About the kids...

It's been awhile since I've filled everyone in on Kyle and Abbie....

Kyle is enjoying the fourth grade. He has a darling teacher that he talks about non-stop. Kyle was chosen as "Student of the Week" this week. He always gets chosen last or close to it so being able to do it at the beginning of the year was really exciting for him. Abbie and I brought lunch for a classroom picnic with his teacher today then Kyle showed off his sister for "Show and Tell". We handed out cupcakes after show and tell as Kyle's birthday is during summer break and he never gets to participate. It was a super fun day for the kids.

Kyle is busy with football, golf, piano and scouts. He is a really good football player, especially considering that he's never participated before. His team is 2 and 0. He is really enjoying being 10, fourth grade and all of his activities. It's been a really good month for him.

Abbie wants to be just like Kyle. She loves hanging out with him and can't get enough playtime with her brother. She has suddenly turned into such a big girl. She loves to wear shoes and socks and won't go to bed without her sleeping shoes (slippers) on. She is still signing like crazy and just enjoyed her first gymnastics lesson the other day. She was doing cartwheels, rolls, the balance beam and bar...everything a big girl would do.

She officially has a "Baby Fro". It is super curly and sticks out all over...much like Richard Simmons. I try to make her look more girly with barettes but it doesn't work too well and she always takes them out. She is also wanting to be a helper...she tries to help Kyle practice the piano, me with dinner, the dogs with her treats...you name it and she wants to help.

Disneyland Half Marathon

Well, it's over. I finished the Disneyland Half Marathon this morning. I missed my target finish by about 20 minutes but I made that goal before I found out about the baby. I didn't get picked up by the too-slow bus (my worst fear) so I guess you can count that as a positive outcome. It was fun but I'm glad it is over. It was a lot more fun than the full marathons but could have been a little more enjoyable had I not been 7 months pregnant.

The Disneyland weekend was magical. As many know, there are few families that love Disneyland more than ours. We go an average of twice a year. This trip was a lot of fun, though terribly hot. We spent all day Saturday at the park. Sunday morning we got up for the Disney Family 5k and all finished in good time...and had a lot of fun. The race takes you through both Disneyland and California Adventure...even behind all the rides! We spent the rest of the day playing at both Disneyland and California Adventure. Kyle got to ride The Tower of Terror for the first time and Abbie rode a ton of little guy stuff both days. She really loved Goofy's house and Garden in Toon Town.

This morning was my race. I got up early and joined the rest of the runners outside California Adventure, waiting for the fireworks marking the start of the race. We ran through two portions of California Adventure, Disneyland, various areas of Anaheim, past the Duck Pond, through Angel Stadium (we basically ran the bases!) and back to Disneyland with a finish in Downtown Disney. I am very thankful that despite the humity and unseasonably hot weather, my training this summer (and Heavenly Father's watchful eye) kept the baby and I safe. There were lots of people on the side of the road with medics and IVs...more so than in any race I've participated in.

I think one of the reasons the trip was so much fun is due to our wonderful traveling companions. Scott and Tara have made numerous trips to Disneyland with us and they love atmosphere, treats and rides just as much as we do. We always have such a great time with them and are thankful they are up for so many CA trips. I'm so happy that our kids will have such fond memories of taking regular trips to Disneyland with them.

Happy Birthday Sue & Katie

Two of my very favorite people celebrate their birthdays within a day of each other....my aunt Susie and my oldest friend Katie (by length of friendship, not actual age).

Susie is my mom's only sister. She lives in Reno too so I got to spend a lot of time with her growing up. I have so many wonderful memories of doing things with her. She has always been very creative and I've received wonderful Halloween costumes, quilts, cards, books, etc. that she has spent hours working on for me. She even used to help me build and decorate scarecrows for my elementary school's annual scarecrow contest. She is such a giving person and we all love her a ton.

Katie and I have been friends since the 7th grade. Sometimes I'm amazed that with the way life changes I still have a friend from middle school but what makes it more amazing is that we haven't lived in the same city since we were sophomores in high school. That didn't stop us from continuing to hike, camp or even take our senior trip together. We always said that we wanted to live next door to each other but I guess living in the same state will have to do for now. Katie is a Radiation Oncologist. She went through many years of grueling school and training and now both saves lives and makes the lives of those who unfortunately aren't getting better more pleasant. What is most amazing about her though, is that unlike many doctors I know, she doesn't talk about it. She truly practices medicine to help others, not to walk around town telling everyone that she is a doctor (rare in my opinion). She has to be one of the most caring, humble people I know. She has a darling husband, son and dog, all of which we love hanging out with and I am so thankful to not only have had a friend for over twenty years but to have her as my friend for over twenty years.

Happy Birthday to you both!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Kyle!!!!!!!

