Denver Trip

We were blessed to get to go on a fun trip to Denver with my (Erin) parents and sister, Andi a few weeks ago. Here are some of the highlights of our trip.

Dragging our luggage to our hotel, The Curtis, which had a very modern and fun atmosphere. Every floor had a different theme and ours was “famous duos” like Bert and Ernie:

Eating breakfast at Starbucks before going to church:

Having dinner on Sunday with Mom’s college roomate, Tanya and her husband, Phil:

Monday morning at CBA (Christian Booksellers Association): Avery was given a toy right when we walked in the door which helped the day start off on a good note!Damon got to meet Joe Gibbs and get his new book: Cayden with Jacob and Grace:BOB AND LARRY!!!!

Candy and Crowns…what else does a girl need?!?

Damon got to meet James Brown and get his new book:

Stephen and Alex Kendrick (authors of the Love Dare and writers/producers of Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and Flywheel. Alex was also an actor in all of them.)Walking around downtown after dinner:

Swimming at the hotel:

Our day at Elitch Gardens:

After getting soaked on a raft ride:

Avery taking a little nap:

Avery got a little simpled out as she got tired!! It was pretty funny!

WHAT A FUN DAY!!!

Joyland

In the 30 years I have lived in West Texas, I (Erin) have NEVER been to Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock. We have found out recently that it is a favorite spot for lots of families that go to our church and we had a church-wide fellowship there a few weeks ago. Here are a few pictures from our fun night out.

Cayden riding the carousel with Nathan, our Associate Pastor of Music:

Avery was VERY scared of how loud the rollercoasters were:

 

Cayden and his buddy Riker:

The next 2 pictures are of Damon and Cory O’Guinn, our Associate Pastor of Missions and Students and our pastor, Richard Rush with Nathan, our Associate Pastor of Music all acting pretty chicken about the ride they were about to ride:

 

Cayden, Riker, Anna and Riley (Anna’s parents are our friends and the Associate Pastor of Music, Nathan and Kenna Kizer and Riley and Riker’s parents are our friends Anthony and Nancy Trantham)

Cayden and I riding our favorite ride, the airplane, which at most amusement parks is the big rocking pirate ship, but at Joyland it is an airplane!

Cayden, me, Nancy and Riker after getting soaked on the water slide:

It was a really fun night with friends and our sweet church family!

4th of July

We are FINALLY all home together! I am going to try and post several blogs in the next few days of what we have been up to this past month, so bear with me!

I thought I would first go back to our fun day on the Fourth of July with the Turner clan in Plainview at my parents house.

Kathie getting the hamburgers ready:

Andi making a taco layer dip...Doug and Mike thought it was a dessert at first because they thought the taco meat was chocolate rice crispies!

Damon eating some of Doug's amazing salmon dip recipe! Yum!:

Cayden was so excited about the fireworks that Isaiah got him!:

Playing Guitar Hero:

Watching the fireworks that Damon and Isaiah were firing off:

We had TONS of fun! I love spending time with family!!

Computer Woes and Travels

I have been wanting to post a blog about our fun 4th of July, but our computer decided to not cooperate with me the past few weeks so I haven't gotten it done. NOW, we are currently in Denver for my Dad and Damon's conference and when we get back, I leave for my Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas. SOOOOO, I won't be able to post pictures for a new blog for another couple of weeks, but I wanted to check in with everyone and let them know what we are doing.

In between Colorado Springs and Denver driving in yesterday the temperature outside was 60 degrees!! A wonderful relief from the 103 degrees we have been having in Lubbock! We ate at a wonderful restaurant last night that my cousin Summer had told us about, Maggiano's Littly Italy....yummy! We are now at our hotel, The Curtis, in downtown Denver and it's really neat. Every floor has a different theme and we are on the "Dynamic Duos/Famous Pairs" floor, so when we stepped off the elevator we see my favorite picture of all time...the sailor and nurse kissing on VJ-Day in New York City. Cayden of course loved the Burt and Ernie the most! :)

We are going to try a neat church this morning that Damon found online and then we are meeting up with my mom's college roomate, Tanya, for dinner with her family in the park tonight. We will be at the conference Monday-Wednesday and then a fun day on Thursday at Elitch Gardens. It has a water park that Cayden is most excited about.

