New York, New York!

I know what some of you might be thinking... when did you go to New York? Well, I was actually supposed to go on a cruise through Europe with my little sis and two sister-in-laws, but things didn't quite work out that way...
To make a really long and painful story short, I flew all the way to Spain and when I was checking in to board the ship they wouldn't let me on! I was too far along in my pregnancy for cruising rules and so I was turned away. Of course you won't find that information easily on their website, but it's a rule none the less. NO CRUISING PAST 22 WEEKS!!! How far along was I... 28! So I booked a flight home the next morning after being on a plane for 15 hours already and being up for over 24 hours. To make matters worse I went to a different hotel than the one originally planned on and my entire family thought I had been abducted or lost somewhere in Spain. Major drama, but I made it home safely and along the way got to spent a couple nights at my brother's house with his two little girls, a day in Time Square, and go to lunch with my cousin Gabby who's getting married in August and I unfortunately can't attend.
It was a complete nightmare, but what do you do? I made the best of it and at least I got to spend a week with the rest of my fam in Utah while the girls were cruising through Europe.
(Sigh)

I really wanted to see a show that day, but unfortunately
there were no matinee's that day. They were the following day.
(Just my luck!)

First Grade Music Program

Landon had a first grade music program at the end of his school year. The kids did a great job and some of the songs were so cute and get sung around our house regularly. Chase has even learned one or two.

I love Landon in this picture.
Doesn't he look so excited and into the program!

T-Ball & Rookie Ball

Many hours a week are spent at the baseball fields lately. Chase is on a T-ball team and Landon on a Rookie coach-pitch team. They play on Tues. and Fri. evenings back to back starting at 5:30 and usually ending around 8:00. They both love it and are so fun to watch.
We all know how T-ball is... everyone getting a turn to bat and when you're in the "outfield" trying to get any ball you can. Chase has done really well this year and always loves the nights he has a game. His team is called the Bobcats.
Landon is quite the little outfielder. His favorite position is first base and is really pretty good at it. His team is called the Kernels and he has quite a few friends from school on his team (including another Landon) which makes it really fun.

Doesn't he look like a "Bad News Bear" in this pic?

Put, Put!

I'm doomed to have a family of boys who all love to play golf! Lately a favorite pass time is heading to the golf course and putting. They boys have a points system and game set up to see who wins and they always have a blast doing it. I just go and enjoy the evening watching them all have fun!

Bryce's 31st Birthday

Bryce turned 31 this year! I can't believe we're this old (not that 31 is old)! I met Bryce when he was 17 and I was only 15... time flies!
He is such a hard worker and puts in so many long hours at the hospital, but still comes home and makes the effort to always play with his boys. They love him so much!
We are so grateful that he is a part of our lives!

Backyard Golf

This is the view from our backyard, a huge empty (at the moment) field. Bryce decided to turn it into his own personal driving range. He goes out into the field, sets up his cones for markers and just hits the ball. Afterward he and the kids go out, retrieve all the balls and do it all over again.

Hey, at least he's home!

Target Practice

Another backyard activity my boys have come up with is target practice with the paintball gun. Bryce made and cut out an assortment of targets for the boys to try and hit throughout the yard. There is a bat, dog, cat, and pig I believe. They have a blast doing it and at least Chase isn't using the paintball gun in my downstairs anymore!

Landon's Haircut

I promised Landon at the time I wouldn't put this picture on the blog, but I think enough time has passed that it doesn't matter anymore.
His hair was a little longer on top than usual and we were spiking it so cute. One morning we were headed out to the baseball fields and he was wearing his hat and his hair was bugging him so he decide to fix the problem himself. I came down stairs ready to head out the door when I saw him sweeping up a pile of hair from the floor. I asked him where it had come from and when he looked up at me I quickly realized. He had tried to cut his bangs himself so they wouldn't hand down from his hat anymore. Good thing he looks so cute with a buzz so it was a quick fix that grew out very quickly.
I thought people with girls were the only ones who had to worry about this kind of stuff!

He was so mad I made him take a picture before I cut his hair.

I Guess We'll Just Have To Have One More...

I went to the Dr. Fri. Morning and they were able to squeeze me in for an ultrasound that afternoon so I wouldn't have to wait until Monday. Needless to say we are having ANOTHER BOY!!! I laughed for the first 5 seconds after he was revealed, but the laughter quickly turned to tears... I am the worst! In my defense I cried during both my other ultrasounds, only this time the tears didn't stop and they continued on and off throughout the day... I REALLY wanted a girl. I did the next best thing and self medicated by going shopping and picking out a new baby outfit. The boys were so cute and really got into looking for something for the new baby. I saved A LOT of money that day by having another boy and I guess now we don't have to re-paint the boys navy blue room. :)
He does look really good and healthy so we are all grateful for that and the boys are so excited.
I guess we'll just have to have ONE more!

VOTE!!

