Sunday, June 8, 2008

Brynn Kayla Countryman

One thing that is consistent in our life is change. It is always happening. Brynn Kayla Countryman (grandchild #13) was born June 8, 2008 at 4:20am, tipping the scales at 7 lbs 15 ozs. It looks like she resembles the Fisher side of the family more than the Countryman side. She has dark hair, darker skin than Alysa did, and has a well-rounded face and frame. She is a delight to have and seems like an easy keeper so far - she doesn't complain much and sleeps a lot. When she does complain, it is a whimper.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Coming and Going

2007 was a time of reunion, as we had a Garcia Family Reunion in Orlando, Florida in the summer. Mercy and her brother, Manny each rented large villas and we had all of our kids, their kids, and grandkids, along with Mercy and Manny's folks, Abuelo and Abuela, gaming, swimming, playing, celebrating, surfing, sight-seeing, eating, and just reminiscing for a week.

At Christmas time, we had Marc and Sarah and their kids and Dan and Tiffany and Kaili join us all at one time in Irving, so we were able to get all 11 grandchildren together and watch them play and "share" their new toys. Our house was full as were our hearts.

So far, 2008 is turning out to be a very "moving and productive" year. It began with Matt and Vanessa moving into their new house in Goose Creek (Charleston), South Carolina. Dan and Tiffany then revealed that he accepted a position with Mount Caramel Health Systems in Columbus, Ohio to begin after his graduation from University of Memphis. They bought a home there. Then Marc and Sarah announced that his job with Dow Chemical was going to move him from Blacksburg, Virginia to Clovis (Fresno), California. The next move announced was Shantel and Andrew into a new apartment in Raliegh, North Carolina. Finally, Michelle and Bryan, after record breaking house hunting and numerous offers, got an accepted offer on a house in Garland which they are to close on and move into before he starts dental school in the fall.

The year became productive upon the birth of Brooklyn Avery Mayberry, Vanessa and Matt's first child, on April 25, 2008. On our way out to see the newborn, we stopped by Dan and Tiffany's in Memphis to witness his graduation from the University of Memphis with a Masters in Health Administration. Dan and Tiffany then gave Mercy an early Mother's Day gift - they announced that Tiffany was pregnant and due to deliver on December 27, 2008.
After a few days visit in South Carolina, we traveled a few miles up the road a ways and witnessed Shantel's graduation from North Carolina State University with a Masters in Accounting. We then returned to South Carolina and Jack left Mercy there to help Vanessa get back to normal and to bond with her newest granddaughter for another week and a half before returning to bring her home in anticipation of the birth of Michelle's second child, due around June 17th, but she won't make it that far.