All Tuckered out

Just a cute picture of one tired DOG. She loves to sleep under my desk.

ABC..easy as 123!

Gerrit got two awards today at school. His Principal, Mrs. Erickson came into the class and handed out the awards for ABC's and the 123 club. Gerrit was so excited. After the awards were handed out the kids sang to the parents. Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up. Man I did my best not to cry. Here is my little guy about to leave Kindergarten and start 1st grade. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU GERRIT!!!!!

Archie and Linda's house

Gerrit and Emma in the inner tube

Emma was giving Gerrit kisses in the inner tube

The Emma's playing together

We went over to Archie and Linda's house for dinner to spend time with the family that was visiting for the week after Isaac and Shawna's wedding. We had pork and salmon that Archie smoked in his Green Egg and the kids had fun playing in the backyard. It was good to see everyone and to enjoy the nice spring weather!

What a handsome guy!

My big 6 year old boy!


I can't believe you big you are! You amaze me daily with all that you are learning and all the grown up thoughts you have. This year you have been very interested in death and Heaven and why our spirits leave our bodies and go to Heaven. Today in the car you told me that you didn't want to go to heaven because you will be all alone there. I then explained that you will be with all the people you loved on earth, and with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
I think because of Great-Grandpa Dixon's death you have a lot of questions about the whole topic. You can always ask me and your Dad questions.
We Love You Bubba!

MOM-I'm stuck!

This afternoon I was on the phone with my girlfriend from across the street, Jamie. We were chatting and I knew that Emma and Katy were in the backyard playing but I hadn't heard them in a couple of minutes so I decided to go check on them. I got to the family room and saw that the sprinklers were on. I ran out there and heard a wimper- mom I stuck- mom I stuck. I got outside and saw that Emma was trapped in a corner up on the dirt where the trees are. She had her back turned to the water and she was soaked. Katy was with her but when she heard me she started running towards me and tried to jump off the block wall. I braved the water and rescued Emma from the water and the cob webs she was standing in and we both got wet as I ran through the sprinklers back to safety. Katy by this time was soaked as well and it was off to the shower and the sink respectively to get cleaned up.

Man I wish I went back and got the camera before my brave rescue. :)

Turn your blog into a book!

Ok- So Kim and I found a site where you can download software to turn your blog into a book. Not only your blogs but you can create books out of anything...cookbooks, wedding, vacation books...anything. The download is free and you only pay when you publish your book. They have 40 page books starting at $12.95! I totally thought this was blog worthy! Here is the web site. Have FUN!!! http://www.blurb.com/

Principal's Award

Today when I picked up Gerrit from school he had a medal around his neck. I asked him what it was for and he said that all the 2nd and 3rd level readers got to go to the principals office and receive an award for being excellent readers in Kindergarten. He thought it was cool to get to go to the principals office.He told his dad on the phone, "I went to the principals office and I didn't even get in trouble!" He thinks that you only go to the principals office if you get into trouble. Good thing this was his first trip then. We are so proud of you Gerrit! Good Job!

Trip to the Coast

Well I didn't have my camera so I am waiting on others to send me some pictures of this past weekend. Garth and I were able to leave the kids with my dad, his wife and my grandma and we went over tot he coast for a cousin's wedding. Garth's cousin, Isaac got married to his long time girlfriend (long time meaning like since 5th grade!) We had a blast seeing everyone from the Dixon side of the family. We danced the night away and truly felt like kids again. Then we got to sleep in! Yah! and have a nice quiet breakfast together. Before we came home we went to the Pismo Beach outlets and had some fun shopping. We got clothes, shoes, sunglasses and of course a candy apple at the Rocky Mountain Cho. Factory! Yum.

It was a wonderful trip and it is always nice spending time alone with Garth. It is also nice coming back home to our two wonderful kids, and Katy too.

While we were gone my dad took the kids to John's Incredible Pizza! Brave guy. Gerrit rode the bumper cars and both Gerrit and Emma rode the truck coaster, ate pizza and drank root beer. Thanks Dad!

Quick Trip to Southern Cal!

Today we are at Fawn and Careys. We came down to see the girls in their high school musical. I brought the kids and Katy with me (ok, she's a kid!) and we had a nice, crazy, insanely, hectic time--as usual!!!

