James Turns 30

So James turned 30 on the 22nd! I can hardly believe we are going into our 30's!
We had a small party after church on the 20th. He didn't want anything big, so it was just the youth group and our closest friends. We had pizza and watched a movie. The big hit of the party was the cake. It was made by my dear friend in MOPS who is starting her own cake business. Boy, does she have my business for life.
On his actual birthday the 22nd, we got a sitter for date night!! We did some pre-cruise shopping, ate dinner and saw a movie. It was wonderful.
This turning 30 thing has led me to do alot of reflecting. We used to think 30 was old and for a long time we never thought about what life would be like at 30 and for that I am thanking God for guiding us through safely. He has been holding our hands the whole time.
I am thanking God today for our 30's, 10 years of marriage, and three wonderful children.

Happy Thanksgiving

   Take the time today to reflect on all the blessings God has given you.I have so much to be thankful for, however I am most thankful for my salvation given to me thru the precious blood of Christ.
    Today we will spend this day with close friends and enjoy the company, and yes I will hit a Black Friday sale or two!
      

Makayla's Veteran's Day Program

Makayla had a Veteran's Day Program at school this year, with a speaking part! We were so proud of her. See Veteran's Day is very special in our home. Both of our father's are Veteran's as well as my grandfather. Most importantly, James is a Veteran and our favorite one!

Our family knows first hand the sacrifices that are made to defend our freedom and there are some precious souls whom we miss so much that died defending that freedom.

While, I didn't get to see the program first hand because I was at Women Of Faith, my wonderful hubby made this video for me.

P.S. Listen for the little voice at the end, I love it!

Women Of Faith 2011

Last Thursday was the start of Girl's Weekend! We loaded up Thursday morning and headed to Oklahoma City for Women Of Faith Over The Top! It was so wonderful. Thursday we spent the day shopping of course! Gotta love that new outlet mall! Friday morning started the conference with an afternoon break that left room for, you guessed it, more shopping and dinner, then back to the conference until 10 p.m.

   That night we had dessert at The Melting Pot. Wow! It was amazing!

The conference itself was amazing! There is nothing in the world like worshipping the Risen King with 7,000 women. Not to mention rocking out to Mandisa and Amy Grant! There were wonderful speakers including Brenda Warner, wife of Kurt Warner, whose testimony really touched me.  What an amazing weekend!

    I have to say there would be no way I could have gone without the love and support of my husband!
He took off of work and pulled double parenting duty for 2 nights and 3 days, without complaining  or questioning. Not to mention he did let me shop all weekend without saying a word! The kids had a great time with their 'Daddy Weekend'.  I am so blessed to have that man as my husband!
   It was overall an amazing weekend and we are already making plans for next year's Women Of Faith in August 2012.
 By the way....I have the best friends and church family!!

Boy Scout Spook-O -Ree

This is Christopher's first year of Scouts and one of the big Scout events in the Panhandle is Spook-O-Ree. It is held at the Boy Scout campground and it is a day full of "Scout-type"events. The evening ends with a haunted house and a spook walk.
    It was a long day! I only took the two older kids since it was such a long day plus it was super cold in the Canyon that day! Christopher had so much fun! Makayla really enjoyed it also. I do have to say I had two very scared kids by the end of the night and a certain little boy who was so scared by the spook walk that he slept with me that night.

Here is Christopher (in the camo jacket) getting ready to do the obstacle course.

Here is Christopher and Makayla coming out of the smoke house.

Human Foosball

Talking on the amateur radio

 Shooting a BB Gun..This was his highlight, his Dad was very proud. Christopher was hitting cans all over the place.

Bow & Arrow

Halloween 2011

This Halloween was very low-key for us, however it was a step-up from last Halloween when 3 out of 5 had the stomach flu! Sunday afternoon our church held a Trunk-Or-Treat, and this was our third year to take part. We stayed in town Sunday, had lunch with friends, dressed the kids, and headed to the church to decorate the truck and have some fun!
   I have to say...I did have the best looking Dorothy, Clone Trooper and Yoda there was!

Yoda didn't make the full two hour Trunk-OR-Treat, he had to nap in the truck!

The Trip of a Lifetime

James and I were blessed to be able to attend a World Series Game this year. Last year, when the Rangers went to the World Series we thought we missed our chance to ever see our team play in the World Series, but then this year they made it again and we jumped on the chance to go!
    There were several things that made our trip possible first, James has been working and traveling non-stop since this Summer and his hard work and sacrifice made it possible money-wise for us to go. Second, wonderful friends, Andy and Brittany and John and Trista who offered to keep our kiddos. Once again, we are blessed.
   We drove down to Arlington for game 3, and it was so amazing just to soak in the fact that we were at the World Series! We bought back a ton of souvenirs for everyone and I kept some things for us to have as keepsakes. The Rangers may have lost but we can still say we saw Our Rangers, play in Our Texas, in the World Series 2011.