Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!! - So cute! Seriously, in 2009 I'm pulling out my sewing machine and getting busy.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a really fun Thanksgiving weekend this year. It started off with Holiday Outreach, a charity event at Kyle's school that I've been involved with for the past three years. The event is held every Thanksgiving morning at Bartlett and is a collaboration between the PTO and the PE Department. Everyone comes out to participate in the popular JAWS program (Jogging And Walking Stars) while giving to a charity. This year, we collected for Robert Taylor Elementary, Bartlett's sister school. Their students struggle with proper meals, clothes, shelter, etc. We gathered clothes, cash and gift cards for their student population.

It is such a fantastic way to start off Thanksgiving. We've enjoyed participating in Holiday Outreach for the last five years and can't believe Kyle will be moving on to middle school next year and we won't be a part of it. Luckily, before we know it, Abbie and Daisy will be at Bartlett and we'll be out walking on Thanksgiving morning again.

Thanks to everyone to walked, gave and helped. This events would never work without so many wonderful volunteers!

Walkers

Signs
The Butler's famous bake sale - Nikki's the best co-chair a girl could hope for!

Me, manning the cash/gift card donation box

Clothes donation baskets

Abbie & Nate getting down.

Kyle showing off his almost finished 40-mile card. He ended up ditching the walk and playing soccer and football 1/2 way through.

Daisy along for the ride.

Papa, Abbie, Lindsay, Nate & Wes

Abbie & the turkey dancing

Abbie eating a cupcake...Lulu sporting George's glasses

The rest of the weekend was filled with hanging out and fun. While the girls rested after Holiday Outreach, the rest of us watched a movie then we all headed over to Grandma & Papa's for Thanksgiving dinner and Whoopi (or Whoopsi if your Abbie). Grandma made some delicious food and Sam baked a yummy apple crumble dessert. After all the food, we played our favorite holiday game, Whoopi. Lindsay organized it and gathered all the prizes. Tripp won $6 I believe and Kyle got a gift card. We had to put the small ones to bed so Kyle decided to stay for the next round. He didn't win anything but Sam gave him $2 from her spoils.

The next day, Abbie & Daddy had a tea party and we took our pumpkins out to the Springs Preserve to be recycled. We love the Springs Preserve and stayed for some of Kyle's favorite exhibits and lunch. After lunch, we always let the kids run around on the grass for a little bit before we go home. They got Daddy in on the action too.

Later that afternoon, Nikki & Ruby came by with an invitation to play at the park. Tripp, Kyle and Abbie joined them right away while Daisy and I dropped by a little later.

Saturday we put up our Christmas tree, had a family lunch at Metro Pizza and took Abbie & Kyle to see Bolt in the evening. Kyle picked but both kids enjoyed going to the movies and Daddy loved getting to have a tiny bit of popcorn.

Tomorrow it's back to reality. But it's been a nice holiday weekend. It makes me look forward to Christmas. I could skip all the presents but will enjoy the free time without a set schedule, homework, sports, school, ballet, etc.

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!! - Abbie and Daisy would love great in this jacket and pant set. Let's hope for a win!!!!!!

Abbie Turns 3

Abbie turned three years old yesterday. She's been excited about her birthday for a few weeks now and truly had a magical day. She woke up in the morning so happy and excited and allowed her dad and I to sing to her and give her a little birthday crown. She wore the crown for the rest of the day (outside of her party, of course).

We had a costume party with four of her friends. We kept it small and simple...little guy games, cupcakes and presents. A few extra special guests joined us as well...Kyle, Nate and Ruby's sister Lulu, Abbie's very favorite big girl. As usual, one of the Thompson kids had a meltdown...this time it was Daisy. She is getting a tooth and has been a super-grouch. Thanks to MamaThom who scooped her up and took her upstairs for love and rocking while we had the party.

Abbie had so much fun at her party. She told us that her favorite game was musical chairs (Kyle supplied the music by playing Cruela DeVille on the piano). Her favorite presents are the Lightning McQueen & Mator cars, a lion necklace and the bike (she's been asking for one for months). Later that night, while eating a cupcake, Abbie said to Tripp and I, "I love my birthday." And I think she truly did. I have to say that Tripp and I loved it as well. We aren't too big on our own birthdays but sucked up every minute of Abbie enjoying hers.

A shout-out to Sam for manning the camera. With three kids and lots of guests, there is just no way we can take photos at our own events anymore. I am incredibly lucky to have sisters that are so willing to always take pictures.

Nate playing the bean bag game.

Lindsay, Papa & Wes

Travis on the pinata.

Ruby & Nikki at the pinata.

Pinata spoils.

Abbie preparing for "Pin the car on the racetrack."

Daddy helping out.

Kyle a little off target.

Abbie & Jade in musical chairs.

Nate playing musical chairs.

Blowing out the candles.

The new bike.

Hey Guys, I'm Getting Big!

We never thought little Daisy would be holding that 11 month card but she is closer to 12m than she is to 11m now! She is just getting so big we can't believe it. Well, except her feet. She is still sporting the 3-6 month shoes I had to buy so that she wouldn't have cold toes.

She loves to smile and laugh...so happy. I bought an extra blanky just in case I lost hers but she just adopted it too so now she is a two fisted blanky lover at night. We think she has the cutest little bucky beaver teeth in town. She definitely knows her daddy and smiles and laughs when he comes home from work...so happy to see him.

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!! - Oh, I really hope to win this one! Abbie's birthday party on the 22nd is a costume party and I would LOVE to dress the girls up in these. What a fun birthday surprise that would be for Abbie to have a new costume for both her and her sister for the party. Everyone, please cross you fingers for us!!!!!!!!!

