And my favorite...

Let's just say we got a lot of good laughs out of photo booth today!

Thumbs up!

What do you think?

Definitely some Christmas card potentials here!

Now there's a happy face!

A wise investment?

Maybe I should have spent my money on a nose hair trimmer instead!

Tis the season...

My plans for a "lazy day" changed when I decided to take advantage of such beautiful weather in order to get the lights up for Christmas. Hard to believe it's "the most wonderful time of the year"!

Poor man's soft focus lens

Guess what I finally bought!?!

FINALLY!!!

It only took me two years, but I finally found dining room curtains that are perfect and just what I had in my mind's eye. The colors match my upholstered chair perfectly! Thanks Mom, Dad, Susan, and Larry for the birthday money that I finally spent. One more room with blinds left to conquer!

Stiff competition!

The track

Ian's entry

Ian got creative with his yellow Speedster, adding a cool looking back engine and Lego driver. I love their excitement as they plan and prepare! What a fun day!

AWANA Grand Prix

This was Isaac's second year to enter the Grand Prix. He designed this "Red Rocket", and though it didn't win any awards, it was definitely a lot of fun to build it together and watch it fly down the track. And yes, it helps if you wear a cape when designing your race car!

Candy elevator

Noodling around

Breakfast scramble

Nose dive

A bit dicey

Nut stacker

Belated birthday pictures

Here is Ian with his tenth birthday cake. I agreed to let him have a big "friend" birthday party instead of our usual small family get together since this was his big 10. He chose a Minute to Win It theme, complete with loads of fun games for everyone to try. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Ian asked that people donate money toward providing a water filter for a needy family through Samaritan's Purse instead of bringing him presents. He was so excited when he found that enough money was donated for TWO filters, plus two broods of chicks. Isaac surprised us both by emptying his piggy bank for the cause. I'm so proud of the giving heart I see growing in this boy. Ian is an eager helper and has a sensitive heart for others. He is such an encouragement to me with his kind words and grateful attitude. I love you, buddy!

Black and light

We spent an enjoyable day at the Air Force Museum today, including a trip to the Presidential Hangar where we got to hang out in several retired Air Force One planes. It was especially interesting to go through with Dave Barton as we got to the pictures of South Pacific airstrips from WW2, many of which he is now using in his trips to supply missionaries and deliver God's Word in Papua New Guinea.

You know it's going to be good when the eastern sky looks like this at sunset...

...and so you turn around to see THIS!!!

Isn't our Creator an amazing artist?!?

Cool bug!