Christmas Day...

We gathered at our house for Christmas dinner and some simple fun. We played "Guitar Hero", exchanged gifts, and of course ate our fill of dessert! Christmas was wonderful this year. I'm grateful for a wonderful family!

Good Ol' Fashioned Thompson Family Christmas!

Uncle Brad and Aunt Elizabeth hosted Christmas this year, and in order to fit our clan, we gathered at the Hughson chapel. Dinner was great, and the activities to follow were even better! The kids acted out the nativity story and the adults exchanged "white elephant" gifts. We played a few games sang some carols, and were visited by Mr. and Mrs. Claus! It was a wonderful Christmas! I love our family! Thanks go to Uncle Brad's entire family for all of your work and planning! It was a wonderful time!

Family Pictures!

As a last minute resort, I was elected photographer for our scheduled family photo shoot. It was a rare picture opportunity because so many of us were gathered together under one roof! Unfortunately I do not have the proper equipment for exceptional indoor photos, but the truth is, it was fun to be together, and it's great to have some picutures as a family!

Here we are, not a bad looking bunch! We miss those of you that couldn't make it! Thanks to everyone that did make it, and that made it a pleasant event!

Feelin' the Love!

December 16, 2008... I had the MOST unbelievable birthday! It started with a couple of unexpected calls from various friends wishing me a happy birthday. Then later I found a bouquet and some lotion from my friend Lara at my door! When I picked up my kids at school I was greeted by my friend Tasha who gave me an apple dumpling! Then even later while at dance class I was surprised with a custom made cake and sang to! (Mari, the cake is AWESOME!) I didn't think it could have gotten any better, but it did! When dance was over I turned to leave class and was greeted by my friends Rickie, Kayla, and Krissy holding a bouquet of balloons! We finished the night with dinner at Applebees! You guys have all left me speechless! I am so grateful for your friendship! Rickie, thanks so much for organizing the final surprise! I never saw that one coming! I'm still smiling from it!

Just when I thought that it couldn't get better, I returned home and found my kitchen looking like THIS thanks to my husband and children! I don't know what I've done to deserve all of you in my life, but I am feeling pretty blessed!

Then and Now...

My dad recently returned my Senior pictures to me. I thought that since I just had a birthday that it might be fun to post a couple of them. I was 17 in these pictures. They were taken in the summer of 1995. (The same summer that Mike returned home from his mission!) I was definitely a victim of the 90's!

10 Years of Wedded Bliss!

On November 21, 2008 Michael and I celebrated our 1oth anniversary. A few months back my friend Rickie posted some vintage pictures of she and her husband for their anniversary. I loved the idea, so I am doing the same! The first is our engagement picture taken in June of 1998. Mike was 24 and I was 20! The next is Mike and I on our 1st anniversary in Disneyland. The bottom left was taken two weeks after Michael and I met. This was my first Thompson Thanksgiving. On this day, I met Mike's parents and sisters for the first time! The last picture speaks for itself! What you can't see are the HUGE white tennis shoes I am wearing under my wedding dress!

Meredith's Beautiful Little Family

Meredith asked me to take a few pictures of her with her "chillins." We went down to the river by my house and only spent about 10 minutes taking pictures. The kids were in a good mood and we were able to get some great shots! Meredith... I love you so much and am excited for you and this next chapter in your life!

A BIG Week for Paris!

All in the same week Paris was fitted with her official braces and learned to ride her bike without training wheels! As most of you know; Paris has had "hardware" in her mouth for close to two years now. However, all of that has been to manipulate the size and shape of her jaw, and now she is beginning the next phase of treatment where we will really begin to see a transformation! She's so happy to be a bike rider now! She rides up and down our street and likes to see how fast she can go! That long Thanksgiving bike ride did the trick!

Annual Thompson Bike Ride!

I realize that this is a TON of pictures, but I got so many great ones that I just couldn't help but post them. There are so many more! This day was so much fun! We all gathered at Johanson High School in Modesto. Just about everyone was there! The weather was perfect! It was a perfectly beautiful overcast autumn day! Many of the cousins are getting older and were able to ride their own bikes this year! Brenden and I were the caboose all day long because we all know that Brenden is (how should I put this?) SLOW! After the bike ride we returned to mine and Mike's house for some Thanksgiving leftovers! After dinner dad treated us all to a movie. I just have to say that our family is just wonderful. I love our traditions and our friendship. We don't just tolerate each other, we truly love each other! One thing is for sure... we know how to have fun!

