tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52600017706980772782024-03-05T17:15:08.721-08:00Team ThompsonThompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-24976538257625431252015-07-10T13:39:00.001-07:002015-07-10T13:39:14.307-07:00Happy 6th Birthday to Arlo & Josiah!On June 9, Arlo & Josiah turned 6 years old & boy, did we celebrate! When school was released for the summer, we hopped in the van, drove across the country and arrived in Virginia the day before the big celebration! All of the Hall cousins were there to celebrate dressed in camouflage & carrying their Nerf guns. After their birthday lunch, all of the kids had target practice & uncle Travis set up obstacles & capture the flag. Kenny & Dixie brought water guns for all of the kids. They rode the zipline, dirt bike & the Kawasaki Mule. For dinner we roasted hotdogs & s'mores followed by a fireworks show by uncle Travis. It was another epic cousin party! I interviewed the boys & have posted a few of their answers below. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 6 year old, Josiah</td></tr>
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Josiah is my comedian, my artist, my nurturer & my germophobe. <br />
favorite food:garlic bread<br />
dessert: homemade popsicles<br />
candy: orange suckers<br />
color: red<br />
animal: all kinds of dogs (wolves, coyotes, jackals, etc....)<br />
When he grows up, Josiah wants to be an archeologist.<br />
Josiah loves to swim & has recently become very confident swimming in the deep end & jumping off the diving board. He has mastered the art of "arm toots" (aka making fart noises with his armpit) and shows off his talent at any opportunity. Josiah has also perfected the monkey bars & loves riding his bicycle. He only wears "basketball" shorts/pants & likes to have monochromatic outfits as part of his fashion. He likes to try new sports & hopefully we will get him in tennis camp when we get back to Utah.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 6 year old, Arlo</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Arlo is my hardworker, tender-hearted & friendly boy who is quick to serve. </div>
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favorite food: chicken!</div>
dessert: black raspberry ice cream<br />
candy: gum<br />
color: gold<br />
animal: sharks <br />
When he grows up, Arlo wants to work for daddy @ Fox Pest Control.<br />
Arlo loves to swim & ride his bicycle. He loves to swing high at the playground & can jump off mid-swing! Arlo is an avid reader & works hard to learn new books. His favorite book right now is Dr. Seusses' "Go Dog Go." His recently learned talent is counting backwards from 20. Arlo is a great shopping buddy, cleaner & organizer. Arlo will only wear skinny jeans or cut off jean shorts. He prefers to wear his Tom&Jerry shirt at every opportunity it's clean. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday boys, blowing out their candles!!</td></tr>
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We had a fabulous celebration! There is something so special about twins. They are the best of friends; the worst of enemies; and I couldn't imagine life without either one of them. I am raising them together, yet they each have different strengths, weaknesses, and interests. It is obvious that these spirits are unique from each other and each boy contributes something special to our family. I pray every day that Arlo & Josiah will grow up to be successful Priesthood-holding husbands & fathers. I am so very blessed to be their mother.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Happy birthday to my big boys!</b></span></div>
Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-43723565255179926512015-06-16T09:32:00.003-07:002015-06-16T09:35:06.937-07:00Happy 3rd Birthday Miles!Mercy, I'm behind on posts, but I can't forget my sweet Miles who had a birthday in April. He turned 3 years old and this year we celebrated BIG! We rented 2 bounce houses, filled a big pinata with candy and invited lots of friends. Miles knew that the big day was just for him & he loved every minute. We also celebrated a little friend of ours, Miley, who turned 1 the day before. <br />
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A little about our big 3 year old:<br />
<ul>
<li>He potty trained the week before he turned 3 years old & hardly has any accidents. It just clicked for him & he figured it out without much help. A special shout-out to Daniel Tiger - Season 1, Episode 11.</li>
<li>He LOVES the color orange. Like, really, a lot.</li>
<li>When he gets big, Miles wants to be a cowboy and ride a horse. </li>
<li>His favorite foods are "cheesy eggs" and ice cream. </li>
<li>Miles is an adrenaline junkie. He loves the thrill of a ride on the dirt bike, zipwire or swinging really high. </li>
<li>He has the cutest little freckles in the WHOLE world.</li>
<li>He is a good dancer with killer foot work.</li>
<li>Miles loves to snuggle & if he crawls into bed with us at night, he keeps his arms around my neck, like a stuffed animal. </li>
<li>He loves his big brothers SO much and follows them around like he's a triplet. BUT, he is definitely an independent little guy who has a great imagination when he plays alone. </li>
<li>He has really stepped up to the title of big brother. He loves the twin babies so much and works at being gentle & helpful.</li>
<li>Miles is a home-body and sticks close to his family. </li>
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There is something really special about Miles & he is such a wonderful part of our family. He has an air of confidence; he is creative & silly; and he is such a good buddy. We love you Miles!<br />
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-67057705555329223802015-05-11T21:39:00.000-07:002015-05-11T21:42:20.657-07:00The Lord is Aware of MeIt's been far too long since my last post, but I would ungrateful if I didn't express my gratitude to the Lord and the people that He has put in my life. <br />
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Jason's VERY busy work season is in the spring/summer and he travels 4-6 weeks at a time, with a quick visit between trips. This is our 5th year in the pest control business and I've become accustom to busy season - but this is my first year to have 5 children while he's gone for so long. I'll admit, it's much harder than the 2-3 children I've had in past busy times. I seem to hit a wall at 2 weeks - my emotions are tender, patience depleted and showers are far & few between - that was me all last week as I endured week 3 of his absence.<br />
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As I reflect back, I can see that each day got a little easier - Heavenly Father heard my prayers and friends answered them with acts of service & love toward me. I hadn't vocalized my struggles to anyone, but somehow all of these amazing people came to me this week and offered what I needed most. I know that in times of trial, Heavenly Father is aware and He sends to us, what we need at the time.<br />
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So that I wouldn't forget the blessings in my life, I decided to sit down and list just a few of the tender mercies that I experienced this week. I am so grateful to the people in my life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM6VSV-4uhyNPoOwdRCE0-98JZv98ZU_d2Tv2JZ5w8JE5nSH06C386wxsiNS_csZdugI_nRlIDXNxJXU22U5a9T33pkIOdk9SbVo_vTz3JW_8WgXoBNWz4Iu8U_zKEeK-mkEUATWMcY0/s1600/2015-05-11+17.01.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM6VSV-4uhyNPoOwdRCE0-98JZv98ZU_d2Tv2JZ5w8JE5nSH06C386wxsiNS_csZdugI_nRlIDXNxJXU22U5a9T33pkIOdk9SbVo_vTz3JW_8WgXoBNWz4Iu8U_zKEeK-mkEUATWMcY0/s320/2015-05-11+17.01.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Day flowers from my husband</td></tr>
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-A friend called to see if she could watch my kids so that I could attend the temple - and while I was at the temple, I sat next to a new friend who attends my ward.<br />
-A sweet neighbor brought dinner to our family on Wednesday. <br />
-A phone call from a long distance friend, who also has a husband in the pest control business.<br />
-A neighbor offered to take my boys to/from soccer so that I could keep the babies home during the cold & rainy game - this same friend also brought me honey from her bees & a bar of her homemade goat milk soap.<br />
- I spoke to both my mom & sister on the phone this week - for over an hour with each person!! <br />
-I received a mother's day note in the mail from my mom.<br />
-The teenage boys in the pew behind us, held & played with my baby boy during Church.<br />
-My husband sent me mother's day flowers - and hand delivered by more friends.<br />
-Another friend brought me a "bucket of sunshine" - just because. Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-33634771510061938092014-10-15T23:08:00.000-07:002014-10-15T23:08:14.950-07:00These Babies....The babies are now 3 1/2 months old and they just get cuter and cuter! I must have mom-goggles because, seriously, come on....look at them....I die. Not only are they ridiculously adorable, but they are rockstar babies - they are now sleeping for 8-11 hours straight each night, plus another 2-4 hours before they stay up for the day.<br />
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We are getting into the really fun stage where they are smiling lots and are building their social skills. Abigail laughs out loud and Henry does this funny growl/grunting. Those are the moments are definitely my "mama paychecks." We are moving out of the newborn stage and into the infant stage - instead of taking a million little naps during the day, Abigail and Henry take 3 big naps a day. (If I can keep a tight schedule.) And what would be a blogpost without shamelessly posting photos of my beautiful children.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgS_QQIaV8tb85aqwWqL-i-7E7ESb1Ub5G9S2pT-SsWyPID9k2-HrYs_tmN7PooAF0kuaGh-6v9iSsGUhtvAhmo0OT4EDn95Z9O1iFlRKBowyjdVPMvNYyyhlhXzuV1GzwP537QOYTng/s1600/2014-08-24+19.11.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgS_QQIaV8tb85aqwWqL-i-7E7ESb1Ub5G9S2pT-SsWyPID9k2-HrYs_tmN7PooAF0kuaGh-6v9iSsGUhtvAhmo0OT4EDn95Z9O1iFlRKBowyjdVPMvNYyyhlhXzuV1GzwP537QOYTng/s1600/2014-08-24+19.11.52.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 2 Months (August 2014)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3duYBl9gq9JRaaaWNVt8fRVzHmrw8kj3dZpCQu6maZAP1lsoGVu1idQfFYDfAYA_omhzdXQm0yCOqzW_XBhgK_HARRuHLyclnUc0NitNDkuwdQyauBG166NxhQ4y43UKcO1dJv2LrA1E/s1600/2014-10-07+16.57.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3duYBl9gq9JRaaaWNVt8fRVzHmrw8kj3dZpCQu6maZAP1lsoGVu1idQfFYDfAYA_omhzdXQm0yCOqzW_XBhgK_HARRuHLyclnUc0NitNDkuwdQyauBG166NxhQ4y43UKcO1dJv2LrA1E/s1600/2014-10-07+16.57.05.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 3 Months! (September 2014)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuVH4m3nCpksSIZpjCPzCNFznErWq_QvIN5skNYNdMIL_4TMNAiPdaDbeZC7YHMUSrYXY43nkWhKS8L0uv5i61mOrzD_0M2vcG6EYrSXhGTS0wk-tpbBslB9oACoISbZkM-M_oaTqjzM/s1600/2014-10-07+17.18.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuVH4m3nCpksSIZpjCPzCNFznErWq_QvIN5skNYNdMIL_4TMNAiPdaDbeZC7YHMUSrYXY43nkWhKS8L0uv5i61mOrzD_0M2vcG6EYrSXhGTS0wk-tpbBslB9oACoISbZkM-M_oaTqjzM/s1600/2014-10-07+17.18.07.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 3 Months! (September 2014)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT-aWUPqc_4JyFNBuhg3MvOSyvtrDXSfHraobU6K8wHxxLYasUMoF3pmKec05TSib4GXBr2wjvnNQJczohMJbLQHqbQyvIgCfteqyVhFXULJjqvNZY3FWxY__Abb0YuS8ItSpr8IvFKY/s1600/20140926_091108(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT-aWUPqc_4JyFNBuhg3MvOSyvtrDXSfHraobU6K8wHxxLYasUMoF3pmKec05TSib4GXBr2wjvnNQJczohMJbLQHqbQyvIgCfteqyVhFXULJjqvNZY3FWxY__Abb0YuS8ItSpr8IvFKY/s1600/20140926_091108(1).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at all of these photos, makes me want to go upstairs and wake them up and squeeze them. But, then I come back to my senses and realize that this is my ONLY free time.....enjoy the quiet moments alone. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJFxJjRloVx1ioPjShj6uyJjI4yLMWxHKFuKQ7TMjJwLnXCj-I8daxI3JVa0vl88i3dotfPU2eANt7GeNcctPCnuXrBMrsTELiAdKQ2w8m_DHTHKNJLiB-nQ5THAovlQSxdGRnUbuIoQ/s1600/2014-09-16+16.03.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJFxJjRloVx1ioPjShj6uyJjI4yLMWxHKFuKQ7TMjJwLnXCj-I8daxI3JVa0vl88i3dotfPU2eANt7GeNcctPCnuXrBMrsTELiAdKQ2w8m_DHTHKNJLiB-nQ5THAovlQSxdGRnUbuIoQ/s1600/2014-09-16+16.03.28.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing at the park while big brothers play. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy8lgaQCW1canviQDRDFkyjurV4Vw0dN7y-y3SN2bd1FlrRnyuwTshxpsiHYGkvWDq7jiuYtkv-huYACYZr7jdpzGiBW_76-jzCGI1oZDZiB5rhPmDyqEcvPc9KjAsSQQ94R5GAgTW2s/s1600/2014-09-21+16.03.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy8lgaQCW1canviQDRDFkyjurV4Vw0dN7y-y3SN2bd1FlrRnyuwTshxpsiHYGkvWDq7jiuYtkv-huYACYZr7jdpzGiBW_76-jzCGI1oZDZiB5rhPmDyqEcvPc9KjAsSQQ94R5GAgTW2s/s1600/2014-09-21+16.03.12.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry playing with big brother, Josiah</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYF47f50oX_7VROO2J3XBLZekYKEWNmR3DyCgTqlUm8ecyhdvvhDIq6CLHiJEHCFITOgOn6Z2fFQT6GkZs3gCKft2uzdIMIzxjGj6zcwMNlHgZUgVuyeu-NQoobsPYI_td3qd3K-XD_o/s1600/2014-10-02+22.12.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYF47f50oX_7VROO2J3XBLZekYKEWNmR3DyCgTqlUm8ecyhdvvhDIq6CLHiJEHCFITOgOn6Z2fFQT6GkZs3gCKft2uzdIMIzxjGj6zcwMNlHgZUgVuyeu-NQoobsPYI_td3qd3K-XD_o/s1600/2014-10-02+22.12.56.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail & big brother, Miles (wow, I still have a hard time with the realization that Miles is a BIG brother!!)</td></tr>
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On September 28, Jason gave the babies a "name & a blessing" at Church. They were beautiful blessings full of promises for their future. I took lots of notes & shed a few tears of happiness during their blessings. We had an army of friends and family who showered us with love & support that day. Not only was it the perfect blessing day, but we also celebrated Jason's 33rd birthday with "Lemon Frozen Dessert" from the Burnham family.<br />
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-78782537948610259472014-10-15T23:07:00.000-07:002014-10-15T23:07:54.877-07:00KINDERGARTEN!!About a month or two ago (my days are kind of a blur....it was either August or September....) Arlo & Josiah started Kindergarten at River Heights Elementary! The week before starting we had a chance to visit the classroom, meet the teacher and check out their awesome name tags all over the room. The night before the boys started school, we went to the store and picked out "hunting" backpacks and got haircuts and baths. The first day of school was quote, "AWESOME!" Arlo & Josiah spent the next week strutting around and bragging to strangers about how they are now kindergardners. :) It was pretty darn cute. <br />
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Since that first day, Arlo & Josiah continue to love school, make new friends and excel at academics. Monday is computer day and Tuesday is library day. They come home with a homework packet each Monday and spend a little time each day completing it before the next Monday rolls around. They've already participated in a fire drill and today they had a fireman visit their classroom for fire safety week. Their teacher is Ms. Jelke and has loads of personality, energy and patience. I went to parent-teacher conference last week and Ms. Jelke said "Your boys are not the 'sit-in-front-of-tv' type. Arlo and Josiah are adventurous and creative." I sure love those boys and are so proud of them. I hope they always love school as much as they do right now. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 2nd Annual "First day of School Ice Cream" Trip. (Cold Stone Creamery)</td></tr>
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-23524955773035663212014-10-15T22:28:00.000-07:002014-10-15T23:16:14.588-07:00I'm THAT lady! Sympathy Discounts.That's it....it's official folks....I have become that "poor lady"....the one that gets sympathy discounts without even asking. The mom who is obviously so overwhelmed that people give her a discount, just because. I didn't want to believe it, but it's happened twice in the past week. The first time is when I rolled into Les Tire Center with a half-flat tire. A nail had punctured my tire and air was quickly leaking out. I asked the man how much to fix it - $15 - totally reasonable. In fact, I would have paid twice that price to make sure that I didn't get stranded on the side of the road with 5 small children while my husband was working out of state. When the job was done, he said that it was free. SWEET! I drove away, all proud of myself & thinking that I was hot stuff - still had the charm & good looks to get free stuff.<br />
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Haha....And then a few days later.....<br />
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It was a CRAZY BUSY day (not counting the fact that I had 5 small children to care for.) I needed to grocery shop and get the house cleaned/prepped for several guests who would be staying with us for the week and Jason was MIA getting ready for his annual work banquet. In fact, I didn't have time to do my hair, makeup, or even put a bra on. I was pretty ratty looking in my sweatshirt & jeans, but it was bottom of my priority list. Moving on....<br />
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Our van battery was having trouble the past few days, but Jason was able to clean off the corrosion that we believed to be the problem. So, I jump-started the van & took the kids to school. Then jumpstart #2 when I picked them up. Jumpstart #3 at the school. We headed to Wal-Mart because tampons & diapers can't wait for daddy to come home. So, I drag all 5 kids with me through the aisles of Wal-mart (Please visualize 1 shopping cart, 1 double stroller & 3 kids walking with me - I look like a circus.) After getting diapers, tampons & only the critical groceries we head to the check-out, only to realize that I left my purse SOMEWHERE in WALMART!!! CRAP! We wander through the entire store searching until we get word that someone turned in my purse at customer service. All money still in my wallet - tender mercy of the Lord.<br />
