The Dickerson Boys

Going Private

2010-08-12T19:06:00.001-07:00

I am making our blog private if you want an invite leave a comment

FaMiLy VaCaTiOn!!!!

2010-07-20T20:20:00.000-07:00

My mom, my sisters, and I have talked about a great big family vacation for a long time now and last week we finally did it. The Dickerson crew took off on Sunday the 11th for Arizona where we spent a day and a half at the pool and hangin out with Grandpa and Grandma. On Tuesday, Brandon's 16th birthday, we headed to Newport Beach, California where we met up with Ashley, Todd, Berkley, Courtney, Brady, and my soon to be born niece! That first night we went to Huntington Beach, it was the first ocean sighting for all the grandkids, and it was so cool. Todd was flying a kite while we all had our toes in the sand/ocean at sunset. We went to a really delicious pier cafe for dinner called "Ruby's", I would recomend Ruby's to anyone who vistits that part of California. Wednesday morning, we all woke up pretty early to spend the day at DisneyLand. Thank you so much to Grandpa and Grandma for keeping track of all the little grandkids so the big kids could play. I love amusement park rides, and having all day to just have fun and not having to keep track of little kids was AWESOME!!!! Thursday we spent half of the day at the beach building sand castles, boogie boarding, and surfing. I am in total love with the ocean, it was my favorite part of the whole trip. If I had it my way, I would have spent the entire week at Huntington Beach. I am obsessed with the water; swimming pools, the ocean, the lake I love it all!!! We spent the rest of Thurday at Balboa Island, having lunch and walking around to the shops and the all-famous ferris wheel. Friday was our day to do "our own thing," my family chose the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. I'm sure this animal park is very cool, but we didn't experience most of it. We got there around 11:00 a.m. and it was already 104 degrees. We spend two hours walking around and going on a jungle safari before we decided to call it quits. It was just too hot, I felt really bad about wasting so much time and money there. If it were up to me, we would have spent the day on the beach!!!! We got back in time to have a nice dinner with everyone at a mexican restaurant. Living in New Mexico has given me, a once total hater of mexican food, a new found love for tacos and enchiladas! Saturday morning we woke up and gave our goodbyes to my sisters and their families, which was sad since I know that I won't be back to Utah anytime soon. To end our vacation, my parents took my family out on a boat ride around Balboa Island. My dad drove the boat, thanks to the help of three co-captians, and we got to see all the nice houses and boats that call Balboa Island home. This was such a great vacation, my parents REALLY went all out and everyone had a great time. I can't wait for the next family vacation!!!!

Grandpa and Grandma

2010-06-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

What better way to kick of the summer than spending a week with Grandpa and Grandma?!?!?! The boys and I drove down to Gilbert last Tuesday ready for a fun filled week with our favorite grandparents. The boys are so good in the car, we only stopped twice in six hours! Once we got to Grandpa and Grandma's,I was out of the picture, the boys wanted nothing to do with me!!! I think it is so cute the immediate bond that they form with my parents! We had a great week, I love that my parents' house is so close! We spent a lot of time at the pool, did some shopping, and ate lots of yummy food. We also went to the Aquarium, which was really cool. They had a ton of different sea creatures and a lot of fun interactive things for the kids to do. Another fun thing we did was go fishing. That's right we actually went fishing with Grandpa and Grandma. Danny takes the boys fishing all the time, and the boys thought it would be fun to bring their poles to Arizona so they could fish at the reserve by my parents house! My dad was kind enough to take the boys to see the new Shrek movie so my mom and me could have some girl time. We bought swimsuits, ate frozen yogurt, and talked/laughed a lot. Late one night my dad took charge of the boys again and my mom and I went and saw a movie together, a luxury that I was greatful for. One night we even made homeade ice cream. It was such a great trip, we hope to make at least two more before school starts up again. It is so much fun for me to watch the boys interact with my parents, the boys are totally crazy about grandpa and grandma! I love you so much Mom and Dad, you are exactly what I imagined grandparents to be!!!

Kindergarten

2010-06-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is actually summer. This year has gone by so fast. Hayden started full day kindergarten in August, with many hesitations, but it turned out to be a great year! Both he and I made some really great friends, and he really excelled in his school work. His teachers were absolutely amazing ( I already have Ace registered for their class), they totally made this year a positive experience. The last day of school ended at 1:00 but you were allowed to pick up your kid any time between 11:00 and 1:00. When I dropped Hayden off he told me to pick him up at 1:00 because he wanted to "enjoy every last minute of kindergarten!!!" The last week of school they had a program where every kid was given an award for completing kindergarten and the kids also performed a play. Both Danny and I were able to go, I am so proud of my little Hayden he is growing up so fast!

PaRtY TiMe!!!!

2010-04-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we had a birthday party at our house for Hayden and his friends. While my mom was here for Hayden's birthday we planned and bought supplies for the big event. Hayden was so excited to have his friends come to his house and help celebrate his birthday. We decided that we would play pin the tail on the donkey, have a balloon popping contest, and play bingo. We made sure that every kid who came won a prize, we also sent all the kids home with goodie bag! Hayden got some great presents, and I was lucky enough to set up some future playdates! I love seeing kids play together, they are so accepting! Although we didn't get the turnout I had hoped for, I think the party was a hit! Thanks mom for all the fun ideas, and thanks to Jamie, Danny, and Brandon for helping me supervise!

Hayden Turns SIX!!!!

2010-04-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

Playing games with Grandma

Hayden signing the check at dinner.

Riding the new bike around the block.

