Every other week Dave and I trade babysitting with some friends so we can all have a chance to go out on dates. There are four families, so we babysit once every two months and get three date nights. Saturday night was date night. Dave and I took my parents out to eat for their 33rd wedding anniversary while the kids went to play at Jill and Chris's house. When we arrived to pick up Emma and Nathan, Chris invited us in and said they needed to explain something. At first his look made me nervous and then he said "Emma went on a
helicopter ride." My first instinct was maybe they had gone on a simulated helicopter, but no, it was real.
Currently there is a company close by that is offering helicopter rides for $35 a person. The helicopter company heard through Jill's relative about Jill and Chris's son (3 years old) that is having open heart surgery this Tuesday. They offered to give him a free helicopter ride on Saturday night. What a cool opportunity for their sweet son! We wish them the very best of luck this week. They will definitely be in our prayers.
Jill and Chris loaded up their four kids and Emma and Nathan to go to the helicopter. We were the only family that took advantage of the babysitting service this time around, so they only had two extra kids. Jill explained to the kids that this was something special for Aidan and the rest of them would get to watch. But when they arrived at the helicopter location they were told that all the kids could have a free helicopter ride. Jill and Chris seemed nervous that they hadn't gotten our permission, but we would have given it to them and were glad that Emma had such a fun opportunity.
Emma could not stop talking about the helicopter when we got home. She said that the ground looked small and she liked looking down on the lights. We drove past the helicopters on the way home that night and Emma pointed out "her" red helicopter.
Nathan didn't get to ride, but from the looks of this picture that Jill took Nathan did get in the helicopter. I would have loved to see Emma's and Nathan's faces. Nathan gets really excited when he sees a helicopter or airplane flying in the sky. I bet he loved seeing a helicopter so close. As for Emma, she got to do something that neither Dave or I have ever done. She is the first member of our little family to ride in a helicopter. Lucky her!
This is a picture of Emma and I from a vacation that we took when Emma was just over one-year old. We went to Illinois to visit Missy and Jeff. While we were there we spent some time at Rockome Gardens. I love Emma's crazy hair. Looks like I didn't comb it that day.
arver which makes his life a lot easier. I gutted the pumpkins and turned the seeds into a tasty snack. Emma claims that my friend's seeds were better because they were crunchier. Oh well, maybe I'll get the "best pumpkin seed award" next year.
Last Sunday, October 12th, we woke up to white - our first snow of the year! We bundled the kids up for church, but by the time we got out of church the snow was melting. The kids and I went on a walk in the afternoon to look for snow. Our yard had the most remaining snow. Nathan loved the cold stuff and Emma is already planning our first "snow party" for this winter. We'll have to wait for more snow for that since this batch is long gone. I think fresh snow is beautiful and the kids' reactions to new snow are priceless.
We have been officially approved for our third adoption for several weeks, but it took us awhile to put the finishing touches on our online profile. If you want to check it out go to http://www.itsaboutlove.org/. Click on "Search adoption profiles" and type our names "davidandtanya." We would love to know what you think and appreciate any feedback. 
