Coats For Kids

We were able to have a teaching moment with Gerrit today. It was the first free Saturday we had as a family in a while. Either Garth or I always seem to be working weekends. Anyway we were out to breakfast and we saw that a local radio station was having a coat drive. We told Gerrit that some kids don't have coats to keep them warm. He then told us that he could give them some of his coats. Garth told him that would be a very nice thing to do and we went to our house and got out the coats and sweaters that didn't fit anymore and threw then in a pile. We came to a Power Ranger sweater of Gerrit's that he didn't want to donate. He even started crying and he told me he still needed that sweater. Mind you it is about two sizes to small. We then reminded him of the kids who would love to have the sweater and that sometimes it is hard to let go of things but that he would feel good about giving it to a kid in need.

So he reluctantly said yes to giving the Power Ranger sweater away and we put all the stuff in the back of the car and were off again to donate them.

Prayers

Tonight it was Gerrit's turn to say prayers. I asked him to bless daddy to feel better. Of course he told me he was already going to do that!

So here is how the prayer went:

Our father in Heaven, thankful for this day. Bless Dad and Mom to feel better.(woo hoo! I got included on this, I was under the weather the other day and he remembered...so sweet!) Bless Emma to have a Princess dream. Bless Mom and Dad to have dreams of loving me. Bless me to have Superhero dreams. Say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I will update tomorrow and let you know about our dreams.

What time does Gerrit get out of School???

I should know this by now!!!

Yes I got the bad Mom award today. I got home from work at 2:30 and I was in the middle of looking up some missing reports that I had to get faxed in. I just so happened to turn on the computer and the emails started popping up. Gerrit gets to email me if he gets three happy faces and I an email from him popped up on the screen. At first I was thinking the email was from the day before. Then my brain started working and I looked down at the clock on my computer and it said 2:59pm. Um Ya so Gerrit get's out at 2:55!!!

I jumped up and woke poor Emma from a nice nap. I think she was still asleep as I put her in the stroller and I RAN to school. Luckily I have such wonderful friends and Cassie rescued me. Her son, Brendan, is in the class right next door and she went and told Mrs. Johnston that I was literally Running over.

Gerrit just laughed. He was fine because he got to goof around with Brendan for a while. We even invited Brendan over to play for a while so I am sure he was happy about that.

I bet Gerrit would like me to be late more often!

Scentsy Sensation!!!

Yum Yum! These things are so cool. I heard about them from Kim but never got around to getting one. My friend Audrey and a scentsy party and I thought well now's as good a time as any so I got some. By some I meant their mega pack. What...Garth knew about it! He said that way we would have it to give to the grand kids!!! Well HA- the joke's on him because we WILL be able to give them to our grand kids...they last forever!!!

It's wax that is melted by a 25 watt light bulb in a decorative potpourri-like dish. I got 24 different scents and two warmers so me and my grand kids are set!

The whole house smells good!

Thanks Kim and Audrey! I'm HOOKED!!!

My handwriting as a font!!

Under the weather

It isn't fun when Mom is under the weather. Garth took the kids to BTB for Gerrit's TKD class last night and I was at home getting ready for Mutual. The girls were having YW in Excellence. I was getting the things I am working on together and trying to do something with my hair before I left. I started getting dizzy and lightheaded. I sat down and had some soup thinking that I was just hungry but it didn't help. I took my temp and sure enough it was over 100. So I called Linda to tell her that I wouldn't be at Mutual, big bummer...sorry girls! I laid on the couch and I was asleep within minutes. Garth got home with the kids around 8:30 and I as dead to the world. So him being the awesome husband and Father that he is he helped me up and took me to bed. I don't remember anything else from last night.

This morning wasn't much different. Garth had to leave by 7am so I was on my own getting Gerrit off to school. Thank goodness I have such wonderful friends. Thanks Heather and Becky! I called them and they took Gerrit to school so I didn't have to get dressed. Then Whitney came and took Emma out for a little girl's date to Target so I went back to bed and slept until 1pm.

It is 10pm now and I still have a fever and am not feeling the best but you can only have one down day before your world falls apart so best of luck to me tomorrow and NO Nyquill tonight! :)

Close call...to close!

