Little Memories

I want to write a few little things about the kids. I love writing these things down because I know I will never remember them a year from now.

Tanner LOVES socks and shoes. He brings them to me all the time so that I will put them on him. Tanner also loves Dora and his favorite part of that show is Backpack. Lately he keeps saying "yum yum yum yum yum...DELICIOSO!" It is hilarious because he can't quite say delicioso but he sure tries. Then this morning he was finished with his cereal and he kept saying "more pees". He is so polite already.

Eden has been seen wearing her dress up dresses over her clothes a lot lately. She loves being a princess. I took her to the store with me the other day and she wanted to walk and hold my hand so I let her. Whenever we saw anything that interested her she would pull away and go look at it. I was patient with her, but she kept being more and more brave and refused to come when I told her we had to keep going. Finally I decided I better have a little talk with her. I explained that it scares mommy when she wanders away because I didn't want her to get lost and that I didn't want any bad people to take her. She stuck to me like glue after that and I felt bad that she lost a little innocense, but I think she needed the lesson.

I was thinking the other day of how many milestones we have crossed with Dallin over the last few months. We have resolved some of the hardest things with him. First of all, bed time is going better. We have always had such a difficult time getting him to stay in bed and go to sleep, but keeping him on a strict bed time schedule has helped a lot. Also, a light bulb went on for Dallin and all of the sudden he is completely potty trained. He goes on his own and very rarely has any accidents. He is also very descriptive about it. One day it was a roller coaster poo poo and another time it was a scary sharp tooth poo poo. Okay, I know, TMI. That is such big news around here. He can also dress himself for the most part. He can even do buttons and zippers. At school he helps all the other students zip up their coats. They love it and prefer Dallin's help over the teacher. So my next issue to tackle is climbing in our bed every night. This habit is pretty set so it is going to be hard, but my goal over the next month is to get him to stay in his bed all night. With a baby coming, I think it is getting a little urgent so we will see how he does. I will probably use some of the same techniques that really worked for the potty training.

Dallin is so good at building trains. We actually considered doing a permanently nailed together track on a table one time. I am so glad we didn't because building the tracks is Dallin's favorite part. He used to use one of those train tables to build on, but he even outgrew that. This boy needs his space to work his magic.
Dallin found a nice place to sit and have a snack. It was so funny to walk in the kitchen and just see him sitting there kicking his legs.

Dallin loves band aids. What kid doesn't? So he asked Peter for one the other day. Peter said "Where's your owie?" Realizing that he didn't have one he proceeded to bonk his head into the wall followed by his arm. I guess that's one way to problem solve. Peter was like "okay okay, I will give you a band aid" so he would stop. He is really funny lately with his logic.

A Grown Up in a Tiny Body

Eden has been cracking me up lately. She talks just like a little grown up with her tiny little voice. She always keeps track of me too. Like when I get out of the shower she says "Mommy are you all done with your shower?" She is always conscious of what everyone is doing.

The other day I took Eden and Tanner to the park when Dallin was at school. When we go places it is very common for Eden to pack a purse full of random things as well as bringing one of her babies. So for the park she brought her baby out of the car with her and took it all over the playground with her. Of course her purse was on her shoulder as well. Instead of playing for herself she was all about taking care of her baby. She put it in a swing and pushed it and then she pushed it down the slide etc. She was such a cute little mommy.

Then today Eden fell down and before I could go and help her, Dallin happened to come by her. I heard her say "Dallin, will you kiss my owie please?" He was happy to oblige. What a cute big brother. It was the epitome of cuteness! Then Dallin came over to me all exited and told me that he kissed her owie. They are quite a pair lately.

Twins???

Tanner is a true Dickinson. We think he particularly looks like his uncle Jimmy and Grandpa. What do you think?

Easter

The kids had a really fun Easter this year. It seems like they are all old enough to really get into it. On Saturday we met at the church for a big breakfast and egg hunt.

Tanner loved all the candy "nanny". After the hunt, he sat for a good hour and a half and opened every egg and ate candy. I figured at least it was over and there would be no more candy.
Poor Dallin had a dentist appointment right after the egg hunt. I just kept promising him that he could eat all the candy he wanted after the Dentist. He was so good and didn't eat any before. Then the dentist wanted to seal his teeth so he still couldn't eat anything for a half hour afterward. I took the kids to the park just to distract Dallin from the candy. He was okay though and finally dove in when I gave the okay.

