Friday Family Funnies - not so funny week

As you know Hannah Grace and Faith have both been sick this week, so I don't have a funny to share with you today. But, I will share with you a picture of Hannah Grace and her Daddy as they were heading off to "Breakfast With Dad' this morning. Travis has been driving Papa's truck this week because his car needs brakes and all the kids love to ride in Papa's truck.

Hannah Grace does get her Japanese Buddy today, so we will be taking our new buddy around town this week-end, so check back next week to see what adventures we have.

Have a great week-end!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Our trip to the West coast began early on Thursday morning. Our flight was leaving at 5:55am which meant we had to be at the airport at 4:55am. Aunt Cindy came and spent the night with us so that we could leave the house at 4:30am. She, Big Daddy and Grammy got the kids up and dressed and out the door to school. Our flight to Atlanta was uneventful, except for the fact that Travis had been upgraded to first-class and I had not. He made the sacrifice and sat with me and the rest of the not-so-special folks.

The next leg of our day of travels was from Atlanta to Portland, OR. Travis took his name off the upgrade list before they had a chance to switch him to first-class, but once the flight got started, I'm sure that he wished he was in first-class. It was a 5 hour flight with a full plane. We were sitting in the middle of about 30 people, 15 of which were 12 years or younger, who were on their last leg of a trip from Israel. Most of them did not speak English and they just let their kids stand in their seats and be in the isles. We felt "trapped" and did not move the entire flight. We were so glad to get off that plane.

Travis did his site visit to the church and we headed down town for a little while before our next flight.

Portland was very different than we had expected. I had envisioned it to be a lot like Seattle, but what we saw was not. Downtown was very strange to say the least.

I had seen a show on the Food Network about a doughnut shop, Voodoo Doughnut, in downtown and it looked unique and I wanted to go there. We did find it and enjoyed a great doughnut. But, everything was so strange we just went back to the airport to wait for our next flight.

Travis enjoying an Oreo Doughnut. I had a M&M Doughnut.

The flight from Portland to LA was uneventful, we were just very tired.

We landed in LAX around 10pm, their time, once we got our luggage, the rental car and to the hotel it was around 11:30pm (2:30am our time) which meant we had been up for about 21 hours. I was looking forward to the cozy Hampton Inn bed.

I was too excited to sleep to late the next morning. I think we slept till 7am, but that was 10am our time, so I guess we did sleep late.


This was our view from our hotel.

Travis had a site visit later that morning, but I couldn't wait to see the ocean...

The Pacific Ocean

Before Travis' site visit, I couldn't wait to see the Pacfic ocean so we took a morning walk on the beach, just the two of us. It was so great!

These were taken by some guy on the beach with Travis' phone that we sent to the kids.
We took a walk on the pier and watched some men fishing. It was amazing, he had six hooks on one line and was not using any bait.Us on the pier.

After our walk on the beach it was time for us to head to Ventura Beach for the site visit. I loved seeing Travis do his "job"; he is so good at it. The times he is gone gets hard some many times, but it helps to see what he does and see that he is doing what he is suppose to do and called to do. I thank the Lord for moments like that and me being able to travel with Travis.

We had lunch at IN-N-OUT Burger, which I loved! Then we went for another walk on the beach. Did I tell you how much fun I had?!?!?!?!?!

I am making that goofy face because the water was cold.

I would love to visit Ventura Beach again, hint...hint...

Happy Birthday Memama!!!

The kids made this yesterday afternoon while Faith was feeling well for the moment. Hannah Grace had something on Saturday and Sunday and then Faith started running a fever on Monday night that just wouldn't go away and she was complaining of her throat hurting, so I ended up taking her to the Dr. last night and yep, she has strep. She is already feeling better just after two doses of the med - Praise the Lord!!!!!

Anyway, we wish Memama a Happy Birthday today!

We Love You!

Almost Caught Up

I believe I have caught up with everything except for Travis' and I trip, which I will try to do tomorrow. I hope everyone is having a great day and enjoy seeing what the Sparks Kids have been up too the past couple of weeks.

Upward Awards Night

We had Upward Awards Night last week and our entertainer was Mark Lippard. It was great to see him again and let the kids meet him - Faith just fell in love with him. Faith, Hannah Grace and Mark.

This was a little boy on our team - he had such a great time that night.

Faith giving HIGH FIVES.

Hannah Grace helping out.

A little too close (and high) for me...

Travis helping out.

Best Buds!
Hannah Grace and Faith with their coaches - Mommy and Daddy!

Us with Mark and the "Eight Foot" Unicycle.

We had a great first soccer season and I believe the girls will play again next fall. Samuel will be playing his last year of Upward Basketball beginning in January - we can't believe it!

We have a "two sport" rule in our house, so neither of the girls will be cheering or playing basketball; Hannah Grace has chosen to play T-ball in the spring and Faith has asked Santa Clause to bring her ballet shoes and tap shoes so that she can begin dance in January. It all should be great fun!!!!

Halloween 2008

We don't make a big deal of Halloween, we have always told the kids October 31st is when we celebrate Big Daddy's birthday, but the kids do dress up and take part in what ever is going on at church and they enjoy it - what little girl (and big boy) doesn't like to play dress up.

Costume Parade

I was kinda sad to go to Faith's costume parade last week knowing that it was the last one we would go to. This was our third year in a row and I realized that come next year we won't have any kids at this wonderful school. We have been so blessed to have been able to send our girls there and I know I will miss it next year. She's so funny!
Waving to the crowd.

Which Baseball Will It Be?

This was taken at the Louisville Slugger Factory when we visited there a while back. They had signed baseballs from many Presidents.

GO VOTE!!!

Stomp Out Drugs

The day Travis and I left for our trip was Cowgirl Day for Hannah Grace during Red Ribbon Week to STOMP OUT DRUGS. We tried her outfit on the day before so I could see how cute she looked. Nannie made the vest she is wearing for Samuel when he was about her age. It's been hanging in the closet and I am so glad it fit her; it is so special, I hope Faith can wear it next year.

Friday Family Funnies - Eat More Chicken

There are lots of Family Funny pictures I could show you today, but I think I will stick to these. Travis was asked to be the Chick-Fil-A Cow at work this week and of course, he agreed.

I can't tell you how much I love this man, I mean cow!!!!

We hope you have a great week-end!

I have lots of pictures to catch up on and I will try to do it this week-end, we just have had a crazy, crazy week.

Travis and I just returned from a trip to the West Coast. I have many pictures to share with you and many things to tell, but for today I must return to reality, which by the way we are loving right now!!!

One Last Game

The girls had their last soccer game last night. It was a make-up game from a rainy day. I kept telling them we had a "make-up" game instead of practice and Faith finally asked as we were getting ready to leave, "When do I get to put my make-up on?

We have had a great season of Upward Soccer. I have to say, I enjoyed it more than I did Cheerleading, both were fun, but the girls enjoyed soccer more too.

Faith almost made a goal.One Last GOAL!!!

Sisters Team Up.
One Last Pep Talk.

Last night and all season long I continued to hear, "Go towards the goal" and "Keep your eyes on the goal" and how true that is!

So I end my last post about Upward Soccer Season 2008 with Philippians 3:14

I purse as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Game Week 6

Fans of the week.