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We get to the van in the parking lot and Surprise! Dead Battery AGAIN. (Just kidding, I wasn't really surprised at this point.) Oh, I should mention, every time I have a dead battery, my fancy sliding doors don't open....so we have to all climb in through the driver/passenger doors....and baby carseats too. So, I load up kids & groceries through the front seat while we wait for a shopper to return to a neighboring parked car. Nice lady parked next to me jumpstarts the van (#4) and I FINALLY get the brains to drive to Autozone. The guy tests my battery and it's bad (Duh!). So, I purchase a new one & the man installs it for me while the big kids are whining in the backseat and babies are screaming bc it's time for them to eat. Who knows what I even looked like at this point - it must have been pretty bad because the man gave me 10% off my battery purchase. I drive home and silently cry a few tears because I'm SO tired.<br />
<br />
So....yes, I love to post happy/funny/cute photos of my children. And I like to put on a front that life is easy breezy & filled with rainbows. I feel like Facebook should be filled with happiness - not a place to complain. But let's face it moms.....we all have those days. Tomorrow will be better and we'll laugh when we tell the story. :)Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-50537587292199575722014-10-15T22:21:00.000-07:002014-10-15T23:08:34.865-07:00Our Middle ChildWith all the excitement of have 2 sets of twins, sometimes our sweet middle child gets overlooked. So, to make up for it, here's a whole post on my charming Miles.<br />
<br />
Miles is only 2 1/2 years old, but he can keep up with Arlo & Josiah as well as any other 5 year old. Anything they can do, he can do it too (or so he thinks). One day he will grow up and realize that he isn't a triplet with A&J. lol. <br />
<br />
Seriously, this kid is AWESOME! I don't care what kind of trouble he is causing or the ridiculousness of his temper-tantrum, he melts my heart. I can't say no to him. And if you haven't noticed, he LOVES the camera. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6O0JHH4rvAdfAVzaamemNLhFmfSY6xedF9hyphenhyphenSvnEAXUMa1P42LubrUDHPJrKuUB1mSRYtBJRNZOJ0o_A2_E1x21vNL3hIKuQj6pxn4DZ115QzAAENvXB_7SDFMyHsjrqWvbDfNdHJT0/s1600/2014-10-03+17.52.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6O0JHH4rvAdfAVzaamemNLhFmfSY6xedF9hyphenhyphenSvnEAXUMa1P42LubrUDHPJrKuUB1mSRYtBJRNZOJ0o_A2_E1x21vNL3hIKuQj6pxn4DZ115QzAAENvXB_7SDFMyHsjrqWvbDfNdHJT0/s1600/2014-10-03+17.52.21.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NZ3Ca7S-vwCGd4tGVPerZTUCfWnNYec5Ed8XZgAe0muB8dWv0MmlJswNVehsnmh1jDgzCWLi97Rz-OZ9Nc7rIkVZsh9dFMmKWwX61kRn14GdA2IK0elXmUdBE_KenHzPjqxfxBoRAuo/s1600/2014-10-08+08.55.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NZ3Ca7S-vwCGd4tGVPerZTUCfWnNYec5Ed8XZgAe0muB8dWv0MmlJswNVehsnmh1jDgzCWLi97Rz-OZ9Nc7rIkVZsh9dFMmKWwX61kRn14GdA2IK0elXmUdBE_KenHzPjqxfxBoRAuo/s1600/2014-10-08+08.55.20.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While I was taking this photo, he was waving his bat around and saying "I get the orange zombies & I eat them!!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Vegw6yXfLjpN-878V0Vou2ZtQxoUTnIMUKlaJt6PiE4EX-TrGt5ReFub84rj4pPdKzg_Xz_6e0ln9I7R8m-_8rtVmQ-SKr4XMRZPaPpMIOh65_dWwo05PpQ2h2y9fuxOhiRsS7iJgUQ/s1600/2014-09-05+17.16.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Vegw6yXfLjpN-878V0Vou2ZtQxoUTnIMUKlaJt6PiE4EX-TrGt5ReFub84rj4pPdKzg_Xz_6e0ln9I7R8m-_8rtVmQ-SKr4XMRZPaPpMIOh65_dWwo05PpQ2h2y9fuxOhiRsS7iJgUQ/s1600/2014-09-05+17.16.02.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He would follow his older brothers to the moon. </td></tr>
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-66191603414239730112014-10-15T19:50:00.001-07:002014-10-15T22:20:11.330-07:00Our Official "Welcome to the World" Announcement:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHVsTqGAKvH0c3PHNIWT6ARg6VuPo48KO1aJxyNfeihFV4hqsILd34ZVCAdiv4EChSRxQtvTvUdk57sECkNx0WA_3dHpYzithKUOSDl5-bUhyphenhyphenGoEUkyVruEWaUxB627QV4T8-7101tuI/s1600/Abigail+and+Henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHVsTqGAKvH0c3PHNIWT6ARg6VuPo48KO1aJxyNfeihFV4hqsILd34ZVCAdiv4EChSRxQtvTvUdk57sECkNx0WA_3dHpYzithKUOSDl5-bUhyphenhyphenGoEUkyVruEWaUxB627QV4T8-7101tuI/s1600/Abigail+and+Henry.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-59196773756426224412014-08-16T23:45:00.001-07:002014-08-16T23:45:44.096-07:00Post Partum: Random Ramblings of a Sleep Deprived Mother<br />
7 weeks ago I delivered our second set of twins - my favorite day in 2014, for sure. But, for the past 7 weeks, I've had broken sleep throughout the night. My body has been going through this process of regulating my hormones. I packed our house in boxes while recovering from a C-section. Then, I drove 3 days straight with 5 small children/babies, without switching drivers. (Jason drove the moving truck.) Then I unpacked all of those boxes and organized them in our new home. My husband left town for 2 weeks to finish up some work in Texas. <br />
<br />
Needless to say, folks, I'm NOT running on all cylinders these days. I'm tired. And when I'm tired, I think crazy things. Here are a few of my random thoughts about post-partum....<br />
<br />
1. So, like all mothers to newborns, I wake up several times throughout the night to feed my cute<br />
little babies. It's easy to fall asleep during those midnight/3am/6am feedings, so to keep things <br />
interesting, the babies and I compete in the.....<b>BABY OLYMPICS!</b> Henry & Abigail compete<br />
against each other in several different events. <br />
<ul>
<li> First, we see who can drink his/her entire bottle first. Abigail almost always wins at this event - she's a fast drinker, while Henry takes his time & enjoys his bottle. </li>
<li>Then we have the burping event - Henry is definitely the champion. He is the first to burp and earns extra points by burping several times, followed by spit-up. Abigail is much more of a lady and will often skip this event. </li>
<li>As the mother, I compete against myself to see how fast I can feed, change & swaddle the babies. I started out at 45 minutes, but over time, we have widdled our best time down to 32 minutes "per feeding. </li>
</ul>
2. We always read about "<i>What not to ask/say to a pregnant woman</i>." BUT, I argue that it's even <br />
MORE important to think about <i>"What not to ask/say to a POST-PARTUM woman.</i>" She is now<br />
being woken up every 2-3 hours at night, getting peed on during diaper changes, and doesn't even<br />
get a thank you from her cute little babe. Not to mention, this mother is still wearing her<br />
maternity clothes for weeks/months after baby is born and her hormones are still adjusting. <br />
So, she's exhausted, fat & hormonal. You better walk on eggshells, my friend. Here are a few <br />
comments I received soon after giving birth.<br />
<ul>
<li>"Are you sure there isn't another baby in there?" (From a nurse in the hospital, 1 day after I deliver twins....are you KIDDIN' me?!!)</li>
<li>"So, when will your baby bump go away?" (From one of Jason's employees - no wonder he is still single!!)</li>
</ul>
3. "I split my stitches!"....it's not a joke. The first week of recovery, I couldn't cough, sneeze or <br />
laugh without having to hold my stomach and try to choke it down. It hurt like no other and I <br />
honestly worried that my incision would pop/rip/tear. <br />
<br />
4. Since becoming pregnant with our second set of twins, I feel like a celebrity. When we made <br />
our FB announcement, I received several friend requests from complete strangers who just<br />
wanted to follow my pregnancy/baby updates. And then when we delivered the babies...same<br />
thing...everyone's best friend's - little sister's - cousin's - roommate wants to be my FB friend.<br />
Sorry, I decline those requests and like to keep my life somewhat private. And THEN...we can't<br />
go out in public without lots of stares/whispers/questions and of course we have people actually<br />
counting my children. Can't a girl take her 5 small children to Sam's club without being a<br />
spectacle?? (yeah, probably not, huh?)<br />
<br />
5. And I'd like to finish off my ramblings on a more serious note. I have a some good family friends <br />
who have 14 children in their family (THREE sets of twins!!) I asked the mother for her advice<br />
and I would count her very wise.<br />
<br />
"<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Dana,
you will do great. You have done this before and the second time
around is easier than the first! Especially right now, don't be
afraid to operate on the principle of "selected neglect." This means to
only do the most important things and do</span></span><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">n't
worry about the things which are not so important. Just try to enjoy
every moment because they grow up way too fast. Also, let others help
you with meals, cleaning, shopping, chauffeuring, or caring for your
older children. It will be a blessing to those who help and you will
make precious friends through that service.. Most important, I have
realized over the years that the greatest gift I have ever given my
children is their brothers and sisters. It is important to remember
that on those sleepless nights!"</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">And to finish off with some highlight PHOTOS from July!!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqi3wobmbUvVJ1Q0O2cUF8d_amI5R2ICe3qufgw0kETepEQRS0prIOi3ucngnw_EymFlNT7HSr2U3C6k-_ImA1wMUz-xs4bOS4SBiG2JNI0w6oHcg0CtxNIS3V6TRRwy8Cu8v4SEsks0/s1600/2014-07-04+11.14.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqi3wobmbUvVJ1Q0O2cUF8d_amI5R2ICe3qufgw0kETepEQRS0prIOi3ucngnw_EymFlNT7HSr2U3C6k-_ImA1wMUz-xs4bOS4SBiG2JNI0w6oHcg0CtxNIS3V6TRRwy8Cu8v4SEsks0/s1600/2014-07-04+11.14.47.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th of July outfits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2sY4yHF3vGfvBhoNq_xkuDL6Fje_zayIb76XqGbAzfkUOuHqjnACbxDAfovGwMp98TcisdxMA4xRlahfP_KVpqESiITZvRNFjAWH_LTD1vUjx1w8UvbW70L2KWjfE0qqBa1LvbJe2w4/s1600/2014-07-20+13.36.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2sY4yHF3vGfvBhoNq_xkuDL6Fje_zayIb76XqGbAzfkUOuHqjnACbxDAfovGwMp98TcisdxMA4xRlahfP_KVpqESiITZvRNFjAWH_LTD1vUjx1w8UvbW70L2KWjfE0qqBa1LvbJe2w4/s1600/2014-07-20+13.36.09.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handsome Henry at 1 week old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsUDkHyp5lwkjPvL9At6H2qqjFn6M55yidxz_bVebLJt9zI1bVp_iq6_PdQ8yMUeQXKQc0r_JxGl53L-r1Pnnh7_UYp6EPdRuPiA4qt7KbtYXzNAAf2-_BOXdkVT8_eXeZQr6lZdm6EA/s1600/2014-07-23+22.25.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsUDkHyp5lwkjPvL9At6H2qqjFn6M55yidxz_bVebLJt9zI1bVp_iq6_PdQ8yMUeQXKQc0r_JxGl53L-r1Pnnh7_UYp6EPdRuPiA4qt7KbtYXzNAAf2-_BOXdkVT8_eXeZQr6lZdm6EA/s1600/2014-07-23+22.25.37.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Girl at 1 week old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W741QyrLqXx0I0UdcQk6rKCMI9nfqgr2lFdqhsvU-EQp4_xNqbt98xXSdfu2n8o3u-oBNi9ePgvX1f3HfeePRVKK1dOzsa5MXurRYk1fIHCITlQR28S1VtLLhReK5iSk_eCIVJm00M8/s1600/2014-07-25+11.52.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W741QyrLqXx0I0UdcQk6rKCMI9nfqgr2lFdqhsvU-EQp4_xNqbt98xXSdfu2n8o3u-oBNi9ePgvX1f3HfeePRVKK1dOzsa5MXurRYk1fIHCITlQR28S1VtLLhReK5iSk_eCIVJm00M8/s1600/2014-07-25+11.52.42.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles & me at the pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_jb2n90JQB1Xukfkbb8pdKgD2ccf49CMQNan1xcHNTOfr4Q2lWDdH6vV4oj-rQzULbOHcI9_PyK1pqJVanFGBcDWlenp90WYKYppctIg5OIHC-7fL5mFtVJdDHW7QFeiYE96k-dmIhw/s1600/2014-07-24+19.26.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_jb2n90JQB1Xukfkbb8pdKgD2ccf49CMQNan1xcHNTOfr4Q2lWDdH6vV4oj-rQzULbOHcI9_PyK1pqJVanFGBcDWlenp90WYKYppctIg5OIHC-7fL5mFtVJdDHW7QFeiYE96k-dmIhw/s1600/2014-07-24+19.26.59.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Twins & Little Twins</td></tr>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".15f.1:3:1:$comment10154312630290013_10154315981605013:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXVEIXrNesIPB2JfoAYyWS6-y1rUNS5XVQFGUYodNsu3TSYQu_7-DcPLpD_lo8GpkSQd7MsXWVW8-y8GjD1FR_-JUF4XdDpQyaOeyllySpCnEcOXiMM_iWMpjj_Lvrvea2LC7Bb9fyB8/s1600/2014-07-16+12.18.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXVEIXrNesIPB2JfoAYyWS6-y1rUNS5XVQFGUYodNsu3TSYQu_7-DcPLpD_lo8GpkSQd7MsXWVW8-y8GjD1FR_-JUF4XdDpQyaOeyllySpCnEcOXiMM_iWMpjj_Lvrvea2LC7Bb9fyB8/s1600/2014-07-16+12.18.01.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma Hall came to visit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vwAxYzIiUCCBSINQBR2Uf-34ktLPoNiA0Apg28n1_13igv9fP-C__ED7aQWCwZRnsJmj4pKQcFWeTyrr-nwb3FyPzyQVSHTyJNAzZjxwPtqOMEz5LNTdQN0uv4GEO1ESDpVKE3W7Y3o/s1600/2014-07-23+20.21.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vwAxYzIiUCCBSINQBR2Uf-34ktLPoNiA0Apg28n1_13igv9fP-C__ED7aQWCwZRnsJmj4pKQcFWeTyrr-nwb3FyPzyQVSHTyJNAzZjxwPtqOMEz5LNTdQN0uv4GEO1ESDpVKE3W7Y3o/s1600/2014-07-23+20.21.30.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A&J roasting marshmallows!</td></tr>
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Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-58228970359832357322014-08-16T21:58:00.003-07:002014-08-16T22:05:48.456-07:00Introducing...<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Abigail Neoma Thompson (5lb 6oz) & Henry Francis Thompson (5lb 9oz)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Born June 23, 2014 </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
McAllen, Texas</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
via C-section</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH1_wq_tXchGW6lY-jsJTZo48RrGWACtnpmqcxu_OsMrDu7J2HhJKJRLgGgcvOCArmKVVy9cY4AIbpOCPEgTINbgYbgCkmMuwFzRL5134_yR4udSbWY2J1_PyHMP6zXPoLUPCxRlWxPQ/s1600/20140623_183950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH1_wq_tXchGW6lY-jsJTZo48RrGWACtnpmqcxu_OsMrDu7J2HhJKJRLgGgcvOCArmKVVy9cY4AIbpOCPEgTINbgYbgCkmMuwFzRL5134_yR4udSbWY2J1_PyHMP6zXPoLUPCxRlWxPQ/s1600/20140623_183950.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babies are here!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz40XwMhKi8-_I2LB0fD2OJ6rgOcww-_8T-n6pOddagfwbhtY2ZMWfDH39kJfk-lP9yLtFQKLCiHMrv7NRgnwIJdx8zrNhUro9K7tLAPwf2cwgkwcc-HqkiQN4mUm9XkPzVyAM5mI_aS8/s1600/2014-06-24+10.13.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz40XwMhKi8-_I2LB0fD2OJ6rgOcww-_8T-n6pOddagfwbhtY2ZMWfDH39kJfk-lP9yLtFQKLCiHMrv7NRgnwIJdx8zrNhUro9K7tLAPwf2cwgkwcc-HqkiQN4mUm9XkPzVyAM5mI_aS8/s1600/2014-06-24+10.13.51.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the Thompson boys</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKcVRmdgn5JUmiBVpC06RBF9R5jeLzpvZ5If5iXcKHpN9L-7AEWuCyZ1cQI-ekU05_PZV9hFXRjC9VJVE2ZsH7aUEPcL76mcEGHJuz9yZxrhi_DlPoi_o5FndClusSins8ZvRQOXRdE8/s1600/2014-06-25+20.50.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKcVRmdgn5JUmiBVpC06RBF9R5jeLzpvZ5If5iXcKHpN9L-7AEWuCyZ1cQI-ekU05_PZV9hFXRjC9VJVE2ZsH7aUEPcL76mcEGHJuz9yZxrhi_DlPoi_o5FndClusSins8ZvRQOXRdE8/s1600/2014-06-25+20.50.03.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed home from the Hospital</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaWHJkMjxX9Nao9xP0qhiPCzMqbycidNFmWXvfZU0g_-Z1F5F6RbeJt7L4XsDHqfJbUrmWE73_oh4lIn0XmNwgXihmVOvXXZFKPupOxxnCKg4NDBbMP16uU7yd9EKZg9VIHeG1r_ESAg/s1600/2014-06-27+10.59.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaWHJkMjxX9Nao9xP0qhiPCzMqbycidNFmWXvfZU0g_-Z1F5F6RbeJt7L4XsDHqfJbUrmWE73_oh4lIn0XmNwgXihmVOvXXZFKPupOxxnCKg4NDBbMP16uU7yd9EKZg9VIHeG1r_ESAg/s1600/2014-06-27+10.59.58.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles has been promoted to a BIG brother. He has taken on the role quite well. He loves the babies and is not one bit jealous.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8dVIlt_9CwBpIdRPd6qHJfNsinwlqUUdx-lb6WknffwFyPx8pf4hcfyb3wRLFFj8eECvIuq4Ij71vCpvNZ1EONSAvRBrnc1S0H6b_esCT9l35ndkgTADjjzKq0k8WpuYFt4pofS-1_g/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8dVIlt_9CwBpIdRPd6qHJfNsinwlqUUdx-lb6WknffwFyPx8pf4hcfyb3wRLFFj8eECvIuq4Ij71vCpvNZ1EONSAvRBrnc1S0H6b_esCT9l35ndkgTADjjzKq0k8WpuYFt4pofS-1_g/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 30, 2014. On our 10 year wedding anniversary. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UldsscwXztlQ-_AJNw6rkfq1qdrHiNbLRIDMNv1aaVmn6DbMqkKgtfVqFUleJjZWABT6KNUexW4YA1QLK3NtjcvIT8X-0jOEGRoPiqAjodUy3nPRwQo43_65NY0oAchwIYGVFscBVGA/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UldsscwXztlQ-_AJNw6rkfq1qdrHiNbLRIDMNv1aaVmn6DbMqkKgtfVqFUleJjZWABT6KNUexW4YA1QLK3NtjcvIT8X-0jOEGRoPiqAjodUy3nPRwQo43_65NY0oAchwIYGVFscBVGA/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family of 7</td></tr>
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Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-43756951359460635422014-07-09T08:52:00.001-07:002014-07-09T08:52:16.424-07:00Hi Five!!Happy Happy Birthday to Arlo & Josiah!!<br />
<br />
A&J
celebrated their 5th birthdays on June 9 and we made sure to celebrate
the entire week!! I decided ahead of time that I didn't want the
pressure of hosting a big birthday party for lots of preschoolers while I
was 8 months pregnant with twins, so we told the boys that we would
spend the week doing lots of fun activities together as a family.<br />
<br />
A
few days before their birthday, we took a family day trip to South
Padre Island to play on the beach. We buried the boys in the sand,
played in the water and visited a few tourist-y places. Arlo &
Josiah got shark-tooth necklaces at the souvenir shop and Miles picked
out a Nemo postcard to take home. Successful trip!<br />
<br />
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<br />
On
the Sunday before their birthday, we invited the Burnhams, the Karrens
and the "Fox friends" (Jason's company) over for a BBQ and water
balloons. The unofficial theme of the party was "little legos." The boys
have graduated from duplo legos to those tiny little lego pieces that
cost a fortune (that I curse on a daily basis as I find them under
couches/dressers/beds/carpets & dig them out of the vacuum canister.
