tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72762351631660006512024-03-05T14:59:11.047-08:00The PA Dixons...who happen to live in Rhode IslandThe Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-77565635254270961772011-11-05T17:24:00.000-07:002011-11-05T17:46:45.667-07:00c-i-n-q-u-a-i-nTonight the kids and I sat by the fire and read <span style="font-style: italic;">Junie B., First Grader Cheater Pants, </span>which is hilarious. Even my 9 year old still loves when I read about Junie's crazy antics, and I love the good lesson that cheaters never prosper. What really captured the girls imagination was a poetry assignment that Mr. Scary, the teacher, gave to the class, to write a cinquain. It has a specific format that the girls wanted to try as soon as we finished the chapter. Here are the results:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvTKAJE5BDJF791egssI0qEPWLg2L9QN3dcOD11q3C9Y1yb28-b5sysE1khyoUTmLGxBgLrTkDkTP3Y4bHVXhJCiJA3YQ8GOO7IV_H2_2muatVAFQkW3lvIWQaqrPF3E_pY6mANnOA5_h/s1600/candy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvTKAJE5BDJF791egssI0qEPWLg2L9QN3dcOD11q3C9Y1yb28-b5sysE1khyoUTmLGxBgLrTkDkTP3Y4bHVXhJCiJA3YQ8GOO7IV_H2_2muatVAFQkW3lvIWQaqrPF3E_pY6mANnOA5_h/s320/candy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671674898846617378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Candy<br />sweet colorful<br />digested crushed licked<br />yummy gone wrapped up<br />Sugary<br /><br />by Kylie<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuCgHfd7INGscK4PXxoBSooqUNREVBLXRJ_nlWvK1Q0K5TB-jvS6zO5czzrT2_QGdFVjZ24IS1dC7VnWleI1fVHZFNYl6TM0B8fjdCFkswuGz98rZhc4lfScRzBQvg7zt9W2AfT7W8Gjz/s1600/mouseimage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuCgHfd7INGscK4PXxoBSooqUNREVBLXRJ_nlWvK1Q0K5TB-jvS6zO5czzrT2_QGdFVjZ24IS1dC7VnWleI1fVHZFNYl6TM0B8fjdCFkswuGz98rZhc4lfScRzBQvg7zt9W2AfT7W8Gjz/s320/mouseimage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671674253296124194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mice<br />cute smelly<br />squeaking chewing running<br />I like white ones<br />Rodents<br /><br />by Kate<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Not bad for a first attempt, right? If I wrote one, I think it would be about chocolate. What would you choose?<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-23830787446989675282010-12-03T16:49:00.001-08:002010-12-03T18:26:09.058-08:00Are you being served?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JhrTP8o6eJY007-AGJQxslv3cJDOfkQK4BHlpBsDIFGo8Mqt7hK4GaqPEwRGBstzkkMhmgq6X1dYEFRewcxq4LuUIQgAr-7l-KtFcTUhyphenhyphenksbbzF4A43cV4INoYrWcvZ5YDdrAfNx4it7/s1600/DSC05410.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JhrTP8o6eJY007-AGJQxslv3cJDOfkQK4BHlpBsDIFGo8Mqt7hK4GaqPEwRGBstzkkMhmgq6X1dYEFRewcxq4LuUIQgAr-7l-KtFcTUhyphenhyphenksbbzF4A43cV4INoYrWcvZ5YDdrAfNx4it7/s320/DSC05410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546637313801203234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For her sixth birthday, Katie wanted to have a tea party and I have to admit I was totally excited. Who doesn't love a tea party? We pulled out all the stops, making hats, applying make-up and hiring a British servant for the night to explain the rules of a tea party and serve all those lovely delicacies (okay, I was the servant, but I was <span style="font-style: italic;">quite </span>proper-no rubbish, you know). With that in mind, enjoy her pictures along with a few quotes I've found about tea.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoGTyVIGlFajpn4zgH7UQC5odU0TKd5g2wPOhRmCr5yQYe8SXmMLaZtJc-e3JCG2CaVY4w7mnAmSaHxVmg_njZUfUk5WhnumDTh7J0HY00u1zh3tXyxyhXxBa_35pF8fw0kKJZb9g3-vW/s1600/DSC05388.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoGTyVIGlFajpn4zgH7UQC5odU0TKd5g2wPOhRmCr5yQYe8SXmMLaZtJc-e3JCG2CaVY4w7mnAmSaHxVmg_njZUfUk5WhnumDTh7J0HY00u1zh3tXyxyhXxBa_35pF8fw0kKJZb9g3-vW/s320/DSC05388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546629140918337010" border="0" /></a><span class="sqq"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Come oh come ye tea-thirsty restless ones - the kettle boils, bubbles and sings, musically”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtp2pc05WqdgBPeeeyiqtdFtoFv5YJ3xdLpBgri50uWKlD_NUgMxqDYEUAS4NgQ0hGvLK5Ll8Mwk1sn4xCs3bTR1qlr8Itxh5vuL0JJisFUOfTYw8bKrtYGkxwYAw4iROyXbqj6BYfjhLC/s1600/DSC05389.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtp2pc05WqdgBPeeeyiqtdFtoFv5YJ3xdLpBgri50uWKlD_NUgMxqDYEUAS4NgQ0hGvLK5Ll8Mwk1sn4xCs3bTR1qlr8Itxh5vuL0JJisFUOfTYw8bKrtYGkxwYAw4iROyXbqj6BYfjhLC/s320/DSC05389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546628669448415458" border="0" /></a>“Polly put the kettle on, we'll all have tea”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4nuzvK0Ji0_isdWl5swlunzlQzeT7u_hHgQ8XQD7_0FmSUE-NM5-OnM8teXL4F1P7Er9qJl1_VlGoa3ZuvvwrEuBdnYbSJIMYJue9F1DU_Op_McS-c2y6Sc5Qrgek5diODeXr0lHJPnR/s1600/DSC05393.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4nuzvK0Ji0_isdWl5swlunzlQzeT7u_hHgQ8XQD7_0FmSUE-NM5-OnM8teXL4F1P7Er9qJl1_VlGoa3ZuvvwrEuBdnYbSJIMYJue9F1DU_Op_McS-c2y6Sc5Qrgek5diODeXr0lHJPnR/s320/DSC05393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546628192705967154" border="0" /></a><span class="sqq"></span>“Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzJ-pSPtPeuOaLiHOKp6grGgnTVJozjybg6ny0-i4w2RpuzmdUoL5Zt4yap30kl7lNhLEDqjVxOkR7xwv9WxsmLX_7pXoSMpRwLfWRXmQgqFBP-LWFggPkZshMwPBlSrpS4xUXUXlYkdk/s1600/DSC05399.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzJ-pSPtPeuOaLiHOKp6grGgnTVJozjybg6ny0-i4w2RpuzmdUoL5Zt4yap30kl7lNhLEDqjVxOkR7xwv9WxsmLX_7pXoSMpRwLfWRXmQgqFBP-LWFggPkZshMwPBlSrpS4xUXUXlYkdk/s320/DSC05399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546627689282794386" border="0" /></a><span class="sqq"></span>“There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAOzSMMsv4uegqcwDLeQJ3_fQN4HEARENB22bEmy9KcJXE2KKzyUfywjufMx_heqs48YYzYerdvS_kBfWJ5H2ALEZiCOSifekj-FQ9HnV2b74EagRvE0MI1rHeGfJQDn17pEP-i_3kRHt/s1600/DSC05401.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAOzSMMsv4uegqcwDLeQJ3_fQN4HEARENB22bEmy9KcJXE2KKzyUfywjufMx_heqs48YYzYerdvS_kBfWJ5H2ALEZiCOSifekj-FQ9HnV2b74EagRvE0MI1rHeGfJQDn17pEP-i_3kRHt/s320/DSC05401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546627382458833202" border="0" /></a><span class="sqq"></span>“Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zyUKRXVPJ4Bw-HdVhJsiKX3D6GDyGg4lSNHnfVRPJZmkkGZKtr7QCDW4DDw-UmIUwcNTl0vxGIlLM7DijG85CSzln4VlqNV2sMouerLhz04ij765HcXlLMVsEzx4HwDP7wpoKOr8quwS/s1600/DSC05409.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zyUKRXVPJ4Bw-HdVhJsiKX3D6GDyGg4lSNHnfVRPJZmkkGZKtr7QCDW4DDw-UmIUwcNTl0vxGIlLM7DijG85CSzln4VlqNV2sMouerLhz04ij765HcXlLMVsEzx4HwDP7wpoKOr8quwS/s320/DSC05409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546636559515959042" border="0" /></a><span class="sqq"></span>“May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjc1Vv2rxOB-CWM6HMj1v8Aj5OX74Ap6T23-4L9vd_YNXpsSKERu_riWyqpnnDkXERigWklhDG9Vb53opsXB9VPT-80cdU-tvPB6tT78MpHikxpk9HEldu8KyrMFt8V-eQUje7GAJ9Nr/s1600/DSC05434.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjc1Vv2rxOB-CWM6HMj1v8Aj5OX74Ap6T23-4L9vd_YNXpsSKERu_riWyqpnnDkXERigWklhDG9Vb53opsXB9VPT-80cdU-tvPB6tT78MpHikxpk9HEldu8KyrMFt8V-eQUje7GAJ9Nr/s320/DSC05434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546624851492363506" border="0" /></a><span class="sqq"></span>“Tea pot is on, the cups are waiting, Favorite chairs anticipating, No matter what I have to do, My friend there's always time for you”<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N49jSTzl4QszvAj0x10vP3G87Sv8VKiAW-kuMYQomdDUBAV3hIS-JsIt3wbdbcSIIo9q0uw24_mAjY6y6epvvwhWufZUWigW_O-Sb8W-fe0FsxdA22TV7Nd3LtHo-eOHBkBnaAfMw5Tn/s1600/DSC05436.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N49jSTzl4QszvAj0x10vP3G87Sv8VKiAW-kuMYQomdDUBAV3hIS-JsIt3wbdbcSIIo9q0uw24_mAjY6y6epvvwhWufZUWigW_O-Sb8W-fe0FsxdA22TV7Nd3LtHo-eOHBkBnaAfMw5Tn/s320/DSC05436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546624510370967394" border="0" /></a>“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”<br /></div>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-83019620475580732672010-11-02T11:45:00.000-07:002010-11-02T12:15:37.006-07:00Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF681guQkJjkQPLAtDffegB6Cti2cl3vFXN_cPR1AOkcSh-cnCa2XUEaEIKlAzqggVPHPswhTF0JR76AH6Hpl25hRVglqKyxckJdl8b-5px4ywb8dYDmaz3j7MBzb1qU1mqctpP4l1UhL/s1600/DSC05320.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF681guQkJjkQPLAtDffegB6Cti2cl3vFXN_cPR1AOkcSh-cnCa2XUEaEIKlAzqggVPHPswhTF0JR76AH6Hpl25hRVglqKyxckJdl8b-5px4ywb8dYDmaz3j7MBzb1qU1mqctpP4l1UhL/s320/DSC05320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535028679518316274" border="0" /></a>I hope you all had a happy Halloween. For us, it started on October 1st with decorating and delivering cookies to our friends on holiday plates. It's been a fun month and it went quickly. The kids were invited to a birthday party where they were asked to dress up, so they broke out their costumes early. Here we have an angry alligator (that gator is easily put out these days), a fairy and our favorite witch. Colored hairspray was important this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1zKVqUDsm7bsqaHJ47aZ6Y8vX9qjUq0qhNk2IHks49UTyaesBCEo1dDjIrK478HArFFblp1PeStjhlF0dC6G-MlNjsuW9eERiiYZ2gK-KoWhzwcWEIo6DSUP66Z-Fj53Psi_byt8ROwf/s1600/DSC05322.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1zKVqUDsm7bsqaHJ47aZ6Y8vX9qjUq0qhNk2IHks49UTyaesBCEo1dDjIrK478HArFFblp1PeStjhlF0dC6G-MlNjsuW9eERiiYZ2gK-KoWhzwcWEIo6DSUP66Z-Fj53Psi_byt8ROwf/s320/DSC05322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535027855868187042" border="0" /></a>The eldest informed me that when she turns eighteen, she would dye her hair pink. Rebellion started in the womb with that girl. When I told her that she should color it for Halloween, she gave me a shocked look and asked if I would really let her do that. When I said that I wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise, it was a joyful moment and I haven't heard a word about when she turns eighteen since then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ty_86RRptIlJ5q8vP-oGPUJdhgO4v6nkn4bFfiiJ3tJqxAW8lX403usHYDUZHamdMwBFYXZg_YwOTCRHM9egssXtUyiz87w8OJe1p3z5-l1GpAA5YM3GQDmxkN321fv5y5INHHd6IgWi/s1600/DSC05351.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ty_86RRptIlJ5q8vP-oGPUJdhgO4v6nkn4bFfiiJ3tJqxAW8lX403usHYDUZHamdMwBFYXZg_YwOTCRHM9egssXtUyiz87w8OJe1p3z5-l1GpAA5YM3GQDmxkN321fv5y5INHHd6IgWi/s320/DSC05351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535027250395853826" border="0" /></a>This costume was actually mine when I was little and my 'bama' had made it for me. It was fun to see one of my kids in it as I can remember trick or treating in my great grandparents neighborhood and wearing it. Afterward, I'd go back to their house, dump out my candy and organize it into piles of 3 musketeers, reeses, etc. It makes me think that somewhere, my great grandparents were smiling watching my son wear it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcn5vbSlYiDHVKUOsh61VRYi9I_S5CGFwS8nImSbBMOBHToVidT2C0M2_8FjvSqH2mNz7wlZ49bLEfstP6fxf5112wKcdvgpjMlMrdo7WEHcfsw-Ql9XE2_q6CnpTmyR2iYFe1wElzubV/s1600/DSC05358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcn5vbSlYiDHVKUOsh61VRYi9I_S5CGFwS8nImSbBMOBHToVidT2C0M2_8FjvSqH2mNz7wlZ49bLEfstP6fxf5112wKcdvgpjMlMrdo7WEHcfsw-Ql9XE2_q6CnpTmyR2iYFe1wElzubV/s320/DSC05358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535026726360626210" border="0" /></a>I have the cutest Han Solo, don't I? Originally, I wanted us to be Lily and Herman Munster, but there's always next year. Nate is young enough that he wanted to be a part of our cool group, so he dressed as Luke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumXy6K90WgjRGmEk0AxjlxmANeosrebr7k3wxiidV9d3CMhk1WDMThT0Z2NCRh2CQ_j0c5NeMR-PrVadBIjJe2qg1xkAUUcuwVJDnRznaXRFJqvWz4lgKc2wdpt7D7P2Mjz0mwgrqJJTo/s1600/DSC05362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumXy6K90WgjRGmEk0AxjlxmANeosrebr7k3wxiidV9d3CMhk1WDMThT0Z2NCRh2CQ_j0c5NeMR-PrVadBIjJe2qg1xkAUUcuwVJDnRznaXRFJqvWz4lgKc2wdpt7D7P2Mjz0mwgrqJJTo/s320/DSC05362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535026289971706818" border="0" /></a>On Halloween, Nate was a clone. By the way, it was nippy noodles out there. We should have dressed for the ice planet of Hoth (a.k.a Norway). Our neighbors invited us over for a party before trick or treating and then out we all went. We zipped around the neighborhood for an hour, then we came home. Seth built a fire, I made tea and the kids dumped out their candy and organized it into little piles. I watched them and smiled, remembering my own little piles.<br /><br />How was your Halloween?The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-38300684197053180992010-10-17T13:13:00.000-07:002010-10-17T14:41:45.742-07:00My birthday lasted a week!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqSDN_EJsgcIQp8zNo3Q7-J6H_9WgNG1tgUpAlkWYtOiMnaTR6CnKPd0D_uHOzDVXQR0_8x0N_OzJUVUOAnfdWUancZ0l-heidB1XUvyuhAlFjUPkSX4tIuNu5wqTRyeGg-Mg0JPNYOFw/s1600/DSC05249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqSDN_EJsgcIQp8zNo3Q7-J6H_9WgNG1tgUpAlkWYtOiMnaTR6CnKPd0D_uHOzDVXQR0_8x0N_OzJUVUOAnfdWUancZ0l-heidB1XUvyuhAlFjUPkSX4tIuNu5wqTRyeGg-Mg0JPNYOFw/s320/DSC05249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529126091572248754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I have perfected a system wherein my birthday lasts a week. How? I'll tell you. First, we go to Pennsylvania for a weekend for an Arts Festival that my mom, sister and I attend every year. We eat yummy gyros and truffles. Sometimes we buy artsy stuff too. Meanwhile, my dad, Seth and the kids go to Pumpkinville. I went to Pumpkinville every year as a child, though it is way cooler now.