Grandparents Galore

We were blessed with lots of Grandparent visits over the weekend. Grandma Sandy arrived Friday and although her plane arrived late and I ended up having to work a good portion of the day, the girls got to spend time with her Friday afternoon and evening. Saturday, while Tripp and an entire crew of workers tackled our front and back yards, the girls played and played inside with their Grandma. Later, we all went to Kyle's soccer game then came home for a rest and some chili before she had to head to the airport that evening.

Sunday night, MamaThom and PapaThom drove into town just in time for dinner and for Kyle to come home from visiting his mom for the weekend. Kyle immediately challeged his Grandma to Wii Bowling. Monday morning MamaThom joined the girls for Abbie's dance class while PapaThom took Kyle on a quick errand to the Bass Pro Shop then golfing. They swung by the house to pick up MamaThom for lunch while the girls slept. That night, we all went to Kyle's soccer practice then home for dinner and more Wii before bedtime.

Abbie cried when both Grandma's left. Both promised to see her in a couple of weeks as they are going to be at her birthday party but she definitely loves her Grandparents. It was lovely to see everyone and we are happy they all made the time and effort to visit us.

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!! - would love to win a giftcard for a super cute outfit for the girls. Cross your fingers for me!

We Voted

Thank goodness today is election day. A short list of why I am glad it's November 4th:
3. Good or bad (depending on who wins and your opinion) we finally know who will be driving this ship for the next four years.
2. The end of annoying election phone calls and surveys (someone in our house is registered Independent so we get WAY TOO MANY calls from both parties and from pollsters).
1. Free Ben & Jerry's!!!!!!!!!

Disneyland

We took off Thursday right after Kyle got out of school, ran a couple of errands for my job, than headed to Anaheim for our weekend at Disneyland. We generally only plan one day trips but with the Nevada Day holiday, we've had this two day plan on the schedule for about a year now. I was talking to a friend about it the other day and she made a comment about how Disneyland was our thing...meaning a Thompson family thing. She's right, it is our thing. Tripp and I got engaged there and we've been making it a priority to go with (and without the kids - rainy trip with Tara & Sam - one of the best ever) ever since. Granted, I've always been a Disneyland devotee, but finding Tripp was equally enchanted by the place was definitely a huge bonus. Kyle asked how many times Abbie has been to Disneyland - I couldn't answer. In her short three years of life I've already lost count. Daisy has been twice. So I guess you could say we just spent the weekend doing our thing.

Day One: Disneyland with the Hurd/Palacios Family
It wouldn't be Disneyland without Scott, Tara, Jake and Nicole. They are our Disneyland partners. We met them minutes after the gates opened and went non-stop until 10:30 or so. They were staying in San Diego that night and we had some pretty tired little ones so it was tough to say goodbye, but a must. We are already planning our next trip.

Abbie and Daisy dressed up in their princess attire for the day
The girls - Nicole Palacios, Tara Hurd, Abbie, Daisy & Ali Thompson

Mommy and Daisy on Dumbo

Daddy & Abbie 0n Dumbo - Abbie loved Dumbo, the Tea Cups (her favorite) and the Carousel

Daisy in her Minnie attire

Kyle after a treat (I'm sure)

Abbie and her "Tigger Tail"

Luckily, Daisy was happy to chill in her stroller most of the time.

Scott & Nicole sampling the caramel apples - a Disneyland specialty

Tripp, Nicole, Scott, Kyle & Jake on Splash Mountain

Scott and his turkey leg - we thought we'd never see the day someone in our party
would partake of the leg.

Day Two: California Adventure & Disneyland

Unfortunately, the Hurd/Palacios group spent Saturday with family in San Diego so we spent the second day on our own. Kyle really likes some of the rides at California Adventure so we spent half the day over there. The weather was nice and cool and the park was empty, allowing Kyle and Tripp to go on each ride over and over again. Right after we entered the park, we came across the "Year of a Million Dreams" crew and were awarded the special "Million Dreams" fast passes! We couldn't believe it! We have always missed that crew by 15 minutes here and there on other trips and we passed them and they awarded us the passes...even Daisy got one! It was pretty magical. Next visit - Sleeping Beauty's castle.

So half the day in California Adventure and the other half back at Disneyland going on all the favorites one last time. We even got to go on ones that we usually don't waste fast passes on but now had free ones for - like Autopia! With Abbie's obsession with the movie Cars, it was definitely a hit.

Kyle and Abbie at the entrance to California Adventure

The Thompson Family being awarded the "Year of a Million Dreams" fast passes

Tripp & Kyle on the Maliboomer - Kyle cried his eyes out the first time and got really
mad at Tripp for making him try it - like I Hate You mad. He ended up riding it
two or three more times before we left. Now one of his absolute favorites. We'll never understand that kid.

Eating cotton candy near the candy corn field

Everyone with their treats (this one started out as mine)

Kyle with his Mickey ice cream sandwich

Daisy and her popcorn

Kyle and Abbie working on the Sword in the Stone (we watched it on the drive down)

Sunday: We were thankful for Daylight Savings because we all needed an extra hour after two full days and late nights at Disneyland. All the kids slept in and after a good breakfast we packed up and started back to Vegas. On our stop in Barstow, we ran into (not literally, thank goodness) the Wienermobile. Tripp was really excited to show it to the kids. They had special edition glow in the dark wiener whistles and an invitation to join them at Subway, which we declined. Tripp and I are pooped but it was a ton of fun.