I can't believe that six years ago this month I became a mom. Being a mom is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, I am so lucky to have such wonderful boys! I can still remember everything that happened on April 14, 2004. Hayden's entry into this world was very stressful and scary. I don't know what I would have done without Danny and my mom there to keep me going. My mom has always been there for me and the boys, so it was very fitting that she flew to Albuquerque to help celebrate Hayden's big day. Hayden woke up very early on his birthday (of course) and asked me when it was exactly that he turned six. I told him that he was born at 4:30 in the afternoon. He replied by saying "Oh so at 4:30 I will get taller?" I said "No you just grow a little bit throughout the year." He said "Then how will I know that I am six, I still feel five!" Kids are so funny! We took Hayden to school, where he got to celebrate his birthday with homeade cupcakes and ice cream. While Hayden was at school, Ace, Colton and I went to pick up Grandma at the airport. As I have said before, being in a new town all alone really makes me appreciate everytime someone comes to visit. I still really miss Utah! After we picked up Grandma we came home and played outside till it was time to go get the birthday boy from school. We picked Hayden up and counted the hours till Danny came home so we could open presents. Hayden got a real basketball and the new chipmunks dvd from Grandma and Grandpa. From Brandon, Ace, and Colton he got two new video games. And from me and Danny he got a big boy bike! We ate dinner at PF Changs (my boys are obsessed with chinese food) where the waiter told Hayden that he had to sign the check since it was his birthday. It was a great day, it meant so much to have my mom there for the day. The boys are crazy about Grandma, and they aren't the only ones. I loved seeing my mom, and I can't wait till I can go back to Arizona to spend more time with her and my dad!

Colton's First Haircut!!!

2010-04-20T19:20:00.001-07:00

Well my mom came to town last week for Hayden's birthday, and between her and Danny I was convinced that it was finally time to cut Colton's hair. Colton has the best hair out of all my boys! Not only is it California blond, but it is very full and very long. It is hair that girls would kill for, enough said! He was a very good boy and sat on the chair all by himself. The stylist did a very good job, needless to say my little baby looks like a little boy!

Happy Birthday Colton!

2010-03-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

My sweet, little Colton turned one on March 25th! I really can't believe is one already, this year has been crazy. He had such a rough start in this world, but you would never tell that by looking at him. He can say "dog" and "dadda", he eats pretty much everything we eat, and he can stand by himself. He is also the only boy out the three to actually eat his birhtday cake, he really got into it! Colton is such a sweetheart, he is always up for snuggling and loves to take naps with me or Danny. Hayden had been telling his kindergarten class all week that "his baby" was turning one on Thursday. So on Thursday when we walked Hayden into class (a little late since Hayden was purposely dragging his feet), his whole class stood up and sang "Happy Birthday" to Colton!! Colton, you will always be my baby. You have such a sweet spirit, you are so easy going, and you have really brought our family together. I love you so much and look forward to all the growing up you have left to do!

SpRiNg BrEaK!!!!

2010-03-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

Me, Hayden, and Ace.

Colton and Grandpa snuggling!

Grandpa and Colton.

Grandpa though it would be funny to tie the boys

up with the jumpropes Grandma bought them.

Grandpa's chair? More like Colton's chair!

Train ride at Freestone Park.

Ferris Wheel at Freestone Park.

Grandpa pushing the boys on the swings!

Colton was a big fan of sitting in the swing, just don't

try to push him at all!

One big accomplishment of this trip was that

Hayden and Ace both learned to slide down the

fire pole by themselves.

Me and my boys at the pool, I love Arizona!!

Getting ready for the pool.

For Spring Break, the boys and I thought there would be no place better to spend it than with my parents in Arizona. We left Sunday morning and because of a horrible accident involving a FedEx truck that caught fire, it took us almost 9 hours to get there. The boys got a little restless but were pretty good considering we were at a total stand still on the highway for more than an hour. We spent the week shopping, swimming, eating yummy food, and many hours playing at the park. My parents are so great with the boys, it doesn't matter what we do the boys have a good time. It was especially nice this time because my dad was able to take a day and a half of of work! On Wednesday he took the boys to the shoe store at the mall to buy new Nike shoes, while my mom and I went to do something that was really cool. As many of you know, I am into gymnastics big time. I spent most of my adolescense in the gym or practicing in my front yard, and I watched and still watch every televised gymnastic meet that I possibly can. When the women's gymnastic team won gold in Atlanta in 1996, I recorded every minute of it and watched it over and over again. The team captain was Amanda Borden and while the boys were buying shoes, my mom took me to meet her. Amanda owns a gym in Gilbert and one of her assistant coaches is a client of my moms. My mom lined it all up and it really meant a lot to me. By the time we left on Friday morning, Ace was already asking when we were going to be coming back to other house ("our other house" is what he calls my parents' house). Thanks for a great trip Mom and Dad, you always make our visits so special!!!

Oh Hayden!

2010-03-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

Hayden is more than halfway through his kindergarten year. He can count to 100 and he is learning how to read. Hayden is doing so well, his teachers love him and he has many friends in the class. He came home from school the other day and said, "Mom, I sure hope you have something special planned for my birthday party because I just invited my whole class and they all said they could come!" What am I going to do with 22 five year olds?!? Hayden is also a great big brother. He and Ace are best friends, frick and frack, they are always coming up with something fun to play. When Ace was born, Hayden couldn't say baby so he called him "B." To this day he still calls him that, I think that even when they are teenagers he will refer to him as "B." Hayden also loves basketball. Danny and Brandon are huge Jazz fans and they have recruited Hayden. Hayden tries to watch every Jazz game. The 8:30 tip offs are harder, we have actually caught him pinching his arm to stay awake for these games. He knows all the players very well. We were in the car the other day and Derron Williams was giving an interview, I went to change the station and Hayden said "Mom don't change it, that is D Will." My parents bought the boys a basketball hoop for Christmas, and Hayden spends the better part of his free time playing. Sometimes he will play one on one with Ace, or he will play by himself and even do his own commentary. "Hayden takes it to the hoop," "Hayden gets the basket and the foul," are just a couple things I hear when he is playing by himself. Hayden is my most proper/organized child, he reminds me in many ways of my dad. He has a morning hygene routine which includes a breath test (where he blows in my face to make sure his breath doesn't stink), gel and hairspray in his hair, and some of Daddy's cologne. He likes his sandwich cut in squares, and he brings home the crumbs from the table in his sandwich container because he doesn't think someone he doesn't know should have to clean up his mess. He even lines his matchbox cars up in short, straight lines. "Just like a car dealership mom," he says. I love Hayden so much, there is something very special about your first born.

