Dillon's 5th Birthday

This past Thursday was Dillon's 5th birthday. It's hard to believe that five years ago our lives changed forever. Grandma Sharon, Papa, and Granny Barbara came up to visit the morning of the 9th.

On Friday all of us, except for Brenna, went to Yosemite for the day. Dillon was excited when we saw the deer behind him.

It may be hard to tell from this picture, but the falls were amazing. Thanks to all the snowfall this winter and the warm weather last week, Yosemite falls was breathtaking.

On Saturday we had Dillon's birthday party at the park. Of course Grandma Sharon had to make a special cake for Dillon. He was having a super hero themed party so he picked a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle as his cake.

There was also a pinata at the party thanks to Uncle James and Aunt Michelle.

Dillon's pals from pre-school and church helped to sing happy birthday to him. Notice the awesome Spiderman cupcakes, another Grandma Sharon special.

Uncle James also provided all the kids with a Soccer Shots shirt and ball. Thank you to all who came to the party, sent presents, and/or wished Dillon a happy birthday.

Vacation 2010

Below is a video I made of our vacation. Sorry, no bidets are in it.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day 2010 is very special to us. We get to spend it with baby Brenna and Grandma Sharon.

My two favorite Valentines. Christina is healing quickly from her surgery. Standing up from a sitting position is a little difficult and she is unable to pick anything (or anyone) up yet but she is much more mobile than a few days ago.

Grandma Sharon is having too much fun with Brenna. Once again, she has been a blessing to Christina and I, staying up at night with Brenna, changing diapers, and making meals. Thanks Mom!

Brenna's dress is courtesy of Aunt Jennifer and Grandma Sharon gave Brenna the bow. It's perfect for Valentine's Day.

Cowboy Woody showing off his new boots Grandma Sharon gave him for Valentine's Day.

Connor also got some boots for Valentine's Day. As soon as he put them on, he was instantly drawn to the tv which Grandma Sharon was watching. The boots must of activated his redneck gene.


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Coming Home

Brenna and Christina came home from the hospital yesterday. Below are pictures:

Brenna wore an outfit that was also worn by her cousin Taylor.

Connor was overjoyed to see his Mom and he showed some interest in his little sister.

We finally got a picture with Brenna and Grandma Sharon. She has been enjoying rocking baby Brenna in between her nursing.

Grandma Sharon had to dress Brenna up in pink as soon as possible.

Dillon and Connor love their baby sister. Dillon has been a big help by running to get any supplies that Mom or Grandma Sharon may need.


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More Brenna Pictures

One of my rules for our babies was that we would never announce the names until after the babies were born. No matter who or how many times they ask, I would not reveal the name. Last night at dinner, Grandma Sharon was drilling me over the name and I was refusing the temptation to spill the beans.

I did say that Dillon was told the name a few days ago but had forgotten it. Christina and I had just asked him the night before if he remembered Brenna's name and he said no. So the following exchange happened:

Grandma Sharon: Dillon, what's your sister's name?

Dillon: Jessie (He was enamored with the name since Toy Story 2 is his favorite movie.)

Grandma Sharon: It's ok Dillon you can tell me her real name.

Dillon: (whispering in his grandma's ear) Brenna Joy.

I guess I won't be sharing any more secrets with Dillon.

A good picture of me and Brenna. Our nurse took a picture of me but it was really blurry so Christina had to snap this one.


Brenna tried to open her eyes for this picture.

Grammy with Brenna. Due to the H1N1 scare, the hospital only allowed two visitors for the entire stay and I count as one of those visitors. That left us having to choose one of the four grandparents be able to hold Brenna during her first couple of days.

However, Ginni knew one of the nurses in the Birth Center and she allowed the other three grandparents in to hold Brenna. That was the one bright side of Brenna being born at 3:31 in the morning, we were allowed to sneak in extra visitors.

Papa Jim was the biggest person to benefit from the "extra visitors" because he was going to have to leave Sonora before Brenna would be released from the hospital. There are not any pictures of Brenna with Grandma Sharon because I had left the camera in the waiting room when she was holding her. She will just have to wait a few days.

By the way, please excuse any typos or misspellings in the last two posts. I don't function well under three hours of sleep.

Manteca Trip

On Friday we went down to Manteca to visit Uncle Larry. We spent some quality time with the Morgans, Grandma Sharon, Papa, Grandma Dede, and Pops. Below are some pictures.

Uncle Larry spoiled the kids by letting them play with squirt guns and bubbles in the house.

Play doh was also a part of the indoor activities.

Grandma Sharon feeding Connor while Pops makes smart alec comments.

The three musketeers outside of the Bass Pro Shop.

Grandma Sharon and Taylor running from the bear. I was surprised by the number of stuffed animals at the store. Glad to see the taxidermist is not suffering from the recession.

Connor tried to convince Uncle Larry to buy a ski boat. It didn't work.

I thought getting a good picture of four kids was tough, now we have to add a fifth for an added degree of difficulty.

