Year in Review

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!

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

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!!

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!!

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!