2 Visits to the Temple

I decided to take the kids to the temple grounds since the weather has been so pleasant lately. Besides that, they've only been to our temple at night to see the Christmas lights. I wanted them to see it, but I especially hoped they would feel the spirit of the temple. During the drive there, we purposely didn't listen to any of Emily's favorite children's songs and we discussed many things about the temple. I told her about the importance of white clothing in the temple, about how people can be sealed there for eternity, and how it's the Lord's house, etc. I told her how Daddy and I were sealed there when we got married and, because of that, we can be a family forever, even after we die. I told her that Daddy and I want us all to be together after we die because we love each of our family members very much. Her only comment: something about how much she and Lammy love each other too. Nice! And once we finally arrived at the temple, all they were interested in were the guys on the riding lawn mowers. Oh well. I tried. As can be seen from the picture, they're thrilled to be there.




Soon after that visit, we all went to the visitors' center to see the display of Mark Mabry's photographic depictions of events from the Savior's life. It was very inspiring and, he and the temple display people did a fantastic job. I'm so glad we got to see it before it ends. Dallin seemed to really enjoy it too. Emily wanted to go back outside after about 30 seconds. Good times!

What Makes Us Tick

I was thinking a while ago of documenting some of the things that our children like and dislike because often they are funny, quirky little things. For example, Emily always is telling me that she doesn't like purple whales, but that she does like blue whales. Then I decided it would be fun to share some of the quirky things that Danny and I like and dislike too. I've kept a running list of our likes/dislikes (in no particular order) for the past couple of weeks and can see how a lot of this stuff is part of what makes us tick. So here's a little glimpse into the strange world of the Dixons.

Danny's likes

• Wheat bread• Non-fiction books• Playing with his kids• BYU football• Eating out• Unwinding before bed• Fantasy sports• Sweden/anything Swedish• A good watermelon• Pei Wei• Waking up early• The Fray• Taking long showers• Eating pretzels, Ramen, or popcorn as a pre-bedtime snack every night• Loungewear• Collective Soul• Shaving with a new blade• Books on CD• Serving in the YM• Practicality• Playing games• The Phx. Suns• Soup• Henry Weinhard soda• Poached eggs• Using idioms• Getting things done early• Folding the whites• March Madness

Danny's dislikes

• Mushrooms• Playing softball• Noisy eaters• Raisins• Fluff/extravagance• Dancing• Chunky salsa• Spiders• Being called “buddy” by waiters• Dishes left in the disposal side of the sink• Being in the spotlight• Pineapple• Soggy cereal• A crowded personal space• Shopping• Using lotion• Clueless walkers• Chick-flicks• Anne Hathaway• Oatmeal

Amy's likes

• Her Honey Bunny• Not having to make dinner• George Strait• Going to bed• Bath & Body Works lotion• Her kids’ laughter• Magic Erasers• Home made Mexican food made by real Mexicans• Wet babies• Cold cereal as a pre-bedtime snack• Motherhood• French onion soup• Shopping with her mom and sisters• Date nights• The Phx. Suns• Pillows• Attending the temple• Younger guys (namely, her husband)• Gap Long and Lean jeans• Disinfecting things• Taking naps• Really spicy food• Dance parties• Saturday mornings• Chocolate milk

Amy's dislikes

• Being barefoot• Handling raw meat• Cheese curds• Getting zits at age 28• Pets• Having sick kids• Over-ripe bananas• Waking up early/to an alarm• Germs• Poorly folded linens• Bugs• Back hair• Her ever-increasing number of gray hairs• Semi-sweet chocolate chips• Exercising• Grocery shopping• Underwire• Mustaches, goatees, and beards• Un-rinsed dishes• When Danny goes out of town• Cheesy musicals• Cleaning out Emily’s little potty after a BM

Emily's likes

• Balloons• Lammy• Books• Raisin bran• Coloring• Singing• Blue whales• Riding her trike• “The Farmer in the Dell”• Shadow, the neighbor’s cat• Afternoon snacks• Her grandmas• “I Am a Child of God”• Dogs• Anything sweet• Going on morning walks• Stuffed animals• Peanut butter• Dallin’s toys• The park• FHE• Sleepovers at Grandma’s• Helping Mom cook• Dressing up• Home movies of herself• Lollygagging

Emily's dislikes

• Zucchini• Brown footballs• Sharing anyone or anything with Dallin• Male strangers• The blender• Oatmeal• The windshield wipers• Ibexes• Using the potty• Purple whales• The blow dryer• Any deviation from her routine/the norm• Chicken• Having dirty hands• Going to sleep without Lammy