Christmas Part One

Christmas was so big for us that I am having to post pictures in two parts. Below are pictures from our trip down to Shafter.


Connor met his great, great grandmother. Dillon and Kaleb also wanted to be in the picture with Mum.


Granny Barbara wanted to take a picture with all of her great grandkids. My Christmas wish was to snap a picture with all the kids looking in the same direction. Sometimes you just don't get what you want.


The pictures in this collage were taken for Uncle Larry's present. They were too cute to keep to myself, especially Connor stuffed in his stocking.


Our first Christmas celebration was at Pops and Grandma Dede's. Connor got help opening his presents from Grandma Sharon.


Next, we opened presents at Papa and Grandma Sharon's house. Dillon and Kaleb each got a hand stitched Cars blanket from Grandma Sharon. I bet you can guess what Dillon now wants to take to bed with him at night.


Finally, we opened presents at Granny Barbara's house. Dillon was very excited about his Lightning McQueen rolling suitcase. He can't wait to use it on his next trip to visit Grandma Sharon.

Part two of the Christmas pictures will come later.



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Thanksgiving Pictures

Below are some pictures from over the weekend.


Baby's first Thanksgiving.


Papa sure was happy to have all his grand kids spend the night.


For the most part, these three played well together. Occasionally one of them would try to take the other's toy but on the whole they got along great.


Pops enjoying the always relaxed Connor.


Paint time!


Grandma Sharon helping Dillon paint a giraffe and keeping an eye on Taylor at the same time.


Dillon showing the mess he made.


But Kaleb out did them all by trying to eat his paint.

A Busy Week

Connor has been a very good baby. He hardly ever cries and has been sleeping well during the nights. Once again, Grandma Sharon has been good to us. She has volunteered to sleep next to Connor and bring him to Christina for feedings. This allows for maximum sleep time for Christina.

Dillon always wants to lend a helping hand. He uses his slide as a makeshift ladder.

We had some visitors come up on Monday. The Morgans, Uncle Larry, Grandma Dede and Pops all made the trek to Sonora. Taylor loved showing off her new cousin.

Grandma Sharon with all three of her grandsons. She has had a grandchild born in each calendar year for four straight years. Jennifer will keep up the streak in 2009.

Dillon has benefited from Connor being born. The toys in this picture are just from Uncle Larry. Every one has been very thoughtful with Dillon and even Connor brought Dillon the Finding Nemo movie home with him.

Getting a three, two, and one year old to look up at the same time and prop up a newborn is almost an impossible feat. We gave up on getting them all to smile.

Holiday Catch Up

This Christmas was a very busy time for the Nixons so I thought I would post what we were up to for the last two weeks.

The weekend before Christmas was spent with the Cummings and Evans. I got a sweet Hawaiian Jamba Juice shirt from the Evans. I now need to find a matching one for Dillon because I have passed on my love of Jamba to my firstborn.

Dillon and I both love the Caribbean Passion and Orange Dream Machine. Here he is on our trip down to Shafter. We have learned to get him his own cup of Jamba...

...because this is what happens when you take his Jamba away from him. By the way, James sent me the following Jamba Juice related video via email with a note that read "Jimmie = Chris Parnell's character."

Jamba Juice - SNL

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Papa and Grandma Sharon helping Dillon open a present while Kaleb enjoys the box of one of his presents.

Uncle Larry helping Dillon with his new motorized tractor. I know that in the summer time I will arrive home from work to find Dillon pulling Otis in the trailer of this tractor.

The theme of this Christmas for Dillon was trains and tractors. Here he is opening up his Lionel wooden train set.

On Christmas Day I had to come back to Sonora to work while Dillon and Christina stayed in Shafter. Now don't feel too bad for me because I spent my evenings playing Rock Band on the PS3 with James. I jammed on the drums while James shredded on the guitar. Our band, the In-N-Outlaws, is on the way to rock and roll stardom.

Three days after returning to Shafter I had to drive back to pick up the family. But the trip was not a waste because Saturday evening was Taylor's third birthday party.

Taylor got plenty of Princess shirts, toys, shoes and dresses for Christmas and her birthday. After her birthday Dillon, Christina and I drove back to Sonora because Christina's cousins, the Naves, were up from Thousand Oaks for New Year's.

New Year's Eve day the whole gang, including the two horses, Otis, Brandy (the Cummings' dog), Snoops (the Evan's dog), Shadow (the dog the Cummings were dogsitting), Lulu and Bently (Michelle's boss's dogs), all went for a walk around the neighborhood. This parade got quite the looks from passing cars.

We even put Shadow to work pulling Dillon's stroller.

James and Scott came to the conclusion after viewing the Time Person of the Year cover that I looked like Vladimir Putin. That meant I had to deal with Russian jokes and stupid nicknames like Jimmie Putin during New Year's.

I don't see the resemblance.

But James used his mad photoshop skills to help everyone else see the likeness.

Though there was a lot of driving involved, we had a wonderful time with family over the holidays.


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