Mercedes Baby Blessing

I'm only two weeks behind on my post... I guess that's just life as a mother of 5.  I've also realized there is much more that has fallen through the cracks with #5 than I anticipated.

Memorial Weekend we blessed Mercedes at church.  What a wonderful day!  We were blessed to have Connor's Dad (sad Nini couldn't make it), Connor's oldest brother, Eric, and his family, as well as Connor's sister, Laurel, and some of her family.  

Our new family of 7, wow that seems like so much more than just 6.

 The whole gang...

 Mercedes never had to be put down, she was lov'in it...

 Enjoying being outside for a BBQ and games...

We of course had to break out our Souther corn hole game...

 Dylan enjoyed learning some lacrosse with his cousins...

Corbin loved the attention his 16 year old cousin, Jack, payed to him.  Corbin followed him like a shadow.

Jack and his crazy, don't touch it, hair

 And what's a crazy, family filled weekend without a little VI?

And it wouldn't be a cousin filled weekend without fighting over who gets to sit next to them...

 We loved every minute! Thanks for coming!

What Blogs Are For

Blogs are for about your kids.  So here is a post full of videos of last weekend.  

We went to a BYU Alumni 5k race where they had free kids races.  

Corbin (in the dark grey shirt) and Kamryn ran in a 200m race...

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Ashlyn (pink shirt) ran in a 300m race...

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Dylan (in Navy) ran in a 400m race...

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I am a proud mama!

We then went to Dylan's flag football game, he's #20.  You may want to watch it a few times, I think it is pretty amazing!

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 Hopefully Dylan will continue his football success and our retirement will be assured.

1 Month

I can't believe it's been a month already.  But then again we are in a much better routine than we were (that is until the kids get out of school.)

We are still, if not more, in love with little Mercedes as we were the day she came...

 And she's just as cute if not cuter...

 And just as fun to be around...

 And there are still moments that make us laugh...

 Ashlyn has a magical touch with Mercedes.  She is almost a second me, besides her inability to lactate.  Dylan also has a special touch, he's put her to sleep in his arms two Sunday's in a row...

As you can see, she's plumping up quite well due to the cream milk she eats.  Bring on the rolls, we love them!

Unfortunately that isn't all we have been up to this last month...

Connor got called as Young Men's 2nd counselor and Assistant to Scout Master- so he'll be gone on a lot of campouts.  They went to the Sand dunes just a week after Mercedes was born so the boys went along.  They had a blast!

They played football in the river and went sledding down the sand.  We loved the sand dunes in the Outer Banks, Dylan says these are 10 times the size!

And of course when the boys are gone we have to do fun, girly stuff like going to Charming Charlie's!

They really should pay Kamryn for marketing.  Everyone in the store couldn't keep their eyes off of her.  Not only was she the cutest dancer but she put together some amazing combinations! 

This is what happens when I tell Corbin and Kamryn they shouldn't put their corn on the cob on the patio table because I don't know how clean it is...

We went to a BYU 5k in Highlands Ranch last weekend.  They had free kids races by age group.  Dylan won a 400m race, Ashlyn finished her 300m race, Corbin got 2nd in his 200m race and Kamryn and I walked a 200!  I was so proud.  

Our library had a publics works day.  We got to tour a bunch of trucks... Fire Truck, ambulance, and salt and snow plow.  Corbin and Kamryn got to control the remote control "car" that has a video camera on it that they put down into the pipes underground.

And of course the only thing to do during an oil change is to get some cold treats at Burger King.  You Should try their icy lemonades!

Busy is all so relative!

Mercedes Kendall Thompson

She arrived Tuesday, April 23rd at 1:49am.  What a sacred and beautiful experience (has it really taken me five 5 wonderful times to truly and deeply understand?)  There has been something magical about this time.

Mercedes is much like my other children who seem to have a HUGE mouth, yet there isn't enough room for all their permanent teeth?

I thought this was adorable...

As you can see we are all smitten by her...

(Ashlyn holds her hours upon hours each day)

 However, I do believe Corbin and Kamryn only came to the hospital to play with my bed...

 She gets more beautiful and more addicting by the day...

We are thrilled to have her here, but we don't want her to grow, not even a millimeter!

We Are Alive

It's been a whirlwind!  We are now officially Coloradans.  We enjoyed living at my parents house for a week.  They have the best basement, basketball hoop, swing, pingpong table and climbing wall included...

The girls squealed with delight when they opened the chest of dress ups...

 Thankfully my mom was prepared to decorate eggs so I didn't have to worry about it in the middle of moving.  We tried a new shaving cream way, it was really cool...

Then the day after we go in our house Connor's Dad called and said "we are coming tomorrow to help unpack!" What a TENDER MERCY!  Not only did Connor's parents drive over from SLC but so did his sister's family of 7, and brother's family of 5!  The cousins reunited after two whole years and played from dawn to dusk while all adults put their shoulder to the wheel.  Without their help I would have averaged 2 boxes a day for sure!  It was also wonderful to know that we moved here for a wonderful reason- so we could see family more!  And of course we couldn't send them off without having a dance party!

And yes, unfortunately I still look like this...

I guess moving doesn't put me into labor!

So after taking a week off and enjoying spring weather for our spring break the kids went to their first day at their new school...

 They are doing very well adjusting but we still have some more to go.

And we have definitely had our share of snow since we got here (three huge storms), but no one is complaining.  It makes for hours of entertainment for these three...

And lots of sledding and Tutu and Papa Steve's House...

Who needs sleds anyway?

 So all is well, just playing the waiting game.  The kids are terribly excited to meet this sweet little girl.  They ask me multiple times a day when she is coming.  I wish I knew!

Beloved Raleigh

We move on Saturday.

I can't say that I am two feet in. 

I've loved living in Raleigh.

I had my last Boberry Buscuit today.  If you haven't had one you might not understand, if you have I'm sure you are now drooling.  You'r welcome! Just one of those great Southern things. 

 This is not an all inclusive post about all the things I will miss about living here- if it was this post would longer than the Nile River.   This is the place that we have lived the most years of our married lives. It's been the best almost 5 years!  We have enjoyed all the friends we've made who have truly become family to us.  We've loved the Southern Culture- relaxing, friendly yet refined.

I'll miss moments like this...

I'll miss my Julie...

I'll miss my Shelley...

I'll miss the "snow storms" that shut everything down for days on end...

The beach, oh how I will miss the beach, there is NOTHING like the Southern Atlantic Beaches!

I will miss my Ragnar buddies, 3 Ragnars strong...

I will miss the Neuse River and the Trail near our house...

And much much much more!  But the one thing that does bring a smile to my face... not having to endure another blazing summer!!!!!!!!!!!  When I get really, really sad (which happens far too often) I just have to remember that we can be outside this summer without being drenched in water or sweat.   But I would do another summer if it meant I could stay.  

I love you Raleigh friends Family!!!

I love you!!!