Howdy Partner!

Joshua sported his cowboy costume proudly at our apartment costume party on Saturday night and tonight at our church's Fall-A-Palooza. Normally it takes me a while to post pictures, but I know that our families are anxious to see our little cowboy! Here are some of the highlights...

Joshua is making his entrance to our Apartment Life Costume Party on Saturday night...


Auntie Alicia spent the weekend with us and kept Joshua entertained at the party.




We made "Witches Brew" (punch) and Peter added dry ice for a fun effect...Joshua thought it was pretty cool!

Before Fall-A-Palooza began, we went trick-or-treating. Here are Peter and Joshua on our walk from the church to trick-or-treating...

Joshua's friend, Tobey, was dressed in a similar outfit, but Tobey was a Sheriff. I never actually captured them in a picture together.

Jackson (golfer) and Ella (80s aerobics instructor) were cracking up at Ella's daddy, Heath, as he practiced some aerobics in the front yard.



Joshua was not too sure about trick-or-treating. He never actually made it all the way to the front of a house.






Joshua enjoyed stepping up on these bricks...a little too much because he eventually went forehead-first into one of them, leaving a pretty good mark.


Joshua participated in the preschool costume contest. All of the kids were adorable! The kids were supposed to be at least 3 years old, but an announcement was made at the last minute that any kids that could walk across the stage for themselves could enter the contest. We registered Joshua, but he ended up throwing a fit right when his name was called, so I had to carry him to his place and set him on the stage.


Here is Joshua with his 2nd place ribbon for the costume contest...can you tell that he has been sick, bonked his head, and was extremely tired tonight?! Regardless, he was a cutie pie tonight!

Pumpkin Goop

Joshua had the opportunity to carve a pumpkin and take out all of the goop last Wednesday at Kid's Care. His teacher, Kendra, bought each of the kids a pumpkin so that they could experience carving it. They didn't end up carving a face on the pumpkins because they thought it might be easier to send it home with us and let us do it at home. Here are some pictures from Joshua's first pumpkin cleaning experience! They said he really got into it!

Toby was not too wild about touching the goop, but he sure did help Joshua get his arm down into the pumpkin!

Reminiscing...

I have been reminiscing lately about how quickly this last year has flown by! It is amazing to me that Joshua was only turning the corner on 6 months last year at Halloween. He looks so little (but perfectly chunky) in the pictures below. I will post more pictures after our church's Fall-A-Palooza tomorrow night. I can't wait to put Joshua in his big-boy cowboy outfit!

Please pray that he feels better though...our family has passed around a stomach virus and now a cold in the last two and a half weeks. I really want Joshua to enjoy Fall-A-Palooza tomorrow, so he needs to be energized and feeling good!

State Fair of Texas

On Sunday afternoon we decided to take Joshua to experience the State Fair of Texas for his very first time! It was a beautiful day, cloudy and relatively cool (not a 90 degree October day). We hit the auto show first, ate some amazing food like you only find at the State Fair, and then found some things that were geared for Joshua.

"Big Tex" was a favorite for Joshua...anytime we were within hearing distance, Joshua was looking for Big Tex. He is constantly talking...welcoming guests to the State Fair and talking about different exhibits.


Joshua and his Daddy waiting in line for the barnyard exhibit. This was just for kids 2-10 years old...don't tell anyone that Joshua isn't 2 yrs old yet! He was definitely a little young, but he enjoyed it so much. Volunteers led each child through different activities on a farm...Joshua followed the instructions surprisingly well!


He is getting his very own apron before starting the chores...


Joshua learned to milk a cow...


and to plant a seed...


...he picked a peach and got a carton of milk for his bucket


Joshua loved riding on the tractor...


Next we went to the petting zoo to visit the pigs, goats, zebras, giraffe, and many other strange looking animals...


...and a sweet little pony


Joshua was anxiously awaiting the pig races...


Our pig that we were cheering for was #2...he never won :(


After all of the excitement, Joshua was definitely exhausted and ready for a good night's rest! It was such a fun day as a family, and we enjoyed watching Joshua take everything in!

