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.