Ace of hearts!!

2010-02-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Ace is 3 1/2 now, he is growing up so fast. This past weekend, I enrolled him in preschool for the upcoming school year. He will be attending the Cross of Hope Preschool, which is a nationally accredited preschool. He will go every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two and half hours each day. I am so happy with this school, I think it will be so good for him. I have really enjoyed having one on one time with Ace this year, since Hayden has been in school. Ace is a natural born athlete. He can throw a football, hit a baseball, shoot hoops, and even do somersaults. In addition to sports, Ace is crazy about Monster trucks. We took the boys to see Monster Jam last weekend and he thought that was the coolest thing in the world, he stayed standing the entire two and half hours so he wouldn't miss anything. Now even being a total boy's boy, Ace does have a softer side. He loves to help me in the kitchen. I can not cook a meal without Ace being involved. It makes cooking more fun for me and it's also a fun way to incorporate counting. Ace will be totally involved in a project and all of sudden stop in his tracks and say "I love you mom!" Ace I love you too, you are one special boy who has stolen a piece of my heart!

Mama's Little Helper!

2010-02-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

It has been so long since I have added a post, but believe it or not these boys keep me pretty busy. I have decided to do three posts this weekend, one for each of the boys. I will start with Colton. Late Sunday night and early Monday morning, Danny and I took turns pacing the floor with Colton because he would just not go to sleep. He was grumpy and mad, we couldn't do anything to get him to settle down. Around 6:00 (the time we all start our day) he finally fell asleep. He woke up a few hours later with his first tooth!!! It is on the bottom and just pokes through a little bit, and he won't let anyone near his mouth to feel it. Every time I go to feel his mouth he sticks out his tongue. Despite having only one tooth, he eats everything. His favorites are chicken nuggets, crackers, bananas, and minute rice. He eats a better variety of food than Hayden and Ace combined! Colton has started to talk a little bit. Right now he can only say gaga, which I hope doesn't mean he has an infatuation with Lady Gaga because she freaks me out!!! He is very close to saying Dadda and Mama, so Danny and I have a bet going on to see which one he says first. I know Dadda is easier than Mama to say, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that Mama wins out. If I win Danny has to fold and put away clothes for two weeks ( this is my most hated household chore). If Danny wins then I have to scoop up dog poop for two weeks. C'mon Colton, make Mama proud! Colton has also become very mobile, not only can he crawl very fast on flat surfaces and even upstairs, but he can walk with the help of furniture or the wall. Because of his mobility, he has become quite the helper. While I am putting clothes in the washer, he pulls them out again. I fold the kitchen towels and put them away, he crawls over and one by one puts them on the floor. I load the dishwasher and again he pulls the dirty dishes out and puts them on the floor. Now even though he undoes a lot of the hard work I do, he is still such a lovable kid. He has learned how to give kisses by placing his wide open slobery mouth on your cheeck. He will also laugh and smile at anyone who gives him even the slightest bit of attention. Living in Albuquerque, having three blue eyed blond haired boys with me everywhere I go, gets me a lot of attention. Everywhere we go I have people stop and comment on the boys, we are definatley the minority here. I love Colton so much, I can't believe he turns 1 next month. Everytime I look at him I remember those emotional days and nights spent in the NICU and I thank the Lord that my boy is absolutley perfect. Keep looking at our blog for updates the other two boys.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!!

2010-01-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Since we couldn't celebrate Christmas in Utah, my mom and I thought it would be fun if the boys and I went to Arizona for the week between Christmas and New Year's. The boys and I left late Sunday morning and got to my parents' house just before dinner. We had a nice dinner then opened presents. The boys thought it was fun to have a second Christmas, they were so exicted about the gifts that Grandpa and Grandma picked out for them. After we opened presents, we decided to make a gingerbread house, Ace and Hayden thought this was so much fun!!! Colton, however, had a lot more fun playing with Grandpa!!! We spent the next couple days going out to eat, shopping, and playing at arcades, but the best part of our trip was yet to come. On December 29, 2009 my mom turned the big 5-0. Now no one could tell by looking at her, in fact most people would say they thought she was turning 40!!! I love my mom more than anyone will ever know! She has been the best mom ever, I still remember when I used to walk to the bus stop in the mornings and she would stand by the picture window in her bath robe and wave to me until she couldn't see me anymore. I can only hope that when my boys are grown that they will feel as close to me as I feel to my mom today. For my mom's birthday, we went to see the new Chipmunks movie and then as a surprise the boys and I made her a homemade birthday cake. It is so cute to watch the boys with my parents. they are total heroes in their eyes. Early on New Year's Eve the boys and I took of for home, despite a few tears. No matter how many times I visit my parents, I always find it hard to leave. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful second Christmas and a fun break. Love You!

Merry Christmas!