We have our ultrasound on Mon. afternoon and will be finding out if we are having a BOY or a GIRL. Please let us know what you think and vote at the top-right of the page.
Also, leave a comment so we know who voted what.
Landon has already voted for a boy, while I think you all know what I am secretly voting for!

Highlights of Snowmass!

These are a Few highlights form our trip to Snowmass in Feb. The boys had a great time in ski-school and improved so much since last year. I got really sick and therefore lacked big time on the picture taking, but did manage to capture some video. Next year we for sure will not be making the trip seeing as how we'll have a new baby to care for, but hopefully will be back in the years to follow. Some of my oldest memories are from this place and growing up taking ski-school there myself. It is a Dickinson family tradition and one that I hope will somewhat continue in my own family. Thanks so much to my dad who continues to make it a family priority and allowing us to still be a part of it!

(Pause music at top before viewing video)

The big announcement!

Surprise!!!

That's exactly what we thought!!! We are expecting our third bundle in August. What is it with me and summer heat pregnancies and babies anyway?! I need to remember to stay away from my husband during the month of Nov. from now on! :)

As the surprise of this pregnancy has worn off I am very excited to welcome a new little one... and hoping this new little one is a girl! If it's not than I will love another boy too!

We went home on a very last second trip to Utah last week and then on to Snowmass for the annual Dickinson family ski trip. We drove the entire way to surprise them. My dad was the only one who knew we were coming. 15 hours!!! The kids did awesome!!! We were able to announce the the big surprise and tell them we were expecting and see the reactions on their faces. We even have it on video, but left the cord that transfers it onto the computer in Utah so it will come later. All of us got sick while we were there (I was the worst, of course) so I only got to ski a day and a half out of the three. The kids had a blast in ski school and Landon has become quite the speed demon on the slopes this year. It was so much fun to see the fam and share our news... and now we're sharing with all of you!

Pics and video to come later... I promise!

Ensign Article

There's an article in the Ensign this month that to me was particularly touching.  It is written by Diane Terry Wolf and is titled "Putting My Hands In The Lords".

This article is about how she got through the sudden death of her husband 25 years ago.  It's a special article for my family and I because the accident she speaks of was one my own dad was a part of.  He was duck hunting on Utah Lake one Nov. with his good friend when a storm came and the boat capsized and they were left floating in freezing water.  My dad survived, but his friend Bryan did not.  He left his wife pregnant with their fifth child.  Later my mom was pregnant with my youngest brother who was honorably was named Bryan.

I encourage anyone to read it.  It's great insight on how to deal with adversity in your life.

Link:

Ensign Article

Style Paige!

So one of my best friends started this great toy company for little girls. She was so frustrated when she couldn't find any great toys for her little girl so she thought of this. If anyone has a little girl who loves to dress-up and design than they will love this!

Check out her website... it's just up and running!

Style Paige Website

Brrr...!

This is why school was cancelled Wed, Thurs, and Fri last week.  We are freezing here!

Here's to six years of Iowa winters!

(I stole this from you Robs!  Thanks!)

Christmas Day

The stockings were hung from the chimney with care... even that "Damn" stocking!  Yes, I said it and I am referring to Chase's stocking.  My Grandma made all of her Grandchildren stockings and my mom decided to carry on the tradition with her own Grandchildren.  So far she has completed only one... Landon's.  She started Chase's four years ago, but only finished about one-fourth of it.  As I was leaving home after Thanksgiving break she handed me Chase's un-finished stocking and asked me to finish it for her.  Well, that would have been fine had I known how much freakin' work went into it!  On top of the hours ahead of me to complete it by Christmas she didn't send me home with all the supplies so I had to run around town looking for the matching sequins and more string, multiple times!  Needless to say, I spent MANY hours working on it to finish it by Christmas even with the discouraging comments by my husband to just go out and buy one.  Chase was so excited when it was finished and even gave me his own input on how he wanted his name on it.  It turned out very cute, but after that I'm now sure I will not be carrying on the same tradition of making my Grandchildren stockings.  I told my mom to start working on my future children's stockings now so that maybe by the time I have another one she will be at least half way through with it this time.

Turned out very cute, but will forever be thought of as that

"Damn Stocking"

Homemade sugar cookies and milk for Santa

with carrots for the reindeer

Christmas morning with Landon on his new bike!

Chase is our little snow bunny and is constantly playing in it.

The new sled was a huge hit this year!

It took Santa FOREVER to find a Mizzou football this year!

It was the only thing he asked Him for and who knew it would be so hard to find.

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Chase.

It explains Christmas morning for him so well.

He got a million action figures this year and has loved every one!

(Notice the Transformer underwear peaking through... love it!)

Christmas was wrapped up with "Guitar Hero Rock Band" this year...

which I had now idea we were getting, thanks Santa!

The boys trying to figure out the new game.  

It has been a hit in our house and everyone has fun playing it.

Merry Christmas!