Garth was soooo great to take over at home so we could come. Fawn took these pics and the play was great! Hard to believe how grown up these Penrod kids are. Heck, how grown up I am, and my kids. It was so nice to see everyone. My Emma had a rough night and we played the bed swapping game all night. At one point I was on the floor and Emma was in my bed. I tried to get her to lay with me but she cried for about five minutes so I got up to go get her some Motrin thinking that she hurt somewhere and when I got out of the bed she stopped crying. Go figure so Mom was on the floor! I think that she sleep walks...not a good thing. She will wander around the house in the middle of the night, sometimes coming into our room and just looking at me until I wake up. But each time she does it she doesn't talk or acknowledge me. -Weird-

So with not much more than 3 hours of sleep we got up and were headed home at 9:30am. We had to get home and get our house ready for company that night!!! It was a truly crazy 36 hours!

Gerrit Loses His First Tooth!

Gerrit didn't want to wiggle his very loose tooth and his permanent teeth were already coming in behind, pushing the baby teeth forward and out of the way. Garth would work with him everyday wiggling them but to no avail. We were getting desperate because the big teeth were growing in and the little ones needed to be out of there. We tried dental floss, but Gerrit would only let us try it if I put it on, because I get nauseous when it comes to loose teeth and Gerrit knew that I wouldn't try to yank it out...smart kid. there also was serious tooth fairy negotiations and man that kid made out, he got toys not money. oh well, you do what you gotta do sometimes :) So I got the floss on and because I am such a sissy when it comes to this Gerrit pulled once and guess what, the floss came right off the tooth! At least at this point I was able to show Gerrit that putting the floss on wasn't painful and now it was Garth's turn to work his magic. He got the floss on and in one swift movement he yanked the tooth out. Gerrit cried a little but I think that was because of the blood. Once he drank some water and the bleeding stopped he saw his tooth and was excited to get a visit from the tooth fairy that night.

Zoo Trip

Brendan, Emma, Ethan, Brianna, Alexandria, and Gerrit eating cookies

Gerrit's Kindergarten class is going to the Fresno Zoo on a field trip at the end of May. I didn't know how Gerrit would do walking so much with his class that I decided to take him with some friends a couple weeks before and try it out. So Gerrit, Emma, Brendan, Ethan, Alexandrea, and Breanna along with the three moms went after school one day.

Emma looking at the elephants

We saw the monkey's...just hanging around...



Gerrit fed a Giraffe some leaves...wow they have long tongues!


The kids brushed some goats, and tried not to step in the poop!

Gerrit with his buddy Brendan

After about an hour and a half Gerrit started complaining that his legs were hurting and that he wanted to go home. So we decided that he gets to stay home the day of the field trip. The class will see far more than we did in the two hours that we were there and so they will be walking a whole lot more. Gerrit wasn't that excited about seeing the animals anyway so I am glad that we had this trial run.

Welcome Katy!

I thought I would post some pictures of Katy's first night home. We gave her a bath and got her all set and comfortable. Isn't she just so cute?

Garth's Graduation

Yah! It's finally over...all the papers, the late nights at school, stressing thinking that it would never end. Garth Graduated from University of Phoenix on April 19th. He decided it would be better to walk in the commencement ceremony then to always wonder if he should have. So we had the family come down and we all went to the Save Mart Center and watched Garth finish a chapter of his life that we are all so proud of. What a handsome man! It was a long ceremony especially for Gerrit and Emma but we all enjoyed seeing Garth and sharing in that with him. After we went back to our house for dinner and to celebrate.




Story behind the cake:

When Garth was finishing up with he last of his classes he called me one day and was explaining that he only had to take one more class to be finished with his BA in Business. He was so excited he said, "Angie I can't believe I am almost done! then he spells done...D-O-N" I was waiting for the E but it never came and so I said wait a minute boy I think you need to go back and take a course in spelling because done is spelled with an E!!! I will never let him live that one down.

Just a word of advice...never get a cake with black frosting!!! We had that stained on our hands and the kids faces for days!

...and it came to pass...

Well, after being nagged over and over, and after Kim offered to create my blog for me, I now have a place to record the Dixon's Daily Doings! I hope you can all come to see how fabulous my family is, and learn a little bit about us in the process. Welcome to my blog!

What a NUT!

This is how Emma had to be tucked into bed each night. She has three care bears and another white bear. She has since lost her pink care bear, probably buried in the toy box or something so she now sleeps with a monkey from Build a bear that Garth and I made for her. We put a voice message in it's arm that says; (Garth ) I love you Emma, (Angie) I love you Emma, my crazy monkey girl! She listens to it and laughs and says crazy monkey girl. She knows it's true! She is such a silly little monkey. WE LOVE YOU EMMA!