2010-01-08T18:22:00.001-08:00

I am a little slow on blogging, but things around here have been pretty crazy. I have a lot to catch you all up on, so here it goes. This Christmas was a special one, because it was our first Christmas with just the six of us. Ususally we take part in a lot of different family get togethers, so this year was special but hard at the same time. It seemed like the perfect time to start new traditions. On Christmas Eve, we all got to open our new Christmas pajama's. For those of you who know me, know that I love to have the boys match. Well this year I was able to find camo pajama pants and white under shirts for all the boys, even Danny and Brandon. I was the only one who didn't match, but I was okay with that. For dinner we had chinese takeout, then watched two timeless christmas classics as family. It definately wasn't Grandma Sorensen's Christmas Eve, but it turned out well. Who do you think woke up first on Christmas morning? Brandon, our 15 year old, was the early riser! He woke up at 5, but kindly waited until 7 to wake the rest of us up. All the boys (including Trigger) must have been good because Santa brought them a lot of fun things. I think the best present a parent gets at Christmas is watching how excited their kids get. I hope all you had a wonderful Christmas and know how much we missed not being a part of things this year.

NoT JuSt AnY MoNdAy!

2009-12-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

So yesterday, I woke up, made the boys breakfast, got the boys dressed, straightened the house, took Hayden to school, then I flew to Vegas to meet my mom and sisters for some Christmas shopping! That's right, we flew to Vegas just to go shopping. Last month, Southwest was offering $25 dollar flights to Vegas, so my mom and Ashley thought it would be cool if we all flew there for the day and went Christmas shopping. My mom called it "doing something spontaneous", and with husbands, kids, and jobs, planning six weeks in advance is as spontaneous as it gets. After landing in Vegas, Colton and I met up with my mom and my sisters, and we were off!!! We started our adventure at the New York, New York where Ash, Court, and I rode the roller coaster. It was quite a rush, I don't remember the last time I rode a roller coaster. After that we all went to lunch at the Studio Cafe in MGM. It was very good, we all had burgers and sandwiches that we could barely get our mouths around. From there we decided to go to an outdoor mall that Ashley had found on her last trip to Vegas. All I can say is that we spent two hours going from store to store and we barely tapped the mall. We had a lot of fun picking out things for us and our husbands. Christmas shopping done, we headed to the strip. We drove up and down the strip (somewhat blindly thanks to Mom) where we saw everything from the fountains at the Bellagio going off to Christmas music to a re-incarnated Michael Jackson wanna be. This was the funnest day I have had in a long time. We laughed A LOT and really enjoyed our time together. I love my mom and sisters so much, they are my greatest friends and even better examples. As I flew home, I thought about how lucky I was to not only have flown to Vegas for the day to go shopping, but how lucky I was to have such an amazing mom and loving sisters. By the way, for all of you who don't know, every year since I can remember my dad gives each of us girls a special present to open on Christmas Eve. This gift is just from him and he spends a lot of time and thought picking it out. Well ,yesterday as we got in our rental cars, we were each handed a special card with a visa gift card in it, so that we could find ourselves something special. I love my dad so much and I love this tradition, I was feeling really sad that I wouldn't be in Utah to to open my Christmas Eve present with my mom, dad, and my sisters there, so getting it yesterday was very special for me. Thanks Mom (and Dad) and my sisters for such a spectactular day. Love you all!

Thanksgiving 2009!

2009-12-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to make the short drive to Arizona to spend the holiday with my parents. We were also very excited that Ashley and her family were there, and we were very sad that at the last minute, Courtney and Brady couldn't make it. Being with my family for Thanksgiving meant so much to me, because we sill be spending Christmas in Albuquerque just the six of us. We got to my parents house around 1:00 Thanksgiving morning. After a quick nights sleep we woke up and the boys headed off to the park with Grandpa, Berkley, and Todd, and the girls took to the kitchen. We made turkey, homemade rolls, seven layer dip, chex mix, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, and two pies. Last year, I made Thanksgiving dinner by myself for my family so I really enjoyed being a part of the team this year. I do have to say that I was really impressed with my little sister Ashley, this was the most I have ever seen her cook and she did a great job. After thanksgiving dinner, and lots of football (good job green bay) we looked through the ads and made our Black Friday game plan. Mom, Ashley, and I woke up at 4:30 and headed to Target. I have to admit that none of us had any must have items on our list, we really just wanted to be a part of things. We did score a few cool items for the kids, and a new down comforter for danny and me. Friday night, Danny and I took the kids to see Planet 51. It was really cute and was the only hour and half the whole trip that my boys sat in one spot and did not make a peep!!! Saturday morning, as per my mom's request, we attempted the first Dickerson family picture since Danny and I were married!!! I say attempted because with six people the shots that have all of you looking at the camera and smiling with eyes open are few and far between!!! We ended up with a few good ones, thanks to my photographer Ashley! Maybe we will try again in 6 more years, just kidding. After the family pics, my dad watched the boys so that Danny, Brandon and I could go see the Blind Side with my mom. I absolutley loved it, it was the best show I have seen all year. Even if you don't like football, this movie will melt your heart. After some tearful goodbyes, we drove back to Albuquerque Sunday morning. I am so so so greatful for my family. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, the only thing that could have made it better would have been to have Court and Brady there.

Halloween!

2009-11-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

A firefighter, a race car driver, and a tiger!

Colton and Trigger, finally close enough to touch!

Ace getting his face painted!

Hayden getting his face painted!

Right before trick or treating!

Look Mom I can sit by myself!!!

Mom and her boys!