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLme7uJ2MD_JTjFinFNAcGLy3yd34D9aAXb-3btX1M9VxzSnenKfbWVKw8ACfN6ms6ie7ssL6Rjj8k1DlLNKJfkLtHapAJkZuXu1WHZ_6aH6REDJZ33B1Ru9r_gsHPH7s-pXrksXIYgy1/s1600/DSC05250.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLme7uJ2MD_JTjFinFNAcGLy3yd34D9aAXb-3btX1M9VxzSnenKfbWVKw8ACfN6ms6ie7ssL6Rjj8k1DlLNKJfkLtHapAJkZuXu1WHZ_6aH6REDJZ33B1Ru9r_gsHPH7s-pXrksXIYgy1/s320/DSC05250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529125736370269682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">There were no cow rides when I was growing up. Or pumpkin donuts. I love that my kids get to go the same place I went as a child.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUYGH6MS3sppnv_9_kIkJA9rA8rw47qSf4RVMs20_UArmVhm7ieCutC01WztZXaKEvw3IFAtp42i6x0l0Cvg8_jThQby3wNcjUK56sJhin5CYkXeZQmdVL_hdvD12Q9n61FKNv6QE9_kF/s1600/DSC05250.JPG"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUYGH6MS3sppnv_9_kIkJA9rA8rw47qSf4RVMs20_UArmVhm7ieCutC01WztZXaKEvw3IFAtp42i6x0l0Cvg8_jThQby3wNcjUK56sJhin5CYkXeZQmdVL_hdvD12Q9n61FKNv6QE9_kF/s1600/DSC05250.JPG"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FXCckikmSQw4S9PkzB4ZPwc-Ao1zHKJN7aCAix87KqLHK6K-8ELE42GFc7B6VT5bFAtW9cBd2shm650S5G_8HF-W_ICNekGOkNYZcXX3pM0HPsMhakY9bn7u6hGQW-Do4M4tlz8lwu0m/s1600/DSC05254.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FXCckikmSQw4S9PkzB4ZPwc-Ao1zHKJN7aCAix87KqLHK6K-8ELE42GFc7B6VT5bFAtW9cBd2shm650S5G_8HF-W_ICNekGOkNYZcXX3pM0HPsMhakY9bn7u6hGQW-Do4M4tlz8lwu0m/s320/DSC05254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529121234470663842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The first time we measured Kylie against this pumpkin she was 16 months old. <br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JQUpaj6Yxn5FsbczYHn4Qfgv7xU2qidTxz90sbAAz3T7dUtYo8hMFDbAgPpO3s79STVq1xU0lwdZEU1OHHvIWZPHSFlLvvamBZ5O0uscySUGivBst-qksH9DBMrtWhHkWocUj10vAFuQ/s1600/DSC05286.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JQUpaj6Yxn5FsbczYHn4Qfgv7xU2qidTxz90sbAAz3T7dUtYo8hMFDbAgPpO3s79STVq1xU0lwdZEU1OHHvIWZPHSFlLvvamBZ5O0uscySUGivBst-qksH9DBMrtWhHkWocUj10vAFuQ/s320/DSC05286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529120725156762050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">As part of my extended birthday we went back to State College to visit. It was so wonderful to be back. This is Kylie's old school.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnbWMRJS0dFJTbgvOvDZVjVKGXqWeWpcU7iM-cyxGMZ0Svnxi8XMU0wcTI1KlUUSEnNswhyzGLbJ_PynwlhfDqpzOhPMnJumeXULb10N-l7BAqCFgI8ng6IpECA5jwmwzR0ralNFs1klk/s1600/DSC05292.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnbWMRJS0dFJTbgvOvDZVjVKGXqWeWpcU7iM-cyxGMZ0Svnxi8XMU0wcTI1KlUUSEnNswhyzGLbJ_PynwlhfDqpzOhPMnJumeXULb10N-l7BAqCFgI8ng6IpECA5jwmwzR0ralNFs1klk/s320/DSC05292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529120312523738418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our great friends, the Waynes, invited us to dinner. We all enjoyed being back at our old home.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9E6_-uLo-EqDJCM66FSNAXbMznDcEelYRHIYQ9hT2TC7Hwu0FOH68LQuKYGrgj8MWXBBt7AjcWPoLDBx29ew_fqo2AV_ScD1YlpUOzKx5QUoshF0zb1SAlHiNPIOoLi44mAbEvWJ57e6/s1600/DSC05298.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9E6_-uLo-EqDJCM66FSNAXbMznDcEelYRHIYQ9hT2TC7Hwu0FOH68LQuKYGrgj8MWXBBt7AjcWPoLDBx29ew_fqo2AV_ScD1YlpUOzKx5QUoshF0zb1SAlHiNPIOoLi44mAbEvWJ57e6/s320/DSC05298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529119899732878642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We had to visit Seth's Alma mater, and no trip would be complete without a photo with the Nittany Lion.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1p6jjhCykcAcrwextsIG4CClpEtR0-9FntLBsmt4KxQhKl1jprcRnVMb-pg6pPIq4SbYrQ9a-sp0TkDdMkeqx8O65jGVfadvjSBYf8ADwu1LV1tMKK5OhusreeXiGxPRDAdgyr1_JuNu/s1600/DSC05303.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1p6jjhCykcAcrwextsIG4CClpEtR0-9FntLBsmt4KxQhKl1jprcRnVMb-pg6pPIq4SbYrQ9a-sp0TkDdMkeqx8O65jGVfadvjSBYf8ADwu1LV1tMKK5OhusreeXiGxPRDAdgyr1_JuNu/s320/DSC05303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529119420711402930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Since we hadn't driven enough already, we spent part of Columbus Day visiting friends in Hershey and a few tours through Chocolate World. We ended up driving 1200 miles over 4 days.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9V0DtwJoiLCEERqkE3y6DufFXfyBAfJXiB7pWCVQaN8U2JvQwu74nefzO0UGHpa3MtZXmT3_Q86aoGUXp4yxPY6ArqpZRem_86U4ac4k5vh8ZwQsoSw1gbbTRNvn4RaVySfJ4_4I2wmQ/s1600/DSC05307.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9V0DtwJoiLCEERqkE3y6DufFXfyBAfJXiB7pWCVQaN8U2JvQwu74nefzO0UGHpa3MtZXmT3_Q86aoGUXp4yxPY6ArqpZRem_86U4ac4k5vh8ZwQsoSw1gbbTRNvn4RaVySfJ4_4I2wmQ/s320/DSC05307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529118958950414002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We took the tour about four times. Something interesting happens when you smell chocolate for over an hour--you don't feel hungry for it anymore. Therefore, my hypothesis is that I'd be much thinner if we lived in Hershey or worked in a chocolate factory.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7SZSYnGkf5KAvLwd7WVp8h6pIwrSeSZcCaSV4c6gLGjSTDmHjByD5nDVVm0dH-m12qmCNrC-R5FTGbM7aj-cyMD8q5foKjRPlcTOjcEo54qaeziA2_kP_0Bw-di6a4WSp7R34-FKckCC/s1600/DSC05310.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7SZSYnGkf5KAvLwd7WVp8h6pIwrSeSZcCaSV4c6gLGjSTDmHjByD5nDVVm0dH-m12qmCNrC-R5FTGbM7aj-cyMD8q5foKjRPlcTOjcEo54qaeziA2_kP_0Bw-di6a4WSp7R34-FKckCC/s320/DSC05310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529118065718673778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My gurlz</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY24bNPl9SSGzjZEq6Kzo04vzv3ewi9Lt6oVatY8KMQRP7aVb2_tvp8sO9WWMycX5-J1TNz-11YtmBv8421ANSCZw_MRCto33WWPnRNBeupUXOzAqXLIECqeQvSRBMiP19fw8pn22LitEP/s1600/DSC05318.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY24bNPl9SSGzjZEq6Kzo04vzv3ewi9Lt6oVatY8KMQRP7aVb2_tvp8sO9WWMycX5-J1TNz-11YtmBv8421ANSCZw_MRCto33WWPnRNBeupUXOzAqXLIECqeQvSRBMiP19fw8pn22LitEP/s320/DSC05318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529117573657108306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCTX5QrRp0IR27TlhMe2waCINKousc4bfd877o8SzWpZhUlLfTtP8tf4UGXpoXVyG1tlz3w3ya8lCUVX5NHVykma2NZFwo0D6j7eOz8remIGmkGGMfRudcaqzO8WQYCNHDkORxjysrnnc/s1600/DSC05333.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCTX5QrRp0IR27TlhMe2waCINKousc4bfd877o8SzWpZhUlLfTtP8tf4UGXpoXVyG1tlz3w3ya8lCUVX5NHVykma2NZFwo0D6j7eOz8remIGmkGGMfRudcaqzO8WQYCNHDkORxjysrnnc/s320/DSC05333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529117120350422194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My birthday ended yesterday when me and my friend, Deborah, visited Salem. We had such a fun time.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz48t9DQm6zPVyT14hw9_3JdgGNDwXgLQPZTCs0xuQmWpWurWtBGTZXRwxt3-PNNj6ZTMQje0zrtEp9IEsI6_gk70mpnzkEw2GaVtpmOXnP7UNgYKzTZRMqebdrrZhRjW26ONQbWY-21G/s1600/DSC05338.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz48t9DQm6zPVyT14hw9_3JdgGNDwXgLQPZTCs0xuQmWpWurWtBGTZXRwxt3-PNNj6ZTMQje0zrtEp9IEsI6_gk70mpnzkEw2GaVtpmOXnP7UNgYKzTZRMqebdrrZhRjW26ONQbWY-21G/s320/DSC05338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529116692640579938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yup, I got to see the House of the Seven Gables. I think I'm going to have to reread Hawthorne as I read this book in the seventh grade.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqjYEqzU6_qd4FX9RGGj2lRdulLC6GphEyXDh-Fq0L7Ydme-W-nBO7zaiUZ2uIqchvDukn_hJKTTxAcdPOdaqOtCCABqyqgCYl5j1_P8Toj21U1fH88lYvACfUSJS0_-ef5utHD9kg0cF/s1600/DSC05340.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqjYEqzU6_qd4FX9RGGj2lRdulLC6GphEyXDh-Fq0L7Ydme-W-nBO7zaiUZ2uIqchvDukn_hJKTTxAcdPOdaqOtCCABqyqgCYl5j1_P8Toj21U1fH88lYvACfUSJS0_-ef5utHD9kg0cF/s320/DSC05340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529116359927180338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqkgLx8fIv9Ew-DlIQxr_UASJQE0j5MC5RdsvCHi2qDJwIFQihZyGDYst8YaaNKp8hhsZ9zGcMdb4wHhBKIwKDi12z8jnCHPukcdHqazGDpUdBAFeEEXLyBGbm9hvM-2W5vknp14arQG3/s1600/DSC05342.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqkgLx8fIv9Ew-DlIQxr_UASJQE0j5MC5RdsvCHi2qDJwIFQihZyGDYst8YaaNKp8hhsZ9zGcMdb4wHhBKIwKDi12z8jnCHPukcdHqazGDpUdBAFeEEXLyBGbm9hvM-2W5vknp14arQG3/s320/DSC05342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529115912583376898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">She's real, people! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-90EXtbOW8h9seruDSbwpa_wYVFOoEjugXVPc9EX_Dfxyp-Mebb0CCOaymDCZxfkZLW8X175y-qt4kfeT_QrxEwwSYXY2gKXlP0j0BKRsrv1eCc1dqL-yqcHXoBnsX2Q1y6T87wAaXeE/s1600/DSC05343.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-90EXtbOW8h9seruDSbwpa_wYVFOoEjugXVPc9EX_Dfxyp-Mebb0CCOaymDCZxfkZLW8X175y-qt4kfeT_QrxEwwSYXY2gKXlP0j0BKRsrv1eCc1dqL-yqcHXoBnsX2Q1y6T87wAaXeE/s320/DSC05343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529112652709965250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The final thing we did before we left Salem was watch a mock trial using the transcripts from the 1692 trials. It was sad. Truly sad. This woman was accused of witchcraft by one of her servants and would've been hanged except that she was pregnant. The hysteria ended before she gave birth and therefore wasn't put to death.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">But a lot were.</span>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-35474104891714617132010-09-25T14:37:00.000-07:002010-09-25T15:12:02.793-07:00Whazz up?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievvibXaRxHv37xRJ_VxLFMehstzWG3GVdU6TIok7NzQn23mpShVvLbqO3Gx58OwNIpvtKaNjBcLxJK_HkmafAjPBioh02BxJW9ZFlfY73KhmnWehU-xnguAlyYQKfO46ZkcZgLZn5lyAW/s1600/bree.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievvibXaRxHv37xRJ_VxLFMehstzWG3GVdU6TIok7NzQn23mpShVvLbqO3Gx58OwNIpvtKaNjBcLxJK_HkmafAjPBioh02BxJW9ZFlfY73KhmnWehU-xnguAlyYQKfO46ZkcZgLZn5lyAW/s320/bree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520975068432627890" border="0" /></a>Okay, for some reason I was weird about this book. Despite the fact that I have loved every book Stephenie Meyer wrote, I didn't think I would like this one. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">loved</span> this novella and the perspective that it provided into Eclipse. The funniest thing is for each copy of this book she sells, she's giving a dollar to the Red Cross. He-he. That kills me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXQva6KmBWanht-nngKejVU9mm1Z3mB8rI9IRGQhzna2wnR4jBrrqjo5nCm78sTAWco9CbsmgTFSyYjMZhWzTnSauNoN3mbr9R37QPFZTJ3soUuxE5DPdMu7bQxq7XrbyDdcNxhL3RyJz/s1600/DSC05241.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXQva6KmBWanht-nngKejVU9mm1Z3mB8rI9IRGQhzna2wnR4jBrrqjo5nCm78sTAWco9CbsmgTFSyYjMZhWzTnSauNoN3mbr9R37QPFZTJ3soUuxE5DPdMu7bQxq7XrbyDdcNxhL3RyJz/s320/DSC05241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520969997898873890" border="0" /></a>Our 1997 Nissan Altima has been stranding us off and on for awhile now. We loved this car, her name was Sally. Like Lightening McQueen's girlfriend. You know, the Porsche? Well, they were both bluish and that was all that mattered when Nate fell in love with that movie. RIP, Sally.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARco7Df85UMMuq-TCksvXnV9tWiJL6e-V_xFtHw-zpG8eViOcTOA6DogLBIGzmnPCczI2sOhm9DaCM-BtTXhsxQ41GCR-u-PVjzHyBKtZPOOzypfzvuSjdUY7gGNai1Pvw3vr8CZJRHrn/s1600/DSC05242.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARco7Df85UMMuq-TCksvXnV9tWiJL6e-V_xFtHw-zpG8eViOcTOA6DogLBIGzmnPCczI2sOhm9DaCM-BtTXhsxQ41GCR-u-PVjzHyBKtZPOOzypfzvuSjdUY7gGNai1Pvw3vr8CZJRHrn/s320/DSC05242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520969618173756066" border="0" /></a>This is our new Honda Civic. It doesn't have a name yet, but when that changes I'll let you all know. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8i7cqJaFB7TE71KjgqTxSbtTeVVES-LqeXyXz9mv6z_jG_F-qHPz6syj_k4P8e6PNQgvMygmnSh-cK9ESln5ePF1x8gchQ6s1PWPcSqWuFcC49dBRA-ks8Mp0Y_duheBAlCOpCgPWEhJ/s1600/DSC05243.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8i7cqJaFB7TE71KjgqTxSbtTeVVES-LqeXyXz9mv6z_jG_F-qHPz6syj_k4P8e6PNQgvMygmnSh-cK9ESln5ePF1x8gchQ6s1PWPcSqWuFcC49dBRA-ks8Mp0Y_duheBAlCOpCgPWEhJ/s320/DSC05243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520969254442559106" border="0" /></a>The project that never ends. Sorry about the crooked shot, but you get the point. WE FINISHED THE FRONT. Sort of. We still have to do the door/frame and put up the black shutters. But still. It's progress people. Hope you have a great week!The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-75075267909279571202010-09-19T06:04:00.000-07:002010-09-19T06:56:30.455-07:00September<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo2NXx9ItkfV_kAHj1VoR_fY1iRCcuuHWskqU6porEE1Y1FdM9XC2L6vhO8P6NUDNVovz_FZojvpu-FzW8xAovkLifJ22RRhTEQ8-KxkD8-5x0R31lSQdaGXaRzmitJ27hMak2v9lb83A/s1600/DSC05226.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo2NXx9ItkfV_kAHj1VoR_fY1iRCcuuHWskqU6porEE1Y1FdM9XC2L6vhO8P6NUDNVovz_FZojvpu-FzW8xAovkLifJ22RRhTEQ8-KxkD8-5x0R31lSQdaGXaRzmitJ27hMak2v9lb83A/s320/DSC05226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518619269886032962" border="0" /></a>September is that magical month where children in Little Rhodey go back to school. This year, Katie started Kindergarten and Kylie entered third grade. Both girls like their teachers and are doing well. Kylie brought home a note on Friday asking that we get her eyes checked. She's thrilled. She wants glasses. Who knew?