2012 Family Photos

These were taken by DP Photography!  Thanks Dan and Patty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are ones that I took a couple days later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 2012

December was a fun month for us!!  Of course it always is because of Christmas, but this year we got to have Cheyenne come and spend 10 whole days with us.  I picked her up at the airport on the 5th and didn't have to take her back until the 15th!  It was nice to just spend time visiting with no schedule to follow, just hanging out.  Well, we did take her to our Ward Christmas Party and to Hailey's Birthday Party, but other than that we just chilled for her whole visit, I loved every second of it!!  We decided that we had better tell her about the baby in person because if she found out that I was pregnant while she was here and we didn't say anything, she might be mad.  So, the day before I took her back, we broke the news.  Of course she was sworn to secrecy since no one else will find out for some time, but she was pretty excited for us. 

Every year for the last three or four years I have made calendars for my mom and Jay's parents for Christmas.  I use family pictures for each month and fill it with all the family birthdays and goings on for the year.  This year for my mom's calendar, I put this as the picture for July:

I missed mailing it off in time, so it the calendar didn't arrive until the day after Christmas.  I made Mom & Dad skype me so that I could see their reaction when they saw it.  It was so funny!!  They didn't understand it at first.  I think it is was because Jeremy and Karma had announced in November that they would be having another baby in August, so I think they must have thought I had just put it on for them (even though it was the wrong month).  But then Dad read the title: An unexpected surprise.  The light bulb went off and they asked if I was pregnant.  I told them that I was and they were so excited and surprised.  I don't think that anyone will think that this was even a possibility (especially since we didn't even think it would be!)  Then, of course, they were sworn to secrecy since we still have other family members to tell!!  Hehehe we are really stretching this out!!

My Christmas Letter 2012

Dear Family & Friends –

I can’t believe we are already at the end of another year!!  This one sure went by quickly, maybe that’s because we managed to keep ourselves so busy!  Jay is finally able to see a light at the end of the “back to school” tunnel (at least until he starts his Masters).  He would have his Bachelor’s degree but because the review board dragged their feet on approving his project, he had to get an extension until the end of next semester.  But, that is all that is left until the degree is in his hands.  Jay continues to teach in Primary and this year he was lucky enough to teach Kennedy’s class – she loved having Dad as her teacher!!  Jay has also been able to spend some of his free time with one of his true loves – golf! 

I’ve discovered a new love in my life too – road biking.  My friends talked me into buying a bike and I’ve never had so much fun while working out.  I look forward to the day when I can compete in my first Century (100 mile race)!  I was also able to participate in a mud run in New Harmony this year.  We got a team together and pulled off a first place in the all-female group category.  But I think the highlight of my year was being able to spend time with my entire family.  My brothers, their families, and my parents all made the long trip to spend Thanksgiving at our house this year.  Then, just before Christmas, my sister came for a ten-day visit.  I loved every second of both visits!!

Kennedy started 3^rd grade this year and has thrived!!  I wasn’t too sure about her having a male teacher, but Mr. Haluska has been such a good fit for her.  She was recently tested for the HAWK program (for gifted & talented students) but we haven’t gotten any results back yet.  She continues to play soccer every time a new league starts.  She even scored her first goal this year!!  I think I was more excited than she was.  Kennedy also participated in a volleyball camp and league and seemed to enjoy this sport as well.  We have a little athlete on our hands!!  She has been begging for the last year or so to start piano and we finally gave in.  I’m so glad too because she is a natural.  I don’t think I have ever asked her to practice; she does it all out of desire.  We sure are blessed to have such a great girl in our home!!

Talen had a rough year this past year.  I think he has been sick more this year than in the last 5 years combined.  He was hospitalized once for a couple days, but we were able to work out some of his medical issues because of it, so I guess it was a blessing in disguise.  He has started having “seizure-like activity” and is now fed solely through his g-tube.  Despite all his little trials, he continues to be the happiest little 6 year old.  He has loved being able to start Kindergarten.  We got really lucky and were able to get a really good family friend hired to be his aide.  This eased a lot of my worry and concern about sending him to school.  We are still working on getting him a communication device.  We have had a few little hick-ups lately, but are hoping to get it all ironed out so that we can get a device that will be beneficial for him and us.  But our best news of all is that in October we took Talen to Duke University where they are doing genome testing to see if they can figure out a diagnosis.  They told us that of the last 13 cases they have worked on, they have been able to find a diagnosis for 9 of them.  So they are really optimistic for Talen.  The doctors said that they are hoping to have some answers within 6 months, but no word yet.  (Of course, we will be shouting from the rooftops if we get an answer, so we will keep you all posted!)        

