Seattle Seahawks!!!

A few weeks ago we were gathering with our church for snacks right before service began & Dustin was given a surprise gift. Jon, Matt, Scott & Tad had gotten together & bought tickets to a Seattle Seahawks Professional Football game. The surprise was they got Dustin a ticket for FREE. How amazing is that!?!?

Well, today was the day of the big game. With the game starting at 1pm on a Sunday, Dustin scheduled our church service to begin an hour earlier. Everyone knew these guys were going to the game, so everyone either came in their jerseys or Seahawks colors.

Here are the guys leaving for the BIG GAME. They are (from Left to Right) Matt, Tad, Jon, Scott & Dustin.

Look at what GREAT seats they had. This picture isn't even zoomed in.

Here are Matt, Dustin, Jon & Tad ready for the game to start.

Here come the Seahawks! If you look closely at the picture, you can see the Seahawks entering the stadium.

The Arizona Cardinals were already on the field.

Matt, Scott, Jon & Tad are excited about the game starting!

Dustin said that Qwest Field was amazing. It was really loud & the energy in that place was awesome...well, at the beginning.

Dustin said he was hoping the Seahawks would show up to the game, but instead the Seachickens appeared. Oh well. Arizona won 27-3. Boo hoo!

Dustin said it was still an amazing day to see the Seattle Seahawks!!!

Josiah's 1st Preschool Field Trip!

Today was Josiah's 1st Field Trip with his preschool class. He was so excited!!! We went to "The Farm."

Here is Josiah sitting on some really BIG pumpkins.

Some of the children didn't make it, but once the teachers had a good head count, we went for a hayride.

Here is our family on Josiah's 1st hayride.

Here we are riding with some of the other families out to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkin.

Josiah is a person of detail. Surprise, surprise...he's just like his parents. He needed to look at almost EVERY pumpkin in the patch. We were one of the first families out in the pumpkin patch & we were the last. He finally found the perfect pumpkin, though.

Josiah showing Teacher Nicky his perfect pumpkin.

Once we all had our pumpkins, we headed into the barn for the hay maze. It was a 2+ story barn maze of hay. The kids enjoyed getting lost & finding their way to the big finale...."The Green Slide."

Each child was given their turn to go down the big slide right into a pile of hay! Josiah enjoyed it very much.

We then headed over to the petting farm. Josiah was not at all afraid to pet the animals. There were sheep, goats, ducks, ducklings, a bull, donkeys, pigs, kittens, chickens, a cow, etc. When Josiah walked up to an animal he would make sounds like that animal would make. I think he thought they could understand him.

Here Josiah is looking at the cute ducklings.

Josiah had a wonderful time with his friends. This is one of his very favorite friends, Bella. They evidently enjoy playing together at preschool. Dustin & I have even become friends with her parents.

Once all of the little animals, I mean kids, were washed up, they were surprised with an ice cream treat. Mmmm. The children were so excited that it didn't matter that it was cold outside.

Here is Josiah with another buddy, Benjamin, enjoying their ice cream Popsicle.

Once they finished their ice cream a lady announced that the duck race was next. I think everyone looked at each other & said, "Duck race?" We were all intrigued. Well, it was in fact a duck race. They put the ducks in this water & they raced each other.

These ducks weren't just swimming, they were really racing. The children & parents really enjoyed this. I think it was Josiah's favorite moment of the day.

After the duck race we all said our goodbyes & some of the children went home with their parents. We decided to check out the farm playground. It looked like fun.

It turned out to be a blast. Josiah loved sliding down this "BIG" slide. He thought the green one was cool, but hadn't seen anything until he tried this one.

We then found a corn pit. Yes, a corn pit! The kids that had stayed just dove right in & had a blast.

Here is Josiah, Bella & Reilley. He's got 2 ladies following him around...already a ladies man.

I thought this was a creative way to make a swing. The swings were made to look like horses with saddles. How cool!

After a fun day at the farm & pumpkin patch, we decided it was time to go home for some lunch. So, we piled on the tractor & headed home.

We had so much fun at Josiah's 1st Preschool Field Trip!

Uncle Chris Spoils Again!

Today we received a package in the mail. It was sent by my brother, Chris. We opened the package to find two wrapped gifts inside for Josiah. Josiah loves getting presents! This present was for Halloween. Uncle Chris knew that he has a Harvest Party for his Preschool coming up & he is supposed to dress up. So, knowing Josiah, he picked out the PERFECT costume. He tried it on tonight to see if it fit & he looks so cute!