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNrHxdDLnczRNTTJeovvxpHqnFk05dZMXKi2aWwe5a-n3wk9WAzA1Z9DfWWz5e_F1ivpCt2SWpd_-AWGKtGPUSHOaqJPRPVPm8HiczNRSGf-ZSvpw85wbqxHdco3hQFBo7eUZ4lD9rh1J/s1600/DSC05227.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNrHxdDLnczRNTTJeovvxpHqnFk05dZMXKi2aWwe5a-n3wk9WAzA1Z9DfWWz5e_F1ivpCt2SWpd_-AWGKtGPUSHOaqJPRPVPm8HiczNRSGf-ZSvpw85wbqxHdco3hQFBo7eUZ4lD9rh1J/s320/DSC05227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518618567552231170" border="0" /></a>Katie was so excited on the first day that by the time I'd gotten up she was dressed (with shoes) eating her breakfast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcPx5s-qyg78e5jPkCgh64sJgRw46j6EMOFcTpvlE0P3tMLKlzRZag0VSQBgw5AmXbLwobTCIjU2IyrtknOnfbEhAwpycbFuYj0VLMRwS1us4woiepMCwW1epW1HRiqeTNvBCgISVMc3g/s1600/DSC05228.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcPx5s-qyg78e5jPkCgh64sJgRw46j6EMOFcTpvlE0P3tMLKlzRZag0VSQBgw5AmXbLwobTCIjU2IyrtknOnfbEhAwpycbFuYj0VLMRwS1us4woiepMCwW1epW1HRiqeTNvBCgISVMc3g/s320/DSC05228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518618297060603074" border="0" /></a>We've also started painting our house. Whose horrible idea was that, you ask? Erm, it might have been mine. But anywho, we've got great little helpers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxwS3u4NAYNtwmsMwvV9osEtQbI124J583YpkOURqchEWSGTJh1u0Xr12etv07Gg8LJHiwXCyVA4SLCDakvTjyfeWigb6SsD7LkO56-Xwddzn4wXW5BIw3feMWeMSXKYuw5MA-8h_21S1/s1600/DSC05229.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxwS3u4NAYNtwmsMwvV9osEtQbI124J583YpkOURqchEWSGTJh1u0Xr12etv07Gg8LJHiwXCyVA4SLCDakvTjyfeWigb6SsD7LkO56-Xwddzn4wXW5BIw3feMWeMSXKYuw5MA-8h_21S1/s320/DSC05229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518617995275020434" border="0" /></a>We started on the back of the house and everyone was part of the scraping for the first day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUuPJPCqxVyEgpg_JkZvT11wTErwDrpTbFRBHfNTQN87ncL4aHoAXlll8ugnZJG3FmyCebIIWHx-GI4IrsLfqZxri7vYd0hMJ02XRHz9njdzK3xFr1_ROx5moo8_DJtclaTvk_ASER3-F/s1600/DSC05230.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUuPJPCqxVyEgpg_JkZvT11wTErwDrpTbFRBHfNTQN87ncL4aHoAXlll8ugnZJG3FmyCebIIWHx-GI4IrsLfqZxri7vYd0hMJ02XRHz9njdzK3xFr1_ROx5moo8_DJtclaTvk_ASER3-F/s320/DSC05230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518617678492204450" border="0" /></a> Don't you love the goggles?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yBvjZX-fXT-qsKsCSQboqrxM7ARw5h3Y_b7HxJWeu84ZTLfMXDU0iLT20Ny1G_4JVlq4pKTJnxhrjgxJT2sgf1_l7gBBcvpv0Q4NThF1-iD1NJbxD6_IgS3sG4N0gMdssyobWvXIezw6/s1600/DSC05237.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yBvjZX-fXT-qsKsCSQboqrxM7ARw5h3Y_b7HxJWeu84ZTLfMXDU0iLT20Ny1G_4JVlq4pKTJnxhrjgxJT2sgf1_l7gBBcvpv0Q4NThF1-iD1NJbxD6_IgS3sG4N0gMdssyobWvXIezw6/s320/DSC05237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518617352372727554" border="0" /></a>Now we're working on the front of the house. We've had to cut down most of our bushes and have stepped on the rest. We'll figure that out later, but the color on top Spanish Moss is our new and improved look. I'm also taking two classes at RIC, so I've been feeling super busy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSYvYC6NuyiSaqDifvLh1DC4IMIcNwPIA1k1mu8gOHwHfE3n52J_wit7iqmmDSM6qZl6mP20Sf3FSpa-8ZBYu7o5rO3KbU9QF9dXJcfQGTDlGtncfHTTD2Jpo2Vn-RpIkKYUHrR_DfCf6/s1600/DSC05240.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSYvYC6NuyiSaqDifvLh1DC4IMIcNwPIA1k1mu8gOHwHfE3n52J_wit7iqmmDSM6qZl6mP20Sf3FSpa-8ZBYu7o5rO3KbU9QF9dXJcfQGTDlGtncfHTTD2Jpo2Vn-RpIkKYUHrR_DfCf6/s320/DSC05240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518610890751946226" border="0" /></a>On another note, Nate has started dressing himself for Sundays. I didn't used to let him because he wanted to wear holey jeans or sweatpants, but I think he's got the idea now. In his words, <span style="font-style: italic;">I look like a little Daddy.</span>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-51424466433449792562010-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:002010-07-31T13:13:47.012-07:00Snap shot of a summer.<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXdnpCI1i0yM-_F3AWoJKAJM_FcJ8VLUddui-byrKHsJ8ZrmqKVvcm8tFjsAxgPXKmudRIgb8OUW7L7hUZ3WKLwOERpJv7_b3UJ84PowJzw1qHctwM_1AVDGRrqfz-s54sD349jkjmNUy/s1600/DSC04903.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXdnpCI1i0yM-_F3AWoJKAJM_FcJ8VLUddui-byrKHsJ8ZrmqKVvcm8tFjsAxgPXKmudRIgb8OUW7L7hUZ3WKLwOERpJv7_b3UJ84PowJzw1qHctwM_1AVDGRrqfz-s54sD349jkjmNUy/s320/DSC04903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500163556289979362" border="0" /></a><br /></div>We've had a LOT of crazy things happen this summer...starting with these 11 babies born to the "sister" hamsters we got from the neighbors. They were really cute, but no.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnLfUykDCrRvhbziqaDIupPe21XbBZxIDUALXAv9xfozn_lFKqAhmS6swAi7WRaaMd2_qc3FRDyKHCqxigTe39-P6r58QW4m26YC5uq1D6OZ0p7q05Ikag4vydfdIEsVJdxz94v9nG_4z/s1600/DSC04958.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnLfUykDCrRvhbziqaDIupPe21XbBZxIDUALXAv9xfozn_lFKqAhmS6swAi7WRaaMd2_qc3FRDyKHCqxigTe39-P6r58QW4m26YC5uq1D6OZ0p7q05Ikag4vydfdIEsVJdxz94v9nG_4z/s320/DSC04958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500160876732029714" border="0" /></a>We were so lucky to get a visit from some of our State College friends before they move to Malawi, Africa. Here they are at the zoo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXHPuigJbZSda4WbPb9wHkSYnXoQgCAHeDpFuPGkGVkpzHbZMxMQUUzcEcjGEp_3C95HKSF4VOomGPxiEWnlvYmMWgUCluKfZkEAdJT6VO6Prmke7R8SRLqeHFPHnUWPtc-HBa0Aa7ORB/s1600/DSC04964.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXHPuigJbZSda4WbPb9wHkSYnXoQgCAHeDpFuPGkGVkpzHbZMxMQUUzcEcjGEp_3C95HKSF4VOomGPxiEWnlvYmMWgUCluKfZkEAdJT6VO6Prmke7R8SRLqeHFPHnUWPtc-HBa0Aa7ORB/s320/DSC04964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500160290141440386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwPQErA3aiRCmANugvjKpfH-Ow6ByjM4_yw3G8ziMnh6tJaXiIgeeqKZlEkvbZEc3XfdAN1rOcqoiKlKSolJo5DtfnX2PukaHH0gM_WgYdnnY4-OvHRSO8maNV1a2AsaLMl1mPoW_dxv1/s1600/DSC05052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwPQErA3aiRCmANugvjKpfH-Ow6ByjM4_yw3G8ziMnh6tJaXiIgeeqKZlEkvbZEc3XfdAN1rOcqoiKlKSolJo5DtfnX2PukaHH0gM_WgYdnnY4-OvHRSO8maNV1a2AsaLMl1mPoW_dxv1/s320/DSC05052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500159903854231602" border="0" /></a>This is the day of Kylie's baptism. I can't tell you what an amazing experience that was for our family. We were so happy to have both sets of grandparents with us for that special day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeSD7mYmt-9hpjXAXNLWFFOU7Zb7nO6-dg1lclc8ClDKyZFENWnUFpJ2G3lmKBMRltsTnWfTCFZxWkyvyBrL1iWi_OamN6cM6yqHlRpD2LDWG59HZWU2Q18nDHpRxndRK4ilARtrsvl1N/s1600/DSC04988.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeSD7mYmt-9hpjXAXNLWFFOU7Zb7nO6-dg1lclc8ClDKyZFENWnUFpJ2G3lmKBMRltsTnWfTCFZxWkyvyBrL1iWi_OamN6cM6yqHlRpD2LDWG59HZWU2Q18nDHpRxndRK4ilARtrsvl1N/s320/DSC04988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500158759500575490" border="0" /></a>Kylie wanted a low-key party-love that girl. So she had a Nancy Drew party. Here are some of the detectives.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx_ELf6dbO3oWK3xGr7j3IjGte19EsPfCE0uI9FaFCJLXDEsJQKqg19r-Xfm57l_h6m1WZeudzVQ8kDuTZhIp8d9Q4bZHqb-6Te4syMec9yMAEhqufOA0IqDe9cCPBuoqNxA4URUKndnA/s1600/DSC04990.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx_ELf6dbO3oWK3xGr7j3IjGte19EsPfCE0uI9FaFCJLXDEsJQKqg19r-Xfm57l_h6m1WZeudzVQ8kDuTZhIp8d9Q4bZHqb-6Te4syMec9yMAEhqufOA0IqDe9cCPBuoqNxA4URUKndnA/s320/DSC04990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500157986891288274" border="0" /></a>I'm only showing the gifts because she got so many books. It warms the heart. It really does.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVm3ZDRIjK7JLSdgX0OTCqMkdlUYVeP6t8Ek_ljJHrs0yk6jU_uWIIs3w9UuErY8yt7-KLYQr6S7iWxwLCFsZ6O1BLLK0MFCIrsmlpvQrazEhcqTLZSZpK8BFKCs_brAJl-UK94o6WB5q/s1600/DSC05044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVm3ZDRIjK7JLSdgX0OTCqMkdlUYVeP6t8Ek_ljJHrs0yk6jU_uWIIs3w9UuErY8yt7-KLYQr6S7iWxwLCFsZ6O1BLLK0MFCIrsmlpvQrazEhcqTLZSZpK8BFKCs_brAJl-UK94o6WB5q/s320/DSC05044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500157371639849218" border="0" /></a>One of the things we did while the grandparents were visiting was take them to Newport on the Cliffwalk where the Vanderbilts, Astors, etc. built their summer homes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0KXX2jwKJ4K5uGnQ9DPPFsJi2algNasGqBVzg0dwUfBwB6F2y8i-lxL8Q-eokOPWCw8wCmznRAVhuW-yxb7AxHhGSsr6jIMddh2gY6mUEOKiZ5Z47kFY7N0CWVP3lRNRFcA955XoLV1y/s1600/DSC05125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0KXX2jwKJ4K5uGnQ9DPPFsJi2algNasGqBVzg0dwUfBwB6F2y8i-lxL8Q-eokOPWCw8wCmznRAVhuW-yxb7AxHhGSsr6jIMddh2gY6mUEOKiZ5Z47kFY7N0CWVP3lRNRFcA955XoLV1y/s320/DSC05125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500156853749958130" border="0" /></a>We also visited the Museum of Natural History when we took Seth's parents to New York City. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5DGk9iEooRwOXu7-b_mWwNHOSdN_RmOwHBalQSawXETLoj8xHx4ZcbOQWTnmosNx7MsKcSqrn5cn0Lm49BaMNArpC6VaSkoNLWz0akOIGrS-BMCpKYFxwqjZrLL9UwSpDzrsdqaUU1lA/s1600/DSC05142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5DGk9iEooRwOXu7-b_mWwNHOSdN_RmOwHBalQSawXETLoj8xHx4ZcbOQWTnmosNx7MsKcSqrn5cn0Lm49BaMNArpC6VaSkoNLWz0akOIGrS-BMCpKYFxwqjZrLL9UwSpDzrsdqaUU1lA/s320/DSC05142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500156397737391618" border="0" /></a>Nate has moved from a toddler bed to a twin bed and therefore got his room painted. He decided on 100 acre sky and...(drum roll) Cars bedding again. He loves that car with all of his little man heart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmCTtUjVWIkYo5AOTB_lK9aiKPTpMw5SsILo8LyIlSCv9Fdd-y_95vFP4XmcxG7ehWQmtGl3ThCfHrHBR8MoG-vDzwBu6pBWIuZY_pllYMsp_H-hoYQlZ7Fr-L4ZGWMXpqr_pC8PfM7Jl/s1600/DSC05143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmCTtUjVWIkYo5AOTB_lK9aiKPTpMw5SsILo8LyIlSCv9Fdd-y_95vFP4XmcxG7ehWQmtGl3ThCfHrHBR8MoG-vDzwBu6pBWIuZY_pllYMsp_H-hoYQlZ7Fr-L4ZGWMXpqr_pC8PfM7Jl/s320/DSC05143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500156052168501570" border="0" /></a><br />What have you been doing this summer?The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-28324479908126894302010-05-09T16:09:00.000-07:002010-05-09T16:13:37.100-07:00Happy Mother's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTgnafuhIDnSug5NaDYysR-hpUhSLM7KJR-g_lDE5zplOzP95v3vd1pdp1bIzX_UOnymfcbz6azep2YIy6kPS_FLpWELUgOfWlhmxL2fiO8enj9U8tUQCeaEkxROtHcEwVm7ejbPVTkLK/s1600/hinckley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTgnafuhIDnSug5NaDYysR-hpUhSLM7KJR-g_lDE5zplOzP95v3vd1pdp1bIzX_UOnymfcbz6azep2YIy6kPS_FLpWELUgOfWlhmxL2fiO8enj9U8tUQCeaEkxROtHcEwVm7ejbPVTkLK/s320/hinckley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469412080655771938" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">"I don't want to drive up to the <span class="yshortcuts">pearly gates</span> in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with perfectly manicured fingernails.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">I want to drive up in a <span class="yshortcuts">station wagon</span> that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to camp.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing my neighbor's lawn.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">I want to be there with a smudge of <span class="yshortcuts">peanut butter</span> on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">I want to be there with the children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Lucida Handwriting, cursive;font-size:100%;color:#fb373c;">Marjorie Pay Hinckley</span></div>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-14036878210503007892010-05-04T08:47:00.000-07:002010-05-04T09:04:52.542-07:00Confessions of a T-Ball Virgin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZS4jjlBuW6EkWLOv2x9C50spxeNQPCAE9-2xp2Yd4ehRfaje8Mm4evp47bahyphenhyphenkux9VXXvJgaLExYiqPI4vtLH6X4gM2BrqW8fYlHOY3XnuSnEnvMyEEHbxjvBKnPLwUylItkWcV94Xa-/s1600/baseball.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZS4jjlBuW6EkWLOv2x9C50spxeNQPCAE9-2xp2Yd4ehRfaje8Mm4evp47bahyphenhyphenkux9VXXvJgaLExYiqPI4vtLH6X4gM2BrqW8fYlHOY3XnuSnEnvMyEEHbxjvBKnPLwUylItkWcV94Xa-/s320/baseball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467446248719678738" border="0" /></a><br />Our little Katie got the opportunity to join a t-ball team for the next two months and I was really excited for her because that girl's got some hand/eye coordination. The only problem was that we found out about it the day before the game and I, having never played ball, didn't know what to expect. Here is what I learned:<br /><br />1. Must take a catcher's glove (sad, I know).<br />2. Girls with extremely long hair need pig tails.<br />3. A water bottle would also be helpful.<br />4. Coaches are scary.<br />5. Coaches with 3 kids on the team are really scary.<br />6. Never turn your back on whichever child has the ball or bat.<br />7. It is perfectly acceptable for 9 kids to all rush the ball.<br />8. By second base most children have forgotten why they are in the field to begin with.