What a Decade!

I entered the year 2000 as a 21-year-old KSU college student and left the first decade of this new century as a 31-year-old wife, mother, and teacher. I'm taking a moment to reflect over the last ten years before I start celebrating this new year and decade.

2000:
I began the year with my boyfriend of 9 months, Clay, and the very soon to be married O'Kelleys. I remember holding my breath when Jason got up to turn on the water at midnight to make sure that Y2K had not caused the water to stop running. It appeared all the water, computer, and national disaster Y2K hysteria was all for nothing. At the end of January, I turned 22, which I thought seemed pretty darn old at the time. This year I took my second semester of education classes for my recently changed ECE major and continued directing the After School Program at NES. In the late summer, Clay and I got some exciting, although unexpected, news and happily married September 2nd. He was just 21, and I was 22. We stayed for six weeks in Clay's parents house while he repainted every room and redid the floors of the duplex we would live in for five years. Clay and I joined the Marriage 101 class at our church where we spent many hours laughing and learning with other newlyweds that would prove to be life long friends. In mid October, we moved into our first home that was located between my parents' and grandparents' houses. In December, we learned we were having a little boy, and Clay turned 22 just days before our first Christmas together. We ended the year the same way we began it, by spending New Year's Eve with the O'Kelleys. I think the four if us grew up a lot in 2000 as we had entered the year as simply couples and all left the year as married, expecting parents.

2001:
I started the year by taking a break from my classes at KSU. I continued working in ASP and began babysitting five mornings a week for two different families. Clay got a new job and spent six days a week doing door to door sales, which soon led to many out of town trips. In April, we welcomed our first son who arrived after 39 very long hours of labor, and I quickly fell in love with this new addition to our family. In June, McLain and I traveled with my family to Gatlinburg, Tennesee, and Clay joined us at towards the end of our vacation. At the end of the summer, Clay, my best friend Brandi, and I attended my five year reunion, which was small but a lot of fun. It was surprising how much people change in just five years. That September Clay and I celebrated our first anniversary. Nine days later on September 11th, we watched the twin towers get hit by terrorists as we lay in bed with our five month old between us. Later that fall, Clay began working at a sanitation company after realizing that sales was not meeting our family's needs. We ended the year sharing our baby's first Christmas and having our initial experience of Santa Claus fun.

2002:
This year Clay and I spent most of our days splitting up the responsibilities of taking care of McLain. I baby-sat two different families and kept McLain in the morning until Clay got home from work at lunchtime. Then, I would pass McLain off while I worked in the late afternoon and evening in ASP. In April, we celebrated McLain's first birthday with an Elmo party. We couldn't believe how fast our baby was growing up! In September, we celebrated our second anniversary by taking a trip to Gatlinburg. This vacation was the first time we left McLain for more than one night, which was a lot tougher on me than Clay or McLain. We spent this year figuring out how to grow up with each other and learning how to be good parents.

2003:
In January, I started taking night classes again at KSU, so that I could finish my teaching degree. McLain was 20 months old and didn't always appreciate the importance of my doing homework. Clay began taking karate and spent two evenings a week and Saturday mornings practicing his new sport. That summer McLain and I got our first passes to White Water and began spending a lot of mornings there together. This would soon become our favorite mommy and son tradition. In December, Clay turned 25, and I threw him a surprise party at my grandmother's house.

2004: During the summer, Clay and I traveled to Missouri for his first karate tournament. We left McLain at home with our mothers for the five day trip, which was the longest time I had been apart from him. In September, McLain began three year pre-k at our church. He went twice a week, and he adored his teachers. He often told Ms. Misty, "I love you, and I like you." That fall was my semester to TOSS and was my most difficult and stressful semester. I spent endless hours doing homework, taking classes, pre-student teaching at RES, and working at NES. I learned in December that I would be student teaching at MES in January under my former boss, which was oustanding news.

2005:
This year would prove to be a very significant year in the Brooks' household. In January, I began student teaching at MES. Before Spring break, I was interviewed by the principal and hired as a second grade teacher for the upcoming school year. In May, I graduated and received my bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. I quit my job as NES's ASP director and excitedly closed that chapter of my life. That summer we returned to Missouri for Clay's second karate tournament, in which he placed second and third for sparring and his kata. In August, I began teaching and welcomed my first class of 21 students. McLain began four year preschool with a family friend as his teacher. Shortly after school began, I was the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding and got to watch her marry a man that I knew was a perfect fit for her. That November Clay and I closed on a house five miles from our duplex and moved into it at the beginning of December. We ended the year by celebrating in our first real house.

