Saturday, December 31, 2011

A trip to Hardware Ranch

Our Queen and King and Prince

At the visitor's center the kids could make different animal tracks in the sandbox.

There were stuffed animals, and furs to touch, including a badger, beaver, skunk, bear, etc.

The kids were very good waiting in line for the wagon ride out to see the elk herd.


It was pretty warm, and that's a good thing because we had a hard time keeping Tagg's belly covered :)

We didn't see many "daddy" elk.  No big horns at all.  Mostly cows.


It was a great day !

The fun never ends !





Friday, December 30, 2011

Thursday happenings

Another egg !

We went to visit Dee Dee, but she wasn't home.  We had a great visit with Steve, and Cam loved their cute kittens.

We sewed some burp clothes for the new babies.

In the evening we headed down to Zoo Lights at the Hogle Zoo.

We met Erika and her family there.  We had a wonderful warm time.

Two little hatchlings

Playing with the wild things

Caught in a web

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Cam's 2nd day in Utah

Drawing pictures for everyone


Making and frosting cookies

Playing Basketball

We made Hawaiian Haystacks and had supper at Zac and CJ's with the family.  Then we  JUST DANCED !!


Ever wonder where Cam gets her ability to "Shake it"? - check out the video below :)

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Yesterday was busy !

They love the swing  - but Cam is such a "nervous nellie" :)

Not too much snow, and it wasn't good for packing.  It was SUGAR snow.

Of course they remembered Summer, and wanted to play in the barn !  It wasn't too cold.

Three Yay hoos - Treyson is almost passing her in height.

I fixed spaghetti for supper - Blakley came up too.

Guess what is in the box ?!?!  She kept a tight lid on it :)



Thanks to Mark and Stephanie (for the chickens) and Zac and CJ (for the coop) - we are now CHICKEN farmers :)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

What really matters

“When we have sampled much and have wandered far and have seen how fleeting and sometimes superficial a lot of the world is, our gratitude grows for the privilege of being part of something we can count on—home and family and the loyalty of loved ones. We come to know what it means to be bound together by duty, by respect, by belonging. We learn that nothing can fully take the place of the blessed relationship of family life.”
- President Thomas S. Monson

 - Cam comes today........ :)

Sunday, December 25, 2011

What we all should do...............

Click on the image to enlarge, and read the words carefully - Beautiful !

Saturday, December 24, 2011

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth (literally) !

After the boys left my house they went over to the shop with their dad.  While racing around on scooters, Tagg had an accident.  Out popped two front teeth !  He was such a trooper.  You never would have known anything was wrong as he had fun at the Dickson Family Christmas party 2 hours later !

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Cookies anyone?

What good helpers !

They had such fun, and were so proud of their creations

First batch in the oven

Look at that CLEAN shirt :)

What I needed x 3 to get me through the morning 

Now comes the FUN part :)





Yes - I'm adding a disclaimer to these cookies that I'm taking to our family Christmas party. The note will say the following: These cookies were made and frosted by two little boys........just sayin'.......

No - we are NOT giving these treats out to friends and neighbors, I promise :)  

Are you ready for Christmas?

I'm watching these two yahoos this morning while Christel goes to the doctor.  We may attempt sugar cookies, per Grandpa's request.  We have our 2nd batch of caramels, white choc covered pretzels, carmeled popcorn, tons of cookies, divinity, fudge......... and he's still feeling deprived :)

BTW - have you googled "Let it Snow"? - You ought to try it.  May be the only snow we get for Christmas :)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Old Times I don't remember :)

When I was about a year old, I lived with my parents in Salt Lake City.  Dad was going to school at the University of Utah.  We lived in a place called "Cleggs".  I think this was the name of the people who owned the house, and we lived in the basement.   It was on about 9th East and 2700 South.  I think they must have been rich? and I'm not sure how mom and dad scored a place to live there, but I remember driving by in later years, and if I remember correctly there was a big wall all around the place.  It must have been a huge yard/acreage, right there in the middle of the city.    There was a pond, with swans and ducks.............

There was also an in-ground swimming pool.  Here I am with mom, and my  Aunt Dawna (mom's sister), and my cousin Dianne Whittier.  I think Dawna and Diane were in their early teens, and mom was about 25 years old.  Mom's pregnant (big) with my brother Lance, but you can't tell it.

