Take Her to the Zoo

I didn’t think it was possible, but Stella has become even more active! I’m sure she has some monkey blood in her. I’m almost to the point of deciding to enroll her into gymnastics, not only to rid herself of some excess energy, but to teach her proper form when doing the somersaults and acrobatics that she’s been doing lately. She climbed over Emily’s chain-linked fence 2 weeks ago, something that Emily’s 3 boys have never even thought of doing. Sometimes I’ll be in the other room and hear from the kitchen, “Mommy, I get down!” repeated several times because she’s on the counter and can’t figure out how to get down. She is hooked on pink dresses and needs to wear one at least once a day. She talks constantly and has learned more words to her favorite song (Once Upon A Dream). She won’t let me help her with a lot of things now and always says, “My do it!”

We went to the zoo today and went into the new Sting Ray Bay exhibit. If you wash your hands, you can touch the sting rays, but I’m still freaked out by the Steve Irwin incident, so we weren’t going to touch them even though their stingers have been clipped off and Stella would have loved it. Brooke, Tyler, Justin, and Crystal touched them though.

Tyler was soaked by the time he was done.

The Mom's Group Crew (some of us)
Otho Johnson, Crystal & Hunter Mabb, Myra & Ellie & Abe Johnson, Jessa & Emma Jackson, Donovan (& Elliott is hiding in the stroller) Earl, Brooke & Justin & Tyler Cook, and Whitney & Stella Dibble

Brooke, Stella, Justin, and Tyler (Tyler would snag a chance to ride in Stella's stroller any chance he got, but then Justin wanted to ride in it, so he got on Tyler's shoulders. Then Stella was mad that they were in her stroller, so she got on top of Justin. Brooke was pushing them around and I'm sure that poor stroller has seen it's weight limit).

My camera battery died, so I just stole most of these pictures from my good friend Crystal’s blog.

Happy Birthday Jayden!

Jayden & Stella at Lindsay's wedding reception in Peoria August 2005

Jayden September 2005 (this was before he even turned 1 year old . . . I don’t have any current pictures of him)

Happy #2 Birthday to my nephew Jayden! I sure wish Jayden was here to play with Stella and maybe he’d have a calming influence on her (heaven forbid it be the other way around and he start swinging from vines like Stella). It’s been a while since I’ve seen Jayden, but he’s only been around for a little while, so I know very little of him as well. He always seemed so smiley whenever I saw him though and he liked Stella last year when Aunt Lindsay got married. I know that my Mom has sure enjoyed him because he’s been so close to her. She told me the other day that since Jayden is talking more, one of the main things that he says is, “NO DEAL!” (from Deal or No Deal). Funny guy! Happy Birthday little friend!

Dancing With Grandma Anderson

I made dinner at Aunt Lindsay’s last night. While we were sitting around, Stella went into the front room and turned on the piano beat and started dancing around. Grandma joined her and I got some funny video. Stella loves attention!

Then we played a raucous game of Boggle, even though Keith doesn’t like games (Elliot doesn’t either, but he only played one round). Keith is hooked now and vowed to buy the game today.

Post-Thanksgiving Festivities – Part II

Stella took a great nap before we went to Uncle David’s and Aunt Lora’s house . . . mansion . . . resort . . . it’s pretty big. It was dark when we arrived and their new house is in a neighborhood where they are still building houses. When we drove into the cul-de-sac, I asked if their house was the first or the second . . . and then I realized that they were connected! It’s absolutely beautiful . . . although highly stressful to go into because Stella touches everything! Elliot’s blood pressure just went up! We got a tour, but I’m not sure we saw the whole thing because we only had one night.

Elliot, Scott Dunkley & UD

It was fun to see my cousins Spencer and Susie and their 3 girls (Sydney, Addi, and baby Lily – but I didn’t get a picture of them). . .

Kyra

Stephanie

. . . Scott and Stephanie and Tanner (whom I only saw for 2 seconds during dinner) and Kyra who immediately took Stella to play Barbies . . .

Kendal & Scott McAllister

Stella & Kendal

Spencer & Martin (after the back flip)

. . . and Scott and Stacy and Corbin and Lauren. Scott and Stacy only live in Mesa, but we never see them . . . same with Martin and Kendal.

Doug and Erica and their 3 boys (Chase, Trey, and Ben) showed up and SURPRISE! Erica is pregnant with a baby girl and due in April! We seriously need more communication in this family.

Ben

Chase & Trey

My Mom came with Keith and Lindsay and, once again, Lindsay looks fabulous!

