Santa, Elves, Lights and more lights!

FUN WITH SANTA
We went to a Christmas party for UDSF (Utah Down Syndrome Foundation) and had such a great time! My friend, Kecia, has an amazing family that has put on "An Evening with Santa" for UDSF families the past few years. They do fishing for prizes, a craft, dancing, and of course, a chance to see Santa. Our kids have so much fun and are convinced he is the real Santa, not a "helper" Santa, like at the mall. Elle says she knows he is because he actually takes the time to talk to each child and doesn't just ask what they want for Christmas. She says she can tell that he really loves kids. Plus, he knew all about our Elf, "Elfie" at our house and asked Easton if "Elfie" had given him the stink eye when he was naughty. Easton thought Santa was pretty funny. He knew just how to be with Jayne too. She sat on his lap and was a little nervous but never cried. He made sure not to get too close or look right at her until she was ready. Don and I agree with the kids. He must be the real Santa.





Santa and the kids


ELVES AT GARDNER VILLAGE



It's always fun to see the Elves at Gardner Village. Our kids make it a game to see if we can spot them all. It was so fun to have Don along too. They love their Daddy!


CHRISTMAS UTAH

Another fun tradition is going to see the lights at Christmas Utah. You have to wait in big long line just to drive by the house, but our kids love seeing the lights move and change to the music and the light faces in the trees.




TEMPLE SQUARE

And of course, we had to go down and see the lights at Temple Square. They are always so beautiful!



We went with our friends, the Fletchers, and wandered through the crowds of people to see all the lights. It was really cold though, even though we bundled up, so we didn't stay very long. The kids were anxious for hot chocolate!

Transitions, Testing and our first IEP

Jayne turning three is kind of a big deal--ok, not near as big of a deal as when you get baptized or become a teenager, but still a big deal. It means transitioning from the Early Intervention program, that we have been a part of since she was born, into the school district where she will start preschool. Although I am excited for Jayne to start preschool, I am really sad to have her leave the Early Intervention program. We have had the most amazing therapists come into our home to work with Jayne. They are not only therapists but have become friends. They have always been so sweet with Jayne and took a genuine interest in her well being and became advocates for her. They have helped her progress in her development--from rolling over to sitting to crawling to walking and even with beginning speech. They have been a great support to me at times too when I felt discouraged with Jayne's development and they helped me to see just how far she has come. We have been so blessed and I am sad to have to say goodbye to them. When I say, "Guess who's coming to play?" Jayne still gets excited and says "Stacey" or "Abby" sometimes. It is really sweet. I will forever be grateful to them and for all they have done for Jayne and for me.

Entering the school system means testing. I have dreaded this since I was told about it. I know it is just to see where Jayne is at but the whole idea of testing Jayne is hard for me. I feel like a test can't always show what she knows or what she is really capable of. So when testing day came, I was a little nervous. Her new preschool teacher and a speech therapist met with us and were both so nice. They interacted with her through pretend play and tested her on matching, colors, shapes, her understanding of basic prepositions, speech, etc. Unfortunately, Jayne had a hard time falling asleep the night before and so half way through the testing, she was obviously exhausted and done "playing" their games. She still did really well though and I was so glad we got to meet her teacher. She was impressed with Jayne's cognitive abilities and said that her scores for cognitive skills are so high that she doesn't actually qualify for special needs preschool based just on that. Yay Jayne! That is amazing! I was SO happy to hear that. Hopefully, we can continue on that path. Her speech is mildly to moderately delayed though so she does qualify for the special needs program based on that aspect of the test. The speech therapist said it was great that she was able to say so many words and was so expressive though. I am SO proud of Jayne!

Once Jayne's testing was done, it was time to write Jayne's first IEP (Individualized Education Plan). I have heard from so many people how important the IEP is so I was a little intimidated at the thought of it. I knew we had to write good, clear goals and we had to get it right. No pressure or anything. :)
We met with Jayne's new teacher, Ashley, her speech therapist and Abby (Early Intervention therapist) to write up the IEP in Jayne's new classroom. I think we set some good goals for Jayne. As far as language goes, we want her to use 3 word phrases to express her needs and wants and want to increase her vocabulary with 20 verbs and 5 prepositions. We also set goals for Jayne to be able to identify and name her shapes and colors and be able to attend to group activities for 5 minutes at a time.

