Gabe's 1st Train trip to Seattle

My uncle would take me every year on the Amtrak train to Seattle. We would walk all over downtown Seattle. Each year doing something a little different. My favorite memory would be stopping at the bookstore on our way back to the train station picking out a book and reading it the whole way home. I have so many fun memories of those trips.
It's Gabe's turn. We met my Uncle at Union Station at 8am. Got our tickets and some snacks and waited to board the train. Gabe was excited and full of energy.

Gabe was like WHOA that's a big train.

Ready to go. We passed right by Grandpa's work and waved at Grandpa as we went by.

In one of the tunnels. Gabe said, "picture us mamma" lol

We ALWAYS have adventures in my family and I mean adventures. Getting lost, Random snow, 6 hours at one of the stations because of flooding then having to be bused home etc. etc. etc.
It rained the entire time we were there and not just a little rain...A LOT!!!

First thing we did was walk to the Columbia Tower and go to the top. It was cool. I have never been afraid of heights but this actually made me dizzy and kinda nauseous.

Then we went to the Central Library which was fun to see.

We ate at Johnny Rockets for Lunch and hopped on the monorail

This was a random penguin in the mall that Gabe said, "Picture me mamma" :) I LOVE how he says that!

We went up the Space Needle too. Gabe thought we were going to fall out so he hung on to the benches for dear life lol

We walked to the water front. Went to the first ever Starbucks to get coffee and hot chocolate. Went down gum ally Gabe said "GROSSSSSS" (you can tell from his face that he was a little disgusted. I thought it was kinda cool :)

You can't tell but it was POURING DOWN RAIN
It's funny when you're young how time seems to go so slow and as you get older it goes faster and faster. Uncle Min was like we need to get back to the train station. I was like really? Seems like when it was just him and I we fit SO much more things into the day. We did a lot today but it went so fast. We were soaked too. We had to take off our jackets shoes and socks to dry out on the way home. And OH the adventure continues. We were 5 minutes from home when we had to stop because the train hit an abandoned car on the tracks and it was stuck to the train. We were there for 2 hours waiting. They couldn't let us off because we were on an active railway and they aren't allowed. 5 MINUTES FROM HOME! Gabe talked almost the whole way home, both my phone and Uncle Minny's iPod died. Gabe finally passed out around 10 and we came home to snow on the ground. AWESOME FUN day!

Look how big he looks here sniff

Punkin Patch

We are getting excited for Halloween and all the festivities. You almost feel like it's over if you go into the stores, Halloween stuff is on clearance. The Christmas stuff is showing up everywhere. It's like they want us to forget about Thanksgiving. Don't we need to be grateful first before we start making lists of presents we want? :)
Last Saturday we met the Duffy's at Lee Farms for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. What a perfect day...the sun was out and it was actually darn right warm. The pumpkin patch makes me feel like Fall is actually here and the leaves are changing...I love, love, love this time of year.


Next up:
JadenMan's 4th Birthday party (Mom's going all out! She loves throwing AWESOME parties)
I want to make some cookies with Gabe AND
Trick or Treating of course

Happy Easter

I love Easter baskets, coloring Easter eggs, but most importantly remembering the cross, resurrection and love of our Savior.
I am reminded of a song every Easter by Ray Boltz called "Watch the Lamb". I love this song. I remember one year at a Good Friday service they did a skit to this song and I bawled. It was so moving.

Watch the Lamb

Walking On the Road to Jerusalem
The time had come to sacrifice again
My two small sons they walked beside me down the road
The reason that they came was to watch the lamb

Daddy daddy what will we see there
There's so much that we don't understand
So I told them of Moses and Father Abraham
And then I said dear children watch the lamb

There will be so many in Jerusalem today
We must be sure the lamb doesn't run away
And I told them of Moses and Father Abraham
And I said Dear children Watch the lamb

When we reached the city I knew something must be wrong
There were no joyful worshipers no joyful worship songs
I stood there with my children in the midst of angry men
Then I heard the crowd cry out Crucify Him

We tried to leave the city but we could not get away
Forced to play in this drama a part I did not wish to play
Why upon this day were men condemned to die
Why were we all standing here when soon they would pass by

I looked and said even now they come
The first one cried for mercy the people gave him none
The second one was violent he was arrogant and loud
I can still hear his angry voice screaming at the crowd

Then someone said there's Jesus I scarce believed my eyes
A man so badly beaten He barely looked alive.
Blood poured from His body from the thorns on His brow
Running down the cross falling to the ground

I watched as He struggled I watched Him as He fell
The cross came down upon His back the crowd began to yell
In that moment I felt such agony In that moment I felt such loss
Till the roman soldier grabbed my arm and screamed
"You Carry his cross!"

At first I tried to resist him but his hand reached for his sword
So I knelt and I took the cross from the Lord
I put it on my shoulders and started down the street
The blood that He'd been shedding was running down my cheek

They led us to Golgotha they drove nails deep in His feet and hands
And on the cross I heard him pray "Father, forgive them..."
Never have I seen such love in any other eyes
"Into thy hands I commit my spirit," He prayed and then He died

I stood for what seemed like years I lost all sense of time
Until I felt two tiny hands holding tight to mine
My children stood there weeping and I heard the oldest say
Father please forgive us, The lamb, Ran away

Daddy daddy What've we seen here
There's so much that we don't understand
So I took them in my arms we turned and faced the cross
And I said Dear children Watch the lamb

I love Holiday traditions, especially now that I have my own kids. Coloring eggs was SO much fun. I loved the little pouches that came in the kit I got. Gabe was the creative one this year, he wanted to mix the water colors together. Jaden wanted to pile the eggs in the cups as fast as he could and break open and eat all the eggs. Audrey just made faces and supervised.


Easter Sunday we decided to sleep in a bit (as long as Gabe would let us) and go to 2nd service. We arrived a little early to mingle and eat some of the spread they had. The service was good and we headed to my parents to celebrate. We had a yummy lunch/dinner, the kids looked for their Easter baskets and then we all went to a Hockey game. It was a good day spent together as a family!

Found it
Had a blast with daddy at the game
And JadenMan

OH and HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my very kooky sister, Julie!!!

The Patch

We went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday and it was so much fun. I think it's by far one of our favorite family traditions. The patch, cooler fall weather, leaves on the ground, corn mazes, John Deere tractors, kettle corn, kid rides and the animals of course. The Ahls crashed the party which made it even more fun.