Mom and Me :) - I feel like this is a brand new picture, I've never seen before !  In the one hard copy  I have, we are only about 1/2 inch square.  When I scanned it I used high resolution and cropped it in close, so I could blow it up big.  We look so happy, I bet that was a GREAT day.  I love this picture !

This picture was taken on my dad's 25th birthday - July 29, 1962.  These are my cousins, Dick Whittier, Joan Whitaker (Adams) and Bret Whittier (back), and Pauline Dickson (Preece) and Jack Whittier, and Kent Dickson (front).  Man alive, we are all about 50 years older now...........The years passed by so quickly. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

And I didn't even swear.................

I was getting ready to boil eggs for  a macaroni salad.  It was going to be a BIG salad, so LOTS of eggs :)    I always put my eggs in the pan and THEN fill with water before putting on the stove.  I filled the pan (with eggs), set it on the counter with the handle positioned NOT so well, turned around a few seconds later, and WHAM BAM THANK YOU MA'AM -  it's on the floor.  All I could do was stand there and stare.......and then call the little boys who we were tending, to come and see the mess that Grandma made !!  Goodness Gracious and Darn It All to Heck :)

Monday, December 19, 2011

Dodge Ball Christmas Party Fun



Keep your eye on Tagg - he is so funny !!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Saturday, December 17, 2011

CJ's birthday

We had lunch at Taggart's yesterday - just the girls and one little boy !

Happy 27th Christel !  We love you 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Gratitude x 100

In our church magazine (The Ensign) this month, there was a suggestion to list what you are grateful for.  I've done so below.  It was harder than I thought it would be....... While some of them are in no particular order, some are.  Some came to me right off, and others took awhile to think about, and I probably missed something I should have thought about, but oh well.  Here goes:

Physical Abilities
1. Eyesight
2. Hearing
3. Health
4. Roger's new knee
5. Walk
6. Talk
7. No pain to speak of
8. Brain
9. I Sleep well, and apparently I snore well too, according to Rog.
10. I'm able to read

Material Possessions
1.  Our home
2.  Our vehicles
3.  Our property
4.  The furnishings in our home (my couch - wink wink)
5.  Our clothing
6.  Trampoline for the grandkids
7.  My computer :)
8.  Our jobs
9.  4-wheeler (so Rog can plow the driveway)
10. THE  Property

Living People
1. Roger D. (thanks for working so hard, and for putting up with me ;)
2. Our children and their spouses (we are so blessed)
3. Our grandchildren (4 + 2 in the oven :)
4. My Parents (none better, I love them so much)
5. Mark and Kuk (my siblings)
6. Roger's Family (The Rich's are a GREAT family)
7. My Friends (you KNOW who you are)
8. My co-workers (couldn't do without you)
9. Elder Craig Fisher (for too many reasons to mention)
10. Elder Michael Rose (he was a savior in his own way and I'll never forget it)

Deceased People
1. Ambure (our daughter)
2. Tonya and Lance (my sister and brother)
3. My Grandparents
4. My Ancestors
5. Uncles and Aunts
6. Colleen Wiggill
7. Sandy Wilson
8. President Hinckley
9. Vera Carter
10. Lori Richins

Nature
1. The Sun
2. Blue sky
3. Summer thunderstorms
4. Animals
5. Cool breeze on a hot day
6. Snow for Christmas
7. Fall leaves
8. The smell of lilacs
9. Rainbows
10. Green grass

Today
1. A day off work
2. A productive morning
3. A good furnace
4. Lunch at Taggarts for C.J's birthday
5. Good weather
6. I get to tend the boys tonight
7. A day to bake
8. A day to sew
9. A day to blog :)
10. Landon and Kacey got Motab tickets for tonight

Places on Earth

1. Morgan
2. Utah
3. United States of America
4. Peru
5. Zions National Park
6. Oceans
7. Seattle
8. Beaches
9. Disneyland
10. Chandler, AZ :)

Modern Inventions
1. Computers
2. Cell phones
3. Cars
4. Medicine
5. Dishwasher
6. DVR and HDTV
7. Electricity
8. Indoor plumbing
9. Central Air
10. Internet :)

Food
1. Pizza
2. Schezwan Chicken at Maple Garden
3. Creamy Artichoke Soup at Taggart's
4. The "Dickson" pumpkin pie
5. Tangees at Steph's
6. Larry's craisin chicken salad
7. Pepsi (sorry Annette - I'm hopeless)
8. Subway sandwiches
9. Laughing Cow Lite Swiss Cheese Wedges
10. Almonds

Gospel Related
1. My Savior
2. Heavenly Father
3. Joseph Smith
4. Book of Mormon
5. President Monson
6. Apostles
7. The Plan of Salvation
8. Repentance
9. Temples
10. My Testimony

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Arizona Christmas Tree

Cam Schutt decorated the entire tree.  She did an excellent job.  They called last night, and she is sounding so grownup.  Roger and I both commented on it.  Only 2 days after Christmas and she'll be here for a visit !!  I think I'll have her help me take my tree down :)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Almost forgot Tia !!!



