Our first race

Well, I missed my "February post"---but since it is just barely March, I'll count this one. Not much progress (or, any progress, for that matter) has been made on the 101 list because I've been so busy at work. But, I did get to do something in February that really was so much fun. I ran the mile portion of the Kids Mercedes Marathon with Reese. Despite that fact that it was so cold that I told Lee, "My body very well may never be warm again."---I had a BLAST running with my little girl. Probably the only time I have ever ran an entire mile smiling the whole time. I really hope that she and I find something that we do regularly together while she is growing up---maybe it will be running races together, who knows?!?

Here's a picture. Not a great one---but it does memorialize the event.

A quick "101 in 1001" pop-in

Just wanted to do a quick post to continue to update the blog (for myself, really, to be able to go back and see my progress--no one else will care! : ) ) on another item on my list that I have completed. Of course, the type-A, accountant in me has calculated that I need to average accomplishing 1 goal every 10 days to make the 101 in 1001 overall goal. So, in between accomplishing bigger goals, I am trying to knock off a few smaller ones.

My goal on the 101 in 1001 list was to unsubscribe myself from at least 10 email subscriptions. I have so far unsubscribed from 24!! It feels great and really has decreased my daily "random" emails. I plan to keep going and really challenge myself as to if I really want some of these emails I get, because even deleting them takes some of my precious time.

Yea, me! : )

New Year's Day

Well, to follow up with some actual kid-related stuff. Lee brought home fireworks on New Years Day, and we fired them in the back part of our driveway. We invited over our neighbors, who have kids around our kids' ages. Only lasted about 30 minutes---but was alot of fun, and was a much-needed break from the indoors.

The kids LOVED it...




Though, I think the "big boys" had just as much fun as the kids...

And, the little boys, ended up doing what little boys do:

And, it should also be said, that you should not leave trucks nearby for parts of the firecracker to fly into or under. There should not be a scene like this one where you are having to search your car/truck for things burning.



In "101 in 1001" news,

--I accomplished my goal of selling 20 books to 2nd and Charles (a second-hand bookstore in town). I received, in cash, a whopping $12--not even enough for our family of 4 to eat at McDonalds. In short, while the actual selling process was smooth--and 2nd and Charles really runs an efficient process--next time I will take the tax donation and just give them to charity.

--I did another of my "Projects for Later". We are trying the "Uh-Oh Jar" for Reese. It is a basic jar with different "negative consequences" for when her behavior warrants. Some of the items are "No iphone for 1 week" or "Sweep the kitchen floor" or "Go to bed directly after bath". She hasn't gotten into trouble since we instituted it--so we will see how it goes.

Let's try this again...

Oh my word, has it really been a year and a half since I have blogged?!?!? Facebook has definately given me another outlet for sharing---but I have missed the blog. Really more for the "memory-keeping" that it allows. So, now that I am quite certain no one will be reading this except for me (and, maybe my sister who knows I am starting back), I should feel quite comfortable making this blog more than just about the kids---but about me a little, as well. A little diary of sorts.

In keeping with that, MG and I have entered into a kind of journey together called 101 in 1001. It is an idea that 1 year is too short to really keep meaningful resolutions. You need several seasons to allow for life's unforseen interruptions. So, following this, you make 101 goals--some big, some small--and you get 1001 days (or about 2 3/4 years) to accomplish them. Part of my reason for getting back to the blog is to document (for myself, really, b/c I think this would actually bore anyone else) my accomplishment of or progress towards these goals. I won't publish all 101 b/c some are more private than others.

So, here it goes. Here is the list:

