Swim Videos

I am getting the hang of my new video system now. This is from swimming with all the Dickinsons.

Flip Video

This is the first video that I took with our new Flip Video camera. It is a neat little toy. You can tell Peter was so exited about getting up so early to go buy it. I am exited because it is easy to use and take little clips, which is what I do, and it will be better quality than just using a camera for video and it is pocket size. I think it will take a lot longer to upload, but oh well, somethings gotta give.

Funny Boy

Dallin has learned his full name and started learning everyone else's full names. He now knows all of our family's full names and several of Peter's siblings. He even started naming objects, but of course everything has Dickinson for a last name like "Syrup Dickinson". Eden is starting to get into it too. She thought it was so funny to come up to me yesterday and call me Pricilla.



Dallin was also really funny with Peter's Dad this weekend. He and Peter were asking Dallin what color everyone's hair was. He was mostly saying "yellow" or "brown". Then Peter's dad asked Dallin what color Grandpa's(Larry's) hair was. Dallin studied him for a minute and then proclaimed "Grandpa's hair is empty!"

This is Dallin on Grandma and Grandpa D's merry-go-round
Swimming with the Dickinsons

Benihana: one of my favorite things

Thanksgiving

This holiday weekend was a blast. Peter got off work at noon on Wednesday so we drove until 10:30 and stayed with my sister in Salem. Her little twin girls are getting big, but for 3 months really only look like 6 weeks since they were early. I had fun getting more baby hungry with them.

Thursday morning Peter went with Dan and Maurice, two of my brother in laws, to play football. They had a great time, but Peter wished it was ultimate Frisbee. Then we went to my Aunt's house for dinner with all of my relatives. I hadn't seen some of them in almost a year. It was so much fun to visit and catch up. We had a group of about 40. I didn't want the day to end it was so much fun.

Then we were off to Peter's parents to spend the weekend. We got to see both of Peter's grandpas and Larry D's family as well. It was fun having a sudoku tournament, playing games, and eating sooooooo much food. I think I went from looking 3-4 months pregnant to looking 6 months pregnant!

Friday Morning we woke up at 4:45 for some black Friday shopping. Peter won a gift card in a raffle from Clark Pest Control so we were ready and loaded. About a week ago we also sold our camera to Peter's brother so I have been dying without a camera. So we bought an awesome new camera and video camera! After the gift card and camera money we didn't have to use any of our own money. That was a huge plus. I am so exited about our new toys. I had never been out on a black Friday so it was pretty fun to see the crowds that come out that early. There was definitely excitement in the air.

Friday afternoon I had a nice lunch at Benihana with my sister Laurel who I was not able to see on Thanksgiving. That food is definitely in my top favorites. It was fun to visit with my sister. Then Friday evening we went to Larry D's for dinner and then swimming with all the Dickinsons. The kids had such a fun time, they didn't want to leave.

Saturday we watched the BYU vs. Utah football game at Larry D's. It was most exiting in the last 2 and a half minutes of the game and we won! Then we had another big dinner and watched the movie Hairspray, which I really liked. Then we played games until we were so tired we couldn't play anymore.

Today we will drive back to California and it is back to real life tomorrow. At least we will get to come back in just a few weeks. It is a little weird to come to Oregon and not have our house. I really look forward to being back permanently some day. I will put on our pictures when I get home.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Okay, so I already said how much I love shopping but I swear it is a gender thing. Eden is a shopper at heart. She always wants to go with me when I run errands. Even if I just need to get some milk she really wants to go with me. She is so good too. I could walk around Winco for an hour and she is perfectly content and very helpful. When she is in her imaginary world at home she packs one of her many purses full of the necessities and tells me she is going shopping. So she says "bye bye" and then a couple of minutes later she comes back to tell me she had fun. I remember always going with my mom to the store too. I really love having a little girl that is just like me. Funnest thing ever. Tanner on the other hand hates shopping more than anything. He can last about 5 minutes before he loses patience. I usually end up holding him so he won't cry while pulling my cart, or desperately opening a bag of m&ms which I pay for later to get him to calm down. Once again I see proof that gender is predisposed.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I am starting to feel that Christmas excitement in the air. It hasn't been very cold but in the morning sometimes it is cool and foggy, which is fun. When I go to stores I love seeing all of the Christmas decorations and even the smell of Cinnamon in the air. And of course the music that they play really makes me exited. On Saturday I got to go do our major shopping for the kids. I don't think I have ever had so much fun shopping, and I love shopping. I even told Peter that I wish I could take everything back and then go buy it again! I think the kids are finally old enough to really have fun with the gifts. I found some great things for them. I am probably the most exited about getting Eden a Rose Petal Cottage. I keep sneaking into the garage and looking at everything and wishing Christmas was here. I know, I am so not getting the true spirit, but hey its part of our culture so I might as well enjoy it. I am also very exited about going home to Oregon for Thanksgiving. I am so ready for that. I am feeling better and ready to stuff myself with turkey to celebrate.

