Summer Wreaths

I have suddenly become in love with wreaths, I don't know why. But these are a few of my recent favs:

My summer seaside wreath:

And my patriotic wreath:

Tip I learned: remember to actually READ the directions before attempting to try to follow them.

2 Months Already!

Kamryn turned two months on Tuesday. I can't believe how fast it has gone. But yet I can't remember what it was like without her here. She has complimented our family in so many ways. Corbin has come to love her to DEATH. He will literally smother her with his love. He likes to try to take care of her. Ashlyn thinks she is mom #2 and Dylan plays a very good big brother part. Everyone loves her, I mean EVERYONE! At Church functions she is the most popular person in the room, especially with the kids! Being in primary makes all the kids unafraid to approach me, which I love. We have noticed a trend however, it is usually the babies of the families that are the most "hungry" to hold her.

She has started to smile and coo at us- an amazing glimpse into her personality. I still am waiting to see what color her eyes are going to be (this will determine if she is a King baby or a Thompson baby. I have three Thompson babies and so i won't get my hopes up!) I think she has me wrapped cause i really think she is the cuttest baby I have EVER seen, including my own. She really is such a great baby, I have put in a lot of time to deserve one like this. She normally only wakes up twice at night and it has been less here and there. She will sit in bouncer for longer than I should let her. She is most always very content!

We love our baby Kamryn!

Wee Wee Wee All The Way Home

I never would have thought that this... would =

A week ago I was in my normal post bedtime zone- cleaning and picking up after a long day. I walked briskly past the baby bouncer- I guess a little too closely! I caught the frame between my 4th and 5th toes and of course tripped. Luckily there was no baby in it because I snagged it hard. Honestly, I take pain pretty well, but this hurt more than just a normal stub. Connor heard my howl and found me laying face down. The only reason I was still sprawled on the floor at this point was the need for a few extra minutes to shake it off. Connor started laughing, assuming I was trying to play some sort of joke (I guess I play too many on him.)
I have never broken a single bone in my body until I became a mother- how ironic! I never knew that motherhood could be so dangerous! The x-ray showed a very obvious pinky toe fracture.

The sad part is that I was just getting back into my running after my 6 week postpartum green light. This puts quite a damper on my race training and tennis team playing! So for the next four weeks I have to find time/ways to cross train (not going so hot)!

Cotton Hammer

This great guy came to visit... Connor's Cousin/best friend, Scott Hammer, came. He was in town for a wedding but we got a few days to enjoy him first. For some reason Ashlyn started calling him "Cotton Hammer" and it stuck. So to celebrate the occasion of our visitor we decided to take a trip to the beach.

This sums up how we all felt about it...
Camp site...
Kamryn did so well at the beach- maybe she didn't care for the wind... Professional sandcastle maker and cutie...
There were a few moments that we suddenly realized Dylan had vanished and as we looked around we saw this...
The kid would just have a sudden urge to run, the need for speed!

There was a lot of this...

Dylan was glued to Hammer. Actually all the kids were. They could barely let him shower alone. They were fighting over who got to sit by him and who got to play with him.

Future Mormon bay watch girl...

My favorite pic because it sums up how relaxing it was... The water was too enjoyable, we couldn't get enough...
I mean this kid is too cute... We never got tired of jumping over the waves and running from them...

I was surprised that Dylan enjoyed body surfing so much, salt and all...

Pretending to be fish...

By the end of the day we were toast (literally.)

Thanks Hammer for coming to visit and putting up with us and our crazy kids!

8 Years

8 years ago I never imagined a day like today...