What a Pair!

Only Grandmother and Grandpa could pull this look off! I love that they are playful and young at heart! We are blessed to have this wonderful patriarch and matriarch at the head of our family!

Sophie's First Haircut!

Well... it was time! In one day I had three different people comment on Sophia's need for a haircut, so I figured that it was time for me to let go. (Honestly, I think I am living vicariously through my daughters who are able to grow long hair!) So, I began the task of cutting her hair, and began to scare myself when I found it hard to keep the line perfectly straight! Then I loaded her up into the car and took her over to supercuts to finish the job. All said and done, she had about 4 inches taken off of her hair and she is just as lovely as always. The bad news: she grew up before my eyes!

Paris is Baptized!

November 16, 2008 Paris Rose Thompson is baptized by her daddy! She's been looking forward to this day all year long, and now that it's passed it's just so hard to believe! Tons and family and friends turned out for the occasion! Aunite Brookie did a wonderful job leading the music and even got Paris to sing a little solo. Watching all of the cousins sing together was a tender moment! (One I wish I could have gotten a picture of!) Auntie Rachel gave a beautiful talk on the Holy Ghost and presented Paris with a handmade fleece blanket. Paris loves it and wraps herself up like a burrito in it just about every night! After the baptism, family and friends joined us at our house for dinner and a slide show in honor of Paris. It was a fun night and I am so grateful to all of you that helped out and who have helped to inspire and influence Paris over the years!

My Second "Offical" Family Photo Shoot

My good friend Rickie asked me a long while back if I could take some pictures of her kids too, so we were finally able to cooderinate a date and time! I got so many great shots of her kids that I wanted to post more, but this is just a small sample. So what do you think? Sisters... if any of you are willing to let me experiment on you and your families... I need more practice! Give me a call! Thanks Rickie for trusting me behind the camera... but honestly your kids are so cute it was like cheating!

My First "Official" Family Photo Shoot...

My friend Misty asked me if I would take some family pictures for her. These are just a few of my favorite pictures. I am really enjoying this photography thing... thanks to all of you that have encouraged me and let me experiment on you! (That includes you Misty!) Thanks so much!

Playing at the Ranch

The day after Paris' party I returned all of the girls to the ranch where their mommies were waiting for them. The Stouts had just dropped off these enormous pumpkins and the kids were having a great time climbing on them. I spent the day following these cute cousins around with my camera! We have a cute bunch of kids!

Happy 8th Birthday Paris!

November 11, 2008 Paris Rose turns 8 years old! She had a "Rockin' Hannah Montana" pizza party. I decorated the empty dining room with glittery music notes and set up a craft table and a make-over table. The girls took turns all night singing Hannah Montana songs on the microphone, coloring Hannah Montana crafts, and painting each other's nails. I attempted to create a guitar shaped cake... Paris loved it! After the party Maryn, Tayler, Camille, and Layla stayed for a sleep-over. They stayed up until almost midnight and were up bright and early the next morning ready to play some more!

A Birthday Party Adventure!

My kids were recently invited to a classmate's birthday party. She had "Python Ron" come and share some wildlife critters! In these pictures the kids are holding an albino snake. We saw huge beetles, spiders, lizards, snakes, and other crawling creatures. The kids had a blast. There were "zip-lines" suspended between the trees and the kids took turns "zipping" from one side of the yard to the other. It's hard to tell from these pictures but the zip-lines were pretty high in the trees, so as you can imagine... I was a little stressed by Brenden's unfailing interest and daring intrigue... but we escaped without incident... this time!

Happy Halloween!

Every year for Halloween Paris and Brenden's school have a little parade through the town of Knights Ferry. The entire community comes out and the kids trick or treat from car to car. It makes for a fun day! Another Halloween tradition that we've had the joy of being a part of is a hay ride through our neighborhood on Horseshoe Road. About 6 antique tractors line up pulling trailers loaded with hay and trick-or-treaters and then pull us in a caravan down our road from house to house! This year I dressed as a "mommy butterfly", Paris was a "rockin' pirate", Brenden as "Wall-E" and Sophia dressed as "Fancy Nancy." As you can see... they not only dressed the part... they played the part as well! My kids are hams!

Little Evyn...

Back in October when we had our bi-annual Knights Ferry picnic, Laurie asked me to get some pictures of Evyn sucking her thumb... and I forgot to post them! So sorry! Here she is... just beautiful!