Justin, Alicia, Ace and Hayden at the Pumpkin Festival

This Halloween was the most fun I have had as a mom so far. This is the first year that both Hayden and Ace have fully grasped the whole Halloween idea. Colton is such a happy and easy baby that he goes along with just about anything. On the 23rd, Hayden's school had a pumpkin festival to raise money for the school. They sold tickets in advance and on Friday night they had all kinds of games from pumpkin bowling to a cake walk. The boys and I went with our new friend Jamie and her son and daughter. The kids had so much fun, Jamie and I were ready to leave way before they were. The boys came home with a lot of candy and prizes, Ace even won the cake walk and brought home a dozen cupcakes. The boys were so excited for Halloween that I knew I had to something big, and what's bigger than spending Halloween with Grandma and Grandpa?!? That's right, the boys and I headed to AZ for Halloween. It is only a six hour drive from our house, so we took off Friday right after school. We got to my parents house late that night just in time to get our wiggles out. The next day we woke up and ran some errands with Grandma, then to the boys dismay we went to the outdoor mall. Being in a house full of boys really cuts down on my shopping hours, pretty much the only time I am able to go is if I have another girl with me, so Grandma saved the day, thanks mom!!! After the shopping we went to the annual Halloween Party at the park right across the street from my parents house. The boys had a blast. They had all kinds of booths including: face painting, football toss, fishing pond, and a dunk tank. Shortly after the Halloween Party we set out for trick or treating. It was so nice to go out and not have to be bundled up!!! We left at 6:00 and didnt get back until 9:00, and it wasn't the boys who got tired!!! Sunday we woke up and went to church before we loaded up the car and headed back to Albuquerque. the drive back was very peaceful and beautiful just like the ride down. Thanks Mom and Dad for such a fun weekend, now that I know how easy the drive is we will be down there a lot more!!!

Mom

2009-10-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

My mom came to visit us last week and we had a great time!!! I don't think I have ever been so in need of a motherly visit. Being away from Utah has been harder than I thought. Living in Eagle Mountain made it hard for us be at every family get together and also made it difficult to see my sisters as much as I would have liked, so I figured moving to Albuquerque wouldn't be too hard. But I was wrong! It is so weird to not know anyone. I feel silly saying it, but I have been pretty depressed lately and having my mom around for a few days was just what I needed. We did a lot of fun things and just having her around made me feel better.

Grandma with Ace and Colton at Old Town

Ace, Colton and I went to the airport to pick her up Wednesday morning, then we came back home to show her our new house. After a quick tour and introducing her to Trigger, we ran a few errands before it was time to get Hayden from school. He gets out early on Wednesday and before I took him to school he made sure I set his watch to the right time so he could know exactly when Grandma would be there to pick him up. After we picked Hayden up, which was fun because my mom was able to see for herself just how great he is doing in school, we went to lunch and to pick Brandon up. We also stopped at Walmart before heading back home for the day. Wednesday night we cooked dinner and my mom helped the boys with their nightly rountine. Thursday morning my mom was a parent helper at Hayden's school, and after that we went shopping in Old Town and had lunch at the Owl Cafe with Danny. Thursday night we went to a local pizza place I have been wanting to try, then we came back home so we could go to bed early since we were going to the Balloon Fiesta early the next morning.

Me and Ace

Grandma and Hayden

Colton all bundled up, isn't he cute?

The Balloon Fiesta was AMAZING, it was so much cooler than I imagined. You should all put the New Mexico Balloon Fiesta on your Bucket List. We woke up at 5:30 and made it to the park in time for the mass assension. Every morning during the fiesta, they launch all the balloons at 7:oo. And on the last friday and saturday of the fiesta, the special shapes balloons join in. Aside from the balloons, they have tents with every kind of food and drink imaginable. They also have tents that sell all kinds of souvenirs. I heard on the news that for each days events there are over 100,000 people in attendance. The whole thing is unbelievable.

Special Shapes Pig Balloon

Special Shapes Fish Balloon

Special Shapes Bumble Bee Balloons

Brandon, Hayden. Ace, and Me

Balloon Fiesta Park

Mass Assension

After the Balloon Fiesta we did a little bit more shopping, and then just hung out till it was time for Mom to leave. I love seeing the boys interact with my parents, it's just so cute. We had so much fun with Mom. The whole trip made me remember that even though I am grown up with a family of my own, I still need my mom around. Thanks for everything Mom, we love you!!!!

A New Post...FINALLY!!!

2009-10-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hayden and Colton taking a nap!

Hayden at Aunt Courts wedding!

Hayden and Ace with their blow up aliens
that we bought in Roswell.

This is one of my fav pics of Colton.

Ace!

Colton helping Mama with laundry!

It looks like he is really focusing on sleeping!!!

Me and Colton!

The boys at the Roswell Harly Davidson Shop.

Hayden and Ace with an alien.

Ace is trying really hard to be a good big brother!

Colton is his jeep walker.

Cruisin' around the kitchen.

Still napping!

