Dickson Christmas

Every year the saturday after Christmas we celebrate Christmas with Justin's Grandparents. (His Dad's parents) They are sooo giving.  We always drive home with a car load.  Calie really loves her great-grandpa.  She was all over him all day.  Calie has us a little worried, she is the biggest flirt and the older the better.  

Santa came!!!!!!!

Santa came bearing lots of gifts.  All three kids were spoiled again this year.  Every year we "try" to not get them so much stuff, but when Christmas morning rolls around somehow they all have way too much.  Maybe next year they will get the whole "it's better to give then receive" thing down.  Maybe???? 

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas eve at Justin's parents house.  It was super fun to have all Justin's siblings together.  Our kids LOVE  the Hatch kids, so they were on cloud nine being all together at Grandma's house for a sleepover with Santa bringing gifts the next morning.  Honestly with all that who wouldn't be on cloud nine? Christmas eve really was a blast!!!!  

Dane's Christmas show

Dane's preschool class had a little Christmas program.  Mrs. Shirley, Dane's amazing teacher, had all the kids dressed like reindeers.  He was not that in to singing this time around.  It is a hit and miss when it comes to singing with our wonderful Dane but boy did he look cute!!  

Devin's Graduation

Justin and I went to Hawaii this last week for Devin's (Justin's younger brother) graduation from BYU.  We had such a great time.  I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but I have a few.  I will add more when I get copies of everyone else.  

The BYU graduation was the highlight of my trip!!  We were able to hear President Eyring speak!!  He gave such an amazing, uplifting talk.  If you get the chance, you should check it out on the BYU website.  It was also great to see Devin graduate.  My favorite part about Devin graduating is that he and Shira moved home!!!  I have missed them soooooo much.  They are living with Justin's parents right now, but I hope they move down south by me really soon.    

Christmas tree oh Christmas tree

We got our Christmas tree!!!  The kids really love picking out the Christmas tree.  Dustin had the finale say this year on which tree we picked.  We went to two different places and looked closely at a dozen trees before he found just the right one.  He did pick a good one.  The kids o each got to pick a new ornament for the tree.  Dustin picked a Star Wars ornament, Dane picked a hot wheels one and Calie picked a Barbie.  No surprise in any of those picks.  What fun our family had getting and decorating our Christmas tree.            

Christmas Card Photo

So, we went to my mom's house to take our family Christmas photo.  Her husband, Phil has a really nice camera and takes pretty good shots.  He took 120 photos and one turned out, one!!  At least one did turn out.  It would have been a bummer if none of them looked good.  Here are some of the funnier ones along with the one good shot.

Thanksgiving '08

We had an eventful Thanksgiving this year.  Dustin and Dane both had Thanksgiving shows at there schools.  They both were super cute and sang the songs pretty well.  

We spent this Thanksgiving in Arizona with Justin's grandparents and other family that live out there.  On saturday Justin's cousin got married.  I got to see the inside of the Mesa temple for the first time and it was so pretty.  The temple grounds are also really nice.  We had such a great Thanksgiving this year.      

Cutest Dane

Dane is such a fun kid.  He has sooo much personality and the cutest face.  The pictures above are of Dane being silly at Dustin's last soccer game.  I really love the one of Dane and Justin together.

Soccer is over

Dustin's second season of soccer has ended.  He has gotten so much better this year compared to last.  I can't wait to see how amazing he will be next year.  He really enjoys playing and we really enjoy watching him play.  What a great kid my little Dustin is!!!

Lego Land

Yesterday when I was updating our blog I forgot to include our trip to Lego Land.  Justin and I took the kids to Lego Land the first week in November.  We had so much fun.  Lego Land is perfect for kids right about Dustin's age to about ten.  Dane was still a little short for some of the rides.  I think we will go again next fall and Dane will be tall enough for all the rides.  There is so much more to do than rides there.  They have a 3D show and a ton of places where they let the kids build different lego things.  All three kids really had a blast.     

Silly Calie

Calie really is the cutest thing in my eyes.  She is so fun, funny and a complete ham for the camera.  She got into the baby powder the other day and had a ball.  She didn't mind at all that I wanted to get a few shots of her being silly.  

Pam Springs without the kids.

Justin and I took a two night trip to Palm Springs.  It was nice to get away for a little while, but we alway end up really missing the kids.  I LOVE the morning cuddles that they give us.  My day never goes as well if I don't get my cuddles from all three kids.  All that said, we did have a really good time.  We went to the movies and nice dinners both nights, and hung out at the pool all day.  I was even able to make it to the spa, which is always amazing!!  

Dawn turned 30!!!!

Dawn is my sister-in-law and she turned 30 on November 2nd.  I am sure she is super pumped about me sharing this with the world.  I give her a hard time because she is a few years older than me, but thats only because I am super jealous.  Dawn is the nicest, most sincere person I have ever met.  She truly wants the best for everyone, even if that means her giving up what she wants to make those around her happy.  She is always sooo loyal and you can count on her having your back.  More than all those amazing things that describe Dawn, she is also a knock out.  She is super gorgeous.  Dawn has had three children and you would never know, she looks so hot.  I love Dawn, not only is she my sister-in-law she is truly one of my best, most cherished friends.        

Halloween '08

It has been way too long since my last post, so I have a lot of catching up to do.  Here goes...

Justin and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch and had a blast.  The kids really enjoy all the little cheap rides at places like that.  I use "cheap" so freely, by they end of the night we had spent a pretty penny.   

We also did our pumpkin carving.  Calie's is the cat, Dane's is the bat, and Dustin's is the scary face.  

Every year for Halloween we go to Justin's parents house to go trick-or-treating with them and the Hatch family.  This year was no exception.  The kids love their grandparents and were very grateful for all the candy they were able to swipe out of grandma's candy bowl.  Needless to say, by the end of the night all three kids had sooooo much candy.  

The boys get another year older

This last weekend we had the boys first real birthday party.  We have had our  family get-together to celebrate the boys birthdays, but no parties with friends.  This last friday we made up for lost time.  We had an Indiana Jones themed birthday party with about 50 kids.  Crazy or what?  It was so fun though.  The boys had a blast, and I think the other kids did too.  My Mom and her husband Phil took over 560 photos.  Here are some of my favorite shots...

   

Here are Dustin and Dane as Indie.  

The party would not have been a success with out the help of these wonderful ladies.  

Friends from Dustin and Danes' class.  

The reptile show.

The start of the Indiana Jones obstacle course.

Pizza time.

Cupcakes and presents.

The boys got more presents then they knew what to do with.  Thanks everyone who helped and attended the  party.  Dustin and Dane really did have the time of their life!!!!