That's right! Kyle celebrated his 10th birthday Friday, August 24th. I can't believe how old he is. He spent the first part of the day with his mom but we got to see him for a few minutes when we all went to "Meet the Teacher" at his school. Kyle has Mr. Rosensteel for 4th grade. He seems really fun and for the first time he actually has several friends in his class.

Kyle came home at 4:30 and we went to his favorite pizza place for dinner. Grandma & Grandpa Marz and Aunt Lindsay met us for dinner and presents. We had chocolate cupcakes to top off all the yummy food. Even Abbie got in on the cupcake fun.






After dinner we dropped Abbie off at home and Tripp & I surprised Kyle with tickets to Stomp Out Loud! It was a fun show and Kyle really loved it. He was drumming on everything in sight the entire way home. Hopefully it showed him that an interest in music and keeping up his piano might lead to something really cool someday. He thought the guys in the show were awesome....it could be him someday!

Happy Birthday to the coolest kid I know and the best son/brother a dad, stepmom and sister could ask for. We love you.

Thompson Family Reunion

The Thompson family reunion ended yesterday and it was sad to see the last of the group leave our house late this morning. Tripp has three brothers and a sister and everyone, plus his parents, a surprise visit from his aunt and two very close family friends came to Vegas this weekend for the reunion.

The events started off Saturday morning with a 3rd birthday party for our cute nephew Seth. Paul and Laura held it at "Pump it Up", a warehouse that is basically filled with bounce houses, bounce slides, etc. Everyone had a ton of fun. See the photos below....

Later that evening, we all gathered at a rec center water park (Tripp's parents reserved it for the family) and had a great time swimming. The water park has a huge area for the little kids, slides for the big kids and plenty of place to play. We were all wiped out at the end but had so much fun while we were there that nobody wanted to go.

Sunday was a special day as our new nephew Cooper was blessed. It was wonderful having everyone there to participate. Even our oldest nephew, Trey, got to stand in the circle for the first time. After church, we spent the majority of the afternoon at Laura's parents house visiting. They served a nice lunch for everyone to enjoy and the little girls put on a presentation of "Little Red Riding Hood."

Pat's family and Scott's family left Sunday, Paul and his family left early Monday morning and Abbie and I were sad to waive "Goodbye" and give loves to Elizabeth's family today. Elizabeth, Wes and the kids (except Trey who starts at SUU Monday) are heading back to VA Thursday. It has been so much fun having them here. We are lucky to see Pat & Paul fairly often but we don't see Elizabeth much and were super sad to see them go. All four of us feel so blessed to be a part of the Thompson family and love the time we all get to spend together. There are so many lonely people in the world and I'm thankful every day for a fantastic husband and two awesome kids and all of the brothers, sisters and parents both of our families are blessed with. I hope our kids continue to love each other as much as Tripp and I love our siblings.

Salt Lake City

We just returned from four days in SLC. Tripp's sister, Elizabeth, and her family traveled to Salt Lake for the beginning of their three week vacation. We all stayed at my family's house in Draper and spent a few days checking out the sites (they've never been to Utah).

Saturday was spent in Park City where all the kids rode the alpine slide, mountain coaster and zip line while Abbie and I enjoyed the ciy's annual art festival. We stopped by "This is the Place" on the way back home that evening (the spot where Brigham Young stopped his wagon train and announced that they would make a home in the valley).

Sunday morning was spent on Temple Square. It has been 3 1/2 years since Tripp and I were there and it was really overwhelming to visit the spot where we were married and not only have Kyle with us again, but Abbie and the new baby (in my tummy) as well. So many wonderful things have happened to us in the past three years and I was filled with gratitude for everything and everyone we've been blessed with. Sunday afternoon we visited Abbie's favorite place in the world, the Gateway Children's Museum. She spent a few hours playing in the little kid exhibits while the big kids had a ton of fun with the big kid stuff.

On Monday we visited the Beehive House and Geneology Library before heading home. The rest of the family visited a few additional sites in the morning and evening but between attempting to visit my Grandma and Abbie being pooped out, we cut the day a little short.

The visit ended with news of the birth of my nephew and goodbyes to the group who was heading on to Yellowstone. We will be catching up with them again in a couple of weeks for the Thompson family reunion (Tripp's four siblings and their families).

After returning to town late Tuesday afternoon, we stopped by the hospital to see Lindsay, Wes and baby Nate (Nathan M. Griffeth). He is really darling and so tiny. Abbie all of the sudden seems like a giant! She was interested in the baby and I think hanging out with him will be good practice for her new brother/sister.

I'm an aunt!!!!!

I have lots of nieces and nephews but my first blood-related nephew was born this evening. Lindsay had her baby tonight and it feels really wonderful to know he is here. I love all my nieces and nephews but somehow it is different when it's your own sister.

We are in Salt Lake City right now so I can't see him until tomorrow but Sam sent me some cell phone photos and he is really darling. No ugly newborn wrinkles or conehead for this kid. Hopefully I will be able to get some tomorrow with his favorite aunt and uncle!!!!!!!