Heck, I even found one of the teeny tiny pieces in the garbage disposal
yesterday - after it got all ground up from the blades.)<br />
<br />
But hey, anything to make my little guys happy; they deserve it. :)<br />
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<br />THEN....came their actual birthday...and we celebrated at the Water Park!!<br />
<br />
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<br />
We
had a GREAT week celebrating Arlo & Josiah's birthday and I am so
grateful to have them in our family. Each boy has a unique spirit and
personality. Arlo is my sweet, kind-hearted, forgiving, optimistic, and
social little guy - he makes me feel so special - like I'm the most
important person in the world. Josiah is my imaginative, smart,
artistic, fun & spirited boy who loves his family so much. They
start kindergarten this Fall and it's bittersweet, as a mother, to watch
them grow up. I love seeing them learn and progress, but I realize they
wont be little forever. Now is the time to treasure all of the little
moments, because it won't be long before they grow into men and leave
home. (I wipe a few tears from my face as I'm typing this.) But, until
THEN....I can still carry them, and squeeze them and make all of their
boo-boos better. I love you Arlo & Josiah!Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-17270670331923951492014-06-03T20:02:00.001-07:002014-06-03T20:02:52.530-07:00First Time MotherMaybe this is just me, but I cry at EVERY new event or milestone that Arlo & Josiah experience, but I don't with Miles. Does this mean that I love A&J more than Miles?? Of course not. After evaluating this observation for a while now, I have concluded that I am experiencing these milestones with A& J as a "First Time Mother" - and because it's my first experience to have a child call me "mama" or a child go to preschool, I'm gonna cry. <br />
<br />
Let me explain with a few recent real life examples.<br />
<br />
1. I cried when Arlo & Josiah gave their first talks in Church Primary.<br />
& when they let go in the pool's deep water & swam to the stairs all by themselves.<br />
& when I dropped them off at preschool for the first time. <br />
& when they graduated preschool.<br />
& when they started their first soccer practice.<br />
& when they said mama for the first time as babies.....<br />
etc, etc, etc, .........<br />
<br />
2. I rejoiced when Miles went to Nursery/gym childcare without a fuss. We slapped high-fives & he went in without looking back. I can't believe that I didn't cry. He goes through all the same type of milestones as A&J, but I don't ever cry. <br />
<br />
<br />Heck, I even have "First Time Mother" moments for other parents & their oldest kids. For example, I cried when I went to Presli Burnham's first dance recital. And when I watched my oldest nephew pass the sacrament for the first time.<br />
<br />
Am I the only one?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8V-ohkU370OFWwfJkhhA6sJZB8QLr3qASZkjd5P41Nji6YJGotnj78W7U1MbggoOj52CCO5LkrVq6TXw0rpnfkfbXV0LmiijFDD9RFelGViyr-3Lv8Kier4Hwg4A5aeNGaHQDiZ1t54/s1600/2014-05-19+12.53.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4VIPR5YG3dEJRwKFQG6lDsUvvKHhlb1yJnVbvlGwEwJsXOGZm4idRoqUkflne5_xArAaFVrwUPoPTeiSSxqRDWaGDG8pokffn5XQwg9CCB4BbpOpEkVCXk45WYzuqCY0Ze2kbC8wdgw/s1600/2014-02-24+17.37.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4VIPR5YG3dEJRwKFQG6lDsUvvKHhlb1yJnVbvlGwEwJsXOGZm4idRoqUkflne5_xArAaFVrwUPoPTeiSSxqRDWaGDG8pokffn5XQwg9CCB4BbpOpEkVCXk45WYzuqCY0Ze2kbC8wdgw/s1600/2014-02-24+17.37.04.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these little guys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hHywJ3utSizL5Pf3a64DRlkSatB9HyPXFRNDJfXUfxxXiB-Nx-NC6IYm_Dluv_eM4Q7dkHl_oexFvXINP7N5RRTqSt1mfU_CpkKIKhLbx4ONKg9nioCopK1NW-1HhnveQHsTVV70WYw/s1600/2014-05-19+12.53.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hHywJ3utSizL5Pf3a64DRlkSatB9HyPXFRNDJfXUfxxXiB-Nx-NC6IYm_Dluv_eM4Q7dkHl_oexFvXINP7N5RRTqSt1mfU_CpkKIKhLbx4ONKg9nioCopK1NW-1HhnveQHsTVV70WYw/s1600/2014-05-19+12.53.59.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preschool Graduation, May 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaO9qEPUAN1kIkSdJrgqSLbCAoz3TsL7HNsH0vrlAu7wJWDldJ1uuXYcwsj4F3B2hcd1kidZU7NHR_1-Wh4Ly99r-XcFuk6VjdpHByquIFxojdaQi-OCmniVpFzGy6lbUDN0c23-f9fo/s1600/2014-05-06+13.17.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaO9qEPUAN1kIkSdJrgqSLbCAoz3TsL7HNsH0vrlAu7wJWDldJ1uuXYcwsj4F3B2hcd1kidZU7NHR_1-Wh4Ly99r-XcFuk6VjdpHByquIFxojdaQi-OCmniVpFzGy6lbUDN0c23-f9fo/s1600/2014-05-06+13.17.50.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mother's Day present from Arlo, he made at school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0em-CLKAYur-dRnEAB5Gc-GIY_r2dLR9X2Rz4V9yAAQdlWZOe4m8D9WgzQsuznnhWA48DPlAjcOq15JyyH0Ij3kJ0tc_IXj3mxv7jptZJnFG8gnPMOh-xOu3L5HRYcaihMXB7bqrhxRk/s1600/2014-05-06+13.18.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0em-CLKAYur-dRnEAB5Gc-GIY_r2dLR9X2Rz4V9yAAQdlWZOe4m8D9WgzQsuznnhWA48DPlAjcOq15JyyH0Ij3kJ0tc_IXj3mxv7jptZJnFG8gnPMOh-xOu3L5HRYcaihMXB7bqrhxRk/s1600/2014-05-06+13.18.09.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mother's Day present from Josiah, at school.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlKmqT47czTo7IxoV0lbXLEgFm6xvwWwJSaDcJQXOlUuv0k3YBR7urU7wzJ1M9bQr7ZJxiH-xOGmiM6Y4wOVMp9jdn_c98w67qbYQpQ5pxMSwk-9ZsQD_OIRd61m-HuDuaPRivYL7F5k/s1600/2014-05-06+13.25.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlKmqT47czTo7IxoV0lbXLEgFm6xvwWwJSaDcJQXOlUuv0k3YBR7urU7wzJ1M9bQr7ZJxiH-xOGmiM6Y4wOVMp9jdn_c98w67qbYQpQ5pxMSwk-9ZsQD_OIRd61m-HuDuaPRivYL7F5k/s1600/2014-05-06+13.25.18.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I just say that EVERYONE loves Miles - he's like a celebrity when we go to A&J's preschool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPAYHlTPCEp0E8PVMoiB61g94vr27UjDolt5CkALDiMXN_ZzILBWXAm673sPsXB0Ttrxv2HIhTCiKOnYD5R_i6OlbhIZu_SW38lZ5rHniO5N-UJx8RvogsiMMWx_kDyQOTvBtTtk9qIw/s1600/2014-05-06+13.24.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPAYHlTPCEp0E8PVMoiB61g94vr27UjDolt5CkALDiMXN_ZzILBWXAm673sPsXB0Ttrxv2HIhTCiKOnYD5R_i6OlbhIZu_SW38lZ5rHniO5N-UJx8RvogsiMMWx_kDyQOTvBtTtk9qIw/s1600/2014-05-06+13.24.38.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And like most other people, he LOVES the attention. Can you tell?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-7LVhSyFfZK2S3gvceuyjyVkk5yYx5kccdg3UvupwHmHQMieiAS9UGvB5eibrjZWlFiHoTc7pyJy0q4CmqHmYPpFAqsA8G8SnbBE76RPNB8cgNH6JP0EGAQaURitKN7SITPhmx_uoWM/s1600/2014-05-17+17.49.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-7LVhSyFfZK2S3gvceuyjyVkk5yYx5kccdg3UvupwHmHQMieiAS9UGvB5eibrjZWlFiHoTc7pyJy0q4CmqHmYPpFAqsA8G8SnbBE76RPNB8cgNH6JP0EGAQaURitKN7SITPhmx_uoWM/s1600/2014-05-17+17.49.18.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some backyard swim time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQto_ZwEm7kJeS3dCCziEgfNXfSA9-FSCtN0Sl8pG1NGlZKeLitlDi985H9-bGVqi0ov6FsALiqaeZpfjG6JUm8ww9w5SH6gwKvJytqSSaNVl6kmoFAaMliSSlrZBPBFK1dGrYh90A2Y/s1600/2014-05-09+10.47.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQto_ZwEm7kJeS3dCCziEgfNXfSA9-FSCtN0Sl8pG1NGlZKeLitlDi985H9-bGVqi0ov6FsALiqaeZpfjG6JUm8ww9w5SH6gwKvJytqSSaNVl6kmoFAaMliSSlrZBPBFK1dGrYh90A2Y/s1600/2014-05-09+10.47.46.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles & his potato head creations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvjAB87pqptcrMYOCke8yqqZjEAJDaeNKMUjnacd5kYfOpYlsF3Kd-48SxRSkdnjcj9NkWK1HiiR_9HGS12gI7dYHbz1R7PfKtc2Oj7WmuBmkjw5uwmhVAifAzwF2dGp7SaFpqdLqpTU/s1600/2014-05-17+11.07.57-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvjAB87pqptcrMYOCke8yqqZjEAJDaeNKMUjnacd5kYfOpYlsF3Kd-48SxRSkdnjcj9NkWK1HiiR_9HGS12gI7dYHbz1R7PfKtc2Oj7WmuBmkjw5uwmhVAifAzwF2dGp7SaFpqdLqpTU/s1600/2014-05-17+11.07.57-1.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presli Burnham at her first dance recital</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-87149578355579875812014-06-03T19:16:00.000-07:002014-06-03T20:08:59.574-07:00Pregnancy & 2 babies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This past weekend I hit 33 weeks gestation for babies 4
& 5 and folks, it’s getting real. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Real; as in, these babies could come any day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will probably, most definitely have 5
children before the end of THIS MONTH. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll
be a serious reality check.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Am I ready? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, is anyone ever truly ready? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, we’ve read books, bought the cribs,
carseats, strollers, diapers & enough clothes for the first few months. But
can you mentally, emotionally & physically be prepared for a baby? Yet,
here I am having more children and I couldn’t be happier. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must be crazy. =)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03ULYjbcmLlOO43QsIIFlEonKfunmQrtKGI9O2gN805uuvroE5hNSVra0AujYqMh10LPutHZ5KfUkG4CS0n_9Bz08AKGQkeWDogGl2IhojcOemToL9OIX7ZrddPZCg-Q0Gnekqf1QK_M/s1600/IMG_7975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03ULYjbcmLlOO43QsIIFlEonKfunmQrtKGI9O2gN805uuvroE5hNSVra0AujYqMh10LPutHZ5KfUkG4CS0n_9Bz08AKGQkeWDogGl2IhojcOemToL9OIX7ZrddPZCg-Q0Gnekqf1QK_M/s1600/IMG_7975.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may be embarrassing, but yes, I am doing the belly/maternity pose outside of a restaurant. Let's be real....at home I can't keep my mirrors clean long enough to take a mirror selfie, so I have to ask friends to do it while I'm out in public...lol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For the few who may be interested in my specifics, here
you go…laying it all out on the table.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Weight gain 30lbs<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Waist 42 inches </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Babies are over 4lb each right now, each with his/her own
placenta. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are 90% sure that we have the babies’ names picked out
– but going along with southern superstition, we will not reveal names until
after they are born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just noticed my first stretch mark and I’m trying to be
okay with it – those cute babies will be worth it. (But still lathering my
belly in coconut oil/essential oils in an effort to stop any more potential
marks.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m still hitting the gym at least twice a week –the
exercise keeps my joints from getting too stiff and the endorphins help me stay
positive :P</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The babies “dropped” at 32 weeks and I’ve had to slow
down a lot this past week. Excuse my crudeness, but I feel like I have an
oversized bowling ball between my legs. It’s not comfortable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s not pretty…I waddle now. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arlo & Josiah came at 33 weeks/5 days. My goal this
time to get past that date and hopefully all the way to 35 weeks. Every day
counts. It’s one less day that they stay in the NICU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, in an effort to postpone delivery, I am
taking a nap/resting for an hour every day. It’s against my personality to nap,
and sometimes I have to force myself to sit on the couch. The other day I turned
Netflix on for the boys so I could rest and at some point I dozed off. When I
woke up I realized that the boys had lost interest in the show a long time ago
and had taken matters in their own hands. The toy/family room was a disaster
zone of toys and Miles had let the dog out to the backyard unsupervised (where she jumped
the fence, followed some walkers/bikers & we finally got a phone call from
a concerned citizen who checked her collar – she was over a mile from home….good
grief dog!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I need to plan a little better next time I
take a rest. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On to a serious note. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m thrilled that we are expecting again. Timing is not
what we planned, but there are so many wonderful things for which to be
thankful. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We conceived with NO MEDICAL help. In 10 years
of marriage we had NEVER conceived without IUI or IVF – this pregnancy is not
short of a MIRACLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Time to start using
birth control, darn it – I’ve got to give my body time to recover before it
happens again.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Not only did we spontaneously conceive, but
somehow we got TWINS!! DOUBLE MIRACLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
told my story to several doctors and none have ever heard of a story quite like
ours.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I don’t have to be pregnant through the entire
south Texas summer. Thank heavens. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>No complications during this pregnancy & we
are praying for a healthy delivery. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>These babies will be welcomed by 3 little boys who
are SO excited. They will be smothered in brotherly love. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
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And can I please give a small piece of advice to all
those “with good intentions” ???</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
PLEASE PLEASE do not imply that this should be my last
baby/babies. You may certainly ASK if I want more children after this, but do
not vocalize the assumption that this is my last. What right do you have to
make that decision for me??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had
multiple acquaintances and strangers tell me “Oh great, you will get your girl,
now you can be done having babies.” NO/MAYBE/YES…..I don’t know if this will be
my last pregnancy, but don’t you dare TELL me this is my last. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let me respond to you politely, “We haven’t made any
decisions yet and don’t plan to do so until the time comes and Heavenly Father
tells us what is right for us.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, let me enjoy my boys and look forward to the sweet
little ones that will be coming soon. </div>
Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-25966350721187625702014-05-19T21:56:00.001-07:002014-05-19T21:56:29.727-07:00Miles' 2nd Birthday!So, Miles actually turned 2 LAST month (April 18), but I'm not too worried, because he has changed SO MUCH the past month and now I get a chance to tell you all about it.<br />
<br />