We almost lost Katy last night! Garth almost ran her over.

It all started when we were outside watching Addie (our neighbor) walk over to play with the kids.

Katy was out wandering around and she saw Garth pull around the corner. She never chases after cars so it never occurred to me to get her. Well she loves her Daddy and when she saw it was his truck she ran out in front of it attempting to go around to the drivers side door to greet him. Garth didn't see Katy, he was watching Addie. I started YELLING and flailing my arms in the air trying to get him to stop the truck. He saw me just in time and I mean JUST in time. His tires brushed up against Katy's fur. I have never been so scared in my life. Silly I know, but we were all out there and if that happened and the kids saw it would have been terrible!!! So sorry Katy, from now on you are on a leash when you are out in the front yard.

John's Incredable Pizza

Whenever I think of JIP I instantly get a headache. For those of you who don't know what JIP is it is like a Chuck E. Cheese on steroids.

Gerrit has been asking to go there for over a month and we said that would be a fun thing to do on Fun Friday (our weekly family date night). Well Friday morning Gerrit comes bouncing into our room and announces that it is Friday. When can we go to JIP? Mind you I am still busy with reports and Garth had to work and after that he had arranged to go out with his cousins who were in town visiting. So we made a deal with him that we can go as a family tomorrow after Garth got off work. He was so bummed but was a good sport about it.

So this morning he kept asking if Garth was on his way home yet. It was only 10am! I told Gerrit that Emma had to take a nap and that Dad wouldn't be home for another four hours. I went to read to Emma and got her down for her nap at around 11:30. About an hour into her nap Gerrit came to me and said that he thought Emma was done with her nap. I told him no she isn't and to be patient. Well he asked about every 20 minutes after that if he could wake her up.

The time finally came that we were all in the car (Mom having already popped a few advil) on our way to JIP.

But you know what dispite all the weird people and tons of noise we had a blast! Watching the kids enjoyment is worth a headache for days :) Gerrit is old enough to ride the rides and Emma was content to watch him and laugh every time he came around. We played games, won silly prizes that cost a fortune but will probably break in a day and had a suprisingly good meal. Garth and I had a salad and the kids had pizza.

Another FUN FRIDAY success.

Now where's my pillow!!!

This morning in bed...

Gerrit: Dad you need a shower.

Garth: I do? Why?

Gerrit: Because you have stinky armpits.

Garth: Oh...Well thanks for your honesty

Angie: Do my armpits stink?

Gerrit: (sniffing real close) NO! Your armpit smells like candles!

Angie: HEE HEE

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you always remember all that the Lord has blessed you with.

The kids made these with the playgroup from church and I thought they were so cute. Before I decorated for Christmas I had to take a picture to remember them

My thoughts for today

I have had a lot of thoughts going through my head today and before I can go to bed, which I NEED to do soon because it is 11:30 already, I need to jot some of them down.
I was able to take a walk down memory lane today. A lane that is filled with both joy and extreme happiness and yet at the same time filled with worry, heartache and concern. I think every mother had a road like this. It is the road of Gerrit's life. Much of his early years I have filed away voluntarily in my memory under the category of Surviving (both he and myself). The first year especially.

You often wonder why things happen to those you love. Why did HE have to have a stroke and why did it have to be something that he would have to deal with his whole life.

I forgot a lot about the first year. The signs that we missed in what could have been an earlier diagnosis. Thinks like when he was first born he didn't open his eyes for almost five days, he never had a strong sucking reflex (nor the desire to breast feed), he always had a blank stare and of course the lack of use of his right side.

When you are a first time Mom you want everything to be perfect. You have this miracle from Heaven and you think nothing could go wrong. Even when you start to notice little odd things you try to dismiss it and say there can't be anything wrong with my sweet perfect miracle.

If I could give just a little advice to you it would be to forget yourself and your ideals for a perfect family!!! Think of that little miracle and do whatever it takes to give them the best start in life. Be overly cautious, you are the parent, you have been blessed to protect and watch over them. You have motherly instincts that you need to be in tune with.

