Merry Christmas

I did not mail out Christmas cards because I just ran out of time.  Here is a copy of an email, though that I did send out. :)

Well, have you ever looked at your ever growing to do list and just knew that something had to go.  Well, this year, it has been mailing out Christmas cards.  My sister made this beautiful card for us, but I have just come to realize that I do not have enough time to get them printed, address the cards and get them out before Christmas.

It has been another wonderful year in the Matthews household.
Jeremy continues to work at The Mattress Firm.  I can hardly believe that he has been there for 15 years.  In a time of so much employment uncertainty, we are so grateful that he has a stable job that provides so well for us.  I am still working in the Emergency Department for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  This January, I will hit my 10 year anniversary with this great hospital.  I love having a job where I can add a little income to our family, but still be home during the day with our children and not miss any of the fun of being home to raise them.  Mikayla started Kindergarten this year!  She loves her teachers, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Warren.  She is already reading and has some excellent math skills.  She loves school (thank goodness)!!  Gavin started preschool two days a week this year, as well.  At first, he wasn't too keen on the idea, but now he cries when we don't drop him off at "Gavin's school."  He is always excited to go play with Mrs. Theresa and Mrs. Vicki.

The kids have had a very healthy year free of much illness, but 2010 has proven to be our year of injuries.  On the day after Christmas, last year, Mikayla fell and broke her arm.  That fall resulted in the first Matthews trip to my work for some xrays that showed a break to both bones in her forearm which had to be reset in the ER and put in a cast for about 10 weeks.  She was a great sport about it, though.  Nothing slows that girl down!  Gavin rounded out the year with a broken foot in September and then stitches to his forehead the day before his 3rd birthday.  I hope that we can take a break in 2011.

We had a wonderful family reunion in Destin, Florida with my mother's side of the family.  It was a fun filled week at the beach with 21 adults and 9 children, ages 1 year to 7 years, in one large (thank goodness!) beach house.  It was so nice to spend some time with family that we don't get to see very often.  We are so grateful to Grandma and Grandpa Scott for renting the house and also hiring a photographer to help document the fun week.  We are so indebted to them for the creation of many great memories over our lifetimes.

Finally, we have some exciting news (which is largely responsible for me not having time to mail Christmas cards).  We will be adding a new little one to our family next year.  I am 12 weeks pregnant with the newest little Matthews' baby.  We expect this blessed angel to arrive sometime shortly before July 5th, 2011.  Other than a little bit of nausea and the desire to sleep 24 hours a day, I have had a pretty good first trimester.  I have had a couple of ultrasounds which show a very healthy and active little baby.  We ask for prayers that this continues.

Well, in closing, I hope that each one of you has a wonderful Christmas season.  We pray that you are able to spend it with the ones that you love and that your are able to feel the love that the Savior has for each one of you.  We love each one of you and pray that you have a wonderful year.

To keep up to date with all of the exciting things to come this year in our family, follow our blog www.jeremyandrachelmatthews.blogspot.com .

Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!
Love,
Jeremy, Rachel, Mikayla and Gavin

 

Well, I hope you didn’t think I fell of the face of the blog world.  As you can see, I have had other priorities. :)  After, Christmas, I promise to update everyone with the birthdays and holiday fun that we have taken part in over the past 3 months.