But FIRST, a few photos of the birthday boy....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojyOP3DRzT9bkYOlSlv8x1duwO21Snf_AiSqwtFeHkAbE079eirAQvoCIis6Wzs6p-KTORudM2e5uFJi0R7JNwZpcA4TvSnOdSwBv0hrJ5P2-LMar_JxT00BTTTeWHKveypFs7gi5Mq8/s1600/2014-04-20+17.26.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojyOP3DRzT9bkYOlSlv8x1duwO21Snf_AiSqwtFeHkAbE079eirAQvoCIis6Wzs6p-KTORudM2e5uFJi0R7JNwZpcA4TvSnOdSwBv0hrJ5P2-LMar_JxT00BTTTeWHKveypFs7gi5Mq8/s1600/2014-04-20+17.26.00.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini cupcakes - footballs, baseballs & soccer balls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg___h4t0LhBpj1vLiNpkUVN05mOcon8_3J0IfFij_vB-7df3dn8KMwbcQFI4LRn9bTxunjywtVZEBbtIZ6jIU6VA1E_VPpPjTuEEvExqyPbZyayobvXSwkYDGUKmxWT576c2CwyuFDI/s1600/2014-04-20+17.26.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg___h4t0LhBpj1vLiNpkUVN05mOcon8_3J0IfFij_vB-7df3dn8KMwbcQFI4LRn9bTxunjywtVZEBbtIZ6jIU6VA1E_VPpPjTuEEvExqyPbZyayobvXSwkYDGUKmxWT576c2CwyuFDI/s1600/2014-04-20+17.26.07.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a little blurry, but I LOVE that he's holding up 2 fingers! (I asked him how old he was)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMg8S4HrY3EC_XyUdDBEPwt7f01Prs1OL3Z85JfD0QAZsIlxHtD2pCHaiEMWwIWL0mE-2wJ72thsNMLBIGmv0BQqfPyYJEa0B70bX1k1ZUUKn0bRjt6dN0sZMYwWT2ohl-R4DxqOLoLY/s1600/2014-04-18+18.46.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMg8S4HrY3EC_XyUdDBEPwt7f01Prs1OL3Z85JfD0QAZsIlxHtD2pCHaiEMWwIWL0mE-2wJ72thsNMLBIGmv0BQqfPyYJEa0B70bX1k1ZUUKn0bRjt6dN0sZMYwWT2ohl-R4DxqOLoLY/s1600/2014-04-18+18.46.14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of his loot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVo6dWKHF4O7EtdVN4gSIDCNmvcIJfS3iTVBV3MNYdrnpDzs1c-U-kP5wRMwK-CyA4Hr4-mJxO9YmfHj0mVpexmTqXXkB8_EMZ9_bA8iKzQh7ZzxfmP5uSQVxMQGRm4h57bUC3wsRaYs/s1600/2014-04-20+17.30.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVo6dWKHF4O7EtdVN4gSIDCNmvcIJfS3iTVBV3MNYdrnpDzs1c-U-kP5wRMwK-CyA4Hr4-mJxO9YmfHj0mVpexmTqXXkB8_EMZ9_bA8iKzQh7ZzxfmP5uSQVxMQGRm4h57bUC3wsRaYs/s1600/2014-04-20+17.30.50.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The party guests - Nate & KJ Burnham family, Kasey Anderson, Matt (Fox), Jerom (from Fox) & the sister missionaries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz3LxFkCjnu20T2nVxCUO9iXKsoLHqbptC0OclNpwTGGyWvm6Z3lRjnU7JyskMcUSWAR8QhQlpiKpQ_BsH68ujCqkGsOOPp2KPR6s2dk4IKIY_k9Tq9AMaUyOIETnFjCOAcZfli53bKc/s1600/2014-04-20+17.53.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz3LxFkCjnu20T2nVxCUO9iXKsoLHqbptC0OclNpwTGGyWvm6Z3lRjnU7JyskMcUSWAR8QhQlpiKpQ_BsH68ujCqkGsOOPp2KPR6s2dk4IKIY_k9Tq9AMaUyOIETnFjCOAcZfli53bKc/s1600/2014-04-20+17.53.33.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the ghetto football pinata that I made him. (When we hung it up, the top part ripped from all the weight of the candy - the kids didn't seem to mind though)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN3qmkBDdeN3014zCprvVyXI-WifFmEaR_jJ0_4ghZNerP8RIdT3Uc11VQZRDmRUvSQyCtB3mb4MF5tbNUh9YdwM2YRcwfZ8EQWownZPEBsPVCz5n3vhN0sC-Bvpchz4bqMW5iNofm2w/s1600/2014-04-18+18.30.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN3qmkBDdeN3014zCprvVyXI-WifFmEaR_jJ0_4ghZNerP8RIdT3Uc11VQZRDmRUvSQyCtB3mb4MF5tbNUh9YdwM2YRcwfZ8EQWownZPEBsPVCz5n3vhN0sC-Bvpchz4bqMW5iNofm2w/s1600/2014-04-18+18.30.31.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing his new superman belt while drawing on his magna-doodle from Grandma & Grandaddy Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, on to the details of this little man's ridiculously cute personality. First of all, when you ask him, Miles will tell you that he is 2....but he likes to act like a 5 year old. He thinks that he can do ANYTHING. I love & admire his desire to do it all - but I wish he would stay my little baby a while longer. Just to give you a few examples of what I'm dealing with on a daily basis....<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>He likes to pick out his own clothes, shoes & PJs....and will throw a FIT if I try to change his choices. And he tries to dress himself - and he will only allow Arlo & Josiah to help him though.</li>
<li>He moves the kitchen chairs around the room to get up on the counters & cabinets. Scares me to death. </li>
<li>He started climbing out of the crib at 22 months, so I changed it to a toddler bed and he REFUSED to sleep in it. He insisted that he sleep in the queen size guest bed in his room - it's pretty cute to see his tiny body laying in such a big bed. (We will get him a twin size bed of his own when we get to Utah.)</li>
<li>Insists that he drink out of a big boy cup while at the table - and he has to drink the same drink as A&J. (He spills his darn cup almost once a day - so I only give him a tiny bit of drink, at a time)</li>
<li>He LOVES when I pack him a lunch bag on errand/doctor days - He gets to have a juice box, slim jim, pretzel/cheese dippers, sandwich etc....He loves to feel big, like A&J.</li>
<li>He has been swinging on the big boy swing & climbing up tall playground ladders for the past 6 months already - he is a pretty steady boy and can do it all at the playground. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Jason and I love to sit and talk about how cute Miles is and all the new things that he has learned - especially in the past month. For example, he now willingly goes to gym childcare & church nursery - he walks in and doesn't even look back - and he is great with a babysitter. He wasn't talking much until he turned 2; then it was like a light-switch went on and now he can communicate so well! It's been fun listening to some of the things that he says. My favorite was the other day when I asked him where Miles' mommy was - he pointed to me....then I asked him where Arlo's mommy was - he shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't know?" Jason and I laughed about that for days!! When you ask him a question, 90% of the time his answer will be "yyuuupp!" Miles doesn't sit down for TV yet, but he has recently discovered a love for "Finding Nemo" He asks to watch it every time we get in the van & he loves to carry around Arlo's Nemo stuffed animals. <br />
<br />
We weaned him from his binkie about 3 weeks ago and he has been doing GREAT! I told him that the puppy ate it - and he seems to accept it. Naptime/sleepytime/bedtime have been an adjustment, but we are finding ways to calm down & for him to self-soothe. As for the potty-training, I would love to get him out of diapers before the twins arrive, but I just don't have the energy or motivation to deal with it right now. Potty-training will be a priority once we get to Utah this Fall.<br />
<br />
I can't believe that our little Miles has only been with us for 2 years because I can't remember when he wasn't "one of the boys." He is such a joy to have in our family and can make the grumpiest person smile. Even strangers in the store are drawn to his beautiful eyes, deep dimple and sweet smile. WE LOVE YOU MILES!!! <br />
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-29737960734598681122014-03-07T09:42:00.001-08:002014-03-08T19:43:07.008-08:00Time to get fit!<p dir="ltr">I'm almost 21 weeks and have been feeling really good lately. Other than tiredness and some back pain at the end of the day, I'm back to my usual routine. And with that I've joined the gym again! I got a 4 month membership and started back yesterday. I'm posting this on my blog bc I need someone to hold me responsible.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I went to the doctor today and babies are looking great! I started to feel them moving a few weeks ago and I LOVE that feeling, it gives me reassurance and excitement for their arrival. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Here are my stats so far:<br>
21 weeks. <br>
13.5 lbs gained.<br>
37 inch waist. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCNfy3DgwG-7whUpKPvnAgNdJIOzdbG2o1fnRJUWN8L38HtgRbz7K1hkAu9WhmLvZ5b8vxP3n46xu5GewUJ0AawW5oug7zJwrJjeaU67HBex-lrxs_mTf7aNmQse6P9SkQB-WLXYfLrA/s1600/20140307_101502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCNfy3DgwG-7whUpKPvnAgNdJIOzdbG2o1fnRJUWN8L38HtgRbz7K1hkAu9WhmLvZ5b8vxP3n46xu5GewUJ0AawW5oug7zJwrJjeaU67HBex-lrxs_mTf7aNmQse6P9SkQB-WLXYfLrA/s640/20140307_101502.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcYGlhaGfXBxzd1qAqK73bhsPk2SyMW1No5iO8_8tKOovEUJamQJwipU5pCwFkTabXOntntEs-pVOaT2fRW19M5cQmjV3YSnuaSmoB2IJOkQGr0mOLV6fY9535_d0xW3prLDkqSLkuGQ/s1600/20140305_131246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcYGlhaGfXBxzd1qAqK73bhsPk2SyMW1No5iO8_8tKOovEUJamQJwipU5pCwFkTabXOntntEs-pVOaT2fRW19M5cQmjV3YSnuaSmoB2IJOkQGr0mOLV6fY9535_d0xW3prLDkqSLkuGQ/s640/20140305_131246.jpg"> </a> </div>Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-88910075813901805002014-02-07T09:46:00.001-08:002014-02-07T09:46:14.187-08:0017 weeks along.<p dir="ltr">Well, my belly has certainly popped out faster for this pregnancy. I guess I don't have the strong ab muscles like I used to before Arlo and Josiah were born:) We found out last week that we are having a boy and a girl.....I seriously couldn't be happier. I've already been to the consignment shop and bought her a few outfits and some hairbows at a craft fair. And sweet baby boy already has a few Rubbermaids full of clothes from his big brothers. I've been brainstorming about how their nursery is going to look....I'm thinking either yellow or turquoise wall- that way I can decorate each crib area any way I want. I would live to hear suggestions. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCf6CzQJVPRTswSkNPWyJp8qskFfoJ0PZA3D2A2sZkBywlcer5EOqOYSXyuImlZVqpQ1l8gudFzqZsA3tkOyON0MMeebqetk_YL3xZtL0G7FeXDIHQ8133zZfyyr9Q3FD-a8n2Q9-ySM/s1600/20140207_103526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCf6CzQJVPRTswSkNPWyJp8qskFfoJ0PZA3D2A2sZkBywlcer5EOqOYSXyuImlZVqpQ1l8gudFzqZsA3tkOyON0MMeebqetk_YL3xZtL0G7FeXDIHQ8133zZfyyr9Q3FD-a8n2Q9-ySM/s640/20140207_103526.jpg"> </a> </div>Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-11786665389967665282014-01-14T19:35:00.002-08:002014-01-14T19:39:27.705-08:00Conception<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Well,
our biggest news lately is the announcement of baby #4 & baby #5, coming
this July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since making the “official”
announcement on Facebook about two hours ago, I have received many messages/comments/texts
with Congratulations from friends. I can read it in their words though,
everyone is thinking “HOW did this happen???! Was this on purpose? Did you use
fertility? Are you CRAZY?” “I hope it’s at least one girl!”</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Answers
to your questions: 1.The usual way </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2.
No </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3.
No </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.
If not, we will be soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5. I’m not holding my
breath for girls – the odds are against me so <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>far. But yes, I would LOVE to have a
daughter, or two. =)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let’s
back up for just a moment….</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
it comes to in/fertility issues, I am not a quiet person. But, during my
so-called “infertile” years I didn’t really talk about it to anyone other than
my family and a few select friends. Jason and I were at BYU surrounded by
couples who seemed to all conceive on their honeymoon – I thought we were alone
and that no one understood our struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>THIS IS NOT TRUE! As I began talking with other women years later, I
realized that this is a very common trial that couples endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t advertise our fertility struggles, but I am ALWAYS happy to share my experiences
with others. Most people who know me, also know that we used
in-vitro-fertilization to conceive all three of our children. I don’t mind
sharing this with others because everyone needs a friend during that scary
& emotional process – and I will always volunteer to be that friend. During
my in-vitro experience, I did not know anyone who had been through it before
and I wish that I had someone who could empathize with me – physically,
emotionally & spiritually. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Okay,
moving on to the juicy part of my story….</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sooooo,
Jason and I had never conceived without medical help. As Jason likes to say so
eloquently, “I have to pay another man to get my wife pregnant.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, why waste our money with birth control??
It seemed unnecessary, so we never bothered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then
we got pregnant last August/September – whoops! I had my usual pregnancy
symptoms, so I took a pregnancy test – and I cried. I had always had the “luxury”
of planning our pregnancies with the doctor and THIS was not planned. I was
overwhelmed, but soon I accepted the idea and started making plans. It would be
great! They were short-lived plans because I miscarried soon after. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">From
past experiences, I knew that it would take a few months for my body to
readjust after the miscarriage. So, we carried on with our usual business and I
assumed that was a one-time fluke – still no need for birth control. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
night of November 22: Kids were in bed, Jason in the shower & I was putting
away one last load of laundry before our trip out of town. I opened the linen
closet to put away towels and I noticed an extra pregnancy test in my stash of
toiletries. I had an overwhelming feeling come over me “TAKE THE TEST.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For no reason, other than the prompting, I
took the test. It was positive. I told Jason that there was no way it could be
correct because I had ZERO symptoms. We spent that night googling possibilities
and we came to the conclusion that I still had embryonic tissue on the lining of
my uterus (from the September pregnancy/miscarriage) and that it was releasing
the hormone that gave me a positive pregnancy test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we made an appointment with the OBGYN the
next day and went in for the sonogram. We expected that I would need to have a
D & C <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- boy, were we wrong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
the ultrasound tech gave us the news you could have heard a pin drop on the
carpet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I cried. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jason
never said a word – stunned silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Want
to hear the CRAZIER part??? (if that’s possible)….I have the EXACT same due
date as I had with my first set of twins!!! Arlo & Josiah were due on July
19 – as are these babies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So,
after almost 2 months of having this knowledge, I think we have accepted the
news and started to embrace it. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been down this twin road before, so
I know what to expect – it’ll be a whole lot of work, but an equal amount of fun.