1 Find out the blood type of each member of my family
2 One month of flossing every night
3 Spend a day at the beach---just me and my sister
4 Resurrect my blog and have 1 blog entry/month for a year
5 Have a job that I generally enjoy
6 Be at a weight and "toneness" that I am happy with
7 Complete my family geneology thru 5 generations
8 Compliment someone each day for an entire month
9 Write in each kid's diary 1x/week for 3 months
10 Start of diary of my own
11 Take vitamins every day for 2 months
12 Start a "diary" of my favorite quotes/scriptures/mantras
13 Pay off Explorer
14 Donate 50% of my current wardrobe
15 Re-evaluate our 401k plans
16 Volunteer 80 hours
17 Unsubscribe myself to at least 10 email subscriptions
18 Purge 101 non-clothing items
19 Write Vshak at least 1x/month for a year
20 Participate in 5 races
21 Spend a fun and relaxing day by myself (Ross Bridge or the like)
22 Finish a 10K race
23 Learn to edit my own photos
24 Read 5 books from my existing unread bookshelf
25 Spend 30 minutes in prayer each day for 1 week
26 Take both kids to Disney
27 Spend 15 minutes stretching each night for 1 month
28 Be able to do 25 full, correct-form push ups
29 Be able to do a full plank for 5 minutes
30 Say nothing negative for 1 week
31 Improve my posture
32 Go to a home Alabama football game
33 Clean out every closet/drawer in the house
34 Find a really good eye cream
35 Read 5 books out of "Honey for a Child's Heart" to each of my kids
36 Memorize 2 scriptures/month for 1 year
37 Learn to work my DSLR camera on a setting other than "auto"
38 Take Reese and John to a Alabama game to tailgate
39 Take Reese and John to a Samford basketball game
40 Teach Reese and John to ride a bike with no training wheels
41 Buy a bike
42 Get the kids baby/school books up to date
43 [redacted--private goal]
44 Successfully give up something for Lent
45 Use Mere Christianity as a Bible Study
46 Help a stranger in time of need
47 Start recycling at home
48 Have myself following the 80/20 rule regarding organic/natural foods
49 Sell 20 books to 2nd and Charles
50 Take a vacation with just Lee
51 Add 5 new "staples" to our family menu rotation
52 [redacted--private goal]
53 [redacted--private goal]
54 [redacted--private goal]
55 Finish the memory book for me that I will one day share with the kids
56 Push the 2 grandmothers to complete the memory book for the kids. Make a copy of Mama's for MG
57 Have all old VHS tapes converted to DVD
58 Organize DVDs. Give away all that we do not watch anymore
59 Pull all old CDs into iTunes. Give away those that I do not have a burning desire to keep
60 Do 3 of my "Projects for Later" off Pinterest
61 Add 5 "staple" pieces to my wardrobe
62 Save $300 out of our normal budget by cutting spending for a period of time. Use that money to go to a nice dinner with Lee
63 Drink 80 oz of water every day for a month
64 Save 2 months salary
65 Go with Reese to a Mommy/Daughter weekend somewhere
66 Help the kids find a charity project that they can participate in
67 "Plant a seed" for 3 people who are not following Christ
68 Clean out basement
69 Develop a fun nativity season tradition for our family
70 Do something special for my 40th birthday
71 Send the kids off and spend a weekend with Lee at home
72 Develop a "couponing" system that works for me
73 Host a "Favorite Things" party
74 Scan the pictures I have that are only hard copy
75 Organize photos and determine the best "forever" storage (external drive, online, etc)
76 Redo the pictures/art on the walls in my house
77 Frame the storyboards that Heather has done for me
78 No cokes for a month
79 Viking cooking class
80 Take Reese to a play/musical
81 Take Reese to see the Nutcracker
82 Do something anonymous and fun for a friend
83 Go to Jackson Hole
84 Lead Reese thru the "I am a Christian Now" book and determine if she is ready for baptism
85 Rechallenge our will
86 Do something with my wedding dress
87 CLEAN the oven, eyes of the stove, and toaster oven
88 Make a list of 25 things I love about each kid and record it in their diary
89 Get 8 hours of sleep for an entire week
90 Along with MG, go thru with my parents their will to make sure we understand the intent
91 Go to an Alabama basketball game
92 Clean out both work and gmail
93 Go to a concert
94 Develop a "contact matrix" to use for keeping in touch with friends
95 Develop a "contact matrix" to keep up with business contacts
96 Go to the dermatologist for a mole screening
97 Get a full physical
98 Have lunch with Reese at school 7 times in a school year
99 Have 8 family "game nights" in a year
100 Develop a good way for our family to have a devotional/scripture memory time together on a regular basis
101 Develop a system of keeping my house relatively clutter-free

I will say that I have made progress towards a few of these already.