<br />9. This is going to be a lot of fun.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-16314578475919740842010-04-01T18:00:00.000-07:002010-04-01T18:42:57.387-07:00And the rains came down and the floods went up...and the Dixons didn't get washed away.<br /><br />When we were considering this house almost a year ago now, I remember checking the paperwork to see if it was in the flood plain. It wasn't. I mentioned it to Seth and quickly continued to peruse the paperwork.<br /><br />Now that we are recovering from a 500 year flood (yup, none of this weak 100 year flood business for us), I realized just how important that little box checked "no" was. And I'm grateful for how relatively easy this emergency has been for us because that was something we paid attention to. But we were still woefully unprepared for an emergency.<br /><br />Two days ago, when the rivers swelled beyond their banks we woke up with no power. I rummaged around for a flashlight and couldn't find one that fit the batteries we had available. I blame the kids. As the situation around us began to escalate I knew we were safe, but I had an unsettled feeling. Maybe because our church has been counseling us since before I was born to have some cash on hand and have some food storage tucked away-just in case.<br /><br />Many circumstances are beyond our control, but I know I would've felt better if I'd been as prepared as I know I should be. It's taken a 500 year flood, but I finally realize how important this advice is.<br /><br />Here is a link showing flooding that is all within a few miles of my house:<br /><object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/30317506001?isVid=1&publisherID=29906170001"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=75193378001&playerID=30317506001&domain=embed&"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/30317506001?isVid=1&publisherID=29906170001" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=75193378001&playerID=30317506001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-33850340589508418092010-02-28T11:49:00.000-08:002010-02-28T12:39:27.369-08:00Thoughts on kids who grow up without permission<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFucoOToI_fduhoNgzFqKwGq6j_Kf2-2wbA-kyiLNMVLWmNckIi77O_iS1YiR3e5YrHvsq6vUht0V6v393HqdGrsrmwPnd8MBxQwdfysiJwvz9dZz_r7L7ANPk1gafuBn2qMkipVxOkaSq/s1600-h/DSC04680.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFucoOToI_fduhoNgzFqKwGq6j_Kf2-2wbA-kyiLNMVLWmNckIi77O_iS1YiR3e5YrHvsq6vUht0V6v393HqdGrsrmwPnd8MBxQwdfysiJwvz9dZz_r7L7ANPk1gafuBn2qMkipVxOkaSq/s320/DSC04680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443396253619894226" border="0" /></a>Several things have happened over this past week that alerted me to a "growing" trend.<br /><br />First, Katie lost her a tooth. She's five, so it shouldn't have shocked me...but it did. Kylie has been our jack-o-lantern girl for so long that I didn't realize the torch had been passed to my baby girl. A second bottom tooth will be falling out within the next few days. My kids seem to be all or nothing when it comes to loosing teeth.<br /><br />Second, after our children woke me up very early this morning (okay, it was 7 a.m. but dang it, I like to sleep in on Sunday) I sent them to go read books so I could sleep a little longer. When I got up, I looked in the girl's room and saw their beds were made. I could hear them downstairs, so I went down and found both girls <span style="font-style: italic;">dressed for church and they had made their own breakfast.</span> My mouth fell open and I blinked a lot before I came to my senses and complimented them.<br /><br />When did this happen??? I can feel that we are moving into a new phase as a family and before long I'm going to need to hide my car keys and mascara. My sister-in-law, Trisha, always says that when we do our job well as parents we eventually put ourselves out of business and this week I've seen that glimmer of independence in the girls. Thank heaven Nate is a little younger and a bit more dependent. I still need to be needed!<br /><br />I know there is still plenty to do though, not just for Nate, but for the girls too. Here is the tricky thing Kylie did. After her sister put her tooth in a porcelain tooth-shaped container on the night stand for the Tooth Fairy to pick up, Kylie snuck her sister's tooth under her pillow...making life harder for the Tooth Fairy who couldn't say anything about it the next day. Don't worry, Katie got the dollar.<br /><br />So a word of warning: keep an eye on your children, they might be up to this shenanigans too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBY6F6x6LFpPC5sltfCXnSfNxcl9rDM4xZTn6TDy5BilaO9ZlXaWnMONNfuGAHkBKlN-lx6e991hIs4SqOmr9qN6Z9vfto_UiZuB_o9ljV1keIpUxqB4GIe0Wkqv363EJ6fOi9OIGpr_I/s1600-h/DSC04654.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBY6F6x6LFpPC5sltfCXnSfNxcl9rDM4xZTn6TDy5BilaO9ZlXaWnMONNfuGAHkBKlN-lx6e991hIs4SqOmr9qN6Z9vfto_UiZuB_o9ljV1keIpUxqB4GIe0Wkqv363EJ6fOi9OIGpr_I/s320/DSC04654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443394303789049250" border="0" /></a>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-53232343374174126162010-02-12T12:30:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:16:42.274-08:00Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in loveI've been thinking about marriage for a long time, as far back as I can remember. By six years of age I had my children named. I must have been reading Ramona Quimby at the time (remember how she named her imaginary daughter after Chevrolet and thought it was the most beautiful name?) It must have been a <span style="font-style: italic;">Car & Driver</span> era because that's how I felt about Mercedes--I couldn't imagine a better name.<br /><br />In my teenage years I had ideas about the traits my husband would have: rich (yup, it's a trait), smart, a business man, handsome, a take-life-by-the-horns type or older and brooding.... I'll spare you the rest.<br /><br />Then I met Seth. He was younger than me and that was a strike in my book (being a cougar in THAT sense hadn't become fashionable yet). He completely lacked in the taking-life-by-the-horns and brooding departments. He had fuzzy dice hanging from his car mirror-I kid you not. That alone almost ended it. But he was cute, smart and kind. When trouble came (as it always does) his maturity and communicativeness bested mine and not by inches, but by miles. Best of all, he treated me like a princess. And he still does.<br /><br />This week I toast Seth. I love you, sweetie.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-75042070349107308632010-02-03T14:19:00.000-08:002010-02-03T18:53:52.625-08:00Road rageFor those of you who have been spared my ranting and raving about driving in Rhode Island--your number is up. The stories I could tell. Now, you may think perhaps I'm the problem. Consider my evidence. 1. Our car insurance <span style="font-weight: bold;">tripled</span> when we moved to this state. 2. People sent us youtube clips mocking the drivers of Little Rhodey. 3. In a national driving survey, Rhode Island drivers were found least likely to understand and implement driving laws. So there.<br /><br />Yesterday was a bad day in the car for me. By time I nearly crashed into a woman that was running a red, red light (as in the two cars ahead of me had already crossed the intersection) I was crazy angry. The kind of muttering to myself that makes my kids really quiet. I could almost hear them saying to each other, "Sh, don't draw attention to yourself. She's on a rampage." It made me feel a little bad.<br /><br />Fifteen minutes later and still in the car, I started giving Kylie a hard time for having no patience with her siblings and telling her how we can't control other people blah, blah blah. The epiphany came then. I had no moral high ground. Zero. Zilch. It stopped me mid sentence. I felt certain that as I learned how to model that brand of self discipline my kids would learn how to copy it. <br /><br />So, I'm going to learn to count to ten and drive more cautiously. I'm going to learn to laugh so my kids can learn to laugh too.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-87542657490221134662010-01-26T09:18:00.000-08:002010-01-26T09:21:30.417-08:00Okay, so I stole this from someone else's blog today.I was reading a blog that a friend of mine contributes to and they had this great quote. I think it's a message that we all need to hear again and again to remind us of the great potential we all have.<br /><br /><em><em><em>Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.<br /><br />We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented,and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.<br /><br />We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence authomatically liberates others.<br />--Nelson Mandella </em></em></em>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-6413276128733031342010-01-21T11:35:00.000-08:002010-01-21T11:55:39.924-08:00The five year goalLast fall, Seth and I enrolled Kaitlyn in a preschool on his campus. Because it is run as a co-op, we would need to volunteer 4 hours a week. Kaitlyn never got to go because we couldn't get finger printed. Apparently, there is a line as long as the state waiting to be fingerprinted and the police told Seth they couldn't possibly do it until March 31st--even though it was still October.<br /><br />Fast forward to last week. The state police are lighter on their feet than the local police and the fingerprinting was done. The co-op called and left a message on our answering machine saying they had another spot open up and Nate could go as well. I listened to the message and stared at the cabinets. I would be...alone? The by-myself-and-nobody-needs-me kind? It was a bittersweet moment, and I wondered what I would do with myself.<br /><br />This past week I started putting my goals into motion. I filled out my application for RIC (where Seth teaches) to get a BA in English. I've started writing more and felt happier for it. I applied for a job with the Census Bureau so I can attend the BYU writer's conference again and start planning my trip to England to see the sites I've written about.<br /><br />That said, my goal is to be a published author within the next five years. Remember, you heard it here first.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-61126321683835907152009-12-20T17:36:00.001-08:002009-12-20T19:12:10.221-08:00The Dixons take Manhattan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFDFEEvaiUgmiMisBztAm8Nnf7Z6WOdcyU7GDsAgpsN54TV72o_Tyvi-9pdyjG9VLN4sCinwGkZ0cMLTSIReWrOcp_sl-9mj_bCJDkYUgYLlCWdL3QeLr_vdKwLkY4oAzPSubUwoWOxlz/s1600-h/DSC04424.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFDFEEvaiUgmiMisBztAm8Nnf7Z6WOdcyU7GDsAgpsN54TV72o_Tyvi-9pdyjG9VLN4sCinwGkZ0cMLTSIReWrOcp_sl-9mj_bCJDkYUgYLlCWdL3QeLr_vdKwLkY4oAzPSubUwoWOxlz/s320/DSC04424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417516455182846674" border="0" /></a>Seth & I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on Tuesday and, to celebrate, we decided to take the family to New York City. In the past, we've been lucky enough to make the trip alone (thanks Mom), but we decided it would be fun to try making the trip as a family. A small miracle occured along the way-we didn't have to stop at any bathrooms. That's progress, people. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1ShQDs46ANddxSQf825bGKKFC8zPBeYi_btujNpDZperEtRt6oNkMueWZAJu-t8oJv2xLqhXcDDGcFrlFYNXtyrvETF9b1NfBtLazncb_WNHfvv6JD0UhrGGq3RXAj19Z8NAx3uXKpRV/s1600-h/DSC04428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1ShQDs46ANddxSQf825bGKKFC8zPBeYi_btujNpDZperEtRt6oNkMueWZAJu-t8oJv2xLqhXcDDGcFrlFYNXtyrvETF9b1NfBtLazncb_WNHfvv6JD0UhrGGq3RXAj19Z8NAx3uXKpRV/s320/DSC04428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417515110030796466" border="0" /></a>Here's Katie-cakes on the subway. She kind of reminds me of Randy in a <span style="font-style: italic;">Christmas Story</span>-she can't really put her arms all the way down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7CRuzRYvfAwT3d3x2nZmMI34q1gi9io3vFVlqA024boXt8x0AqXZ_QwyMCMvb0LreFEWQuvTQIHPDLJuS9q63CsH0I6-4BabJDu-nUXNfu7NyfmOR8J2l8v_JMvT5OpwiQIMKIi8zW4N/s1600-h/DSC04431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7CRuzRYvfAwT3d3x2nZmMI34q1gi9io3vFVlqA024boXt8x0AqXZ_QwyMCMvb0LreFEWQuvTQIHPDLJuS9q63CsH0I6-4BabJDu-nUXNfu7NyfmOR8J2l8v_JMvT5OpwiQIMKIi8zW4N/s320/DSC04431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417514087875710770" border="0" /></a>Nate could put his arms down, he just didn't want to. Here we are catching a train down to Battery Park to take the ferry out to Staten Island. The kids love ferry rides (it was the only thing they talked about after we visited Boston) and I wanted them to see the Statue of Liberty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx37UjQn8Ec0ioDhSWE5R-VaCnlM31XtIzgUiE1WU3pJm4CYVqByPhyEXM9c-zISpZGvjyPgVQfJYYZqLuay5K1eIjK4oByd5RhZIcLzXcb5oAZOU6KNDazpBEc-kvU0WU4eeasGEksHkE/s1600-h/DSC04432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx37UjQn8Ec0ioDhSWE5R-VaCnlM31XtIzgUiE1WU3pJm4CYVqByPhyEXM9c-zISpZGvjyPgVQfJYYZqLuay5K1eIjK4oByd5RhZIcLzXcb5oAZOU6KNDazpBEc-kvU0WU4eeasGEksHkE/s320/DSC04432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417511350330050082" border="0" /></a>I hate to say it, but my kids are wimps. Kylie walked from the subway station to the ferry, only to collapse in the elevator. She wasn't alone; Kaitlyn collapsed as well, but not as photogenically. Maybe