It has been a month since I updated our blog, I am such a slacker. So to make up for the slacking, this will be a very, very long post. Can you believe we have been in New Mexico for two whole months? So far we are enjoying our new home and city, but there have been hard days when we have missed Utah and the people there like crazy. Right now in Albuquerque the lows are about 40 and the highs about 75. The International Balloon Festival starts tomorrow, there are 550 hot air balloons registered from 17 different countries. We are so excited to join in the festivities!!!! I looked out my bedroom window this morning to see more than forty balloons in flight. The festival runs for ten days, so expect a post about that soon. Danny's dad was our first offical visitor, he came to spend the weekend with us about two weeks ago. It was so nice to see a familiar face. We spent Friday visiting the two Harley Davidson shops that are here in Albuquerque, and on Saturday we went to Roswell. Now for those of you who don't know, in 1947 an unidentified flying object crashed and was spotted by a famer in Roswell, New Mexico. The government immediatley responded by taking the UFO to area 51 in Nevada. There is a museum in Roswell and a bunch of gift shops commencerating the crash. I for one am a little skeptical of the whole alien thing, but it was still a very a interesting trip. It will definately make you think twice as to wether or not we are the only ones out there. Meanwhile, our days are very busy. Me and all the boys all leave the house at 7:00 am to take Brandon to school. The high school Brandon was supposed to go to has a really bad reputation for weapon and gang problems, so I enrolled him in one of the city's best high schools but it is 20 minutes away. I really really value education, so I am ok with the inconvenience. We drop Brandon off and get back home around 7:45. Between 7:45 and 8:45 I get the boys breakfast, dress all three of them, and take a shower, get dressed, and put on make-up. You may ask why I have to get Ace, Colton, and I ready when we are just dropping Hayden off at school? Well, I was informed by my sweet five year old that none of the other moms go to school in their pj's and since it's school policy to walk the kindergarteners to their classroom, Hayden insists that we all look presentable. After we drop Hayden off, me and the other two boys come home and play until we leave to get Brandon at 2:00 and Hayden at 3:30. So as you can see, we have a very tight schedule. All four of the boys have had their own accomplishments this month. Brandon is a sophomore and is taking Auto Shop, Woodworking, and JROTC. He has been a tremendous help since we moved down here, I don't know what I would do without him. Hayden is doing remarkable in kindergarten. I was so worried that he wouldn't do well because of his speech problem, but he has done just the opposite. He is learning so much and actually looks forward to school, his teachers are so amazing. On the social side of things, he has his first girlfriend! I was tucking him the other night, and he said "Mom, I have something to tell you. I have a girlfriend, I sit next to her in class and her name is Caitlin. She has yellow hair and glasses. " He also told me that he thinks that Cailtin's mom must have a faster car than me, because she is there before him everyday waiting for him at the doorway of the classroom. Cailtin is a very cute girl and they are very good friends, it's so cute to see how excited they get when they see each other. Ace is finally interested in potty training, that has been our main focus over the past couple weeks. It has been so nice to have this time with him while Hayden is at school. Sometimes I think the middle child gets deprived of that alone time with mom that both the oldest and youngest child get, so I try to make the most of the time I have with Ace when Colton is sleeping. We play outside, read books, and make cookies. Colton is also doing great, I can't believe that six months ago I was holding him in NICU crying and worrying that he would not be a healthy normal baby. He is rolling all over the place, laughing at all of us, and walking around the kitchen in his walker. I have realized over the past two months, just how important family is. The six of us have grown so much closer since we have been down here. My mom comes to visit on Wednesday, and I can't wait. I have never been so excited to see my mom in all my life! I promise that I will be better on updating my blog, and my invitation to all of you to come visit us is still open!!!

Ace and Colton

2009-08-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

So now that Hayden is in school all day, I have more one on one time with Ace and Colton. It has been nice for me to focus on two kids instead of three. Ace is three now, and he is all boy. He loves to jump off the stairs and wrestle with the puppy. His favorite part of the day is when Colton takes his morning nap, because he knows that means it's time to play catch in the backyard. He has quite and arm, he can already throw a spiral football!!! Colton is five months old now, and he is so expressive. All you have to do is talk to him and he'll throw out all kinds of smiles and baby coo's. He is by far my best baby. He sleeps much better than the other two did, and he eats all the time. Danny and Brandon tease him that he has moobs ( man boobs). I never thought that I would be stuck in a house full of boys (even the dog is a boy) but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Albuquerque

2009-08-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

So now that we have been here a month, I thought I would let you know some cool and unusual things about Albuquerque.

1. the city is divided into quadrants. There is Northeast, Southeast, Northwest and Southwest, so to find an address you have to know which quadrant it's in.

2. There are only 800,000 people here, so it is significantly smaller than Salt Lake. The six of us really seemed to boost the population.

3. It isn't quite as hot as it is in Utah, but there is a lot more humidity (say hello to bad hair days).

4. You get your license at 15 and half here, that was a major selling point for Brandon.

5. Thanks to the casinos there is no sales tax on food or registration fees for school!!!

6. The hot air balloons are amazing. The basket is the size of a Honda Civic and the actual balloon is so big it baffles your mind. The pictures in this post are taken down the street from my house. We see them every morning when we take Brandon to school. I can't wait for the balloon festival in October, I've been told that you can only see patches of sky in between the balloons.

7. Santa Fe is only an hour away. We went there a couple weeks ago, and had a great time. It reminds me of Park City. The indians get up early and fight over who gets what spot to sell there jewely. The jewelry is beautiful and all handmade, Danny bought me a beautiful bracelet while we were there. Our next Saturday trip will be to Taos. Taos is New Mexico's ski resort and home to Julia Roberts. I plan on finding her house while I'm there, ha ha.

So far I really like our new town. It is really hard to be away from Utah, and knowing that everyone I know is 600 miles away. I know this is a good move for our family, and I am excited to experience more about New Mexico.

all GROWN up

2009-08-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

Last Monday was Hayden's first day of kindergarten. In Albuquerque, kindergarten is a full day and the kids have to wear uniforms. They are allowed to wear navy blue, black, or khaki bottoms with either a white, blue, or maroon top. Hayden looks like a little business man when I get him dressed for school each morning. He has twenty kids in his class and two teachers. He really likes school, but the full day schedule is hard for him. He really misses me, his brothers, and his puppy. For those of you who don't know, Hayden and I have a very close relationship. This past week has been full of tears, and I'm not just talking about Hayden. I did find something that made Hayden (and me) more comfortable during the day. I was at the mall and saw some guy making woven string bracelets for cash. I asked him to make me two identical ones in Hayden's favorite colors. When I got home, I gave one to Hayden and I took one for myself. I told him we would wear them every time we were apart, and when we missed each other we would just look down at the bracelet and know that everything would be okay. For those of you who are laughing at this post, just wait till you take your baby to kindergarten!!! Hayden has already learned a lot and his teachers have told me a few times that they wish they had twenty "Haydens." I know that once we get used to the separation (ha ha) that this will be a great year for Hayden.

