Newsworthy

Our neighbor is a reporter for the Nebo Reporter. This is a local paper that comes out every Thursday and is included inside the daily newspaper. She heard about the girls cutting their hair for Locks of Love and wanted to write a story about their experience in the paper. When I told the girls they were really excited. They had their picture taken for the story and then waited to see the story in the paper. I got a call from one of my neighbors this morning telling me that she saw the girls in the paper and wanted to make sure I didn't miss it since we don't get the paper any more. I immediately went to the news stand and got a paper so that I could see the article. I couldn't believe it when I saw their story right there on the front page! My girls are front page news. The story was so well written and turned out so beautifully I had tears in my eyes. I was there when they cut their hair, the one who actually did the cutting, so I knew the story but I was so unprepared for the wave of emotions that ran over me as I realized that this beautiful story was about MY girls. I really am so proud of them for their charitable hearts.

The story was also printed on the internet. Here is the address of the online story for however long they leave it there.

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/payson/article_67a4cd9f-bcb8-57e6-a21d-ef5fb84aad88.html?mode=story

First day of school...for everyone else

Since 7th graders started yesterday they get to have today off and all the other kids in the school district starts today. So tomorrow will be the first day with all of my schoolers back in school at the same time. Today Lizzie and Dakota got to go.

I can't believe Lizzie is in 8th grade! She is looking forward to most of her classes and not so much the other ones but she is still going to give it her best. I am so proud of her and all she has accomplished so far. I will really miss having her home with me though. I just can't offer all of the extra classes she wants in homeschool so she will go back to public school full time.

Miss Dakota was counting the days until school started and they just weren't coming fast enough. She loves school so much. It would be perfect if it weren't for a few boys that give her grief. She won't let that stop her from enjoying school though. I love to see that her passion for learning hasn't missed a beat since kindergarten.

First day of Jr. High

Today is it! The day Rebecca has been waiting for with excitement and the day I have been dreading. Rebecca went to Jr. High for the first time. This was a 7th grade only day at her Jr. High. They wanted the 7th graders to have a day to get used to the school and the new kind of class schedule before they were thrust into the claws of the beast (otherwise known as 8th and 9th graders.) She came home with stars in her eyes and a resolve to make this year the best year ever. We'll see if she still feels that way when she starts getting homework from all those "fun" classes. She has signed up for Drama and Choir classes and there are already auditions for the school musical this week. She can't wait to audition so she hopes this week doesn't drag on. I'm so happy that her first day went so well and I hope that she continues to love school and that Jr. High is all she hoped it would be.

Visit with Grandma

We were so excited to have CJ's mom come to visit with us. She is usually able to visit once a year and we look forward to those visits with great anticipation.

What a lively group.

For some unexplainable reason CJ's eyes are always closed when his picture is taken. I have looked and his eyes are open when I take the picture but they are never open in the pictures. He even tried to hold his eyes open for the camera and only one of his eyes stayed open. I think he is allergic to having his picture taken.

For the last day with their grandma the girls wanted to have a tea party so we made treats and had "tea" (sure tasted a lot like water to me though.) It was so much fun and the best part was even their dad joined in the tea party this time. Everyone had so much fun. We all can't wait to do it again.

Temple trip

The girls have been looking forward to joining the Young Women ever since they were little. One of the things that they looked forward to the most was finally being old enough to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead. This is something that they have felt so strongly about and looked forward to their first trip with excitement. Last night was the night they have waited for for so long. It was both Lizzie and Rebecca's first time to go on this temple excursion with the youth in our ward. You would have thought it was Disney Land the way they talked about it.

There was a mix up or something and they were only able to do a few names but their youth group plans to do many trips so their will be plenty more opportunity for them to go back and do many names. Their goal is to do our family history and have their own names to be baptised for.

Lots of Alexander Pics

Here are some fun pictures of Alexander that I just love. If you think this is a lot you should see the number that I didn't post. I just can't help sharing the sweet little man that we have.

Our grass is green and soft and so inviting...so why does he hate it so much. Okay, he doesn't hate the grass but he doesn't like it either. He will tolerate it but only on his hands and toes. He looks like a little monkey walking around trying not to let the grass touch his belly or his knees.