*woken abruptly by child 3 screaming bloody murder
*poop leaked on your clothes at a baseball game
*child 3 drops apple into dirt after repeated warnings (might I add that you are VERY hungry)
*stubbed your broken toe
*child 2 scrapes knee and there is D.R.A.M.A.
*as you load the car you realize that child 3 has pooped in his swim diaper (and it is that flaky stuff that doesn't come off) and your friend with the pool key just left.
*child 4 is often crying but has to be put off until children 1-3 are satisfied
*child 2 won't stop asking you to walk the neighbor's dog with her
*child 3 rammed heads with his best buddy and now is crying and has a big bump
*child 1 cries because there are no more baseball helmets
*child 2 thinks she runs the house and can tell everyone what to do
*child 3 complains that his tummy hurts (your first thought is throw up)
*child 1 decides he needs a reward for picking up his own trash
*child 4 is tired but having a hard time falling and STAYING asleep.
*child 1 says he can't find his baseball shirt even though he is practically looking at it
*child 3 plays in the mud
*child 2 cries because the shoes she chose are hurting her feet, she demands that you go get her different ones (you are not at home, nor are you even close)
*child 3 throws his sandwich at you
*child 1 asks you to carry his bat and water bottle- like you aren't already hauling enough
*child 3's nose is running, all you can find is his shirt.

And this is a typical day. But yet it doesn't seem so bad because I married this man...
Who makes me feel loved, which is the most wonderful feeling in the whole world. Loved inside and out, despite many weaknesses and eccentricities. My best friend and one who makes me smile and laugh even when the world seems to be crashing around us. I am grateful that I chose to marry this man and that I get to walk side by side with him forever- a marvelous gift that started 8 years ago today!

K'nex

We were lucky enough to get a great big package of these...

As long as we give a review of the products on this here blog, they are ours to keep!

It was like Christmas at our house as you can imagine! Corbin and Ashlyn went straight for the Sesame Street sets. They loved putting them together, and they love the containers they came in too. I also enjoyed that the instructions gave a lot of ideas to use when playing with your kids. Not only can you put them together in very fun and silly ways but you can use them to teach colors and numbers. As a child development major and MOM I was grateful for yet another fun tool to help my children learn as they play.
Dylan has loved the Collect & Build Construction Crew Series and the Micro-Bots set. He has really loved that some are motorized. He can enjoy building them and then playing with them afterward. Corbin loves to watch "hopper." Obviously, we have rebuilt him many times!However, Dylan seems frustrated when they come apart and sometimes he gets stuck on the directions. But overall he has been able to build most of them on his own. I also have enjoyed the Fire Rescue 10 set because it gives directions to build not just the truck but also 3 or 4 other vehicles. As a mom of a child who mostly only builds straight from the directions and not out of creativity, I am thankful for multiple ways he can use this one set.

I would like to think I am a pretty good builder myself, but Dylan would much rather have dad or a friend build with him. No fair, I like these too!

nursing covers

I can finally show off my latest creations because it won't ruin any surprises. Our ward has had a HUGE boom of babies- 9 babies!!! Half of them are first time mommies, which is terribly exciting.

So I decided to make those new mommies one of these...A cute nursing cover (some people would like to call them hooter hiders, you can choose)...

I think they turned out quite adorable if I say so myself. And while I was at it, I made myself a new one, mine was pretty ragged looking...

visitors

Afraid to say it but this post is long overdue. This spring we had two sets of very exciting visitors. Can I say WE LOVE VISITORS!

First our friends, the Christophers, from Boston came to see us. We practically lived at each other's apartments when we lived in Boston. I found one AMAZING friend in Brianne! I am so grateful we have been able to keep in touch and glad that they would stop by on their way to the Beach.

Right before Kamryn came Connor's sister, Cami, and her family came. We were really hoping that Kamryn would come while they were here. We did however have a lot of fun showing them all the things we like to do. We took them to the very awesome Durham Science Museum!

Ashlyn and Sophie

We anticipate more visitors- that means YOU! (seriously, come to the beach with us, it is awesome!)

More babies on the Way

Don't worry, it is not me having more babies. We are due to have some hatch soon from our little hanging pot of flowers. Look closely...

I scare the mom away every time I open the front door- which makes me feel bad. But we are terribly excited!

1 month

Look at this beautiful girl...

Kamryn is one month old. The wise women always tell me how much faster it goes with consecutive children. And it really does, but only because I am enjoying it so much. Kamryn has been an amazing addition to our family. She is hard not to love! My favorite moments are watching Dylan lay with her before bedtime, Ashlyn mothering her by desperately wanting to put her on her "shoulder" and Corbin asking to hold "baby" and smiles at her. I LOVE when she first wakes up with all those cute noises and gruts while she stretches. She really is patient with all that happens around this house! She is very alert and happy most of the time.