The Sleep Talker

Well, if you are a Dickinson, or married to one this story will not surprise you. The other night, as usual Dallin crawled into our bed in the middle of the night. We have been working on that, but it is not going well. Anyway, some time later Dallin exclaimed "AIRPLANE!" I could tell he was not awake because he did not move. Then he yelled "HELICOPTER'S FALLING!", and finally "TWO HELICOPTER'S FALLING!!! Just another common Dickinson trait surfacing.

Peter Got a Job!

I am so proud of Peter. Even though most electrical companies are laying off, not hiring, he has been so diligent for the last few weeks. Finally, after countless resumes and phone calls and interviews he found a GREAT job. He really caught their attention because of his constructions management degree. So they called him and told him to come in and fill out their application. He decided to wear his suit because when he had done this at other companies sometimes he got an interview. So looking all sharp while he was doing his application, all of the people in the office noticed him, but thought he was a lawyer. After he left, the secretary told them who Peter was so that left a big impression on them. Then one of the head guys flew in from LA and took him out to dinner. He wanted to give peter an estimating job that probably would have been more money but Peter told him he needs to get hit electrical hours done (he has one year left). The guy told him that would be okay, but he wants Peter to move up as soon as he gets that done. The best part is that this is a national company that could transfer to Oregon if he wants when we move back. I am so proud of him, and this is going to be a great opportunity for learning for him.

He also has left a great impression with Clark Pest Control too. He realized that he was overpaid by quite a bit for something so he called the guy that he knows from corporate. The guy asked him to come down to Stockton and figure it out with him. So while Peter was there he got to meet Joe Clark, the company owner who actually knew Peter's name. They were so impressed that Peter wanted to return the money that they offered him a corporate job too. He was very flattered, and respectfully declined.

I guess there is something to be said for having character. I could not be happier for Peter and can't wait to hear how his first day goes today. Having a permanent job has been a missing piece for us since moving here and now we are feeling the blessings come once again. I am exited that his hours will be 6:30 - 3:30 too so we can still have him home a lot. He can also sell pest control at night next summer if he wants to. So many opportunities and blessings.

Coppertone Girl

Cuties

Eden got her clothes wet and when we took them off, I thought she looked just like the little girl on the sunblock except without the dog. This Sunday Dallin had his first Primary program. He did so great. I sat with him on the stand, but he made it through the whole thing and was not too disruptive. The only funny thing was that when his class went up to say their line, he took the car that he was holding and started running it along the top of the stand. I was a very proud mommy.

I finally got some of Tanner's cute words on video. The pretend sneeze is his newest trick. He still only has his two goofy teeth in the top front and bottom. There are a couple of molars in the back now at least.

Pregnancy Humor

Sometimes even though I am feeling aweful, I have to look and see that some of this pregnancy stuff is actually pretty funny. I have to write about that because if I don't make fun of myself than I will just whine and I am trying not to do that.

I will start with the cravings. Anything salty, sour or spicy all the way. It is funny because when I am not pregnant I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world, but now, I would take something nice and salty over sweets any day. Some examples of these cravings are of course pickles (especially baby dills), but one day pickles just wasn't cutting it. I finally found a jar of peperoncini peppers in the fridge and dove in. I ate them until my mouth burned too much to eat anymore. It hit the spot though. Then at Costco much to Peter's dismay I bought a huge jar of pickled artichoke hearts, but they made me feel so sick I can't eat them and now we have this huge jar full in the fridge. Then there was the fateful day that we passed a Burger King. We HAD to stop and get some onion rings, but not small, a large order. Oh, I was so sick for the rest of the day, it was aweful. Lastly, Taco Bell just does it for me for some reason. Especially a bean burrito with sour cream and extra onions!!! Okay I know for sure this stuff is not normal.

