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.

June 2008 Outerbanks with Dickson Family

June 2008 marked the first year of our Dickson Family Trips! We all went to N. Carolina and stayed in a beach house in the Outerbanks. It is a popular East Coast vacation destination, which alot of us living in the west had never heard of. We stayed in an amazing 11,000 square foot beach house. It had a room for "each family unit" and then had other various rooms for the little girls, little boys and a "teen room" for Jade and Alex. It had a theater room, a pool table, a pool and a huge kitchen and family room where we were able to all gather without getting too smushed (is that a word?). We were just up the street from the beach and were able to take 30 steps and make it to the sand (I counted - did you?). The difference form the California beaches was that there were crabs - not little sand crabs, but big ones! And they were fast and creepy!!! Poor Halle got lucky enough to be pinched by one. I am glad it wasn't me. We rented a kayak for a few days and had fun riding the waves in it. We swam, read and did whatever we felt like it. Well - Adam and I did. The other parents usually had their hands full with kids - lucky them!! Enjoy it even though it can be overwhelming at times!! Listen to me - I sound like an old lady spouting reminder quotes to the younger generation. : ) The Dickson Family sure makes cute kids ! A huge thanks to mom and dad Dickson who made this happen for all of us - we loved it and it will always be an incredible memory. Thank you!

Lake Powell Summer 2008 Vacation

We had a typical very hot year. Bay learned how to go in and out of the wake on the wakeboard last year and was determined to "jump" the wake this year. She did a pretty good job of getting some good air. Jade does better and better every year and got some great air this year also. Adam is always a stud on the wakeboard. The men entertained themselves with horseshoe competitions while Jen entertained herself with all of the fun kids on board. We missed Michelle and Nicholas this year, but everyone else was able to make it.

New Baby Girls in April

My sister Jessica and her husband Josh had Fraternal twin girls named Mary Ella and Isabella Rose April 24, 2008. She had an awesome delivery - no c-section - and went full term. The babies are absolutely beautiful and so much fun. Can you believe these are the grandparents??? -