Slide

To make up for not having a single picture of Aunt Elizabeth at Sam's party enjoy this video!

Sam's Birthday

The morning of Sam's birthday he & Josh went to Dunkin' Donuts (Sam's favorite place) and brought back some breakfast. He opened some more gifts.

Super cheesy smile with the gifts from Jacob (& Lindsey & Jeff). Thanks!

Josh, Troy, & Sam playing with Sam's new Lincoln Logs.

It's hard to believe that our boy is now 3. Sam knows all his letters (upper & lower case); can count to 100; and read several words including "Sam", "Troy", "stop", & "Clemson". He loves going to the library & checking out books (especially letter & counting books). He is learning to share & be kind to his brother. I've already been prepping him to ask for a pony for his 4th birthday! We love you Sam!!!!

Sam's Second Party

We had party #2 on Monday night. Letters, numbers, & shapes on the cake.

Sam blowing out his 3 candles.

We had Pappa, Mimi, Meredith, & Aunt Elizabeth at this party (no picture of Aunt E though).

Sam reading the counting book he got as a gift.

Sam, Troy, & Mimi playing with the blocks from Mimi & Pappa.

Another fun evening celebrating our boy!

Denver Downs

Saturday morning we went to Denver Downs & enjoyed all the wonderful farm fun there. The pre-school department at our church was there so we had farm fun with friends!

Troy checks out some of the livestock.

Sam with the sheep & pig.

The goats had a climbing area & you could pull a bucket of feed up there for them.

There was the cow inspired tractor ride...

Sam with Rosie

This year they added a slide & zip-line. Elizabeth & Sam at the bottom of the slide.

Sam & I took a turn also.

Josh took Troy down too.

After the slide we went in the corn maze.

Finding one of the numbers.

Sam leading the way...

Troy took over for a while.

I stayed at the back the entire time. As someone once told me - a sense of direction is not one of my attributes.

After wandering around the corn we went & played in the hay barn. There was a barley box (I think it was barley, perhaps not though).

Josh had fun with Sam

Then it was time to go on the hayride & pick out our pumpkins. Sam wanted a "teeny tiny" one.

Troy got a small one too...but his was still bigger than Sam's.

Denver Downs, oh how we love you!

Sam's Party #1

Sam turned 3 this week and we celebrated all last weekend. His first party was on Friday night. He asked for letters, numbers, shapes, & jellybeans on his cupcakes. I aim to please!

Tracing the 3 on his birthday shirt (I made it for him & am pretty pleased with how it came out).
Eating with Emily. Pops joined them later & let the rest of us enjoy our supper too!

Birthday cupcake with jellybeans.

Aunt Meg & Uncle Matt

Aunt Stacy & Uncle John

Emily & Danielle

David & Lauren

Nanna...sorry for the awkward picture she really was happy!

Pops

We had a great time with the Miller side of the family & our friends the Iveys.

Morning Fun

I covered our little table with craft paper so Sam & Troy could color away.

Troy mostly likes taking the crayons out of the box & putting them back in.

Sam is really into coloring.

Fort MILL & Pappa's Birthday

The last weekend in September we went over to Fort Mill to visit with Mimi & Pappa & celebrate Pappa's birthday. On Saturday morning we took a short hike to check out the "new" old gristmill. Fort Mill got its name from a fort & a mill (I know, real creative) and our friend Billy Barron was always a bit troubled that current Fort Mill had neither a fort or a mill. After lots of research & convincing others he was able to get a gristmill built on the site of the original mill. We took advantage of the beautiful weather & Mr. Barron's knowledge & enjoyed ourselves very much.

Mimi & Sam watching the wheel turn after Sam had turned on the water.

The water running to the wheel.

Sam had a great time getting his feet wet in the little creek.

These faces crack me up! They really had a good time.

Josh, as always, carried one in on his back.

Saturday night we had a birthday supper for Pappa. We gave him the headlight that he is sporting in this picture. Elizabeth - sorry for the silly picture of you but I had to get Dad blowing out his candles!

Sidebar...

No pictures in this post (I know that is the only reason some of you check) instead I want to share a few things & ask a favor. This blog is mostly pictures & slices of the fun things we do as a family...and I love that about it. I do occasionally delve into deeper things & this is going to be one of those posts so you have fair warning if you want to stop reading now.

On Saturday I will be leaving for Ecuador for a week. I'm going with a small group from our church on a medical mission trip. To answer the 3 most popular questions...my parents are going to be keeping the boys, Josh is not going, and I do not have a background in the medical field.

Josh & I have been on 2 oversees mission trips together to Romania (and he has been to Brazil) but this will be my first trip out of the country without him. I'm not so much nervous about traveling without him as I am anxious about not having him as a buffer for when I get cranky (it's true). My prayer & desire for this trip is to be helpful HOWEVER I can.

I was looking forward to working alongside our nurses & doctor and getting a feel for the medical clinic, passing out pills, taking blood pressure, whatever. However, because I want to be helpful and not serve myself I volunteered to be in charge of the children's program. Now, don't get me wrong I like children (& love mine) but working with children is not my gift...I learned that the hard way helping out with Awana's last year. Being with kids all the time drains me and often does not put me in the best mood. But this is a key component of the clinic and since I am one of those going who does not have medical credentials or speaks Spanish this is where I will serve. I pray that I will serve gladly & not out of obligation.

There have been several issues come up for our team while planning this trip, but I'm not going to go into all that. I do want to ask you to pray for us...whenever it crosses your mind. We leave on Saturday & will be returning the following Saturday/Sunday (gotta love all night travel!). Pray for our safety as we travel. That we won't lose our luggage...most of which will be filled with the supplies we require to operate the clinics. The hearts of the Ecuadorian people to be open to what we want to share with them. For the missionaries that we are going to serve. For our team to come together & function with the purpose of serving God & sharing the amazing & awesome hope that we have through Jesus Christ. Thanks for reading and praying...there will be pictures soon!