Meet the Dogs of Big Dawg Ranch...

When we moved to Acton we had four rottweilers: Annie, her son Karl, her daughter Maggie and their son (big uh oh!) Gordie. Hence the name "Big Dawg Ranch" :) We lost Annie and Gordie both to cancer when they were six and recently had to put Maggie down due to her hips giving out. Each loss was heart breaking as each one added so much to our family. Above is Karl, our SRD (spoiled rotten dog); he is 10 years old and recently received a clean bill of health at his well visit :) He loves to walk in the mornings and plays the game 'get daddy' everyday when Derek comes home. I should try and video tape it and post it -- it is hilarious! Karl is my dog and such a good boy!! I just LOVE him!

Meet Sandie...this is Dalton's dog and she is such a love bug! Dalton and my mom rescued her in Bakersfield. They were playing golf one day and when they had finished they were driving by some fields and saw her running around with a pit bull :( They stopped and Sandie jumped into the back of my mom's car!! After a tearful phone call from Dalton to Derek and I, we agreed to let him keep her. It is so endearing to see Sandie with Dalton - Sandie is eternally grateful to him for saving her life :)

Meet Bogey, the beagle...He is Dillon's dog and quite the hunter and snuggler. My mom volunteers at the Bakersfield Animal Shelter and mentioned to Dillon that there was a beagle at the pound (since he had informed her that he would love to have one). So alas, now we have a beagle! Do see any common denominators between Sandie and Bogey? Yep, my mom and Bakersfield!

Our beloved Maggie at 10 years old. She was such a good girl and we miss her!

You know it's Spring when...

Here is an example of typical landscaping in Acton. A yearly event in our house is weed abatement!! Here's the before...
Karl, my faithful companion of 10 years :)

The 'hula-hoe', a country girl's best friend!

And after...what a difference, huh? It's back breaking work but well worth it!!

Welcome June Onaindia...

Announcing: June Catherine Onaindia (Junie Bug) Born to my cousin Kristen and her husband Nick on March 26th! Both mom and baby are doing great - Praise the Lord! It's hard to believe that the little flower girl in my wedding has a little girl of her own! I'm so proud of you Kristen!!

My mom and DeAnn, the proud new grandma :) and June. DeAnn was my Maid of Honor in our wedding and my mentor since Junior High School. She has been looking forward to being a grandma for a long time! God is soooo good :)

Spring Break Lunch...

Since I am on Spring Break at Cal State Bakersfield, Mom wanted to come down and spend the day with me :) She came to the house and was able to visit with the boys, then we went to a quaint Cafe...The Lemon Leaf (by the recommendation of my good friend and neighbor, Nicole...thanks girl!) for lunch, stopped by a quilting store...Bolts in the Bathtub (thanks Jeanne!) and then we were off to Dalton's baseball game at Jethawks Stadium. The time always goes too fast when my mom and I hang out...hopefully she will be able to come down again soon so we can have more time at the quilting store! Love you Mom!!

Take Me out to the Ball Game...

Dalton has decided to give baseball a try! Hockey is still his true love but he thought that baseball would be fun and he really is having a great time. For me, it is such a slow sport compared to hockey and I have learned that if I'm idle for too long then I get in a bad mood :( So I told Derek that I have to bring my crocheting to every game! I am really proud of Dalton for wanting to learn and play with guys who have been playing since they were little. He told me that he wished we had put him in baseball as a kid and I informed him that we tried, but he insisted on playing hockey!

Our team had the treat of playing at Jethawks Stadium in Lancaster (home of a minor league) this past week and now I am totally spoiled. The facility was great with an announcer, music, sound effects, snack bar ($3.50 for a small bag of peanuts!!) and stadium seats :) It was a fun two days with beautiful SoCal weather!!

Dalton typically plays 2nd base and is getting lots of tips from his Dad :)

We won this game against AV Christian, 17-3!! The boys were stoked!

Go Ducks...

Our family always enjoys going to watch the Anaheim Ducks. We have been true fans since Dillon was in Kindergarten and have stood by them through thick and thin. The highlight of all our years of following them was of course, the winning of the Stanley Cup!! We were blessed to be given four tickets from Joe Koh's company and they were 10 rows up from the glass! We had a great time as always!! It was an awesome way to cap off an already fabulous weekend with the Koh family :)

I know that I am their mom, but aren't they soooo handsome!?!

Yep, we won!!

Our Weekend Away...