A Filed Trip for Mommy!

I was feeling a little "blue" with the daily hum-drum of life... so Mike took a day off and spent it with Sophia and I. We drove up to Jamestown and Sonora and just walked around enjoying the day. After we picked Paris and Brenden up from school our whole family took a long hike around Knights Ferry. It was nice to have simple family time.

Happy 8th Birthday Maryn!

October 20th, 2008 Maryn Libby Thompson turns 8 years old! Can you believe it? Already!? Heather and Noah had a few of us "locals" over for dinner to celebrate the affair. Maryn was so happy to have her family around her! She was all smiles the whole night! As always, Heather served a delicious meal. We had homemade lasagna, followed by moist chocolate cake. It was a nice evening spent with family! Thanks guys! Happy Birthday Maryn!

How to Eat a Banana!

With Morgan around it's impossible not to find even the simplest of acts to be endearing! Here she is eating a banana... what more is there to say?

The Next Day...

The cousins gather around Grandmother and Grandpa to take a picture with "Scarecrow Bob" in the daylight! Notice how Grandpa is tickling Paris, and Brenden is tickling Scarecrow Bob!


Scarecrow Bob gets popular and turns into a family affair!



Mike and I returned to the ranch the day after the party to clean up some of our mess, and found everyone enjoying their Sunday and carving pumpkins!

1st Annual Thompson Halloween Party!

We Thompsons make a FABULOUS team! We all worked together and had an awesome party because of it! We had various homemade soups for dinner on a beautifully decorated table done by Brooke, games, dancing, haunted hay rides, face painting, a fun house, and just plain fun! I made "Scarecrow Bob" using Grandpa's clothes. Throughout the night many took turns getting their picture taken with "Scarecrow Bob"! Jared DeWoody made a potato blaster that brought big smiles to the kids' faces! Jared Wetenkamp was quite the DJ and kept the kids hoppin' with lots of fun halloween music. With Jared's music expertice Brooke and I even did the limbo, chicken dance, and "Hokie Pokie" with the kids! Mike built a fun house with strobe lights on the back porch. That was a total hit with the kids. As the night passed the kids continually ran back to the fun house filling the air with shrieks of laughter. The haunted hay ride was a complete success too! On the ride we visited an old witch's house, a grave yard, drove through some ghosts, and were chased by some crazy ghouls and goblins with chainsaws! The haunted hay ride was such a success that the kids loaded up on the trailer for a third ride! Later in the night there was a cupcake walk where each kid won a wonderfully hand decorated cupcake. Thanks Auntie Mary Ann for all of your work and creativity! Grandmother and Grandpa were spookily dressed and served "witches brew" out of a cauldron! (homemade rootbeer) At the close of the night Brooke brought out her homemade pumpkin roll and believe me when I say that it was delicious! Just when we thought that things were coming to a close, face painting became popular again! The kids lined up to have bats, pumpkins, witch hats, ghosts, and scars painted on their little faces! The night was an absolute blast! Thank you so much to all of you that worked and planned so that we could have this wonderful evening! Our family is so much fun! Like I said before... we make a great team!

My First "Official" Photo Shoot!

Do you guys remember the story I told about my friend from church that wanted me to take her Senior pictures? Well, we just had our first photo shoot last night. These are just 4 of the nearly 90 pictures that I have prepared for her. It was an AWESOME experience and I am so excited to be doing photography! I hope to learn, grow, and get better and better!

Knights Ferry Picnic... Thompson Style!

Twice a year we gather at Knights Ferry for a picnic following General Conference. It is a tradition that I have come to look forward to and love very much! This year I took over 200 pictures, so I have lots to share with you!

Grandmother and Grandpa provided us with a delicious meal of hamburgers, beans, and salad, followed by pie and "jellybean" cupcakes for the kids. Jared DeWoody did a great job grilling the burgers to perfection... thanks Jared! We celebrated Uncle Stans birthday and made his day by singing to him twice! As tradition dictates, we set out for a walk after dinner and had lots of fun trying to keep track of all those cute Thompson kids!

As you can see, we love our Grandmother and Grandpa!

This is the view from our walk... just beautiful!

Paris, Royce, Katlyn, Sophia, Brenden, Kourtney, Dominick, Taylor, Camille, Rachel, Morgan, Billy, "Captin" and his son...