Kinzee, Josh and Carson

 Lots of big changes have happened in their lives this year also.  It's been a big year!  Josh decided he wanted to be a police officer.  After a whole lot of hard work, he graduated this past Thursday from POST Academy and starts work on Monday. 

 

For the past 16 weeks, Josh has been at POST, while Carson and Kinzee did their best to stay busy at home so they wouldn't miss him quite so much.  It was a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but they did it!

 

We were able to go down for the dinner and graduation to celebrate with them.  We are so proud of them.  They are so excited to start on the next part of their journey.  And I will only worry a little bit that he is a cop! 

 

Carson is getting so big.  He is such a character.  Lots of personality and charm.  He brings so much joy to all of us.  He is old enough to go to nursery at church!  That's a big deal!  It's hard to believe how quickly time has flown by.  I just adore this little boy!  Kinzee loves being a mommy, and I love seeing her be Carson's mom! 

 

I can't wait to see what the future holds for this little family as they begin this new chapter of their lives together.  I love them so much!



This is one of my most favorite pictures ever.  It shows Carson's personality so perfectly!!!

I couldn't help it.  I had to steal this picture.  This little boy is so full of sweetness and smiles!

Chris and Kassi... and Thea makes Three!

 

 

 

What a year this has been for Kassi and Chris!

They found out they were expecting a little avocado while in Hawaii,

Chris finished his time in the military and they came back home.

Chris works at the shop for Thayne.

Everything was going smoothly,

until they found out Kassi's membranes had ruptured at 29 weeks. 

The next thing we knew they had life flight called,

and we were watching her be loaded in an ambulance,

ready to be flown to the U of U.

It looked like she might have to deliver immediately,

but they were able to get things stabilized and everyone settled in,

hoping she could make it a few more days, or best scenario,

a few more weeks.

Which meant she was stuck in the hospital until Avocado was born.

 

At 31 weeks, Kassi felt like something was going on.

Something was different. 

We got the call that the baby was coming.

We headed out but about midnight she text saying they didn't think she was going to be born yet, and they were taking her back to her room.

Except things were changing...

I told Thayne we should just stop and get some sleep and head back out the next morning.

 

Sure enough, things were happening,

and they moved her back to labor and delivery.

Initially they decided to give her an epidural

in hopes of slowing down the labor

so they could get her another dose of steroids.

Kassi had a horrible pain in her side.

They found out she had an infection,

and the plan to stall suddenly changed to a need to hurry things up.

 

The nurses explained that the baby will decide how things would happen.

If she cried, they would let us see her.

If not, they would hand her right through the window to the NICU.

 

The delivery was...

I don't know how to describe it.

At first we were scared. 

There are a lot of things to be scared about.

Yet we felt an incredible amount of peace.

Thayne had given her a blessing and we all felt really positive about everything.

But we knew we were still looking at some pretty scary stuff

with a 9 week premature baby.

 

It came time to push.

This was all new to Kassi.

It was hilarious.

She kind of blew out her breath twice,

and there SHE was!

I almost panicked.

She wasn't breathing and I didn't want Kassi to witness the trauma

of seeing your baby your baby go through all it took to get her breathing.

I looked at her again and it was almost shock...

I felt her.

It was like she was stunned...

"What just happened???"

And then she opened her eyes,

still not taking a breath,

but for a split second I felt the room fill up with light,

and I FELT her little spirit say,

"Don't worry... I've got this!"

 

She was beautiful.

So perfect!

 

They handed her through the window and started to work on her.

Chris said,  "Is that it?  That wasn't nearly as scarring as I heard it would be!"

Kassi said, "Am I done?"

I laughed and started to tell her she still had to deliver the placenta,

but then it was done, before I could finish.

So I told her she was done!

Or maybe she was just beginning!

Life would never be the same!

And we still didn't have a name for that sweet little Avocado.

 

Eventually they decided on Thea Jayde.

They name fits her perfectly.

Our little warrior princess. 

3lbs 10oz and 17 inches of perfection.

Grandpa was able to get in and give her a blessing right away,

and in no time at all she was off oxygen,

and showing everyone what a fighter she is.

 

7 weeks later she was able to come home.

Kassi spent her days pumping and holding that baby girl.

Chris worked here and spent the weekends there.

We were all so happy when she was able to be released!

Kassi had promised Noah that he would be the first one to hold her when she came home, because they wouldn't let him in the hospital to see her.

(He thinks it's 'ridiculous' that they won't let little kids in to see babies!)

He was SO happy to finally get to hold her.

 

She started out a tiny little thing, dropped down to 3lbs before she started gaining again.

She is now a healthy and happy little thing.

About 9lbs now.

But boy is she mighty!

We are grateful every... single...day that she is here and healthy.

She is a miracle!!!

The two big bags by Thea's carseat are full of breastmilk.  It was hilarious hauling them out of the hospital!

 

 

Kassi had to have a picture of Thea in the dress she was blessed it!

