Blessings

Jack is back!

How we love this little boy!

Mostly, I am not much of a blogger. This blog is primarily a place to post pictures of my family and journal the major events and little special moments in our lives. I still intend to chronologically post the events and pictures from the past month that I have neglected this far. However, this past weekend I rushed up to Utah to stay with the Tobler children so that Lindsey and Harmon could both be at Primary Children's Hospital as much as they needed to while Jack recovered from an injury to his lungs and the RSV pneumonia that developed from it. His recovery proved to be the "best case scenario" for this condition. With vigilant action from Lindsey, miraculous antibiotics, tests to show his progress, good doctors, priesthood blessings, and the faith and prayers of many, Jack came home on the mend in quick time. If we had known the end from the beginning, I would not have needed to go up to assist. But I was glad to be there and witness his recovery, feel the strength of his family, and be with the three girls during this time.

How fragile our lives are! How many times did my children get knocked down, cry, get a hug and bounce back to rough house some more? How many times do parents warn their children to be careful, but miss the strange moment when an accident actually occurs? We cannot build a wall around them, or ourselves, and protect us from so many things that life throws at us. Life is sweeter for the challenges, but who would ask for them? It is almost a year since Alan's illness and surgery. That was the most devastating, awesome experience for us both as he lingered near death, but was almost completely restored to health by the advances of science, a skilled surgeon/caring physician, intuitive talented ICU care givers, and mostly the faith and prayers of countless loved ones in his behalf to a loving, generous Father. I will forever be grateful for the many arms that supported me during that time.

I had a very complicated weekend planned with many important and stressful activities causing me much anxiety. But when one you love is sick, and your family needs you, nothing else is that important. I wish there was another way to get my priorities straight than going through a crisis. But when it comes, it helps to put the big picture back in front of you and put all the other "stuff" in its proper perspective.

Alan and I have been so blessed with a large and loving family and many dear friends. I never want to take their health, well-being and spiritual commitment for granted. It is important that I tell each of you and my Heavenly Father how grateful I am for you and how you live your lives. I know this blog is filled with cliches, but the feeling behind it is dear and precious and unique for me. I am grateful for Jack's recovery and for the blessings I simmer in each day but don't always acknowledge.

Some Catching Up

It has been a long time since I posted anything. In fact, I have taken 183 pictures since the last time I put anything up. Don't worry, I will only put a few. Maybe I will do it over a few days so it doesn't take so much of my time but gives something new to look at for a few days.

Alan spoke in church on Easter, so JR and Casey and kids came to our Sacrament Meeting, which was so nice. The Hadleys were taking pictures after the meeting so we had them snap a few of JR's family in their Easter clothes, too. Casey put the best ones on her blog, but here are a couple of other cute ones. I took some pictures of the girls hunting for Easter eggs, but had the camera on the wrong setting and they didn't turn out so these are all we have.

Mackenzie was a little shy with Su taking the picture, but Kayla will always smile.

Happy Birthday, Kayla!

Today is Kayla's 3rd birthday. Because it is our regular shift at the temple, we had to celebrate her birthday at our house on Sunday. She is such a cute, enthusiastic personality, it is fun to spoil her! She had such fun blowing out her candles she threw her hands up and cheered.


It was the most fun to open the presents, with a sister helper, of course. She responded with excitement, but most of them just sat in the boxes.


The cheap-o dress up clothes were the hit. Note that most of the new ones are on Mackenzie, while Kayla is content with a princess dress we had on hand. Whatever works!


Aren't they beautiful!

Green Beach House

Granddad and Marge came to California a couple of weeks ago and chose colors to re-paint the beach house. It has been some shade of blue since 1983. But now it is a pretty soft green with a darker green trim. The picture doesn't show it perfectly. Don't miss it when you come to visit. It looks a little different.

Want To Play House?

While I was in Boston when Baby Chase was born, we went to Costco. Ben and Toby found this playhouse on display and would not leave it. Ashley counseled me that I did not have room for it in my backyard. But Alan loved it almost as much as I did, so we bought it and made room for it. Alan spent a Saturday afternoon putting it together and it is a hit! We just need more kids to come and play in it more often.

Kayla thinks it is her very own. Unforturnately, they have only been here at night since we got it, so she hasn't been able to play in it very long.

For some reason, Mackenzie was camera shy and played "Catch me if you can" with me. I got you, Mackenzie.

Hunter loved the playhouse, too. He isn't camera shy, but sometimes it is hard to get him to smile for the camera.

Say "Cheese," Hunter.

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!

