Happy Birthday Jenna!!!!!

Jenna, we are blessed that you are part of this family. We love you and wish you Happy Birthday today, on your 15th birthday. I remember the day your were born... (and I am painting my fingernails today, in memory of your birth!)

A Celebration of Friendship and Life

In late October, I (Andy) had the chance to spend a week with three long-time friends who have served as sounding boards, encouragers, and accountability partners in ministry for nearly 20 years. Jon Reed & I kidnapped Scott Lambert at 4:00 a.m.  and we caught a flight to Omaha, Nebraska. From there, we gathered with Scott's relatives in Western Iowa to have a 50th birthday party on the old family farm. The next morning, we drove to Ames to see Iowa State take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers (Scott's all-time favorite). From there, Jon, Rick Krug, Scott and I drove to Chicago, where we spent a few days taking in the sights and sounds of the windy city. From there, we returned to Iowa, where we visited the actual Field of Dreams from the movie (which is Scott's all-time favorite). We also received a tutorial on farming corn and soybeans (from Scott). We spent our final day back around Harlan County, where Scott showed us some of his favorite childhood haunts.  

At the "Field of Dreams" bleachers in Eastern Iowa

At Wrigley Field in the Rain

Atop the Sears Tower (tallest building in North America), 

which had 30 feet visibility due to rain

On Michigan Avenue, with the Sears Tower behind us

At Iowa State, watching Scott's beloved Cornhuskers win

Window Cleaning Atop the Hancock Tower

Taking a friend to Six Flags

Riding on the Jet Streamer!

The Ball Pit is always a favorite!
Front row, Viper

Awesome ride!!

We had fun taking a soccer mate of Garrett's to Six Flags on Tuesday (his first time there). We managed to avoid the worst lines and still got to ride most of our favorites! Just grateful Blake was well enough to go, but it wore him out...

From the couch...

Blake spent most of this long weekend on the couch because he was sick. One of the evenings we watched the sunset together (from the couch) and thought it was so beautiful we would share it! Blake hopes we don't share a sickness while we are together this Christmas, so he got his out of the way already!

G & G in Odessa

Ben and Trisha ready to celebrate Alex's b-day!

A few "mean looking" pirates at Elijah's b-day party - ARG!

Alex & Elijah playing catch - aren't they getting big??

Four kids ready to help blow out the candles!

The Odessa cousins are getting BIG - grandma and grandpa got to help celebrate a couple of birthdays during their trip. Won't it be great to be all together at Christmas??

Dear friends

Kay and Ervin Bishop

Joyce and Gene Megas
G & G Wall enjoyed their trip to Texas so much! One highlight was getting together with dear friends from long ago (Greece). Everyone is older, but they all still look great!

Jenna's Cross Country

Jenna ran last Friday in the Ventura County Cross Country Championships. She placed 23rd out of about 75 runners and ran a PR (personal record) of 21:50 on a very hilly 3-mile course. The video here shows Jenna running the final 150 yards, holding off one runner and passing another in the final 50 yards. Way to go Jenna!




Climbing the hill
















Medalist!

Grandma & Grandpa rule!!!

Grandma & Grandpa left today after church and we are all so sad to see them go! We had so much fun with them! Here are a few highlights of our time together!


G&G Wall arrived and Elijah was stoked to open up another present!! As you can tell, each picture we add a few more people.




G&G rocked the house at our harvest party as pirates!! We were quite a gang of skalliwags!

Happy Halloween!

Goin to the neighborhood party....

In my cauldron I have "slimy eyeballs" and "pink cat intestines". I allowed my pretties to touch them at the neighborhood Halloween party, and also used it as my "trick" for the trick or treaters. It was a slow trick or treat night - couldn't give away the 40 full size candy bars we had! Garrett and Blake didn't go for long, prefering instead to come home and play video games with their friend Josh. Austin helped with the Harvest Festival at church, and after that the Praxis (HS Group) had a movie night. The scary thing is: Austin drove himself there and back. Ack!!