Sorry I have no pictures to post quite yet, but just wanted you to know where we were this week and what we are doing. I will get pictures up when we get back!

Garage Sale!

Last weekend we had a garage sale with a lot of our family. My (Erin) parents, my sister Andi, our cousins Summer and Isaiah and Damon’s sister, D’Lynn and her husband Dustin all came and brought their stuff to sell. Granny also came to help with the kiddos and we could never have done it without her. Avery had Granny all to herself, so she was a very happy girl. Having the whole family there, made for a fun weekend! (Even if we did almost pass out from the heat!)

We started our morning on Saturday with a little costume party. Cayden bought this Batman cape and mask at our neighbor’s garage sale the day before, so he and Avery had to try it out:

Getting everything organized before the carnage begins:

   Avery and Andi hanging out:

The gang hanging out around 2pm when every other sane person in Lubbock was inside somewhere out of the 100 degree weather:

Avery picked some dandelions for our hair. Avery’s face shows what we were all feeling about the heat. Lucky for her she got to spend most of the time inside with Granny:

Isaiah and I trying to look busy:

Then, we ended our day with another costume show:

For those of you that know my sister, Andi, this wig made Cayden look a lot like her when she was little. (not that Andi’s hair ever looked like the wig!! Sorry, Andi!)

Bubba

As most of you know our sweet Bubba went to be with Jesus last week. I knew that if I (Erin)was going to post a blog at all this week it would definitely be about him. The past week has been hard. I already miss him so much. The past few days thoughts of Bubba and what I miss have been popping into my head, so this morning in my quiet time I wrote some of them in my journal.
1. I miss his sweet smile and mischievious grin
2. I miss the sound of his laugh
3. I miss the sound of Cayden and Bubba playing
4. I miss him holding my hand
5. I miss getting to sit on the porch swing with him while we watched Granny play with the kids
6. I miss him drying dishes with me
7. I miss how he always wanted to help me with something..carrying in bags, moving the high chair, washing dishes...
8. I miss how he would always try and feed Avery his food
9. I miss how he would always say that he didn't need any vegetables because he wanted the rest of us to have enough! :)
10. I miss how he would never sit down until everyone else was seated
11. I miss watching him drive Cayden and Avery around on the lawnmower
12. I miss seeing him with my Mom
13. I miss him teasing me about giving all my students a zero on all their papers
14. I miss hearing him pray
15. I miss seeing him hold Avery
16. I miss hearing stories from the war and his childhood
17. I miss going to the Ranch with him and riding horses, riding in the bronco, and watching him work so hard to make the Ranch look good for us.
18. I miss his hugs and kisses
19. I miss him calling Andi, "Andi Pandi"
20. I miss watching him walk with Cayden and Avery, holding their hands
21. I miss seeing him stand in the garage and wave goodbye to me as I left their house

A few days ago Cayden said he missed Bubba, which just about broke my heart and then he asked what Bubba was doing up in Heaven and he asked if he was getting to blow bubbles...(That was something Cayden has always loved doing with Granny and Bubba) :)

Even though my heart aches because he isn't with us anymore, I am comforted knowing that he is with our Savior. He is walking without a limp and with no pain in his knees! His thoughts are clear and he can say whatever he wants to without getting frustrated! He can hear everything that everyone is saying! Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

Bubba's hand holding Avery:

This is my favorite of Bubba and Granny with the kids:

Granny and Bubba:

Andi, Bubba and I:

Bubba's Birthday:

Bubba teaching me to ride my favorite horse, Freckles:

Cayden with his Bubba:

Mom, Bubba and Dad at the Ranch:

Bubba and I:

Bubba, Ryan and I

My very favorite of Bubba and I together:

Thank you to all of you who came to the funeral, brought food, sent flowers or came to visit us. It means so much to us. We love you all and Bubba did too....