*

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Big 'Un and Little 'Un

Just a few seconds worth of the little cousins

Aundrea's Birthday

 Aundrea's birthday was this week and we got together on Saturday to celebrate her.

The birthday girl and her tiara.

Milo modeling his big-boy overalls.

sibling love fest


Milo says, "Alison- let's go play the piano with Levi."

"I can't quite reach the keys, can you?"

Alsion replies, "Let me try getting up on my tippy-toes...nope, still can't reach."

Happy Birthday, Aundrea!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Flashback Friday- Full Circle

This is a picture of me posing in our yard when we lived in Georgia.  I believe my brother had been born already so that makes me almost 3 years old here.  Today I am currently sporting this exact hairstyle- sans the red barettes.  Surely this does not mean that I will be repeating all of my former hair cuts- especially those from the late 80s.  Yikes!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Lil Guppy

Levi started swimming lessons this week.  Now at the ripe old age of three, he is eligible to take classes at the Y without a parent.  On his own.  Like a big boy.  He was very excited.

Luke and I had fun watching his first practice.  I apologize for the quality of the pictures but I stayed at the sidelines, out of the way.  I was surprised at the part of me that wanted to run over to the side of the pool and try to hold his hand.  What am I going to be like when he starts kindergarten?


Monday, January 24, 2011

Bears v Packers

Joel, Kelly, and the kids came over on Sunday to watch the game.  We had a great time hanging out, snacking, playing, and making pizzas.  It was a lot of fun.  Well, much of it was fun.  The game didn't go so well...




Friday, January 21, 2011

Flashback Friday- Dear Mr. Reagan

I think I must have written this in the 4th grade since the Iran-Contra affair was in '86.  Click on the image to enlarge. 

My favorite line:

Dear Mr. Reagan
I liked you very much up until the Iran deal.  I guess I still like you now because of the new tax laws for elderly.

Written in response to "What are some of the things that make this person special to you?"

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Forts, Forts, and More Forts

As most kiddos do, my boys love playing in forts.  This particular one happens to be a giraffe habitat.

Milo says, "Let me in?"

"Yay!  It's so much more fun IN the fort!"

Monday, January 17, 2011

Buford the Puppet

Meet Buford.  He is a relic from my childhood.  Mom retrieved him along with some other keepsakes from the attic and and brought him when she visited.  This picture actually makes him look a little more spiffy than he really is at this point.  30ish years is a long time for a polyester puppet.  When Mom pulled Buford out of her bag, Joel and I gasped happily, remembering fondly our childhood time with Buford.  Kelly and Luke, having no such recollections, also gasped- but it was out of horror.  I think Kelly might have lunged to put her hands over the children's eyes, to protect them. 


 They looked a little like this:

 The kids, however, did not see a crazy-eyed, scratchy, frayed, weaselish puppet.  They somehow saw what I remember seeing: friendly ol' Buford.
Even though my ventriloquist skills are nonexistent, Levi will do anything Buford tells him to do.  It's great.  I'm trying not to abuse my power ("Buford thinks you should give your Mommy all the chocolate...") Here's to many more fun years with Buford!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Wildlife Sighting

I got to sleep in a bit this morning and when I wandered down for breakfast I found a giraffe at the kitchen table.

Apparently Levi was down in the basement with Luke and spotted his old halloween costume.  It's too short for him but he can still zip it up.  Unfortunately, he had some behaviour issues after breakfast.  I felt kind of silly disciplining a giraffe.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Who Goes for Frozen Yogurt When It's 12 Degrees Out?

We do! (That wasn't a rhetorical question.)  We braved the 'crowds' at Peachwave on Friday night and grabbed some dessert.




Yes, we do go for hot chocolate in August, why do you ask?

Friday, January 14, 2011

Flashback Friday- Little Brother

My brother and I are roughly ages 6 months and 3 years old here.  I see a lot of the same dynamic in this picture that is played out between Levi and Milo as well as Ben and Ruby.  Little brothers- they put up with a lot, don't they?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

10 Months Old

Milo is 10 months old today!  This little guy is definitely on the move.  He enjoys exploring, people watching, playing with his brother, and trying to get into trashcans.  He has no problems making his wishes and preferences known.  This weekend he had one of his top front teeth pop through.
"The couch, the train table, and the stairs are much easier to pull up on than this bed.  How do you work this thing?"


