Scott has moved to Houston, TX

Sleeping arrangements in Houston, TX

Sleeping arrangements in Houston, TX

The National Guard's Arrival

Scott...trying out the hummer!

So here's the latest...
Scott's team has moved to Houston, Texas. They are currently staying at the convention center next to the Astrodome. They are there with about 100 service men/women (yes...all sleeping in the same room, with some of their vehicles as well). They will have a meeting tomorrow to find out their next destination, and hopefully their destination while the storm hits land (projected Friday night/Saturday morning). Please continue to keep Scott and his team in your thoughts and prayers this week, as well as all of the families being evacuated in Texas.

Taylor, Cooper, and I are still hanging in there. Starting to get a bit more nervous as this next storm approaches land. I will continue to keep you updated as I hear more from Scott.
Thank you,
Kendra

Scott's Louisiana Swift-Water "ADVENTURE" Update

So, Scott has set up "camp" in Alexandria, Louisiana (80 miles north of Baton Rouge). They are currently sleeping under the stars. They have not yet been given an assignment, but have been training in the local rivers with some of the other teams. They are currently awaiting hurricane IKE's path, and it's degree of strength. It is possible that they will be sent to IKE if it has a significant effect once it hits land. It is also possible that they could send him home any day...which will then be a 3 day drive back to Long Beach. Although missing home, Scott is having a great time. He is enjoying this time with his team, "playing" with all his new swift-water equipment, and the day-to-day excitement of "what comes next?". Their 7:30 am meeting each day gives them the "plan" for each day, but not much beyond that.

As for us here, we are doing just fine. Taylor asks "Where's Daddy...oh ya, work?" about 5 times a day. She gets to talk to him each night, which they both LOVE! I'm working on keeping Cooper off of his feet so that he doesn't take his first steps while Daddy is away(Scott keeps asking if he's walking...I think he's a bit nervous he'll miss it)!!!! I'm doing fine as well. To hear how much Scott is enjoying this experience really helps me to stay positive! I am really proud of him!

I'll keep you posted if anything changes!
Love,
Kendra

Maggie Brothers/Joel Buckley Wedding Celebration

What a beautiful day...what a beautiful bride. Everything was perfect! Maggie's wedding took place near Snohomish, Seattle, on acres of farmland, under a floral archway. It was breathtaking! Not only was this day so special for Maggie and her family, but it was special time (long overdue) spent with our friends and their families. Here are the photos celebrating Maggie's marriage to Joel.

The girls on the Town for Maggie's Bachelorette Party in Las Vegas!

We were handed tickets (in the lobby of our Las Vegas hotel..Mandalay Bay) to Gnarles Barkley, who happened to be playing at the pool! This is Bree and me at the backstage party.

The rehearsal & rehearsal "BBQ" was followed by a bride's party vs. groom's party softball game.

Maggie's groom catching a fly ball.

We had so much fun getting the venue ready the day of the wedding.

Scott and the kids had a special day together too!

Maggie & Joel met right before the ceremony to take pictures
with their dog, Marley, by their side!

The ceremony was breathtaking...and a little teary-eyed!

The reception was so much fun! It was full of eating, drinking, a candy wagon, cupcakes, and lots of dancing!

The kids had fun with our friends too!

Summer is in full swing!

Our growing little peas-in-a-pod!

Not much new at the Dixon household. We are enjoying our summer with day and evening trips to the beach and yacht club pool, we've had a few days out on the boat, and have spent a lot of time just relaxing together. Scott is busy with Junior Guards, and we are all busy with the annual Lifeguard summer activities. We have had a blast visiting with our dear friends! We are very much looking forward to our weekend in Seattle. I am in my friend/former roommate/sorority sister Maggie's wedding. It will be a great celebration, as well as a special time spent with our friends. We will even get a few day after the wedding as a family to explore the city! I will send out more pictures from our summer activities once they are downloaded (that seems to be my hang-up). Here are just a few!

Cooper is just trying to keep up!

Cute bath pose!

Poor Taylor had the Flu pretty badly at the beginning of summer.

This was her favorite thing to do while she wasn't feeling well.

My Teaching Partner, Jill Brick, and me on the last day of school...Cheers!

(yes...we match...we received our cute outfits from our students/patent's year-end gift)

Taylor jumping into Papa's pool (Maya watching & waiting for her turn)!

Papa with his Grandkids celebrating Father's Day!

Happy 4th of July from our little miss Freedom (nice pose..I think I see Sheena in this one)!

Notice her nice "shiner" in this one. Just a little face plant on the sidewalk!

The Latest

Well, again we have been so busy with "stuff" and have missed blogging all that's happening! Here's the latest:
Cooper started swimming lesson, and Taylor is still a little fish! She is jumping off the step and going straight into her floating position! It really is amazing! Cooper's new instructor is Nathan, and Taylor LOVES her swim teacher "Miss Christina"!

We had a great Mother's Day. We spent the morning with the Jarvis/Hustead family (first time we have all been together in a while), and then ended our night with the Dixon family at Papalucci's. It was a great day with the family! Scott was even off...yay!

AND...Cooper went to his first Angel game. Taylor also had her first "tailgate". She thought it was pretty neat eating dinner in the back of Mommy's car!

Cooper has also started crawling AND standing (holding on to something...for dear life!!!). Below are the latest standing photos. As soon as I can figure out how to add video, I will attach that too!

And last..We had our first day at the beach this year. Both Taylor AND Cooper REALLY loved the sand!

All is calm...for now!

Well...We have had a hectic few weeks at the Dixon household! All is calm...for now. Just a few weeks before school comes to an end and Scott's Junior Guard program begins.

SOOO much has happened at the Dixon home, here's a "brief" update!
Taylor... Still as active as ever! We all went to the San Diego Wild Animal park, along with her Cousin, Maya!
Cooper... STARTED TO CRAWL!!!! He is also getting his 5th and 6th teeth! He is growing up way too fast!
Scott... Finally finished his 4-month UICC dive class AND his Boat Operator Test/Practical/Interview!!!!!!! We found out last week that he did very well, and we are SOOO proud of him! He was also sick for a week with the flu and bronchitis (we're so glad he is well again).
Kendra... I have been busy with school and home. We were able to enjoy a family weekend in San Diego about a week ago. Our first night was spent with my sister's family in Escondido. We took my niece with us to the Wild Animal Park, and then spent a fun night with my sister's family at her home. We then went on to La Jolla for a night where we were joined by our good friends Dirk and Erin. The weather was FANTASTIC! We spent a day "lounging" at the pool (who am I kidding...Taylor and Cooper were there too..we lounged in shifts), and had a fun day at the beach (Scott even braved surfing the "shark infested" waters of San Diego). We had the absolute perfect family weekend that we were all desperately craving!