California Winter

A free Saturday is hard to find. But we did so JR, Casey and the girls joined us for a trip to the little farm at the OC Fairgrounds, a stroll around the Swapmeet, and a hotdog lunch. Beautiful day.
The bull's name was Obama. It was because he had a point way over here, and a point way over there, and a whole lot of bull in between. (Alan added this.)

Afterwards they came to our house to see the puppies and enjoy the sunshine.

Papa loves these girls!

Morgan from down the street joined us with her dog. She was excited to see the new puppies.

Bazzill Dazzle

The day after I got back from Boston, I went to Bazzill booth at the CHA show at the Anaheim Convention center to give Lindsey a lift to the airport and say hi to all the family. Ashley and I were sad not to be with everyone for this event, but Chase came first. I just snapped a couple of pictures, though I missed getting some of the family that was there in the pictures.

I have always thought my sister Marti and my daughter Lindsey were alike in so many ways. Now that they are such good friends and work together, I get my Marti news from Lindsey half the time.

The Smart Girls were at the show in force this time: Laura, Adrienne, Brooke and Rosemary. Aren't they cute!

Chase Away the Winter Blues

Ashley gave birth to another beautiful baby boy on his due date, February 4th, in Boston, MA. Chase Alan Harris weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz and was 19 inches long. He has lots of light brown hair with very obvious blonde roots. I don't think it will fall out. I think he favors Todd more than the other boys do after seeing Todd's baby pictures. I got to go help out for a week and enjoyed every minute of it. Ashley and Chase are thriving!

Isn't he so cute?!

The first day I arrived, Ashley was already home. Luckily, she has many good friends who stepped in to watch the kids and Ann Harris, her wonderful mother-in-law came immediately from New York to help out until I got there. Here is Ashley with all her boys when Chase is barely two days old.

My main job was the older boys, meals and the house, but it is so much fun to hold that precious baby.


Todd had most of the week off. Here it has snowed the night before, but he took the boys to the new skate park, shoveled the snow off and went skateboarding with them. He is so patient and really plays with his boys.


Ashley is the best mom. It was almost Valentines Day so she spent time with Toby and Ben making sugar cookies and decorating them. It is a messy ordeal I often passed on at her stage. But she was cute and patient with them. Todd just held the baby and put in a word or two now and then to help keep order.


Time to take Nana to the airport. I will really miss this family! They are so far away and will soon move to Connecticut as Todd starts work in New York City at the end of the summer. Luckily we will be back for the blessing and see them again in the Outer Banks at the beginning of the summer.


We didn't get to say good-by. The ten minute trip to the airport was too much for them. When they woke up, Nana was gone and Grammy had arrived!

Sunday Dinner

Sunday has always been our time to be with family. Though our California family has dwindled over the years, it is always special to us when Kayla and Mackenzie burst in the door and give us hugs and smiles. We love their personalities and enthusiasm. We love being a weekly part of their lives as well as JR and Casey's. If the time comes when we have no family to have for Sunday dinner, we will have to pack up and leave!

Kayla always had a mouthful of ice cream, but Mackenzie would rather draw.

Happy to pose!

Always a twinkle!

Crazy Husband

After almost 40 years, some things never change. Alan has another pregnant dog! When we moved here he said he was finished raising puppies and promised me we would have no more than two dogs. Somehow we now have three. Even though he swears he checked the new female daily and the male never, ever, never acted interested in her, those tricky dogs sneaked it passed him somehow and puppies are imminent. Consequently, he has built this amazing whelping box. Now most people just get a cardboard box and some old towels and put the dog and her puppies in a corner in the garage or something. Not Alan. He has spent the last five days designing and building this elaborate elevated enclosure complete with lights, a warming pad in the puppy end, a tin roof, a special floor to make clean up with a hose possible, and two doors for easy access to puppies and mother. Of course, the creation was enormous and very heavy. He found the association landscape maintenance guys willing to help move the beast out of the garage, around the corner, over and past the gas meter and into the kennel. Now if he can just keep Abby from chewing up the electrical cords, his puppies can be born and raised in true Alan Dickson style!