Lindsay, Mom, & Keith watching Martin do a back flip off of the rocks

Mommy

Elliot & Stella

We ate dinner, at dessert, and watched the McAllister movie that Maeser made for the reunion this year and then the boys went swimming. Next time we’ll plan better to get the kids together to play at the park or something. I don’t see enough of my cousins.

Post-Thanksgiving Festivities – Part I

We made the mistake of telling Stella last night that we’d go to the park today. We had a few things to do at home before we made good on our promise, but that didn’t stop her from asking for the park every 3 minutes, including the car ride to the park. We had so much fun and Stella got to release a lot of her energy playing on the monkey bars, climbing the slide the wrong way, and swinging in the swings. She’s a monkey.





Stella thought it was the greatest thing when Daddy taught her how to go down the slide head first.

It’ll be no time at all before we don’t have to hold her feet and then she’ll be doing cherry drops.

Happy Thanksgiving

What was I just saying about being a lady?

Happy Thanksgiving! We spent most of the morning at home and ate a yummy breakfast before we went over to Elliot’s parents house for another meal.

I played Scrabble with Mother Dibble and surprisingly, we tied. We usually play a game called Snatch (it’s from England) that is similar to Scrabble, but you get to steal people’s words (or snatch them). I don’t know why I like playing those thinking games . . . maybe I’d do better at those games if I read more.

Kent, Mother, & Bethany

Dinner was delicious and Stella succeeded in running about the house trying to get into everything she wasn’t supposed to. Adam and Xan and the kids were in Utah, so Stella only had us to play with.

We watched Nacho Libre and then headed to Peoria for dessert with the Bangart family. They were finishing watching Over the Hedge when we got there and immediately turned on the second Ice Age movie after it was over. I was so full from dinner and a pre-dessert at the Dibble’s that I didn’t even get to taste the yummy dessert spread the Bangart’s had.

Dan & Stella

Mom & Stella

Lindsay & Keith (does it look like she just had major heart surgery?)

Elliot, Whitney & Stella

Dan & Karen

Nate & Nikki trying to change an unhappy Kellene

Julie & Rich were there earlier, but left soon after we arrived . . . should we be offended?

Lindsay got to hold Kellene (Keith’s new baby niece) most of the day because she’s only 7 pounds (Lindsay can only hold 10 pounds) and everyone else was helping with the Thanksgiving dinner. Lucky.

I can always think of a million things I’m grateful for when it’s not Thanksgiving day. At the Dibble’s we always go around the table and say what we’re thankful for and among the millions of things I usually think of, I have a hard time coming up with one that doesn’t sound exactly like the one I said last year. No matter what year it is, I’ll always be so grateful for my family! I love them so much!

Happy Birthday Grandmother!

Happy #90 Birthday to my lovely Grandmother Louise McAllister! LADY . . . that is how I would describe my grandmother. Lindsay and I were commenting to each other at the McAllister reunion back in July how Grandmother is still prancing about in high heels like she’s 20 years old! Every time I see her I have a greater desire to change my ways and become more of a lady. I always notice how crude I am and how very unladylike I am whenever I see Grandmother. Somehow I think I’d be a lady if she lived closer and I could see her more often. Grandmother has always been so gentle, a quality that goes along with being a lady.

I remember sitting on her lap when she and Grandfather would come to visit and playing with the veins in her dainty hands. She always had a distinct and yummy smell about her as well. Whenever I smell that similar lotion on someone, a flood of gentle ladylike memories come over me.

Much like Grandpa Anderson, I got to spend a few days with Grandmother several years ago to try to get her life history recorded. Whenever I’d ask her a question, she’d say, “Oh Whitney, you don’t want to know that.” Maybe another quality of being a lady is not poking your nose in everyone’s business like I do. Not that I was asking scandalous questions, but her modesty in speaking about love and marriage was refreshing.

Grandmother has rarely missed a year in sending a birthday card . . . and I could tell you because I keep them all! As I received a birthday card from Grandmother just a few days ago, I remembered how irritated I used to feel when I was very young at how much Grandmother would write in the card . . . but now I felt so extremely grateful that I have those precious thoughts and feelings written (in her own handwriting) about how much my lady Grandmother loves me and cares for me among the nearly 30 grandchildren she has. I love my Grandmother! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Happy #89 Birthday to my Grandpa Anderson! We always got to share our birthdays because they are so close. What I love and remember most about Grandpa is his contagious laugh! Before he lost a bunch of weight many years ago, he looked like such a jolly old man . . . always smiling and a laugh to go with it. I would always get so excited to see him usually during harvest season when I got to act like I was helping with the onions, but I was really just playing in the back of the truck. I can’t really explain it, but it was just exciting to see him. It was a great adventure to go visit Grandma and Grandpa at their house, looking through all of their old things and playing in the basement. Grandpa was well known for his light spankings on birthdays . . . and for some reason I think they had to stop early with me because I blossomed faster than everyone else.