it was the 10 pounds of winter wear I had them dressed in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo2eOrLnFI1ZLGC3KwWSJdJehKk0j0rXcPBtdNtWudEOrnQDhykLELAwNK-JMXqCvrGQiHJEf2kn-dPBbjW4QnjfSDxdluV2dAUnkFqE5zCFNCgSMkwVSAcRtrvgW4kY93obQGg7pDHf7/s1600-h/DSC04440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo2eOrLnFI1ZLGC3KwWSJdJehKk0j0rXcPBtdNtWudEOrnQDhykLELAwNK-JMXqCvrGQiHJEf2kn-dPBbjW4QnjfSDxdluV2dAUnkFqE5zCFNCgSMkwVSAcRtrvgW4kY93obQGg7pDHf7/s320/DSC04440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417509429560478034" border="0" /></a>Our gift from our French friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElkTXngypW-op96BeD2jQM3nbAcIyMYzeDc3q-_N8_xlmrNAQuz5RzZOeSaBJt1GVAxx3lSj2Mozpn0kLwKnrrhcbxgpQw3fTGuNHDp7P7z7XZIIXOgkoNUrZcZ99GJ4Iv4Pu9DGvi9_0/s1600-h/DSC04446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElkTXngypW-op96BeD2jQM3nbAcIyMYzeDc3q-_N8_xlmrNAQuz5RzZOeSaBJt1GVAxx3lSj2Mozpn0kLwKnrrhcbxgpQw3fTGuNHDp7P7z7XZIIXOgkoNUrZcZ99GJ4Iv4Pu9DGvi9_0/s320/DSC04446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417508708195041634" border="0" /></a>Does this island look like it belongs somewhere remote and peaceful? This island is just off Staten Island, but it seems so out of place. On every side you find all of the industrial trappings associated with a busy harbor with this little gem in the middle of it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS02HuQsTo789ESfUeAoF15C_YsgG4B7adNpg5L-EE_mVOnkQpKLeejbXcZEgzvKdoY7ChtU0xOGW1MXD9RX7mtcQsLnkS4sKMBxsWKnvXM3u7qG2dgZ698KRFI8RXqv7tPGVrEj3ehcK/s1600-h/DSC04459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS02HuQsTo789ESfUeAoF15C_YsgG4B7adNpg5L-EE_mVOnkQpKLeejbXcZEgzvKdoY7ChtU0xOGW1MXD9RX7mtcQsLnkS4sKMBxsWKnvXM3u7qG2dgZ698KRFI8RXqv7tPGVrEj3ehcK/s320/DSC04459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417508048337154930" border="0" /></a>Our little geographer in the making. He loves maps, just like his dad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxycaIzR3kXobtMk0-cgRrUR0yh9ntqjv2E_ZNFX-Uk1dd-LbaIw7t5XOj-rcyKHi-DNyDaVPSZGidaAR3sdMmClOELYZDwx0ahp3MVjGY4bC7Sl3ZIZkK-Cj1Ky2YjvJ0HnQ23HVzJ_Td/s1600-h/DSC04464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxycaIzR3kXobtMk0-cgRrUR0yh9ntqjv2E_ZNFX-Uk1dd-LbaIw7t5XOj-rcyKHi-DNyDaVPSZGidaAR3sdMmClOELYZDwx0ahp3MVjGY4bC7Sl3ZIZkK-Cj1Ky2YjvJ0HnQ23HVzJ_Td/s320/DSC04464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417506292002361698" border="0" /></a>A serendipitous moment: the unexpected tree at the Stock Exchange. We ended up liking this one more than the Rockefeller Tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-xCg5uImFoW6xDvcumXzq0LJcjCKbfP332iUw-RMpsnpHxBoCVhpCGEF-7z_HmwpdmBGykh7c8-N1_h9O3x9CGVN8e-Tp3feN9IbpMUKOzDQ8QuvNpeJ2F5qRqMeikrBTQO-0tM5Emci/s1600-h/DSC04468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-xCg5uImFoW6xDvcumXzq0LJcjCKbfP332iUw-RMpsnpHxBoCVhpCGEF-7z_HmwpdmBGykh7c8-N1_h9O3x9CGVN8e-Tp3feN9IbpMUKOzDQ8QuvNpeJ2F5qRqMeikrBTQO-0tM5Emci/s320/DSC04468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417505525469204418" border="0" /></a>Just another day on the subway. Kylie's got her careworn New Yorker face on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxxfS3tx8Kql4N8nm7u__CA1K4ldtaCaKFhBTPpsE_QS5rI-S5jWSH-d-Nk26Hvo1smXDLG6Y9To70A0HnGo1QVKUeCIb_jCWnpgEtuPd_6klUP55Y5UkPb9hQ1eXSneXaI9oF1tgd-rg/s1600-h/DSC04477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxxfS3tx8Kql4N8nm7u__CA1K4ldtaCaKFhBTPpsE_QS5rI-S5jWSH-d-Nk26Hvo1smXDLG6Y9To70A0HnGo1QVKUeCIb_jCWnpgEtuPd_6klUP55Y5UkPb9hQ1eXSneXaI9oF1tgd-rg/s320/DSC04477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417504822362548610" border="0" /></a>Free hugs, get 'em while they're hot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhVZdrxecWfe-V37FxjR0-Pt1g11D01fPQI3nBNgbozZ6zPQVD7C4IOV4X66iPL311n_LCygs4brnzKM-f4CW4Ov5QqBq3ofAW7nzBEwxA2elBS5G6VEBCfm9CpE_Rqdg4vTk6M8-Ts1M/s1600-h/DSC04486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhVZdrxecWfe-V37FxjR0-Pt1g11D01fPQI3nBNgbozZ6zPQVD7C4IOV4X66iPL311n_LCygs4brnzKM-f4CW4Ov5QqBq3ofAW7nzBEwxA2elBS5G6VEBCfm9CpE_Rqdg4vTk6M8-Ts1M/s320/DSC04486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417504179860178530" border="0" /></a>"All aboard to Santa Land!" The kids loved our conductor and this place, the decorating is so extensive they leave it up year round. I also loved it because the line moved rather quickly for the biggest department store in New York City on the last Saturday morning before Christmas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1RH4SK7a04uv0uIsOGkuXKqXfBCLWecLlHHa82An0H9uPqnxQ-4wIrhkWDcJV2FafBDMp2hKVUSyiLLY2YLLXyqMKAv2wfa612qQArl-qJcbw0NAneRdZJtSj8ljt9IZRvwC5wzNoTfH/s1600-h/DSC04494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1RH4SK7a04uv0uIsOGkuXKqXfBCLWecLlHHa82An0H9uPqnxQ-4wIrhkWDcJV2FafBDMp2hKVUSyiLLY2YLLXyqMKAv2wfa612qQArl-qJcbw0NAneRdZJtSj8ljt9IZRvwC5wzNoTfH/s320/DSC04494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417503491154469586" border="0" /></a>Decisions, decisions...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENPr8dgGShMtqOteb5RtdiZodCEH7CjjGDxUrcJ4gq1MhcaoB6OCLOkvc0nY7BR-ImYe9A8p7fnDvoh6Xgo_fGPEzJWsZM7B1d81rlHPRspjVqfu_uHGmMShbWMAIp4kG40lhyphenhyphenFn-3D_b/s1600-h/DSC04504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENPr8dgGShMtqOteb5RtdiZodCEH7CjjGDxUrcJ4gq1MhcaoB6OCLOkvc0nY7BR-ImYe9A8p7fnDvoh6Xgo_fGPEzJWsZM7B1d81rlHPRspjVqfu_uHGmMShbWMAIp4kG40lhyphenhyphenFn-3D_b/s320/DSC04504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417502772945337490" border="0" /></a>The man himself. This is the first year that my kids didn't treat Santa like he had an extra eye or a communicable disease.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt97CNhbV8_00VZsJoj-yi7JTI0bTcdco1IBh4_MJ7WbjxMQ0WAw-IXQDGtFr-HOqq3hI1GJ1ThzIVgMy1TO-xpdQIJdfeMJMgjE9nBiBDyZhlLrUAC09wIG8wEfF_sZHHzvzN7nyLpgGO/s1600-h/DSC04517.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt97CNhbV8_00VZsJoj-yi7JTI0bTcdco1IBh4_MJ7WbjxMQ0WAw-IXQDGtFr-HOqq3hI1GJ1ThzIVgMy1TO-xpdQIJdfeMJMgjE9nBiBDyZhlLrUAC09wIG8wEfF_sZHHzvzN7nyLpgGO/s320/DSC04517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417502144958885906" border="0" /></a>Like I said, the Wall Street tree was better and less crowded.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6tMPKRf_c6fK1XvQwaJKeLt3fzn1ca0Y6Lnaay8RvH-TXqGyqCbGeGd2QOKh3vzlRxxnMgXAghzBAkdcG_4hjuO6cLKHTZBn6GLlTUyqPaFt5JlTcjd1xN3zoYwOLt6Pj5ruFy-guJQj/s1600-h/DSC04520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6tMPKRf_c6fK1XvQwaJKeLt3fzn1ca0Y6Lnaay8RvH-TXqGyqCbGeGd2QOKh3vzlRxxnMgXAghzBAkdcG_4hjuO6cLKHTZBn6GLlTUyqPaFt5JlTcjd1xN3zoYwOLt6Pj5ruFy-guJQj/s320/DSC04520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417501336269589810" border="0" /></a>One of the things I love about Kylie is her ability to surprise me. When I asked what she would like to see in New York City, she replied, "Balto." I thought she'd give me a generic answer, but instead she taught me something. Me, "What??" So she (a second grader) explained to me (age unknown) about the dog that saved the town of Nome, Alaska.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8iXW1UgAFQRk2PK5nNcPXa3aOaxh35Nwc74UymPY9L2Q042CwM-q_RwIrXFnU182B5vCKyJdUkybGxfAkXluleGOBKcaFo4Nej0nd5DJy2GUB42z_3tru-T7qlNNe40W6hCV-6tIe4Zz/s1600-h/DSC04528.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8iXW1UgAFQRk2PK5nNcPXa3aOaxh35Nwc74UymPY9L2Q042CwM-q_RwIrXFnU182B5vCKyJdUkybGxfAkXluleGOBKcaFo4Nej0nd5DJy2GUB42z_3tru-T7qlNNe40W6hCV-6tIe4Zz/s320/DSC04528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417500051894440770" border="0" /></a>The kids came to life in Central Park. All of the whining ended, no one needed to be carried and it started to snow. Although they enjoyed the things we took them to, in the end they just like climbing big rocks and running around best. I guess Olmsted knew best.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPp1trWRWvo5-yt7yT5MA6AKTIgN378_J7PuR3skACsjqof8mRawfP69D0QiYNliGfS4BUeXOYvn7EWUJSJMs4J6Ubq9-ItndVY4uK42n4dRP6K3uATSi1BK8gP9H28z393VkEFQRQLHD8/s1600-h/DSC04533.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPp1trWRWvo5-yt7yT5MA6AKTIgN378_J7PuR3skACsjqof8mRawfP69D0QiYNliGfS4BUeXOYvn7EWUJSJMs4J6Ubq9-ItndVY4uK42n4dRP6K3uATSi1BK8gP9H28z393VkEFQRQLHD8/s320/DSC04533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417499380747553522" border="0" /></a>"The enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it; tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system." --- Frederick Law Olmsted<br /> Central Park's designerThe Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-24363853635254171032009-08-29T15:58:00.001-07:002009-08-29T17:00:38.700-07:00Live Free or Die-NH<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcb9OTuGx2nqM0N-iG_NdLZFGG950KhyvQszKgZphyLCExVtk3S0IDF-v6q7V1E8MPgkEMFaR6VXAEjaid8vEbuJaBqokwIgSd5LNKs3yO5la7rxNBxwsJITChWNsqAXyafPoqjIhUo21/s1600-h/DSC03986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcb9OTuGx2nqM0N-iG_NdLZFGG950KhyvQszKgZphyLCExVtk3S0IDF-v6q7V1E8MPgkEMFaR6VXAEjaid8vEbuJaBqokwIgSd5LNKs3yO5la7rxNBxwsJITChWNsqAXyafPoqjIhUo21/s320/DSC03986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375533222608326274" border="0" /></a>Two weeks ago, we took an extended weekend visit to New Hampshire to stay with my aunt and uncle. Live free or die is on their license plates and tells you something of the people who live there. We had our first outdoorsy adventures in a long time. Generally, our time outdoors is going to the playground or, more recently, the beach. Our first full day in NH we climbed Mt. Piper and picked a gallon of blueberries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjFC_G1V3IF44SZjwoGmlO51pFCAkCu14nbdtbP0iTIlPjW4no9y6i8Aef505q3-a4NNWwp0IV4ur0GHhIRUL7Rq8GNcup7534T3F5vn4tm5erYN_VGztLG8OehcChv-FZJs-QeTlpHSb/s1600-h/DSC03993.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjFC_G1V3IF44SZjwoGmlO51pFCAkCu14nbdtbP0iTIlPjW4no9y6i8Aef505q3-a4NNWwp0IV4ur0GHhIRUL7Rq8GNcup7534T3F5vn4tm5erYN_VGztLG8OehcChv-FZJs-QeTlpHSb/s320/DSC03993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375531996122539490" border="0" /></a>The kids got tired, but mostly they walked. Round-trip this was a two mile excursion uphill-yes, both ways:)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKJp5oCeNqvRX43QBzpaoGdS6PpBLsYFsbcPuLPFD4d4CXxarq0rWNpcjid9byttaSLMWtaqhNcn6yUhCriRI_jqDdUgKNuARExyQWBWcmmzHdUd9pxOf3UcPQqW8C2y0mb7sug69vLMB/s1600-h/DSC03995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKJp5oCeNqvRX43QBzpaoGdS6PpBLsYFsbcPuLPFD4d4CXxarq0rWNpcjid9byttaSLMWtaqhNcn6yUhCriRI_jqDdUgKNuARExyQWBWcmmzHdUd9pxOf3UcPQqW8C2y0mb7sug69vLMB/s320/DSC03995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375531310799435378" border="0" /></a>My aunt Janet made us a blueberry pie and then sent us home with the rest of the blueberries. Yummy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21YVwPPdAfsURY56NbHnehxYPNZSgPlxYPnGmJjz7QlSNsKSL57C6SMvC84ap_okUY_tqSeC0GAs9CxMI6vQwegaepOF1-sAgO0MvtZiL-mrFcYSD4yQ88G15OWJVzXQYCk1GZEq2Y-YN/s1600-h/DSC04000.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21YVwPPdAfsURY56NbHnehxYPNZSgPlxYPnGmJjz7QlSNsKSL57C6SMvC84ap_okUY_tqSeC0GAs9CxMI6vQwegaepOF1-sAgO0MvtZiL-mrFcYSD4yQ88G15OWJVzXQYCk1GZEq2Y-YN/s320/DSC04000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375530661154031762" border="0" /></a>Our second day we spent canoeing and swimming on Lake Squam. If you've seen "On Golden Pond" with Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, this is the lake. It's gorgeous. Notice how you don't see any cottages? They are required to leave the trees along the shoreline and build behind them, pure genius.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KBV6TPDbu-hKWx2U5loL-wWrXv_RKonNEhFiEnT1a5kbvwpFTbA9QIkuWzo2UbgkcxK53kaYwaoE4GhGX6je4cSILYqCI-X9WFBwtVRWUDp6jt9_QFRCghYH1eBgbae0kNah_Bz8u3IP/s1600-h/DSC04028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KBV6TPDbu-hKWx2U5loL-wWrXv_RKonNEhFiEnT1a5kbvwpFTbA9QIkuWzo2UbgkcxK53kaYwaoE4GhGX6je4cSILYqCI-X9WFBwtVRWUDp6jt9_QFRCghYH1eBgbae0kNah_Bz8u3IP/s320/DSC04028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375530128412728514" border="0" /></a>Nate became a blueberry connoisseur. We picnicked on a huge rock and, while wading around, Nate found blueberry bushes and helped himself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCMK2G5eT-qPyXTbKd7BZPa-HpVnbhGygjT9aGJsGM5IB9ka7DRKvDcrxlUoyR0N2eU2DxSTXoyCqEsS9rABpPxbIl3Op61L5YFIyA7SCKPIJckNU2TYWVFaTaJmADwD76Z72FLdWRN2g/s1600-h/DSC04029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCMK2G5eT-qPyXTbKd7BZPa-HpVnbhGygjT9aGJsGM5IB9ka7DRKvDcrxlUoyR0N2eU2DxSTXoyCqEsS9rABpPxbIl3Op61L5YFIyA7SCKPIJckNU2TYWVFaTaJmADwD76Z72FLdWRN2g/s320/DSC04029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375529197998618866" border="0" /></a>Fun swimming with Daddy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujslWbXRKYdDOfpfLs5qbPVBHClwrxGud__PjFtxprr95Us_KdM0XvKntb14vdJrGru-BZwOC8rXkIhy6mB0b9_bwKJbGQ3NJCleiP7bWBtibGLXOcEH7qq4mrFPVfIYBtBqnyGw8HsDg/s1600-h/DSC04030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujslWbXRKYdDOfpfLs5qbPVBHClwrxGud__PjFtxprr95Us_KdM0XvKntb14vdJrGru-BZwOC8rXkIhy6mB0b9_bwKJbGQ3NJCleiP7bWBtibGLXOcEH7qq4mrFPVfIYBtBqnyGw8HsDg/s320/DSC04030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375528532347458706" border="0" /></a>Seven or seventeen?