Reflections

We didn't have any big plans so I have had a nice quiet night to reflect on my comings and goings of this year. This year has been a really great one for our family. We started the year by celebrating the longest in one place we have ever lived. That starts from the day Troy and I got married. We have moved every year except once we stayed for 2 years when we couldn't afford to go anywhere else and had to stay with my parents. This year marked year 3 for us and January makes 4!! I also have had some eye opening experiences that have taught me a lot about myself. I have realized that I love where we live. I love the people that I have been able to know here. I also realized that even though I was reluctant at first I am perfect for my nursery calling and I can now understand why I there. I realized that I am too hard on Mikayla and need to listen and not just talk. I also realized that I am not ready for a 13 year old! Everything that I have been scared that I was going to have to deal with, I am now having to deal with. I also didn't know that I was such an evil evil person! I thought I was pretty nice. Not you know like super star awesome but pretty ok. Mikayla has now taught me that I am the meanest person to ever exist. I also learned that I am not as smart as I thought I was. Oh and most of the time when I think I am speaking nothing is coming out. Or at least that is what kind of signals my kids are sending me. Another thing that happened this year is Troy has really excelled in his work. He is up for employee of the year this year. And he really has a shot at it. I am so proud of him. I am also extremely grateful of the company that he works for. We were told recently that because of Troy's hard work we have been chosen to receive a $2000 scholarship for each of our kids for college. They are an amazing company and we are so lucky that Troy gets to work there. They really do bring out his best. And since I was speaking of my husband I have learned this year how much I like having him around. You know the phrase you don't know what you have until its gone. Well with Troy out of town so much I really have realized how much I enjoy spending time with him and I tend to take advantage of it when I get a lot of it. I am also so grateful I have to opportunity to be the mother of 4 amazing, loving, hard headed, beautiful children. They try my patients daily but every night when I kiss them good night and hug and squeeze them it warm my heart and makes me happy I have them. I am excited to bring what next year brings but at the same time because being the person I am not know what next year brings always make me a little nervous. But I can't think of anyone else I would want to experience the up and downs with.

I hope that the new year brings you happiness and joy.

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy Birthday To Miss Mikayla

Well it happened the teens have finally hit our household. We have been preparing for this day for quite a few years now but as they say you can practice all you want but it only prepares you so much for the big game. Mikayla has decided to embrace 13 to its fullest. Eye rolls, a few "mmmmmooooooooommmmmm!" s here and there. A lot of "Get out of my room!" s. All the usual things. Since this is a big birthday I gave in and let Mikayla have a party with all her friends. I figured 13 year olds, you don't really have to worry about them right. You can get some pizza put on a movie and they will all be good right. WRONG! They were noisier then the noisiest day in the nursery. They made a bigger mess then my 2 boys combined and they ate 5 boxes of pizza, tons of drinks and almost all of the Christmas candy I had set out. And then they had cupcakes and ice cream when they were done. I was shocked! Here are a few pictures of the merriment.

I do want to say quickly how wonderful I think Mikayla is. She is a huge help to me and a great person to talk to. I think she is growing into a beautiful young woman and I love her so so much. I am so excited to watch her learn and grow during these what I can only guess will be very fun and interesting years.

This is a picture of Mikayla's family birthday cake. Mikayla getting ready to blow out the candles in all her 13 year old glory. Some of the girls at the party. you can see the craziness starting already!She wanted cup cakes for her friends birthday party. They were polka-dot (for the pj's they were wearing) and film strips (for the movie they watched). What is it you say that all the girls are crowded around looking at? Why that is the latest issue of Tiger Beat! I got Mikayla the magazine so that she could have some pictures of Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift. They loved it!! They all wanted to look at it and read it and I was shocked! I don' t know why I was shocked but I was.