Dickson Christmas 2016

Dickson Christmas 2016!

As our families have kept growing and growing, it has become our Dickson family tradition to stay at a fun hotel with our families each year!  The cousins LOVE the waterparks and swimming and the Sisters might even like the togetherness time even more!  Grandma and Grandpa are always taking it all in and loving every moment.  So many fun and happy memories they have created for us!

Grandpa Claus ALWAYS hosts the big event!  He comes with BIG sack of toys for all the grandkids!  Grandma is busy decorating the hotel room to look like Christmas!  The best part- she brings cookies!!

Let's back up....the weekend started out with a trip to Dave and Busters!  Lots of arcade games and plenty of great prizes  (like these super awesome umbrella hats....)

And pretend eraser money!

Then it was time to open presents! The sister exchange was my favorite part!  Bring 3 of your favorite things......

Then lots and lots and lots of swimming!

More swimming....

Mya and Anna just hanging out!

At first Mya didn't want to go on the waterslides--too scary!

But then, she couldn't get enough!  Again again again!!!

Watch us watch us watch us!

Oh Erik!  Of course we will watch you!

Don't watch me!

AND THEN THERE WAS BABY MAEBELLE!!!

We could not get enough of her!

Auntie Liz was nice enough to share her with us, even though she was in the hospital for RSV the weekend before.

We just had to be extra careful!!

But, kind of hard to resist her! We love you baby Maebelle!! 💗

Choir Concert 2016 and They DO love each other!

Mya getting ready for her 3rd Grade Concert!

Tate ready for his first Middle School Choir Concert--6th grade!  So handsome!

Awe, they DO love each other! No conert for Garrett this year (8th grade)--he chose to learn German instead--"Nein" is the only word I am pretty sure he knows!

Beautiful.

And even got to do some actions!

Mya sang her heart out! :)

Tate's first basketball game!!

 Tate's first basketball game--but what?  He's a hockey player!!  Well, he still likes both.  He is playing a little hockey for Rapid Fire (in case he wants to go back to an East team next year), but for now, basketball is pretty fun!



So first game--very scary starting out.  So many rules--traveling, double dribbling, fouls! He quickly caught on and even made a couple of baskets!

Don't try to get past Tate Johnson-he is quick!

I think Tate is thinking, "what have I gotten myself in to?!"

Well, hockey or basketball?  I guess we will have to wait and see!!

So

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

Love, Joy, and Peace

I would say Mya's shirt pretty much says it all!  Littlest Pet Shops, A blue Huskie Beanie Boo, and ANOTHER Baby Alive!

 Garrett,Tate, and Mya enjoyed there presents, and we are happy that Cosmo is still with us!  I will get to that later....

Tate may have said "This was the best Christmas EVER!" after receiving an XBox One S.

Seriously Garrett.  He was really really happy before and after this picture was taken.  He got a very nice hockey stick, the Eddie Bauer jacket he picked out, a trail camera, the list goes on and on!

Mya knows she needs to guard her LPS with her life with Oliver and Cosmo on the loose.

Even Jim said, "You did well" as he was loving his new Dallas Cowboys robe.  He was sad to quickly change out of it and into his scrubs, as he had to work a night shift at St. Lukes.  Luckily, the kids slept in until he got back home at 8:00am! That might be one of the best parts of the kids getting a little older!

So we are still not sure what Cosmo was thinking when he decided to run off during his Christmas Eve walk with Jim.  This is him at the Rice Lake Pound.  Luckily, the lady who worked there was in the Christmas spirit and gave him backed to us for free.  Cosmo......

Here is Tate, still excited about the Xbox One S.....

Some Christmas hockey and skating on the pond!

"Mya,  You sit here and watch me shoot pucks.  It is really fun."

We are hoping for more days of skating on the pond this winter.  Bad weather came through Christmas Day so we will hope for the best!

First days of school!

 While I am sure this is not the FIRST day of school 2013, I am pretty sure it was one of the first days.  I just know I didn't send Mya in a matching pink sweat suit.

Now, this was the first day of school--Mya's first day of kindergarten for sure!  I can tell by my misty eyes!  She was so ready and so excited.  But I did peek in to her room when she sat down at her table spot.  She looked a little let down by the container of play dough plopped down in front of her. I think she had much higher expectations!

First day of school 2014--First grader, fourth grader and (gulp)-middle schooler (6th grade).  They were all ready and they sure look happy!

Mya loves school!

Ok, one post on marathon running....

 I will admit, five marathons in the past two years has been a lot, but I really love it!  At first, I just wanted to finish and that is exactly what I did.  But now I have bigger goals! I want to qualify for the Boston marathon.  I need a time sub 3:40 and I missed it by just 40 seconds last year and I came back this year, more ready than ever, and missed it by 26 seconds!  UGH!!!!!!!!  But I am going to try again this fall--Chicago!

This is Mya asking me if we can go home now!  This was after my first marathon-Grandma's 2013.  I didn't have high expectations for myself--yet!

My friend and personal motivator, Kristin!  She sets my goals for me!!!
 
=!

I think I was saying "damn it" in this picture.  Still a personal record, but soooo wanting to qualify!

Twin Cities marathon-this is from 2013, the 40 second miss.

Awww....Tough Grandma's marathon--2014 But Garrett still loves me!

Getting ready for the Twin Cities Marathon-2014-new PR 3:39.25

My kids are just happy I am done with serious training for a while!

Twin Cities 2014-yes, I screen shot the picture!

This is me and my motivator Kristin!