He has recently taken to learning how to drink from a cup. This is his first attempt at the cup and just like eating he did so good. He would have done better if it was formula or juice and not just plain old water.
He looks so tiny in his big crib. He likes playing in it just as much as sleeping in it...most of the time.
Harry Potter is known as "the boy who lived". Our little Alexander is known as "the boy who smiles...a lot".

I think he has gotten in to the cat food one too many times. He is starting to act more like the cats everyday. He crawls in and out of the cat house all the time now and I think I even heard a little "meow" yesterday.


What kind of mother would I be if I didn't put one of those cute but potentially embarrassing bath pictures in.

The girls tend to sneak the camera and take pictures and videos and then put the camera back so that I don't know what they were up to. The only flaw in their plan is that they leave the evidence on the camera. I couldn't stop laughing when this little gem popped up on the camera screen.

He's so busy now with all of his crawling, exploring, eating, playing, pooping, and sleeping that he keeps a schedule on the fridge so that he doesn't miss anything.

It's hard work being a 7 month old. Sometimes exhaustion just sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

11pm at our house

Tonight is one of those late summer nights where we just hang out and enjoy each other's company for as long as we can. It's after 11pm and here is what is going on:

Alexander is busy exploring the house with lightning speed picking up every little thing he can get his hands on to put in his mouth. He is strong too and he will fight hard to keep his mini meals.

Megan is doing her best copy cat routine by picking someone and doing exactly what they are doing right down to the same facial expressions. It would be annoying if it wasn't so darn cute and fun to watch.

Dakota is on the Wii fit playing a game that she is so good at none of us even has a chance at beating her score. She makes it look so easy. I'm pretty good at that game and I don't even come close to her score.

Rebecca is busy making her really good and healthy peanut butter oatmeal cookies. They are so soft and yummy. We can't wait until they come out of the oven and we get to finally eat these yummy cookies that we have been smelling.

Lizzie is busy hanging out and making me laugh. She is chasing Alexander around and making sure he doesn't get a hold of something that he shouldn't be eating (like the cat food he can't leave alone.)

CJ is in his usual state of mind after the clock hits 9pm. I have to say though he lasted pretty long tonight. He made it all the way to 10:15 this time before his eyelids just wouldn't stay open any longer.

So there you have it. A late night in the Thompson household. Next time you should come and join us. You would love Rebecca's cookies.

Back to school

It's that time of year again. Parents are busy getting the kids ready for the first day of school and the kids are hoping each remaining day of summer can last a little longer than it is supposed to. That is what we are doing too except two of the kids can't wait for school to start and one is hoping that by some miracle it won't have to start at all...ever again. There is another however that is preparing to go back to school as well. Me. I have started the registration process with Utah Valley University. I will be starting classes in the spring and I am very excited. The thing that makes me the most excited is that I have finally decided what I want to be when I grow up. I have wanted to be so many things that I know I would enjoy I just couldn't pick one to focus on. I have gone to school before with just a general major because I kept changing my mind about my real major every semester. I wanted to be a Teacher, a Nurse, a Secretary, a Photoshop Technician, a Police Officer, and a Psychologist. I also enjoyed biology and genetics and thought that would make an interesting career path. I didn't want to pick just one, I wanted to do them all...somehow. Well with much thought on the matter and after many prayers I have actually picked just one area I will study and graduate from. Yea me! My major will be in Administration Information Management. I picked the Secretary. Not just a Secretary though, eventually I want to become an Executive Secretary or an Office Manager. I hope to start out working for the school district either in the elementary school that will be built right next door in the near future, or in another school in the district, or in the district offices themselves, while I still have children in school. That way my schedule will match theirs until they have all moved on and started working on their own career paths.

I went to a scholarship class tonight that my church offers for anyone interested in going to school without debt and it was amazing. I can't tell you how much better I feel about going back to school at this time. The hardest part about applying for scholarships is that they all require an essay. I love school and don't have any problems with any class EXCEPT English class. I can't write essays. I have attempted English 101 two times and failed both times. Something about that class terrifies me and I just can't do it. Now not only do I have to get past English 101 essay writing but if I want to apply for any scholarships I have to write essays about myself too. I am so grateful that the office who gave the scholarship class has offered to help me write my essays too. Now I just have to find the time to write, write, write. Wish me luck.