Riotous Reading

For those of you who have reached your weekly quota of bragging parents for the week, please skip this blog entry.  For those of you still reading, I have to share with you how proud I am of my little Dallin...he has become a reading machine!  I am amazed at how quickly he has picked it up.  It all started with a bookset my mom sent called BOB books.  They have simple words that turn into simple phrases and apparently are quite funny to a little boy.  The other night we busted out these books again and realized that we had not read them for awhile.  He read through each with ease and it was fun to see how much he has progressed in the past few months.  He laughed his head off when he read the "Sam" book and came to this page (see picture).  First Sam sits on Mat and then Mat sits on Sam... Dallin started laughing uncontrollably (one of my favorite sounds in this world) and it became so contagious that I began to laugh histerically as well.  Thanks Mat, for sitting on Sam and making the end of our night so happy!

Napoleon Dallinite

Not much phases my Dallin.  One Christmas, we were visiting my parents and went to their ward's Christmas program.  The primary children were called up to the stand to sing their Christmas songs and Dallin (3) hopped off my lap and walked right up to the front to sing with this foreign primary.  He didn't know the songs, but boy did he try.  No fear.  

 Last night we had our ward primary talent show and my Dallin was not scared to participate at all.  There were lots of great performances: singing, hula dancing, silly skits, trumpet playing, dramatic performances... and then there was Dallin.  I asked what he would like to do for the talent show (knowing quite well that he would be up for it) and he responded without hesitation "breakdancing"!!!!  He practiced busting out his moves (with a little choreography help from me at the end) and his performance was so great (and hilarious).  He walked right on stage, behind the curtain, stood there in the middle calmly waiting to be introduced... no fear.

   Hope you enjoy his "breakdancing" as much as we did (he didn't get to do his cool spinning moves on the ground cause the stage was carpeted, but he managed to improv his way through the song pretty well).  Here's our little Napoleon (you can push pause on our music playlist at the bottom of our blog to hear Dallin's music better)...

Shark Hair

This past fall, Dallin played on the Sharks soccer team.  A few of the boys liked to spike their hair up in a faux hawk to look like a shark fin for the games (thanks little Spencer for the idea).  Dallin loved doing this, especially when he got to put green color on the tips.  This was months ago and he still loves this hair-do more than ever.  He got a haircut on Thursday and the stylist cut his hair on an angle so his "shark fin" would be even more pronounced.  Boy does he think he is cool!  Long live shark hair (well, maybe not forever).

Freedom Flyers

This morning, Dallin's friend Trevor came over to play. They ran around, watched a movie (sort of), made me "pizza", hid from Claire, played the Hungry, Hungry Hippo game, became Superheros and blew bubbles outside. Just when you think two little boys couldn't think of anything more fun, they did. It was time for Trevor to go home (he lives about 10 minutes walking distance away) and they had the great idea to run to his house all by themselves. I agreed and followed them in my car going about 1 mph with my emergency lights on and window rolled down so they could tell me things. These little boys had more fun just running free (on the sidewalk of course :)). The happiness and excitement on their faces made this extra long trip to the Crumps so worth it! I have to say that my favorite part of this freedom marathon was when at one point, Dallin pulls the hood from his jacket over his head, looks me square in the eye (still running, mind you) and proclaims "just livin' the dream, baby!!." He then laughs hysterically at himself as I laugh uncontrollably as well. I am so glad that these two little freedom flyers were able to live out a small (but super exciting) dream this afternoon.

Imagineers

One of my very favorite things in this world is watching Peter and Dallin play "imagination." They usually play with little Star Wars characters and have battles in Dallin's room (with cool forts and rope slides). I can often hear them dueling with lightsabers and getting "injured." Another form of imagination for my boys is with swords (or lightsabers) and is best done at Willows park just down the street. This park has bridges and "lava" underneath the wobbly step stones. This might not make any sense... just use your imagination. I don't know how Peter successfully battles "Luke Skywalker (aka Dallin) for an hour completely submerged in his character, but he does (and I think he enjoys it :)). They sometimes even get dressed up (yep, at the public park... sorry I don't have pictures of that). We went to this special park the other day and the "knights" got on their horse, ready for battle (see picture above)! Peter and Dallin have so much fun using their imaginations together (they are having a battle downstairs at this very moment). As for me, I could not have imagined a more wonderful, fun, loving father for my children...


<-Peter sad that he lost the battle :)

Dallin on the stones over the "hot lava" ->
protecting Princess Claire

A Whole Hand

Our little Dallin turned five on December 26th...a difficult day to have a birthday ("crappy birthday to you...":)). Claire's isn't much better (Jan. 1st). We have decided to let each of our kids have a family party and a friend party each year, and when they celebrate it is up to them. For the past couple of years, Dallin has held his friend birthday party on his half birthday (June 26th) and it seems to work out great. I love birthdays and hope my kids always have a wonderul experience on their special day (whether it's real or half...confused yet? Dallin is :)).

For Dallin's REAL birthday this past Wednesday, he had his favorite breakfast (toast and bacon), went to Pump-it-Up (inflatable play place) with a few friends, got a milkshake on the way home. It was then onto Game Stop where he picked out a new video game (thank you Grandma Charmaine) and chose a Spiderman balloon at Party City (little family tradition). When Peter came home from work, we finished off the evening with a little Chucky Cheese pizza/play and then home for a couple presents and some Spiderman cake. For having such an unfortunate birthday, it sure ended up being a fun day for Dallin! He is now already planning what he will be doing for his half birthday in June. One day at a time Dallin...one day at a time. Happy Birthday my dear one.

Scary Santa

Last night was Dallin's preschool Christmas program (it was outside in his teacher's backyard...gotta love CA). Dallin did such a great job being Frosty the Snowman and he was a very respectful wiseman (I'll have to post more pictures later). I sat and watched my "little boy" be not-so-little as he thanked everyone for coming to the Christmas program and quickly realized that next year it will be a Kindergarden program. The tears started flowing (who me?). I am so proud of my little Dallin and laid in bed with him last night telling him everything I love about him (I think I was feeling guilty for having to leave the program quickly to make it to mutual). He really is an incredible boy!

The tears at the program were not the only ones I shed last night. Peter told me a story that was so funny, it made me cry. At one point while Dallin was performing, Peter held Claire in the back. He walked with her along the side of the house when all of a sudden Peter felt Claire freeze and tense up pushing him to move back. She was breathing heavily, but didn't say a word. Peter looks over in the bush and crouched down hiding is...Santa Claus! He was waiting for his cue to appear in the program and didn't want the kids to see him. Unfortunately, my little Claire is TERRIFIED of Santa Claus so this could possibly be the most devistating point of her life so far. To be on a nice walk with your Daddy and out of no where, the scary man with the beard and extreme outfit is waiting for you in a bush. My poor little girl. I suppose I will never have a picture of her on Santa's lap.