This picture reminded me of how cute Tanner was with the peeps last Easter, so I put the older picture at the top of the blog.

On Sunday, Dallin and Eden were so exited to see what the Easter Bunny brought. Tanner got a toy cow, because he loves cows. Eden got a little tiny doll and Dallin of course got a new race car. In the afternoon we colored Easter eggs, which of course was a blast and then Dallin and Eden helped make the eggs into an Easter dinner of eggs a la goldenrod. They were so proud that they made dinner with their eggs. That will definitely be a new tradition for us.

Because of Dallin's dentist appointment he had to hunt eggs with the younger group so he could leave, so it wasn't exactly a challenge for him, but he didn't seem to mind.

Being Perfect is not lovable. Being lovable is lovable.

My Dallin

I know that some people like to hear how Dallin is doing so here is a little update on his progress:

On Thursday we had a parent teacher meeting with Dallin's teacher. She said he is just a different person than when she started working with him. He used to never want to stay with the group and hide under tables at school, but now that is never an issue. He is talking has come in leaps and bounds and she had so many great things to say about him. I really love knowing that his teachers really care about him and are so good to him. They know just how to handle him in every situation.

Socially he is doing really well. He plays with the other kids at recess and knows all of them by their first and last name. She said she has never had a student do that before. Academically he is also doing well. She said that because he has such a good memory his strong point will probably be math. She also thinks that he will do fine with reading which is such a relief to me.

Dallin still has a way to go behaviorally however. She said that out of the ten students, there is only one student that needs more help in this area than him. Not a big surprise to me though, I know his non compliant behavior is the biggest challenge.

As for me, I feel so blessed to have so much help for him. I feel like in a way we have broken through so much of the autism and we are seeing who Dallin really is. The language barrier was so hard but now he can show me his personality as we communicate. He is such a sweetheart. Even though he has hard behaviors, he really is a good boy. He has such a sweet innocence about him that I love and he shows no signs of having a temper. When I think about what life would be like if we had not moved here I shudder because I don't think he would be where he is today without his school and home therapy. What a blessing it is to be here.

That being said, the question of how long we will be in California is always there, and we just don't know the answer. For now we will take it one school year at a time. Next year Dallin will be in kindergarten. We are trying to decide whether to put him in a typical class with an aid or keep him in a similar program to what he is in now. He is doing so well now that we are leaning toward putting him in the special kindergarten with other high functioning students. We are thinking that he will be set up to succeed in that situation and there will be 10-15 students and 3 teachers as opposed to 32 students and one teacher. He is so sweet that I am afraid to mainstream him if he isn't quite ready and then he will get frustrated and always be in trouble. Because his birthday is in June we will more than likely have him repeat kindergarten anyway just to let him mature even more, so maybe we will mainstream him into kindergarten next year. Anyway, trying to decide his education plan is very difficult and stressful. I want him to be in a place where he will grow and succeed the most but I don't have a crystal ball. We just have to pray and hope that we make good decisions for him. We also have conflicting recommendations from his teacher and therapists so that makes it even harder.

Dallin and I definitely have a very special relationship. I love being his mommy and even though life is not easy, I am so grateful for his sweet little spirit. I have such high hopes for him and his future. No matter what happens Peter and i will always be his biggest supporters. Today, i sang in the choir for our Easter program and before I went up, I explained to Dallin what was going to happen. He said "okay Mommy, go sing". As we sang our first song, i looked down into the congregation and saw Dallin sitting tall on Peter's lap so that he could see me. He waved and kept whispering "hi mommy". It was so cute that I had to remember to keep reading the music. Not long ago Dallin would have had a meltdown to see me go up or he wouldn't have even been able to sit in sacrament meeting at all. Today was one of those rewarding experiences and as I looked down at all of my children and my dear husband trying to keep them under control without me, I felt that feeling of love that only a parent knows. There is no greater feeling of love that I have ever known than Dallin, Eden and Tanner.

Oh, one more cute thing. Dallin is so exited about the baby. He hugs and kisses my belly and talks about it all the time. His teacher said that is his number one topic. There are a couple of new babies in our ward and Dallin ALWAYS points them out to me. I watch him as he looks at them with excitement and it is like a longing look that he knows he will have one soon too. It is so neat, and I am so amazed at how much he understands. It is as if he already loves our baby and wants him to be part of our family. I love getting to know Dallin as he has become so much more aware of the world and learned to communicate his thoughts.

