We're in NEW YORK!!!!

Rick had the opportunity to do some work in New York this week and I got to come with him. We arrived here today! Our plane ride was about 3 hours and as soon as we checked into the hotel we dropped off our luggage and headed to the city. (Our hotel is in Brooklyn). After having an interesting walk to the subway station from our hotel we headed to Battery Park to catch the ferry to Liberty Island. We were able to catch the last ferry to Liberty Island and see the Statue of Liberty. I had the opportunity to see the Statue of Liberty about 17 years ago, but this was just as cool! It was amazing! The New York skyline was also cool...a tour guide pointed out to us where the twin towers stood. Once we finished walking around Battery Park we headed to venture out to see the city. We walked down Broadway and came up onto "Wall Street." With the way the stock market is, this was a pretty cool place to be. We saw a bunch of people taking pictures next to a bull. We weren't sure what that meant until we came upon a small statue of a bull that said, "The Bull of Wall Street." I guess the idea behind that is a bull is strong which means the stock market will do good.....Not sure what happened????????We kept on walking and came up to Ground Zero! Oh my gosh, what a big area! The area is blocked off right now due to construction. We didn't get to go too close, but we plan on doing a tour while we are here. I hear it is a pretty amazing tour! After walking for what felt like forever, we finally came upon "Chinatown" and "Little Italy." Chinatown is where the shopping happens! I will say it is a little scary....people are everywhere and they are trying to sell just about everything. We were starving by this point and finally found a cute little restaurant our neighbor told us about. It was a little chilly outside, but we still decided to sit outside to eat and enjoy the scenery! Coming home was easier....we hopped right on the subway and made it back into Brooklyn. Again, it was the walk from the subway station to our hotel that was the scariest part of the night! At least I have a big, strong guy with me!!!! We are having a blast! More to come!

Winning Weekend!

This past weekend was a great one for volleyball. Jordan had her school tournament this weekend. She has been playing great!!!! The tournament actually started Wednesday night with a win. Thursday they played a regular season game. Jordan was chosen player of the game because of her awesome serves and great digs on defense. The tournament continued Saturday. The championship game was against Evans (a local school) and was a nail biter. Everyone played great and again, Jordan did great on defense and serving!!!! Way to go Dowell - first place in the tournament!!!!Jordan loves her coach this year. Coach Brakebill is very encouraging and is great with the girls! Too bad the trophy stays with the school and the girls don't get to take one home. :-)Paige also finished another masterpiece last week. She painted this one for her old Sunday School teacher and good friend, Kristi Clinger. When she brought it home, I was so sad we wouldn't get to keep this one. I loved it!!! I told her she would have to paint one just like it for me. I'm happy it went to Kristi - she has always been so sweet to Paige.Paige is getting so good and just loves her art classes!!!! Atleast we made a deal....I get every other painting!!! So the next one we keep. Yeah!!

Wedding Weekend!

This past weekend we took a "QUICK" trip to Farmington, New Mexico for our nephews wedding. Congrats Chris and Megan! We love you guys! We had a great time visiting with family and getting crazy on the dance floor. The kids favorite part of the evening was the "candy" table. They went back all night filling up their bags. Great idea!!!!
Jordan looked more grown up than ever....and Paige was in heaven holding the newest member of the family, Hailey. Chase was excited because his front tooth that had been hanging by threads finally game out! The cousins had a great time sitting together and catching up, not to mention dancing the night away!









Ricks dad was the "dancing KING". He is so fun to watch....he has so much energy! I love dancing with him. I think his favorite thing to do was be in the middle of the circle to show off his dancing skills! Why didn't Rick get any of his dad's dance moves????

Earlier that day we decided to take the kids to the pumpkin patch. The drive to the pumpkin patch was so pretty. The leaves of the trees are changing colors, so they were a bright yellow! It was super windy with dirt flying everywhere, but the kids still had a great time! They had a corn maze the kids could run through, they played in a "sandbox" of corn, shot pumpkins and corn from a shooter, and went on the hayride. We had a great time!

I have to put in this little thing Chase said - because it was so cute! We were on our way to Farmington and came across a really green patch of land. This is how the conversation went:
Rick - "that patch of grass is so green because they keep watering it."
Chase - "yeah, I saw a golf poster that said the grass is greener on the other hole."
Kari - "Chase, you know the saying the grass is always greener on the other side.
Well, it means that people always want something better. But that isn't always the way it works."
Chase - "Yeah, that saying isn't true, because I've seen the other golf holes and
they aren't always greener!"

Ice Blocking Anyone????

For youth night tonight at our church we had a blast! We went to a hill close by and did a little "ice blocking." I had never really done this before and didn't quite know what to expect. First we had big ice blocks and folded a towel to put on top of them where we would sit.....then gave ourselves a big push and down the hill we went! The kids had such a good time! Even the adults tried it! Yes, even me. I thought for sure I would be the one injured at the end of the night, but it was awesome! (a little scary not having any control at a very fast speed, but very fun) I love the youth program at our church. Jordan has a great time and has awesome friends. Here is a little video coverage I was able to get of Jordan and her friends before my camera battery died......

FIREPROOF - its awesome!

This past weekend - Rick and I had a chance to go to the movies. I have been wanting to see the movie FIREPROOF! If you haven't heard of it - it is an awesome movie. It is a movie made by the same people that made "facing the giants." I believe it is a low budget film...BUT well worth seeing! Besides Kirk Cameron, the acting isn't that great, but the message is awesome! Check out the trailer!

It's a great movie to just remind you to keep love in your marriage....I'm totally buying the "love dare" book!
Thanks Rick for seeing it with me.....your the best! I know we don't get to go on "dates" that often with just the two of us, but when we do - I love it!!!

Lesson Learned!

Okay, so today I learned a few expensive lessons....in my previous post I noted that I got a speeding ticket last Saturday! Did I mention that was my first speeding ticket EVER??? I truely feel that I should have been given a freebee! (but that is just me!)
So I had absolutely no idea how expensive tickets were! Not only did I get a speeding ticket, but also a ticket for having an expired inspection sticker! AHHHH!!!!! The officer totally busted me!
Lets just say after paying an obscene amount of money, I am now and forever will be very aware of the dates on ALL of my vehicles. (I was in Ricks car when I got the ticket) I was sure to let him know half of the ticket was his fault. SO - word of advice....check you stickers and don't speed!!! It's totally not worth it!