The Park

This is how it happens …

I get really tired of cleaning, especially when it’s gorgeous outside.  So I “casually mention” to the little girls the idea of going to the park and feeding the ducks.  Then I “causally mention” to Stephen the idea of picking up Subway for lunch in the park.  Of course by this time EVERYONE is onboard to vacate the house and enjoy the beautiful weather.

I love how excited Ash gets when she is feeding the ducks.  She just can’t quit smiling and talking to the ducks, the entire time she is feeding them.

Nothing like a lunch break !

My Card Maker

Jacob is such an incredible artist, AND I’m always putting him to work.

My Ultimate Conditioning teacher is amazing and we decided to all chip in money for a gift card.  Of course we needed a huge card for everyone to sign.  SO, I enlisted Jacob to make a quick cartoon version of my teacher on a poster board.    Needless to say it was a hit…

He also made a card for Nathan the other night with such a sweet note inside….

I think we have Mr. Hallmark living with us!

Growing Chocolate

Stephen works from home and I leave the little girls with him A LOT as I run errands during the day.  Well, one day last week as I was pulling into our driveway I saw the little girls out in my garden and they immediately started running when they saw me.   I had just planted some of my cold crops, and I was NOT happy to see them out there digging in MY garden.

SO, I go out there and see my Costco size bag of chocolate chips with some of the chocolate chips in little rows.  I yelled at them asking them what they were doing?!?!  To which Ashley informed me, “we are going to grow chocolate bars in our garden this year”

Am I going to be sane after I get all of these kids raised?

Quick Update

The boys went on a temple trip Friday evening. 

Stephen’s little volleyball team that has Rebecca and Kaylee on it had another game Friday night.  They are undefeated. :)

Saturday I went down to Pueblo for Kaylee’s game.  We ended up bringing three of her friends home, AFTER a quick shopping stop at Kohl’s.  They were all so giggly and fun.

We went to Jacob’s swim meet.  He took first in the front and back strokes.

 

Ran to more soccer games in the afternoon.

Then ended the night listening to the BYU singers with friends.  It was beautiful!  Our favorite song of the night was “Dinah’s in the Kitchen”. 

Writing Tutors

I had a Writing Tutors site contact me about their services.  It looks like an awesome online resource.  We depend on our writing skills our entire lives.  I was thinking of how a couple of my kids could benefit, but then I started wondering if they contacted me to help ME with MY writing.  :)

We do have a lot of writers here at the Thompson house.  This little girl in particular likes to write notes to her family…

 

She really enjoys writing in the mini notebooks.  I really enjoy taking pictures.  A win, win for both of us!

Anyway, check out The Writing Tutors.  They can help YOU!

Thompson Ledger

So we are always borrowing money from one of the kids.  There is always a field trip, teacher gift, tournament that someone needs cash for.  Then AFTER I pay back whomever lent the money, I always get, “you never paid me back mom…”  SO I end up paying the child AGAIN.  Or maybe it is forgotten and the nice lender is never paid back.

The other aspect is when we are in a store and one of the kids want to borrow money and then I forget to have them pay me back.  To end all of this headache, especially this time of year, I created a Thompson Money book….

 

It has a page for each of us.  Then columns for the date, reason money is being exchanged, two places to initial for both parties, and then the amount.  This way I can prove that I HAVE paid them back, and each of the kids can keep track of their money that they loan out.  It is basically a loan or I Owe You book, so that money quarrels won’t be quarrels anymore!

And you better believe that I’m keeping track because I’m tired of paying back twice!

Girls ROCK

As seen here....

Soul Surfer

Another busy weekend filled with soccer, Easter, older girls singing at Stake Women’s Conference, double date with the Mumma’s, AND a date to see …

My cute friend Angie and I took our older girls to see Soul Surfer.  It was so fun to sit and laugh with a friend, watch an inspiring movie, and see sweet expressions on my girls faces as they watched. Rebecca told me that she almost cried sooo many times during the movie.

Today before church when Rebecca showed me the picture she had drawn of the movie, I couldn’t resist snapping a couple pictures of the girls together.   I wish that I would have taken a picture of Angie and Emma with us.  Pictures just save memories for me!  Oh well, these will have to do….

They are such good friends and get so giggly.   I hope they always stay close to each other. 

Here is the Soul Surfer picture Rebecca made….

