Happy Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026

The end of the year brought so many fun things! We had a really great December and kick off to the new year. We began the month with Oma and Papa flying in for Lee's baby blessing. We made the most of the weekend by sending the boys to a Christmas Light Parade and attending the Christmas Village at our friend's new gig in Brighton called Gather. We decorated for Christmas, enjoying our new skinny Christmas tree. I also watched Hope for a day as Katey took care of some sick kiddos. We had an awesome time playing around in the snow! 

Putting on ornaments with the boys, they put them all in the same spot and were so excited to help!

Jay, Papa, and Lee

Papa and Hope got to be the extra special guests with Jay at Family Lunch at school.

Hugh loves holding Lee, and it's very sweet.

Hugh, Papa, and Jay having story time!

Papa being super Papa and pulling Hugh around 

Oma using her artsy skills to draw pictures with Hugh

Hope, Jay, and Hugh giving Papa a ride down the hill. We need to get him some snow clothes and boots!

Jay, Hope, and Hugh making snow angels. 

Teamwork makes the dream work, Jay and Hope caring the slide up the hill together. 

Hugh, Papa, Jay, and Hope

Huge and Hope's turn to carry it up

They LOVED sledding, the joy was totally contagious and we had the best time.

These three year olds are so fun to watch play together!

Jay and Hugh writing letters to Santa

Oma was in charge of Lee so we could wander as needed with the other two boys.

Hugh, Dad, Jay, Mom, Lee, Santa, Oma and Papa

Hugh, Jay, Santa and Lee

Hugh, Jay, and Santa

Papa and Hugh at the cookie decorating station

Matthew gave Lee Delbert a beautiful blessing on December 7th in our ward. Lee is a special little boy with a special place in our family. He's so happy, loves everyone, and everyone loves him. He's a miracle, a gift from Heaven for our little family. We had so many people there to support us and we felt so loved! Lee barely fit into the blessing outfit, and wore it well. I substituted in Primary for Singing Time, so I dressed him before church and prayed he'd keep the outfit clean. Surprisingly, this is the first child we've blessed at church. Jay was during COVID shutdown and Hugh happened to be blessed on Stake Conference Sunday and plans were already in place too late to reschedule. We served sliders and then everyone else brought veggies, chips, fruit, and desserts to share. It turned out amazing!

Lee Delbert Blaylock - he's laying on the quilt Grandma Great started and never quite finished before she passed away. Oma stitched a bit, then a friend helped her finish it before we were given it. 

Jessica (Kate's little red legs in the back), Cambrie, Grandma, Katey, Me &Lee, Betty Jane, Lindsay, Oma, and Katie Dahl. In the front, Abby, Hope, Roxy, Tia, and Kylee

Andrew, James, Caden, Brady, Mike, Dad and Lee, Grandpa, Papa, Jack, Jason, Ben Dahl. Front row, Hugh, Kade, Jay, and Allen

Andrew, Mike, Matthew and Lee, Grandpa, Papa, Jack, Jason, and Ben Dahl

James, Jessica, Kate, Andrew, Caden, Brady, Mike, Cambrie, Grandma & Grandpa, Matthew, Lee, Kitt, Hugh, and Jay. Papa, Jack Roxy, Allen, Lindsay, Tia, Jason, Hope, Abby, Ben and Katie Dahl, Betty Jane, Oma, Katey, and Kylee

Katey, Lee, Me, and Lindsay

We were glad we got a family photo before church! Hugh, Lee, Jay, then Mom and Dad in the back

Kade giving Lee snuggles

Hugh and Hope dressing up as construction workers

Jay got tinsel added to his hair!

He wasn't sure what he thought of it, but did hold still enough to get them put in by Aunt Lindsay!

Papa, Lee, and Oma

Grandpa and Grandma with Lee

The kid table, Hope, Hugh, Jay, and Abby

Kade, Allen, Betty, Kylee, Tia, Roxy, Cambrie, Kate, Jessica, James and Andrew

Hugh really wanted to wear Grandpa's missionary tag, so he wore it out of church which was super sweet.

Just another photo of the star of the day, Lee. We love him!

We were able to go to the temple one evening in December, which was amazing! We had a great time and enjoyed being there together. It's extra hard to find time to be in the temple when you have a new baby, so we were grateful! It was supposed to be an Elder's Quorum temple trip, but we were the only ones. Jay had a fun Christmas party at school, and Hugh was thrilled he got to join, too! 

Jay turned 6 on December 14th, and we had a very fun combo birthday party for him and Grandma! Jay was soooo excited about everything! His excitement was contagious and we had a great time celebrating him! Jay has a huge heart. He's so observant, no change of decor, no matter how small ever goes missed by him. He's very sensitive to ones' feelings, always recognizing when I am sad, or when other's are. He tries to provide comfort, in his own way. I don't think he is able to connect when people are sad because of something he does, but we're working on it. He loves to help, always willing to grab a tissue, a diaper, throw trash away, anything. He picks up 95% of the toys every night, and knows where all things go and insists they are put back. He's recognizing a few letter sounds these days, and getting a little better at his writing skills. He does focus with his OT on a given task for about 10+ minutes, which is miraculous! Everyone at school loves Jay, you can see it as they interact with him. He even got to eat lunch with Mr. Anderson and a friend because every day he asks Mr. Anderson if he's going to lunch with him. Finally, Mr. Anderson let Jay invite someone to eat in the classroom with him and Jay LOVED it. That's one of Mr. Anderson's only breaks, so it was extra kind of him. 

