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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Lisa

It has been a fun year of running around keeping up with my schedule and everyone else's! I have enjoyed teaching classes at Weathervane and working hard in the box office. I even auditioned for a play... Although a friend of mine was cast instead, I really enjoyed the process and call-back. It will not be my last attempt. :)

As you may have read in other posts, our family trip took much of the year. Thanks to my sister Rachele's previous year's trip, we were able to piggyback on much they had done in our planning, yet still make the trip our own. I think everyone had their favorite places. I think some highlights for me were lunch below the Tetons eating buffalo burgers, sweeping storms in Riverton, WY, and a 45 minute Buffalo jam in the Hayden Vally of Yellowstone. You can read our vacation blog here.

The other big chunk of my year was spent running for public office for the Akron School Board. I pulled petitions in May and jumped in with both feet. I made a good showing coming in FIRST overall. I had lots of help all across the city from some incredible people. The most helpful was Eric of course who has a knack for campaigning! I look forward to being sworn in in January and serving the citizens and mostly the children of Akron to the best of my ability.

I am so proud of all my boys. Josh has made great strides in grades and academics. He just recently was cast in Pride and Prejudice which hits the stage in March. Jake has dones a wonderful job in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, espeically as the chief camel rider and megamixer! Teddy's love of music has he and I headed to my friend Lynette's for wonderful piano lessons. He has quite an ear. Eric has been great on the 7 o'clock news on Channel 3 and it never stops amazing us the way people will stare at him even if it means turning their chairs in restuarants just to watch him eat!! Too funny.

All-in-all, the Mansfield's have been blessed with love, health, happiness and family. We are grateful to God for all we have been blessed with and believe that to those much is given, much is expected. May God bless you in 2010!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Happy Holidays from the Mansfields!

In an effort to save trees (and to give you one less full-size letter that you can't find room to hang on your kitchen walls), we are posting this year's family update here in cyberspace.

It also means that if you're reading this, you must really be interested in our adventures ... or out of pure curiosity, you just needed to see for yourself what the heck those wacky Mansfields actually put on-line.

Either way ... happy holidays and enjoy!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Family

2009 has been a very blessed year for us as a family. Our spring break trip took us to Mammoth Cave, KY, and what a great trip it was! Teamed with our good friend Tom and his two sons (if you're doing the math that means Lisa was the only woman with 7 men .. a lot like Snow White), we spent the better part of two days under the earth seeing amazing caves.

That trip was a preview of our camping trip to the great West. 16 days, 15 nights driving 4,000+ miles across 11 states. We spent 4+ days making our way to the Grand Tetons and then on to Yellowstone before heading back through Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and Field of Dreams. It was the longest trip we've ever taken as a family, and it really brought us closer together.

A few weeks later, we spent another week in our pop-up camper in our annual extended-family getaway to Kelly's Island. We were so thrilled to have Tom and his sons join us again as well as newcomers Dan/Linda Simon and their wonderful kids join in the fun as well.

There's much to tell about each of our individual journeys this year ... those stories are included below:

Friday, November 27, 2009

Eric

I can't believe how fast this year has flown by for me. This was my first full year working in the Cleveland office for WKYC so my daily commute has increased quite a bit, but I still love what I do as a journalist so the trip is certainly worth it. I covered a number of amazing events this year, but the story that touched my heart the most involved a local homeless man. You can watch it HERE. I was also pleased to complete my second documentary focusing on Ohio's Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated in May. If you have the time, you can watch it by clicking HERE.

In my free time, I enjoyed the challenge of assisting Lisa with her campaign (did I mention she finished a run-away first in the School Board election?). It was certainly a learning experience, and I couldn't be more proud of Lisa. She's going to do an excellence job on the School Board.

I can't find the words to describe how exciting it was to take our camper on the road this year. Playing catch at Field of Dreams with Lisa and the boys was a real thrill. I just love that movie. Seeing the Teton Mountains and all of the amazing sights in Yellowstone were just awesome.

As for personal growth, I'm putting together a plan for a Master's Degree so that I can put my G.I. Bill to good use, but I haven't yet decided on a Major. I continue to relax with my acoustic guitar and marvel at the growing musical skills of my wonderful sons. I complained when the Cavs didn't make the Finals, the Indians faded early, and the Browns didn't even show up for the season, but I still love my teams. Teddy and I took in the Browns opener (a loss) and had fun at his first-ever pro game.

Would love to hear from you in 2010, and the best to find me is usually on Facebook.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Josh's (SIC) 2009

My year of 2009 started a little rough due to me having a case of "8thgradeitous" which started a four month scramble form the day i got back from winter break, till the day school ended. Let me be completely honest, my grades sucked last year, but now I don't have anything below a C to start off my freshmen year at firestone high school. It wasn't hard to adjust to high school at all, despite what everyone else said it be like.
I urned 15 this year and, for some odd reason, feel alot more mature. I also adjusted my guitar playing techniques so that i sound alot better, still not as good as i hoped, but still. Keep in contact with me on facebook or myspace.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Ted's exciting 2009

Ted's year has been one a growth. He turned 8 and has really enjoyed moving on to Third Grade. He was named an Eagle Excellence Award winner twice and also received a "Do The Right Thing" Award after he and a classmate took the initiative to help clean up their school.

He's now a Bear in Cub Scouts and took part in the spring campout. He spends a lot of time with his developing love for the piano and began taking lessons.

His love for reading has advanced to the Harry Potter books, and he still has a great love for all of the Magic Treehouse books as well.

Among his favorite activities of 2009 were the family vacation trips and attending the Miley Cyrus concert with mom in November. He finished the year with what's becoming an annual tradition for Ted as he took part in the kids choir for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Weathervane.