Then there is the crying. I can't watch Oprah unless I plan on crying and even the smallest sentimental things really get to me. Today I got a forward of the video with the Autistic basketball player kid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOQkfQlwp4s . I don't know what came over me, but I didn't just get choked up, I was a mess. Just watching how the crowd loved the boy and was so exited for him made me lose it. Must hit close to home or something. I have to control my emotions just talking about it.

I have been the epitamy of a frumpy housewife the last few weeks too. I have only put on makeup if I have to and pony tails have been an everyday thing. I guess I am reserving the little energy I have for the kids. Last night we went to the temple and Eden was watching me get ready. So when I was done putting on my dress and make-up and everything Eden said "Wow, you look so pretty!" It was cute, but I also had to laugh at this rare occasion.

All I can say is bring on the second trimester, I am ready.

Isaiah 3-5

These chapters are such a roller coaster. Isaiah seems to go from talking of how evil Israel had become to the wonderful gathering of Israel. I have really tried to understand each of the symbolisms and relate them to what that would have meant in the time of Israel and how that could relate to us now. One of the verses that stood out the most to me was in 5:20

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. "

Boy this really describes our world today. Especially if you think about television and movies and the morals that seem to be so "normal".

Chapter 5 also has one of Isaiah only parables. He gives a great parable of a vineyard that reminds me a lot of Jacobs allegory. There are not many parables in the Old Testament. They are mostly in the New Testament.

I really like studying the chapters and getting as much as I can out of them and then listening to the BYU professors discuss their take on it. It gives me even more insights that I would not have thought of. Like in 5:29. This could easily relate to missionaries of today as the "young lions". I am sure I am only getting a small sampling of the depth of Isaiah, but I am feeling the spirit and learning so much that it is not really as scary of a book than I have always thought.

The Weather / Dallin

This is the craziest Fall for me. I can't believe that on most days it is still in the 70s and almost always sunny. The mornings are quite a bit cooler so we have been putting layers on Dallin for his bus ride, but by the time he comes home, t-shirts are fine. This is so strange since I am used to lots of rain and cooler temps.

Dallin's teacher called me yesterday to tell me how well he is doing. She said that he is saying so many original things and behaving great. Yesterday, he pulled his shirt up and told the teacher that he had a baby in his tummy but that "it won't come out for a long time." She didn't know we were expecting, but I guess the secrets out. I just think it is cool that he gets it. Then when she was working with him on something and there was a lot of noise outside he said he heard an elephant. She told him that an elephant was too big to be at school, so he explained that it was just a little elephant. He is also getting Occupational Therapy at school, which he loves and he is having a speech therapy evaluation next week.

I think I already wrote about church going really well, but it is amazing. He can sit through all of sacrament. We usually take him for a walk at some point but he has to earn it by sitting quietly for 5 minutes. I think that is pretty good for any kid. Tanner is now our little sacrament meeting disruptor.

Home therapy is well underway now too. They come for 3 hours every afternoon. It is great motivation to have my house spotless every day. He usually just loves all the attention and is pretty compliant. The way it works is that he gets rewards for complying with demands. For example, if asked "What is your name?" He says "Dallin",so his tutor says"that's right", and he gets to swing in a blanket or have a mini m&m. They have tons of lessons that they work on. Potty training is going great too. He stays dry all day with very few accidents. I am just so glad to be here, I really believe this help will affect the rest of his life. We have been so blessed for moving. I am so exited for Dallin's future.

Isaiah 1-2

I am not exactly sure, but I think it took somewhere between 2 or 3 hours to go through these chapters. Using the student manual and the footnotes has been so educational. I can understand ancient parables that Isaiah uses and how his writings applied to his day and also to us. the margins of my scriptures quickly filled up with notes and meanings. I was also able to chunk sections of scriptures together to help me understand the general meaning or topic.