The limits you are living with right now, in every aspect of your existence, have been created by your mind. They are perceptions. And they are holding you back. You are capable of far more than you think you are. - Bill Phillips

Painting With Cars

This is Dallin's pride masterpiece because he created it by driving little cars over paint. Very fitting for his personality. By Dallin, Age 4 1/2, March 2008

Bike Riding

Okay, I am finally caught up with all my posts. Here is another video of the kids riding bikes the same day as the kite flying.

Dallin's Obstacle Course

Here is yet another one of Dallin's recent creations. It was actually very structurally sound. Peter even stood on it to prove it to me. Sorry about the background music and crying. I should really get some ear plugs.

First Primary Prayer

We were in Utah the week before so last week after sacrament we found out that Dallin was supposed to give the scripture and prayer in opening exercises in Primary. I wasn't sure how it would go without giving him much warning. I spent about five minutes repeating over and over what was going to happen with him, first we go the the podium, then we read a scripture, then you will say the prayer. He had absolutely no problems and did such a good job. I picked a short scripture which he repeated nice and loud into the microphone (that is how we read scriptures at night with him so that helped). Then he said a very cute prayer. I helped him get started and then he went right ahead and said thank you for primary, thank you for monster truck shows, etc. Then he closed the prayer without going on too long. I was so proud of him. He is definitely not shy and didn't have a problem with changing his normal routine. What a grown up little boy. I am so proud.

Dallin's City

This masterpiece was created over several hours throughout the day on Sunday. Everything was strategically placed just the way Dallin wanted.

Tanner Facts

Tanner's favorite game lately is fetch. He will bring me a ball to throw and then get it and bring it back just like a little puppy dog.

He talks a lot now, but I don't always know what he is saying. Sometimes I just pretend I know so he doesn't get too frustrated. Good thing moms have good interpretation skills. He also tries to sing I am a Child of God and it is so cute.

Tanner's favorite animal is a cow. He will tip is head up and say moooooooooo really animated.

More than anything, Tanner loves to be tossed around and tickled. He loves to laugh and rough play is right up his alley. This has led to some daredevil tendancies that have gotten him in trouble sometimes.

When he has time, Tanner is a very good cuddler with great hugs and kisses. Especially when he first wakes up.

Given the choice, Tanner would definately choose drinking milk(Meel in Tanner language) over food. He has to be very limited or the kid would never eat anything.

Lets Go Fly a Kite

We had a lot of fun trying out Peter's new kite this weekend.

Week Wrap Up

This week was not too exiting, but here are a few little insights to our lives.
I went to the doctor yesterday and found out that I am anemic. No surprise, I can tell because it happens at this time every pregnancy and it makes me feel so tired all the time. So now I am taking iron, which makes me sick to my stomach. Also, I keep saying that this baby hasn't been as active as the others. I still feel him enough not to worry, but I don't get those big jabs much. The doctor finally decided to fill me in on the fact that the placenta is in the front, which is why I don't feel as much as usual! Thanks for the info at almost 30 weeks! The placenta is also very low which can be bad, but she thinks it will be okay. Other than that, everything is looking good.

Potty training: I think we are about 4 1/2 months into potty training with Dallin. It is a very slow process for him, but he is making progress. I am actually really worried because I don't think he can go to a regular kindergarten in the fall if he is not completely trained. He still wets himself several times a day and has to be timer regulated every 25 minutes. Last week though, he finally started making it to the potty for number 2 about half the time. That is huge progress and so much less messy. He gets a "big" present(thank you dollar store) when he goes poo poo and he gets so proud of himself, it is cute!

Eden is totally trained. She has not had a single accident in at least a week. I never have to remind her to go either. I can even run errands with her and she does great. If she ever does have an accident she puts her wet clothes in the hamper and puts new ones on. Easy!!!

I just realized that I really only have one in diapers now. That was such a foreign concept to me, I never thought it would happen. So when the baby comes it will be back up to 2, not to shabby.

