I remember when I was a kid and a year seemed to stretch on forever. It seems like the older I get the faster and faster they seem to fly by! 2012 was no exception by any means, but as I have the chance to sit back and reflect on the events of the year I can't help but feel blessed. Here is what the Young Crew has been up to...
Justin has kept busy this year with work. He is always trying to learn something new and push himself towards being better in the world of Digital and Social Media Marketing. I love seeing him get excited when he is formulating new ideas for a client or absorbing new research. When he is not plugged in at work, he is really good about plugging in at home. Our girls are so lucky to have such a hands-on Dad who wakes up every morning to make their lunch, attempts ponytails on little heads despite his big hands, survives Preschool carpool and whose eyes get twinkly when his girls say or do something that makes him proud or he finds funny. Justin is a totally good sport who rarely complains about being the lone man in a house full of women. But on occasion, when the estrogen levels are just too much, you will find him at Taco Mac catching a game with his guy friends!
Sarah has felt like this year has been a juggling act, but for many wonderful reasons. She started doing CrossFit about halfway through the year and wakes up at 4:30 in the morning a few days a week to sneak in some "me" time before the demands of the day get going and has enjoyed the challenge. She has also spent the last year serving in the Primary (Children's Organization) Presidency at church and loves the kids and adults she serves with. Sarah works for an Oral Surgeon and has had the opportunity to take on new responsibilities this year. She is working in the Front Office now, in addition to being a Surgical Assistant. She enjoys her work, the people she works with and mostly loves having a schedule that allows her to drop-off and pick-up the older girls from school each day. Her greatest joy though is being mom to four, incredible girls and being married to her best friend.
Maryn is kind of freaking her old Mom and Dad out by how much she is growing up! She has proven to be a big help and has really embraced the big sister role at home. Maryn is in Mrs. McFalls' 4th Grade class at school this year and is a good kid with a good heart who loves to read, draw, and build things. When she grows up she wants to either be a vet or an architect, which doesn't surprise anyone. Maryn had the opportunity to take some horseback riding lessons this year and loved being in the barn helping out however she could. She also loved a Lego Robotics course she took last quarter and was right at home with all the gangly boys in her group! She amazes her Mom and Dad with her ability to sit down at the piano and pick out a tune without any sheet music. She enjoys seeing her friends at 'Activity Day Girls' and with the Volleyball group at church and was just accepted into the gifted program at school. Maryn has her days, like any growing girl, but she is a joy to parent who still says "I love you Mom!!" as she plants kisses her momma's cheek each day as she gets out at carpool.
Brynna is also growing up so fast! We are taking bets on when she will be as tall as her Momma! Brynna is such an affectionate girl who is always game for a nice big squeeze! We love to say "Squeeze me like you mean it!" which is usually when Brynna will try to lift you off the ground with her hug! She gets told often that she is her momma's "Mini-Me" which makes us both smile and wink at each other. Brynna is in Mrs. Bragg's 2nd Grade class where she has been recognized this year not only as an excellent student, but as a leader and positive role model in the classroom. She makes her Mom and Dad's heart squeeze with the good kid that she is. Brynnie loves to draw, read, write love notes to her parents and LOVES playing with friends. When she grows up she thinks it would be so much fun to be an Art teacher. So needless to say, when she found out her new Primary teacher at church was an Art teacher, she thought that was so cool! Brynna also started piano this year and has been enjoying it and also loved getting to take horseback riding lessons. Brynna sometimes feels the injustice of being the younger sibling and is eagerly looking forward to her 8th birthday next year so she can tag along with Maryn to church activities during the week. Brynna has started getting to the age where she gets embarrassed about things, like her crazy parents when they dance in the bathroom getting ready in the morning or when they sing 80's songs in their worst voices. But she can't suppress the smile she tries to hide for too long, she knows being a little crazy is way more fun that being normal!
Lauryn is adamant that she does not want to grow up or get bigger and will not even entertain conversations of what she wants to be when she grows up...which I kind of love about her! Her little legs, that seem to get longer by the day, seem to remind me this train is on a moving track in terms of growing up. So it makes my heart squeeze that she just fully embraces being a kid! Lauryn, or Lulu as she is often called, is in Mrs. Ginny & Mrs. MaryEllen's 4-year-old class at Preschool and loves it! Her favorite part is the crafts, which doesn't surprise her family since she is always drawing, coloring or cutting something at home. She is working hard on learning her alphabet though and loves to ask how to spell things and then will studiously work out her intended message on a piece of paper. Lauryn is a bit of a hambone to those that know her and keeps us all in stitches. Her smile, laugh and facial expressions are priceless! She does tend to clam up and get shy when she feels like all eyes are on her in a group of people she doesn't know. So her Mom and Dad were shocked when she sang right along at the Thanksgiving Program at school this year with hand motions and everything instead of sucking her thumb and staring at her feet like she did last year! Lauryn and her Daddy are two peas in a pod and it squeezes her Momma's heart to see what good buddies they are. Lauryn and her sissy, Devyn, have really become best friends this year too and it has been so fun seeing them interact with each other.
Devyn may be the baby of the family, but this past year she grew right out of being a baby! She is a big girl, with thoughts, opinions and ideas of her own. She loves playing with Lauryn and it is highly entertaining to see how fully developed her imagination is even at just two-years old. She loves her dollies and playing house, but her favorite toy is a play kitchen where she is often found mixing play food up, arranging it on a plate and insisting you eat it and show her you love every (imaginary) bite! Devyn loves to eat, dance, can be found singing made-up songs to herself and is known for leaving a path of destruction behind her most days. But she is so dang cute it keeps her parents from getting too mad at her! She loves getting to see her best buddies "Yaci Cake" (Laci Kate) and "Yinkin" (Lincoln) a few days a week when Mom and Dad are at work and her sissies are at school. Her momma wasn't so sure about working again, but has been blessed to have her two dear friends, Jaime and Laura, take turns keeping the little girls during the day. Devyn is always so excited to go see some of her favorite people that it gives her Momma peace of mind knowing she is with people who love her to bits!
We love being back in Georgia and often have to pinch ourselves. Justin and I have often commented about how the South has a piece of our hearts and is just home to us. We do all miss being near family very much, but try to soak up the times we do have together. As a family we were able to take some fun trips out to Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Oregon over the summer visiting extended family. We were also so lucky to have Nana & Papa, Grammy & Gramps, Uncle Kevin & Aunt Missy and Uncle Dando come visit us here in the Peach State this year.
As this year has come to a close, I can look back and see it has been a wonderful one. Not because it's been perfect, because it has not been without it's hardships or struggles. It hasn't been without things we don't understand. But it has been filled with an abundance of love from the people around us. I am grateful for this Christmas season and the opportunity to celebrate the birth and life of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am humbled beyond words that in my trials I have a companion in Him, who has a perfect understanding of me and bears me up. I am thankful that I get to feel that the love and kindness I see in the faces and actions of those around me are an extension of my Savior's love for me. I am thankful for the life I have, the peace I feel and the joy I have found. I hope this Christmas Season leaves you all feeling the same way and seeing the bright hope of a New Year on the horizon.
Much Love and Christmas Wishes!
The Young Crew
Justin, Sarah, Maryn, Brynna, Lauryn & Devyn