"Trigger" Happy!!!

2009-08-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday afternoon, we got a new puppy. Trigger is a one year old Black Lab. We got her from a lady that was getting a divorce and couldn't take Trigger to her apartment. She must have been a great trainer because Trigger is the best dog I've ever had. He is fully house trained, he responds to the basic commands, he won't jump on people or furniture, and people food isn't a temptation at all! The boys are in heaven, it's cute to watch them interact with him. Hayden taught him how to fetch yesterday, so now every time Hayden goes in the backyard, Trigger follows with a ball. Trigger's previous owner had kids so he is used to the boys pulling his ears and tail. The only one Trigger isn't sure of is Colton. He keeps his distance and looks at Colton like he trying to figure out if he is human or animal. I love this pup, he is a great addition to our family. I can now understand how people can be so crazy over their dogs.

RiCe CeReAl!!!

2009-08-05T18:27:00.000-07:00

Before we left Utah, we took Colton in for his four month check up. Colton weighs 13 pounds, which is in the lower 25% for his age, and he is in the higher 75% for his height. The doctor was very impressed with Colton, he couldn't believe that this was the same baby that he had to see in the NICU. He also said that we could start feeding him rice cereal. We gave him his first serving last night. He seemed to like it and I love the fact that it made him sleep all the way through the night. We love Colton so much, he is such a good baby. In his four months on earth he has spent 10 days in NICU and probably 50 hours in the car..lol.

Goodbye Eagle Mountain...Hello Albuquerque

2009-08-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we woke up early and made the 13 hour trip to our new home. Danny's dad and his girlfriend Carol helped us load the 26 foot U-Haul truck the night before. We had the U-Haul truck stuffed to the brim. Danny's car which was on a trailer behind the U-Haul was also packed, as was my Suburban. In fact, I couldn't even see out my back window. It's amazing all the things you accumlate over the years. Danny and his Dad drove the U-Haul, which left me to drive the Suburban with Brandon, Hayden, Ace, and Colton. Much to my surprise, the boys were great. Brandon kept me awake and laughing the whole way there, Hayden made sure that the baby was always happy, and Ace...well lets just say he was Ace!!! We finally got to our new house at 10:30 and we were so tired that we chose not to unload the truck and just take our blankets and campout in the living room. The next morning we took Danny's dad to the airport and unloaded the truck. After we unloaded the truck, we were all in great need of a shower. Funny thing was we had no hot water. I had called to turn the utilites on the week before, but the lady on the phone neglected to tell me that someone had to be there to turn the gas on. So cold showers it was. We actually didn't get hot water till Wednesday, you forget how much you take that for granted. We have totally unpacked and decorated our lower level, and are still working on the upper level. Here are the pictures of the lower level, I will post the pictures of upstairs when I get the rooms ready. Our house is huge and has a lot of upgrades. I love it, and there is a lot of room for visitors...hint hint. It's strange living in a new state. I am excited for the new experience, but I feel so alone. It really hasn't hit me that we are really living here, it still feels like a a vacation. I know that this will be a great experience for us, we just have to get settled.

Albuquerque Here We Come!!!!

2009-07-26T10:08:00.001-07:00

We are moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico this Saturday. Danny got a promotion through the Larry Miller Group and they are relocating him to the Karl Malone Toyota dealership in Albuquerque as the Parts Manager. I am very proud of Danny, he has worked hard for this promotion. It was a tough decision for us to make but we figured that it will be a good experience for all of us. While we miss our family and friends so much, we know Utah will always be our home and hope to make it back someday. We went to ABQ last week and found a house, we love it and are excited to get down there. So much has happened in the past couple weeks (Ace turned 3, Brandon turned 15, and Colton is now 4 months old) so when we get settled down there I will post more entries. Wish us luck and I will make sure to keep in touch!!!

Fun at Boondocks

2009-07-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

This week I took the kids to Boondocks in Draper. It was a lot of fun!!! On Tuesday's they have a special where you can ride the go carts, play mini golf, and ride the bumper boats for a really good price. The boys had so much fun and I am so greatful for Lex and Brandon being so helpful with them. Colton and I mainly just watched, but we still had a good time. I am so lucky to have 5 such wonderful kids, they make life so exciting.

HaPpY FaThErS DaY!!!

2009-06-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer that a father has a strong influence on his children. As a child, I was always called "little Kelly" because I was so much like my dad. We like the same music, have the same taste in food, and the same love for the car business. I have a lot of great memories with my dad, but I especially remember the summer I turned 18. My dad and I were closer then than we have ever been before. That whole summer, I stayed by his side. My dad has always been and always will be one of my heroes, which is why I made sure that this Father's Day my dad was surrounded by his grandsons and his oldest daughter. Me and my kids drove to St. George Friday afternoon. We spent Friday at the outlet malls and the Fiesta Family Fun Center. On Saturday, my parents took the boys to the park while me and the teenagers hit the mall. Saturday night my parents, mykids and I met our oldest friends the Hintons at the pizza factory for dinner. It was so nice to spend Father's day with my dad. I really appreciated my dad growing up, but I appreciate him even more as a Grandpa. I also want to say something about my husband, Danny. Danny is an excellent father, he loves his family more than anything else. My boys spend 30 minutes everynight looking out the window, watching for their daddy to come home. The minute they see his car come around the bend, they start running and screaming "Daddy's home!" Danny loves all his kids the same, and would do anything for any of them. Danny is an awesome husband and I love him more than he will ever know, but the love he shares with his kids is something special. Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there, you deserve it!

