Hello, My Name is Simba

Hello Blog Followers.  My name is Simba.  My humans are the Dixon family.  I was adopted many years ago from PetsMart and brought into a loving home.  I get along with all humans,  animals of all kinds both large and small.  I greet my family and guests in our home by looking into their eyes conveying this message, "Welcome, how can I make you happy today," while wagging my most lethal weapon....my tail.

I am always eager to please and even tolerate that odd little cat of ours named Lily.  I spend most of my time palling around with my little buddy, Penny.  She is a spoiled and rather plump poodle.  Penny is a good companion.  We are pretty tight.

I'd have to say if there was a term to label me, it'd be "laid back".   Nothing really stresses me....well, promise you won't laugh....., flying pests freak me out!  There, I've admitted it.  Whenever I see or here a fly or any other flying pest in the house, I kinda go CRAZY.  It's embarrassing to admit since I'm such a hunky K-9.  You can find me following at the heels of my mom until this annoying creature is eliminated.  I retreat to places I normally don't go in the house like when mom opens the closet to put clothes away, I go into the closet.  I go into mom and dad's bathroom which I never do b/c I can't stand the way the tile feels on the pads of my feet....my toenails click, it's awful.  Whenever anyone opens the door to walk outside, I try to be the first one out.  When mom is on the computer, I try crawling under the desk.  Now, I'm rather big so the only part of me that goes under the desk is my head but you can't blame me for trying after all these insects scare me to death.

These insects have invaded our home.  Dad says he'll continue to work on the matter at hand.  Between you and me....I won't get a minutes rest until they are eliminated!!!

Sentiments by Sarah

Since Sarah has moved to Lousiana, she has reconnected with her creative brain.  She's always been talented and artisty.  I knew early on that she had a special gift.  Shoot, when she was 2 years old, she could "color in the lines."  Her art work from Ruby Reid Preschool was always on display for the parents and other toddlers to view.  Seriously, art teachers through Sarah's schooling have seen that talent.  Now, I'm happy to report she is using her gitf to make speciality cards, notes and such.  Check out her new blog with all her info.

(Now let me see if I can figure out how she told me to add her gadget and link...remember, I'm new at this.  Sarah got me started blogging then she got married and moved to Leesville, LA to do this blogging thing on my own. Yes, I miss her VERY much!)

Best wishes, Sarah with your new adventure(s)!  Love you
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Baby News

Sarah and Ryan are expecting our first grandbaby.  What an exciting time for the entire family!!!  This will be the first grandchild of our family and Ryan's family.  We always knew Sarah was a bit competitive but who would have thought she would be the first one to have a baby?! (me actually)

Yesterday, Sarah and Ryan had their first baby appointment with the OB.  They were able to hear the baby's heartbeat.  I was so happy they could experience this milestone together.  It was the first of many firsts during the pregnancy.  She is 10 weeks and has a due date of February 4th. 

Needless to say, I'm already looking at my school calendar and making arrangements to be there for the BIG event and to help out any way I can after the new family is home.  I haven't been asked to do this..it's just a right of passage that the maternal grandmother be there to help her daughter get adjusted to motherhood. (So invitation or not, I will be there!)  I hope to be busy with Sarah's "to do" list for keeping up the household chores and giving Ryan and her some sleeping breaks.  We all know that they will experience some sleep deprivation being parents of a newborn.  I can just imagine it now...holding that precious bundle, rocking that precious bundle, diapering and bathing that precious bundle....oh, I can't wait!!!

I wonder what the baby will call me...Granny, GG ?????  I don't know but I'll just be happy to be a grandmother.  (Taylor wants to be called "Aunt T"  - get it Aunt T for Aunt Taylor or just Auntie.)

Danielle...Next Triangle Idol!

Saturday, July 9, 2011, Danielle, my lovely, talented daughter-in-law auditioned for Triangle Idol.  She sang Someone to Watch Over me, Ella Fitzgerald.  Now, if you've never heard Danielle sing, you have missed out on a treat! She has the voice of an angel....Danielle has truly been blessed with a gift straight from heaven.  See the below link to enjoy her audition and interview.

(Tiffany went with her.)  Next for Danielle, Charleston, SC to audtion for American Idol. 


Danielle's FOX 50 Audition-Triangle Idol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVAhy0nLdM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It's a ZOO Out There!

There are many advantages to living in NC.  We have the best of MOST worlds...beach, mountains and the ZOO are just a day trip away for us!  When the big kids were small, Greg and I would take them on many adventures on the weekends.  One trip that was always a favorite was the NC Zoo.  Since Taylor is so much younger than Gregory, Tiffany and Sarah, she doesn't remember a lot of these special trips.  Greg and she were talking a couple of weeks ago about our last trip to the zoo.  Much to our surprise, she didn't remember much about it but what she did remember, she LOVED.  Greg had off Saturday, Taylor invited her good friend, Mallory and we hit the road for Ashboro bright and early!  Now you must understand, early for the Dixons is early! 

Greg is pretty much a type A personality (actually, I am too) so getting to the zoo or any other destination when the gates open is the ultimate goal.  If we don't get there on time, we may miss something really important or we may not be the visitors to see the polar bears take their first plunge in the pool for the day!!  Well, needless to say, we got there in plenty of time to enjoy all the animals and exhibits from Africa and North America.

I love watching the zoo animals.  My favorite is the polar bears!  They are so large but swim so gracefully in the water.  Floating on top of the water then diving to the bottom of the pool, climbing on the plastic iceberg float...they are so entertaining.  They really put on so a show!

One thing that wasn't so pleasant was the extreme HEAT!   It was hot and those who know me, know I do NOT do well in the heat.  It was 120 degrees (granted, I am exaggerating but it felt like it)! Talk about whining...I was whining like a toddler. I was worn out by the end of the day actually but lunchtime.  Just when we had seen every animal from Africa (zebras, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, gorillas, exotic birds, etc...) to all the animals from North America (bears, bison, polar bears, puffins, reptiles-YUCK, sea otters, fox, etc...) guess who wanted to play on the playground...Taylor and Mallory.  I was so ready to get into the car with some maximum A/C and they wanted to play!  I sat down in the shade (still about to die from heat) and Greg took pictures of the 15 year-old-beauties on the insect-inspired playground.

When we did leave and I got cooled off in the lovely A/C, I reflected upon our day.  It was a great day.  We definitely got our moneys worth of zoo life and made many wonderful memories.  This was a trip that Taylor will remember and share with her kids one day.  Life as the Dixons is a good life!