Josh-isms....

This little guy can be soo sweet. Lately he's been saying this a lot. "Like you Mommy, mmmm." Then he reaches his little arms around my neck to squeeze and puckers up and lands one on my cheek.
Now this boy has got it all figured out!

Another funny one, this morning Josh climbed up my shelf to get my weights down. He said..."Hey Mom, I got your muscles down for you."

MIRACLES AND AMAZING GRACE

Whats this a picture of? Are you in disbelief? Can this be real? SNOW has Arrived! Miracle of miracles...my boys could hardly stand it!


Last week I told Jabren that we might get snow on Friday. His eyes shot straight to mine, wide and questioning with an expression that spoke "Are you serious...don't you joke around about something like that, Mom. This is serious. But are you serious? Do you really mean it?"

He looked like he could have cried. He longs for the snow.
He was at home sick on Friday, but I couldn't resist letting them play in the MIRACLE!
My friend Mary called at 7:45 a.m. to let me know it was coming down...in case we didn't know. It started to really come down around 11 am and we stared out the front window anticipating it sticking to the ground. The boys squealed with delight when they saw their best friend Clays' Dads truck slow down in front. They all waived in delight of the beautiful white stuff! (Clays school closed for the day.)

All this while the boys had put in a CD with AMAZING GRACE blasting on my new CD player. It was a powerful moment! My heart could have burst and I so wanted to tell somebody...then my sister in law Wendy called and so I screamed in her ear and laughed and she was patient with our fanatics!
I feel like the Lord answered three little boys prayers and mine.
Funny thing is, Josh and Jamesen went to get their swimming suits and flip flops! (I guess they forgot how this snow thing works...)
Not to mention they were hysterical and in tears when they came in. They didn't think frozen fingers were all that cool and their mom hasn't bought any snow gear in quite some time so we were a little unprepared...but a GREAT DAY!

Love this Face.

Makes me think Jamesen will be a great singer someday.

Thanksgiving Traditions!

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. But no pictures to show for it. But the ones I do post are since then and portray the "picture".

So we invited our good friends Tiffany and Ernie for Thanksgiving. I've always imagined my future, knowing I'd be away from home as a married adult and having the full weight of holidays on me. So in stride I excitedly made lottsa pies!
At FHE a few weeks before Jake randomly asked everyone for their pie requests for the big day. Jabren-Lemon, Jake-Banana Cream and Chocolate Cream and Josh-pumpkin, and Jamesen-can't remember but the day of it was all about Cherry pie.

We woke up and sent Jake off to play at the "Turkey Bowl" with guys from church. Then we met up with him to watch. The boys played with sidewalk chalk while I visited with a few friends and watched our husbands pretend they were 18 again. (And since they're not some homes were permeated with the smell of Bengay instead of roasted turkey...)
But the biggest happiness of my day is that on this Thanksgiving Day one of my dreams came true. A dream I've had since I was married and wanted to have children.
My dream was that I wanted to teach my children how to love cooking and being in the kitchen helping with the food preparation. My theory was that so much of family get togethers involves food and the preparation of it, and I wanted that to be a fun, interactive quality time - part of the experience.
And there was a momemt (lasted about 5 minutes) about an hour or so before the Kamp's arrived that we were all in the kitchen stirring/slicing, blending, pouring something. All my boys were helping me make dinner. All of them. And each honestly contributing to the efforts. When the thought crossed my mind that this is what I've always wanted...I stood still and looked around at everyone-who were unaware of my realization-and I soaked it all in. Memorized the moment.

Now this may seem like such a nice dreamy, wonderful picture, I know. And it is; I am so grateful for this arrival. Because let me tell you something...this is an arrival. This desire has put me through the ringer time and time again. I have literally paid serious prices to reach this goal. "How so?" you might ask. Let me refer you to an older post...can't get the link thingy to work so if you're interested www.thompsonfamilylovingitall.blogspot.com/2008/04/busy-busy-boys.html


These are decent pretty pictures, but with an imagination you could probably conjure images that I didn't take pictures of of 3 boys under 4 thinking they can cook and be independent and do what they want and creating DISASTERS in my kitchen, instead of it being a "KIDS OFF LIMITS" Zone. Which, if, when I started working towards this with Jabren, I had known twins would follow and what that would entail I would have shrugged the whole idea off. Probably would have if I could have imagined the stress and havoc of it all. But I couldn't and I didn't so I got to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with all of us whipping up beautiful things like Chocolate and Banana Cream pies, and making Grandma's fresh cranberry relish and Jake prepping the Turkey platter....DELISH - all of this Day!

Egg Roll Pictures

Earlier I posted a recipe for yummy Egg Rolls from Better Homes and Garden Cookbook that I've made a few times. Here's a picture of these yummy treats that I am so excited I learned how to make. Something about oil is intimidating but eh, I'm in the south right?