Tagg loves Grandma Shirlee's little doggie. They are so cute together.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Spooky, Zipper, Rawley, Barclay, Nick, and now........Zoey.....Oh and don't forget Dorky (I mean Rusty)

Spooky - named as such because we got her on Halloween in 1988.  She was part cocker-spaniel, and part Australian Shepherd.  We had her for many years, and she was a lovable dog.  She had one surprise batch of puppies before we had her fixed, and she lived to a good old age of 14.

Manda's first dog was Zipper (part Australian Shepherd). As I remember, Manda brought him home from Tenielle Peterson's when she was about 15 or 16 (1996).  He was to be her dog, but soon wound up being Zac's dog.  Zip was  a great dog. We could throw things, and he'd fetch them right back.  We had him about 10 years, before he was hit by a car in front of our house :(

After Manda moved to Arizona in 1998, she and Therese acquired this tiny little thing (haha) - he started out that way, but Rawl-dog (part pit bull) soon grew and grew and grew.   He was such a good dog, and he came home to Utah with Manda and Cam in 2004.  Unfortunately, one day while out playing with Zipper, he was hit and killed by a car in front of our house also :*(   It was a sad sad time.

Soon after Manda and Cam moved back to Arizona in 2008, this cute little lovable dog (part poodle) was acquired.  Barclay is a sweetheart.  He is getting a little older now, and slowing down, but what a lovable little doggie.  This is Cam's puppy.  He is always really hard to get a picture of because he is so black and fluffy, and his face just disappears.

And this is Nick with Grandpa Roger :)  Nick is an Italian Greyhound, and is just as lovable as Barclay.    This is Cam Claussen's dog, and he is as smart as can be.  He likes to hide under blankets.
And now they have Zoey.  He is a SHE, and her BIG head kind of looks like Rawley, so Manda thinks she is part pitbull also.  Zoey is an early Christmas present for Manda from Bren.  She is about a year old.  We can hardly wait to meet her !  She weighs about 35 pounds now, and dwarfs the other dogs in the house.

And we can't forget Rusty !   He is part Dachshund and part Yorkie,  so I think that's a Dorky.  Rusty is Treyson and Tagg's puppy.  He's a little "wired", but a fun little dog none the less.  


Steph is probably laughing right now, because of this "dog" post.  I'm not really a dog person......... but I'm glad my kids are, and I like THEIR dogs at THEIR homes :)  Arf! Arf!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Babies are growing !!

In a little over 2 months (maybe almost 3months) these two will be here !!
Can you tell Grandma is excited?
Can you guess which baby belongs to which family?

One of the babies will most likely have a "T" name. It's pretty much decided. Can you guess what the "T" name will be? Something that goes with Treyson and Tagg, but doesn't sound like them AT ALL. 2 syllables...... Treyson is having a hard time pronouncing it with his lisp. This little one looks like he might be a THUMB SUCKER ! CJ is having a hard time with that, but I TOTALLY love babies that can sooth themselves. Manda was a major thumb sucker, and Cam sucks two fingers even now when she's tired. (hope she isn't reading this blog !) 

Baby #2 looks like he might come early if the measurements are correct. He has BIG thighs ! This will serve him well, as he will be squatting to catch the ball in baseball. He's going to be a catcher after all, both his parents were, right?? Lando and Kacey are having a hard time deciding on a name, and I've quit suggesting names because everyone gets a thumbs down :) Landon really likes Leonides, but everything seems to think it's some kind of disease :)

February (and hopefully not March) can't come soon enough. You know it's a leap year, and if both babies were born on the 29th, I think that would be so neat and unique. Their mom's don't think so though. I better get busy on the little faux chenille blankets I'm making !!

So..........did you guess which baby belongs to Landon and Kacey, and which baby belongs to Zac and Christel??  Look closely, re-read the post, and you might just figure it out.  

PS - there are NO THIGHS in the picture above :)
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