Reagan- A good friend to have!!!!

During Ellie's spring break, I took the day off and Angie and I took the kids to the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA. Steve, Jackie, and cousin Clair were able to meet us there. Our trip to the Reagan Library and the Mormon battalion visitors center in San Diego(more pics to come) were a few highlights during the break. We are fortunate to have children that seem to love history and going to museums. I believe this started young with our girls. Having the opportunity to live in Washington D.C., we were able to visit museums almost every weekend. On the way home from the library Ellie and Paige made me ask them questions about Ronald Reagan. I asked Ellie what war President Reagan helped end and what did he tear down. Ellie answered, "The Russian War and the wall". Then Paige wanted a question so I asked her to tell me President Reagan's favorite food. She replied "jelly beans!!!". She remembered that on Air Force One there were Jelly Bellies all over the plane. One thing that really stood out to me about Ronald Reagan was his never ending patriotism. He was always positive about America and truly felt that God blessed our country. The library was a great experience for our girls and I'm so glad they were able to learn about one of our countries greatest presidents.

The girls in front of Air Force One. It was amazing that we got Emma to stay in one place!

Girls with cousin Claire!

A piece of the Berlin Wall.

The girls on the West German side of the Berlin Wall. A frightened Paige on the East German side. Its hard to be happy as a communist!!

REALITY

Last night as I layed in my bed I thought about life. Of all the sweet pictures I have to post of our family on our recent adventures. I thought a lot about the reality of life. Why do we saturate it with so many things that are not real and meaningless? I pondered on the last two weeks of the Thompson family reality. Being overcome with sickness my exercise deprived body lay sprawled on the couch. Tissues thrown here and there. Dishes and clothes saying, "wash me!!!" Toys burying me alive, and bored kids! Worst of all bored kids!

In our weakest moments we thank our Father above for what we have. For me at that moment it was my health. I was so grateful to be a healthy person, and that this temporary condition just helped me appreciate that once again.. With antibiotics I feel like I am starting my upward climb and unfortunately John has been slowly descending. As we got ready for bed last night, both extremely tired from the days activities and filled with the nightly dose of cough syrup w/codeine, we began getting ready for bed. I was hoping that if disaster struck at least one of us would be able to wake up! I was getting a drink of water in the kitchen and I heard John locking the garage door. I wasn't sure if I was hearing right, but it sounded like John was doing laundry. Even as a non tired, non sick person, changing the laundry is one of Johns least favorite things I ask him to do. "Why did you do that I asked?" He said that he had heard me mention earlier that I needed to remember to do it so Ellie's clothes would be dry in the morning. OK, many of you might be thinking, what is the big deal! Let me tell you, REALITY. The fact that it is those small selfless acts that shape our lives, and more importantly our marriages. Marriage is hard. Marriage with kids is harder! We can be pulled in every direction with things that take us away from reality. Tonight my reality was wonderful. A silly selfless act helped me to remember what it is all about. I wrote this today because I am thankful!! Thankful for John and our three little stinkers. Remembering that what we have is sacred and we need to fight to keep it. He was rewarded!! :)

Shoes!!

Emma loves shoes! I remember all my girls going through a phase where they wanted to always have on Mom and Dads shoes, but Emma is obsessed. She gets so mad if they don't fit her right, and just cannot understand what the problem is. The other day John saw her acting funny in the kitchen. She was stomping on the floor, sitting down and standing up. He looked underneath her foot in her little footed pjs and found this little red shoe. It is about a half an inch long and belongs to one of Ellie's American Heart dolls. She knew it looked like a shoe. Why didn't it fit?? Maybe it would have to be your own child to appreciate this story, but it was so sweet!!

LOVE

The month of Love has almost come to an end! This year the girls decorated their mailboxes on February 1. By the 14the they were all stuffed with love notes oozing of sweet sentiments to each other!! It was a lot of fun to open them up on Valentines Day. We are really trying to make Valentines a day that we show our family how much we love them. The girls came running into our room like it was Christmas! Happy Valentines Day!!! John cooked us girls the most delicious dinner. Cornish Game Hens, Fresh green beans with buttery potatoes. It was really a treat. After dinner John surprised us with strawberry shortcake. By my plate was a dozen roses and a card and the girls each had a rose above their plate with a surprise valentine underneath. Thank-you John for loving us!!!! We love you.

Paigey Waigey is 4!!

Paige turned 4 on January 9. John gives her a good tickle and says, "stop growing up." She giggles in delight! We ask her why she wants to grow up, and she says far to eagerly, "I want to wear make-up, of course!!" Here are some pics of her opening some presents at Grandma and Grandpa T's

This is the cake Paige wants every year for her birthday. Chocolate Lovers Delight from Costco!

Paige with her birthday balloon.!!

Christmas Morning!

John and I were so excited to see the girls faces Christmas morning. Unbelievably spoiled. We all had such a beautiful Christmas. I didn't have the energy to put on all the pictures, but I have to say that John was even more excited then the girls when he got his new fish surf board! Talk about Mrs. Clause coming through!! Goodbye Christmas 2009!

Ellie on her new beach cruiser. The basket was the perfect finishing touch. She didn't look this happy when she tried to ride it for the first time. She just learned to ride without training wheels, but apparently this bike is a lot heavier. Hang in there Elle, you will get it down in no time!! Paige dropped her blanket and ran to her bike. It is honestly one of the cutest tricycles I have ever seen. She loved it and knew Santa had come through! Girlie's sporting their Christmas PJ's at Grandma and Grandpa Woods house. We had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner with them and enjoyed a gift exchange together. I just realized Emma is not in any of these pictures. She did get a few little things from Santa, but mostly enjoyed crinkling the wrapping paper. John and I have a philosophy that if our kids don't really know whats going on then they kinda get the shaft, in the nicest way possible of course! Does that sound terrible. On Halloween when Emma isn't dressed in a costume I get the vibe from some parents, child abuse. The lovely thing is She doesn't have a clue and we didn't waste our money on a cheesy costume that will fall apart anyway. OK, I have no idea why I went off on that!!

This year Santa got Oreo cookies and eggnog! The reindeer's loved their carrots and brown sugar as you can see. Checking to see if Santa ate his goodies is almost as exciting as opening presents for our kids. Looks like he came!!