Arlo and Josiah are THRILLED beyond words and are hoping for a baby sister. Poor
Miles will be the epitome of “the middle child.” (But I think he considers
himself a triplet with A&J, so it’ll be fine!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for our
family and I am putting my faith in Him. I will be on my knees praying for help
a lot this next year, but I know that He has my back. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
are now accepting applications for live-in nanny….anyone crazy enough to
apply??</span></div>
Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-77212184919988613562014-01-08T20:56:00.002-08:002014-01-08T20:56:55.448-08:00Boys in their Habitat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">I LOVE playground photos. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I feel like they capture the authenticity of a child in his true habitat. Climbing, swinging and jumping come so natural to children; like they were born knowing how to do it. Jason bought a fancy new camera and took it to the park with us recently. He took over 100 photos, but here are a few of my favorite moments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">(please ignore Arlo's pajamas, I'm not sure why we let him leave the house without clothes! And yes, Josiah wanted to wearing matching clothes with Miles. What crazy mother would let her kids out looking like this? haha, guilty.) </span></span><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrkJzHPyJf1MIK3MeuR2RYndBXPHYljudlBf25KUAFn1AgxO1bz1uUY4U4GgIk0VFCDuzPe3W-uv6yQCuoxaDSAuxFsnwjBz6wrNIEZnKDjSL55H0QnWQiE-mSc8wbsrHMDcM69_4kwk/s1600/IMG_5363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbEDg7q4xMCgII37cNE6coc9GQJeCy3zzCqG0Ps6nnFB6kHV5EouvPXwVjSCwDIewjPOvcrhDq3lCtyfRxIQlRNk8oMp4AtS_p_QLTv1SA6Tn_QsKRf2GhcVSBUQ9T-zS2tr3GX6uS4s/s1600/IMG_5426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbEDg7q4xMCgII37cNE6coc9GQJeCy3zzCqG0Ps6nnFB6kHV5EouvPXwVjSCwDIewjPOvcrhDq3lCtyfRxIQlRNk8oMp4AtS_p_QLTv1SA6Tn_QsKRf2GhcVSBUQ9T-zS2tr3GX6uS4s/s1600/IMG_5426.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE0R45i5RsZwx8-whUleOwJowDpZ3RezXsCcvlcBd3DoI48xDfmb7tL5MXP6j98sEi-KsdJBQL7hZ-OkprQi6M3xdRKtjglN-xpBgPNfzWdT7LI7kq9YQxVmiWwO2E6YwG9kbPDQlJw8/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE0R45i5RsZwx8-whUleOwJowDpZ3RezXsCcvlcBd3DoI48xDfmb7tL5MXP6j98sEi-KsdJBQL7hZ-OkprQi6M3xdRKtjglN-xpBgPNfzWdT7LI7kq9YQxVmiWwO2E6YwG9kbPDQlJw8/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o8jUVl-vMVvaSgX-Jz0vOzEIg6rqW-BSogsFBar4mojhNtxk2yPkCdu1JPsZ9BnxZvjO7wUKX0pRIJTI8kp7UyR0L6cSrr4L46LoshCWv7WvqYdwzAMt7OR8wYl7CikAFbluXCIh4GE/s1600/IMG_5437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o8jUVl-vMVvaSgX-Jz0vOzEIg6rqW-BSogsFBar4mojhNtxk2yPkCdu1JPsZ9BnxZvjO7wUKX0pRIJTI8kp7UyR0L6cSrr4L46LoshCWv7WvqYdwzAMt7OR8wYl7CikAFbluXCIh4GE/s1600/IMG_5437.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis68DcmUAxsoHzP1LvPccoJDxFj3xyUSndC0fGWppsBGyg7QiDFgfhBgbSkkrvuNeIerMT-0fLr0v75PU0Wf-E40qh8tk8bMcjAwY-sTIYtRR5Gy4EWZgN3kFFw2OivgpB2-kd1cbcIoQ/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis68DcmUAxsoHzP1LvPccoJDxFj3xyUSndC0fGWppsBGyg7QiDFgfhBgbSkkrvuNeIerMT-0fLr0v75PU0Wf-E40qh8tk8bMcjAwY-sTIYtRR5Gy4EWZgN3kFFw2OivgpB2-kd1cbcIoQ/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMGNVyD9g-Mg5VT52qsDrVdeDdwHp37Rt7SrJHZFWz-stUPh8q7pax5uDL0OCrePw0yGuxf9AbBfKzURkYeyg_bLLclgEZRGbXRcCwiULG7DB0mH5-50pZkJX3K0DYl1vF5pNigltMmk/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMGNVyD9g-Mg5VT52qsDrVdeDdwHp37Rt7SrJHZFWz-stUPh8q7pax5uDL0OCrePw0yGuxf9AbBfKzURkYeyg_bLLclgEZRGbXRcCwiULG7DB0mH5-50pZkJX3K0DYl1vF5pNigltMmk/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-70116637002919042162013-11-11T20:48:00.003-08:002013-11-11T20:48:43.451-08:00When the Boys Sleep<span style="font-size: large;">Hello friends. I have official news to deliver, drumroll please......</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have started my own little craft/etsy business!!!! </span><br />
(haha, you thought that I was pregnant, huh?)<br />
<br />
I have always loved to craft and sew, but with a full-time job and small children, I only had occasional moments to do it. After years of hearing people tell me "You should sell your stuff" I told myself, "what the heck, I'll give it a try, afterall, I don't have a full-time job outside of the home anymore."<br />
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I brooded over the name of my company for a few months before I had my epiphany. DUH! I get all my crafting done "When the Boys Sleep." There you have it - my name. You can find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whentheboyssleepshop?hc_location=stream" target="_blank">facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/danamarie24/when-the-boys-sleep/" target="_blank">pinterest</a>,<a href="http://whentheboyssleep.etsy.com/" target="_blank"> etsy</a> and a separate <a href="http://whentheboyssleep.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>. So, please "like, share, pin, shop and read" all about it!!! I will be adding new items weekly and am excited to get my little business running full speed. And thank you to everyone who has encouraged and supported me so far.<br />
<br />
I know that all my readers here are people I know, so if you contact me directly via email I can give you the friends and family discount. wink, wink;)<br />
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Check out the oh-so-professional business cards that Jason ordered me. Double-sided and glossy....Fancy-schmancy, huh?<br />
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-43851908353763296582013-11-09T19:07:00.001-08:002013-11-09T19:07:23.170-08:00TX.NM.UT.ID<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After months of Jason working 14hour/6 days a week, we finally got to leave town and be together for a little bit. Jason had some work obligations in Logan, Utah; so we all packed up the van and headed north. We stopped in El Paso, TX to see my sister for a few days; visited some friends in Farmington, NM and then up to South Jordan, UT, and finally to Preston, ID. We traveled up and down Utah/Idaho throughout the stay visiting with friends. <br />
<br />
We traveled approximately 81 hours in the car during that 2 week visit and moved our sleeping quarters 8 different times. When we finally got home, everyone was more than happy to stay home for a few days and sleep in our own beds!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehitLETOM1ZswF8Z2h1e1lZD9Jn_5E33QIb1vItmWsx9zk6UuFSfsjXMRczpZmFLoDxWbbF1E4Oc6tVJLWUT2wfb5L3UzduKwCxpr0Ziht8ZYPm-B9Cn3MLbrJMrbwzkUjazd8W_bgX0/s1600/2013-09-27+20.53.31-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehitLETOM1ZswF8Z2h1e1lZD9Jn_5E33QIb1vItmWsx9zk6UuFSfsjXMRczpZmFLoDxWbbF1E4Oc6tVJLWUT2wfb5L3UzduKwCxpr0Ziht8ZYPm-B9Cn3MLbrJMrbwzkUjazd8W_bgX0/s320/2013-09-27+20.53.31-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Jason at the annual RSI/FOX banquet. Once again, Jason received lots of recognition for his hard work and an armful of plaques. This year was extra special because Jason is now a part owner in Fox.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDBxjZJDwaqKttCZy8sVSNBa_3e5wI9_g3L9YsXtDoDskMyLRWUgELa43n7OGMnmYxkJNKs5GXYAn8O2Uk6Hty0kAvlC_SRm66WKclNZmf1ukLjLGf-s6A5dMqq7vzfYZxUBQ8HDSs3o/s1600/2013-09-27+21.15.12-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDBxjZJDwaqKttCZy8sVSNBa_3e5wI9_g3L9YsXtDoDskMyLRWUgELa43n7OGMnmYxkJNKs5GXYAn8O2Uk6Hty0kAvlC_SRm66WKclNZmf1ukLjLGf-s6A5dMqq7vzfYZxUBQ8HDSs3o/s400/2013-09-27+21.15.12-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the RSI banquet with some good friends. Nicole, Natalie & Danielle. Logan, UT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcHbQDkyFYBH4ldcuMbjBZH5GROfNzEi9DqTsw-AvoMbDf0FdKm21jXClxGp-OqJy-4weE0Q3IKPhqDk-1l5zWz32orDT5V4aIOoCUW50BS1ao2YaYv7zVi36N7Qapn8D4xYMPiKsuy8/s1600/2013-09-30+11.01.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcHbQDkyFYBH4ldcuMbjBZH5GROfNzEi9DqTsw-AvoMbDf0FdKm21jXClxGp-OqJy-4weE0Q3IKPhqDk-1l5zWz32orDT5V4aIOoCUW50BS1ao2YaYv7zVi36N7Qapn8D4xYMPiKsuy8/s400/2013-09-30+11.01.05.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> THIS is the view from Mike & Nicole's yard, pretty awesome, huh? Preston, ID</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUaO2769dt4cyTGwEaIvwzbl_Lb0Q3bvGkaC-5iMjPwrImDGek_yOJ19BnWRJVYBVRSfI7xFpOOKMN_dQyC-7Pa-q5SRjQUOWJC2fFQmFq4jJZ0zsqVyuleFsUnQ5jrtPsPOgWFAyh2k/s1600/2013-09-30+13.59.20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUaO2769dt4cyTGwEaIvwzbl_Lb0Q3bvGkaC-5iMjPwrImDGek_yOJ19BnWRJVYBVRSfI7xFpOOKMN_dQyC-7Pa-q5SRjQUOWJC2fFQmFq4jJZ0zsqVyuleFsUnQ5jrtPsPOgWFAyh2k/s640/2013-09-30+13.59.20-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try getting a photo of all 3 little guys looking at the camera....it's impossible. Antelope Island, UT</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjaq36724AIVHCnEmiKZoghplVCcE51NoGyJgcEVYPGSlC1GQ-qZaFrR9vveSuAtTiQoOZl1ky8eXbdAiaXIA7w_tuuTPH9TClcIEdEgN1NMPsQRhgYAjZsCQYASksXR_JSRu9o0d7tA/s1600/2013-09-30+16.35.37-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjaq36724AIVHCnEmiKZoghplVCcE51NoGyJgcEVYPGSlC1GQ-qZaFrR9vveSuAtTiQoOZl1ky8eXbdAiaXIA7w_tuuTPH9TClcIEdEgN1NMPsQRhgYAjZsCQYASksXR_JSRu9o0d7tA/s400/2013-09-30+16.35.37-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Gardner Village with the Manderinos. South Jordan, UT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdQkPYzSJEHuqK8xihqzzKRsBrbEOkXVeQKat5Bhfm8EhGrfO3ieej3ljz1CyU23dB3eE0E1_nFGn557wvF6CcySEJy3FXpqAJmwJsw38__fhddTvpeftyNj_GK9C-PLbGY3QzhIyzUc/s1600/2013-10-05+16.33.44-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdQkPYzSJEHuqK8xihqzzKRsBrbEOkXVeQKat5Bhfm8EhGrfO3ieej3ljz1CyU23dB3eE0E1_nFGn557wvF6CcySEJy3FXpqAJmwJsw38__fhddTvpeftyNj_GK9C-PLbGY3QzhIyzUc/s400/2013-10-05+16.33.44-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason pushing Josiah on Grandpa Burnham's tire swing. Ogden, UT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-64iiXGbSbPaoLoi4b4vCFzj67t3857OjZaHX5Hn_Y8KrHuq6yVCRCqPpOphTdp8C4He40nKGonIgTFlJwRXiU21D9LK3xt1LhhH35HYphm48JA1-L7K_r-In2qsmda-gF3utFVXrl0/s1600/2013-10-05+16.35.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-64iiXGbSbPaoLoi4b4vCFzj67t3857OjZaHX5Hn_Y8KrHuq6yVCRCqPpOphTdp8C4He40nKGonIgTFlJwRXiU21D9LK3xt1LhhH35HYphm48JA1-L7K_r-In2qsmda-gF3utFVXrl0/s400/2013-10-05+16.35.15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlo & Grandpa Burnham in the garden. Ogden, UT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJSAbkfgGAAjY1EKi-KGK896AayZvfB5yBP9SNspCfKvqkHxLwWPnjWFFksfIoADasrylapMgR-Ljhn8jRLNxU8FfeUmb0KOrels1AmFBtZE565reN13g8EkPbxwtyi01FQKhVspacGo/s1600/2013-10-07+14.45.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJSAbkfgGAAjY1EKi-KGK896AayZvfB5yBP9SNspCfKvqkHxLwWPnjWFFksfIoADasrylapMgR-Ljhn8jRLNxU8FfeUmb0KOrels1AmFBtZE565reN13g8EkPbxwtyi01FQKhVspacGo/s400/2013-10-07+14.45.20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister and I with a cute little photobomber. El Paso, TX</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5PFkCirnCvyblamN5nQzpXzrLXJUq-RlbYiSO1V9oPEord_pZx7tYdu-J_buWaAo2z2JrL836BfMpIs7btmjQi7Ai42BxcJlYmVyKpt7_8MbaCUhgoqJN0Vjiee6LbqYEAPHw_RR8NU/s1600/2013-10-07+14.42.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5PFkCirnCvyblamN5nQzpXzrLXJUq-RlbYiSO1V9oPEord_pZx7tYdu-J_buWaAo2z2JrL836BfMpIs7btmjQi7Ai42BxcJlYmVyKpt7_8MbaCUhgoqJN0Vjiee6LbqYEAPHw_RR8NU/s400/2013-10-07+14.42.53.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "real army-guy tank" El Paso, TX</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8ymD3I-Lj0mwjkBNDy_dkIWZIEWDE8AmySZ7ye-wMG70A7rdZGtxh1pJTyM_LAClV4ncd0lPzWSbhoOIPoC7mrIouA3jY5NMTSznUvk0xXDFk_RipExF0f5_kE-qTcDFQ7kct3g1hg8/s1600/2013-10-07+17.24.56-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8ymD3I-Lj0mwjkBNDy_dkIWZIEWDE8AmySZ7ye-wMG70A7rdZGtxh1pJTyM_LAClV4ncd0lPzWSbhoOIPoC7mrIouA3jY5NMTSznUvk0xXDFk_RipExF0f5_kE-qTcDFQ7kct3g1hg8/s400/2013-10-07+17.24.56-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah & Miles with cousin Audrey. El Paso, TX</td></tr>
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Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-49074148238125897222013-08-23T20:48:00.000-07:002013-08-23T20:48:33.237-07:00Farewell Tribute to BlankieWhen I was pregnant with the twins, a good friend (April Duvall) made puppy dog blankets for the boys. We used them to swaddle the boys for every nap and at night-time. Josiah used a binkie and Arlo sucked his thumb. BUT, for Arlo to suck his thumb, he had to have his puppy-dog blanket or a crocheted burp cloth. We eventually lost all the little burp cloths and Arlo became devoted to his puppy-dog "Kee-Kee" (nicknamed from when he tried to pronounce the word, blankie). He would suck his left thumb and rub the corner of the blanket against his nose - so cute. That blankie has been Arlo's companion for 4 years and has traveled the country, gone on 4-wheelers, planes, go-carts, and swings. It has been to Utah, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Virginia, Florida, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Yellowstone Park, beaches, mountains, and camping. This little blue blanket has been Arlo's traveling companion for hours upon hours in the van. Kee-kee has given courage and comfort to Arlo when he was sad or scared. The blankie is now thread-bare and I had to sew another piece of flannel to it for reinforcement. Starting at 36"x36" big, it now is only 23"x25" (the thread-bare fabric ripped multiple times and I mended the edges).<br />
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Over a week ago, Arlo lost his blankie somewhere in the house. We searched and searched, but Arlo had to go to bed without him. For two days we searched all the crevices of the house. By day 2, Arlo was doing great - no thumb sucking! So, when I finally did find blankie in the back of a corner kitchen cabinet, I snuck him to the washing machine and packed him away in the closet until he's 20 years old!<br />
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NO BLANKIE = NO THUMB SUCKING = GREAT DAY!!!<br />