On #4--The blog is hereby resurrected. Will need to see if I stick with it and can post 1x/month to call this one "completed."

On #5--I recently accepted a position back at EY, and I am very excited about what the future holds there. So, I count that one as completed.

And, on #60, I did one of my "Projects for Later" on Pinterest for Christmas teacher gifts (technically outside this 1001 days--but I am counting it!). It was just a tumbler mug, with individual size lemonade packets inside, with a flag that says "Thanks for quenching my thirst for knowledge". Was quick and easy. So, now just 2 more Pinterest pins to go!

Tee-ball and Easter Eggs

Man, have we been loving the weather the past few weeks!!! Our family loves being outdoors, and we have been taking full advantage of the warmer weather. I think I appreciate it more this spring than even in the past, given the really cold winter we had.

So, we've been doing alot of this...

and Reese and I even did this...




Reese loved the jumpy-thing (that's the technical name) at Sandestin...

Then, there's Reese's first year of tee-ball. To be honest, tee-ball isn't Reese's favorite thing in the world---but she is doing fine for her age. At this age, I just want her to learn the basics---and get any "life lessons" that she can from being involved in a team sport. And, so far, that is being accomplished. She's doing pretty well at batting....the outfield bores her a little, though.

Here's some samples of our Saturdays at the games...

And, a video of her batting..

Finally, Easter was really a glorious day. Not only celebrating the eternal life that Christ made possible thru His ressurection....but, also in the family time that we got to share and the weather God blessed us with that day.

Here is Reese is the gorgeous dress Lee's mom made.


And Lee's mom with all her grandkids. Notice my prissy girl's crossed legs pose. : )


Note the chocolate already running down John's mouth. Hence the reason we changed both kids out of the Easter clothes before hunting eggs.

...and I'm back!!

I can't believe that it has been 4 1/2 months since I've posted!! I think facebook has taken the place of my one-off Reese and John stories----and, I've been too busy to take lots of pics.

The main pics that I've taken since the fall are the ones from Disney. Here is a slideshow of them....but, there are a ton, so this is really just more for my memories' sake. Also, if you do choose to look at them, know that they are not in chronological order. I just didn't have the time to re-sort them.

Disney was so much fun!! I am not much of a theme-park person---but the fun I had a Disney well exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to go again----though its so expensive, we'll have to wait until John is around 4-5 years old.

We went to Disney with some friends who have kids the same age as ours. Last weekend, we had them over for dinner. That night, our 4 kids had their first double date. : ) John and Bradford (who was so cute wearing John's jacket) are in the front seat of the gator, with Reese and Wyatt in the back.

Other than Disney, not much has been going on other than normal life. I have been trying to be more creative about how I get my "normal" things done. A couple of Saturdays ago, Reese went with Lee to pick up his tractor from the shop. So, John wanted to play outside all day, and I had to get ironing and other household stuff done. So, being the classy Southern lady that I am, I did this on our back porch...

while John did this...

He got in trouble so much that day, that he finally just put himself in time out. He was sure to let me know how he felt about it though...

All in all, life has been wonderfully normal. With all the bad and sad stuff I see on the news and hear about, I have just been really grateful for the routine, boring, lovely, fulfilling life that God has blessed me with.

Of course, getting to see these faces every night after work doesn't hurt.... : )

Pictures

Haven't had much time to write lately, but I did want to share some pictures. The first couple are from John and I playing outside one morning before Reese woke up. The rest are from our weekend at the camp. The kids love it so much there. For the most part, they stay all day and play in their PJ's (which, thankfully their mother gets at Walmart, so no huge deal that they get oh so dirty!). Reese uses the camp as her own personal wind-down spot. She watches Peter Pan approximately 248 times on any given weekend there and just lounges around. John wants to go wherever his daddy goes. Lee even took him out on the 4-wheeler putting out deer stands. You should have seen the smile on John's face riding around with his daddy. Pure, uninhibited joy.

Happy Anniversary!!

