We Love the Wilsons

What is one of the best things about living in San Diego? It's not a bad place to visit. . . so we had visitors!!! (Really- who would want to visit us if we lived in North Dakota?)


We were SO excited to have our great friends from Orem, the Wilsons, come visit us last weekend. Since the move, I have missed Rhiannon, Kevin, and little Reed so much, so it was so fun to see them again.

It was a packed weekend; we spent the first day up in LA. We went to the Santa Monica Pier during the day, and hit up Dodger Stadium that night, where I'm pretty sure Ammon and Kevin ate thier weight in hot dogs and nachos. We also found out that Scout and Reed are pretty big Dodger fans, there were hardly any tears. It was such a fun night (even being surrounded by all the thugs that call themselves Dodger fans), now that's saying a lot.

Once in San Diego we went to the temple, the beach (several times), saw the seals in La Jolla, went to Old Town, ate some good food, played with crabs at the tide pools, and ate some more good food. We were so sad to see them leave, but now we realize it's our turn to visit utah to get our 'Wilson fix.'

There is no doubt about it. . . this girl belongs in California (or Hawaii, or anywhere with salt water and sand). She loved the water, the sand, the seaweed, the crabs, the everything. I have never seen one child inhale so much sand at a time before.

Our weak attmepts at a family picture. Gotta take what you can get sometimes.

Living it up at the Santa Monica Pier.

This is out on the Santa Monica Pier. Don't we have the cutest baby?

Praying , gymnastics, meditating, communicating with the crabs? . . . your guess is as good as ours.

Aaah, she makes us so proud! Where she got this nifty move from- I have no idea. I'm digging it though.
I guess Scout isn't as excited as we are to be at the pier.

THE GAME: (I have no idea what the score was (sorry Ammon)- - - but I do know that the Dodgers won-yeah!!!)

Who's the greatest wife? . . It's me. I agreed to not only go to the Dodger game, but to sit in the 'All You Can Eat Outfield.' So, for $30 you get tickets to the game and unlimited nachos, drinks, popcorn, hot dogs (Sorry Ammon, Dodger Dogs), and peanuts. How could we resist. 4 Dodger Dogs, 2 Nachos, 4 Drinks, and 2 bags of peanuts. . . . Ammon's a happy boy. After that night Ammon's only been allowed to eat carrots and spinach. . . hope it was worth it Ammon.

Scout and Reed were a hit at the game! All the big, drunk, thug, Dodger fans kept waving to the babies and comenting on how cute they are. There's nothing like a severly intoxicated, overweight man, eating hotdogs by the dozen, getting all up in your daughter's bussiness. Ahhh, why wouldn't we love the Dodgers? Beats me.

Scout's a smart girl, notice how she is holding on for dear life to Ammon's hair; she knows that all it takes is one good hit by the Dodgers and she's going flying into the crowd when Ammon starts cheering. She is a brave one.

Kevin, Rhiannon, and the Reedster

I love this picture. Two of my favorite things captured in one beautiful picture.

Us at the La Jolla tide pools. Sorry about the weather Wilsons, I still feel bad about it being overcast. You guys should come back, the weather is beautiful today.

Does life get any better than this.

The boys and the babies. Scout and Reed don't really have a choice. . . they will be best friends.

Did we mention that Scout likes to eat sand?

Once again. . . your guess is as good as ours.

Pacific Beach pier. It was pretty overcast, but that didn't stop Ammon and Scout from getting in. It was right after this picture was taken that we burried Ammon in the sand and made him into a giant turtle.

It was such a great trip. Thank so much for coming guys- I can't wait to see you again. We love you guys.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Hapy Fathers Day Dady.

Hi dad, this is Scouter. Mom let me use the computur to tell yoo all the resons I luv you. I want yoo and everywun else to know why I think I am the luckiest gurl in the world becuz yur my dad.

Yur the best wun to tell all my secrets to. Gosh, yur such a good listener.

Thanks fur leting me share your 'breakfast in bed' with yoo this morning. Grapes are my favrit.