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Here are just a few pictures of kee-kee....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28DgbmYXEX4IRQwnYBglenklupkAj42onCyUrFAv30ghi7-R42lhoC_D66diCywJ3Ngesq0kB3cnV0VboDPC1EG5SxWivMC5l6zf37w2XNzSqfXhWqHygEOpyYayXWtBFesKVHyR6-4Y/s1600/2012-07-06+11.55.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-29583467131038544782013-08-18T21:31:00.001-07:002013-08-18T21:31:17.230-07:00Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since we moved to south Texas 2 months ago, we haven't seen much of Jason. He is working 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week. (Although, I can't complain, because it's so much better than him being out of town all the time, especially since we get him home all day on Sundays now.) Jason works hard to carve little bits of time each day to come home and have lunch with us, or just play for a few minutes. A few weeks ago, Jason was able to take off Friday evening so we could all go to the circus. It was a much needed break for all of us to spend time together - and we had so much fun! I loved watching the boys during the circus - their faces were priceless. We'll be going again. =)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6jjy-jTLTz1zamimx8q2vDBepNGR8NVYD76A4_bVN_NbqJZ0KyFekUOya_S8ILH1x6Gczdx3HSYR1QvYi3ynSTxLV_KDgA70MRyhireI8lnMsVJ8m23yMSxGZx9iRncrpYtk_HuXbeg/s1600/20130719_203416_7_bestshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6jjy-jTLTz1zamimx8q2vDBepNGR8NVYD76A4_bVN_NbqJZ0KyFekUOya_S8ILH1x6Gczdx3HSYR1QvYi3ynSTxLV_KDgA70MRyhireI8lnMsVJ8m23yMSxGZx9iRncrpYtk_HuXbeg/s640/20130719_203416_7_bestshot.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1d9Eur0Ybp_STp8Gc4DvTicYVLWnS01qvEwXB_b3ogXLYWHsJNtFgYPjjN8zJ0Oge8Ir7aN3H6RwlVf16bc159V0y23B9VAZzc3GXStt-D5kJfmplFqfnJAVs8Fflnp3Zp3uekiCP60/s1600/20130719_200430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1d9Eur0Ybp_STp8Gc4DvTicYVLWnS01qvEwXB_b3ogXLYWHsJNtFgYPjjN8zJ0Oge8Ir7aN3H6RwlVf16bc159V0y23B9VAZzc3GXStt-D5kJfmplFqfnJAVs8Fflnp3Zp3uekiCP60/s400/20130719_200430.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy had his hand in the popcorn bag the ENTIRE show!! He loved the over-salted, over-buttered circus popcorn SO much. It was so salty, he drank 2 full sippie cups of water while at the show. hehe....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhLFYq1YLLFIaEy-TdF6r2w964kLXZj8Kr3MZEo_QwJVI3GLDdyW3UuhkIL4mSYIsfzaKxE06fQBHuGeEz2L8HSUB5tU2O4gFjwr71aQU4M-F2C400TRdvb3b_8J8IBLYsh8WXF8HfZg/s1600/20130719_204818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhLFYq1YLLFIaEy-TdF6r2w964kLXZj8Kr3MZEo_QwJVI3GLDdyW3UuhkIL4mSYIsfzaKxE06fQBHuGeEz2L8HSUB5tU2O4gFjwr71aQU4M-F2C400TRdvb3b_8J8IBLYsh8WXF8HfZg/s400/20130719_204818.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys really loved all the dog tricks</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKjxDiLfPb52rO_ten2UdVeEgS9GMmWFF5XGC46Z0TVXiSxIq_ORGoqD7wZuwTOagjeT5_DF1QJNnLf5uP09brAzICZRBopCOjW66uuFPTb-g5ehB6idiSnJXj-dG4r-A9s-pEKil_6U/s1600/20130719_210229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKjxDiLfPb52rO_ten2UdVeEgS9GMmWFF5XGC46Z0TVXiSxIq_ORGoqD7wZuwTOagjeT5_DF1QJNnLf5uP09brAzICZRBopCOjW66uuFPTb-g5ehB6idiSnJXj-dG4r-A9s-pEKil_6U/s400/20130719_210229.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some pretty amazing tight-rope acts</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3d6orW5_DfvoUHZ72gJgd5_Nd10RbbVYXYngRrpmuSAe3qBZgxUyu9jEskzK1uZZzr8v_uCgHOwrq4etJ1syrAuUrRgzuBgYn1M7Yfxw7PbUGiELXelVAKkws6KDm69XcHGubonopsw/s1600/20130719_212643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3d6orW5_DfvoUHZ72gJgd5_Nd10RbbVYXYngRrpmuSAe3qBZgxUyu9jEskzK1uZZzr8v_uCgHOwrq4etJ1syrAuUrRgzuBgYn1M7Yfxw7PbUGiELXelVAKkws6KDm69XcHGubonopsw/s400/20130719_212643.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlo & daddy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkI2MwTbQetnD8UGjwUENUc5zQzOV6o6yZzY8290zpqOG2BM1kVvMzydKsPAJ4hM7b4mJIp9p9UbHvXTLihaI42Jsx4LcrPg7OSmd-j_P_mXZIwTZcYGvdeILFZ6qRD8wfliIFt9VCVw/s1600/20130719_212600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkI2MwTbQetnD8UGjwUENUc5zQzOV6o6yZzY8290zpqOG2BM1kVvMzydKsPAJ4hM7b4mJIp9p9UbHvXTLihaI42Jsx4LcrPg7OSmd-j_P_mXZIwTZcYGvdeILFZ6qRD8wfliIFt9VCVw/s400/20130719_212600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josiah, Miles & Mom </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWi5R__pTv0_djcIqpQmx9thw6niwC-EuwXU2waw5_qcyvnxgJ8CwxMefQq__xr2p99qWIh-zvtngLnk9r4XV4uqQCHTAslNQ7lF_Dogvrcpr0hTn7hSAtnVeqBvjqDdS-nRLCwNdySQ/s1600/20130719_202204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWi5R__pTv0_djcIqpQmx9thw6niwC-EuwXU2waw5_qcyvnxgJ8CwxMefQq__xr2p99qWIh-zvtngLnk9r4XV4uqQCHTAslNQ7lF_Dogvrcpr0hTn7hSAtnVeqBvjqDdS-nRLCwNdySQ/s400/20130719_202204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys LOVED the elephants. Their favorite part of the show. </td></tr>
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Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-8009702806094919032013-07-21T19:38:00.001-07:002013-07-21T19:41:59.353-07:00Happy 4th!I'm a little behind posting here because of the move, but I'll get caught up soon enough...<br />
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This past June, my Arlo & Josiah turned 4 years old. In the past month & half, I have decided that 4 years old is GREAT! It's the age that they are more independent than a toddler & less whiny. They want to learn everything and try new things. I think I am really going to enjoy this age =)<br />
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For their party, the boys wanted a Superhero theme. We invited lots of little boys to dress up in costume and come celebrate with us. We had pizza and watermelon and drank out of superhero cups that everyone could take home. We played some superhero games, ate cake, opened presents and jumped on the trampoline. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yNn3xJSMNDxsd-dOicJNJOs55HXZ_rkggDmFUBDBbWJZVmH4JuK91zo3XBarAWSXDCeq4hwBuwyslW2-_6jAozFOMMHK4mpXK7P5yMSvjXRtwU0zE3nRU5LT3UTVhv3tE6cVyrFIINs/s1600/20130601_110459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yNn3xJSMNDxsd-dOicJNJOs55HXZ_rkggDmFUBDBbWJZVmH4JuK91zo3XBarAWSXDCeq4hwBuwyslW2-_6jAozFOMMHK4mpXK7P5yMSvjXRtwU0zE3nRU5LT3UTVhv3tE6cVyrFIINs/s400/20130601_110459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEUPNmUDgGzotAL47prTsbGnkeDfgXPYhKB-S0_cixvUCCNIPqgMitTUccdGMPj8ZQTvyBYFbPPDxeQ5KHtxj8taZdyvDPyFHDpnT6QXuerH0NETaFsDrfViOCNxxWip6Ji_-xSsvG_0/s1600/20130601_110554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEUPNmUDgGzotAL47prTsbGnkeDfgXPYhKB-S0_cixvUCCNIPqgMitTUccdGMPj8ZQTvyBYFbPPDxeQ5KHtxj8taZdyvDPyFHDpnT6QXuerH0NETaFsDrfViOCNxxWip6Ji_-xSsvG_0/s320/20130601_110554.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cakes and goodie bag favors. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WQJ32sTZ-b7a4gDnSizvIHV6IcVe4hWAXTMtHt8b7Og1ftaDK6TYDpaC5bSSr3XHfZLWCjUg9ADg6UEasS_H8xniWlLo_ESCjrys1ITrIooifV-oOdv3eMjl5jW9HjthN3FQzdeDV_4/s1600/20130601_112756_7_bestshot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WQJ32sTZ-b7a4gDnSizvIHV6IcVe4hWAXTMtHt8b7Og1ftaDK6TYDpaC5bSSr3XHfZLWCjUg9ADg6UEasS_H8xniWlLo_ESCjrys1ITrIooifV-oOdv3eMjl5jW9HjthN3FQzdeDV_4/s400/20130601_112756_7_bestshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor
little Josiah got a sudden fever during the party and wouldn't get off
the couch. He didn't want to go upstairs & miss the party, so he
just rested on the couch with his gifts while the festivities continued.
I gave him some tylenol and he was up and playing by the end of the
party. It was so sad to see him laying there for his own party though =(</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqbXMR7ikZR4owYAGAcIXULUtVT6dDUbsyGKD6DrGuRY_Q4C6e0UVr4pGpxXS7u1cEnrVyqOUzZyKpb0gh64NiDeNko18TEPrlA-dggBFM7v8tVekPfT28tVnm22Rc3u9ieshmJf4anA/s1600/20130601_115025_7_bestshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqbXMR7ikZR4owYAGAcIXULUtVT6dDUbsyGKD6DrGuRY_Q4C6e0UVr4pGpxXS7u1cEnrVyqOUzZyKpb0gh64NiDeNko18TEPrlA-dggBFM7v8tVekPfT28tVnm22Rc3u9ieshmJf4anA/s640/20130601_115025_7_bestshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza & watermelon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc-h9fVl_x2KZAWRZaN2HzPLz-iWZW9cxPtlxXFBiNIJ7aWYHx1s2N8DWH0gg0-ocqjDXCrY-RE3hhBRF3FzdsaU1NC-JtsqQmzvmU33Fzte2392bBF2njfZB6kf64cbQriIMNtqFLsM/s1600/20130601_121740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc-h9fVl_x2KZAWRZaN2HzPLz-iWZW9cxPtlxXFBiNIJ7aWYHx1s2N8DWH0gg0-ocqjDXCrY-RE3hhBRF3FzdsaU1NC-JtsqQmzvmU33Fzte2392bBF2njfZB6kf64cbQriIMNtqFLsM/s400/20130601_121740.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday boys and their cakes =)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJGUyUNwke3QrtpgYWctgAcgm1-_qXL0Ys-Wgxbr5-gJxIzVkqC5by9DV4jgIUHbwBf7Iy6TN9Zu9abMdVSm0PFNYYPORpQ9KaiFEah8mxxBqnEGo0JOm9lgxUU_qyjKX4NYrGe_2ZJs/s1600/20130601_121957_8_bestshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJGUyUNwke3QrtpgYWctgAcgm1-_qXL0Ys-Wgxbr5-gJxIzVkqC5by9DV4jgIUHbwBf7Iy6TN9Zu9abMdVSm0PFNYYPORpQ9KaiFEah8mxxBqnEGo0JOm9lgxUU_qyjKX4NYrGe_2ZJs/s640/20130601_121957_8_bestshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cute little boys at the party! Dallin Billings, Weston Vaterlaus, Reid Vaterlaus, Gavin Rencher, Dominic Haynes, Miles, Arlo, Josiah. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoqmUDnym8DcZV1C6lgwwJ3BXL3AZHI61Zbjqc9MuuxUHrWqbSQBLUcBxtMJaVh9bb7-FI6z0fpL6t7tsWkIYJYx6mx01DWiIkB9gvZotvh7VitZ7M5tb-FuSzrjKBKRUxSfr2UIxGXs/s1600/20130601_125251_8_bestshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoqmUDnym8DcZV1C6lgwwJ3BXL3AZHI61Zbjqc9MuuxUHrWqbSQBLUcBxtMJaVh9bb7-FI6z0fpL6t7tsWkIYJYx6mx01DWiIkB9gvZotvh7VitZ7M5tb-FuSzrjKBKRUxSfr2UIxGXs/s640/20130601_125251_8_bestshot.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little superheroes</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Arlo.</b></span><br />
This little boy is a ray of sunshine in my life. I can't even describe how amazed I am at his loving and self-less personality. Arlo is always concerned about others and sacrifices daily to help those around him. He is quick to volunteer and shares so willingly. He never likes to see someone sad & will do whatever it takes to help him/her feel happy again. Arlo has a soft heart and often gets his feelings hurt though - it breaks my heart to watch him be sad. Arlo loves to snuggle. I would say that his favorite thing in the world is to curl up on the couch with a buddy to read a book or watch a movie. He always wants me to put my arm around him anytime we are sitting together. Arlo is an affectionate little guy.<br />
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I asked Arlo a few questions for the record:<br />
Favorite color: Orange & Green<br />
Favorite food: Sausage (kielbasa)<br />
What you want to do when you grow up: Work for Fox Pest Control :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Josiah. </b></span><br />
This little guy has an imagination like you wouldn't believe! He loves to play pretend and is always up for an adventure. Josiah has a thirst for learning new things and wants to be more independent. He loves to be in a structured atmosphere, like primary & swim class. The boys will be entering pre-K this Fall and Josiah is more than ready. He is also quite the artist as well. He discovered the joy of coloring a few months ago and is pretty darn awesome at staying within the lines. Josiah loves to dress up in costumes, play superhero and wrestle.<br />
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Josiah's questions:<br />
Favorite color: Red<br />
Favorite food: Mandarin oranges<br />
What you want to do when you grow up: Work for Fox Pest Control :)<br />
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The boys are so smart and they absorb knowledge like a sponge. They can write their letters, their names and are learning how to spell/write more words every day. We work to have little bit of "school time" every day and I hope they will always love learning. Arlo and Josiah are quite the duo - they are the best of friends and together, they can be quite mischevious. Miles (being 15 months now) is a true toddler and thinks that he can do everything that the twins do. The duo is quickly become a "trio of trouble." =) Everyday life with these boys is adventurous and unpredictable!! Jason and I are so grateful for these strong spirits and look forward to all the excitement in the future. Happy Birthday Arlo & Josiah!!<br />
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<br />Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-46320941786297764562013-06-02T21:13:00.000-07:002013-06-03T08:51:48.270-07:00Rebuilding their LivesLet me set one thing straight. I am not writing this post to brag
about "how awesome I am and how I must be such a good person for helping
those in Oklahoma last week." If you comment on this blog-post, please
refrain from complimenting me - it is unnecessary. I share photos and
stories because I want everyone to see that mankind is good by nature.
Tragedies like May 20, 2013 bring strangers together and no one
discriminates. Here is my experience in a nutshell; I hope these stories
will inspire you.<br />
<br />
On Monday evening the tornado hits
and media spreads the devastating news. Jason was working out of town
and called me immediately. "Dana, ask around for people to gather
supplies. I'm coming home tomorrow and we are going to Oklahoma to
help." I get on FB and post a request for supplies. Word spreads to
neighbors and friends at church....then they pass the word to others. By
Tuesday evening, we are in need of a trailer for all the supplies
people donated. Dozens of people went out of their way to donate and I
can't even begin to name them all; but I have to give a special
shout-out to 3 VERY influential people...Keri Jackson, Amy Jackson, and
Jennifer Galek....you ladies are AWESOME!!<br />
<br />
Just to give
you an idea of the SOME things that were donated: 10 HUGE black garbage
bags of clothes, cases of water, hundreds of granola bars, crackers
& PB, canned food, baby food, baby formula, 52 MRE's, stuffed
animals, toys & books, blankets, boxes & boxes of every toiletry
you can think of. I visited Home Depot to purchase goods and the store <i>donated</i>
8 headlamps & 31 pairs of leather work gloves. Jennifer Galek
spread the word to those at her work and raised over $1600 - with
the money she was able to purchase 20 shovels, 21 flashlights, 40
gloves, 20 baseball caps, ~150 pairs of socks, ~80 pairs of underwear,
15 sports bras, 4 blankets, 16 packs of baby wipes, ~360 toothbrushes,
toothpastes, deodorants, lotions, hand sanitizers. (I'm sure that I'm
even forgetting lots of stuff!) She also put together kids' bags to hand
out with coloring books, markers, bubbles & stuffed animals. The
photo below is just a small bit of what we were able to collect and
deliver. The trailer we pulled was completely packed with supplies!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyoygZBbecOHcVasXMjPWsXIxarsEk-r82h0xOF4pLGvhNpj2xOnsFwy5VQnMsdi5uJ_YYXvyM7TPDFgGzwvu93VmmkYtTr_aDGubanDW5BP2kUU0uxA4b8li-zAZBsH8jRQRCUcipqE/s1600/268845_652550164762409_2012987336_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyoygZBbecOHcVasXMjPWsXIxarsEk-r82h0xOF4pLGvhNpj2xOnsFwy5VQnMsdi5uJ_YYXvyM7TPDFgGzwvu93VmmkYtTr_aDGubanDW5BP2kUU0uxA4b8li-zAZBsH8jRQRCUcipqE/s400/268845_652550164762409_2012987336_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just a small sampling of what we collected</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa9o92hruH7VwkLAgJ8_f8fEdJ4BQ3mIf53_En_i1jhd9j6BonYUq3qkmmLe3k3qvX_31SpJKPSW6lHiuCNpR74ty0vNYq9NcYZnafIvckT4RlIV8WIxIQspiUfQ0-_M5f9CcvPw5lf8/s1600/20130523_083238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa9o92hruH7VwkLAgJ8_f8fEdJ4BQ3mIf53_En_i1jhd9j6BonYUq3qkmmLe3k3qvX_31SpJKPSW6lHiuCNpR74ty0vNYq9NcYZnafIvckT4RlIV8WIxIQspiUfQ0-_M5f9CcvPw5lf8/s400/20130523_083238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
loaded up the trailer on Wednesday night and headed out the next
morning. The boys "helped" me make the sign for the back of the trailer.
