My Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family –

I could sum up this year in three simple words . . . busy, busy, busy!!  Of course, we are kept on our toes with the newest addition to our family, Daxton James.  He decided to come two weeks early and arrived on April 22^nd.  It has been so fun adjusting to a baby around the house (although, I don’t know if you would consider him a baby, since he has already surpassed the 20 pound mark.)  His first month was a little rough, but since then he has been nothing short of an angel.  He sleeps great, eats great (obviously), and loves his big brother and sister.  What a blessing he has been to our family!!

Talen has been a very busy boy.  As usual, he has had multiple doctor appointments throughout the year.  He continues to work on his NACD exercise program.  Thankfully, we have an amazing ward that generously donates their time to come help Talen do his exercises every day.  Our biggest news with Talen is that last month we started looking into getting a communication device for him.  His preschool introduced us to a device called “DynaVox.”  (It is similar to “Eagle Eyes” but a bit more advanced.)  Anyway, it is a computer that will track his eye gaze.  If he stares long enough at an object, the computer will select that object and speak for him.  It is really amazing and my description does not do it justice.  (It is the same device that Christopher Reeve used after he was paralyzed.)  Anyway, the speech therapist at the preschool began researching and is attempting to get the company (as well as other companies that make similar devices) to give us a loaner to see if it will work for him.  Once we know which device works best, she will also help us get it ordered.  (And the best news of all, if we can get approved, Medicaid should pay for it!! *cross your fingers*)  hopefully, by this time next year we will have a device and be carrying on lengthy conversations with our sweet little Talen.

Kennedy has been such a big help to us this last year.  She is always looking out and caring for Talen, but she has now taken on the role of Mom #2 to Daxton.  She is in the 2^nd grade and is doing great.  She is a fantastic reader and loves math!!  Kennedy did soccer again this year and tried her hand at softball.  Of course, she did great (she succeeds at everything she tries!!)  However, I think my proudest moment as a mom came this year when I found out that she had befriended a boy in her class who has severe Autism.  It all started when she began watching out for him at recess and lunch.  Recently, she has turned into his “helper”.  The teachers have asked her to go to the special needs classroom every day where she will play with him.  This is to help him get better at responding to other kids.  She absolutely loves it and I have never been more proud of her!!

Jay still manages to balance work, family, and school.  However, after this next semester, he will finally have his Bachelor’s in Psychology!!  I am so proud of him!!  Sadly, he missed the deadlines for applying to get into the Master’s program, so that threw him a little off track, but everything happens for a reason, right? 

I continue to be amazed at the wonderful little family I have been blessed with.  I can’t believe that my Heavenly Father trusts me enough to give me three of the most precious spirits in the world.  And I know I couldn’t do it without help from my wonderful husband.  I hope at this time, you are all able to see the miracles and blessings in your life.  We love you all so much and pray that you have a very Merry Christmas!!

                              Love – Jay, Shelly, Kennedy, Talen, and Daxton

My favorite gift of 2011

Christmas

I had a really wonderful Christmas this year!!  After waking up, we had breakfast and opened our presents.  Our kids sure got spoiled!!  Kennedy got a scooter, two Justin Bieber shirts, Squinkies, Zhu Zhu pets, a camera, a jewelry box, PSP, Sorry (the game), Operation (the game), a picture of Jesus Christ, and a blanket.  Talen got his own little recliner, movies, clothes, and nightlights.  Daxton got several  baby toys, bath toys, and clothes.  Because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, we got ready for church once we were finished opening the presents.  We went to Sacrament, then came home and changed out of our Sunday clothes.  We went back over to Cathy's were we had dinner with Cory's family and the kids did their gift exchange.  After visiting we headed back home for bedtime.  All in all, it was an eventful day.  It was nice to be able to spend part of our day a church to bring a little bit extra of the true meaning of Christmas into our holiday celebrating.  I love Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

This year Christmas was supposed to be with my family, but since we had just been up north, we didn't want to travel anymore.  So, we had Christmas at home this year.  On Christmas Eve, we went over to Cathy and Cory's around 3:30 so that we could be there when Scotty called.  They put him on speaker phone so we could all hear him!!  He sounded really good!!  We are so proud of him!!  He has turned out to be such a great missionary!!  After the phone call, we had breakfast for dinner (I don't know if it was because I had skipped lunch and was WAY hungry, but the waffles were soooo yummy!!)  After dinner, Kennedy and Amy put on a little puppet nativity for us.  Then we had the kids open their Christmas Eve presents.  This was Daxton's first Christmas and he absolutely loved the presents (actually he liked the wrapping!!  He couldn't understand why we wouldn't let him eat all the pretty paper!!) 