Most people think of October 31 as Halloween. Lee and I get the added pleasure of calling it our anniversary. This year is our 11th. In some ways, it really just doesn't seem half that long...and, in others, we've been thru so much in our 11 years and I feel so fortunate to have lived the past 11 years (15, if you count dating too) with Lee. We like to joke that we are practically newlyweds when you count how much time we ACTUALLY spend together, compared to most couples. But, somehow, for us...it works.

Lee, I love you. You are my my best friend, my husband, and my partner/teammate in life. I am so grateful for you----how you love me and our kids---and how you take care of us. We've both changed alot over the past 11 years and, I have to say, I am so proud of how you have grown in Christ and grown as a man/husband/father. You were a pretty darn good fella 11 years ago---but you are truly exceptional in my eyes now. I can't wait to see how I look at you and feel about you 11 years from now....and 11 years from then. Can't wait to go thru the life God has planned for us with you.

I love you!!

Right There

One of the blogs I read is from a pastor up in Nashville. His post today was a good reminder to me:
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Right There

I was going through my pictures from last week’s camping trip when I stumbled across this picture. Brewer, my three year-old son, is getting to the age where it’s important for him to feel a little freedom. He didn’t want daddy’s help to cross the bridge. He slowly, calculating every step, moved across the bridge. I could hear the fear in his breathing pattern. He was shaky, yet determined to make it across. What he didn’t know is that at no time was he really in any real damage. I was right there ready to snatch him should he start to fall.

But here is what I couldn’t stop thinking about as I looked at this picture. I wonder how many times in my life this has been a picture of me crossing the bridge of life with God right there waiting to catch me.

Let’s just be honest here. Time and time again in your life you’re going to feel as if God isn’t showing up. You’re going to feel as if God isn’t healing, He isn’t restoring, He isn’t releasing His mighty power. You’re going to feel like He doesn’t know or care and you’ve been completely abandoned on the bridge.

Do you know what the most frequently stated promise from God in Scripture is? God promises us over and over, “I am with you.”

You may feel all alone, but please know you’re not. Despite you’re feelings He’s right there with you. He’s ready to snatch you should you fall.

Do you see yourself in the picture above?

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It also reminded me of the lyrics to a song that really describes how I feel sometimes when I am so overwhelmed, upset, stressed....whatever....so much that I honestly don't even know what to say to God--I just know that I need to be in His presence. Thank goodness He knows the rest.

"All I Can Say" by the David Crowder Band

Lord I'm tired

So tired from walking

And Lord I'm so alone

And Lord the dark

Is creeping in

Creeping up

To swallow me

I think I'll stop

Rest here a while

And this is all that I can say right now

I know it's not much

And this is all that I can give

yeah, that's my everything

And didn't You see me cry'n?

And didn't You hear me call Your name?

Wasn't it You I gave my heart to?

I wish You'd remember

Where you sat it down

And this is all that I can say right now

I know it's not much

And this is all that I can give

yeah, that's my everything

I didn't notice You were standing here

I didn't know that

That was You holding me

I didn't notice You were

Cry'n too

I didn't know that

That was You washing my feet

And this is all that I can say right now
I know it's not much
And this is all that I can give
yeah, that's my everything

The girl has skills

If you knew how bad the kids (well, really John) was the morning we took these pictures, you'd know just how talented my friend Heather is...

www.heatherswannerphotography.com/thompson

My Little Love

In the hospital with Reese...



On your 1 year birthday:



At 2 years old:



John,

I think there is a reason why God makes little boys look like their daddies. I absolutely melt every time I look at you.

I can't believe where these 2 years have gone. I was in your room tonight putting you to bed and I was looking on the wall at the pictures Ms Heather took of us when you were 3 weeks and when you were 1 year old. I just can't hardly believe this big boy who was fighting with every breath not to go to bed was that baby not so long ago. I miss those days and thoroughly enjoy the ones we are having now all at the same time.

To tell you a little bit about what you are like at this stage: You are headstrong and opinionated. You LOVE your sister (and she loves you back). I absolutely adore the way ya'll love each other. Don't get me wrong, you fight plenty....but, I can tell, when push comes to shove, ya'll have each other's backs. And, that makes your mommy oh so happy. You love the outdoors. You love being buck naked running around the house like a wild man. You love to jump (one...two...one...two...jump). You love your daddy. You are all boy. And, when you snuggle up and hug on me, you have my heart.