: Be a Hero. Save a blog. Use Bloggled’s Blog Backup and Win an iPod or a CRICUT!

A little info about the company!

Have you ever had this experience? You are posting to your blog, click the publish button, and the very next thing you know the screen is blank. So, you click back to your drafts and nothing is there, then you click your published posts and nothing is there. At this point you are starting to think to yourself…oh no, what just happened? As you continue searching your blog admin for information you see that all your uploaded images, videos, files, and everything is gone.

Living through this situation would be enough to devastate any blogger. Knowing that years of data about your person, family, or business is gone can be difficult to overcome emotionally, but even more difficult of a problem to solve. If you haven’t backed up your blog recently, or ever, chances are your posts and everything else are gone for good.

This is the kind of situation that led Brent Ramey to the idea of creating Bloggled.com, “and to honestly save anyone in that situation the act of going insane.” Bloggled.com is a blog backup company that is allowing bloggers to backup their blog for free as an introductory product to celebrate their official launch out of beta and as a holiday gift this season. Bloggled is also offering multiple prizes to those who participate in their “Be a Hero, Save a Blog Contest” that is running through the day on Monday, December 15, 2008. Winners can choose from either a 16GB iPod Touch, or a Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter Machine and it’s quite simple to enter. All you have to do is one of the items below, but if you do more you get entered more times into the drawing…but you have to enter on Monday 12/15 to qualify so act fast, or should I say slow so I have a better chance of winning.

1. Join Bloggled. Register and sign up for a Bloggled account (http://www.bloggled.com/).
2. Friend or follow Bloggled on one of the following social network profiles:
1. Twitter: http://twitter.com/bloggled
2. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Brent-Ramey/1002883214
3. Subscribe to Bloggled’s RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/bloggled.
4. Blog about the Blogger Contest on another blog then notify Bloggled about the new blog post by commenting on their blog.

You can find the full contest details by visiting www.bloggled.com.

St. Louis Zoo

This is one thing I miss about St. Louis so much.  The Zoo there is awesome and it's FREE!!!  We would go all the time while we lived there and Chase has been begging to go ever since we moved.  We were lucky enough to fly from our stay in Utah to St. Louis and stay with our good friends John and Tara... Thanks again you guys!  I knew one thing we absolutely had to do was go to the zoo.  It was a cold day, but it wasn't crowded and all the animals were out and moving around so really it was the best day to be there.

This Tiger had 5 cubs back in April.  We tried to see them 

before we moved, but they weren't out on display yet.

All five were out and playing, it was the coolest thing we saw that day.

I tried to get a picture with all the cubs in it, but couldn't.

Here are two of them playing around with their mother in the background.

The Hippos are my favorite!

The whole gang at the end of the day

The Ladies

This is a group of my friends from High School.  Some of them I haven't seen in over 5 years and some more recently.  I love getting together and reminiscing about the old days and the trouble and drama we would get into together.  We had some great times!

Lacy, Allison (with Nixon), Me, Melissa, Ashley, Carrie, Becca, Brit, & Lindsay

Thanks for a great night Ladies!

I hope some of you who couldn't come will be able to next time!

Dino Museum II

This is Chase's favorite thing to do.  He LOVES the dinosaur museum.  He could spend all day there and tell you about all the dinosaurs.  His favorite is the T-Rex.  He has always had a fascination with dinosaurs and all his favorite book are about them.  This time Landon didn't want to come so it was Papa Tom, Lindsay, Mike, Me, Bryce, and Chaser.  I don't think that place will ever get old for him.

Counting Change

I think Landon drove my step-mom crazy while we were in Utah.  He was always bugging her to print pictures for him off of her computer.  One day She put him to work on the big bowl of change in their bedroom.  He sat there and organized all the change and then counted all of it.  It kept him occupied for about 3 hours.  Once Landon starts something he doesn't quit... there is way to much OCD in him to stop.  When he was finished my dad gave him $10 worth.  Landon thought that was awesome.

Sophie

A friend of mine was going out of town for a few days and I got the privilege of watching her little girl Sophie.  She is the cutest thing and my boys absolutely loved her.  They couldn't wait for her to get up from her naps and play.  She was so good and I LOVED having a little girl in the house.  Hopefully I'll have one of my own someday...

This was the extent of her mischief.  If I left the pantry door open

she would get into the cereal and pick out all the marshmallows.

At this age my boys did much worse than that!

Chase was so cute with her and loved playing with her

Teresa, go out of town again so we can have her back!

Backyard Football

Some of you may know that I am really raising 3 boys, not 2.  My husband is just as much of a kid  as the little two... sometimes more.

The other day he went and bought spray paint to turn our yard into a football field.  After school it's the neighborhood football field anyway, but now it's official.  We have the white lines to prove it.

Landon and the neighbor boys were so excited.  It rained that night and

the biggest concern when they woke up the next morning was 

whether the lines for the football field were still there.

They were.