Easter

I LOVED studying those scripture passages that I shared from the “Friend” this week.  I feel that we had more focus on the Savior for the week.  One night I DID stop and get naan bread.  We ate it as we talked about the Last Supper and Jesus washing his disciples feet.  What a good activity to actually rub each other’s feet.  Can you imagine how dirty and calloused feet were during Christ's time, since they wore sandals.

We had a delicious Easter dinner, where we talked more about Christ’s resurrection.  We did another centerpiece like last years.  I think that centerpieces set a mood and can give meaningful conversation to a table ….

Kaylee had been asked to share her testimony in Primary and it was so good to hear her sweet thoughts.  I enjoyed this message as well …

Dying Easter Eggs

There is something about ALL of the bright colors and the white canvas of each egg….

  Jerrica was busy dipping egg wrappers in boiling water with Nathan’s help.  Ash was trying to peel and eat every egg she had.  Rebecca was writing with the crayon on all her eggs.  Kaylee kept trying the shiny foil egg technique, and finally mastered it, creating a “Golden Egg”.

Now I have a fridge FILLED with Easter eggs and one less thing to do over the weekend!

Bunny Treat

The girls and I made bunny treats for teachers.  Rebecca even took one to her Jazz teacher tonight.  I saw the idea on Martha Stewart.  We wrapped giant Hershey bars  in copy paper, gave them a little face and then wrote a sweet “some bunny loves you” note.

Bald

We were walking into the YMCA today and the wind was HORRIBLE.  My hair and the little girls hair was blowing everywhere, so I said,

"This wind is blowing our hair away." 

As soon as we get inside, Jerrica looks up at me with her big, scared eyes and says,

"Mom, is my hair all gone from the wind"

I couldn't help but smile as I could picture her little mind watching the wind blow our hair, thinking that it was pulling hair out.  I pointed out that Ashley and I still had our hair and that she was just fine too. 

She is always bringing a smile to my face with her sweet innocence!

Maria the Multilingual Mom

I met Maria on my mission in Ecuador.  She now lives in France and was just featured in a video clip.  Take a look at how cute her family is ...

Nathan and Goals

So family came into town because Nathan turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood at church.  We are so proud of him and the choices he is making in his life. 

Here he is with both sets of grandparents...

He also completed his Faith in God.  It is a program in our church that is filled with goals to complete.  I am so grateful for programs like this and the goals that make us stretch and reach a little farther than we normally would.  I know that by completing goals when you are young, you learn the habit of setting and reaching goals. 

Stephen has always been so good about helping the kids set and work on their goals.  He does father interviews with each of the kids on the first Sunday of each month.  It might not be EVERY month, but I bet he does it at least 8 of the 12, AND has done it since our boys were little. 

He has a notebook that he dates and lists each of the kids.  The little girls draw and doodle in his notebook as he talks with them.  He dates the page and writes a few comments.  He may talk to them about keeping their room cleaner and what they can do to accomplish that.  He used to have a little outline that he would follow for the interview.  The older ones answer questions and set new goals for the month.  Steve prints up their goals for them to hang on their bulletin boards. 

I think that it is important on some goals to share them with others so that they can encourage and help you achieve them.  I hear Steve reminding Rebecca to practice her splits before she goes to bed, or he is reminding someone to read their scriptures so they can get 30 days in a row.  I'm grateful for him instilling the importance of goals into our kids.  I keep telling him that he needs to do an interview with me and help me with some of my goals. :)

ANYWAY, we are proud of you Nathan for getting your Faith in God!

Weekend Update

We loved visiting all of the family that came into town.  This little guy was like a toy for my kids to play with.  They couldn't get enough of him and kept asking me to have one more little boy baby.

 

Friday morning we loaded up the family and treats and headed off to see "Rio".

Then we drug everyone around to see Jazz practices, volleyball games, soccer games, and swimming.  Jacob was excited to go swimming one morning with Aunt Lindsey and Grandma Brenda in tow, to help give him pointers.  I wanted all of the grandparents to see the kids in their various activities that they are involved in, but it sure made for a busy weekend that didn't have much sightseeing.  We were VERY lucky to have ALL of the games in Colorado Springs for the weekend.  In fact, Kaylee and Rebecca's games were at the same field within an hour of each other.  Perfect for grabbing a Subway picnic between the games.

Nathan had two games this week.  One was Copa vs Predators.  They are actually in the same division this season.  He enjoyed that game because so many of his friends from school are on that other team.  He is just so fun to watch with all of those fancy moves that he does.  The moves buy him extra time to make some really good passes and plays...

We went to Carrabba's on Saturday night.  I wish Carrabba's would come and cater a meal here at my house each week...