I'll admit, it felt good to have people honking and giving us thumbs up
as we drove down the highway. The support from other drivers just
reinforced that we were about to do something great for others</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBrZkJ4SJDRFYeRO4xhLRc6zdymOaOJx6aVkG1Tx8ZWbRp3gmEUtWJBXGTvjT8ySAvAwcs2-XtcJy3RquMwcnvqN1Ri2AhLNz9CKDs0IVKaF4iFUTdToiiImjS1FDxbuHqlxI825c8lM/s1600/20130523_153713.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBrZkJ4SJDRFYeRO4xhLRc6zdymOaOJx6aVkG1Tx8ZWbRp3gmEUtWJBXGTvjT8ySAvAwcs2-XtcJy3RquMwcnvqN1Ri2AhLNz9CKDs0IVKaF4iFUTdToiiImjS1FDxbuHqlxI825c8lM/s640/20130523_153713.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
we got to Moore, this is just some of what we saw. There were
neighborhoods that were completely demolished by the tornado. There was
nothing standing for blocks. Vehicles were tossed around like toy cars
and they landed down the street from where they were picked up</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPDtpfIBJXD4pavT1o7z_7LdR71Idc7GIlkgjvZg-HpqvI9dI0Fuf4Xsmzaew0Oc0kAyHSrhxDnPBkSy9yTvtE1YVXwhD-ajOJJSVIeX6xPm06GMUShIk46owRzfSjH6oyCvjQikX3mY/s1600/20130523_164255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPDtpfIBJXD4pavT1o7z_7LdR71Idc7GIlkgjvZg-HpqvI9dI0Fuf4Xsmzaew0Oc0kAyHSrhxDnPBkSy9yTvtE1YVXwhD-ajOJJSVIeX6xPm06GMUShIk46owRzfSjH6oyCvjQikX3mY/s640/20130523_164255.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trees with a 10 foot base were completely uprooted</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8JUY7eX9ka0eVKJHSyU0tIoKQ6b804VA_UVYChbhpGOtrxGUZMj_nO8tYhJcd_f4J2AVD8siqptv4mtYWzvebO_SUfSzU36QMRZRJvgOPqKVoDwuikGJaKDp51qOv0Acv8LxHt5qxD0/s1600/20130523_170327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8JUY7eX9ka0eVKJHSyU0tIoKQ6b804VA_UVYChbhpGOtrxGUZMj_nO8tYhJcd_f4J2AVD8siqptv4mtYWzvebO_SUfSzU36QMRZRJvgOPqKVoDwuikGJaKDp51qOv0Acv8LxHt5qxD0/s640/20130523_170327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNorkj8PV6IAoQ0jZ9KDb1PVkW6Z7hM4nLQl7lpr2Y-BibHTNzQjAGn3HWnt7lmBoBbGP-3NQxz2WcMCINVjMzy-w2e2YWwfvcXKGRV7RelO-zhVnuuIgAdPW203ITPwckPhkqptV7xCg/s1600/20130524_144855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNorkj8PV6IAoQ0jZ9KDb1PVkW6Z7hM4nLQl7lpr2Y-BibHTNzQjAGn3HWnt7lmBoBbGP-3NQxz2WcMCINVjMzy-w2e2YWwfvcXKGRV7RelO-zhVnuuIgAdPW203ITPwckPhkqptV7xCg/s640/20130524_144855.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our
first stop was at a hotel to meet and help the sister of our dear
friend. Meet Marty (pictured with my husband and kids=). Marty and her 2
sons lost their home from the tornado (see photo below). When news of
the upcoming tornado, Marty and her sons rushed to the bathroom, hid in
the tub & covered themselves with a mattress. It is a miracle no one
was hurt. Marty & her sons are in the process of recovering what is
left in their home, but have very little in good condition to keep.
They were able to stay at Life Church for a few nights until their home
insurance paid for a hotel. They have one month in the hotel before they
need to find a new home. Their cars were totaled and with only
liability insurance, they will not be funded for a replacement car.
Marty's niece (a good friend of mine) is raising money for her to
rebuild their lives. If you would like to contribute, follow the link.
=) <a href="http://disaster-relief.fundly.com/donations-to-survivors-of-oklahoma-tornado-13" target="_blank">http://disaster-relief.fundly.com/donations-to-survivors-of-oklahoma-tornado-13 </a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-oCLnkIy5KDAyZEAvHmH9jm3-fSnlMJsxZvMucGhpMWUxpMOZ8U0Jg2URPQphrtMA4jVHOUfRFjFQqS_2av9A61qrzz_rnTJTFXHNLT8Qc1n7zrIxeJJc18ysS2UIB-FirunAS5rE44/s1600/20130523_172332.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-oCLnkIy5KDAyZEAvHmH9jm3-fSnlMJsxZvMucGhpMWUxpMOZ8U0Jg2URPQphrtMA4jVHOUfRFjFQqS_2av9A61qrzz_rnTJTFXHNLT8Qc1n7zrIxeJJc18ysS2UIB-FirunAS5rE44/s640/20130523_172332.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is left of Marty's home</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mqfxv8Dz571NtnGdwRZBZESNO9qE_gkmX8r22p1-m7Lwx-UA77T_8_o8yVoWlw5K1vlTCE0U0mRHDp5peCFl8xa4naMD3_v6bM3mkuYprct4Z3TYBaxv9oxcJ9QKbRMtRYLw_2YOS7E/s1600/20130523_172349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mqfxv8Dz571NtnGdwRZBZESNO9qE_gkmX8r22p1-m7Lwx-UA77T_8_o8yVoWlw5K1vlTCE0U0mRHDp5peCFl8xa4naMD3_v6bM3mkuYprct4Z3TYBaxv9oxcJ9QKbRMtRYLw_2YOS7E/s640/20130523_172349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After
meeting up with Marty, we hit the neighborhoods with our trailer of
supplies. We asked every person in sight "What do you need?" Initially,
each person would just wave us on and say that they needed nothing. BUT,
as soon as we started listing all the supplies in the trailer,
inevitably, there was something that interested them....shovels, gloves,
a baseball cap, a granola bar, clean socks and even a new pair of
underwear. You know, people don't mind working in dirty clothes, but
EVERYONE likes a clean pair of underwear!! </span>;) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00Co-VUwjVw7yFdECEMuZZpK03UOfPieDZfIw1OvsRL_EPx3dK-AYuvf13FYmEoefgMOV6qc0QYo08i1XOv_TeGHFpVK2s_HSHqOXEd7Duxu0IjzFc6RTo-JWVOqewosOQjGvmJI-220/s1600/20130523_172950.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00Co-VUwjVw7yFdECEMuZZpK03UOfPieDZfIw1OvsRL_EPx3dK-AYuvf13FYmEoefgMOV6qc0QYo08i1XOv_TeGHFpVK2s_HSHqOXEd7Duxu0IjzFc6RTo-JWVOqewosOQjGvmJI-220/s640/20130523_172950.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet
Deena. She lives across the street from Marty and lost her home as
well. Deena ran an in-home daycare and at the time she was taking care
of 6 young children. When the tornado hit, she was huddled over the
children in her closet. 2 cars fell on top of her house, but with the
Lord's mercy, everyone crawled out unharmed. When we met Deena, they had
just removed the 2 cars from her house and she was digging through the
rubble. She didn't get much out - I noticed a highchair, a few toys,
glass bowls & some kitchen pots. It was inspiring to talk to Deena -
despite the circumstances, she was in such good spirits. We later met
one of the children that was in her home at the time - a little 2 year
old girl - we were able to give her one of the kids' bags. Deena's next
door neighbor was not so fortunate. Her neighbor was huddled down with
her teenage son during the storm, but was killed when the tornado hit
the house</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAziGK9E1IvlvPtKQqlbY35NB_dKiqjNwznM-VoVaaiBYSe4HzaM00sXk9p14lBQUVZR5MTG3TpLhKEI_AIx4UAyB7pQcuuoBijGjNUBTaDIqMmpQUpmN1Ceyj7NHCNozaG9P36WyHx00/s1600/20130523_181516.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAziGK9E1IvlvPtKQqlbY35NB_dKiqjNwznM-VoVaaiBYSe4HzaM00sXk9p14lBQUVZR5MTG3TpLhKEI_AIx4UAyB7pQcuuoBijGjNUBTaDIqMmpQUpmN1Ceyj7NHCNozaG9P36WyHx00/s640/20130523_181516.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You
wouldn't believe people's gratitude for the things that we delivered.
Everyone was so overwhelmed at Austin's generosity. With the Sooner/Long
Horn rivalry, one man said "Well, the Sooners sure love and appreciate
the Long Horns right now!!" It was interesting to see what people were
most excited to receive. The women wanted a razor more than anything
else. Multiple women explained how they "just wanted to feel like a
woman again." We were also able to give them sports bras and underwear.
Many people will have to replace all of the clothing in their homes
because it got wet and covered in housing insulation (which you
shouldn't wear, even if washed.) One man couldn't stand to leave his
home at night, so he was camping out there each night - we gave him a
much needed lantern and supplies</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKiF4ZmFchCyOQHtr0MqIvBKF6s2UDbnLr8Sl-3eaFZSfap0xUPOR5uIK1CFqPZwHjNohfPlu7aTtgbOd51Xqm21hzzx9nXHqteDzh_9vGgtAB6I49Le0-vxjGEp61WkcUu7pKlZXFOk/s1600/20130523_183333(0).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKiF4ZmFchCyOQHtr0MqIvBKF6s2UDbnLr8Sl-3eaFZSfap0xUPOR5uIK1CFqPZwHjNohfPlu7aTtgbOd51Xqm21hzzx9nXHqteDzh_9vGgtAB6I49Le0-vxjGEp61WkcUu7pKlZXFOk/s640/20130523_183333(0).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While driving around neighborhoods, one man asked if we had any extra shoes in our trailer (he was wearing sandals). I dug through and found a pair of Jason's old tennis shoes that I had thrown in last minute. It was the ONLY pair of men's shoes in the trailer and they were the EXACT shoe size for that man. What a tender mercy of the Lord. By then, we had already given away all of our new socks, so Jason took his socks off and gave them to the man. Yeah, they were probably dirty, but that man didn't care. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzyI4dlqlD1ThQAZyvnvl9S5AdmVTfIZ4dvEvPlR0-LkzZCijL4PN0UyV2GKWAcJgUystXLz-y8X0LCPhyphenhyphenxoL90hIjNrCZrTfae2XYfzSkm96HgkFlw1kBxP-v2lL0eKJVgdWP9DBEdw/s1600/20130523_183925(0).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzyI4dlqlD1ThQAZyvnvl9S5AdmVTfIZ4dvEvPlR0-LkzZCijL4PN0UyV2GKWAcJgUystXLz-y8X0LCPhyphenhyphenxoL90hIjNrCZrTfae2XYfzSkm96HgkFlw1kBxP-v2lL0eKJVgdWP9DBEdw/s640/20130523_183925(0).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
is Sheri and her family (pictured with myself, husband and my boys).
They completely lost their home from the tornado. We were able to give a
lot of donations to this family. The kids, Braden & Sierra were
thrilled about the kids' bags that Jeni Galek put together and we had
other toys donated from others that they so excited to receive. (There
were a few more children in this family that were not in the
neighborhood at the time; but we left some items for them to take as
well =) Talking to this family really put life into perspective for me.
Of course, losing their home, belongings, and vehicles was devastating;
but they were filled with so much gratitude for their lives. They are
full of optimism and hope for rebuilding their future. Despite their
awful circumstances, they were smiles the whole time we were with them</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LkxKog1saF3NxpSfJ9qDqrOcMkmoqDHgtWrBtvJBdmb8X6OJ758OH-bNEa8hhqoNrb5eRQbLPYy47M77ldBJ8QKd0y5w86gxMFsRm-5McEZDSnhEtQnZ5bZdMbrIsFJNTVAhpchaB98/s1600/20130523_185024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LkxKog1saF3NxpSfJ9qDqrOcMkmoqDHgtWrBtvJBdmb8X6OJ758OH-bNEa8hhqoNrb5eRQbLPYy47M77ldBJ8QKd0y5w86gxMFsRm-5McEZDSnhEtQnZ5bZdMbrIsFJNTVAhpchaB98/s640/20130523_185024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I saw this and had to take a photo....oh, the irony</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3JJfVwxMu4u4x2mppm_nXAFPaUsAgXt0G3Ta5bZ7E_aqu9OmVbkSZG5jxVZAcefqLB7BbdvF4rDHjOJ52Ve7hyEulhWonfq8-LG1bldnDXvmL2qfoJFQn9cWK1oJduGgmJ0VKPuF184/s640/20130523_185831.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A community playground nearby</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_BY9wmyKxCCOAbW6c87edFBzReb5kNvv2x3CtpZAH_R6Qg5tbPTfXSXzMbcV-a33-ge7KLvnOHwqwvcZE-9nkZ9rIUmud8ojRVsVmqTfszp2gYyQdCFbluug176mLfIT66LsVMGulZU/s1600/20130524_120537.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_BY9wmyKxCCOAbW6c87edFBzReb5kNvv2x3CtpZAH_R6Qg5tbPTfXSXzMbcV-a33-ge7KLvnOHwqwvcZE-9nkZ9rIUmud8ojRVsVmqTfszp2gYyQdCFbluug176mLfIT66LsVMGulZU/s640/20130524_120537.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">People can have a sense of humor during crisis....they laugh so they don't cry</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNLYIFWSa32XFItmN8xPOGIwXQcEDbibHRboC6ckEop5kvklpJKfybcC5h_xN_h555pet4mnjRJ84pdp9Hc6O8d6TwmSYcdk3kEi438g8x9pqTAqMjEAt25o8lRa2JlHH9cUbXt_p7xU/s1600/20130524_121024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNLYIFWSa32XFItmN8xPOGIwXQcEDbibHRboC6ckEop5kvklpJKfybcC5h_xN_h555pet4mnjRJ84pdp9Hc6O8d6TwmSYcdk3kEi438g8x9pqTAqMjEAt25o8lRa2JlHH9cUbXt_p7xU/s640/20130524_121024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
spoke to the man that owned this "house" and we were able to give him
the last package of underwear that we had left in our trailer. And man,
was he grateful</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbxvFLJQ0xPanb32ujN8ERLdL6d3Eh8uXwmoVjREr3cuhcH6G1ps5LI9Y0g42Mp9Yvk5J4DuE0WocwNirmeuvpMtTHn-JRYj8ej-JHd8HdyrIUHCk5OW-7K8KovKB_hnN9vb-27-FnoY/s1600/20130524_124004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbxvFLJQ0xPanb32ujN8ERLdL6d3Eh8uXwmoVjREr3cuhcH6G1ps5LI9Y0g42Mp9Yvk5J4DuE0WocwNirmeuvpMtTHn-JRYj8ej-JHd8HdyrIUHCk5OW-7K8KovKB_hnN9vb-27-FnoY/s640/20130524_124004.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
were able to be in Moore for part of Memorial Day weekend and we saw
many flags above the rubble. It was both humbling and empowering to see
these flags. The United States is a blessed country and our citizens
will always come together in times of crisis... religion, race,
political party, economic status.....it all goes out the window when a
fellow American needs help. I am so grateful that my family could be a
small part of helping those in Moore. In fact, I felt selfish to be the
lucky person who delivered those supplies and to see the the gratitude
on people's faces. They all asked who we were and I was proud to tell
them that the people of Austin donated these supplies and were praying
for the families in Moore</span>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2bzPeRAMwOduwFEoZ_bg4t_MRjWB4EDdoI9wUJf5FDCFXZyiHrMfjoNW4Sqv-WXgJv0VWojxHzurr6MdyeGsAy-KkKVkozuXSlmk42A40dfBco_G4zka_C7DmV22E520bJ2m3rcggVo/s1600/20130524_185529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2bzPeRAMwOduwFEoZ_bg4t_MRjWB4EDdoI9wUJf5FDCFXZyiHrMfjoNW4Sqv-WXgJv0VWojxHzurr6MdyeGsAy-KkKVkozuXSlmk42A40dfBco_G4zka_C7DmV22E520bJ2m3rcggVo/s640/20130524_185529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7jIvs7pxwEodnWvYAQnTAEbGDc_WfvLWOH6vSUHu0uUKL6Rmzwpc42Xsq0K-gjUn1mjQBBjMXGyNnr9a6slXJKkBKLgs4ppaEL91ySNyURvaaGCrY1ZnJNpnfm6b6IvJhn9aRnOgxds/s1600/20130524_202738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7jIvs7pxwEodnWvYAQnTAEbGDc_WfvLWOH6vSUHu0uUKL6Rmzwpc42Xsq0K-gjUn1mjQBBjMXGyNnr9a6slXJKkBKLgs4ppaEL91ySNyURvaaGCrY1ZnJNpnfm6b6IvJhn9aRnOgxds/s640/20130524_202738.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_XtnAA5Tk_GKN4cH-Y4xh9LPAqtUTSWjH9Cf00-o1o3qvlqljihuP-Q-Shb3s0FMOxP9UPTbFLcQetu8XWqIjcGgALkaMGnoHsT2qC4LZf31Unh2n473GE8So32ZDzqvRloWVyLbGkU/s1600/20130524_185545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_XtnAA5Tk_GKN4cH-Y4xh9LPAqtUTSWjH9Cf00-o1o3qvlqljihuP-Q-Shb3s0FMOxP9UPTbFLcQetu8XWqIjcGgALkaMGnoHsT2qC4LZf31Unh2n473GE8So32ZDzqvRloWVyLbGkU/s640/20130524_185545.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bt-y6BIb9EKwYswEfRe0Zj7r87tUUrE1EHcltom50J52AyZSKVpwCfwbM1beSwx27vip0noH-RvauoFgKoq_ENoUpr5rnpo2QGHvHWQw4upcmTztIiW_wTtWalhPuHVjEkBA5pCZapo/s1600/20130524_203031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bt-y6BIb9EKwYswEfRe0Zj7r87tUUrE1EHcltom50J52AyZSKVpwCfwbM1beSwx27vip0noH-RvauoFgKoq_ENoUpr5rnpo2QGHvHWQw4upcmTztIiW_wTtWalhPuHVjEkBA5pCZapo/s640/20130524_203031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
was hard to understand how one house could be standing unharmed
(missing a few shingles) while the house next door was completely
demolished, along with the rest of the neighborhood. We saw this a lot
throughout the neighborhoods. Crazy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYxXGHVV_uPjISGmMBAy_Bh979aOs4cL4eVmSnGlhDVK2-wj4ISKj6ci1xE-_GTlrpp9TO-UOWg_X2oV_p3tb-KHQMUaEJAKqMeBlOjeWi6_p2rz4sPx1pU4GiCyReB6Mz_gAt6cQEH4/s1600/20130524_130804.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYxXGHVV_uPjISGmMBAy_Bh979aOs4cL4eVmSnGlhDVK2-wj4ISKj6ci1xE-_GTlrpp9TO-UOWg_X2oV_p3tb-KHQMUaEJAKqMeBlOjeWi6_p2rz4sPx1pU4GiCyReB6Mz_gAt6cQEH4/s640/20130524_130804.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throughout