Dallin's likes

• His Mama• Daddy• Emily• Balls • Standing up in the bath• Dropping things• Shadow, the neighbor’s cat• Eating things off the floor• Being mobile• Books• Sucking on his last three fingers• When Mommy gets him out of bed• Sleeping on his tummy• Cheerios• Kisses from Mommy• Imitating others • Crawling under things• Table food• Banging on the wall while in his crib• Dancing whenever he hears music• Ceiling fans• Pulling the books off the bookshelf• Watching other kids

Dallin's dislikes

• People rummaging in his mouth to extract something inedible• Getting his face wiped• Juice• Having his mobility restrained• Not being held by Mommy when she’s in sight

Sweet Dreams

I went into Emily's room during her nap to check on her and this is what I found. I thought it was hilarious. She loves sleeping with "Blake", her favorite blanket, and it looks like she decided she liked the over-the-face feel. Go figure!

Dallin loves sleeping on his tummy. He just looked so cute and totally out like a light - I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Carnival Day

The elementary school in my sister Jennifer's neighborhood holds an annual carnival to raise money for the school. They put on quite a production and this year was even better than last year since Emily is older.

The few days prior, we talked about the carnival and Emily couldn't wait for the popcorn.

She also looked forward to the cotton candy (even though she didn't really even know what it was). It was all I could do just to let her have at it all by herself.

She participated in the games and got prizes (candy and toys), also something she anticipated doing.

They had one of those big, inflatable bouncy things as well. We chuckled as she timidly bounced the best she could, if you could call it bouncing. It was more walking around trying to avoid getting clobbered by the other kids.

Dallin and cousin Ryan had to experience the carnival from their strollers. Maybe next year, guys!

February

I love the age that Dallin is right now. He'll be 11 months next week and is just the funnest kid around. He's so playful and full of smiles. He's begun "saying" words like Mama, Da da, Emma (for Emily), ball, bark bark, Jesus, hi, boo, hey you, and ah-choo. The last two sound the same: "I-yoop". It's really cute. And he can sign "more", "eat", and "all done". He's ever closer to walking on his own. He cruises the furniture and walks when we're holding his hands. His hair is getting longer and it's CURLY. This picture is just his post-bath hair that kind of curls on its own. However, I put some mousse in it the other day to accentuate his curls and thought it looked darling, but Danny thought he looked like a girl. I'd be lucky to have Danny let me get a snapshot of that!

"Train up a child the way he should go and the next day he'll do exactly the opposite." I think that's how this scripture should read, especially when referring to two-year-olds! Emily is always up to something, be it "packing" for her pretend trip to Utah (which entails taking all my makeup from my bathroom drawer) or spreading books all over the couch. She's also a very nurturing mommy to Lammy. She combs her hair, changes her diaper,reads her books, nurses her, feeds her in her highchair, and puts her down for naps in the very same fashion we put Emily to bed. This picture is of Emily wearing about 5 or so of my shirts I'd folded earlier that day. We were just glad she was keeping herself busy while we were doing business with our realtor.

The weather has been perfect lately for playing at the park. Here we are at Freestone Park feeding the ducks. We met our friends, the Kings, for a picnic. We had a great time and it was an absolutely beautiful day. You gotta love February in Arizona!

Dallin and Emily love to swing, especially right next to each other. Our neighborhood park has these two swings side by side. It works out well for me to be able to push them both at the same time.

In early February, we spent a lot of time with my side of the family when the Garns were in town. This is my 8-year-old nephew, Jack, reading to Dallin. Jack asked to read to him and I couldn't pass up taking a photo of these two cute, red-headed cousins. They are the only two red-heads out of my mom's 18 grandchildren. However, word is that baby Ryan Burnham's hair is finally growing in and it's looking red too. So there might be another one yet. Hooray for carrot tops!

We went to Ikea the other day for Danny, who served his mission in Sweden. He loves that country so much and Ikea is just a little piece of Sweden. We went for the food, both from the restaraunt and from the little market. We ordered the meatball dinners and bought chocolate, candy, a drink, meatballs, and the gravy from the market.

Our house went on the market a couple of weeks ago. Seeing the sign outside our house is a sad dose of reality. Say a prayer and keep your fingers crossed that it will sell.

This is undoubtedly the most-worth it burn I've ever had. I've gotten burned before cooking or curling my hair, but this one I got while eating one of the most exquisite desserts I've ever had. It's called a "skookie" (also known as "pazookie" for you Oregano's patronizers) from Streamers. This is no ordinary chocolate chip skookie, however. This particular one consists of a white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookie, coconut ice cream, white chocolate sauce, and crunchy baked coconut flakes on top. It is utter ambrosia. Unfortunately, in the midst of my gluttony, my arm touched the searing hot cast iron skillet in which the skookie was baked and the result is a painful burn with a huge blister. But again, it was worth it!