So one of the most awesome things was in the footnotes regarding Isaiah 2:16. Nephi qoutes this scripture from the brass plates as well, but it has a small phrase that the KJ does not. Not that exiting except the Greek version of the bible has the phrase too, but is missing a phrase that KJ has. The BOM has all three phrases. In other words: The Greek (Septuagint) has "ships of the sea." The Hebrew has "ships of Tarshish." The BOM has both, showing that the brass plates had lost neither phrase. I learned from the Student Manual that scholars may suggest that Joseph Smith had taken the phrase from the Greek verson. The problem with that is that Joseph did not know Greek and there is no evidence that he even had access to the Septuagint when he was translating the BOM. The only conclusion: The BOM is true of course!

Hewow!

This is my FAVORITE sound lately. This is how Tanner says hello and it just melts my heart.

Isaiah

I have always found Isaiah to be very intimidating, but intriging. I am beginning a chapter by chapter study along with the student manual so that I can really get it. I am also listening to the BYU Insights to Isaiah series that I found on the website which has about 30 half hour discussions for the whole book. So far I am just trying to learn how to go about it with introductions, etc. I think with the study helps I will learn a lot so I am going to write down the most interesting things here over the next few weeks. I am very exited to learn and especially that we have so much more knowledge and understanding because of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Temple. I am not giving myself an exact timeline for the 66 chapters, because I want to cross reference and read the study helps as I go. So far, I have learned about how Isaiah was called to be a prophet in the holy of holies at the temple and how he was very humbled.

Johny!

Peter's brother John came to visit for a couple of days so he could interview at a med school in Vallejo. The kids love him. Dallin recognized him right away and knew his name. While John was here we went to our favorite pizza place with the kids. Dallin and Eden have been pretty cute about holding hands lately. It really helps me out because I am outnumbered sometimes and they keep eachother in line.
This is Eden's bathroom art that she did the other day. She loves bathtub crayons.
63 pieces all by myself!!!
This was at the pizza place. Tanner decided to eat his ice cream cone backward.

Candy Monsters!

For Halloween, we trick or treated at some of our friends houses and then we went to a little party with some other friends from the ward. We ate yummy food and then did a little more trick or treating. I couldn't believe how much candy they got from only doing maybe 15 houses. Their pumpkins were practically full. The kids had fun and went to town on the candy all night. We even did some karaoke. This is how I got Eden to wear her costume. The pink vest was very convincing, for about 10 minutes. Then it was over. I even let her wear "make ups", which was really just lip gloss and pretending to put blush on and curl her eyelashes. Once again she just work a pink outfit and her crown.
Dallin LOVED being thomas. He liked me to chant "chugga chugga choo choo!" over and over again while he ran around the house. We missed his bus for the first time yesterday, but I was glad because it was fun to see his little classmates exited about his costume when I dropped him off. He seemed to feel pretty cool. I took him to the doctor the other day and we discoverd ear infections once again. It seems like he has had them for half of his life. I just can't say enough about his progress with everything else though. I watched him at school for a couple of hours and he is so good at waiting and staying in his seat and eating and talking. He did not have any disruptive behaviors at all. I have had many primary leaders come to me and tell me how awesome he is doing too. They get choked up when they describe the difference from six months ago. I am just so proud of him.
Tanner is a total candy boy. He has been carrying the bucket all over the place and just helping himself to it.

I didn't edit this video but I really think the first 20 seconds are cute.

More Sickies

So I finally got the bug. I felt horrible all day Sunday and my stomach hurt more than usual so after getting everyone through the throwing up and diarrhea it was my turn. This was enough to tip me over after feeling sick for so long anyway. I was mostly laying down for a couple of days. Peter is trying to be patient with me but I think he is tired of this too. I am feeling better but Dallin is having a hard time. He had a cold sort of thing a couple of weeks ago with a high fever. Since then it has lingered and he keeps getting fevers. For the past three days he has had a terrible cough as well as a fever. So I made an appointment to take him to the doctor this afternoon. It is so frustrating to have him miss school and therapy when he needs it but is just too sick. He already missed two days last week. If you know Dallin you know he rarely even acts sick unless he is really really sick so I can tell it is bad because he is being totally mellow. Right now his fever is 103.2. The other kids have it too, but not nearly as bad. It seems like this is never ending and it is not even winter yet. It is no fun to have sick little ones. No one is eating as much as normal yet either. I feel so bad for them.