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje7JsiqJlnAEziIepJD7wcXqWoNB687GTH1pUVEZj9SblBy_Zt9ltiZbmQqxVPSpaP_xBtx26xMxRmE21b5TO2PhIWEdGk7iCErKng_8QJEXfeP47CDvVufeZmwQqxLN9doz-r9CyzbY0/s1600-h/DSC04041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje7JsiqJlnAEziIepJD7wcXqWoNB687GTH1pUVEZj9SblBy_Zt9ltiZbmQqxVPSpaP_xBtx26xMxRmE21b5TO2PhIWEdGk7iCErKng_8QJEXfeP47CDvVufeZmwQqxLN9doz-r9CyzbY0/s320/DSC04041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375527879820764706" border="0" /></a>Okay, this lake is full of huge boulders. They freak me out. Even though we were in a canoe-thus only two inches down in the water-I could imagine us tipping or getting a hole in the canoe. No wonder they chose that particular problem in the movie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WoDNv7klhm_yTNWS_TvLKGtPxoBRwdzbiY7HpShfVgkPB7T3DTXmg7ydSdMj5PsBOVF2eWEi79Ndzm1t7UVzPCbCkKQUwWWQ-nfaPaVw0SEFhHIZiYFkCdgp94O2sG6-1XyKVnOmYM7Q/s1600-h/DSC04045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WoDNv7klhm_yTNWS_TvLKGtPxoBRwdzbiY7HpShfVgkPB7T3DTXmg7ydSdMj5PsBOVF2eWEi79Ndzm1t7UVzPCbCkKQUwWWQ-nfaPaVw0SEFhHIZiYFkCdgp94O2sG6-1XyKVnOmYM7Q/s320/DSC04045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375527494211758978" border="0" /></a>My Uncle Gary hoping to see some wildlife. Overly hopeful with my loud children in his canoe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_1vUIukpS_Y3Q5zxoN3DPLCywDPF-vfSIiTCSSVzz25UML6YbdtcVwUSSUwxoGcED9ow8YCx9T4RweSjueyvTyXM4M-euDJtbhRCG8KBKVzmuV_KyDJElwqq2EovjFa6PuxoPlwgUOsQ/s1600-h/DSC04051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_1vUIukpS_Y3Q5zxoN3DPLCywDPF-vfSIiTCSSVzz25UML6YbdtcVwUSSUwxoGcED9ow8YCx9T4RweSjueyvTyXM4M-euDJtbhRCG8KBKVzmuV_KyDJElwqq2EovjFa6PuxoPlwgUOsQ/s320/DSC04051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375527057343326354" border="0" /></a>Loons. They had a baby with them but I couldn't get him in the photo. They have the most beautiful call.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_FX042rDoGTUG0JMoGJNKe0u8YOiCFDqFDAYPK7TYwVl_02Eg207K8OlB1m0oP0O50DnlEJ3BzQgM3ud7fCettiIEA6TYfMSfXQuTSAw5pvhxPDAs4BIDRh_McBxUlhZ-z24ybjBJKV0/s1600-h/DSC04056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_FX042rDoGTUG0JMoGJNKe0u8YOiCFDqFDAYPK7TYwVl_02Eg207K8OlB1m0oP0O50DnlEJ3BzQgM3ud7fCettiIEA6TYfMSfXQuTSAw5pvhxPDAs4BIDRh_McBxUlhZ-z24ybjBJKV0/s320/DSC04056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375526657509189330" border="0" /></a>On our final day of the visit we went to the Squam Lake Science Center where my aunt works. It's very child-friendly and has a lot of animals native to the area. I like this photo of the kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBS9Fm_poDpOTttJsZeotoqjlJ2JErjJDNW5gacare0-y1K6mr2IwvNATs-IRp1AHYWaxZ16wKslLLjoqB3boG1wkWWcUdrBtCc2g7QA6vfGRG0na-V2tQp1BGSsIZd-VgKmQ6n8Z6tb7/s1600-h/DSC04067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBS9Fm_poDpOTttJsZeotoqjlJ2JErjJDNW5gacare0-y1K6mr2IwvNATs-IRp1AHYWaxZ16wKslLLjoqB3boG1wkWWcUdrBtCc2g7QA6vfGRG0na-V2tQp1BGSsIZd-VgKmQ6n8Z6tb7/s320/DSC04067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375526154976722722" border="0" /></a>Let's go Cougars...let's go! I mean, We Are...Penn State! I have conflicting loyalties.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7io-KtWjllcKHJ8gWsN8CTQ1IBzWoARGxidUn80f51wISp3nHkAeN9rEQNrqlW382L4neYafgIcScSPyrs-zp-VHW6ZYDkuUKi5wcCACvpRGYHccbSzcKAm5oVp_jRe1StI_l-NJyDgM/s1600-h/DSC04094.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7io-KtWjllcKHJ8gWsN8CTQ1IBzWoARGxidUn80f51wISp3nHkAeN9rEQNrqlW382L4neYafgIcScSPyrs-zp-VHW6ZYDkuUKi5wcCACvpRGYHccbSzcKAm5oVp_jRe1StI_l-NJyDgM/s320/DSC04094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375525411106408386" border="0" /></a>The girls in a faux bear cave. They loved this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6iMvIoT0VnlLXVY-0F0_lY2rcaYaVBRmE4FUjrwfxB609GINd_u2zC3EUi5w820mQWV5GUTGUSESB7NI_pYadEoBM9UiJa7gONHnIzaE-K2AXFEjE1tgp-84Dnan3xMKwFSGh5VrjljM/s1600-h/DSC04095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6iMvIoT0VnlLXVY-0F0_lY2rcaYaVBRmE4FUjrwfxB609GINd_u2zC3EUi5w820mQWV5GUTGUSESB7NI_pYadEoBM9UiJa7gONHnIzaE-K2AXFEjE1tgp-84Dnan3xMKwFSGh5VrjljM/s320/DSC04095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375525052645783378" border="0" /></a>Nate and my aunt studying what a bear eats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yf6D6JwSfkcNM5_yHOV6lpoOxADB0iAuKz_J2y_j1xTyL4SS5hmIsEL8FpD8xLFzsuJpQIWcw0J-bX4OnCClUjDGrUH_Wh0qktamkTsHwAGktMFV3-aOUdHb5Ct-qqwaLoQygsI7oKhR/s1600-h/DSC04098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yf6D6JwSfkcNM5_yHOV6lpoOxADB0iAuKz_J2y_j1xTyL4SS5hmIsEL8FpD8xLFzsuJpQIWcw0J-bX4OnCClUjDGrUH_Wh0qktamkTsHwAGktMFV3-aOUdHb5Ct-qqwaLoQygsI7oKhR/s320/DSC04098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375524541778791778" border="0" /></a>We walked through a marsh area on our way to the exit and I saw this Monarch. We had a great visit that Nate can't stop talking about.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-72506844650622545862009-08-21T13:08:00.000-07:002009-08-21T14:16:48.241-07:00Life in Little Rhodey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-62jMqm2Pkdnq71KgdutMENnKycRPJ89AC6eaYjKjtJgJoVmppQ5VdCR5YJ9dLWmmMRc8XpnFMoS2Gf3MiyDVjO5qDEJ6StgTGsAJ5gE5-ue1v2ABh0e3Djek8YRT0LzGMxCAn92ou6M/s1600-h/DSC03831.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-62jMqm2Pkdnq71KgdutMENnKycRPJ89AC6eaYjKjtJgJoVmppQ5VdCR5YJ9dLWmmMRc8XpnFMoS2Gf3MiyDVjO5qDEJ6StgTGsAJ5gE5-ue1v2ABh0e3Djek8YRT0LzGMxCAn92ou6M/s320/DSC03831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372522497700975458" border="0" /></a>If anyone out there still checks to see if I have updated my blog, I have two things to say. First, thanks! Second, sorry-I've been really busy. This picture is a large part of why I've been busy. I hated the wallpaper in this room and determined that as soon as the ink was dry and the keys to the house were in my hands I'd attack this room with <span style="font-weight: bold;">vigor</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jS0N_28Y6Yhgr0zIfg6159sVriJNse__7j0Jy-zKQCSqHjZfvDTAaJsHSRBmxFuRiesXSArWCR0OVUTAIdECFz1ukb-0r74dq50cli6LtqF4lmmqkVROiSo7PZhijVqalotOH19ObU-e/s1600-h/DSC03978.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jS0N_28Y6Yhgr0zIfg6159sVriJNse__7j0Jy-zKQCSqHjZfvDTAaJsHSRBmxFuRiesXSArWCR0OVUTAIdECFz1ukb-0r74dq50cli6LtqF4lmmqkVROiSo7PZhijVqalotOH19ObU-e/s320/DSC03978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372521927876416802" border="0" /></a>And I did. It fought me every step of the way. Sections of wallpaper pulled old paint off the walls. Wallpaper, I've realized, is used to hide a multitude of sins-all of which are a headache for the person foolish enough to pull off the wallpaper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIb8pWmnMAMW5W6dPTaqtTFmTcuY4c0iutUi0xixMyVf73clwwwzltPCQeTPSM68JME8WUCw46jje6OdfxRGHIbidJpJ1-Cugk_lei_dZRa8e7ndWMUM-Jh5AhB0RjPGdHLeGfShUMtQ6/s1600-h/DSC04109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIb8pWmnMAMW5W6dPTaqtTFmTcuY4c0iutUi0xixMyVf73clwwwzltPCQeTPSM68JME8WUCw46jje6OdfxRGHIbidJpJ1-Cugk_lei_dZRa8e7ndWMUM-Jh5AhB0RjPGdHLeGfShUMtQ6/s320/DSC04109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372521531388935474" border="0" /></a>Twenty plus hours later, I let the girls chose the color of paint and initially regretted it. It was too bright for a subtle person like myself. However, this wasn't my room. It was for the girls and they loved it. After all the bedding and pieces of decor were added I had to admit I liked my girl's bold tastes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmq1aIddORoWphzztrUxl0tPgEmD-SD7gmeZ_dhCOpUsxJLavhyhASq5tEE4a4byHql-VLopCtOEC58eHg_7IX6lGPN661TD-3MPsgjRiAeKaDKFCeIYQnWen4RD2hI7ip-y7VPHyrqEX/s1600-h/DSC03929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmq1aIddORoWphzztrUxl0tPgEmD-SD7gmeZ_dhCOpUsxJLavhyhASq5tEE4a4byHql-VLopCtOEC58eHg_7IX6lGPN661TD-3MPsgjRiAeKaDKFCeIYQnWen4RD2hI7ip-y7VPHyrqEX/s320/DSC03929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372520815812638770" border="0" /></a>My friend Deborah, who was been such a help to us, invited us to Scarborough Beach our first week. There was a large group of us, mostly kids, and they discovered 5 starfish. The girls had no intention of touching them, but Nate is always a brave boy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVlJurHzUm55grJ_tu4DtaNd5R729KcjW3DR6q4D6rrrY73ZtGJPG8IkMzFVJ2S3D2Soizvz-XhTpM6i610i-PhYpArVnKCeP9JedZtAQAvS18lJu89RupRrYlQ6FX8Q3y-ou0rBP899N/s1600-h/DSC03928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVlJurHzUm55grJ_tu4DtaNd5R729KcjW3DR6q4D6rrrY73ZtGJPG8IkMzFVJ2S3D2Soizvz-XhTpM6i610i-PhYpArVnKCeP9JedZtAQAvS18lJu89RupRrYlQ6FX8Q3y-ou0rBP899N/s320/DSC03928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372520202579489490" border="0" /></a>Not a great photo, but home to 5 starfish for the duration of that day. They also found eels...ick.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPycKyjVQ0DpxRKfxqgtCp4HMK4vN3GvG7V_vWClRtQnNFIkByKtWzDlhyphenhyphenWaRDK4jd3tP2sqD19xQbPT21oHDFJ798z7OodkX7TOvtqc0snutllGwN5Kc3dt8frwAypuekDWTNNEnRCu2C/s1600-h/DSC03925.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPycKyjVQ0DpxRKfxqgtCp4HMK4vN3GvG7V_vWClRtQnNFIkByKtWzDlhyphenhyphenWaRDK4jd3tP2sqD19xQbPT21oHDFJ798z7OodkX7TOvtqc0snutllGwN5Kc3dt8frwAypuekDWTNNEnRCu2C/s320/DSC03925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372519702562533250" border="0" /></a>Kaitlyn, who will never look at the camera if she can help it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GoO7T4WH_rmV9MyzQjh1RZaj_mA3cB_SujJq93Bq4n_Cb5Mqo3WzUrTT04fPAQZrqSQz8jQ6B3zE6evFFDLFCoG0UhfxJ-PF16vYmSf3dmsbQeIMKgmvU17LOze0ftAsKX67GTRGlsA6/s1600-h/DSC03951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GoO7T4WH_rmV9MyzQjh1RZaj_mA3cB_SujJq93Bq4n_Cb5Mqo3WzUrTT04fPAQZrqSQz8jQ6B3zE6evFFDLFCoG0UhfxJ-PF16vYmSf3dmsbQeIMKgmvU17LOze0ftAsKX67GTRGlsA6/s320/DSC03951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372518862555332002" border="0" /></a>We decided that if we were going to live within five minutes (literally) of a zoo we needed to be members. So far, we have visited three times and learn a little more each time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGYMTnY_H6M5xxnPgpXoo2cCuJlbxkVy08jnozFx-hx6o_VZrGGewrWkWpBv0-ZZuZCkTGsvgaUoboCOGWsvJs2r-XyF2tNtyMrdIDgKWnWfrnq_ZAmZajXAWBCW_tcvQm-xGz-ja1l0E/s1600-h/DSC03932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGYMTnY_H6M5xxnPgpXoo2cCuJlbxkVy08jnozFx-hx6o_VZrGGewrWkWpBv0-ZZuZCkTGsvgaUoboCOGWsvJs2r-XyF2tNtyMrdIDgKWnWfrnq_ZAmZajXAWBCW_tcvQm-xGz-ja1l0E/s320/DSC03932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372517734868394034" border="0" /></a>Kate and Nate.<br /> <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNQfsvOYn6yapsFcAYKpnAcD1YX_pwwhc7Y1WIzm-dfiDSGpLXka6zWwjwHWR077ZvBZ7Mvojb8LZzKz7Z5CJF2gOLY5MR2i60Vap_rEfX1hhBMNUrOBGFR4Dj4aZlly8sz34EIdMIL7g/s1600-h/DSC03942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNQfsvOYn6yapsFcAYKpnAcD1YX_pwwhc7Y1WIzm-dfiDSGpLXka6zWwjwHWR077ZvBZ7Mvojb8LZzKz7Z5CJF2gOLY5MR2i60Vap_rEfX1hhBMNUrOBGFR4Dj4aZlly8sz34EIdMIL7g/s320/DSC03942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372516824299782386" border="0" /></a>Kaitlyn is touching a wildebeest hide and Nate is reaching for an elephant tooth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPEOBUkmATFh4nSdRO8AlZpFnr8OayKJaz4ylezgVMyr8aYvhZH-Ru6IccwHltnQNUskcstiqGXvpvqE6YyE9mE4PAzE3RNU4MVGXc84O-eLoa_wkus755LdVLwV7dLysofFlRF7zV9xw/s1600-h/DSC03955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPEOBUkmATFh4nSdRO8AlZpFnr8OayKJaz4ylezgVMyr8aYvhZH-Ru6IccwHltnQNUskcstiqGXvpvqE6YyE9mE4PAzE3RNU4MVGXc84O-eLoa_wkus755LdVLwV7dLysofFlRF7zV9xw/s320/DSC03955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372516138137345682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZH3IP1TVgrRBcUReWZVKFjaT5jGIliYo3StPvL_5ZWM-dwbU5Pbtqe4YocNBZA6qRvUAMUQNvu3Z843RQOVHgSL_1Z2J-gBbVzEKKc6W885mkwokUiNZ67feBcrR0WcYY3iiWBmciifZ/s1600-h/DSC03948.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZH3IP1TVgrRBcUReWZVKFjaT5jGIliYo3StPvL_5ZWM-dwbU5Pbtqe4YocNBZA6qRvUAMUQNvu3Z843RQOVHgSL_1Z2J-gBbVzEKKc6W885mkwokUiNZ67feBcrR0WcYY3iiWBmciifZ/s320/DSC03948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372515595862652338" border="0" /></a>Kylie loves the giraffes and has an amazing memory for the facts that she's been picking up on our trips to the zoo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-qLj-t52p91Oc_tiHvJ4cbWVMXdytQoKO3m4ug-pEqo-hyZT3gZEijOUhxBkyfy4fYDpd0cFAtGgSSaKhatRGBVil-NrJ3J-uHbZjp8hNVagUIuO6cavHEano8BosFg4YfBx3L6vYQxJ/s1600-h/DSC03962.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-qLj-t52p91Oc_tiHvJ4cbWVMXdytQoKO3m4ug-pEqo-hyZT3gZEijOUhxBkyfy4fYDpd0cFAtGgSSaKhatRGBVil-NrJ3J-uHbZjp8hNVagUIuO6cavHEano8BosFg4YfBx3L6vYQxJ/s320/DSC03962.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372514993601107154" border="0" /></a>This is a harbor seal and the really cool thing is that we have them here in Rhode Island. I would love to see one out in the bay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9I48ULxQAz8FeHfJGUKj0zLh_Itlm6lCNAl-RvS1hY2UxSLi7I_AkrJBXzWMExq_mAgHQ-df9TO5Ay0DWb7OXSPcbmvO2xUSPy_SVQM_096pk21eznOrsp_YqFKFHgDXil2DW6RX9t2s/s1600-h/DSC03967.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9I48ULxQAz8FeHfJGUKj0zLh_Itlm6lCNAl-RvS1hY2UxSLi7I_AkrJBXzWMExq_mAgHQ-df9TO5Ay0DWb7OXSPcbmvO2xUSPy_SVQM_096pk21eznOrsp_YqFKFHgDXil2DW6RX9t2s/s320/DSC03967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372514505915599394" border="0" /></a>Our move has been good so far. The kids are getting used to the house and making new friends. We miss all of you back in PA and hope you are well.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-6360847015974809222009-06-14T11:44:00.000-07:002009-06-14T12:58:47.492-07:00Almost famous...