All Smiles!

2009-06-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Colton will be three months old this week! He is growing so fast, I can't believe it. He has recently learned to smile, which is way cute. If you talk to him in a baby voice or stroke his cheek he will smile for you all day long. He is still a really good baby, in fact just this week he started sleeping through the night. I love this new stage he is in, because he is so alert and he recognizes both people and places.

Two Months Old!!!

2009-05-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my little Colton is two months old!!! I took him to the doctor yesterday and he weighs 10 pounds 6 ounces and is 24 inches long. Ten pounds might not seem like much, but considering we brought him home from the hospital at just over 6 pounds, he has really chunked up. He has been totally off his seizure medicine for a couple weeks now, and is doing really well. The medicine made him really groggy, so it's nice to have him so alert. Here are a few things that babies are supposed to do at two months, and we are happy to say Colton can do all of them: hold his head up, follow you with his eyes, recognize when mom or dad is in the room, and move his head to find a sound he hears. He has also started to do that cute little baby coo, I love it!!! He still has so much hair, usually babies loose some of their hair the first month or so. Colton has so much hair that it has formed what we call a mullet in the back, and he loves having his hair brushed!

SuMmER VaCaTiOn!!!

2009-05-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Today marks the first day of summer vacation!!! Lex just finished her sophomore year at Lehi High School, Brandon passed ninth grade at Willowcreek Middle School, and Hayden graduated from Stepping Stones Preschool. I am a little bit leary of summer vacation. It is always hard to find something that will keep both teenagers and toddlers happy, but I am glad for the extra help from Brandon and Lex as I am still getting used to the three to one ratio!!! Hayden had a graduation program that was really cute. The teacher made a slide show of pictures she took throughout the year which she gave to each parent on DVD. Later that night, we watched the slide show as a family and Hayden started to cry. He was worried he would never see his preschool friends again. I am thankful for such a tenderhearted boy.

Our Busy Day!!!

2009-05-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, Hayden's preschool went on a field trip to the Thanksgiving Point petting zoo. Colton, Ace and I were lucky enough to tag along. We got to feed the cows and goats, and we also went for a hayride. Later that day, the boys and I went to the aquarium with my mom, who was still in town from Colton's blessing. We saw all kinds of sea animals and we also got to touch the sting rays.

2009-05-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

We had Colton blessed in our Sacrament meeting on Sunday. We were lucky enough to have my dad fly in the night before so he could give the blessing, and he did a great job. As with the other two boys, Colton holds a very special place in my heart. I thank God everyday to be the mom of three such amazing boys. Following the blessing, the boys had some much needed Grandpa and Grandma time. Can anyone say "Blueberry Pie?"

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

2009-05-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

We got Hayden and Ace a bunk bed a few months ago, but we have had a hard time getting Ace to sleep in his "big boy" bed. So Danny came up with a good idea. He told Ace that if he slept in his bed for two weeks straight, he would buy him a fishing pole so he could go fishing with Danny, Brandon, and Hayden. Well, that seemed to do the trick, Ace is now sleeping the whole night in his own bed. Danny took him to Walmart and bought him a bright, red fishing pole on Saturday, and on Sunday they went fishing and left me and Colton with some much needed alone time!!!! Props to Danny for taking the older boys fishing, I know that was probably more work than relaxation!

Six Weeks Old!!!

2009-05-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

Our little Colton has been with us for six weeks tomorrow. I took him up to Primary Children's two weeks ago for his follow-up CT Scan, and the neurologist was very happy. He said that the bleeding in the brain had been re-absorbed and the skull fracture was almost healed. We love him so much and are so happy that things are going so well considering how he started out. Colton loves to be cuddled and held. I can't decide if this is a good or a bad thing. It is so sweet because every time you cuddle up with him he falls asleep, and what is cuter than snuggling with a little baby?!? But it is kinda bad, because whenever he is awake he expects to be held. I introduced him to his swing this week and he really likes it, so maybe that will help. He is a very good baby, he only cries when he needs something and he sleeps really well at night. He is also starting to get more alert which is nice. His big brothers just can't get enough of him.

Hayden Turns Five

2009-04-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hayden turned five on April 14th. I seriously can't believe that he is five years old. It some ways it seems like he just got here and in other ways it seems like he has been here forever. Hayden is a really good big brother, he is always worried about what his brothers are doing. He loves to go fishing and hunting with Danny and Brandon. He is a huge Daddy's boy, anything Danny likes Hayden likes. The other day, Ace told me he loved me and Hayden said, "See Mama at least somebody loves you!!!" I keep in mind that he is only five, and I really think it's cute how much he idolizes Danny. We took him to Chuck E. Cheeses for his birthday, and it was a lot of fun. We were very happy that Ashley, Todd, Berkley and Courtney could join us.

My 3 Boys

2009-04-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Our third son, Colton David Dickerson, was born on March 25, 2009. Colton was 6 pounds and 6 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. He fractured his skull during delivery, which was strange because this was my easiest delivery yet, which resulted in him spending the first 10 days of his life in newborn intensive care. We are thankful for all the nurses and doctors at Intermountain Medical Center, especially nurse Kasey and Dr. Weidmeyer. Also to my mom for staying with Hayden and Ace during this stressful time, I know that wasnt easy. We also have to thank all those who offered prayers on Colton's behalf, I truly believe that God had a hand in his full recovery. Hayden just turned five and Ace will be three in July, and let me just say that I am in way over my head!!!! I love my boys more than life itself, but there are days when I want to pull my hair out. Colton is finally starting to realize that he who makes the most noise wins right now.