 

Two Days of Heaven

Kailee has been talking about going to the temple for quite a while.  When Tallin and Jerica decided to get married, she decided she wanted to be there for their sealing and moved forward with going herself.  It seemed like the week leading up to going was full of nothing but stress and darkness.  Of course!  When you are on the path of something so amazing, it seems like you have to walk through the darkness to get there.  But on October 5th, when we walked into the Bountiful Temple, the tough times were put quickly behind us and it was the most incredible experience ever!  Kailee was beaming, smiling from ear to ear and where there was stress and darkness, it was suddenly replaced with nothing but light.  It was nothing short of amazing to be sitting next to her as she experienced so much wonderful! 

We turned around the next day and went with Jerica to the Logan Temple.  Thayne and I got to be the witness couple while she went through and again, it was as close to heaven as we can get on earth.  We had amazing friends come with us and I am so very grateful for the peace that comes when we are in the Temple of God.  It was perfect.  The temple is where heaven meets earth.  I told Kailee I am so excited that I now have a partner to run away to the temple with.  I hope we get to take advantage of it and get to the temple often!

The Wedding! Tallin and Jerica

Tallin and Jerica met quite a while ago. 

 In fact they dated a short time clear back then. 

Life happened, circumstances changed,

 and Jerica felt inspired to reach out to Tallin again. 

We could end the story there...

 

 The rest is history! :) 

 

They started dating again,

 and soon decided that forever sounded like just enough time to be together. 

 On October 14th, 2016 they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. 

 For time and all eternity.

It was a beautiful day.

A beautiful ceremony.

And they deserve nothing more than to be in love, for always!

Tallin graduated from ITT Tech in June and is still working for our company.

Jerica recently started at a local car dealership.

They have an apartment not far from us.

 

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for them!

 

 

 

An explanation...

I have thought a lot about how to address this... maybe even just delete and pretend it didn't happen.  But it did happen, and it's not something that you just delete and act like it wasn't part of the story of our lives.  Our stories are who we are, who we become.  So before I share an update about Tallin's life... an amazing update, I feel like I need to explain how his life got to be where it is now.

Last June, Tallin married Janae.  Eight days later, she decided being married wasn't what she wanted, and she left.  Her story is hers.  I can't speak for her part of the story.  Only the part of the story that affected us, especially Tallin.  I have empathy, and compassion for her life experiences.  I am sorry for the experiences she went through that brought her to this place.  However I also felt the pain my precious son went through as her life choices had such a deep impact on him.

Thankfully, it only took a few months to get an annulment for abandonment of the marriage, and his temple sealing cancelled. 

It was painful.  But you know what?  Life is often painful.  That's life.  Ideally, we learn from the painful parts and come to appreciate the good.  Because there is good!

And this is where the good part of the story begins...

Tanner and Jalene

 Could they be any cuter???

These two are busy, working (as of recently they work at the same mine),

shooting bows, and riding bikes.

They are doing well. 

And that makes me very happy!

Matt and Kimi

 Kimi and Matt have a busy little family.

I wish so much that they lived closer to us!

We are so spoiled that most of the grandkids live close,

and it makes us sad that we don't get to see these four adorable faces anytime we want.

 

We pray for Matt now more than ever.

Being a police officer has never been easy, but now, more than ever,

it is a dangerous job!

There is nothing we want more than for him to be home safe every day after shift.

 

Kimi is a busy mom...

she has four little people depending on her for their every need.

She is an amazing and patient mom.

4 kids, 4 and under is hard work.

 

Jared is going to an awesome preschool.  He loves it.  I cannot believe he turns 5 next month!

Emma also goes to preschool for speech therapy.  She is so independent, and so sweet.

Colten is active, a climber and keeps Kimi forever on her toes.

In May she had her 4th C-section (thankfully easier and less stressful than her last one!).

Paisley Faye is a perfect addition to the family.  Every time we see her she is so content,

 and happy to be part of whatever is going on around her. 

We got to go down and stay with the kids when Paisley was born.

 

I wish we could talk Matt into coming here to work! 

That would be practically perfect!!!

 

 

Paisley's blessing day

Going to meet their new sister!

Uncle Noah and big brother Jared meeting Paisley... we confused the nurses slipping the uncle in with the siblings.  Nothing out of the ordinary here!

Jace and Cait

 I love these pictures of Jace, Caitlyn, Maelynn and Everett. 

Mings and Everett are growing up so fast. 

 

Jace and Thayne are partners and are doing well with the business.

He is a big old softie when it comes to being a dad.

 Maelynn knows she has him wrapped around her little finger. 

 

Caitlyn is a dental hygienist and now is starting up a new business selling clothes,

which is going to get us ALL in trouble!

I constantly have people stop me in the grocery store to tell me they met my cute daughter in law at the dentist's office, and how great she is!

They also finally got to move into their new house they had built.  It's beautiful!

 

Maelynn and Everett are getting so big. 

Everett recently turned 2.

He is a mommy's boy, very protective of her (like his dad always was of me!).

But he also ADORES his 'bumpa'...

It's so sweet to see how attached he is to his grandpa.

And Thayne loves him just as much back.

They are quite the pair.

Maelynn is almost 4 and in preschool now.

She is full of sass!

She learned how to say the Pledge and it is absolutely adorable!

She is the sassiest, smartest little girl and she knows how to get her way!

They are so much fun to hang out with.  Maelynn always has stories for us.

She loves all things Princess and Kitties.