I fast forward to Gerrit now at almost 7 years old and I see such a special boy blossoming and I can't help but be forever grateful for the people in my life who were there for me. The ones with initial concern, who guided me to seek medical counsel and then when I was dismissed as being a paranoid first time Mom, told me to get a second opinion. For the many Therapists, Teachers, Doctors and Friends who were always beside me to help and give counsel, and often times a shoulder to cry on.

I believe Heavenly Father puts people in your lives who have experienced things that you will go through to be of support for you. Then he puts YOU in that same place to helping others with the challenges and struggles that you have experienced so you can pay it forward.

To those who have been there and helped me
Thank you!

Gerrit's Fall School Picture

Emma's Way Hole

The funny things our kids say and the blackmail we have on them later in life!!!

She wants to be a big girl and chew gum but she still has a problem with swallowing it when she is done. When I asked her what happened to her gum she said oh it is in my way hole...Your what I said!!! Oh my Way Hole, it is in my back mouth.

I have a video but I have since had to reformat my computer so when I get things back up and going I'll attach it

HALLOWEEN 2008

Fawn, this one's for you :)

Gerrit was Optimus Prime and Emma was a pretty princess. We went over to Jamie's house for a party. There were a lot of people and I think the noise got to Gerrit because after about 15 minutes he asked if we could leave and go trick or treating.
We went to a couple friends houses, and then we went to Gerrit's teacher's house, Mrs. Johnston. She invited us in and we talked with her and her husband for about 20 minutes! She is such a wonderful teacher and friend to our family. After that we drove over to show Archie and Linda the kids costumes. We stayed there for about 30 minutes and said man we can't keep hanging out at everyone's house because we will never get back home and pass out our candy! BTW we still have all of the candy we bought to pass out! I don't know why we do that if we know we will be out most of the night anyway.

I wanted to take a picture of the kids before we left and they got their costumes messy. I took out the camera and when I pushed the button to take the picture I realized that I was in the video mode. That was fine I thought until I realized that I was taking a portrait style picture (the camera turned long way) and so half of the video is sideways! Oops!!

So here is the picture I thought I was taking when I did the video


Happy Happy Halloween...2008!!!

Gerrit the video commentator

We had our friends, Jamie, Addie and Melody over for a visit Wednesday night. We were all going to go for a walk around the neighborhood so Gerrit could see where Mrs. Johnston lives. Before we left the kids were playing and Emma was pushing Melody around in her toy stroller. Jamie and I thought it was cute and I went for the camera. Gerrit and Addie said they would announce the video . Gerrit did a great job announcing the girls. The two younger girls however didn't know what to do. Melody got up and walked into the kids room and Emma just starred at the camera. Luckly Addie was quick on her feet and ended what was sure to be a snorer! News anchor...I will put that in the running for jobs in Gerrit's future! :)

Taw Kwon Do...

For the adults?!?

That's right the adults. Garth and I started TKD at BTB. It is a lot of fun and we are totally excited! We go for out date night and beat each other up! JK- but we do get to kick and punch things.
I am excited because we are learning the forms that Gerrit is learning and we can help each other out and hopefully test to yellow belt as a family. We can help Gerrit out at home so he will learn them faster and progress in his belts faster too.

We went to dinner and Garth was showing Gerrit different forms and kicks and Gerrit was naming them and showing Garth a thing or two also. What a fun family activity! We have to wait till Emma's 6 then it will be a true family sport.

We learned today that our buddy Luke got hired at Costco. We are totally excited for him but sad for Gerrit because he will no longer be a teacher at BTB. We told him that we would shop at the costco that he works at so we can still keep in touch. He will still go to BTB and help out from time to time and we are grateful for that. We have his contact info and we will defiantly be in touch.

When Garth and I showed up at BTB in our Dobak's (TKD uniforms) Luke was there and when he saw us he just laughed and said that was awesome that we were doing it too. We are sure going to miss seeing him there all the time.

I am sitting here the day after and surprised that I am not very sore. Under my arms and inside my legs are a little sore but that is about it. I even did the boy push-ups and sit ups. The leaders were impressed that I could do them. To be honest so was I :)

I will post pictures...when we actually take them :)

IT IS AFTER 11PM...WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING AWAKE!!!