On the 12th Day of Christmas . . .

2 Nephi 31:20

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

On the 11th Day of Christmas . . .

3 Nephi 17:5-10

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.  And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.  Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither.  Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.   For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.  And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.  And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears."

On the 10th Day of Christmas . . .

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

 

On the 9th Day of Christmas . . .

Helaman 14:5, Matthew 2:1-2

"And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."

 

On the 8th Day of Christmas . . .

John 13:4-5, 12-17

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

On the 7th Day of Christmas . . .

John 14:16, 26-27
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

On the 6th Day of Christmas . . .

Alma 32:42
"And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit therof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst."

 

On the 5th Day of Christmas . . .

Matthew 14:15-21
"And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.  But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.  And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.  He said, bring them hither to me.  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.  And they that had eated were about five thousand men, beside women and children."

 

On the 4th Day of Christmas . . .

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; fo I am meed and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

On the 3rd Day of Christmas . . .

John 2:1-11
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?  Mine hour is not yet come.  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.  And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water.  And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.  And they bare it.  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou has kept the good wine until now.  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

 

On the 2nd Day of Christmas . . .

John 8:12
 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

 

On the 1st Day of Christmas . . .

When our doorbell rang, we had no clue that someone had decided to do the 12 days of Christmas for us.  However, this version is a really cute twist on the old tradition.  Each gift has a scripture reference attached.  It helps us keep the "True" spirit of Christmas while still having fun trying to figure out who our little elves are.  Kennedy is having so much fun (and we thoroughly appreciate all our wonderful gifts).  So, if the family sharing their kindness happens to be someone who follows my blog - thank you, thank you, thank you!! You have made our Christmas so much more special!!  Thanks again!!!!

John 6:35 

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Kennedy's 2nd Grade Class Picture

Santa Came Early This Year!!

DISNEYLAND!!!!

Jay's mom decided that since we will not be having Christmas with his side of the family this year that she would give us our present a little early.  It was a trip to DISNEYLAND!!  The kids had a blast!!   My favorite part of the whole thing was that Talen was able to be included in our activities.  We had such a great time!!!  Thanks Grandma Robin!!

 

What Personality He Has!!!

Singing Recital

Kennedy had her fall singing recital today! Her group sang "It's a Hard Knock Life" and "Dapper Dan."  It was really fun to watch this time because Kennedy had a solo part in "It's a Hard Knock Life."  She is such a good little singer!  I swear, if she keeps this up, one day she just might be our next Grammy winner!!

My Kids

October 2011

This month was busy, but then October always is.  Jay and I kept our birthdays pretty low-key.  On the 4th, Talen had an appointment with genetics (Dr. Longo).  The only thing that he really recommended was doing some more blood work to check crea-tine levels.  On the 27th, he had another appointment with Dr. Such-Neibar.  This was mostly just so that she could see if she felt that the hyperbaric chamber was showing any progress.  She didn't seem to think that there were really any changes at this point.  However, she encouraged us to continue taking him with the exception that we need to take much longer brakes (3 months or so.)  She said that for us to really see any progress we need to brake long enough that we will notice if there are any changes.  So, after this session, we are going to call it quits for a couple months (I really need the brake!!)  Daxton had his 6 month doctor appointment on the 24th.  He is 19 lbs. 6 ozs (the 80th percentile) and 26.5 inches long (53rd percentile).  He did so good with his shots too.  Only cried for a minute or two then was his happy little self again!! What a good boy!  He also cut his third tooth on the 30th.  It is the top right front one.

Halloween

This year, Kennedy wanted to be a Vampiress (I am so sad the days of picking a cute, innocent costume are gone.  Why do they have to grow up?).  Talen was an adorable puppy!!  But Jay was not happy.  He just kept saying "What 5 year old boy wants to be a puppy.  He wants to be a superhero!!"  Well, until he tells me otherwise, I am dressing him up how I want!! Daxton was a "chunky monkey."  Totally fit his personality (and body, hehehe). 

Daxton wasn't sure what to think of Kennedy's costume!!

We went over to the Brannon's for dinner with our usual clan.  Then it was out trick-or-treating with the kids.  What a good lookin' bunch we have!!  Just love these kids!!!

Pablo as Pablo from the Backyardagins, Talen the Puppy, and Carson the Skeleton

Claire the Cheetah and KiKi the Vampiress