I sat there eating with Steve's parents and mine, AND was thinking and hoping that I get along well with all of the in-laws that my kids marry into.  You do so many things with the other side of the family after marriage.  A wise woman told me once that I don't have to "like" who my kids marry, but I do have to "love" the person they marry, or else I will lose my own child.

I'm lucky that I really love my mother-in-law.  She is such an amazing woman.  I watch how patient she is with Steve's sister, and just don't know how she can always be so calm and sweet.  I'm very grateful to have her as an example to me, and for the amazing son that she raised and that I married!

Visitors and Easter Link

We had a busy week with visitors.  :)

Not only were Stephen's parents in town, but a couple of his sisters, AND my parents.  It was fun and I need to blog about it tonight.

I did promise one of MY sister's that I would share this link - HERE.  It is from this month's Friend magazine.  I love how it summarizes each day of Christ's life leading up to Easter.  It's perfect for scripture reading each night.  I'm hoping to pick up some yummy naan bread from a restaurant here in town to go along with tomorrow's.  Anyway, if you have the friend, cut that section out and save it with your Easter stuff.  It is such a perfect little summary!

Nathan's Birthday

We celebrated yet another birthday. We have a lot of family coming into town tomorrow to celebrate this weekend, BUT we couldn't resist a little family party WITH a Baskin Robin's ice cream cake...

 

I think his favorite gift was this ...

Although it may have been the gift from his brother - Jacob had made him a really funny (totally boy humor) card with a $25 gift card to buy more apps for his i-touch.  I'm so glad that Jacob and Nathan are such good friends. 

Nathan, you are so athletic and fun to watch.  We enjoy your funny personality.  Your little sisters get so excited when you tease and play with them.  They love that attention.  You love playing with your i-touch and usually have your soccer ball at your feet.  If you aren't at a practice, you are usually outside shooting on your goal.  You excel at math, yet don't care for reading.  You are a great piano player.  You are always very organized and time conscientious.  We sure love you and are so grateful to have you in our family. 

Happy Birthday!

The Forgotten Garden

I LOVED this book!  I enjoyed how the author wove all of the characters into the story, each telling their part of the mystery.  I just couldn't put it down.  I usually read when I'm waiting for kids in carpool or at their practices, BUT this book I couldn't wait until the next carpool, I had to finish it!

The cover doesn't look that intriguing, but just inside the cover is quite the story. 
I enjoy thoughts and quotes in books.  After I finish a book I go back to all my corners that I've turned down to jot different quotes down, here are a few from the book that liked... 

• "The happiest folk are those that are busy, for their minds are starved of time to seek out woe."
• "You mustn't wait a rescue.  A girl expecting rescue never learns to save herself."
• "He's got about as much patience as a firecracker on a fire."
• "You make a life out of what you have, and not what you are missing"

Anyway, check it out here - The Forgotten Garden: A Novel
OR if you have read it, I would love to hear your thoughts....

Day in Denver

Nathan had a Tuesday evening game in Denver.  The game was actually close to the Denver's Children Museum AND I just couldn't resist fitting that in before the game.  SOOO, I took the little girls and picked up Nathan and the big girls from school after lunch and we headed up to Denver. 

The museum was awesome!  We painted, did bubbles, tap danced, created, and fit in a little pretend play....

Nathan was such a good sport playing with his sisters.  I thought that all of the girls would all be worn out, and just sit calmly to watch Nathan's game.  Uh no, we sat up on a hill to watch the game, and of course there was PLENTY of rolling down the hill.  Cartwheels and front rolls were practiced in abundance. 

Nathan's team lost 3 to 1.  Nathan did get his team's only goal.  It turned out to be a fun and exhausting day.  The only sad part was not having Stephen and Jacob with us. 

Jacob had a band concert the same time as Nathan's game.  That's what is so hard about having so many kids - you miss some of their activities.  Stephen turned it into a fun date with Jake, and then we all sat and watched the video recording of the concert when we got home.

Our Entomologist

So Ashley found a beetle a LONG time ago.  She named him Tom and let him go.  NOW she finds all kinds of Tom's relatives.  She will come in from playing, "Mom, I just found Tom's son ... Mom here is Tom's cousin..."  Along with how they are related, she will include the name of the beetle.  We think she is pretty AWESOME to know her beetles and genealogy of beetles so well...

Meet Juliet from today.  She dated Tom when she was younger but ended up marrying David...

 

Tom, we sure enjoy all of your family!  Thanks for letting our entomologist study all of you!