Check the blog again after Halloween to see what the costume is!!!! Sorry....I have to keep things suspenseful!

A Wonderful 32nd Birthday!

Today was my 32nd Birthday! Yes, I know I am getting older, but I feel more blessed than any year before. So, if that is what I get for being older, then I'll take it.

I woke up this morning to a beautiful spread on the table. My sweet husband made strawberry crepes & turkey bacon for me. Mmmmmmmm!

This birthday was a little different, because we are a little more financially strapped than we have ever been. That didn't stop Dustin from finding a way to spoil me. All around my plate he had printed & cut out pictures of my favorite flower, Irises. I thought it was SOOOO thoughtful. He wanted me to have flowers even if we couldn't afford them. How sweet is that!?!?

After breakfast, I had a surprise visitor. My best friend, Amanda, stopped by to wish me a Happy Birthday & to give me a gift.

She gave me a card that, of course, choked me up. She also gave me a framed picture of the two of us. On the matting it says, "Some people come into your life & end up changing your world."

After my visit with Amanda, Dustin & Josiah baked a Devil's Food Cake for me. More Mmmmmm!

I love watching these two guys in the kitchen together.

Josiah has become a good little egg cracker. We only found one tiny egg shell in the batter! He's a good little helper!

Me & Josiah on my 32nd Birthday!

Josiah took this picture! I am very impressed. I didn't know if we would even end up in the picture or not. We are even centered in the picture.

Once the guys got the cake in the oven, it was present time. It was nice to see some gifts from my guys & some cards from family & friends.

Josiah was very proud of his card. He drew me a rainbow & wrote his name all by himself. We also have a tradition of tracing his hand prints in cards so we can see how he grew over the years.

Josiah was my big helper opening the presents. All day he kept asking how close we were to his birthday. He didn't want me to be in the spotlight, I guess.

Here are some of the gifts I received from family & friends. Dustin & Josiah gave me 2 CDs, 3 movies, a jewelry box (picture above) & 2 books (picture below). He got great deals on these items by using our Pastor's discount at the Christian Bookstore & by saving coupons for these stores. Good going, babe.

Dad & Mom sent me a beautiful card & money. Larry & Janet Lee sent me a beautiful card & money. Jon & Tracey Conner gave me a gift card to Coldstone Creamery. Tad & Nikki Forsythe gave me a Target gift card. I also got cards from Chris, Melba & Winn. I received several emails & Facebook messages from friends! Thanks to everyone for remembering me on my birthday!

Here is my finished Devil's Food Cake. I told Dustin not to waste icing by writing on my cake. I'd rather just have the chocolate. I have 3 yellow candles & 2 green candles (for 32). I appreciated this a lot more than actually having 32 candles on my cake. That might have started a fire.

Dustin & Josiah sang "Happy Birthday" to me as they brought me the cake they baked & iced together. Then, Josiah helped me blow the candles out. The cake tasted amazing & so did the vanilla ice cream. Thanks, guys!

After cake & ice cream, we went into the living room & made chains. This is a game Josiah loves to play. It's really good for his fine-motor skills. So, we hooked our links together in different patterns. We made necklaces, bracelets, belts, key-chains & Josiah wanted one to be a whip. I think he thinks he's Indiana Jones or something.

After an afternoon movie with Dustin & a nap for Josiah, we went to Olive Garden for dinner. Every time we go to Olive Garden, there is a family of ducks that greet us right outside the front door. I guess they love their breadsticks, too.

We had a lovely dinner of Salad, Breadsticks, Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Chicken-con-Broccoli & apple sauce. Mmmm...this is my favorite place to eat.

Once again, we have a little photographer in the making. Josiah took this picture as well.

After dinner, we headed home for more cake & ice cream. While we were eating cake & ice cream, Josiah & I realized that all good things must come to an end. We were both very sad that my birthday was almost over.

It really was a Wonderful 32nd Birthday!

More Blessings from Above!

This past April, we were surprised by our friends, The Greffs, with a brand new dining room table. We have loved that table & use it all the time, both as a family & as a church.

This past week Chris (my brother) bought us 8 brand new chairs to go along with our dining room table.

We are SOOOO excited. The chairs were SOOOO expensive when the table was bought. So, we have been using other chairs from around the house until chairs were affordable.

World Market had a sale this past month for 50% off their furniture & gave out a 10% off coupon on the total purchase.

I have really been wanting chairs to go with our table & God heard my prayer.

Thank you so much, Chris, for our beautiful 8 new chairs. Thank you, Lord, for more blessings from above!