Most of the Time

Most of the time I am quite a happy person. I love my life. I love my husband. I love my kids. I know great truths because of the gospel that bring me a lot peace and joy and excitement.
I love opportunities especially if they involve new friends, old friends, and my family. I have a deep feeling of gratitude for all my blessings. I am completely content with much of my life.
I really do love life. I do.
But not today. Every once in a while. I do not love it all. Maybe I endure it all. I feel like I'm in that place in Dr. Suess' book. It all sounds great and sing songy and positive for those first few pages...."Oh the places you'll go." but I'm at the "except when you don't because sometimes you won't" place.
I'm in the "WAITING PLACE".
Lifes hard, sometimes very lonely, and exhausting and discouraging. I don't know how all this piled up into my whole one FRIDAY! But it did. Well, it really started yesterday, when my little sister left after a week with us. Gosh, I miss family. I feel like I had a little taste of chocolate and forgot how satisfying it is and my addiction is taking over...except I can't have anymore chocolate for quite some time. Now time for the withdrawal symptoms.
To make matters worse. I really can't find either of my phones. Further exponentiating my feeling alone and away from all that is dear to me. My family. I just want to sit in my parents livingroom and chat with my dad. Or play their piano while kids run outside and dig deep holes in grandpa's garden.
Or stay up later than is good for either of us, and talk deep talks with my mom.
Life just becomes very simple and stress free when I walk in the door at "home". Its peaceful and HOME. Missing it today. Need it today. Wish I could drive an hour and be there. Like it used to take. (Not the 29 hours that Mapquest claims it would take.)

So I'm existing in this moment until I have the courage to let it go and keep moving on with life.

Great Neighbors!

Our neighborhood is becoming a great place and we're loving it more everyday. Its taken a long year to get here. On Thursday Ms. Annabelle and her daughter Lynne said they had halloween cookie cutters and sprinkles and they would love to do sugar cookies with the boys. So this video is of all us making cookies Saturday morning. (note: video took too long and I'm not patience...thus no video.)

I'll put in a few pictures from other activities the boys have had in Ms. Annabelle's drive way. We love Ms. Annabelle and Lynne! Balloons made into dogs and mice. Compliments of Mr. Greg and Ms. Annabelle. Glue and popsicle sticks...Perfect match for these boys. They have been so good to us and welcomed us with home made Venezualan cookies, scones, crepes, anything yummy they make - they share. We love it!

And This Little Piggy went Wee-Wee-Wee All The Way Home

So This Little Piggy went to Market...WalMart to be exact. And my cashier was telling her coworker she wanted to go home. But she went home early the day before, and if she does she'll be penalized or given a bad mark. Then she see's me staring her down with a "WHAT?" look on my face; she just realized I was there. She quickly explains she feels MISERABLE and that yes its probably the FLU
Are kidding me!!! With all this H1N1 flu going around and here you are really sick-she definitely looked sick- and now you are handing me my receipt. She apologized. Uhhhh? Does that mean you'll be at my house to take care of me when I get sick and can't take care of my kiddos...BECAUSE YOU came to work?
Didn't even want my receipt, thank you! This was a bit ago, and we're fine. But I've been researching all the pro's and cons of the vaccine. I want to do whats best. Doubtful of getting it, but scared to make a wrong decision regarding my kids health either way.
Only advise given from Nancy Schneiderman on the Today Show was WASH your HANDS always and take sanitizing wipes with you everywhere....well this only goes so far in my book.
So I asked Jakes mom for anything she'd read or received-she's my go to girl in these situations. Here's what I found. http://www.naturalnews.com/027231_Vitamin_D_immune_system_vaccines.html An article discussing the reseach and evidence of Vitamin D.
VITAMIN D (SUNLIGHT) is soooooo crucial in staving off the Flu. Get yourself and your kids outside to play. Let them be in the sun for 20 minutes a day. The Vitamin D causes a chain reaction in the blood stream that takes on these flu microorganisms and allows the body to continue functioning without overeacting.

The article goes into more scientific detail and explanation, but plain and simple. We need sunlight. Everyday. If you're in a place that is too cold, I bet one of those lamps for people with SAD (season affected disorder) would do the trick.
The cool thing about this advise. No one profits. Nothing to gain from someone selling some product....VITAMIN D is FREE
I need more than washing hands and sterilizing everything. I want something working with me and my family from the inside out. My son is still in school. We still go to church where someone may cough or sneeze and particles will fly. Not to mention the vaccine is next to impossible to get here for a few more months.
I want these antimicrobial proteins mentioned in my blood stream taking on any avengers that I can't prevent from entering my world at the MARKET!
You don't have to totally believe in it, this might be a little "alternative" in thinking for those who don't go there, but its worth giving it a try. Try it out. See what happens. Do a science project. See if you keep healthy.
Their facts add up to me. And its one more thing in my arsenal in fighting the flu besides Motrin. This little piggy wants to sing "Wee wee wee, all the way home next time I go to Market!"

Brazos Bend River and Fun

Every month I go to a potluck and one of the sisters there was talking about her backyard and if they had raised their family there that her son would probably not be alive. Sister Gillespie said it was a "HEAVEN" for boys. She said she really would love it if we-anyone there- came over and played.
So as she was leaving I asked if she really meant what she said and we made plans for that Saturday! Seeing as how I live in house full of "BOYS"!
So my friend Jen Cobia and I made plans to meet at James and Merri's house and the fun immediately began. Jabrens favorite buddy Clay came along for the ride....HEAVEN all of it!

Oh what to do first?
Feed the horses carrots,

Ride the zip line.
Josh's preferred way of traveling back up from the ride...


Swim in the Brazos River.
Play pretend on the itty bitty island.
Throw a football around and tackle in the current!
Go for boat rides. Or for a dip in the water after running down the ramp with the rope swing.


More zip line.


I knew what she meant about a boy heaven! Even Jens five girls loved it!
So here are a few of the pictures from our day.
We feel so excited and grateful for the people at church who have opened up their home and hearts and given us space in their lives. Its nice to have a place or home to go once in awhile since we miss out on so much of that with our own family.
It has been worth the experiences we've had with knowing and spending time with others.
LOVED THIS DAY!!! The next day at church the boys spent the entire Sacrament Meeting having Dad draw zip lines and boys flying down them. Love these memories!