Silly Dilly

Dallin is 21 months and busy, busy, busy!
1.  If Dallin is moving he is running.  I find that his run is the equivalent to my top speed power-walk.  He really likes to escape the aisle we are sitting on during Sacrament meeting and run at top speed toward Grandpa who sits on the stand.  Let me tell you, it is hard to catch him before he gets to the stairs when I am wearing heals!  I will probably have to retire to flats for a while.
2.  Dallin is not a fan of nursery.  As soon as I start approaching the door to the nursery room he starts crying.  Luckily one of the leaders is really sweet and holds Dallin 90%.  Dallin usually cries for a while and then retires to holding Bro. Esa in a death grip for the rest of the time.
3.  Dally must always wear his shoes.  As soon as he wakes up in the morning he will find his shoes (usually they aren't a match or even his), bring them to me, and sit down by me.  Sometimes he even brings a second pair in hopes that I will put them on over his first pair.  Then as soon as I lay him down for a nap or put him in his carseat, off the shoes will come.
4.  Unfortuneatly Dallin still hasn't grown out of the "throwing food" stage.  As soon as I set food in front of Dallin he starts throwing it on the ground.  He has been doing this for about a year and it is driving me nuts!  It doesn't matter how hungry he is, on the floor it goes!  Ugh!

5.  Dally loves chasing Uncle Bubba's chickens.  Uncle Bubba (Kyle) was able to convince my parents to get some chickens for the back yard.  The boys love them!  I thought Dallin would be afraid of them because they are pretty big and have scary looking feet.  However, Dallin laughs and giggles whenever they are around.  It is hilarious!  If I found myself sitting next to a chicken as large as I am, I don't think I would find it very funny.
6.  This kid sure can climb!  As I write Dallin is standing on the dining room table.  He has officially reached the "I can climb out of my crib, so I don't want to nap anymore" stage.  Don't worry though.  When we went through this with Quin at 12 months we discovered we could take out the spring-board-thingy out of the crib and just put the mattress on the floor of the crib.  Problem solved.....for now.....
7.  Dallin's favorite song is "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam."  I don't know what it is about that song, but it seems like all children are born with an innate desire to jump to that song.  We sing it for FHE every week and Dallin can be found jumping to the beat!

8.  In Dally's perfect world he would always have a sippy cup in each hand.  (Update: Dallin is now off the kitchen table and standing by the sink yelling and reaching for his sippy cup sitting by the sink).  If there is ever a sippy cup around, Dallin will scream until it is placed in his hands.  As a result, we have to hide sippy cups in a secret place.  Otherwise you will have a yelling Dallin until he is holding all three cups in his hands.
9.  Whenever Dally is rewarded with a full sippy cup.  He will find a pillow, lay it on the floor and plop down on it and enjoy his drink.  It is so cute!  He doesn't just want a drink.  He wants the experience of relaxation that comes with drinking.  Hilarious!
10.  Dallin's preferred state of being: naked.  Dallin is constantly trying to undress himself.  After much trial and error I have found he needs to be wearing a onsie and a shirt with a small neck hole or he will be naked in no time!  Silly boy!

We love our Dilly Dally

Preschool, Baby Elephants and Go Fish

Quin is 4-and-a-half and loving life in Cali!

1.  Quin's favorite place to go is to the Safari Park.  We got a pass to the San Diego Safari Park and Zoo and have being going at least once a week.  Quin loves it!  His favorite animals are the elephants and the baby gorilla.  When we arrive he always has an itinerary in mind which goes something like this:
        "Lets go see the elephants but not the tigers because they're scary.  Then lets go on the train and play at the park.  Then lets go see the baby Gorilla.  Mommy loves the baby Gorilla." 
That basically summarizes our days at the Safari Park.  We haven't been to the zoo yet but are hoping to go soon so we can see the new, baby Panda!

2.  Quin has had a rough time with preschool.  In fact we have already switched to a new school since getting here.  The first preschool we tried was recommended by some ward members.  We went and toured it and it seemed pretty good.  So I dropped Quin off last Monday for his first day.  He was so excited!  I had to go to an interview with Bryce when he got out of school so my mom went to pick him up from his first day.  She got there early, and when she walked up to the classroom she saw the teacher scolding Quin through the window.  He looked like he was going to cry.  When he did finally see my mom he started sobbing.  He told his teacher (who we will now refer to as the-one-who-shall-not-be-named) "his Grammie was here" and she told him he had to sit down until she said he could go.  When I got home Quin was still upset and was petrified of having to go back.  I felt so bad!  I really think preschool needs to be a happy experience in which kids can gain confidence in themselves as learners and this was not a positive fit for Quin.  So I went to the preschool I went to as a 4-year-old and discovered that Ms. Johnson, my teacher, was still teaching.  Her class was full but I was able to meet the other teacher who had an opening.  Quin's first day there went a lot better, but he is still nervous about going because of his experience with The-One-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.  Hopefully he continues to have happy days there.

One thing I have learned since having kids is that you truly have to become a Mother-Warrior.  I remember watching an Oprah show a few years ago that talked about how you really have to fight for your kids to get them the help they need to thrive and grow.  I have found this to be true with my kids in their health and now schooling battles.  Mothering is not a passive thing!  You have to pick up your sword and shield and go to battle!

3.  Lately Quin's favorite thing to do is play "Go Fish."  He loves this game, and luckily he almost always has someone who he can persuade to play with him.  Being a relatively competitive card-player myself I have found this to be a fun thing we can do together.  He has become a really great counter and I enjoy watching him counting his cards!

We Love our Quin!