Jayne came with us to the meeting and loved the classroom! She practically ran in, went straight to the babies and kitchen area and started playing house. She is great at pretend play! She found the high chair and decided it was in the wrong place so she picked it up and moved it across the room and starting feeding the baby. She felt right at home. It was hard to get her to leave when we were done. It was so cute!

I am so happy with Jayne's teacher and her speech therapist. They are a perfect match for Jayne and I can already tell they will be great with her. I think Jayne will do really well in preschool and although I will miss her while she is gone, I am so excited for her. I wish I could go with her to preschool and just watch. I'm sure she will captivate their hearts the same way she has anyone else who meets her.

I mean, you can't help but love this little girl...

Jayne turns 3!

Jayne turned 3 the week before Christmas. I can't believe our little girl is 3! It has gone by so fast...

I remember so clearly the day she was born--feeling so relieved and happy when they placed her in my arms for the first time. She was finally here! I remember thinking how much she looked like Elle--dark hair, long eye lashes, a cute little nose and a dainty mouth. Those first moments were perfect. She was perfect and she was ours! Then I heard those words that I will never forget. "Is she ok?" I heard Don ask the nurses. My stomach dropped and worry immediately started to overtake the overwhelming joy I felt. A heaviness filled the room because no one would really answer the question. The nurses kept dodging the question with comments like, "She's got long eyelashes." Finally, my doctor came over, after looking at Jayne, and told me "You have a beautiful baby girl. I’m not a pediatrician but she appears to have some of the physical characteristics of Down Syndrome…” I don’t remember much that he said after that. The second I heard the words Down Syndrome, I began to cry and didn’t stop for the next couple of days. I finally got to hold her again and just kept looking at her, trying to see what everyone else seemed to see. She looked just like my other kids to me. Surely, it couldn't be real. I cried and cried and Don kept hugging me, reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. I remember going to sleep that first night in the hospital and getting woken up by the nurses telling me that Jayne had been rushed to the NICU for her oxygen levels. I remember Don and I both waking up the next morning wishing that it had all been a bad dream. Neither of us knew anything about Down Syndrome and we were scared. And it made it so much harder because we couldn't hold her.

I wish I could go back to that day and understand what I do now. I wish I could go back and tell myself that everything really was going to be ok--that our world now just had a little more clarity, a little more purpose, and A LOT more beauty. I wish I could tell myself how much joy and happiness sweet little Jayne would bring to our family. I wish I could tell myself how much better and stronger we would be as a family because of her and what she has taught us. I wish I could tell myself of the amazing people we would meet and of the experiences that we would have because she is part of our family. I wish I could have pushed aside the fear and worry and let myself feel the overwhelming love that filled my heart the second I saw her. I am SO lucky I get to be her mom! I can't imagine our family without her. Words can't express how much we love her! She is our Jayne--that same perfect little girl that was placed in my arms when she was first born. She just has a little somethings extra. :)



PRINCESS TEA PARTY

To celebrate our little princess's birthday we had a princess tea party with a few of her close friends. She loves to dress up and loves to play tea party so it was perfect! Elle really wanted to be there for the party and so I took her out of school at lunch so she could come. I am so glad we did because Elle was amazing! Jayne was being sort of grumpy all morning until Elle got home and then she couldn't wait to get dressed up with Elle and get ready for her party. She loves her big sister! Those two have a special bond that is so sweet.

When all Jayne's little friends arrived, Elle was dancing and twirling with all them, showing them how to curtsy and bow and was the perfect party hostess. It was so cute to see her being so sweet with all of them. The girls decorated princess crowns, had a tea party and then opened presents. It was a really fun party!


Jayne with her friends



Decorating crowns



Sisters



Tea party



Cake bite treats



Opening presents


FAMILY PARTY

We had grandparents over a couple of days later to celebrate. We had dinner and then Jayne got to open some presents. She's a pro at ripping open wrapping paper and gets so excited no matter what it is.


Elle, Jayne and Easton at dinner



Elle made Jayne a sock puppet and Easton gave her a pretty pearl necklace



Don and I got Jayne a new dress up. Jayne was so excited to put it on and twirl...and then she was ready for the next present.



She loves her new book!



We love our little girl!



Grandma Diane and Grandpa Don got Jayne the cutest soft dolls


Yep, Jayne loves them! Can you tell she loves to dance?



Grandma Irene gave her this cute little Rapunzel doll



Happy Birthday Jayne! We love you so much!