I can't wait for the next year. Each day...each moment...I have with you I count as pure joy. You are my little love.

Mommy

Talking to Daddy

Not as often as we should, we use our video cameras on the computer to talk to Lee. That way the kids can see him and vice-versa. Here is a video of the kids talking to him. I love the way John says "Daddy".

Its been awhile...

Its been awhile since I've posted.....mainly because I was out of town much of September and, when I was in town, life was craziness. Instead of posting separately, here is a slideshow of some pics from September and the first weekend of October. Some are just us playing around the house, some are from Lee's and my trip to Jackson Hole and Phoenix, and some are from a weekend at the camp in Fayette.

And a video...

Reese's new favorite song is "She's Country" by Jason Aldean. Totally inappropriate song for a 4 year old---but I'm letting this one go. As you will see by the video, John gets into the song too...

Just a walk in the park

The kids and I went for a stroll the other night and ended up stopping and playing at the playground for awhile. Here are a couple of pics and a video of our night. My favorite part of the video is how you can hear John saying "Whee" the entire way down the slide. I love how kids are so uninhibited having fun. We could learn alot from them.

Not this mom!!

When a 2 year old boy takes off his diaper when playing outside.....what mother in her right mind just says "Aw, heck, just let him play that way....I just don't have the energy to go inside, get a new diaper, and fight him to put it back on. We'll take a bath next anyway, and if he has to go, he'll just go in the grass. Nobody can see us back here in the backyard anyway. No one will ever be the wiser."

Not this mom....

A couple of "photeos"

Here are a couple of "photeos" (as Reese calls them):

Reese has learned to "spin out" on the big wheel. Its really something every demure Southern girl should know how to do. So, while many mothers are teaching their young ladies to wear hairbows and do crafty things---I teach mine how to smack gum and spin out. Reese is so very lucky. Sorry for the quality---not sure why the camera is so unfocused---but you'll get the picture.




And, in the tradition of his Daddy, John can pretty much not stop the "falling asleep" train once it starts rolling. Here is him on the beach last weekend trying desparately to drain every drop out of his juice box before he fell asleep.

The Random of Randomness

Well, I have not posted about the kids in awhile, so I thought I'd just post whatever random things I could remember....for the 2 of you who care.

If you are around the Thompson house on a Sunday morning, you will find that there is alot of instruction going on from from Lee to his children about the important things in life, like how to blow a duck call. Much to my ears' dismay, the kids come a-runnin' when Lee pulls this blessed thing out on Sunday mornings. The only reason I don't make him put that darned thing up is the hope that the kids will love hunting so much that Mama will get some weekends TO HERSELF in a few years while Lee takes the kids on various hunting trips.

Reese loving on her daddy after the above duck call lesson..

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On another note, we moved John into a toddler bed on Sunday. And, just like Reese did at this age, he gets so upset about you leaving him alone in his room, that he sleeps on the floor. Reese slept on the hardwood floor by the door for weeks so that she could see feet walking past thru the crack under the door. John did that for about an hour. Broke my heart to peek under the door and seeing him crying in the fetal position holding his puppy dog. But, after about an hour, he got smarter than his sister ever got and moved onto a softer surface---the rug.

This is how Lee and I found him on our way to bed. Notice the thing by his head. I had put one of those safety things on his doorknob so that he couldn't get out of his room. My strong little boy took one look at that thing and just pulled it off. He is his daddy's boy.

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Here's a quick clip from some fun we had at Lee's sister's house a couple of weekends ago. No comments about me being in a baby float. Those kids were trying to drown their mama. : )

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John has gotten extra attached to his daddy lately.

So, we were outside playing in the rain the other day. (Don't judge---when you've had a little boy couped up inside for awhile, you'll play in a blizzard with him if you have to just to get outside.)

And, his daddy came home from the hunting camp. John yelled "Da" and ran to the truck. Look at the death grip he has on Lee's pants. Its like, "You left me this morning and I'll be a monkey's uncle if I let THAT happen again."

I've been thinking...

