September & October

September started out with a huge health scare for us. My Dad had trouble breathing, his blood oxygen was really low and he was holding a lot of water. They admitted him. The next morning, the doctor called asking my Mom's permission to insert a breathing tube, they could not wake Dad up. We rushed in, they had moved him to the ICU. He had to stay there for 5 days, then was moved to a normal room for another 5. We were not sure if he was going to make it. All of the family showed up, at one point, we had 19 people in the waiting room! It was such a relief when they finally let him go home. I am so thankful that God said we could keep Dad with us a while longer!

He didn't take long to get back at it.

A few of the critters we found in the yard. The neighbor cat loves to sit below the bird feeder and wait for the birds. We have never seen opossums in the yard before and now we found two babies.

The garden did amazing this year. Watermelon don't usually do very well here. But this summer was extra warm and very little rain. My melon grew about an inch a day! I finally decided it was ready to pick. It weighed 21 pounds! And it even tasted so good! The cantaloupe did really well too. I had 5 of them ripen up.

I loved the reflections at my parent's koi pond.

Its always fun to have the grandkids come visit.

I left my phone unattended. When the kids left, this is what I found on my screen. She cracks me up!

The California Dixons all dressed up for a fundraiser.

Arianna and Lina are both on school volleyball this year.

The big addition to our place is a hot tub! We sold the travel trailer after the kitchen was finished and splurged on a tub big enough for the whole family! The neighbor came over with his tractor and helped get the spot ready.

It was finally delivered at the first of October and the kids wasted no time hopping in!

It seemed like all of a sudden fall arrived!

John and Rachel went hiking to celebrate her birthday.

And then came Halloween!

And just like that it is November!

July & August

4th of July

We celebrated my parents 70th anniversary with the family at their place. Lindy and David and Beth and their kids all came from Colorado.

I made the cake and the girls made the watermelon cake.

The four of us went out to Salty's on their actual anniversary date.

As soon as the anniversary party was over, John flew to Spain to meet up with Rachel who just spent her second summer there obtaining her Master's in Spanish. He arrived for her graduation.

He had a layover in Philadelphia and made sure to visit Rocky.

Emily and Matthew arrived from out of town. It was fun to spend a few days with the Great-Grandkids. 

The highlight from their time here was getting to ride the tractors with Great-Great-Grandpa.

Pretty awesome these days to have Great-Great-Grandparents!

One day, Lina was over. She and I were working in the garden. She went inside for a drink and came back out saying that water was running from the fridge. Of course, I have a new wood floor and ran inside to find out what was going on. This is what I found. Very funny, Lina!!!

As I said before, Dennis and family were supposed to be at the 70th anniversary, but had to postpone it because her Father had passed away that week. They rescheduled their trip for the first week of August. 

We all enjoyed having them here, but nobody as much as the 'cousins'. Those kids just love spending time together.

blurry big dipper with my cell phone

Lina and I had fun with the carrots.

The Boring Grade school PTA Moms from when my kids were in grade school. We meet up every few months and always have such a great time!

Josh began police academy for the Polk County Sherrif's dept. He didn't waste any time after the Marines.

Arianna turned 13 at the end of August.