Jayne's favorite things:
-Her binky and blankie that she has to have when it is time for bed or when she needs a little comforting
-She loves dolls and babies and is so cute giving them bottles, changing their diapers and rocking them to sleep
-She loves her beauty/make-up kit and carries it around as a purse. She always asks me to "sit" as she pats the ground next to her and she will curl and brush my hair and put make-up all over my face
-She loves to dress-up and will put on dress ups, crowns and carry around wands
-She LOVES to dance and will start twirling or shaking her hips and arms whenever there is any music playing
-She loves books--Fancy Nancy, Princess books, and anything girly
-She loves the IPad and will sneak into the office to get it. She also likes to get Don's IPod and hides it under her shirt and runs to her room. She is so funny!
-She loves her family and loves to have family hugs! (She has a sweet little bond with Grandpa Don too and will cry for him sometimes when she is sad. It is so cute!)

Holiday fun

I love Christmas time--the tree, the lights, the traditions, the family gatherings, Santa Claus and most importantly, remembering the first Christmas when Jesus was born. People are a little bit more kind and a little bit more giving, even with all the hurrying around. And there's nothing quite like the excitement of a child at Christmas time. I love it! I'm glad I get to experience it all through three little sets of eyes in our home.

Our kids couldn't wait to put up the tree. They wanted to put it up right after we had Thanksgiving dinner. We couldn't give up on Thanksgiving that fast but we caved and put it up the day after. Elle and Easton were so excited to decorate the tree, hang the stockings, get out our Santa and start making decorations for their rooms. By the time they were done, they had cute paper elves, wreaths, bows, trees, etc. on their beds, closets, doors, dressers and even CD players. (I kept meaning to take a picture but forgot! It was so cute!) They are so creative!


Our tree definitely isn't one of those glamorous trees with big fancy bows but it is filled with memories-- ornaments from when Don and I were kids, a souvenir from somewhere we've been, home made ornaments of the kids from Primary and school, and pictures of our family. Our kids love it and we do too! It's fun to walk by and see a picture of Elle when she was 2 hanging from the tree and notice how much Jayne looks like her or a picture of Easton smiling at us from between the branches. And Don and I both have to giggle when we see the picture the Primary took of Jayne with a look on her face of "Why are you taking my picture?" Someday it would be fun to have an "elegant" tree too but I don't think I will ever be able to give up on our tree of memories.



I thought for sure we would get the tree set up and Jayne would pull all the ornaments off and pull the train off the track constantly but she didn't. She looks at all the ornaments and likes to point herself out and take the princesses off but doesn't touch anything else. She loves the train too! She will lay on her tummy in front of the tree and say "Choo Choo" and watch the train. After the tree had been up for a week, Jayne somehow noticed the dial under the chair to turn it on and off and figured out how to do it on her own. I would be in the kitchen and hear the train going and come out to see Jayne lying on her tummy watching the train.



On December 1st, "Elfie the Elf" came back to our house and appeared in the Christmas tree. He first showed up last December when we read "Elf on the Shelf" and the kids loved it. He would watch the kids during the day and report back to Santa at night and then appear in a different spot each morning. He flew back to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve and we haven't seen him since. Elle and Easton were anxious to see if he would come back this year and he did. Yay! Every morning they couldn't wait to find where he was that day.



December 1st also started the countdown to Christmas and this year Don found a Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar. Elle and Easton took turns and each day looked forward to a new little guy or ship. Christmas Eve was Easton's turn and he got Yoda Santa. He is such a nice brother though that he shared with Elle and gave her the Santa suit and he kept the Yoda head.



Another tradition we have is reading a Christmas book every night in December leading up to Christmas. I wrap all our Christmas books and the kids take turns opening a book. It's so cute seeing them feel each wrapped book trying to figure out which one it is. They have their favorites.



We love to make sugar cookies and this year Elle and Easton wanted to use both the Christmas and Star Wars cookie cutters. Darth Vader looked pretty cool next to the bells and angels.


Decorating the cookies


Jayne never actually got around to frosting her cookie. She just ate the frosting by the spoon and ate the cookie.



Even though we haven't had much snow, the kids still got to play in the leaves and have a little hot chocolate in the play house





Decorating a gingerbread house



Elle and Jayne cleaning



Easton reading a book with Jayne



Jayne sat up to the counter one day with Darth Vader and Belle. She had them dancing and playing together. She loves princesses and well, Darth Vader definitely comes up a lot in our house. Can you imagine a better match?