OLYMPIA — Linda and Edwin Spencer, a couple from the Portland, Ore. suburb of Milwaukie, never imagined a quick stop at a Vancouver store would change their life forever. Little did they know, their trek across state lines did just that.

While picking up a few things, the Hit 5 sign caught their eye and they thought they’d try their luck. Edwin checked their ticket awhile later on the Washington’s Lottery Web site, after a swing shift at a grocery warehouse. He pulled up the winning numbers page to read the January 30 drawing and saw: 18-26-35-37-38. They all matched his ticket! He closed the screen and opened it back up several time to be sure there wasn’t an error. When reality finally sunk in, he ran in to tell his wife screaming, “We won! We won! We won $175,000! WE WON THE LOTTERY!”

After getting no sleep all that day and night, the couple still had the jitters when they walked into the Lottery office to claim their prize early Monday morning.

“We’re so excited, this is absolutely a life changing event for us,” Edwin said. “We feel just like a couple of kids, giddy and everything.”

The Spencers plan to spend their winnings by helping their four children and eight grandchildren.

“I know my grandson has always wanted a PlayStation, so I plan on buying that and maybe buying the Tiger Woods golf game for me,” Spencer laughed.

The couple also plans to take a dream vacation on an Alaskan cruise this spring.

“Linda always dreamed of taking an Alaskan cruise and basking in the splendors of the Northwest,” Spencer said. “That’s exactly what we plan to do, drink all of this excitement in.”

The Spencers matched all five numbers in the January 30 Hit 5 drawing. They split the $350,000 cashpot with one other winner who matched the same numbers. Their winning ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven located at 11703 SE Mill Plain Blvd in Vancouver.