Late Christmas Eve we headed to a Cabin to join Peter's family. Dallin was especially exited about getting there. He will be a great scout some day. I was so tired from all of the activities of the week that we almost backed out but seeing Dallin run around so exited like he was at Disney Land made it worth it. We had a christmas program and played games, then headed to bed. Tanner coughed most of the night so we didn't get much sleep. Peter and I were very happy to get up and be over with trying to sleep. We got everyone up just as it was starting to get light outside. Dallin came down and found a drum set and Eden found a dolly stroller.
This was the first year that the kids were old enough to really get the whole opening presents and being exited thing. It was so fun to watch.
I noticed that Peter was helping Dallin open all his trucks and boy stuff and I was helping Eden with dollies and such. This was really much funner than opening our own gifts. I just set mine aside for later. This was a new thing for me to have the satisfaction of seeing our children experiencing the majic of Christmas morning for the first time(although I still don't think they get the Santa concept).
Peter ended up getting a really nice fancy pool stick and a pull up bar and I got the fancy nerdy cell phone/pocket PC that I have been dying to have and a cute new purse.
Tanner explored a couple of new toys and eventually just fell asleep, tired from all of the late night coughing. After leaving the cabin we had all of the Dickinsons and Grandpa Hedman over to our house for a movie and games. The day after Christmas we went to a Dinner with the Hedman extended relatives (people that we dont know very well). It was at a fancy chinese place with no kids allowed so it was our date for the week. It was fun exept I just felt like I was getting really sick. I had been feeling kind of wierd for about 3 days and now I was getting aches and chills really bad. We came home and I went right to bed. During the night I woke up sooo miserable. I finally realized that I had mastitus. I had been so busy that I didn't recognize it. So I finally got the antibiotics that I needed the next day. It took about 24 hours really feel better, but ibuprofin helped me through it. Now I can relate to all of the women out there who have gone through this. It is really painful. Last night we went skating with Peter's family again. It was fun as usual but this time we found a room in the back that had a whole bunch of little kid cars. Dallin and Eden had a great time riding around in them. I was so sad that we forgot our camera. Dallin would open the door for Eden and she would get in and he would shut the door and push her all over the rink. Then he would open the door for her again and she would get out and they would find a different car to use and repeat the process over and over. Dallin's legs would just go so fast as he pushed her and he never seemed to get tired. He fell asleep in the car in about 60 seconds though. They were the cutest little buddies ever. I think we are having a break from all of the parties today but we will start up again for the New Years celebrations. Life is going to seem so boring when we get back to our daily routines.

Christmas Eve

Chrismas Eve was so wonderful. We went to church in the morning where I sang in the Choir and did a Duet and and Solo. I felt very
calm for some reason and was able to deliver without being too nervous. For Christmas Eve we had all of my immediate family over for a buffet and gift exchange. It was a great time. Eden was so tired that she had a hard time waking up. Grandpa was a convenient bed for the waking up process. As soon as we started opening presents she snapped out of it.

We didn't really do a program so I just read the book How the Grinch stole Chrismas to all of the kids. They were really into it. My nephew Adam had never heard the story so his eyes were as big as quarters the whole time. Then we all followed our tradition of opening gifts from youngest to oldest. Everyone gets one gift because we draw names.
My brother in law Bryan got Daniel my other brother in law this year. His gift was the movie Brokeback Mountain. It was so funny. Of course there was a receipt taped to the back so he could go get a movie he really wanted.

Peter and I had my Mom and Dad so we did a combined gift. I got family pictures from all five of our families and put them in nice matching frames. My parents don't have anything like that so it was a nice end to the exchange since they are the oldest. I spen't weeks coaxing people to take the pictures and begging them to email them to me. It went over well. After the party we packed up our kids and headed to a cabin to join Peters family.