He loved licking his cake paddle

And, Hugh too!

It was so hard to get him to face the camera! He just loved his sign!

Just a fun picture of Hugh walking on the ceiling.

Jay, Mom, Hugh, Dad, and Lee

Grandpa, Grandma, Hugh, and Jay

Christmas was so much fun with the boys! We had a super relaxed day, ate delicious food, and enjoyed a visit to the park. The weather was very Arizona Christmas-like, and I loved it. It allowed us to feel the sunshine and enjoy the fresh air and new toys! It was a simple day, but wonderful to be together. We are so blessed to have knowledge of our Savior who was born long ago, and to be able to celebrate His birth! We had great celebration a few days early with the Blaylocks at Mike and Jenna's house, and Grandma and Grandpa came the day after Christmas. For some reason the photos go from the evening of Christmas to the morning, so imagine the day in reverse of the photos. 

On Christmas Eve, the boys got slippers!

The rest of Christmas break, we had home therapy sessions and enjoyed a relaxed schedule. Jay learned how to ride two wheels and I cried! I cried watching him successfully pedal and ride. I didn't know if he'd ever learn, the motor movement of pedaling was excruciatingly difficult for him. I had to push knee after knee when he was learning, and it only lasted a couple pedals. Balancing is hard for Jay, and whenever we messed with the training wheels on the bike, it was a disaster. One wheel finally came off and we couldn't get it back on. He rode one training wheel for a couple months, then one sunny day at the park, I decided to pull the other wheel off when he wasn't looking. He was a little distraught to begin with, but with hoopin and hollerin from me and some extra pushes from Sister Dahl, he did it! Years of prayers and hard work were shown in this miraculous milestone! We went to parks and enjoyed every day of good weather we possibly could!

They played like this for a long time, and it was so sweet!

Danny Go dance along songs have been our favorite recently! 

Lee has been a super champ on cold walks.

He also occasionally sucks his thumb, which is so cute and makes me nervous for the future!

Jay, Shelby, and Hugh on the last day of school for the semester

Hugh rocking a sweater Aunt Lindsay found for him at the thrift store.

Hugh, chillin' watching a show

Jay did his first paint by sticker dino!

Hugh loved the Santa hat and wanted to wear it all the time.

Ready for Christmas break, anyone? I am!

They loved playing pretend school. 

Lee doing tummy time, he hates it, but I was hoping the Christmas tree would be good encouragement.

Jay rocking a vest too small for him and shoes too big

Playing music together

Jay taking care of his baby and his train at Mike and Jenna's

I was grateful for some summer weather so Lee could wear my favorite baby outfits!

Jay worked hard to build this little Santa lego ornament.

Jay and Rowan played so well together at the park. She's in his class at school. 

Matthew started working out, and the boys loved joining him!

Sand - - rain, snow or shine, it's life!

Do you see that? A button, ripped right off his shorts, he had no idea! 

Matthew and I started to have some serious discussions about how to educate Jay, and if we should move to find better schoes. The vibes we were getting from the principal at his elementary school were not favorable for Jay and his development, or his support of ABA in school. Eventually, we determined we needed to be in a new house by Fall 2026. So, we mobilized on contacting a realtor and getting our house prepared to go to market. We even looked at a few homes in the Firestone Fredrick area during the break. Huge thank you to Katey and Jason and Jack and Lindsay for watching our kids for us on those hunting days. 

In the new year, we got to celebrate Kade's birthday at our house while Abby had a girl birthday party at her house. He slept over and we had so much fun making the couple days all about him! He ended up even staying two nights because we were having such a great time. He made a pinata and they all got to enjoy taking swings and hitting it until it came apart. 

Hugh, Kade, Jay

Hugh, Kade, Jay

We introduced Kade to Danny Go!

Everyone wanted to help with the 3 month picture for Lee

All 3 boys, couldn't get close enough to me after naps.

We rang in 2026 at the Merrills house and enjoyed a New Years party with the Eddingtons. The Christmas Eddington party had to be postponed due to sickness, so we were excited to see everyone. The boys got little stuffies from Santa, delivered late, and we got a giftcard which was super generous!

Jay loves this Buccee outfit in the dressups at Aunt Katey's house.

Uncle Jason and Lee

Playing charades on New Years, Katey trying to help Jay know what to do.

Allen, Kade, Abby, Kitt, Lee, Lindsay, Tia, Betty Jane, Kylee, Jack, Hugh, Hope, Matthew, with Jay and Roxy in the front!

 

Aunt Jessica, James, Emery, Kate, and Lee

We had a few check ups at Children's hospital for the boys, too. Jay had his hearing checked, and we were happy to finally check off the box of NO hearing issues! And, for Hugh, we got his skin looked at and started some new creams to try to keep fighting off the ever reoccurring eczema. 

2025 was a year of blessings and miracles! The greatest blessing of all for our family was receiving Lee! We are so grateful Matthew is a new job at TaxOps and we get to see him so much more. Heavenly Father has been watching over us, and we know He will continue to. 

Finally, here's Lee's 3 month!

So cute!