Glen Eyrie Hike

We took Aunt Erin, Grandma and Grandpa Thompson on a hike today up to the Glen Eyrie punch bowls.  The water was COLD!!!

Grandpa Don is ALWAYS hot but not with this cool dip into the water.  Jacob was the only tough one to brave the waterfall.  It almost looks like he is surfing.

Kaylee was like a cat sunning herself on a big tree branch when we started the hike.

But was then freezing and using the little girls as heaters.

We ended up taking Ashley and Jerrica.  They AMAZED me.  It's quite a hike and not once to Ash complain or want to be carried.  In fact she kept saying, "This is a GREAT hike, isn't it Dad"  Here is a picture of everyone minus ME.  I LOVE the background in it!

I know I shouldn't take my kids out of school for these little family fun days, but they hardly ever get to see their Thompson grandparents.  We HAD to spend time with them!

Getting to Know Grandparents

We LOVED doing this letter activity a few years ago, and I posted about it here last year -

letter activity

So I thought this new idea would be fun for the kids.  I printed up "This is My Life" booklets.  I then paired up each of my older kids with one of their grandparents that they are close to.  I originally was going to take all of them to a restaurant and have each pair sit at their own booth and share a dessert or appetizer.  BUT we were sooo exhausted Saturday that none of us wanted to go anywhere.  So they each found a spot around the house and filled in a few pages of the book.  I had the kids interview their grandparent but then told them they could take turns with the grandparent writing in the book.

I had fun listening in to the various conversations when I went around snapping pictures. 

Nathan and my dad were talking about Work.  My dad told Nathan that his first job was working in the potato fields in Idaho.  He worked from sun up to sundown all week and would earn $25.  Nathan was quick to say, "WOW!  I just pulled weeds for one of my mom's friends for a half hour and she gave me $10."  They kept talking about jobs and money as I left them.

Then I came into Grandma Brenda and Rebecca giggling on the bed.  They were talking about Brenda's first boyfriend named Butch.  Rebecca was hanging on to every detail.

Grandma Charla and Kaylee were all business trying to fill out as much of their booklet as possible.  Of course they DID fill out the most pages.  Doesn't that sound like mom - GO GO Get it ALL done.

Then Grandpa Don and Jacob were all hush hush as I approached with my camera but of course had big smiles for their picture.

I gathered all the booklets and vowed that we will send letters and do some phone calls to answer more of the questions.  Both sets of grandparents are such rich resources for the kids to learn from.  A big thanks to all four of you for taking the time to answer their questions!

Clever Gift

My sisters are all very creative.  I enjoy seeing what they come up with for various occasions.  I LOVED Alesha's clever gift that she sent in the mail for Jacob's birthday.  It was fun for a teenager.  He was all smiles and making fun of Aunt Alesha as he unwrapped it.

He turned 13, thus the 13 of all the money amounts.  It was all rolled in a wallet looking wrap and took him quite a while to get all the money out.

Alesha just did something kinda similar for her husband's birthday.  He turned 37, so she had all these various gifts that contained 37.  Some of them were a certificate for a 37min massage, 37 of his favorite mini candybars, 37 love notes....just all day long he was finding these gifts that had something to do with the number 37.  I can't remember all the ones she did, but I know there were a ton of them.

ANYWAY, we LOVED the very clever gift Aunt Alesha!!!!

My Ash

I really don't know where THIS child came from!  She is inquisitive.  She has to know who everyone is, how everything works, and what the plans are for every minute of the day.  I just had to jot down a few of her latest quotes.

Our dog Shadow is trotting through the sand with her tail swishing in the girls faces.  Ash says, "Oh Shady don't be such a Tattle Tail!"  Me, quick to point out that she is using the saying wrong, I correct her.  Then Ash retorts, "Mom this (touching Shadow's tail) is a Tattle Tail.  YOU are wrong mom!"

If there is ever smoke coming from the kitchen from bacon or my cookin' she will always tell the kids, "Sh... the Holy Ghost is here in our house"  Maybe I need to keep a little smoke around her constantly.

These last couple of weeks she will run up and hug my leg with these adoring eyes and say, "You are a Devastating Mom".  I don't know if she is just trying to get away with calling me names or if she really thinks I LIKE being known as a devastating mom?!?

Chinese Proverb

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.
-- Chinese Proverb

Music in our Home

We have some musicians in our home.  Jacob is learning how to play the trumpet this year. 

