The Guytons: 2008

Decorating the Tree

Well we put up our Christmas Tree tonight and I couldn't even get the lights on it without the kids wanting to pull out the ornaments. Madison was really interested in putting the ornaments on the tree. (It should be interesting over the next several days to see how many ornaments we lose). We only lost one ornament while decorating, which I thought was pretty good.

Then......the tree fell over - luckily the dining room table broke the fall. Gavin got upset at first but we were able to get it straigtened back out. We only lost a few ornaments to the fall even though a lot of them fell off the tree most of them made it. I will just have to spend some time glueing some ornaments back together over the next several days.

Halloween

We decided not to go to the churches Fall Festival and to take Gavin door to door trick or treating this year to test that out. We went with some friends of ours from our Sunday School Class (The Waters, The Breedloves, The Crapps, The Price and The Adams) to a subdivision in Gilbert. We pulled a trailer behind the polaris and put blankets out for the kids to ride in the back. Gavin had a blast. We just didn't know how he would do considering he didn't want to wear a costume and ended up in his Spiderman PJs and he hates masks but he did great. Madison had a good time to dressed as a ladybug. I have a few pictures but will post some more later.

Pumpkin Patch

We took the kids to Harmons Tree Farm last week before Halloween. Neither of them were interested in having their pictures taken.

Gavin and Madison

Everyday I am amazed with these kids. It has been interesting to watch to see their different personalities. Its funny just how different they are.

Gavin has always been an easy child to take care (despite the fact that he didn't sleep through the night until he was one and has never been a good napper) but otherwise he has been so easy. He is my layed back child but is very independent. He is very sensitive and is a great listener. I can discipline Gavin my just raising my voice at him. I never have to count to 3 twice. He loves to watch out for his sister but is really good about not aggrivating her too much. He loves to go to preschool but I have learned he does not like anything to do with dressing up (tonight for Halloween we are wearing our Spiderman PJS).

Madison on the other hand is quite opposite of Gavin. She likes to be the center of attention. Always on the go. She keeps me on my toes. She is also very independent (I guess thats what happens when you have parents that are independent). She drives Gavin crazy. She is always messing with him and stealing his toys and pulling his hair. She does not sit still, she will not watch TV. She will not sit still long enough to read a book and last but not least she does not listen. She will be my child who tests me to my limits. She laughs when she gets yelled out or spanked so we will have to come up with alternatives that work for her. However, she is extremely loving and really has the cutest personality. And you should see her dancing. She gets that foot stomping(its very funny).

They have a new sitter that comes and stays with them some during the week while I go to work. The practice is going well and it has gotten to the point where I have to be in everyday (since I do insurance and billing). God has truly blessed us. Also we were released from the kidney doctor a few weeks ago. Gavin's bad kidney has scared down completely and his right kidney has doubled in size so while physically he only has one kidney his right kidney functions as two. Still not contact sports and hopefully he will never have any kidney infections.

Sorry I haven't posted pictures lately my digital camera is broke and I am having to use my old school camera. Should have some pics soon to post.

Beach Trip

We just got back from a week long vacation to Wild Dunes in Charleston with Jonathan and Misty Koon and their kids Saylor and Kennedy and Tanya and Nicky Waters and their son Austin. We had a great time and I really didn't want to come home. Madison was not a fan of the beach sand and we couldn't take Gavin back out to the beach because he got a bad rash. So we spent most of our time at the pool. We also to the kids to College of Charleston for the first time. We took the kids to James Island County Park's water park and they had a great time until someone pooped in the pool and as Austin would say "The Party was Over."

Madison Turns One!

Madison turned one on August 10th and we celebrated her birthday with some friends and family. She really got into her cake and fussed when I took it away and she ate half of the cake. She started walking 4 days later. She keeps me on my toes and she is much more active than Gavin and does not understand the concept of sitting still or just sitting to read a book or on my lap. I can't believe it has been a year -- time flies especially when you have two kids that are one year apart in age. She is definitely going to be our wild child.

I will miss you Carla

I lost a very dear friend this past Wednesday suddenly due to an unknown illness. Carla and I had been friends since 1987 when her dad was pastor of our church. We grew up together and continued our friendship. We lost touch for a couple of years during college but we reconnected in 2001. I really watched Carla over the last 6 years grow into a wonderful woman, wife, and mother to Linen. It is hard to imagine my life without her around. I last saw her a few weeks ago when she and her husband and daughter came to the house for Gavin's Birthday. If I only had spent more time with her that day. We take for granted that when we see someone that it may be the last time we see them. When I spoke to her last week she reassured me everything was okay and was concerned that I was concerned for her health and told me not to worry but to pray for her that her liver biopsy would go well. I know she never thought in a million years it would lead to this. She was the strongest, toughest person I knew.

Today we went to Radius church where they did a special service dedicated to Carla. It was very special. Afterwards we had lunch with Allison, Olivia, their husbands, Carrie and Lucas and we had some wonderful laughs remembering and sharing our stories of Carla. She always loved getting everyone together. We just all never thought she would be getting us together again under these circumstances.

I will miss you greatly. I know this happened to better God's Kingdom. You had such an impact on everyone you met and knew. I am so glad you had Linen so that you can live on through her.

Gavin's 2nd Birthday

We celebrated Gavin's 2nd birthday on July 26th. We decided to do it later in the day so it would be a little cooler and that was almost a mistake because he was so sleepy and I had to put him in the car around 3:30 just to get him to take a nap. He ended up having a great time with his friends, Jackson, Carlysle, Wyatt, Jordan, Austin, Shelby, Reece, Mason, and Linen. We grilled Hamburgers and Hot Dogs and let the kids run wild and free. It is definitely kinda crazy when you have a bunch of toddlers running around.