Howdy Partner!

Kevin's sister Julie is visiting this weekend, so we took her out for a wild west experience to Rawhide.

We were looking forward to riding the train, getting some old west pictures taken, panning for gold, and perhaps catching a show or two...

... but when we pulled in it was a ghost town! Where is everybody?? Soon we learned that they shortened the hours recently, so things weren't going to open until 5:30. Hmmm, we had two hours to kill...
... so we wandered around town.

Charging the jailhouse - Scandelous!

Coming from the stormy & gray NW, Julie had to document the endless blue skies we enjoyed today. What is that foreign giant bright orb in the sky?

Aaah! A crazy prospector!

Go, Isaac, go!

A quickdraw champ - watch out!

You are under arrest for being too cute!

Two hours was a long while to wait for Rawhide, so our great American day ended well with hamburgers and onion rings at Joe's. Can't go wrong at the Farm Grill!

It's a Bird... It's a Plane...

No, it's SUPERMAN!!!

A handsome hero is bound to attract the girls...

"I know, it's the cape, right? Yeah, it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it."

(From the moment this girl arrived, she had her sights set on Isaac. She followed him all around the play area and would not leave him alone. She kept smiling at him and giggling. It was precious!!)
I take my job very seriously. Not just anyone can pull this off!

"Melmo!!!"

I regret not getting this on video because it was just so adorable! Isaac got such a kick out of Addison dressed up as Elmo. He was cracking up so hard!

"Elmo" and Mindy. We went to a local church for their "Trunk or Treat" event, and it was fun for Addison. Isaac was more interested in eating dinner, so I took him home early. There was just no reasoning with the kid! He got pretty cranky... but it was nothing a little spaghetti and meatballs couldn't help!

Girls' Night Out!

(L - R: Mindy, Rachel B., me, Autumn, Jaimie, and her sister Hanna)

This year Kevin was gone on my birthday because of our church's mens challenge so I rounded up my girlfriends for a girls night out to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert. Not all of them could make it, but we had fun anyhow.

My day started with Rachel B. arriving at work with a bright Happy Birthday balloon to display at my desk. I believe her words were, "Everyone needs to know that it's your birthday." Knowing that I don't care for too much attention, she made me display the balloon, and it did indeed warrant much attention throughout the day. People stopped by my desk all day long with birthday wishes... and it felt nice. With all of the phone calls, texts, Facebook messages, and "Happy Birthdays" from co-workers all day, I felt very loved and appreciated on my birthday. And it started with that balloon...

Thank you everyone, I felt so loved on my birthday!

thanks for providing the picture, Rachel B.! :)

Talking to Gramma

Isaac got to talk to Gramma Lynn the other night using Uncle Brian's phone.

It ended in the classic "What does this button do?" But luckily they just called back... Thanks, Uncle Brian! That was fun!

Daddy's Shoes

Some cute fun with some big shoes.

50th Anniversary for Central Christian Church of the East Valley!!

What a momentous occasion! Our church has reached its 50th anniversary with a history of perpetual blessings to reflect upon. We are proud to be members of such a God-centered, Mission-oriented, and loving-focused church. I'd like to brag about what God has done in Central because we have some BIG DEALS to celebrate! Central is 50 years old and has NEVER experienced a church split. Central began with 67 members in 1959 and is now home to 7 - 8,000 people every weekend! And perhaps the most amazing statistic - Over the course of Central's 50 years, it has only had FOUR senior pastors. This is phenomenal and certainly something to celebrate!!

So today Central had its big 50th Anniversary Party, and we were so happy to celebrate with them!

Come on....

Central's first senior pastor
Central's original church building

The party was segmented into decades beginning with the 50's

Isaac made a fast friend in the toddler jumping gym

This. Is. AWESOME!!!

my handsome boy...

Central's second senior pastor and on to the 60's and 70's...

The Price is Right!! Everybody's a winner!

Friends - Jaimie and me

Cool car, but I don't think we could get a carseat in there. Shucks!

I totally wanted to do this, but seeing that the tables were filled with kiddos, I didn't want to admit it .... I've always wanted a pet rock!!

So much fun, so little time!!

The air was filled with the delighted screams of children - it was great!

Ode to M.A.S.H.

Herbie, you came back!

Central's third senior pastor, and on to the 80's and 90's...

Classic, just classic.

Never did ride that bull named Fu Man Chu... But I bet I could have done it!

And a doh-see-doh - Isaac really enjoyed this musc. He was dancing in his stroller seat! We left abruptly after that... (j/k)

Brothers - Kevin & Brian "Pretend to like each other and smile!!!"

Central's fourth and current pastor, which leads us to the 21st century...

That bunjee jumping thing looked really cool, but we were too late. So I lived vicariously through that jumping girl and imagined what it would have been like...

(L-R) Hanna, Dillan, Jake, Jaimie and Brian. Let's go party!

And since this was so fun, we circled back to the toddler jumper, Isaac's fave.

After watching enough of the other kids jumping and running around, Isaac worked up enough confidence to give it a try himself. It helped that we ended up having the thing to ourselves after a bit!

Central today - the Mesa campus

And the Gilbert campus

Happy Anniversary, Central!! May the next 50 years be just as fruitful and glorifying to God!

Jump, Isaac, Jump!

Here's a video of Isaac and his jumping skills... If you listen carefully you will hear him say "Uh-oh" when he topples over. Too cute! We just love watching him enjoy himself!