Christmas Letter

Dear Family & Friends,

Can you believe another year has already come and gone?  I am constantly amazed at how quickly time is passing – maybe that is because we have managed to stay so busy!  I would have to say that our biggest news came on January 6^th when we learned that after 7 years of waiting, Talen was finally taken off the DSPD waiting list.  With this came many wonderful things for our family.  First and foremost, Talen will be able to receive Medicaid for the rest of his life regardless of our financial circumstances.  We also found out that he was eligible for massage therapy (twice a week) and in-home health care (three days a week).  We also receive respite and thankfully we have some wonderful family members & neighbors who we trust enough to be our respite care providers.  What does that mean?  Jay & I can finally have a Date Night!  This brings me back to the updates on each of us. 

Jay & I will be celebrating our big 15 year anniversary next month!  Wow, we are getting old!!  The painting industry has done well for us and continues to provide for our family.  In November, Jay was released from his calling in the Scouts and is now the 1^st counselor in the Elders Quorum.  In the couple weeks since he got the new calling, I can already tell that it is going to be a very good thing for him!  He is helping to keep our little family more focused on Christ and the things that really matter!  Couldn’t ask for anything more!!

I still do books for several clients, which keeps me busier than I’d like some days, but I still love the work!  I was released from my ward calling in March and have managed to keep a low profile.  So, now I can focus more on the sisters that I visit teach.  I was able to participate in my first Sprint Triathlon in October.  I didn’t do as well as I had hoped, but I finished and that really was my ultimate goal.  Plus, now that I’ve given it a try, I can’t wait to do my next one!

Kennedy has been one busy 11-year old.  She is now in the 5^th grade and absolutely loves school.  This past year she participated in soccer, singing recitals & performances, piano lessons, basketball, and will be performing with her fellow 5^th graders in the play “Yes, Virginia” this weekend.  Despite being torn in so many different directions, she still manages to be one of my biggest helpers and an excellent role model for her brothers.

Our sweet little Talen isn’t quite so little anymore.  He turned 8 this year and started the 2^nd grade.  Health-wise, he has had a really good year.  He was only hospitalized once in June.  The poor boy had strep throat, an ear infection, bladder infection, the start of pneumonia, and bacteria in his blood.  Thankfully, he was able to kick it all pretty quickly and was released just a couple days later.  Shortly after the hospital stay, we sat down with the doctors to discuss his medicine.  We started him on Clonazepam to help with his “wiggles.”  Finally, some medicine that seems to be working!  He is able to attend school more regularly and we now feel comfortable leaving him with a sitter.  What a life-changer for us! 

Where do I even begin with Daxton?  He is our little jokester!  I could go on for hours and hours with stories about Dax!  During the summer he took Pre-1 and Pre-2 swimming lessons.  Before we signed him up, he was a little frightened of the water, but now he is a fish!  In August, he started Preschool.  After the 2^nd week (only 10 days) he came home and perfectly recited the “Pledge of Allegiance.”  I was shocked!  That boy is a sponge and soaks up everything!

Carter, or as we like to call him “The Little Tornado,” is one busy boy!  Between him and Dax, I am surprised our house is still standing.  Those two just love to get into things!  Speaking of, Carter decided to eat a dish detergent pod and we had to take him into the ER to make sure he didn’t ingest too much.  But, no, this was not his first trip to the hospital.  He was admitted for an overnight visit back in March for low oxygen and wheezing.  In July, he turned one and with it came the terrible two’s!  Oh boy, he sure can be a stinker!  On the flip side though, he can be the sweetest boy ever.  Maybe it’s because he is our last, but I love that he is a momma’s boy! 

We were able to spend some much needed time away from home this year.  In May, we were able to go back to my hometown for the first time in two years.  This summer, we took Kennedy and Daxton to Wet ‘N Wild in Las Vegas twice!  And to finish out our summer, we spent two nights in Bryce Canyon.  Looking back, 2014 was a fantastic year!  We had some ups and some downs, but I wouldn’t change a moment with these crazy people I call my family! 

We love you all and hope that your 2014 was as fun and eventful as ours.  Wishing you just as much excitement in the year to come!! 

                               Love – The Vaughns

Family Pictures 2014

 

Christmas

Kennedy woke up about 5, but I was not about to wake up the boys so we made her go back to bed until everyone else was awake.  Once we all made it up, we ate breakfast (you have to have something good in your tummy before all the candy and junk comes out!).  Then it was time for presents.  We called Grandma Cindy & Grandpa Dallan and had them on Skype for most of the present opening.  Of course, the kids were totally spoiled!!  Carter & Dax both got lots of toys.  Talen got bath towels, a hat, and lava lamp speakers.  Kennedy got tons of Lego Friends and clothes.  We even gave Kennedy and Dax a helicopter, just like Dad.  Sadly, I think they made it through three or four flights before all three helicopter were toast.  I guess if you want a good one, you have to put out the big bucks!!  Oh well, they enjoyed them while they lasted!!

Christmas Eve Pj's

As tradition goes, we let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve.  Of course, it was pajamas!!

Christmas Eve Night w/the Vaughns

We have Christmas with Jay's family this year, so on Christmas Eve we all went over to Justin's house.  We had dinner and let the kids open their presents from Grandma Robin.  They also opened the kids gift exchange gifts.  These kids are already spoiled and Santa hasn't even come yet!!!  After presents, the kids decorated cookies (at least that is what they were supposed to do - I think they ate the candy more than they decorated the cookies!) and played with their toys.  Talen and Carter even got to hold Brooke's new baby.  Talen loved it, he put her right to sleep.  Carter was a bit the opposite, he kept trying to grab at her and wake her up!! 

Christmas Eve Day with the Pulsiphers

We spent Christmas Eve day over at Cathy's house.  We helped the kids make graham cracker houses.  Sadly, the icing didn't hold up as well as we hoped and the houses kinda flopped.  They looked really good until the kids started piling candy on top and it became too heavy for the houses to stand up underneath it all.  When everyone had their fill of candy, we did our gift exchange.  They all got something they wanted and were thrilled when Amy brought out a kangaroo for each of them!!
(we forgot to bring the camera, so the only pictures I have are a couple that I took with my phone!!)