The Week in Review

Peter arrived home safely on Friday night! We have enjoyed so much spending the last two days together, and Joshua is eating up every minute! I had grand pictures in my head of Joshua's reunion with his Daddy, but it was just too late for Joshua. We arrived at the airport at about 9:15 and Joshua had fallen asleep on the way to the airport. He was completely out and did not wake up at all for the reunion...but it was a sweet reunion on Saturday morning.

I will do a post of pictures and stories from Peter's trip soon, but for now, here are some pictures from our week in Dallas...Joshua, Mommy and Grandma. My mom came in town on Monday to keep me company and watch Joshua during the day. He had a great time hanging out with Grandma. On Tuesday, they met my cousin James and his parents at the Dallas Arboretum.

Joshua in the pumpkin patch...


Joshua and Grandma...







A house made of pumpkins...



Joshua enjoying the pumpkin house...


Friday night was Irving High School's homecoming, so my mom brought Joshua to see me at work on Thursday afternoon and then we went to the parade.

Here we are waiting with anticipation...



Joshua loved the flags and the band...


Ashley and Morgan were a part of the float dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz. Ashley was the tornado and Morgan was the Tin Man.


On Thursday night, I hosted pumpkin decorating at our apartment complex. I decided carving would be way too much trouble, so we just decorated the outside of the pumpkins. Janelle & Ella and Kristin & Laney came to decorate pumpkins...it was a lot of fun! Here we are with our completed pumpkins.






Joshua was much more interested in throwing his pumpkin than decorating it.

Kristin & Laney being creative...

Janelle was the brave mom because she let Ella hold the paintbrush herself...it got a little messy but she did a great job.

Friday made 25 weeks of pregnancy for me and this is my first prego pic. I am feeling pretty big, but not too much different than when I was pregnant with Joshua.

St. Laurent Fun

The last weekend in September, Joshua was invited to a birthday party of some new, sweet friends of ours. We met Matthew and his parents through events we host at our apartment complex, and Joshua and Matthew hit it off! Matthew is all boy and very active. It gives me insight into what Joshua will be like in about seven months! Matthew turned two and had a great Shrek birthday party. Here are a few pics from the party...

Joshua with his very own Shrek ears...

Matthew and Joshua

Matthew and his mom, Maria...

Joshua enjoying the purple-iced cupcake! He was really only interested in smearing the icing all over his face. He never actually took a bite of the cake.

Every-other month we host Breakfast at the Gate for the residents at our apartments. We decided that we should document this with pictures of Joshua. He is such a part of our ministry at the apartments. He is involved in every event we host, and is always such a sweet boy. However, since he is obviously mobile now and has his own ideas of what he wants to do, it is sometimes challenging to keep up with him!

I think we should sell this picture to Minute Maid!

He spent a lot of time fishing drinks out of the bucket!

Missing Peter!

I think this was the title of a post this summer when Peter was on mission trip with our high schoolers, but it is appropriate once again. Peter left Friday morning bright and early (met at the airport at 4am), along with seven other men, to spread the Name of Jesus in Nicaragua. He has been so excited about this opportunity, and I can't wait to hear all of the stories they will come home with. The team is going to be ministering to the Miskito Indians that live along the Coco River in Nicaragua. From my understanding, there are villages all along the river with boats being the easiest transportation to get from village to village. The team Peter is on, will be helping rebuild a pastor's home that was destroyed in Hurricane Felix. They will also take every opportunity to share the gift of salvation to the Miskito people. Please be praying for receptive hearts for each person they share with, and strength for the team. They will return on Friday evening.

I have to be honest with you, that I have been fighting Satan since Friday to keep thoughts of fear out of my mind, in regard to Peter being gone. I attended our church's women's retreat this weekend and thoughts of fear seemed to consume me. I felt so defeated because I know that God has ordained this trip, and Peter was obedient to go. The speaker, V. Beth Durham, spoke Scripture over each lady that attended. There were so many that spoke to me, but I wanted to share a few...God is so good give words of life and hope to us in our time of need:

1 Peter 3:12-14 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Salvation Safari Team: Philip Moore, Daniel Savage, Peter, John Durham, Hayden Piano, Greg Whaley, Andy Wetherell & Jared Billups