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfhyEoSCYdM0Ifj8ywaO1-UEUqk_AgQpSppyPMJn7jhFWliragF7u4bViAQSzjJwIviyXpWXSPHrYTqga_H0IiE4VamrwNiwWrN442E3C7IOnvRwDnKEYy5Q6vMWP8NP7o6pDX1NONGUw/s1600-h/Writers+Conf_0028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfhyEoSCYdM0Ifj8ywaO1-UEUqk_AgQpSppyPMJn7jhFWliragF7u4bViAQSzjJwIviyXpWXSPHrYTqga_H0IiE4VamrwNiwWrN442E3C7IOnvRwDnKEYy5Q6vMWP8NP7o6pDX1NONGUw/s320/Writers+Conf_0028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347266971589566514" border="0" /></a>After four years out of Utah, I had the opportunity to return for a writer's workshop at BYU. We didn't talk about Stephenie Meyer much...not more than ten times a day, anyway. The bag of apples they gave us were bruised, but they made a great photo op.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3PPfV5O0ND39d1e5ScDeU0kP43q-yVks3xF0Eu2-N7qjJhUr5g6epbTLoyqoYjVQEcVqzkny4wkiJBUq1f_YI1AjJ9q4m1sREr4K9QqgpEcV7jZpnN3B-YwcuLOizdduuRCDLUvtM2k8/s1600-h/DSC03707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3PPfV5O0ND39d1e5ScDeU0kP43q-yVks3xF0Eu2-N7qjJhUr5g6epbTLoyqoYjVQEcVqzkny4wkiJBUq1f_YI1AjJ9q4m1sREr4K9QqgpEcV7jZpnN3B-YwcuLOizdduuRCDLUvtM2k8/s320/DSC03707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347261951591212082" border="0" /></a>Memorize these faces. This is the future of young adult chic lit.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBkT0ZoTY5DHeYVnW37-6DUqqyNzSHJcf4dZn7ZgC83o9gKEvap6c_iJVFAyIFqUx-xE_KhQzzAnuZI8P5PmaQklY8fyf-ssnA74ZrEMXCnbgxeeEDsQ1ZQZA_8UxZg7t__W0uzufX5qe/s1600-h/DSC03711.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBkT0ZoTY5DHeYVnW37-6DUqqyNzSHJcf4dZn7ZgC83o9gKEvap6c_iJVFAyIFqUx-xE_KhQzzAnuZI8P5PmaQklY8fyf-ssnA74ZrEMXCnbgxeeEDsQ1ZQZA_8UxZg7t__W0uzufX5qe/s320/DSC03711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347274790944237714" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV1GM5FsjnBZsiDJVU8lmoGZ4P2S50fagcEmiLWLBhAZ0R0Z-t2s7vkQeJvMwY_oY0-n9YWLSFyKBQ7uQvilPOHDqNKuocTToWyAt7BiQaoBTx_9I4F4HjuYKRr1iGO8cXZJ7ZUlimmcc/s1600-h/DSC03712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV1GM5FsjnBZsiDJVU8lmoGZ4P2S50fagcEmiLWLBhAZ0R0Z-t2s7vkQeJvMwY_oY0-n9YWLSFyKBQ7uQvilPOHDqNKuocTToWyAt7BiQaoBTx_9I4F4HjuYKRr1iGO8cXZJ7ZUlimmcc/s320/DSC03712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347273800057830482" border="0" /></a>Each morning we had a workshop with author, Janette Rallison. Okay, so I look terrible, but isn't Janette cute?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QyE0s02xG93T_nM-b-7gdNCMYLVbjsnsxZvYm-ftoOX3tAdLW1uvIF3yNFKFX96wbc9XqSuwiF4zCx9II4GB70azdiIdIgPgsbDoVltWE_ZfXPd0mwzXN-1toDa0dzqQY6j43x-Z9r-F/s1600-h/DSC03716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QyE0s02xG93T_nM-b-7gdNCMYLVbjsnsxZvYm-ftoOX3tAdLW1uvIF3yNFKFX96wbc9XqSuwiF4zCx9II4GB70azdiIdIgPgsbDoVltWE_ZfXPd0mwzXN-1toDa0dzqQY6j43x-Z9r-F/s320/DSC03716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347260110314806242" border="0" /></a>Here is where Seth and I met so long ago.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g4VsvGTtRcQ-0a8Z-BjCLh_l0qD6VVRh-iZDwSI8XL2wBSy1mvIRkAQlwStK-i5hZdMgYHSfBh8dlJACs3GixYpiPZ0wRulOgGqGZGoYbOgESY3dN_Roe1fJabzB2Ppt31t6vb91F-kX/s1600-h/DSC03726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g4VsvGTtRcQ-0a8Z-BjCLh_l0qD6VVRh-iZDwSI8XL2wBSy1mvIRkAQlwStK-i5hZdMgYHSfBh8dlJACs3GixYpiPZ0wRulOgGqGZGoYbOgESY3dN_Roe1fJabzB2Ppt31t6vb91F-kX/s320/DSC03726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347259687052465858" border="0" /></a><br />I love BYU's campus and the mountains. I enjoyed learning, visiting old friends and making new friends-it was a great week.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjbtz1iBFoIRKtSuIjQqFUTp0VGjzaZgeOmaANQL9mg5pCSgf_wK5NQ1XX60wDUn0bIac8qQeUWxcXeJSLKrd8G7feMNJD3kRCQRyQfx-Wq_kObR2roZJEZnqnivB88h1f0RxBX6UJKZ/s1600-h/DSC03730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjbtz1iBFoIRKtSuIjQqFUTp0VGjzaZgeOmaANQL9mg5pCSgf_wK5NQ1XX60wDUn0bIac8qQeUWxcXeJSLKrd8G7feMNJD3kRCQRyQfx-Wq_kObR2roZJEZnqnivB88h1f0RxBX6UJKZ/s320/DSC03730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347258398051273026" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-4964976066824929222009-06-14T10:50:00.000-07:002009-06-14T11:42:23.306-07:00Nate's birthday-aargh.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2ouNkOkblqbgq64S4Z24TM7bQJRyE1GGEWhUQ_z9RrEv76HeqMmabU_orIkZZp8tRb7Hjq7ulkD4OCdEp9e9_Dozo_TZ1ltvZRLg2XBjmtkd0XXi2HEm1BaV8KohWDCDESsIWW2opwyr/s1600-h/DSC03599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2ouNkOkblqbgq64S4Z24TM7bQJRyE1GGEWhUQ_z9RrEv76HeqMmabU_orIkZZp8tRb7Hjq7ulkD4OCdEp9e9_Dozo_TZ1ltvZRLg2XBjmtkd0XXi2HEm1BaV8KohWDCDESsIWW2opwyr/s320/DSC03599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347247739290917794" border="0" /></a> When I told Kylie I needed to put Nate's birthday pictures on our blog she said, "What? His birthday was a month ago!" Observant, isn't she?<br /><br />Anyway, for those of you who know me well, I never have the patience to do desserts like the one seen above. However, my good friend, Megan, was willing to help the cake-decorating-impaired person that I am.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdukaKlVjo7dqYgSQACt3C9Yjosw5RGulFNm1KGegRfVgTkHjWXXY0Jc5L00oUw4gbQyefT4A5PyF4gHFrkQd39EtZ5rc8LP7h5IZjpt-NjERsosiOxdq_rajxNlShPtNViBBC37a_IZyw/s1600-h/DSC03607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdukaKlVjo7dqYgSQACt3C9Yjosw5RGulFNm1KGegRfVgTkHjWXXY0Jc5L00oUw4gbQyefT4A5PyF4gHFrkQd39EtZ5rc8LP7h5IZjpt-NjERsosiOxdq_rajxNlShPtNViBBC37a_IZyw/s320/DSC03607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347247419403695810" border="0" /></a>We had his party at Spring Creek Park. My kids always want their parties here so they can play in the sand, water or on the playground. It's a beautiful park and we will miss it when we move.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYcQSjDh7NH7t88QJvtQ4IWuxWoy3n_uGGXNqE1UHmmsAKWfKTWl60vPPq2MpsQiGygkyWULJHbF6CNxpFLeR6ZKzhwgEO0aGApbECRqm6I0aswRk_k3GKSC-NLd38s4D3_9KZrMdAPnK/s1600-h/DSC03608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYcQSjDh7NH7t88QJvtQ4IWuxWoy3n_uGGXNqE1UHmmsAKWfKTWl60vPPq2MpsQiGygkyWULJHbF6CNxpFLeR6ZKzhwgEO0aGApbECRqm6I0aswRk_k3GKSC-NLd38s4D3_9KZrMdAPnK/s320/DSC03608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347247055408635538" border="0" /></a>The wee Miss Kaitlyn Grace. Don't be fooled by that sweet face, she'll make you walk the plank.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJiJXl-QndjmQ4c9A_q2-N0K22dpSE1L8x0cZaQsu3BVcE06dZW7zzdOjDSQDnpJYjqxOPERDWz1x6z6zd_0wUgwKpf4KvUHdkRR2dKFOxxREzpATUAGiw8J_ZiimALTBebBw1GJL3ckY/s1600-h/DSC03609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJiJXl-QndjmQ4c9A_q2-N0K22dpSE1L8x0cZaQsu3BVcE06dZW7zzdOjDSQDnpJYjqxOPERDWz1x6z6zd_0wUgwKpf4KvUHdkRR2dKFOxxREzpATUAGiw8J_ZiimALTBebBw1GJL3ckY/s320/DSC03609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347246781170393378" border="0" /></a>The birthday boy. Please note the pirate pinata. After Kaitlyn's Jedi party, all my kids need pinata's now.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseJ2zxj-hU54sq-u8Q2hi4fpKaxJq7UmMP3VggDfhguo2we0EiSWZfaiVJaP1ttuj0latGskeDb5FlCANzYecuWTqmHPNqbVH4SQUrYJL4JfvyAVfZkSQ-Pq07AcWiF_YZXfRTBY09c02/s1600-h/DSC03613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseJ2zxj-hU54sq-u8Q2hi4fpKaxJq7UmMP3VggDfhguo2we0EiSWZfaiVJaP1ttuj0latGskeDb5FlCANzYecuWTqmHPNqbVH4SQUrYJL4JfvyAVfZkSQ-Pq07AcWiF_YZXfRTBY09c02/s320/DSC03613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347246471106523138" border="0" /></a>Nate, Lucy (who he either hugs or fights with), Kaitlyn, and cousin Dani.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m_SmpZpTk6JT-e0wHXUrBR6pYEzjrVoZG0PLtTP4q4dxwwT3UxlCBIvLDKw-keifanggp6lLDgivy-779NWMU-TDH_Jv3x-B0hSD7YlSuJSNJ-vD2wmUUBPTFcfi2__UNyxkuvO-zPEx/s1600-h/DSC03618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m_SmpZpTk6JT-e0wHXUrBR6pYEzjrVoZG0PLtTP4q4dxwwT3UxlCBIvLDKw-keifanggp6lLDgivy-779NWMU-TDH_Jv3x-B0hSD7YlSuJSNJ-vD2wmUUBPTFcfi2__UNyxkuvO-zPEx/s320/DSC03618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347246104380282642" border="0" /></a>Our neighbor Jonny, cousin Ben (the spy), Kylie and cousin Natalie (ice skater extraordinaire)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTCd4srk5ZHV66hjT_kyxAiw6Qu4-LtUlexwnOgPS6rPZdgGsZB5cjUQJjDeOpnp2gTM03EtAcBEyQXtn2RctKSYUcGwnEToHTBI9XO1BaBJGfO21vR2QrPy_cLief9VBLYvJ6lAuSVYC/s1600-h/DSC03635.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTCd4srk5ZHV66hjT_kyxAiw6Qu4-LtUlexwnOgPS6rPZdgGsZB5cjUQJjDeOpnp2gTM03EtAcBEyQXtn2RctKSYUcGwnEToHTBI9XO1BaBJGfO21vR2QrPy_cLief9VBLYvJ6lAuSVYC/s320/DSC03635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347245700501480370" border="0" /></a>Seth and our little ninja. Nate loves Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and has picked up their moves-watch out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYD-9n-4Ofg5ZaGRqNHuiCmIIeCQCG8tH_80eAU_ciRbSIdYLZV7jm4DUEIxccDOQsLt5R9vkteqdMx55ICu4vZ3y1nWFCnBgILtfuuYFUkjyMa7uN7CkEjirRjUpjDPvG218rjE7GV2I/s1600-h/DSC03620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYD-9n-4Ofg5ZaGRqNHuiCmIIeCQCG8tH_80eAU_ciRbSIdYLZV7jm4DUEIxccDOQsLt5R9vkteqdMx55ICu4vZ3y1nWFCnBgILtfuuYFUkjyMa7uN7CkEjirRjUpjDPvG218rjE7GV2I/s320/DSC03620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347244493577567650" border="0" /></a>Craig, Seth and Trisha<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTXFknNg7pFTMGz55NGAy18mu8Ydgn2C9PP37G4yrP1BmS_78ceRsWefjbwjxeb7inaSrYAV7rxQCCYHhIlvI_ZWQZ48m7aVBuBhnqVAS4HoRyj-tirvsZlgRAXh-Q8sA4d2y5Mih9t3k/s1600-h/DSC03645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTXFknNg7pFTMGz55NGAy18mu8Ydgn2C9PP37G4yrP1BmS_78ceRsWefjbwjxeb7inaSrYAV7rxQCCYHhIlvI_ZWQZ48m7aVBuBhnqVAS4HoRyj-tirvsZlgRAXh-Q8sA4d2y5Mih9t3k/s320/DSC03645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347243654056846722" border="0" /></a>Everyone who comes to State College has to get their photo with the Nittany Lion...it's a law. We are so grateful we could have this day with the Oceanside Dixons.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-40624309304267063052009-05-17T17:59:00.000-07:002009-05-17T18:33:58.884-07:00Hats off to Dr. Dixon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrj-qoBY-xdxCNArNT3mqFqzWIGS5wBApLC1RLGdbZND3X9aKuSyuYp1YXP1NC_cHO6EYC04-_5R7MzWaKlWT32MQTUnJiK5aOgl4C3l4K3pmU3pbKzAGid4tAB25wY1iSkkRmrkuWLF_/s1600-h/DSC00443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrj-qoBY-xdxCNArNT3mqFqzWIGS5wBApLC1RLGdbZND3X9aKuSyuYp1YXP1NC_cHO6EYC04-_5R7MzWaKlWT32MQTUnJiK5aOgl4C3l4K3pmU3pbKzAGid4tAB25wY1iSkkRmrkuWLF_/s320/DSC00443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336968949692227634" border="0" /></a><br />Today Seth received his PhD after years of hard work and we were lucky enough to be surrounded by our family. I love this photo of Nate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIWor_P59-hNJyp4LCYi-pjgUKSUXd_kf0hYTXCSPzFBTotwBRmY30Yn5zruVsuL0WPKlMr70ApowqsUXvEtiyWro4Vjv0ggttfKWHqESev_Q60CroRE4gxSTfINWskr3p1gprtgM9O-V/s1600-h/DSC03571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIWor_P59-hNJyp4LCYi-pjgUKSUXd_kf0hYTXCSPzFBTotwBRmY30Yn5zruVsuL0WPKlMr70ApowqsUXvEtiyWro4Vjv0ggttfKWHqESev_Q60CroRE4gxSTfINWskr3p1gprtgM9O-V/s320/DSC03571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336967214826023330" border="0" /></a>Craig & Trisha's family is here with us and we are excited to spend time with them this week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oY5XUeds_oksFRotbhKnVcSxfPbx-TSdkUAYb4TcJQWlBwPNSSTJRp9stDwFMbKD9d0ApX8AcejkTq9agYaDmqkbtDiAYrUweZ-T97qx0Y6EVem1yV_9X6tfz7_IHvXX0EU96hhMsf1C/s1600-h/DSC03572.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oY5XUeds_oksFRotbhKnVcSxfPbx-TSdkUAYb4TcJQWlBwPNSSTJRp9stDwFMbKD9d0ApX8AcejkTq9agYaDmqkbtDiAYrUweZ-T97qx0Y6EVem1yV_9X6tfz7_IHvXX0EU96hhMsf1C/s320/DSC03572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336966889168958274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTjAspPxV-hzCDdRMbGJ8u9hb7JEonhdIP4fCzcEguKJwgjM2f_kuxZEJEb0zzATZylXbYIgMPf9SeuTXeyQRHqKYXaD8o-ndemejUCq2v-vbnefv7dPDJG6PpsyBPpO3buSBQxRwui2k/s1600-h/DSC03573.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTjAspPxV-hzCDdRMbGJ8u9hb7JEonhdIP4fCzcEguKJwgjM2f_kuxZEJEb0zzATZylXbYIgMPf9SeuTXeyQRHqKYXaD8o-ndemejUCq2v-vbnefv7dPDJG6PpsyBPpO3buSBQxRwui2k/s320/DSC03573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336966569644799922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMkIW26GwkOerOlVwJs0Csxv0tBaIPUYVqT7FU7JXWcibgPvRbYZC_gJpqWG3pjMld4I-9OPvF0r9v0TeSI78_8NZ8AQd8OhRzTtmrfE2ENhK_FbmvWeGaxTzbTcim-nJMb_A83Z6k225/s1600-h/DSC03574.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMkIW26GwkOerOlVwJs0Csxv0tBaIPUYVqT7FU7JXWcibgPvRbYZC_gJpqWG3pjMld4I-9OPvF0r9v0TeSI78_8NZ8AQd8OhRzTtmrfE2ENhK_FbmvWeGaxTzbTcim-nJMb_A83Z6k225/s320/DSC03574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336966181412658370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32103AwQLwO2KdF8Eze4sR3n2pH0eTYOe71gD-qX7QIB0zI_QntV-t2_kHtETbR9wqgS7q-Trecjc7gX0bT3xHEPqeXP9M_uF3CDFn0AKMvYlUiQ1KECmeMU0G9Lt7h_QGAVNhuGF1rf7/s1600-h/DSC03575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32103AwQLwO2KdF8Eze4sR3n2pH0eTYOe71gD-qX7QIB0zI_QntV-t2_kHtETbR9wqgS7q-Trecjc7gX0bT3xHEPqeXP9M_uF3CDFn0AKMvYlUiQ1KECmeMU0G9Lt7h_QGAVNhuGF1rf7/s320/DSC03575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336965794736548754" border="0" /></a>The cousins have had a great time playing together. They made a huge mess and loved it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9GRbDehsEG7Qo-1PNoYYlwTto8HMi7Z8AcRi8rGqsbodEozY1cxWnVurT3t8w3lDuEDSbRNhgdOrTWdJjDfwUJ__XWa3uqUcQDdxC_eH8WSyKhAerwbp3UbZSG7myHlC5yLjDmBdKanu/s1600-h/DSC03577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9GRbDehsEG7Qo-1PNoYYlwTto8HMi7Z8AcRi8rGqsbodEozY1cxWnVurT3t8w3lDuEDSbRNhgdOrTWdJjDfwUJ__XWa3uqUcQDdxC_eH8WSyKhAerwbp3UbZSG7myHlC5yLjDmBdKanu/s320/DSC03577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336965472572547474" border="0" /></a><br />The elusive Ben Dixon. Apparently he wants to be a spy and is working on his computer skills.