Batchelor Family Home Evening

Featuring Jalen in the role of David and Daddy in the role of Goliath.

Four Years of Jalen

Four years ago today, we learned about the birth of Jalen. He was actually born on the 19th, but we didn't learn about him until the 20th. He was the answer to so many prayers and his adoption remains the most spiritual experience of my life. (You can see the right column of this blog for details on that.)

He has been a joy from the day he was born. Jalen has one speed: fast, and one volume: loud. He is like a whirling dervish, bouncing off walls, furniture and when he throws a tantrum, the floor. He can collapse to the floor like a limp rag, but he can also melt you with a sweet smile. He cannot hear a beat without swinging his hips and he bursts into song on a regular basis. He loves pizza and vegetables, but doesn't like cheese or eggs. He has a large vocabulary and cracks us up with the things he says. (Yesterday he was crying that he didn't want to be 4 years old because he still wanted to go to nursery and not to Primary.) He loves his daddy and his granddad. I am so in love with him.

Jalen loves superheroes, especially Spiderman. We started his birthday celebration at our Tuesday music group. We had a donut walk (gotta love Krispy Kreme 2 for 1 coupons).

Then we had a Spiderman piñata.

Spiderman has now taken up residence in the playroom/David's office. It helps keep David from bonking his head on the light fixture (which has taken skin off in the past), but it kind of freaks me out in the dark.

I had this vision of this awesome superhero cake.  

This is what we ended up with.

Fortunately, Jalen loved it.

It was actually pretty tasty.

Jalen loved all his presents.

Self portrait.

I love this little boy so much! I had to throw in a couple extra pictures just because.

Leaving Las Vegas

After Christmas, we headed back to watch my sister's kids while she, her husband and my parents went to the BYU bowl game. The kids were super excited to spend more time together. (I was significantly less excited to watch the depressing game.)

My parents and sister are somewhere in this picture. I took it of the t.v. screen and sent it to them to make sure this was indeed where they were sitting.

We then headed back to Provo for another week or so.

Baylie in my wedding dress.

Baylie in my mom's wedding dress.

Mani/Pedi Day

This is how David watches football. (Note the earphones and the music on his monitor.) As for me, I was so excited to be watching bowl games for the first time in four years.

On January 5, we headed back to Vegas to catch our return flight. When we went to pick up our return flight, we were shocked to see it was the smallest car in the world. Okay, maybe a Smart Car is slightly bigger. We piled as much as we could into it and left one box with  my parents to be shipped later.

Front view

Baylie's Side

Jalen's Side

When we got to Vegas, we found out that not only had our Monday flight been cancelled, Southwest couldn't get us a new flight until Thursday! The kids were thrilled to spend more time with their cousins. My sister and her husband made us all feel welcome. 

Breakfast poolside

Batgirl? This is what happens when a boy is surrounded by his sister and twin girl cousins.

Lipgloss also happens. I saved him before the eye shadow.

The girls, however, went to town with the eye shadow.

The girls took a bubble bath every day. MAJOR BUBBLES!

Normally we're stir crazy to get home after a trip, but we enjoyed this trip so much that we didn't feel that way. Even so, we were happy that there were no hitches on the way back and we were even home by bedtime.

Baylie's first day back outfit. Gotta love her style!

This boy kills me! What a poser!

Jalen's head itched him like crazy in Utah. We think it must be the dry air. When we came home we shaved most of his hair off. (For some reason, he grabbed it by the handfulls.) We're still trying to get his head remoisturized with coconut oil baths.

The kids were especially excited to see the Elders again.

We're pretty much back into the swing of things, with just a little catching up left to do. It's good to be home.

P.S. I missed Seminary, but I sure enjoyed sleeping in!