Shelby Week

Shelby, my niece who lives outside St. Louis, finally let me come visit and help out while she is finishing her last radiation treatments. She has had lymphoma, which was diagnosed in September. She underwent almost 4 months of chemotherapy, but had many others who loved her who came to help her and her young family get through the hard parts of this treatment. Luckily, the chemo did its job and the radiation is to ensure the cancer doesn't return. Since the worst was over, Shelby has been back to work at her computer as the graphic designer for Bazzill Paper, my sister and brother-in-law's cardstock company. Of course, weeks of chemo have left their effects and the radiation saps much of her strength and stamina. I cringed when I thought of her taking two little ones daily to her radiation treatments with her. So I watched the kids while she went on her own and did my best to make it easier for her to finish the Bazzil catalog. A little too much chatting, but it was so fun for me to get better acquainted with Shelby's cute children and husband Jaymeson, who is in his last months of residency in radiological oncology at Washington University in St. Louis. I got to observe first hand what a positive, funny, hardworking, faith filled person Shelby is. I am grateful I got to spend this week with the Strouds.

Here are Camryn (Duck), Mason, Preslie, and Sienna (SiSi) as the girls leave for school. I will forever think of Mason when I blow dry my hair alone or get out my vaccuum. He loved machines!
No one to take this picture at the airport. Leave it to me to wait until the last day to take pictures!

Isn't she still so cute!

Now On To The New Year!

Okay, I have finally posted all the Christmas pictures I am going to and we are now looking forward to a great new year! We have two babies due (so far) this year: Ashley & Todd's in a couple of weeks and Casey and JR's in the summer. We have a wonderful vacation planned in June with every member of our family (we hope) together in a giant house at the Outer Banks of North Carolina . I have set some important goals for this year, which are mostly basics, and think it will be a wonderful year overall.

Here is the view yesterday from our balcony with 75 degree weather, green hills already, and a clear view of San Clemente island, always a good sign.



New Years with JR and Casey. Happy New Year to all you that I love so much!

Time with Grandkids At Christmas...How We Loved It!

We love being with our grandchildren. But it is rare that we can be with all of them at once. It was great to share Christmas with the Utah families this year and spend a little more time with these kids.

It has become a tradition for JR, Casey, Mackenzie and Kayla to come over and help us decorate our tree. Mackenzie is a real helper and even gets on the ladder to get the high places.

Kayla just loves being in the middle of things. She definitely wants to be in charge, but her decorating skills leave a little to be desired yet.

We had to do our Christmas with these Dicksons a couple of days early, but it was warm and cozy and full of love.

We did Christmas about 10 days early with Hunter. Since it is the first he will remember, at least this part was fun. The Hernandez went to Colombia and were very sick the whole time. It will be a Christmas to remember, but not fondly.

These two were always clowning for the camera, and then wanted to see how it turned out. Instead of pj's for Christmas Eve, Sunny's kids opened new swimming suits, since they are going on a cruise in a couple of weeks.

Riley is such a poser! She has certain stances and faces she knows will be cute!

Sage was always deep into a game or music with Nintendo DS or an ipod or something electronic. Notice the full cheek. There is so much Christmas candy to choose from!

Jessie gets double presents. Her birthday is December 28th so we opened birthday presents as well.

This is the computer generation. The kids entertain themselves on computers all the time. Jessie and Bailey are wonderful friends. Luckily, they even go to the same school.

Tristan is growing his hair longer. Papa offered to cut it for him. Not on your life. He is really growing up and is a help to Sunny, especially with the twins, who he adores.

Alex's Christmas was fashion, fashion, fashion. Cute boots, cute girl!

Our oldest two together--Jade and Alex.

We didn't see as much of Jade as we did last Christmas in Israel, but it was fun to do it the traditional way this year. Here she is with Adam. He is sure proud of her!

There was still something to set up Christmas morning for Bailey--Polly Pockets racetrack to the mall. Gordon and Karen Schooley advise.

Lacey and some of her Christmas stuff.

Halle and her new outfit.

Halle loves her American girl doll Santa brought.

Jack got his own lounge chair.

Jack is so cool.

Rock band was the hit of Christmas. There was no need to keep an eye on the kids. They were totally consumed with rocking out downstairs. They were good, too. You should hear Tristan sing!

Time to sit around together. Alex and Jack with Papa.

Snow, snow, snow! Halle, Lacey and Bailey pose for me in front of the white stuff. It was my first White Christmas ever! So much fun!

The audience waiting their turn on Guitar Hero. Lacey, Bailey, Jennifer, and Halle & friend.

Jade, Lacey and Jack at the Toblers after Christmas.