"I can't quite see what's going on up there.  Oh!  If only I could climb!"

"I'm not exactly sure what to do next.  Sometimes my legs have a mind of their own.  I'll just hang on for dear life and see what happens."

"Rats, foiled again by this gate!  I've got to figure out a way to get around this thing. Think, think, think."

Levi at 10 months old.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Snow

This season Levi is old enough to enjoy the snow.  He loves getting bundled up and spending even a few minutes playing out in the cold.  Last week we got a dusting and he certainly enjoyed it to it's fullest.
Trying to play in the frozen sandbox.   I saw him working so hard to shovel the frozen sand.
 Then we got hit by a pretty good storm on Monday.  He spent lots of time at the window watching his Daddy shovel,  pointing out the plows as they came by, and keeping tabs on the neighbors as they cleared their walks and drives.

It is a REALLY deep snowfall when you are only a couple of feet tall.


Milo fussed to be held up to the window so that he could watch Levi.  Levi insisted on bringing out his play fishing pole.  He was out casting into the snow.  "There's fish out there, Mommy" he told me.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Flashback Friday- Debbie and Terry

My parents!  I don't have a lot of info about this shot but it's one I really like- look at those smiles.  They are married here but I think it was taken before I was born.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

I Can Hear You Now

It was an early morning for the Dickson household today.  We all got up at 5:30 to get Levi into the hospital for his surgery.  He had a second set of tubes put in (installed?) and his adenoids removed.

Despite the early hour, both boys were quite chipper.  Levi especially was excited about the whole adventure.  Getting his vitals taken and receiving a cool hospital gown to wear was the pinnacle of his week (clearly we don't get out much).


 But wait, there's more!  a hair net!

He was unfazed about being wheeled away on the gurney.  In fact, after the nurse asked him if he would like to operate the buttons that open the doors he didn't even glance back in our direction.  I had been unconcerned about the procedure- unconcerned that is until they wheeled him away.  Then I began to feel...well, concerned.  And maybe a bit teary.

My baby!!!

The whole thing lasted less than 15 minutes.  Everything went smoothly.   The doctor reported that there was a "lot of goo" in his ear drums and that his adenoids were enlarged.  Shortly after that we were brought back to see him in recovery.  He was coming out of the general anesthesia and was pretty worked up.  Luke had to hold him down so that he wouldn't grab at the iv.  It was obvious he felt quite out of sorts.  That didn't last long and by 8:00 we were on our way.

He spent most of the morning on the couch watching 'Dora' but after a couple hours would sporadically get bursts of energy.  At one point he was jumping on the bed pretending to be a puppy. 

As we drove to the pharmacy to get his antibiotic filled.  Milo was complaining about being so cruelly contained in his carseat.   Levi said, "No!  Mommy, tell Baby to be quiet.  He is too loud in my ears!"

My first thought: "Hooray!  He can actually hear normally again!"

My second thought: "Welcome to my world, buddy.  That Baby is too loud in my ears a lot."

So I sang a dozen rounds of "I'm in the Lord's Army" and they both were happy.

p.s. look how little he was the first time he got tubes.

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Stair Master

Luke had plans to spend the afternoon doing some work on our main bathroom.  It involved sawing, hammering, and smelly adhesive so I spent the afternoon with the boys at Lynn and Marji's.

Earlier in the day I turned the corner to find that Milo had climbed up two stairs on his own.  Marji shot this footage of his first full (somewhat assisted) climbing session.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Welcome to 2011!

 

We hope you are starting this brand new year off in comfort (perhaps wearing flannel monkey pajamas?), with preparedness (with snow boots and a red helmet?), and ready for some fun (a tote bag full of toy trains and a zippy new scooter?)

Happy New Year from Dickson headquarters.  I have a feeling it's going to be a great one.