the state. We drove over to Fort Payne and up to Desoto State Park and Desoto Falls. The weather was beautiful, and we had a great time together. The falls were not as impressive as we had hoped, but we did spot the first signs of fall colors.
We have been in school for one month... one more to go until Fall Break! Not that I am counting, or anything!
He was 7 weeks old in these pictures, and just so adorable!! And huggable... and he smelled heavenly! We enjoyed our visit, and hated to see everyone go.
This past weekend we enjoyed Mayfield Family Reunion 2010 at Smith Lake. We enjoyed a weekend of shopping, swimming, boat rides and great food. We stayed at the beautiful Magnolia Manor - named for the beautiful large magnolia trees surrounding the property.
On our way home on Monday we decided to take a large detour and head over to the extreme northeastern side of the state. We drove over to Fort Payne and up to Desoto State Park and Desoto Falls. The weather was beautiful, and we had a great time together. The falls were not as impressive as we had hoped, but we did spot the first signs of fall colors.
We have been in school for one month... one more to go until Fall Break! Not that I am counting, or anything!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday morning at the Farm
This was the view that greeted me when I walked out on the front porch at the farm on Sunday morning. I had to go grab my camera.
I love this place!!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Soccer 2010 has begun
Saturday was our first day of games for soccer season 2010. Kyle is the only one playing right now, and I was very thankful that I didn't have to sit outside in 100+ degree heat most of the day. The two hours we were there were more than enough. We came away sunburned, and feeling very dehydrated.
Kyle's team kept things exciting. They went down 1-0 early in the game, and had their first goal called back for off-sides. They finally scored, then we had to take a delayed time-out on the field for an injury. One of Kyle's teammates had to be taken to the hospital for stitches - 10 to be exact, right above his eye. He and another teammate both tried to head the ball at the same time, and only ended up hitting each other.
Barry and Kyle took the ref course last week, and are now both certified refs. Barry was called on to be the AR (assistant ref), and did a great job. He was actually the one who made the off-sides call, but I was proud of him for being honest. And it turned out ok, because Kyle's team won the game, 2-1, so I guess the honesty paid off in the end!
Kyle is not thrilled with the color of their uniforms, but they certainly stand out!
Kyle had a few run-ins during the game... several opposing players tried to take him out. He even got slide-tackled from behind, but he jumped right back up and kept on going.
He is looking forward to a fun season, and we are looking forward to cooler weather!
Kyle's team kept things exciting. They went down 1-0 early in the game, and had their first goal called back for off-sides. They finally scored, then we had to take a delayed time-out on the field for an injury. One of Kyle's teammates had to be taken to the hospital for stitches - 10 to be exact, right above his eye. He and another teammate both tried to head the ball at the same time, and only ended up hitting each other.
Barry and Kyle took the ref course last week, and are now both certified refs. Barry was called on to be the AR (assistant ref), and did a great job. He was actually the one who made the off-sides call, but I was proud of him for being honest. And it turned out ok, because Kyle's team won the game, 2-1, so I guess the honesty paid off in the end!
Kyle is not thrilled with the color of their uniforms, but they certainly stand out!
Kyle had a few run-ins during the game... several opposing players tried to take him out. He even got slide-tackled from behind, but he jumped right back up and kept on going.
He is looking forward to a fun season, and we are looking forward to cooler weather!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Trying hard not to sound like a cry-baby here...
Today is my first official day back to work (although I have been helping out with schedule pick-up since this past Wednesday). I'm excited to see old friends, meet the new teachers, and see the students (well, most of them). My heart always goes out to the new 7th graders and the new students to the area. They always seem so lost and scared the first few days, but before you know it they will know the place like the back of their hand, and will have made lots of new friends.
I'm sad, though, to see summer "gone"... although the thermometer outside is screaming, "Summer is in FULL FORCE!!" This has been a short summer, and not like one we have ever had before. I spent my summer in a car, driving my daughter to college classes almost every day. I only went swimming once... I used to LIVE in the pool. No family came from out of town to visit, and we didn't get to go anywhere, either. I didn't even spend any time at the farm (my parent's), which meant no late night front-porch swing talks, trying to catch lightening bugs, and going out to eat with my sisters. We didn't even grill -out... our grill died and we just never did replace it.
I'm thankful for the opportunities that this summer did bring: Time in the car to talk to my oldest (even if I was yelling some of those times because I was trying to teach her to drive... and I was either scared for my life, or just plain frustrated); YW Camp and the Spirit felt there; My attempts at my first garden; New furniture for my bedroom, which was built by my Dad, and finished by my son. We had movie dates, lots of ice cream, and a few just plain ole lazy days. I got a bit more of the bonus room put together, and even crafted a tiny bit. Oh... and I could grocery shop in the middle of the day on a weekday!! Do you realize what a luxary that is???
While I hate to see it all come to an end, I am looking forward to Fall and all it brings - cooler weather, family reunion, football games and soccer games. Oh, and Fall Break, too!!
I'm sad, though, to see summer "gone"... although the thermometer outside is screaming, "Summer is in FULL FORCE!!" This has been a short summer, and not like one we have ever had before. I spent my summer in a car, driving my daughter to college classes almost every day. I only went swimming once... I used to LIVE in the pool. No family came from out of town to visit, and we didn't get to go anywhere, either. I didn't even spend any time at the farm (my parent's), which meant no late night front-porch swing talks, trying to catch lightening bugs, and going out to eat with my sisters. We didn't even grill -out... our grill died and we just never did replace it.