After 3 kids, I am finding that a lot of baby items have needed to be replaced or updated. We have already gotten a new car seat, swing and baby bjorn. I still have a pretty long list of things to get including a new pack and play with a bassinet, bumbo chair, and boppy cover. Tanner will be in the crib for a while yet, and then I think it is time to replace the good old $100 dollar Wal Mart crib that is falling apart too. I really took advantage of Old Navy's 40% off kids clothes sale too so we are getting pretty close to ready now. I am so exited to have a new little guy in my life. I think Tanner will have a hard time though. He gets jealous if I even look at another baby.

I laugh at myself when I picture having four car seats in our van. My plan is to keep Tanner and the baby in the middle seat so that I can easily buckle them and Dallin and Eden in the back because they can buckle their own car seats now (thank goodness).

I am also trying to get ready for Dallin to go off track in the month of April. He will still have his afternoon therapy, but I have to keep him on a busy schedule to keep things going smoothly. His days will be full of puzzles, coloring, play doh, chores, play groups, reading lessons and playing on the trampoline.

Utah Weekend

We had a wonderful time in Utah this last weekend. Peter's mom was so nice to come down and stay with our kids so Peter and I were on our own. We flew in late Friday night and stayed in a hotel in Salt Lake. Saturday morning we got all ready and went to the temple for our dear friend Ammon's wedding. It was such a sweet wedding, I am so glad we were able to be there. After the temple we went to a very fancy luncheon with lots of amazing food. It was fun to visit with his family and really enjoyed the whole thing. The bride and groom were glowing and so happy.

After the wedding festivities we went to Provo. We walked around BYU for a while and saw the new buildings and such. Wow, it looks very different. It was weird to see DT in a pile of rubble. Then we went to the Bookstore and got some souvenirs for for the kids. Then we went to the famous Los Hermanos and met up with Tammy, Will, Sherry, Heidi, Paul and Kari for dinner. It was fun to see everyone and I think I laughed the whole time. Afterward, we went to Tammys and played games and watched Cool Runnings. We stayed with Tammy and Will that night too. It was kind of nice to sleep in in the morning and not have anyone jumping on us or climbing in between us.
Peter went to Stake Conference with Tammy and Will and I ran off to meet with my past room mate Heather who is so awesome. It was so much fun to see her and catch up. The hand on the clock flew by way to fast. It made me exited about our room mate reunion that is coming up in June.
Sunday afternoon we went to Paul and Kari's house for lots of Guitar Hero, visiting, and delicious gourmet food. It was a blast to visit more with everyone. Then it was time to get back home to our kids. I actually really missed them the whole time so I couldn't wait to get home. It was so nice to have time with just Peter though. I think it was really good for us. I wish we would have had time to see all of our friends and family in the area, but we just didn't have much time, but other than that the weekend was such a blast.

A Bunny

By Eden, 2/2008, 3 years old

Painting by Dallin age 4 1/2, February 2008

Happy Birthday Peter

Peter's birthday was last Sunday. He got so many phone calls from family and friends, it was really neat. It seemed like his phone was ringing all day. Thanks everyone. The kids gave Peter a 5 feet long shark kite. They already tried it out and it worked great. The hard part was that Peter was getting over being sick and I was getting it. We still wanted to do something for his birthday so on Monday night we had a picnic at the park with a few other couples from our ward. It was 70 degrees outside during the day so the weather was great. The kids ran around and had a great time riding bikes and riding the merry go round. When it got dark we sang happy birthday to daddy and Dallin was very happy to help with all those candles. Peter is still shopping for his big present, a new bike. He has big plans for taking lots of bike rides with Dallin.

Who's the Boss?

The other day I was having a very stern conversation with Dallin. I told him very frankly that I was the boss, not him. A couple of days later I was making dinner and I was saying something and Dallin said "Mommy's the boss." I love it. Peter heard and so of course I told Dallin he was right. Just for fun, I asked him who is the boss, Mommy or Daddy? The answer, Mommy of course. This makes me laugh every time I ask Dallin who the boss is.

I have to admit another story about Dallin. I don't usually lie to my kids, but I think this was a little justified. After my nice phone getting thrown in the pool and Dallin pulling all the keys off of Heidi's laptop at Christmas I am very paranoid about the safety of my laptop, more importantly all my pictures and videos on the laptop. One day I found Dallin sitting in front of it pushing buttons. I panicked and told him that if he touched Mommy's laptop the keys would bite him! Poor guy, I feel like I am not a very nice mommy, but it really worked and he still doesn't touch it.


Yay, I am so happy that bloggers spell check is working again.