He tends to get a little red in the face after practicing.

 

Stephen played the trumpet when he was in school, so he has been helping Jacob.  Thank goodness he can help! 

The four older kids are starting up piano again.  Ash is still dragging her guitar around and Jerrica seems to have a high pitch whine that she freely plays.

Then we have a song writer in our midst.  Rebecca wrote this song to her cousin, Karley.  Karley's dad is in the Army and they are always moving.  Rebecca wrote the song on one of our road trips this summer.  She shared it with my mom and I.  When I was organizing the kids' scrapbook drawers the other day I came across it again and thought I would post it so that we can have it in this year's blog book.  So, here it is without further adieu.

Where is my Karley?  Where can I find her?  Where is she?  Will she be in Tennessee, Alabama, Colorado, China, Korea.  I know Arizona.  Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.  She will be in Arizona.  Will she be wearing a crown or wearing a gown.  Or will she be wearing a apron.  Well, I do not care what she will wear.  I just care that I see her.  Go Karley.  Go Karley.  Go.  Go.  Go.  Go Karley to see me!

So there you have it, there is music abounding in our home.  I do love music.  I don't think that I could clean my house or do projects without music playing!

Back 2 School Art

We needed a little back to school art for our fridge.  The little girls have been begging to do some more finger painting so I came up with these apples and worms.

We dipped the palms of our hands in red paint and stamped the paper.  Then we used our thumbs for the green leaf and drug our pinkies down the paper for the worms.  The girls LOVED the finger painting.  I cut out my favorite apples from each of us and put them on our little chalked black paper.

Then when the older kids came home and started asking about the apples the little girls were all smiles at their work.  I love having their little hand prints.

Marbles and Pictures

I know I take a ton of photos.  My memory isn't that great and I'm hoping all these pictures will help me someday.  I usually take a few at the beginning or at the end of whatever we are doing.  That way I'm able to capture the moment but still enjoy what we are doing.  I do have little episodes when I see something that I think would have been a really cute picture, BUT I already put the camera away to do whatever we are doing.

And yes, some definitely want their picture taken whereas others I have to catch from a distance when they are unaware.  I generally like those more anyway because you get genuine expressions.

We do enjoy looking at pictures and reminiscing about past events.  I LOVE to frame them around the house.  They bring me joy as I look into the eyes and remember the day that I took the picture of the kids doing this or that.

Here are some from our marble track that we built one afternoon before school started.  It took a lot of time and patience, BUT on a no TV day with nothing else to do, it was the perfect activity!  We are still loving it.  I took these pictures at the end of building, which was probably good because the during building part got a little intense and frustrating. 

  

Now about the natural light.  Our kitchen table is next to a great big window that lets in beautiful light in the afternoon.  In the morning there is a cool blue tone to the pictures instead of the warm glow in the afternoon.  I have found that if the kids are just barely outside of the sunspot that is shining in the window, that the  lighting is close to perfect.  If their face is IN the bright sunspot there are of course harsh shadows.  If they are too far from the window, the picture has more blue tones to it.  And as can be seen in Jacob's picture above, if you have been at a scout camp and have a sunburn you will have red tones no matter what!

Soooo, the edge of light is my little tip for you.  Just find a window that has light coming in during the afternoon.  Put out a few toys for your little one to play with being careful to put them by the edge of light.  Then sit with your back to the window, facing your subject and shoot away.

I hope that answered the indoor natural light questions. 

Are YOU There Clip

Saw this and loved it.  After I watched it, I turned off my computer and went up to lay on Jacob's bed and talk with him about the book he is reading.  I need to remember this clip!

Weekend Update

This weekend was filled with seeing the Parade of Homes, birthday parties and soccer games. 

I love going to the Parade of Homes for decorating ideas and to dream.  The girls went with Stephen and I one night and were in awe of the fanciness.  I'm excited to go back for a tour with one of the decorators and my friend, Angie.  I have always loved the style of this decorator. 

Then Kaylee and Nathan had a tournament at the Air Force Academy.

What a beautiful place for a tournament.  It was a big tournament.  This picture just shows the bottom tier of fields.  It is just such a gorgeous backdrop! 

Lucas came home with us in between games to hang out with Nathan.  I used to think of Lucas as one of the taller ones, but I think Nathan is GROWING!!!!

This picture is blurry, BUT I love it because he is setting up for one of his moves.  He really amazes me what he can do with his feet.