Parties

Our Christmas Festivities were plentiful this year. We were so busy our heads were buzzing. We had a wonderful time however since we LOVE to party. We started off by having a party with Peter's relatives at his parents house. We had a nice ham dinner. Then there was a nice program with stories and some performances. I sang Mary's lullaby which was good practice because I was to perform in sacrament meeting sunday. I thought it was fun to watch Grandpa Hedman open the only gift of the night because he is the kind of person who "doesn't need anything". He was given his first DVD player and some John Wayne movies. I think he liked it but still doesn't think he needs anything. The next night we went to my Aunt Cindy's for a party with my relatives. This was a sing a long program that is pretty structured. It is always so fun to sing all the songs of Christmas and hear some performances of my very VERY talented family. There are a lot of professionals in the group. I was given another chance to practice Mary's Lullaby. All of the children were dressed in Nativity costumes and kind of acted out the songs as we went along. They all loved it. Eden was an angel and Tanner was baby Jesus. Dallin was sick and fell asleep so he kind of missed the whole thing.
Eden loved her halo and just walked around feeling pretty the whole time.
All of my teenage cousins just couldn't get over how cute the kids were. They played with them all night. I love feeling like we have cute kids.
Tanner was a great baby Jesus. The kids (I mean Shepheards) flocked around him until he got completely overwhelmed. This scene made singing the songs very special for me. Tanner is such a perfect baby to play the part. He is just such a good natured baby.

Little Buddies

Dallin and Eden are so cute together these days. They even give kisses and hugs. This will be great blackmail material some day.

We had a Christmass Bazaar at our club Butterfly Life in December. It was very sucessful. This is my mom and my two sisters Laurel (right) and Elizabeth (left). We are business partners.
We went to a BYU Vs. Oregon football party last week. We pulled out our matching BYU sweatshirts that we got the kids for Christmas a little early and they were so cute. Dallin opted out of posing for a picture however.
I layed Tanner on the ground one day and the other kids decided to join them. This is a common outfit for Dallin. Although, with the colder weather, Dallin is doing it less and less.

I could not get pictures to post so I guess I should at least leave a little note (so Sarah doesn't get after me again). We have had a busy December. I was actually able to get the shopping done pretty early this year so I haven't been too stressed out. We even have the wrapping done and it isn't even Christmas Eve yet.

Dallin had a party at his preschool last week for the parents. It was so cute to watch him. He loves it there. They told us a story with their teacher about the ginger bread man, then they sang jingle bells. Dallin is so cute when he sings that song. He is talking like crazy now. He says Yes and No a lot which is so nice. I feel like I can know what he wants. I never thought I would be glad to hear "no" from a kid. He has also used the potty a couple of times. I am still in shock over that. I haven't even let myself imagine not having 3 in diapers. Maybe in a few months we will get there. Dallin has started to say I love you. That really warms my heart. He helped me lay Eden down the other day for her nap and said "Good night sweetheart, I love you" to her.

Eden has been demanding the ABC song a lot lately. She loves to sing it with me. I just love how she says "doubleboo". I think Dallin misses Eden when she naps in the afternoon. He seems so bored and the other day when she got up he gave her an unprompted big hug. Eden loves it and pats his back when he hugs her. I knew there was a reason that I wanted to have these guys close in age.

Tanner is six months now and not really moving around yet. I guess I don't really encourage anything. I remember Dallin already crawling by now and starting to get into everything. I am definately okay with letting Tanner take his time. It is fun having just a happy baby that is content to sit on my lap.

Peter and I were talking the other night about how fun it is to have little kids. He commented that this will probably be the best time of our whole lives. I try to remember that when I am having hard days dealing with way more poo than I ever wanted to know about! I think he is right though. I don't want to look back and wish that I had enjoyed this time more. It is a good feeling to live in "the now". Well that is enough rambling for now. I will add pictures as soon as I can. I have some cute ones.

We decided to put up our Christmas tree this weekend. Dallin was very helpful with the project. Eden was not too interested until we pulled out the ornaments.
Dallin and Eden loved putting the flowers and balls on the tree. Of course they were all clumped at the bottom but it was so cute.
Afterward Dallin decided to undecorate the tree so most of the ornaments went bye bye. Now there are just a few at the top. Oh well, that just one more thing that I don't have to deal with keeping hands off all day.
Tanner was a cute spectator. That had was courtesy of Eden. Lately when Dallin really wants me to do something he pulls on me and says "look at me" in a stern tone. I have no idea where he got that from. The other day I gave Eden a sippy of water and she brought me an empty pink one and said "I want pink". I didn't know she knew her colors yet. I guess that is appropriate for a little girly girl.