I'm thankful for the opportunities that this summer did bring: Time in the car to talk to my oldest (even if I was yelling some of those times because I was trying to teach her to drive... and I was either scared for my life, or just plain frustrated); YW Camp and the Spirit felt there; My attempts at my first garden; New furniture for my bedroom, which was built by my Dad, and finished by my son. We had movie dates, lots of ice cream, and a few just plain ole lazy days. I got a bit more of the bonus room put together, and even crafted a tiny bit. Oh... and I could grocery shop in the middle of the day on a weekday!! Do you realize what a luxary that is???
While I hate to see it all come to an end, I am looking forward to Fall and all it brings - cooler weather, family reunion, football games and soccer games. Oh, and Fall Break, too!!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Cupcakes and cousins!
Today we got to have some of the cousins come over to our house. We decided to jazz things up a bit and made cupcakes while they were here. We got the idea for these crazy cupcakes from Alisha (she blogged about it here), and we had tons of fun making them. The girls had a ball decorating them, but I think eating them was the best part!!
We had lots of sprinkles to clean up afterwards, but it was worth it! And the best part of the day? Miss Giga told me I was the best Aunt Kim ever!!
We had lots of sprinkles to clean up afterwards, but it was worth it! And the best part of the day? Miss Giga told me I was the best Aunt Kim ever!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Happy 4th weekend!
What a fun, relaxing holiday weekend we had!
We started our 4th celebrating at the Callahan's on Saturday evening. I forgot to take my camera with me, but you can see some of the cuteness and read all the details on my SIL Dawn's blog here.
On Sunday evening, we packed up the kids and headed over to watch the fireworks at Bridge Street. We had never been before, so we weren't sure where to park/sit. As it turned out, we got one of the best views, I think!
The kiddos, relaxing on the blankets.
*Please excuse the obnoxious look on Josh's face. I don't know what it is about that kid, but he feels the need to pull this face almost everytime I pull out the camera. I've decided to start posting the pics anyway, and maybe I'll get the last laugh one day when he starts to get embarrassed because I'm showing them to others.
Megan brought a bunch of glow sticks that she received as gifts at camp. The kids (and their daddy) had fun playing with those while waiting as well.
I wish I had a bunch of beautiful pictures of fireworks to show you. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died within minutes of the show starting. :( Here are a couple, though, that I got.
Forgive the blurriness, please.
On Monday we took advantage of the fact that Barry didn't have to be at work, and Kayti didn't have school. We slept in (well, I let everyone sleep in... I was enjoying some peace and quiet! :) ), then headed out to the movies. Barry and the kids have been dying to see The Last Airbender (they are all HUGE fans of the cartoon). We had been hearing some pretty bad reviews, and so we were a litte unsure of it. We headed to a matinee in Athens (priced much cheaper than a show in Huntsville... Barry said he would feel better about spending less for us to see it if it did turn out that all hated it!). Barry loved the movie, but the kids had some mixed reviews. After discussing it at length on the way back to Huntsville, they all decided that they liked it, and they are excited for the next 2 movies. We ended our outing with dinner at 5 Guys, then hit some sales racks for school clothes. I'm sooo not ready for school to start back, but this is the best time of year to shop for clothes.
Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th as well!
We started our 4th celebrating at the Callahan's on Saturday evening. I forgot to take my camera with me, but you can see some of the cuteness and read all the details on my SIL Dawn's blog here.
On Sunday evening, we packed up the kids and headed over to watch the fireworks at Bridge Street. We had never been before, so we weren't sure where to park/sit. As it turned out, we got one of the best views, I think!
The kiddos, relaxing on the blankets.
*Please excuse the obnoxious look on Josh's face. I don't know what it is about that kid, but he feels the need to pull this face almost everytime I pull out the camera. I've decided to start posting the pics anyway, and maybe I'll get the last laugh one day when he starts to get embarrassed because I'm showing them to others.
Megan brought a bunch of glow sticks that she received as gifts at camp. The kids (and their daddy) had fun playing with those while waiting as well.
I wish I had a bunch of beautiful pictures of fireworks to show you. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died within minutes of the show starting. :( Here are a couple, though, that I got.
Forgive the blurriness, please.
On Monday we took advantage of the fact that Barry didn't have to be at work, and Kayti didn't have school. We slept in (well, I let everyone sleep in... I was enjoying some peace and quiet! :) ), then headed out to the movies. Barry and the kids have been dying to see The Last Airbender (they are all HUGE fans of the cartoon). We had been hearing some pretty bad reviews, and so we were a litte unsure of it. We headed to a matinee in Athens (priced much cheaper than a show in Huntsville... Barry said he would feel better about spending less for us to see it if it did turn out that all hated it!). Barry loved the movie, but the kids had some mixed reviews. After discussing it at length on the way back to Huntsville, they all decided that they liked it, and they are excited for the next 2 movies. We ended our outing with dinner at 5 Guys, then hit some sales racks for school clothes. I'm sooo not ready for school to start back, but this is the best time of year to shop for clothes.
Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th as well!
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