Daxton has been such an amazing addition to our family.  He turned one in April and keeps us all on our toes.  He has the cutest little personality and continues to keep us all laughing.  He loves to eat, dance, play with balls, and copy everything that everyone else is doing.  His favorite thing lately is to watch Pete’s Dragon (he really only watches the first 10-15 minutes then he wants it restarted).  He says “Oh Petey, Oh Petey” and doesn’t stop until we give in.  He’s stubborn, but completely adorable!!      

Well, that is 2012 in a nutshell.  We pray for health and happiness for you and your loved ones.  Be safe and have a very Merry Christmas!!  We love you all!!

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

Christmas

Christmas morning we woke up and waited for Grandpa Victor to come over and watch the kids open their gifts.  After trying for 30+ minutes to get skype to work, we finally gave up and just had my mom and dad listen to the kids open presents over the phone.  It was really nice and relaxing at first, but by the end we were rushing to open presents because we were on a time crunch to get back over to Robin's in time for brunch.  Santa brought the kids all sorts of goodies, and Mom & Dad spoiled them this year too.  Kennedy got "Monster High" dolls, a little video recorder, an MP3 player, a poster, a soccer ball, a basket ball, a couple CD's, a couple books, toy animals, and candy.  Talen got a huge bean bag, a couple I-tunes gift cards, shoes, movies, and massage/bath accessories.  Daxton got a motorized car, Mega Blocks, shoes, a coat, stuffed animals, building blocks, a basketball hoop and ball, and a bunch of other little toys.  Once we got over to Robin's, we ate brunch and then the adults got to play the "Walnut Game."  Jay and I did great this year.  Everything we got was something that we really wanted.  We got a bunch of gift certificates to various places, pots and pans, knives, a Ninja blender, and a mini fondue set.  The rest of the day was spent just sitting around visiting, playing games, and watching Jay fly his new little helicopter that he got for Christmas.  We ate dinner and around 8 we finally called it a night and packed up the kids.  When we walked through the front door, I could not believe what a wreck the house was.  It is seriously gonna take me 3 weeks to get all this mess cleaned up!!  Oh well, sometimes when you are creating memories, you gotta get a little dirty, right?!?

Christmas Eve

Christmas with the Vaughn's actually started last night, the 23rd.  After church, we all met over at Robin's for Family Home Evening and dessert.  The big event of the night was Wes and Talia announcing that they are expecting!!  We are so happy for them!
Since Christmas Eve fell on Monday, we decided to start the festivities after everyone finished work.  We all had dinner over at Robin's house and let the kids do their version of the "Walnut Game."  They all loved the gifts they got and had a blast playing with it all for the rest of the night.   I think the best part of the night for Daxton was spending time with so many other kids his size.  He was so cute, he kept trying to give Asher hugs.  He wouldn't leave him alone the entire time Asher was in his swing.  What a silly boy!!

 After getting the kids under control, the adults sat down for a game or two of "Liar Dice."  It was really fun and now we have another game to add to our list of get-together activities!  Just before we decided to head home, we let the kids open their Christmas Eve presents.  Again, no surprise that it was pajamas, but they seemed to like them anyway.  This year we decided to go a little different and only do jammy bottoms for Talen since the tops are always too hot for him.  What a group of adorable kids I have!!  Sorry about the pictures, they are taken with my phone.  I swear, I need to staple my camera to my head because I am only getting crappy pictures of all these memorable moments.  Oh well, I guess it is better than nothing, right?

 

 

 

 

Christmas with the Pulsiphers

Since we have Christmas with the Vaughn side this year, we decided to get together with Cathy and Cory a couple days before Christmas.  We spent most of the day visiting and munching on goodies.  Cathy made waffles and we let the kids open their Christmas gifts from each other.  Kennedy got a Build-and-Color Castle, Talen got an I-tunes gift card, and Daxton got building blocks.  Of course, I forgot to take my camera, but after we got home I took these of Kennedy and Daxton playing in Kennedy's castle.  Daxton thought it was so fun to open and close the castle window while playing peek-a-boo.  What a cutie!!