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4krywLZOx610ZQ8V7pQyXJ2_A_jslDndJPpdBrXxdUxLCA3OluWYZhURLjFVNuJqmTH5g3KNvPfzkbwfoQwgf0elAEWXmIRo7P3h0UZTHW7eX8dHQHn9mdYE0Hjd6d4ACseFDcawSeve/s1600-h/DSC03580.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4krywLZOx610ZQ8V7pQyXJ2_A_jslDndJPpdBrXxdUxLCA3OluWYZhURLjFVNuJqmTH5g3KNvPfzkbwfoQwgf0elAEWXmIRo7P3h0UZTHW7eX8dHQHn9mdYE0Hjd6d4ACseFDcawSeve/s320/DSC03580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336964993249110002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDb2zmj5u3E3DEAWpHPBLpFYlhefh4RXAjsX07wF6LEuFZ15vhOD-ajMgShgNQOtzdc88WtdZQPFjUhopSlg88Fb5k2gsY2GugkxZh6-VIP2P06tNhZiSa7h8U_uWwTOpzP-r3LltVZQA/s1600-h/DSC03589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDb2zmj5u3E3DEAWpHPBLpFYlhefh4RXAjsX07wF6LEuFZ15vhOD-ajMgShgNQOtzdc88WtdZQPFjUhopSlg88Fb5k2gsY2GugkxZh6-VIP2P06tNhZiSa7h8U_uWwTOpzP-r3LltVZQA/s320/DSC03589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336964386986982098" border="0" /></a>The hooding. Seth's adviser, Deryck Holdsworth, sat with him and walked across the stage with him as well. I liked the symbolism of him staying with Seth until the end.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPZAo9UYcVDbEkCeQq5omB0dokfb9rqVXPtQ3eZHgwLufRn26scsymibx2-JxgmiWy2tDeEVNeVTnctS5xSJhUqDux__Vdjt5oPyv_7aGwg8zWlJyJNWJnf68OWG88un3SseWZ3aoUcod/s1600-h/DSC03595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPZAo9UYcVDbEkCeQq5omB0dokfb9rqVXPtQ3eZHgwLufRn26scsymibx2-JxgmiWy2tDeEVNeVTnctS5xSJhUqDux__Vdjt5oPyv_7aGwg8zWlJyJNWJnf68OWG88un3SseWZ3aoUcod/s320/DSC03595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336964016118388098" border="0" /></a><br />When crossing the stage, Seth was handed the 'real' certificate of graduation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrh_md0LAUtJ8T6IR4CTCcDRQLmAVk8nAfW7Lx6kl3f_K5xvU5C_IdMeGlUp899_jYObDk3wBsmhrDMpQlGLQiDJC5Q87mqFucZn2gBpnIDudUnnz7bGaBzvsJH2NyH9LqTP2iX0AiKqP/s1600-h/DSC03596.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrh_md0LAUtJ8T6IR4CTCcDRQLmAVk8nAfW7Lx6kl3f_K5xvU5C_IdMeGlUp899_jYObDk3wBsmhrDMpQlGLQiDJC5Q87mqFucZn2gBpnIDudUnnz7bGaBzvsJH2NyH9LqTP2iX0AiKqP/s320/DSC03596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336963548246229474" border="0" /></a><br />I love this photo too. Deryck has been fantastic. We are so grateful for his intelligence and wisdom. Congratulations, Seth!The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-48014152484435536462009-05-03T16:35:00.001-07:002009-05-03T17:04:21.137-07:00Life is a beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4TWkD-AEvi_XPVk_kTeODbK93Z3ymha6vh7vqb_XnTmSCFw_0ff2lM7MmljLv-wvKCGrHa1bp9QTKZSbUJjlJTDuzygwzUrcugEaEg3mYJo9hCDNzRH8r1gKYpcT7yN8Eyn5I1pOMkve/s1600-h/DSC03497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4TWkD-AEvi_XPVk_kTeODbK93Z3ymha6vh7vqb_XnTmSCFw_0ff2lM7MmljLv-wvKCGrHa1bp9QTKZSbUJjlJTDuzygwzUrcugEaEg3mYJo9hCDNzRH8r1gKYpcT7yN8Eyn5I1pOMkve/s320/DSC03497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331748228899775634" border="0" /></a>We met my sister, Chrissy & her husband, Tom, at the beach house on Topsail Beach. My parents drove down with us and we had adventures like Nate throwing up in his car seat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GaQoYgTiXEAcsWh9Z62-5-ePCSGErlPbIp8vGC5u6sd4lEV9ezuk2oE4Hv2KNopyvJBidAlZtfbnI-diA5UTYw6r3_RyjSQkg9IJOz5YHJg35hHFi5rD2CPnAoqhYHR5TMHtjBTqwi7t/s1600-h/DSC03515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GaQoYgTiXEAcsWh9Z62-5-ePCSGErlPbIp8vGC5u6sd4lEV9ezuk2oE4Hv2KNopyvJBidAlZtfbnI-diA5UTYw6r3_RyjSQkg9IJOz5YHJg35hHFi5rD2CPnAoqhYHR5TMHtjBTqwi7t/s320/DSC03515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331747893953479154" border="0" /></a>But we're here and loving every minute of it. Nate has been asking for the beach since we left here last year-I'm glad we can finally give him what he wants.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8PAFBWjOkjEQFQ-i7J9tiGtgcUObWyvBVT36SHGavvJWMUexc_oZQGgqkC9Ul_dIlSrebyQ9_bGECDb3JNV_qL6HLp00C4SmB_eahQLZbskIOx2efcUeq3NVacVrlWSId2xmr16z9mD6/s1600-h/DSC03516.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8PAFBWjOkjEQFQ-i7J9tiGtgcUObWyvBVT36SHGavvJWMUexc_oZQGgqkC9Ul_dIlSrebyQ9_bGECDb3JNV_qL6HLp00C4SmB_eahQLZbskIOx2efcUeq3NVacVrlWSId2xmr16z9mD6/s320/DSC03516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331747595702678386" border="0" /></a>Seth is the best beach dad because he loves doing all the same things the kids do. From this small beginning came a huge sand castle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgM37J4pJ4xj21dGZyMFSA22HeH8AmGbeWu5NB0M5p9Ye4FKtmw7mvGNXzjzhQNCqIq5dqOI9zxgCC0djLpLhDtNoXn3rj-7fJ5f16UcFk8O3FOTtTp99Sk2CyM-1UofmHiWIWZkc6pr1/s1600-h/DSC03521.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgM37J4pJ4xj21dGZyMFSA22HeH8AmGbeWu5NB0M5p9Ye4FKtmw7mvGNXzjzhQNCqIq5dqOI9zxgCC0djLpLhDtNoXn3rj-7fJ5f16UcFk8O3FOTtTp99Sk2CyM-1UofmHiWIWZkc6pr1/s320/DSC03521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331747317838794514" border="0" /></a>My happy boy<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3znWEt6e9PGbi6F073-uHPRy7y3uJHx1hO1KGmB99BwPfdLla1goVaxgNq4HKYlS_vY1u3dhYq6fFqMv_tjZCeMIOHo1i3ijzaZVSq0YjwnmzK-CbGos2Wvgu0EmsrnEYL3jPFLxBdSu/s1600-h/DSC03522.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3znWEt6e9PGbi6F073-uHPRy7y3uJHx1hO1KGmB99BwPfdLla1goVaxgNq4HKYlS_vY1u3dhYq6fFqMv_tjZCeMIOHo1i3ijzaZVSq0YjwnmzK-CbGos2Wvgu0EmsrnEYL3jPFLxBdSu/s320/DSC03522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331746872598772050" border="0" /></a><br />The dunes<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fkS73_Pih7Rh15kKDUYh2nFyqr6NS-QdPXpf4epU34JAB19Ev85GleK7u5ZysBX5I37P9UkeSl04S8c95hil7ukGjSI3lHCorajtOiJOb2s-xpNbpQ288yKXfSK-5-2Ri3gQhEzSDVnj/s1600-h/DSC03530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fkS73_Pih7Rh15kKDUYh2nFyqr6NS-QdPXpf4epU34JAB19Ev85GleK7u5ZysBX5I37P9UkeSl04S8c95hil7ukGjSI3lHCorajtOiJOb2s-xpNbpQ288yKXfSK-5-2Ri3gQhEzSDVnj/s320/DSC03530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331746389364572642" border="0" /></a>I'm not quite as fun at the beach, but I do enjoy burying the children. They thought it was fun too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7BXjadNkIshNRMz9U6SfWr7iqgUreHrKpBCFmlpX-RIBW7IzWbhZGVfpKbo7aNcqTRlTP2EnH_GHwS_55ELrcQvu_Af_ZzunBkwZLG6s3y-bZrYBXzb-k-TAWGpDFoBRz_3Dkseu84_Y/s1600-h/DSC03537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7BXjadNkIshNRMz9U6SfWr7iqgUreHrKpBCFmlpX-RIBW7IzWbhZGVfpKbo7aNcqTRlTP2EnH_GHwS_55ELrcQvu_Af_ZzunBkwZLG6s3y-bZrYBXzb-k-TAWGpDFoBRz_3Dkseu84_Y/s320/DSC03537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331745973096398642" border="0" /></a>The intercoastal waterway runs behind our beach house and we have a dock. We tempted the crabs with pepperoni and were able to catch a few. Kylie was terrified of them to begin with but eventually stopped running away:)The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-25312520223834319402009-04-24T19:06:00.001-07:002009-04-24T19:23:43.321-07:00The Little Red Hen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4fr1C1MB1Bljxk8aq2QkhAT4gm33UA3CtLgYet5u9nkiw6PStf63ObKsOXE1l7oRqqdbWgkZRzrR8UU5-fNa5bdEkWXeIxGoM8WacvylWFBrq0_DY5f7mP6aBVGr-XGMCtuP8lB6FodV/s1600-h/DSC03472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4fr1C1MB1Bljxk8aq2QkhAT4gm33UA3CtLgYet5u9nkiw6PStf63ObKsOXE1l7oRqqdbWgkZRzrR8UU5-fNa5bdEkWXeIxGoM8WacvylWFBrq0_DY5f7mP6aBVGr-XGMCtuP8lB6FodV/s320/DSC03472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328446064545975986" border="0" /></a>This year, Kylie's class performed two separate plays so everyone could perform. Kylie was in "The Little Red Hen" as a chick.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw6dxE8yM106yolJ1kF-ZnXg3MmHgMVtR_If6zOAXm1EL0wv0hKKH240u5n8SnQFMqYMG9zLdSRoQE4-gwmwxiRapww2aevNC1CwfbCBqAYMxgMKgZgbB2jNC4eZM8MxRdeeWxs-pAgqV/s1600-h/DSC03475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw6dxE8yM106yolJ1kF-ZnXg3MmHgMVtR_If6zOAXm1EL0wv0hKKH240u5n8SnQFMqYMG9zLdSRoQE4-gwmwxiRapww2aevNC1CwfbCBqAYMxgMKgZgbB2jNC4eZM8MxRdeeWxs-pAgqV/s320/DSC03475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328445769007604802" border="0" /></a>The little boy next to Kylie in this photo is the Little Red Hen-what's with that? Next they'll have a white Othello.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkn81ezJsqvm1RQ5JwQOxVmfvyg4uV9suVB7ji3akh-ss7BreZ4wDXPGO5BIG6AgyJ7ZM0wrBI0wyz0GPGECfSroZatEdU2YuFI667Kmn0CyAxp29mruFjVtKkjGTE6LXfk8dBlBVmDpzh/s1600-h/DSC03482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkn81ezJsqvm1RQ5JwQOxVmfvyg4uV9suVB7ji3akh-ss7BreZ4wDXPGO5BIG6AgyJ7ZM0wrBI0wyz0GPGECfSroZatEdU2YuFI667Kmn0CyAxp29mruFjVtKkjGTE6LXfk8dBlBVmDpzh/s320/DSC03482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328445452277171602" border="0" /></a>This is my chick.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLqqkqTC2y8RZjHHyLdEfQJeroAkj_rLcUpIGKQIqNNpmcN6-nIzqmDKbe7xXl3-Uoau9GlThmozrhTezJ-vE8syCehYQ-itRPuMpQrHXmAQ7Bzxt7gCOEkUz_ey3Pj0BYcoJt2P0z0o4/s1600-h/DSC03484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLqqkqTC2y8RZjHHyLdEfQJeroAkj_rLcUpIGKQIqNNpmcN6-nIzqmDKbe7xXl3-Uoau9GlThmozrhTezJ-vE8syCehYQ-itRPuMpQrHXmAQ7Bzxt7gCOEkUz_ey3Pj0BYcoJt2P0z0o4/s320/DSC03484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328445077731849714" border="0" /></a>Kylie had a great line that she repeated, "We'll help you, Mama." She's good at that at home too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwWEcqiPOPQmkA-JK8BLKMjA9kg-sCQ2__KGY9I0GhKhro6zqeA6mnQmybpJNZs7oGT8W-vbZoRqK_x8fA7Gg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-69081781386437250032009-03-20T11:26:00.000-07:002009-03-20T11:38:56.693-07:00The Wrong Trousers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSxQnsgen7G5yXmF7p3aWVf2NLScwSuCjs8JN-YBOT6qYO-6OHKzSCPkFA7yExw9c6FwgwtDb_VkOT3Lln6d26X7kcNxxCFjWu75OphB15CB8J7Q4m2iTvyrMI3GdkjzgCMl9ABa783XF/s1600-h/DSC03337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSxQnsgen7G5yXmF7p3aWVf2NLScwSuCjs8JN-YBOT6qYO-6OHKzSCPkFA7yExw9c6FwgwtDb_VkOT3Lln6d26X7kcNxxCFjWu75OphB15CB8J7Q4m2iTvyrMI3GdkjzgCMl9ABa783XF/s320/DSC03337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315338799660217858" border="0" /></a>Nathan had a Wallace & Gromit (which he calls"Gomace and Hammus") moment this morning after using the potty. We told him to put his pants on and, seeing a pair of pants on our bed, assumed they were his. The look on his face was so cute when he realized he had the wrong trousers. We decided to see how Daddy's would fit. Here is the result.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHVdL7sP_mD0c2V3g79iZYKJT-bx7exT2IiSN4qDKZ2r6a_Cp7eQSlOrNeAVUlqCN5kBfV07wwa4M0JepsKD2_1WyChVJLH6ZewAmTeznL2yXZzmnjq4WFw3wFgK8FfuvvcYriimxvuVd/s1600-h/DSC03338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHVdL7sP_mD0c2V3g79iZYKJT-bx7exT2IiSN4qDKZ2r6a_Cp7eQSlOrNeAVUlqCN5kBfV07wwa4M0JepsKD2_1WyChVJLH6ZewAmTeznL2yXZzmnjq4WFw3wFgK8FfuvvcYriimxvuVd/s320/DSC03338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315339373948256994" border="0" /></a>The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276235163166000651.post-81867382546745693972009-03-07T10:47:00.000-08:002009-03-07T11:13:35.966-08:00Great Expectations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWywjP3MrYVpTWFqaScRyArednsPsv5UJhm76JHH5RD96cv5fj7Oe-dmaUKr5lzHmhzDyGyC4VeCdpdPxZo5aZMNuf6pbIIHp7KBZNrpFjd6fT4iJ2dP6xAkzlF2E6hngQfOOnhXIu1ZJ-/s1600-h/larry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 94px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWywjP3MrYVpTWFqaScRyArednsPsv5UJhm76JHH5RD96cv5fj7Oe-dmaUKr5lzHmhzDyGyC4VeCdpdPxZo5aZMNuf6pbIIHp7KBZNrpFjd6fT4iJ2dP6xAkzlF2E6hngQfOOnhXIu1ZJ-/s320/larry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310520935001245970" border="0" /></a><br />I've realized our children do not have great expectations. A number of small incidents have accumulated over the course of the week that have led me to this conclusion. Today, for example, we took a ride and admired the agricultural land outside of State College. We saw calves and they were cute, despite the smell. Then "it" happened.<br /><br />Kylie saw the ugliest, more dilapidated trailer that man put on earth, about fifty years ago, and gasped. "Oh Mommy! Look! It's a trailer!" She loves trailers. I don't mean the spacious, nice ones they make now. I mean the ones you find in the woods. The uglier, the better. She does not get this from me, nor does she get it from Seth.<br /><br />We were almost home when I said, "I hope you get a job, Seth". Then Kylie interjected, "You should be a cable guy!"<br /><br />I honestly have nothing against cable guys...unless they happen to have PhD's. So now I'm sitting back imagining Kylie's life in fifteen years. I see an ugly but homely trailer. I see her husband sitting on the couch in his cable-guy uniform with his arm around her, watching all the free cable his job entitles him to.The Dixon Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947295432131622164noreply@blogger.com3