We don't go out of town very often but we were invited to visit Derek's best friend from high school, John Koh and his family who live in Rancho Santa Margarita - Orange County. John and Karna were married a couple of months before we were and the guys were in eachothers weddings. John and Karna have four beautiful children, Daniel, Hannah, Rachel and Caleb. The Koh's had a great weekend planned for us and it was a blast! First on Saturday, Derek, Dillon, Dalton, John and Caleb went golfing while us girls went shopping, of course! That night Karna and John fixed a restaurant quality steak dinner and treated us to John's favorite frozen yogurt. On Sunday we went to their church, Faith Bible Church in Ladera Ranch where John is the Senior Pastor, the boys played hockey with a group of guys from church and the weekend ended with tickets to a Duck game! Look at the street we passed on the way to church - Crown Valley :) We felt right at home, minus the dirt!!

John arranged for a group of guys from church to get together and play hockey at an outside rink. They had a GREAT time!!

Karna and their son, Caleb making homemade cinnamon rolls for Sunday morning. The Koh's have this treat every Sunday morning!

The boys relaxing playing Xbox (not my idea of relaxation but whatever!) They all golfed that morning while Karna and the girls and I shopped at the craft stores. Sitting next to John is his son, Daniel (he's a year younger than Dalton). Our boys sure enjoyed hanging out with him!

Joe Koh, Derek and John. Joe is John's older brother and was like a big brother to Derek in High School. Joe's son is a roller hockey lover too, so the boys have lots in common :)

John preaching on Sunday morning at Faith Bible Church in Ladera Ranch, California. All I can say is...fabulous!! He did a great job bringing forth God's Word. It was great to meet the Koh's church family and the Lord is truly blessing that fellowship.

Kruzners in Washington...

Derek's brother, Rich and SIL Kim. They live in Washington State and visit about once to twice a year. It's always nice to see them and look forward to seeing them in April for FIL Dick's 75th birthday!
Rich and our nephew Richard...it's hard to believe that Richard was our ringbearer at our wedding when he was only 3!

Rich and our niece, Lauren...she's quite the soccer studette!!

Everybody loves a potluck...

This was our potluck at church in January...a Superbowl Theme. Can you see the astroturf in front of the table? I love those extra fun touches! I feel blessed to be the 'potluck coordinator' :)

Our pastor, Joel Moore and his beautiful wife, Tracy. We love and appreciate them so much!

Dalton and one of his best buddies, Elisabeth (Bitsy). She was one of my sign language students and always brought so much joy and fun to our class :)

Derek's turn...

Derek, the birthday boy. February is a very busy month in our family; Dillon is the only one in our family whose birthday is not in February. He doesn't feel left out though - he was born on my mom's birthday!

Lunch at BJ's with the fam...

Derek, the constant clown....he makes me laugh!!

A new driver in the family...

Congratulations Dalton! He got his license on the first try, unlike his mother!! He loves his freedom and I love the ease in our scheduling. He can now drive himself to and from work! Dalton and Dillon both work at a quaint grocery store in Aqua Dulce - Sweetwater Farms. Dillon is a checker and fill-in manager and Dalton is a stocker. It's a great place to work -- it is close to home and they are very accommodating with the boys sports schedules and church activities. We love the fact that the boys want to work and enjoy it (most of the time!) Hopefully one of these days I can get a picture of both of them at work....they are not very keen to the idea, but I'll keep trying.

Sweet 16...

The birthday boy posing with his requested 'Champagne Cake' from Smith's Bakery in Bakersfield. (No, there isn't alcohol in the cake, it's just the lightest most wonderful cake ever!)

The kids playing rounds and rounds of Catch Phrase...

A great group of kids!!

Make a wish...

The whole gang!! Our boys are sure blessed with wonderful friends...Proverbs 27:17

Angela and the kids came down from Fresno to celebrate with us...so glad they made the trek! We missed you Larry!!
Dad, Mom, Dalton and Grandma Nonie in front of the infamous bouncer...yes, they still want bouncers at 16 :)
Dalton and Colt Doherty. The Dohertys were our awesome neighbors in Canyon Country. These two grew up together from birth and it was great to see and reconnect with Colt.

Dillon and Joey went to Kindergarten together now they're Seniors...where has the time gone?
My dear friend, Christy (Joey's mom) and I 'catching up' :) It was great visiting with her!!

The grill master himself...

There were some interesting moves but what a fun time!!

Josh and Jon swaying to an old 'Journey' song.... surprisingly, they all knew it!

Dancing the night away...(not really, just a few steps - one of the girls grabbed my camera!)

I love this picture of my mom and Dalton!

An incredible gift!!!

Here is one happy young man :)