Braxton Dean Graduates

We headed to Mountain High School yesterday for Braxton's best day yet!

Kaydon was feeling good about himself in his outfit!

This kid is life!

Brax arrived in style, too!

My boys are so sharp!

Every single member of the staff and faculty adore him!

They just love him so much and it shows.

We all voted and it was unanimous.

BEST GRADUATION EVER.

Seriously.

No speakers.

The only name you hear announced is the one you want to hear!

It was so quick and so great!

Notice: Peanut has two ropes around his neck.

This kid nailed it!

Our Mia, Braxton's girlfriend, had the time slot right after his.

So,we were able to celebrate her as well!

I LOVE that she was wearing sneakers with her beautiful dress!

Love these two!

Brandon, Carrie, Asher and Anson came too!

Brandon and Carrie were HUGE in encouraging and motivating Braxton to not give up on his high school diploma.

P.S.

Anson says, "Auntie!!"

It's actually, "Bantie."

But I'll take it!

Greg, the Principal, pulled Brax aside and told him that he'd been awarded a $500 scholarship!

For those of you who know the actual miracle it is that Braxton graduated period, the bonus have being awarded a scholarship was amazing.

He worked SO hard.

He did everything in his power to control his extreme anxiety.

The administration and faculty were so supportive and he did it!

Tracy, the Counselor...

There are no words for our love for this woman.

She believes so strongly in these kids and pushes them and nurtures them and believes in them far more than they believe in themselves.

Two down... four to go!

We are SO proud of you, Peanut!

Ma

If you've never heard Braxton call to me, it's too bad.

Because it's epic.

He says it with a Boston accent and sounds like his Uncle David!

"Maa!"

It's kind of the best.

He's done it for years.

Mike laughs every time he hears it!

Yesterday, Peanut came to spend time with his Ma.

He and five of his friends are looking at houses to move into - six guys in one house.

I asked him why in the actual heck he is moving out when Jackson's already gone.

"Maa! I'm going to be 19!"

You guys!

They're leaving the nest like it's cool or something!

In other news, I love when he randomly shows up at my office just to see his Ma.

Love this boy so big!

Update on Boogie

Colton is 16 1/2.

He is a sophomore.

Homeschool for this boy has been a challenge!

Normally, he is a very routine kiddo.

When you combine his diagnosis', routine is imperative.

He does have some main-stream classes, but he also has special ed classes and two "lab" classes, where he has the chance to do his work with an advisor and the special ed director.

Without that, he is struggling.

He also misses the social aspects of school.

I think a lot of kids feel this way.

The move has been such a blessing for him.

He has a backyard to go out and play in.

Mike bought some outdoor toys which he plays each day.

He also has his own room, which he keeps very tidy.

He has his own TV, too, so he can go in there and have Colton time.

He has been AMAZING with the dogs.

He is our biggest helper with Izzy and Gus, and is SO excited for Kaya to join our family today.

Our upcoming goals for Colton are to let him test for his driver's permit when things calm down, and to get him a job when things calm down.

He wants both of these things very much.

Colton is such a blessing to our family.

He is pure joy!!!

PURE JOY.

We sure love you Colt-a-bolt!

Update on Buddha

Kaydon is 17 1/2.

He is a junior in this crazy world.

He has his own car and takes SUCH good care of it.

He works at Cold Stone Ice Cream.

That sometimes makes him my favorite.

Kaydon is a hard worker.

He is the least social of my kids.

If he isn't at work, he likes to go hiking or just be at home.

Kaydon LOVES movies.

He is my fashionisto.

This kid and his clothes and shoes and jewelry is all a bit - well, a bit perfectly Kaydon.

He is very particular.

About everything.

Kaydon is a very emotional kiddo.

He is also extremely spiritual.

The shut down has been tough for him.

He was going to the temple every week before this.

Kaydon is my miracle boy.

He was not expected to live when in infancy and as a toddler.

He has surpassed everything the doctors ever thought he'd do.

Kaydon is thinking he wants to go into architecture or finance, or a combination of both.

He is the most responsible with this money out of all of us.

And, he loves to build.

I sure do love my Buddha boy!

Update on Peanut

Braxton is 18 1/2.

He is a senior this year. 

He will be graduating from Mountain High School.

Most likely, there will be no public celebration of his incredibly hard work.

Braxton really had to work for this!

Braxton is in the plumbing program at the DATC.

He will be a plumber within a few years.

Braxton has serious talents when working with his hands. 

He was on the school archery team.

He placed fifth in the state in his very first year!

Braxton works at Jiffy Lube and is training to be an assistant manager.

He has great leadership skills.

He just bought his first automobile - a big truck.

He loves it.

Braxton is currently dating a girl named Mia.

They met at school and she plans to go into medical school after graduating.

Braxton is a hard worker, always willing to learn.

He and Mike are working buddies.

They completed the electrical in his bedroom this past weekend.

He is also my caretaker, and has been always.

He is my protector.

He was very emotional when Jackson got home.

I think he felt relief from being the man of the house.

I watch him now, as well.

Calm and focused, knowing his mama is okay.

Update on Jack-a-lacka!

Jackson is 20 1/2.

For reals.

He didn't grow physically while on his mission to Chile.

Jackson spent 17 months of his life honorably serving our Savior in the Chile Vina Del Mar Mission.

He returned home on March 28th due to the COVID-19 Virus.

He was honorably released as a missionary on Sunday, March 29th, during a phone interview with our loving stake president.

Jackson was on quarantine in our apartment for two weeks.

He was a master organizer and packer!

He moved down to Sandy to live with my mother last Thursday.

That was his plan even prior to leaving for his mission.

He is in a weird position right now.

Due to the virus, he is unable to look for a job.

He plans to start College next year, once he has saved money to begin.

He plans to go into Psychology, and even go as far as getting his doctorate.

Jackson continues to be a leader.

He is kind, compassionate, patient and loving.

The people of Chile miss him so much and he misses them.

He is funny and great to play games with.

He got his facial expressions from his mama.

They make me laugh.

I am so proud of this man!

He will forever by my bubba.

I love him so much!

I'm Fine. It's Fine. Everything is Fine.

This one, though.

I have talked to him a lot the last couple of days.

He called us late last night...

Well, dinner time for us and bed time for him.

He just wanted me on his phone while he helped finish up some things in the mission office.

I can't imagine, really, the emotions he is feeling.

He goes by bus to Santiago today.

At that point, he will have no further way of communicating.

They will stay in a hotel tonight, then board chartered planes tomorrow.

There are about 4,000 missionaries from Chile flying home tomorrow.

He leaves Santiago at about 11 am, their time.

He will be back home to us tomorrow night.

This one, though.

This guy has continued to be incredible.

He fixes dinner every night.

The boys come over to eat, or we take dinner to them at work.

Because of Jackson coming home and Mike going back to work on Mondays, and being in and out of jails, he and the little boys' mama decided it would be best to have the little boys stay with their mama for the next couple of weeks.

So, we are doing our best to love on them this week.

That mostly means snuggle time and making yummy treats with me, and helping dad with everything and playing games with daddy as much as possible.

 This whole "healthy relationship" thing is completely new to me. 

It's a process.

A very good process.

Finally, a sweet gal in Pocatello sent me this shirt!

It's Fine.

I'm Fine.

Everything is FINE!