My friend Becky made this adorable onesie for her. A "K" on the front and ruffles in the back. What baby bum doesn't look good in ruffles! And the adorable blanket by Aunt Kadi! This girl is OUTFITTED!

She tipped the scales at 10lbs 6 oz (90%)! She takes after the Thompson clan with her chub. She is 75% on her head cir. and 50% on her height- not soo shabby!

She is so precious that it makes me want to have another one- well until I hear the rest of the kids arguing and fighting!

MY TRUCK RETURNS

After 12 long years...I finally have a truck again! Yes, this is my 2nd official post on the blog, but it's a great moment I'd like to share. So why 12 years? Well, the story goes like this. Before the mission I had a 1990 Toyota Truck (before they called them Tacoma's) that was my pride and joy. I would take it 4 wheeling regularly (even though my family still to this day thinks I got stuck in the mud in that truck more than anything). I was so excited to come home and take my truck to the next level. Well, about half way through my mission I get a letter from my my brother Joel informing me that they are selling the truck! I couldn't believe it! I just read the letter I sent my family after I found out and I was in total pain. I was affected more from that letter than I was my Dear John letter! Anyway, I'm just happy to have my truck back. And boy is it TOTALLY AWESOME! (think of the way Rhino on Bolt says it) Here are some highlights:

• 2009 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Double Cab
• V6 - 236 horsepower
• Back up camera - in the review mirror
• Bed liner and cover
• 6,500 lbs towing capacity
• TRD Off Road package (shocks, locking rear differential, downhill assist, etc.)
• 31" tires - BFGoodrich Rugged Trail tires
• A sweet interior! AUX input, radio controls on the steering wheel, etc.

Michal keeps telling me that I am acting like a child with a new toy. Well, I must admit I am ready to get my new toy covered in mud. In fact, I've even considered starting a 4x4 wheeling club that explores the Southeast wilderness. Anyone want to go? Let me know! Although I will miss my Honda Accord (we've been together since the mission) I'm sure I'll get over it. Eric Thompson and Todd Eggertson now have another family member with a Tacoma. I think it's time to resurrect the Jeep trips of years past!

New Diaper Bag

This is the latest and greatest addition to the Thompson house... GO GAGA!!!

As some of you might know (from me requesting advice) I have been searching for the perfect diaper bag for four kids and this is what I found. Funded by the Lovely Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (Thank you Nini and Poger!) I have had it a few days and I am really enjoying it! My favorite feature is how it straps to my stroller and holds EVERYTHING (oh and the cool changing pad and how it will last after the diaper bag stage and it's cool shoulder strap and.... I could go on.) So yep, lovin it!

Genworth Fun Festival

We got into Genworth (Connor's new employer) just at the right time to enjoy a little family day.

Of course the first attraction the kids were (strongly) drawn to was the pony ride... Corbin happily rode all by himself! First time by himself.
And as I have said before, Ashlyn would has the immense longing for horses. She would have stayed on that pony all day long. I think we went back three times before the day was over. As we were waiting for Connor to get the car she just watched as the ponies were being loaded into their trailer.
And all of the inflatables...

This was smaller event, so Ashlyn and Corbin felt comfortable climbing in these because they weren't getting trampled by bigger kids. We enjoyed some of them all to ourselves! Corbin figured out how to climb up the slide!

And a hot day is not complete without a little ice cream...

Corbin's shirt matched his shorts and his Popsicle by the end...

Silent... But deadly

Why is it that when she has a big, nice burp there is no cottage cheese to accompany it.

But when there is no vocal warning (belch) there is spit up EVERYWHERE!

Cinco De Mayo

We had a Cinco De Mayo party with some friends (yes, on Wednesday.) We had a potluck dinner at the park- my favorite of course was the real authentic stuff that someone brought from Taco Bell! The kids had a blast running around but the best part was the pinata...

Dylan is our heavy hitter...
If you look closely you can see that Ashlyn is cheating...
Corbin thought it was so cool to get to hit something...
Even the adults got to try, here is Connor (I got to be the pinata master and I was a little tough on him)...
Even our prego friend got up to try- way to go Amanda...
There were lots more pictures I didn't get, but I hope to get them soon.