MAYLIN2007

Leading up to Christmas, Jay had a list of a few things he wanted to do as a family. The first was to go to the lights at Thanksgiving Point. We do this every year. We get a milkshake at JCW's and then we eat it while we drive through the lights. It is so cold every year, you would think we would pick cocoa instead, but nope! Those milkshakes are just too good. Me and the girls always get grasshopper. Alex gets cookie dough and Jay gets Oreo. For the record, Austin would either get Oreo or pineapple. I had planned on taking pictures of our traditional night, however, most of the time the kids spent it fighting so I forgot to take pictures. I was too busy playing referee. So much for that "Christmas Spirit activity." When we got home Jay and I just sat in the car for awhile trying to regain composure and our nerves. It wasn't good. The next one was to go downtown and have dinner at Cheese Cake Factory and then go see the lights at Temple Square and the candy windows ...

Alex has been waiting and waiting for the day he would get braces. That is here now and he is not so thrilled like he thought he would be. Apparently, we weren't kidding when we told them they hurt. His mouth has been sore for a few days. I told him it would get better in a few and next month he would get them tightened and he would go through it all again! These are such funny pictures, I just had to share. They sure do braces differently than when I was young.....they are even different from when Kenzie had years 4 years ago!

After last week's disheartening letter, I was pretty worried about this week. Austin shared with us some pretty difficult things he was dealing with. The were tough situations even for us as 40+ year olds. We were sad that our son had to deal with such tough things, yet hopeful that he would be able to make it through this. I got his letter today while in line at WalMart. I read through the second paragraph and was in tears. My son not only made it through his trial, but he made it through with compassion, charity and a willingness to sacrifice for others. It is a little thing, but the fact that a 19 year old (okay, this happened 3 days before he turned 20) recognized the importance of a small detail to someone else and worked to make it happen for them is amazing. He made us proud with this little act of kindness. Hey family, Thank you so much for everything for my birthday! It was surely appreciated. I loved it! I had a great time opening it and seeing everything. I felt...

I forget so many things that happen in my life. I have been terrible too about using my camera. Its so big and bulky to carry around that lately, I don't. Thank heavens that cell phones just drops into your pocket. That is a bad thing too, because pictures aren't as good on the phone and I don't know how to down load them or I forget to. Yesterday, I swore that I took a picture of something I wanted to use on our Christmas card. After looking through all my camera photos, I realized it must be on my cellphone. I had Jay do a download, and I found TONS of photos of great things I had forgotten about! It was awesome to find them so I can share them. They aren't in any order. That is another bad thing, I don't know what dates these things happened. On the bright side, at least I know they did happen. First up: This is our door mat (old one, after taking this picture I realized it was gross and I got a new one). One day I came home to this. Maylin had decorated it ...

Thanksgiving morning, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. Not to put in the turkey, like many were doing, but to the sounds of Maylin throwing up. Yep. Happy Thanksgiving! The day went just as it had began with the vomit and the fever. Jay's nephew who lives with us had it the day before, but he stayed away from us.....at least we thought. Jay took his parents and other nephew and the kids to a movie during the day to keep them away from Maylin. I stayed home and cooked and took care of her. We finally ate dinner around 6:30 p.m. only to have Jay's niece come down with it too, so dinner was now minus 2. I do have to say, dinner was pretty good. The favorite was Nonnie's mac and cheese. Jay's mom makes a mean southern mac and cheese! Maylin would wake up periodically and would say, "I've been waiting for this day for so long and now I'm sick." Poor thing. Here is how Maylin spent the day.....or in the bathroom. I love how she puts her fingers through her hai...