Christmas Card and Newsletter 2017

Dear Friends:

Well our Christmas cards are ready to be mailed, so I can check another thing off my list! Of course, I’m looking at my list from 2010, when I first made the goal to mail Christmas cards. Seven years later, and nothing is stopping me now! Welcome to the First Annual Jolley Christmas Letter!

We moved to Morristown, New Jersey in January of this year. The day we boarded a plane in Jacksonville, Florida, it was 75 degrees. We deplaned in Newark, and it snowed the next day. It was quite a shock, but has turned out to be a great move.

Dan graduated with his MBA from University of Florida in April. He works in category development for Reckitt Benckiser and travels back to Florida regularly. He is an active participant in the Sunday School lessons at church where, even if it’s not his turn to teach, he still makes the most comments. He enjoys playing golf, or at least he thinks he still would if he ever had a minute to play. Playing golf was so two kids ago.

June started kindergarten this year. She’s in a great class at school where she receives occupational, physical and speech therapy. She loves to draw, bake and swim! She recently fractured her arm again and is now winning the world record for hairline fractures (3 before the age of 6). She was one of the first kids to have her part memorized for the primary program, and she was the only kid to stick a tic tac up her nose and swallow it during the primary program.

Gwen is 3 and is a force of nature. She both falls asleep later and yet wakes up earlier than the other kids. She keeps everyone around her moving so that we don’t miss a thing. Though she and June are opposites, they are also best friends. Gwen loves to play outside, ride a tricycle and has a knack for getting herself into precarious situations. This year, we have found her on top of a ladder resting against the roof of our house, leaning out of an open window in her bedroom at midnight and leading a revolution at her YMCA swim class.

Harris came to us on April 14^th in a record-breaking 40 minute delivery. We almost didn’t make it to the hospital in time, and I may have screamed at everyone within earshot. I’m determined to never show my face at Morristown Hospital again. Despite his violent entrance, he has been an extremely calming presence in our home. He’s sweet and smiley and drool-y. He has been wearing a cranial helmet since September, but he doesn’t mind.

And then there’s me. I am busy with raising and hiding from three little kids. I play the organ at church, work part-time from home and find writing our family blog to be a good outlet for me. New Jersey was the hardest adjustment for me, but now I love it here.

Our family photo was taken by a dear friend, and I couldn’t believe it turned out. That morning, there was much screaming, fighting and gnashing of teeth. The kids were bad too. I’m grateful for this time of year to remember that a Savior was born so that families like ours can try and try again.

Much love to you and yours,

The Jolleys