Playing at the Park with 'the twins"

Jess and her girls were here about a month ago - 1st of September. We did alot of fun things together -The twins voted for the park after a few days of adult errands and shopping.Going out anywhere with Jess and the twins is always an adventure - twins are a handful!!!!! It was great to just go out and play. Jess is already coming again this weekend - can't wait!!!!!

Winter Was Never So Great in Utah

They say time heals all wounds - time makes you forget what you were missing before - ya da ya da. I will tie my amazingly deep quote into my love of Cali. I forgot how much I loved it. I forgot how much I missed it. I forgot how many friends I really do have. I forgot how much I loved being outside EVERYDAY - either running or walking (mostly walking) the dogs, playing sports with my cute little family, having Adam laugh at my baseball, soccer, handball, volleyball, frisbee, golf, etc, etc. skills. Truth be told - I am the bomb at handball. The only thing missing is Jade. I know she is where she sould be - I know this is important for her to be on her own. I want her to get an education. All the logic is there - but the heart doesn't understand logic. (That was beautiful). Just wait you guys. I read all of your cute blogs and see all of your cute little ones. I wish we had blogs when our girls were little. It is so neat to see how their lives are documented. Ashley - yes it is normal to want to eat up your kids. It is an unsatiable desire to hug and kiss and squeeze and love your little guys. Then they grow up and leave and you miss them so bad and you forget all the snotty talking back, all the naughty behavior and remember them as nothing but awesome. I do have to say I loved each stage of Jade's life so there are good things to look forward to as they age. Though, once they hit about 14 they don't generally like you to tackle them and give them zerberts and kiss them all over. Just a heads up for you younger moms. So - Cali is awesome I love it. I have gotten to see so many old friends. You make friends in new places - it's just that when you are raised in an area where your parents and your inlaws were well known - you run into alot of people who know you or you know them. I actually have lot's of lunch dates and am not home feeling sorry for myself that I don't have more babies or a fulfilling career. (I hope you all feel bad for me).

Another note - I got a job - it is a crazy one that gives me lot's of anxiety but I am never bored. I am working for James Hardy (Camber Carlston's hubby). Planning and putting together all his companies seminars and events. They are hooked up with a law firm and doing loan modifications. Their business is exploding. Plus James is a little crazy to work for - but we get along. Camber and I are having fun together again so it works. They are living right on Beach Row in San Clemente and so our kids and families have fun together. My point is - We are hoping to save enough to do in vitro or adopt. I only have a few more years left so pray we can make enough in the next year or so. (man - I am getting old!!)

Also - I just found out my STUPID doctor in Utah put me on some idiotic medicine. My new doctor here was amazed that I had been put on 2 things that are not even very good and they make you gain weight. One was for blood pressure - caused by my crazy heart - I recently found out. One was for nerve damage (long boring info). About 2 years ago I started putting weight on and didn't understand why. This last year I have been exercising 1 1/2 hours a day and eating veggies, chicken, fish - you know all the healthy crap with no taste - And barely lost anything - no matter how much I exercised or ate healthy it wouldn't come off. I was getting soooooooo depressed. Then I found a new doctor here - he took me off 2 seperate meds. I had to slowly get off of them and since I have been off of them I have already lost a few pounds without doing anything special. I just thought I was old and hopeless and would be nice and round for the rest of my life - thank heavens that is not the case!!!!!!!!

Bay is making friends and having fun. It is hard leaving old friends but she has never ahd a problem making new ones. She writes about her cute life on her blog.

Whirling Dervish in Cali

By the way if in your wonderings you ever wanted to find out who would win the battle between a maniacal one pound African Grey parrot who would readily and easily pierce any unguarded appendage within reach or a 14 pound white whirling dervish Jack Russell Terrier. Here is your answer. While staying at the parents house, with our two dogs, Lucy decided that Tango the parrot, would be a tasty little morsel and attempted to pull a full grown parrot through a 1" grated cage. Not good, lots of screaming, both me and the parrot, colorful language, both me and the parrot. The parrot somehow survived, to swear another day. Damage done = $300.00 vet bill, a traumatized Tango who looks like he is playing up a false disability claim, two Jack Russells that are having to figure out how to survive outside, and a parrot with at least 4 new cuss words in his ever expanding vocabulary.

In San Clemente

Bay and I are here! We finally finished the house and we drove to Cali. My dad came and helped me in Utah our last week (Because we had some work to do to prepare the home for renters.) My poor dad drove to Cali in my car with Bailey and our 2 dogs. I drove in Jessica's (my sister) car with her twin baby girlsus drive home to Cali. He didn't relish the drive with our 2 "girl" dogs and 4 girls two of which are 7 months old. We had to sop every two hours to walk the dogs, feed and change the babies and then the adult girls had to use the restroom. Overall the stops took us an extra 2 hours to get here. Dad was so patient and didn't get frustrated at any of us. what a good dad!!!!!! We love you!

Our Last Fall Leaves

My favorite time of year is fall in Utah. I will miss the fall colors in Utah when we move to Cali, however I will NOT miss the snow! A picture of our backyard.

October visit to Cali

Bay and I went to Cali Oct 10-14 to visit Adam. Adam and I also went to his 20 year HS reunion. Can you believe we are that old??? We won an award because we had been married the longest. One other mormon couple were married 19 years but we had them by a few months. Our award was a big bottle of wine!! Of course, we gave it away. People were surprised we had stayed together so long. In January we will have been married for 20 years!!!!! Now that's an accomplishment. Without sounding too mushy - Our marriage is better now than 20 years ago - and get's better every year. Anyway - we flew in Friday morning and took Bay to Magic Mountain. We went on everything - Bay was ready to go on every ride. I had to be convinced to go on a few rides - but I did go. Bay has no fear - just like her dad. We stayed with mom and dad Dickson and had the best Sunday dinner. We visited Ben and family, saw my dad and we even saw Jess and twins (she was in Cali at the same time as we were). We got to see JR and family - those kids are so cute!! Ethan has grown so much. I missed my mom - she was touring with the Musical "Menopause" on the East Coast. She plays an X-soap star. She is great at it and will be reprising her role again when it comes to San Diego in February. We visited the beach and Bay got in the freezing water without a wet suit. Adam didn't even want to get in!!! Bay has no nerve endings! I could barely get my feet wet. The trip went by too fast. It get's harder and harder to say good-bye to Adam. We REALLY miss him and are aiming for End of November to make it to Cali so we can be together again.

Vaca in Cali

Jade Bailey and I went to Cali to visit our dad (my hot hubby) at the end of June. Jess took the opportunity to come and visit also since she cannot fly alone with twins. I took one and she took one on the flight there and back. They were actually very good. We got to hang out with Ben's Family and Brenda's Family, my parents, JR family, nana and papa. We have alot of family in Cali. I am excited to live by all of them. Bailey and Savannah had a few nights of sleepovers with us at nana's and they had sooo much fun together. Nana and papa were so nice to let my family come over to their house to swim. I spent the day with my girls and my best friend from childhood Karen Ord and her girls. We had lunch and pedicures and ice cream (Cali pedicures are xpensive!!!! - I like Utah prices better!) Most of all we spent alot of time with Adam. We miss him so much.