There's an incredible mother (Jennifer) whose blog I follow with a sweet baby boy (Stellan) that has heart issues. Over that past week or so, she has seen her 9 month old turn from this smiling cutie:

to this hurting little one, with a speeding heart rate, vomiting and swollen from high doses of heart medications:

And, while I have learned so much from her over the past year as she has dealt with her son's illness, I think the thing that God has taught me most is to just appreciate having my kids in every situation. So, when Reese is being disobedient and disrespectful---I remind myself that I'm sure so many mothers out there with sick kids, or kids that have died, would love to have a little sassy girl telling her Mimi that maybe she'd start obeying "when she turns 20". And, when John is crying for 2 hours at night b/c of teething, I fight the urge to complain or feel sorry for myself for sitting up with him at 2am. I mean, I'm sure Jennifer would love to be sitting in Stellan's room right now holding her baby boy who has nothing more than a nagging toothache.

Its been such a good lesson for me. And, honestly, it has kept me calmer than I used to be when Reese would do things like sneak out of time-out in her room, get the nail polish and proceed to paint her nails, getting polish all over her quilt and bedsheets. (Though, mind you, it doesn't stop me from taking said polish away from her and telling her that she may not got get out of time out until the next morning. It also does not stop me from needing a glass of wine before my own bedtime that night. That is, after 2 loads of laundry that were required to wash her bedding that had pink, green, red and blue nail polish on it. Because, of course, Reese decided to use FOUR colors of polish. What little girl wouldn't?) I was disappointed in her for her disobedience. But, honestly, I was never mad at her like I used to be. I just kept being so grateful for this precious little girl that God has entrusted to me to teach right from wrong.

After all, these are two of the greatest blessings God has ever given me. (Gigi, notice the first position that she still remembers from ballet class.)

Will you pray?

Will you pray for this sweet baby and his awesome mother?

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!

Everyone once in a while, I have a little chat with God about the weather. It usually goes something like this, "Hey Father, I know that you made me. "Knit me together in my mother's womb" as the Psalmist would say. Yet, this weather, Lord, does not suit this body that you gave me. It is so hot/cold (depending on the season). Can you help me out with that? Thanks! Amen."

This weekend, boy, did He deliver. The highs were in the low 80's. All we needed was a good football game and some rotel dip, and I think my weekend would have been perfect.

On top of that, Lee and I purposely did not plan anything for this weekend. The past many weekends have been jam packed. This weekend, we just enjoyed being together as a family.

Saturday, we headed to the pool. A bit chilly in the water, honestly, but after God gave me the weather I have been praying for....no complaints came out of this mouth.

John enjoyed the little playground that is adjacent to the pool. (Awesome addition to Pinetree's pool, by the way. Totally enclosed, so the only way he can get out is to come back into the pool area. So, I can be in the pool with Reese and watch him at the same time.) Reese enjoyed it too---but mostly stayed in the pool with Lee.





That afternoon, my loving husband stayed at home with the kids while I went and got a pedicure and went to the grocery without kids (which any mom will tell you is like a spa treatment itself). And, then we played with Cash.


On Sunday, we went to church and then had fun outside washing cars, etc.

Sunday night, our church had a thing where different bands/singers from inside the church played on the front lawn. Everybody brought food to eat and their lawn chairs and we just enjoyed God's outdoors, music and fellowship for a couple of hours. It was alot of fun!



(ok, I realize in the above picture, that I should not have been letting Reese run around with a sucker in her mouth. But, the kids had worn me down so much at that point, I was just glad to be sitting down. I had to take 2 ibuprophen b/c my knees ached so much Monday morning from all the getting up, getting down, picking up a kid, putting down a kid, etc. Just call me MeMaw.)

(After John got tired of eating Cheetos, he would just suck the cheese off and then feed me the rest. Gross, I know, but it kept him occupied and let me just sit in a chair for a bit. I'm sensing a theme here.....)

Then, tonight (Monday), we went to Popsicles in the Park. Every Monday night, the great Marla Newman from our church brings a cooler full of popsicles and a laundry basket of toys to the park. Whoever can just comes, plays, eats popsicles, and fellowships. We've also been able to meet a number of people in the neighborhood without a church home, so its been great for outreach too.