Yoo teech me to be tough. . . I guess I am still working on that wun.

Yoo are the best dad to me and my sister Cael. I know she misses yoo and luves yoo as much as I do.

Yoo give the best back rides- who needs a horse wen yoo have my dad. How lucky am I?

How many dads will take ther dauters on a African Safari. Yoo tot me to watch out for snakes.

Do you remeber wen I baried you all on my own at the beech? That was fun, sorry I threw sand in yur face.

Yoo teach me to be nice to animals, even if they are big, stinky, and hav werd hump backs.

Yoo tot me how to drive. Hands at 10 and 2.

I git my hawaiian style from yoo. Lovin the hat dad.

I luv tring to be just like yoo.

I luv that yoo are preparing me for a career in the circus. Unlike mom, I know yoo will never drop me. Look, I'm not scared at all.

I luv the beech just like yoo. Sorry about the booty shot.

Most importantly, tot me to be a Dodger fan. Yoo and me dad. . . the bigest fans there. Go Dodgers!

Dad, this has been the best 11 months ever. I am the luckist gurl in the world. Thank yoo for always making me giggle and being such a fun dad. I kant wate to hav so much fun with you for the next 50 yers.

Happy Birthday Baby Cael!

We cannot believe it has already been two years since our little Cael was born. We still think about her everyday, and are so excited to see her again.

We feel so blessed to have Scout in our lives, and especially to think that Scout was just with Cael.

Sometimes we catch Scout giggling and smiling while she is in a room by herself; we are convinced she is just having "Cael Time" (Sometimes sisters just need to have 'girl talk).

How grateful we are for the knowledge we have of the Plan of Salvation, and the peace it brings knowing that Cael is with our Heavenly Father.

Watching Scout play and grow gives us a tiny glimpse of what Cael would have been like if she was still here, but we know that she is laughing and enjoying herself where she is.

Even though Cael is not with us, she is still a major part of our family.

How fun it is to celebrate her birthday, and to remember the incredible six days we had with her.

We love you Baby Cael!

"The best way to have a piece of heaven in your home. . . is to have someone from your home in heaven."

Never A Dull Moment

As most of you know, the Dean home on Merrington Place is busting out of the seams with all of us home (Ammon and I and the Bunkers). With three kids, 3 and under, there is never a dull moment. We have been having such a great time, there always seems to be something going on.

We figured out that Scout loves to take rides on the kitchen table's lazy susan. Check out her new dance moves.

Sorry this video is sideways. . . apparently I don't know how to hold the camera the right direction. My family has a mini pool table, and Scout figured out the balls are the perfect size for her mouth. The balls are pretty big, we figured it is probably about the same as us walking around with a full size pool ball in our mouths.

At any given moment, Scout is probably somewhere in the house. . . with a ball in her mouth. Safe?- Probably not, but it is so funny.

With my parents still gone we may not all be acting as well as we should be. Last night at dinner, Brittany was trying to give Scouter some more spaghetti. She found a quicker way of getting them across the table. . . why pass the bowl when you can just chuck them the 5 feet across the table. As the picture shows, Britt definitely needs to work on her aim. Scout took it like a champ.

It's all fun and games until someone gets spaghetti in the eye.

Avery wanted in on the fun also. I love her little giggle.

In honor of our parents being in Nauvoo, we decided to have our own Pioneer Night for Family Home Evening. We all dressed up as pioneers, ate chicken pot pie, had a camp fire, told pioneer stories, and ended the night with jumping on the trampolines. Does it get any better than that?

Scout made the cutest little pioneer. She is ready for the plains.

I took Avery shopping with me to get the dinner. I asked her, "Avery, what should we get for dessert? What do you think the pioneers and Joseph Smith ate for dessert?" She thought about it for a long time and decided, "Popsicles, definitely Popsicles!" So that's what we had- of course, why wouldn't the pioneers eat Popsicles.

If any of you are ever bored, come on over to Merrington Place. It is always a party, and you're all always welcome.