2006:
As we settled into our new home, I began the count down until I got the green light from Clay to try for a baby. McLain often asked when he would have baby brother or sister. Our explanation was that Jesus is the baby boss, and He would decide what time would be best for our family. In April, McLain turned five, and five weeks later we began to try for a sibling. Three weeks later I discovered that baby Brooks number two was on its way. I spent the summer in bed with excruciating morning sickness while McLain and Clay tried to cheer me up and take care of me. Right before school started, Clay, my best friend, her husband, and I attended my ten year reunion. Brandi and I had a lot of fun gossiping and catching up with other members of the class of '96, even though both of us were pregnant. In August, McLain started kindergarten and came with me to MES. I watched in tears as his Daddy walked him from my classroom into the building to take him to his first day of elementary school. We learned in September that the "boy fiesta" was going to continue in our house when my sonogram shared that another little boy was on his way. McLain learned to read that fall, which was exciting for me to witness as a mom and as a teacher. That winter we rearranged rooms, unpacked old baby clothes, and prayed for a shorter labor than McLain's.

2007:
I rang in the New Year with a lot of nesting, trying to get our new baby's nursery finished. On February 7th, we welcomed our second son, Keaton, in a very fast, four hour labor. His unexpectedly natural delivery was all I could talk about for weeks. McLain immediately adored his little brother and became a fabulous helper. We were all very excited to now be a family of four. I stayed home with my new little man for two months and then went back to work for the last 7 weeks of school. In April, Clay started working part time in the afternoon at Cooper Lake Automotive, where he discovered he loved to work on cars. McLain, Keaton, and I spent many hours that summer at my mom's pool and took a vacation to Gatlinburg with my parents. McLain started first grade in the fall and became an avid fan of the Junie B. Jones book series. Keaton spent his days with my mom while Clay and I worked. We ended the year by celebrating Clay's 29th birthday and Keaton's first Christmas.

2008:
This year I celebrated the big 3-0. I was prepared to cry my way through this milestone, but McLain's first grade teachers had other plans. When I entered the cafeteria with my class on my birthday, my six year old was standing on a table with spiky pink and green hair, wearing a shirt that said "Party like a rock star! My mom is 30!" I realized being 30 wasn't going to be too terrible. A week later we celebrated Keaton's first birthday with lots of friends and family. Two weeks later he began walking and has been furiously on the move ever since. McLain played baseball that spring, and Clay and I spent his games chasing Keaton around the ballpark. McLain went to Myrtle beach with Clay's family for a week, which left me in tears. However, he had a fabulous time. The boys and I spent many days of our summer at White Water and at my mom's pool. Happily, Clay quit his job at the sanitation company and began working full time fixing cars. In the fall, Keaton began going to Mommy's Morning Out two times a week, and McLain began second grade. I loved that he was in the same grade level that I taught because I saw him multiple times throughout the day. McLain fell in love with the Harry Potter series this year, while Keaton became a serious fan of Baby Einstein. In December, I surprised Clay with a dinner at On the Border for his 30th birthday.

2009:
In February, Keaton turned two and had us holding our breaths that we were in for a terrible year. While he was often mischievous, Keaton was not a holy terror. McLain turned eight in April and had a Star Wars party in our backyard. In the spring, McLain played soccer, and Clay coached his team. Again, we spent a lot of time chasing Keaton around the ball field. During the summer, McLain often joined his Pop Pop and aunts at various lakes around North Georgia and discovered that he loved to fish. We spent our summer vacation at many play dates or snuggling in our pajamas at home. McLain, Keaton, and I also enjoyed many hours at White Water and at McLain's future third grade teacher's pool. In August, McLain began third grade, and Keaton returned to Mommy's Morning Out three times a week. Both boys adjusted easily to their new classes. We spent our Christmas season doing our favorite family activities: Participating in The Glory of Christmas, looking for Christmas lights, watching Christmas movies, and drinking hot chocolate. We ended the decade with the knowledge that 2009 had been a great one for our family.


2010:
I anticipate that this year will be filled with a lot of love, laughter, and inevitably a few tears. I can't wait to see what blessings my family will receive during this next decade.