I love to read other people's blogs but man once I start I can't stop. I just realized that I have been reading blogs for over an hour!!! Audrey you are just to funny and I love to read your blogs. :)

I still have to finish mapping out tomorrow's route and get some sleep! Yikes girl you aren't as young as you once were...you NEED your beauty sleep!!!

I AM ENTERING IN EVENTS BY THE DATE THEY OCCURRED SO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE OLDIES BUT GOODIES. I FOUND SOME AS OLD AS APRIL THAT I FORGOT TO POST.

Kids say the darndest things-

Another one of Emma's famous sayings.

She had gum in her mouth and after a while I noticed it was gone. I asked her what happened to her gum and she said it went in her WAY HOLE. I asked what that was and she opened her mouth wide and pointed to the hole in the back of her mouth and said WAY back there. What a NUT!

Fresno Fair Field Trip

Gerrit's class went on a field trip to the Fresno Fair on Oct. 8th. We were able to see all the agriculture and role play with many different things. I was able to go as a chaperone and it was fun to spend the day with my boy.

Gerrit on the busOur group of kids--Gerrit, Demetri, Madison, and Tara

Can't really tell but he is bottle feeding a two day old sheep

Gerrit combing a pretend horses mane

The kids got to see how cows are milked. In this case how cows were watered! That is what came out of the utters...water. But none the less it was cool to milk a cow.

We were able to pan for gold but I was to busy helping Gerrit to get any pictures of that. Then the kids played on a big pirate ship and ate Kettle Corn. We had so much fun that Gerrit didn't want to leave the fair. He only lasted about 2 minutes on the bus before he asked if he could lean on me and fall asleep. Walking that much takes a lot out of him :)

I saw spider-man in FRESNO

He was just hanging around at the Fresno Fair!

LUKE

This is a link to a u-tube video of Luke breaking 10 bricks. He is the black belt that I posted about earlier who had a stroke just like Gerrit's. He is back from counseling at a camp for the summer and works at BTB on Tuesday and Thursday. We are going to change Gerrit's class day from Wednesday to Tuesday so he can work with Luke!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eEJWQk3HT8
It is amazing how you are put in situations that are so fortunate. I mean meeting a guy that had a lot of the same effects from a stroke just like Gerrit. It is like watching a grown up version of my son and knowing that he will be an awesome adult.

Gerrit is known at BTB as LUKE THE SEQUEL. We couldn't be prouder of him

I know...I know

I know I need to blog! I am getting "little hints" from all my faithful viewers.

Yes, TONS has been going on over the past three months and I need to take the time to sit and blog.

Gerrit's first day of first grade! Swimming class, TKD, Emma in dance shaking her Pom Poms, our new trailer, camping, Katie, Angie's PILE OF WORK that is keeping her from blogging :) Garth's new position at Wells Fargo, field trips, day trips and just goofing around.

Life just keeps speeding by and there seems like no time left for me and doing the important things, like dusting, laundry and preserving our precious family memories.

So be patient with me as I try to redeem myself...Kim I am letting you down as the creator of this blog... BTW do you do upkeep as well? LOL

BOYS ONLY CAMP-OUT

The name says it all and this picture proves it!

It was a boys only camping trip to shaver lake.

Zion and his two oldest boys came down and Garth and Gerrit went with them to Edison campgrounds which is right at Shaver Lake. When they got there it was 32 degrees. They made a camp fire, toasted marshmallows and told scary stories.



They slept in the warm trailer and got up the next morning and played pirates!



They made Garth and Zion walk the plank (they kept kicking them out of the pirate ship...aka...trailer)



After packing the trailer and truck up they went down to the lake and goofed off on the rocks.



They had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories!

Sick days at the Dixon's

Well when it rains it pours. Gerrit, Emma and I all were sick and Garth had to stay home and nurse us all back to health. I think I was the worst off followed by Gerrit and Emma was a close third. I am amazed that Garth didn't get it!

What a cute picture of Gerrit and Katy. She was such a good dog. She would come and sleep right next to you. We love our Katy!




What can I say about Mis-chiff! Even when she is sick she is still a HAM!

SILLY SILLY GIRL---We love you Emma Lee!