Wow. I randomly found a health assessment form for me from 7/17/89, when I was 5 years old. I was 42 3/4" and 39 1/2 lbs. Jaylen at four was 48" and 50 lbs!

Santa!

Four is the BEST year so far. Jaylen is so excited about EVERYTHING. He got a card from Santa. He said his name, knew how old he was, showed a book he had of him with Jaylen written on it, had a picture of Jaylen, and told him he was on the nice list if he kept up the good work. Jaylen was SHOCKED! He couldn't believe it while he watched.  We didn't have ANY problems getting him to go to bed that night..

Aaron took the boys to see Santa on a fire engine while I was at mutual. Jaylen was so excited and loved telling me all about it. Aaron said Gavin wanted nothing to do with being close to Santa!

Healthy Heart Christmas Party

My heart is so full and happy today. I LOVE seniors- A LOT.

I started teaching a stretching/strength class for the Y's "Row 2 Ballers" at 6 am. The Row 2 Ballers have been a group at the Y for over 30 years. They contribute a lot to the Y and are a fun group of seniors. I taught last week in place of our Executive Director, and later that day he told me they told him he was fired and they wanted me as the new teacher. So it's a regular on my schedule now- I'm very excited. They "inducted" me into the club this morning by including me in a card game and having me do a magic trick with one of their long time members. It was very sweet and fun to be accepted into a group of about 30 with warm hugs and welcomes.

After stretching class I taught my regular Healthy Heart/Walking Wellness class I've been teaching for almost a year. I LOVE this group of 10-15 seniors. The most diverse, fun group of people! After class, we met at a local restaurant for a Christmas party. After having breakfast, they presented me with a gift for Jaylen (harmonica) and a very sweet card. I feel really blessed to be able to associate with such a loving group of people! It made my day to be able to chat and cheer up these great friends.

Tom presenting me with my Christmas goodies

 (Left to right) Kris, Tom, Joe, Bob, Sue, Bob, Louis, Dawn, Carol, Mary, Heidi, Bill, Bob and Steve

Aaron and I were talking last night and he pointed out how comfortable I was with seniors and how it seemed like I could just be myself with that group. I've thought a lot about that, and realized it's absolutely true. I love the perspective, wisdom, and love that comes from the older population. I can be as silly and me as I want and they appreciate me and enjoy my youthful energy. I love listening to their interesting life experiences and cheering them up.

Oh, and I LOVE to tease. Especially Bob H- He  got really frustrated at me one time because he didn't have a chair set out for him. Ever since I tease him every day with hiding his pants, turning his coat inside out, hiding his chair, putting out a high chair as his seat, tying his shoe laces together, putting a spring on his seat, the list could go on and on. He gives me plenty of grief as well. It's pretty fun- it brings out this 13 year old side to this 86 year old man. He always has ridiculous jokes.

Joe, Bob, Carol, Sue

Tom is a Shiner's clown in my class, but you would never know it. He's a calm, gentle giant. After every race or event I do, he always tells me he's proud of me and tells me he brags to his buddies about me. He loves to give me hugs and gives me fun ideas of activities to do with the kids. He has one daughter and a granddaughter and they are truly lucky to have such a good grandpa! Jaylen loves to come and get a balloon animal from him.

Heidi, Louis and Tom

Bob and Louis are an adorable couple- Louis is the absolute sweetest woman I have ever met. She will do anything for anyone and is so soft and caring. Bob is a jokester and loves to come up with crazy reasons why Louis misses from time to time. Like, she's waiting in line at Victoria Secrets, or getting plastic surgery, or playing volleyball in the Olympics. These two are the absolute staple of our class.

Big Bob- Loud as can be, silly as can be, and full of energy and fun. He's constantly sending me emails about old people jokes. He's someone I always look forward to hearing laugh. I like to tease him about the insane amount of wine he drinks.

Carol and Kris are great friends who have lost their husband's recently. They support each other well and I've enjoyed getting to know them and sharing tears with them over their loss. My heart goes out to them, but they are strong women who will make the best of anything.

Bill, that cranky old goat. He's always late and leaves early. He's a fun one to tease and has some fun stories.

Joe, Shelly- our youngest out of the group are caring, sweet and bring a lot to the class. Shelly is trying to get into running and recently did her very first 5 mile race! I've ran with her a couple times to support her and she is doing amazing things. She's lost 10 pounds and the whole class is so proud of all the milestones of distance, time and weight loss she's accomplishing. Joe is whitty and is a reference manual. He's awesome.

Oh, there are so many. I just really love them. They bring so much happiness to me. The way they interact with each other, the way they treat me, and their unrelenting service for others is inspiring.  I feel like I have 15 grandparents that cheer me on.

Gavin somehow got an arm through the neck hole on his shirt with the other arm still in. Jaylen and I laughed and Jaylen said, "Gavin's trying to dress like a Nephi!!"

Jaylen loves to be scheduled. He keeps his teachers on the schedule and ensures everything is done in the proper order. He is a funny one about bedtime. One of his nightly rituals is to get a back rub. He prefers to get it from me because "mommy has thorny fingers."

Also something he is crazy about already is basketball. He loves watching basketball with Daddy before bed and "shoots hoops" with Aaron at the Y everyday. It's really cute- Gavin sits in the corner and eats while Aaron and Jaylen, and I (if I'm not training) shoot baskets. He calls Aaron before we get to the Y to make sure he's wearing his workout clothes to be able to shoot hoops. Aaron, of course, loves this all!

Yesterday I played a game with Jaylen. He gets SO excited about everything, especially with it being Christmas season. So I tried to see what all I could get him totally wound up about. It was hilarious. "JAYLEN!!! Oh my goodness- it's a SHOPPING CART!!!" There was nothing too small he wouldn't get super excited about if I tried. A can on the road, the mailman, eating lunch, cleaning a chair, eating a banana, etc.. I love the joy, excitement and wonder in this little boy!

Jaylen loves this advent calendar Mont, Hailey and Heather gave him. Every day he wakes up so excited to be one day closer to FLORIDA and Christmas!

Jaylen was writing a Christmas list yesterday- on the list, a bullet train and a car. Ha!

I'm in the beehives in YW. We had a fun activity and I attempted to straighten some crazy curly hair of one of our girls. Her hair was SO long! Love this group of girls!

Jaylen gave Aaron a candy cane on the way out the door to school yesterday, along with a hug and kiss. When Aaron drove away Jaylen said," Mom, I wanted to give Daddy a candy cane because he is very, very special to me."

I came in from a run this morning and went to snuggle Jaylen, who was sitting by Aaron on the couch. Jaylen hugged me and said, "Oh mom, you smell really weird after your runs." I asked him what I smelled like. He said "wet dog poop." We got a good laugh- love child honesty.

I suggested an activity to play- Jaylen tells me, "Good job Mom! You used your little brain!!"