12 days down!!!

Our lives here at the Dixon house forever changed on August 1st, 2013. That was the day we brought our three youngest children home!!!
We went down to Visalia to meet with the social workers and also to meet Grandma Virginia. It was a very nice meeting and there were tears of joy on both ends. It seems we both had been praying for the same thing...A good home for some good kids.
After greetings were exchanged, and papers were signed we went in to tell the kids that they were coming home with us and that they would be part of our family. We were surprised to learn that the kids already knew and were excited about their forever home. They have called us Mom and Dad ever since.

The first couple days were full of learning about each other. Our likes, dislikes, temperaments, and sleep patterns. All of which mesh well with everyone in the house.

We had two weeks before school starts, so we spent the first week going to parks every morning. We needed to beat the heat...which most of the time didn't happen, because let's face it...in order to beat the heat in Fresno, you need to be up and at 'em at 5am.

We went to church together on the 4th and it went very well. The younger three went to their classes easily and didn't seem to mind the 3 hours of church!!

About 8 days in we started our first round of illness. Little Katelyn got sick, followed by Jack, now Tony has it. Fever, some stomach issues, and lack of energy. It only seems to last about 24-36 hours though, and we hope Tony is nearing the end of his run. Here's to praying it doesn't hit the older two.

In this last week of Summer we hope to get our schedule back to that of school bedtimes and wake times.  We hope to continue our tour of parks and pools.
I am excited for Tony to start Kindergarten and know that he will do well. I am also glad that Jack is able to attend Pre-school this year. I hope to get Katelyn in a part time preschool a couple days a week as well.

I am very grateful for the Lord's hand in my life. I am grateful for a husband who puts up with his overly emotional wife. For a partner in crime...or at least one as crazy and I am for taking this huge leap of faith and adopting. For my kids...all of them...for their faith and trust in me and for allowing me to be their mother!  I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Sun oven!

Dinner!!

Compliments of my sun oven!!

Yummy dinner...cool house!

Fun trip to Oakland and San Francisco

Swimming at Uncle Rich's

We had a very fun day at Uncle Rich's. We swam, had lunch, and swam some more!!! It is always fun to visit him and his wife, Lynette!

Best day spent at the park...EVER!!!

Today Garth and I went to a park in Visalia to meet three very special kids. We had a wonderful time getting to know them. We can't wait until we can see them again, and for them to meet Gerrit and Emma!!

Moving forward...very excited!!

We had our certification meeting with our foster/adopt agent yesterday and we got some news about a sibling group of three. We were able to meet their social worker and we set up a time to meet them, this morning!! We are excited to be moving forward with this and continue praying that we will find the kids who are supposed to be in our family. 

Driving from Grandma's to San Diego

This is how the kids were a lot of the drive

Gerrit covered up just in time!

Swimming at the hotel and bowling with the Bryant's

Garth had meetings in San Diego so we tagged along and got a free vacation out of it. 

We had a fun day swimming at the hotel pool. We had it all to ourselves! Which was good since we brought toys with us.

Then we met up with my cousin, Lisa, and her family and went bowling!

We always like to see them when we come down. So glad they could spend the evening with us.

Quick visit to Grandma's...playing with the twins

Hanging out with the twins at the park.

Emma and Ella dressing up like boys!!

Frustrating day yesterday on my journey to feeling normal...

Mr. Dixon...aka ...Fix-it Felix!!!

Garth is amazing!! He fixed our in fridge filtered water dispenser!! This has even leaking, and then disabled for over two years!! All it took was a trip to Lowe's and about $3!!   

Thank you Garth!! Now we don't have to take up space with a Brita water pitcher!!

Finally...light at the end of the tunnel!!

Emma's G tube hospital stay

Emma's loose tooth

Surgery day!

This will be the last picture we will take of Emma with a NG tube in. It has been fun...NOT! We are excited for what lies ahead!