Then I love my tough Kaylee with her little tongue hanging out.  I also love in this picture the motion of the ball and the opponent's face. I love this header of Nathan's and his teammate's expression.

My kids have made some really close friends on their soccer teams.  I expected that would happen, however I never expected that I would gain such close friends through the parents on my kids' teams.  The social aspect is a big plus to sports in more ways than one!

BTW can you tell the games were ALL day Saturday from early morning until late evening by the different light in each picture...

Roots

This summer we have been busy with yard work.  One day I had the kids out pulling weeds with me.  I noticed that they were pulling all of the tall, lanky weeds and none of the short, bushy weeds.  I told them that they needed to pull ALL the weeds and asked them why they were neglecting the short ones.  They came to me showing me the difference in the weeds' root systems.  The tall ones had very small and shallow roots, which made them very easy to pull.  However, the short, bushy weeds had a very deep and extensive root system.  They were nearly impossible for the kids to pull out!

This made me wonder how deep my personal roots were.  Could I be easily pulled out?  I know that the more we pray, serve and read our scriptures - the more roots we are developing and the stronger we become.

Since shallow roots are easy to be pulled out, people tend to attack those with the shallow roots.  They know that these people would be easy to pull out and change.  The kids and I talked about roots the entire time we were out there.  I wanted to put it in our family blog to help the kids and I remember the root conversation and analogy.

How deep are your roots?  Can they support you?

First Day of School

Every year the tears flood down.  Is there ever going to be a year that I can get my emotions under control and not be so sad when they go back to school!?!

All of the kids were excited for their new school year.  The girls were WAYYY into their animal lunchboxes.  I kept teasing the boys that they would have to take an animal lunchbox as well.

New shoes are always fun.  I love when they pick them out because you can see glimpses of their personalities.  Rebecca had to have the most expensive, glittsy, blingy, rainbow shoes.  Kaylee chose the very plain jane ones that were so cheap I could afford Rebecca's.  Nathan of course wanted indoor soccer shoes.  He has been using them to practice his soccer tricks, so they don't look quite as new.  And then Jake chose the runner black ones.

Water bottles were exciting for the girls to pick out for some reason.  They even ASKED if I could take a picture of them.  They got them all ready last night and put them in the fridge.  They were quite cold this morning!

 

We DO decorate our holiday shelves with a Back to School theme.  I blew up this picture from last year as an 11x14 for our picture of the month.  It literally says BACK to school to me.  Then below are my other little bits of school decor that are on the shelves. 

 

Here are a few more from this morning...

 

Then out the door to make it on time.  "Goodbye Mom, we will miss you!"

Oh you have no idea how much I'm going to miss you guys!

I did have a fun table for dinner like THIS ONE.  I also had a little ceramic bowl filled with quarters for each NEW friend that the kids met today.  We also scattered Smarties around the table to make them smart for the year.  (I wish that it WOULD be that easy to make them smart!)  We had fun talking about their first days and new friends. 

Randomness

First off here is the salsa recipe that I use and we LOVE!  I do take the seeds out of the jalepeno and I didn't add that in the recipe.  I will add the soup recipe soon.

Yes I do take pictures for other people.  Just email me and I can give you all the details.

 

Here is an example of the chore cards.  The asterisk chores are to be done on Saturdays.

As for toddlers working - My kids bring down and sort their own laundry on Mondays and Fridays, even Jerrica does her own.  They then have their own pile awaiting them in the laundry room on those nights respectively to retrieve and put away.  My kids ALWAYS clear their plate and utensils from the table after each meal AND express gratitude for some part of the meal.  This is something that we have done for years now, but having friends over I realize that clearing your plate is not a common practice.  But believe me it helps in clearing the table.  You need to learn to clean up after yourself.  Jerrica also helps clear her plate.  She does the silverware from the dishwasher.  She moves clothes from the washer to the dryer for me.  She helps clean her bedroom and helps when we are all working together by running and putting things away here and there.  There really are so many chores that toddlers can do. 

The book we are reading together out loud is found at this link The Misadventures of Maude March  We have totally loved it and are sad that there only a couple of chapters left!  The chapters are short and the author is very entertaining, making it a perfect read a loud.  The book starts off with two orphan girls that live with their only aunt.  She dies in the first chapter and the girls adventures begin.

My camera is a Nikon D60 and favorite lense is the 50mm 1.4.
If none of the above answered your question, just email me again.