I had the great opportunity last year to spend several days with Grandpa getting his life history. He is so shy and modest. I could tell that he was holding back as he told me stories about himself. I still have the pictures that he said I could borrow for a little while (sorry Grandpa, I’ll send them back soon), and I love looking through them and seeing Grandpa as a young man and a young father. I love Grandpa! Happy Birthday!

Lindsay Update 11/18/06

We picked Mom up from the airport last night and headed out to Lindsay and Keith’s for dinner and little birthday celebration. Keith even made and decorated a cake for me! I guess they bumped into Lindsay’s vocal cords during surgery and irritated them, so that’s why her voice is raspy. I get really nervous when Lindsay wants to hug and play with Stella because I know that no matter how many times I tell Stella that Lindsay has an owie on her chest, she’s not going to be careful with her! Apparently Lindsay’s chest is the least of her concerns and made sure I knew it by taunting me and my faint state by patting the scar/incision. Lindsay’s lungs are a pain right now, but hopefully she’s doing her breathing exercises so she can blow out those 27 candles next month on her birthday! (She has a pretty funny picture of herself in the hospital that I really hope she shares with everyone . . . I'm pretty heartless, so I might be the only one who thinks it's funny)

Happy Birthday Whitney!

It’s my birthday! Happy Birthday to Me! I’m 29 years old now and for the most part haven’t ever thought about getting older until I was talking to my friend about wrinkles and realized that I’m just going to get older. I can’t stop it. I think back to when I was younger (I’m still young, just younger) and how badly I couldn’t wait to be in the time of life that I’m in at this very moment. I have a gorgeous husband, beautiful child (I planned for several children, but who’s counting?), home, temple sealing and current recommend, church calling, craft room, all 9 seasons of Little House on the Prairie, . . . and so much more.

Whitney (a few weeks old in 1977)

Each year I realize a little bit more how much Heavenly Father loves me. If I may compliment myself for a second, I was cleaning/organizing my craft room a while ago, which means that I was sitting on the floor spreading out and reading every old letter I ever received and paper I ever wrote and kept over the last 20 years. In the last 10 years since my high school graduation, I never realized how many friends I have made and how much they actually liked me! I had a little ego boost as I was reading those letters and felt so grateful that even though I hardly keep in contact with any of them, that I still consider them friends and I’m so grateful they are a part of my life. Of course I don't have any pictures of said friends on my computer . . . so you'll just have to believe me that I have them.

Emily, Whitney, Donya (in 2004 we were all pregnant)

The same thing goes for all of the friends I’ve met in the last several years since I got married whether I have a picture of them or not. I know that those of you who have visited (or have seen pictures) of our house know that we live in an area that isn’t exactly "well-off". But I can tell you whole-heartedly that the area has been extremely good to us when it comes to great friends. We have enjoyed so many people right here in our ward. I just think of the countless blessings we’ve received since we asked Heavenly Father over 7 years ago to help us find a home.

Whitney (age 3 in 1980)

I’m really looking forward to my 30th year and some changes that I’m going to make in my life (similar to the changes I wanted to make in my 29th year, but I’ll actually do them this time). Happy Birthday to ME!

Lindsay Update 11/16/06

Lindsay called from the airport today and we talked for a while, which is good because it means that she is breathing better. She was embarrassed to be wheeled around the airport and was obviously irritated with the overhead speaker at the airport. We’ll go out to see her after we pick up Mom tomorrow. I keep telling her that we can’t come because I have a cold, but she doesn’t really care. I’m sure she really doesn’t care to see me, but we’re not allowed to come if we don’t bring Stella. Stella got to talk to Lindsay too, which I’m sure made her happy today.

Girlfriends

I love it when Stella gets to play with girls! Rachel came over tonight with her brand new baby sister Kaitlyn (about a week old) while their parents went to the temple. Stella is quite well-rounded when it comes to playing with kids. She gets dirty along with the boys, but plays princess with the girls and although she has her difficulties in sharing, she sure loves having her friends over!

Emmitt Smith

Can I just tell you how happy I am that that lecher (Mario Lopez) didn’t win Dancing With The Stars! Yeah for Emmitt Smith! At the beginning of the season, I was rooting for Joey Lawrence, but towards the end I was really hoping for Emmitt. I love the show, but I still haven’t brought myself to care enough to actually vote. I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find a picture of Mario crying in a corner in the fetal position. Yeah Emmitt!