our short time in Moore I expressed many moments of frustration to
Jason. I felt like we weren't making a difference. I kept telling him
that all the little stuff in our trailer was insignificant to what these
people need....they no longer have a home, a bed, furniture, clothing
or those irreplaceable photos. Jason had to remind me many times that
the things we brought were in fact.....PRECIOUS to them. Insurance will
pay for much of what they lost, but we were bringing them hope, love,
and prayers from Austin. Even if someone only needed one item from our
trailer, it meant the world to them.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qVPoHu2s3dY1xoRCjOn4-T0D5hFY0hdigXl6a8Eb1Lx4Gp3mvZQexLUjkSUWCA2MRmZegrCuAaT4jxACtNw7t5n2G6aR_1r2WTO7lMDvgwOnY718fmsyEQ5AmzUwBBcIry2ueR0Sh0o/s1600/20130524_131835.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qVPoHu2s3dY1xoRCjOn4-T0D5hFY0hdigXl6a8Eb1Lx4Gp3mvZQexLUjkSUWCA2MRmZegrCuAaT4jxACtNw7t5n2G6aR_1r2WTO7lMDvgwOnY718fmsyEQ5AmzUwBBcIry2ueR0Sh0o/s640/20130524_131835.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm
sorry that I didn't get a photo or the name of this woman, but she was
so brave. With news of the tornado, she was able to hide out in this
storm shelter underground and remain safe (pictured above). The sad part
of her story is that her husband had a broken hip and could not get
down there with her. He had to stay in the home during the storm and is
now hospitalized with more injuries. He will be out of the hospital soon
and be okay, but what a sad story. I couldn't imagine the fear and
helplessness of that wife when she had to leave her husband in the house
during the storm. When we offered supplies to this woman, she didn't
need anything. I gave her a long hug and a stuffed animal</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU9S3WDGZITYzFPcgcRFRS-AaM7BClTk6-HKDQa_-wbAcQn2xgtKtRd_f7UD72JYk3_1gewaPiDChBfcJFh3qqyf-UIWMTIe53qLkzd1ZHpA2S08A0SQu6vtA1wUNvgImXL2iIUnAOAw/s1600/20130524_133625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU9S3WDGZITYzFPcgcRFRS-AaM7BClTk6-HKDQa_-wbAcQn2xgtKtRd_f7UD72JYk3_1gewaPiDChBfcJFh3qqyf-UIWMTIe53qLkzd1ZHpA2S08A0SQu6vtA1wUNvgImXL2iIUnAOAw/s640/20130524_133625.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throughout
all the neighborhoods, different organizations set up tents with food
and water. This particular group was grilling hot dogs and burgers for
anyone who came by. Many residents spent the days picking through the
remainder of their home and were too busy to seek out food and
water....so volunteers walked through the neighborhoods
pushing shopping carts or dollies filled with food, sandwiches, water
and gatorade. The Wal-Mart parking lot was FILLED with trucks and
outdoor tents....TIDE had set up dozens of washers and dryers in the
parking lot so that victims could wash their clothes for free. One
organization in the parking lot had 20,000 burgers they were grilling
with chips and drinks - free to anyone. When we walked in the wal-mart
store, the aisles were absolutely packed with pallets of products and
racks and racks of clothes - I would be surprised if you could fit a
cart down some aisles! We heard Home Depot was allowing victims to come
get supplies that they needed free of cost. No matter where we went in
Moore, people were helping and were kind to one another- it was a
humbling experience. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR3KO4jaSGBtRgDo2T3DJD3_r1AeNfnf4ff-ly_zW9GNnM9sDvRsBqJb399TDhljRWxv8HyZhIoJT8xGkcGJeF8rupzM40olZUEVbLKytYjYYJyRka7BzI9frl4xkKfbL4S1jd22tYvE/s1600/20130524_112107.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR3KO4jaSGBtRgDo2T3DJD3_r1AeNfnf4ff-ly_zW9GNnM9sDvRsBqJb399TDhljRWxv8HyZhIoJT8xGkcGJeF8rupzM40olZUEVbLKytYjYYJyRka7BzI9frl4xkKfbL4S1jd22tYvE/s640/20130524_112107.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When
we stopped at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an empty
semi truck was parked in the parking lot and had just delivered a full
trailer of work supplies.....chainsaws, wheel barrows, gloves, rakes,
shovels, water, hygiene kits, work shirts generators, sleeping cots,
propane tanks, etc, etc. Later that weekend, volunteers were able to do
some amazing work with those supplies. Follow this link for more
details. <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-in-pictures-oklahoma-tornado-cleanup">http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-in-pictures-oklahoma-tornado-cleanup</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnw8c0qnEMEB0y3ngByFcGy-wVhpGa1byWaAKI0ONwJNLz8VaPgsTMXxQ9sqWofDN8It6BsUHWksbMb0oIAgX425P7-mIMYE1KeGaTym2xA_sr_0TylzJBaNaT1xhH39i34tg9q1Sjmog/s1600/20130525_192151.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnw8c0qnEMEB0y3ngByFcGy-wVhpGa1byWaAKI0ONwJNLz8VaPgsTMXxQ9sqWofDN8It6BsUHWksbMb0oIAgX425P7-mIMYE1KeGaTym2xA_sr_0TylzJBaNaT1xhH39i34tg9q1Sjmog/s640/20130525_192151.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On
our drive out of Moore, we followed this rainbow. The tornado victims
have a long road of building ahead of them, but here's some hope for the
people of Oklahoma. </span></td></tr>
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At
the end of our trip, we still had some clothes and some supplies left.
We stopped at a hotel and left toiletries, coloring books, markers &
bubbles in the front lobby. Many parents didn't take their kids back to
the houses and we had no other way to contact them. The lady at the
front desk told me there were at least 20 children in the hotel who had
lost their homes - and I'm sure they were thrilled to receive those
toys. We left the remaining clothes with some friends in Moore. Those
clothes have been organized and set aside for a few specific families
who lost their homes....one single mother with 8 children and another
family with 4 children.<br />
<br />
At first, I was overwhelmed at
the thought of bringing our 3 year old twin boys and our 1 year old boy
to Oklahoma with us. But, as we gathered donations, and saw the
excitement from the twins, there was no way we could leave them. This
was an experience that they will never forget and a lesson that I could
never teach from a book. It was a harsh reality for them to see these
homes and talk to the kids who lost everything; but it was also
heart-softening for them. Jason and I watched as Arlo & Josiah gave
hugs to the kids and were so excited to give the children toys. My children learned, first hand, sympathy and compassion for others. <br />
<br />
Thank you to all who gave. Your donations were gratefully received. Please continue praying for Moore.Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5260001770698077278.post-36958191181530824882013-05-26T21:55:00.001-07:002013-05-26T22:03:49.271-07:00Tribute to my Childhood homeAs many of you saw on Facebook a few weeks ago, the home I grew up in caught fire and burned down. Although we no longer live there, I was shocked at the emotions I felt. It makes me sad to know that I can never drive past and show my kids where I grew up. The home sat on 2 acres of land, so someone will probably clear the trees, subdivide the land and build multiple homes there. I don't think I can ever go back, knowing that my home isn't there. The first few days after it burned, I was struggling to get over it.....then I met up with my family in El Paso for the weekend - it was like therapy for me to be with them.<br />
Afterall, it was just a house....my family is my home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtA8ev4BaSDDD3z40iZwOdIeE9kR5nVySRXRiAad_yq7QhLESXgqzpVWG-FFdwf7xS5kcEt-iWEhitcitJFDawszsUOig_uwKZ6_CO8WbRbqRLs4iwstzVymevcQi0XBE0vtQQ4OGXnM/s1600/vale+spring+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtA8ev4BaSDDD3z40iZwOdIeE9kR5nVySRXRiAad_yq7QhLESXgqzpVWG-FFdwf7xS5kcEt-iWEhitcitJFDawszsUOig_uwKZ6_CO8WbRbqRLs4iwstzVymevcQi0XBE0vtQQ4OGXnM/s640/vale+spring+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
I wrote this little memory a few years ago about the house and thought I would share it... a tribute to the house that raised me.....<br />
<br />
Seeing that we moved from the Clark’s Landing home in 1987, when I was only four years old, I don’t have many memories there. Almost every one of my childhood memories was in our Vale Spring home. The Tudor-style exterior of the house was so beautiful and unique to the houses around it. Instead of a front porch, the house had what we called, the “cave” where Muffin spent a lot of her time. The hand-carved front door was breathtaking; although only strangers came to the front door (everyone else knew the<br />
back door was the main entrance). When we moved to the house, it didn’t have a garage. Dad designed an extra large two-car garage and promptly had it built. The back of the garage was always filled with dad’s treasures of old victrolas, pianos, bicycles and lawnmowers. Travis spent many summers fixing lawnmowers, go-carts, and 4-wheelers back in the garage.<br />
<br />
Our Vale Spring house was situated on the most perfect plot of land in all of Oakton, Virginia.The house was at the end of a cul-de-sac so we had some great road to play on. Dad set up a basketball hoop and a street light so we could play in the evening. On the 4th of July Travis and Stanley set off fireworks on the cul-de-sac; Travis drove his go-cart up and down the street; and we had a good “practice road” where I learned to ride my bike. The hill in our front yard was great for sledding in the winters. The house’s chimney was perfect to practice hitting tennis balls and sometimes lacrosse balls (until one went stray and broke a window!) The windows were huge and Susan would use them to practice her cheerleading in the reflection. Our home was situated on two acres of land that was perfect for campouts, a tire swing, a zip wire, the clubhouse and a big deck for all of mom’s parties. Stan always took advantage of the peaceful woods where he would go bird watching.<br />
<br />
I remember the day we moved into the Vale Spring house. Our whole family pulled into the driveway in our van that was hauling a trailer load of stuff. I remember going down to the basement and getting lost in all the rooms. The basement rooms had green or red outdoor carpeting and some rooms had paisley velvet wallpaper. Mom and dad did a lot of renovations in that house. In fact, the basement had a lot of phases during the seventeen years we lived there. One of the basement rooms was long and narrow with fake stained-glass windows. We all imagined that it must have been a chapel of some sort, but we used it as a toy room. Eventually, dad split the room to be his office and the other half was a kitchen. Since the basement was so big and we didn’t use all the space, mom and dad turned it into an apartment for BYU couples interning in D.C. Before the apartment though, we would roller skate all around the basement. I have a lot of really good memories in the Vale Spring basement. We had some fun parties in the game room playing arcades and pool; and watching movies in the family room.<br />
<br />
Of all the rooms in Vale Spring, the kitchen was the social center of the house. Everyone would migrate to the kitchen, pull up a chair and hang out. The room was so busy that dad had to refinish the hardwood floors several times. Family prayer took place every night on the kitchen floor and we all had “assigned” spots to kneel. Muffin and/or Tiger Lily would join us in prayer, but they were usually more of a distraction. =) We baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies several nights a week (and popped popcorn on the other nights of the week!). Everything happened in the kitchen around our big Oak table. It was at the kitchen table that mom did her mending; dad shined shoes; we did our homework; we all played card games together; and read scriptures as a family.<br />
The Vale Spring home will always have a special place in my heart. Maybe one day, we could all get together and buy it back.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom at the back door. (bc only strangers used the front door=)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggDUNqCf6GErLo1XV6Y6WZOu74NEFs0kJOWmCUxeuU14sw9y9ypovMXe1Zb30OkcvJ4FQLvCUePK29X4TyBJgfy4oLEt1FARm-9843wpW9kjNqFDT2TGqlfIpkoXCT0LQMGUjXJnRYkk/s1600/vale+spring+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggDUNqCf6GErLo1XV6Y6WZOu74NEFs0kJOWmCUxeuU14sw9y9ypovMXe1Zb30OkcvJ4FQLvCUePK29X4TyBJgfy4oLEt1FARm-9843wpW9kjNqFDT2TGqlfIpkoXCT0LQMGUjXJnRYkk/s400/vale+spring+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our game room in the basement. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoLtsC7-nXIDA5zwP7QBd28FDR9UfE712FKMlloVYhka15BLSfTYwEvdrn7ooGIgo7rTBBb28YqmS1U2V7Qg_Km4zvg2NnQceyUoZ28WPmAcUIUk2iL16s2M-470_KWilQejz03UqT24/s1600/vale+spring+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoLtsC7-nXIDA5zwP7QBd28FDR9UfE712FKMlloVYhka15BLSfTYwEvdrn7ooGIgo7rTBBb28YqmS1U2V7Qg_Km4zvg2NnQceyUoZ28WPmAcUIUk2iL16s2M-470_KWilQejz03UqT24/s400/vale+spring+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad in the kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7M24U8w2giuRKSO-x_iu5ekFFB-lYZvo5RMgqOyw9f7WEKyz9hz6otV_uAt7c9cWQHk-w4wVG0nBpR5HUzWX-8JKPai_6LYKm68KLGSg8wd58c7RrrJP5P2q9fVi97mPyNUssQtTJXsw/s1600/vale+spring+5,+1989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7M24U8w2giuRKSO-x_iu5ekFFB-lYZvo5RMgqOyw9f7WEKyz9hz6otV_uAt7c9cWQHk-w4wVG0nBpR5HUzWX-8JKPai_6LYKm68KLGSg8wd58c7RrrJP5P2q9fVi97mPyNUssQtTJXsw/s400/vale+spring+5,+1989.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We used to have stuffed animal picnics in the front yard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8V2WZSALCLgz36XNBaDrL94xiEVVdKLziTnOnUHtwoZaSQ_cHkqCmWXHXnVl7q4ihLqCvNn0v8VsQ8_D85NoGBYO8OZRd9HxKN7PWNQNUjloiaRTAK5uEkv3d8_316XGp8xs2ec3hlI/s1600/vale+spring+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8V2WZSALCLgz36XNBaDrL94xiEVVdKLziTnOnUHtwoZaSQ_cHkqCmWXHXnVl7q4ihLqCvNn0v8VsQ8_D85NoGBYO8OZRd9HxKN7PWNQNUjloiaRTAK5uEkv3d8_316XGp8xs2ec3hlI/s400/vale+spring+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backyard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCS9beYhSvdpVgLYO6-JiPHPWp4P0l8magGiL2TPT4B0mtSmIwlgmeYa2Fo9tP70_UsE5pHKYpAmiKfe0pviGyXlfFQNlYf_zvf6GoG5gSC3tKwP13bRA5Uk8XfVF-2z2znmwWZ0br_A/s1600/vale+spring+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCS9beYhSvdpVgLYO6-JiPHPWp4P0l8magGiL2TPT4B0mtSmIwlgmeYa2Fo9tP70_UsE5pHKYpAmiKfe0pviGyXlfFQNlYf_zvf6GoG5gSC3tKwP13bRA5Uk8XfVF-2z2znmwWZ0br_A/s400/vale+spring+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little piece of heaven. The woods that we played in behind the house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyLFlZBoQzoqZ7hNYTxlnxu1NqYg-uOLVpz52TKwT6ztFFCa-ov3DzJkRmm1FNXJwdzOfD830U-5H5jsrHAXm0iaVByXRf7BhAyk0DAHFwRo3l5MJos5ZVn-JNAxDBbJ2FRURBcYsm2s/s1600/snow+days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyLFlZBoQzoqZ7hNYTxlnxu1NqYg-uOLVpz52TKwT6ztFFCa-ov3DzJkRmm1FNXJwdzOfD830U-5H5jsrHAXm0iaVByXRf7BhAyk0DAHFwRo3l5MJos5ZVn-JNAxDBbJ2FRURBcYsm2s/s400/snow+days.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my brothers jumping off the deck into the 3 feet of snow in the backyard<br />
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Thompson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084920730291484158noreply@blogger.com1