Happiness is a choice!

Today was amazing...

It all started at 6:30 am this morning.  I had told Shad last night that I needed to be out of bed no later than 7:00 am.  I had promised the kids that I would take them for donuts before I took them to school.

I woke up at 6:30 am and Shad said go back to bed... you have thirty minutes.  I remembered that I had done laundry last night before going to bed and Macy's sheet she needed for her cot at school was in the washer wet.  Shad jumped in the shower and I opted to get up to just change the laundry and then planned to get right back into bed to catch some zzzz's before 7:00 am hit.  Once I was up, I thought to myself it is quiet and I could start dinner so I got the chicken out of the freezer and started up the crock pot.  I also thought I could quickly make the girl's lunches so I did.  I was finished within a few minutes and felt way more prepared for the day ahead so I went back to our room and realized that only 15 minutes had passed and I still had time to watch a little news before the kids got up.  Wow, what a difference a few uninterrupted minutes can make first thing in the morning.

The girls got up and I got them their morning milk, changed Macy's diaper and got Kaylee ready.  I clipped some coupons, took a shower, made our bed, made the kid's beds and got their things together for school.  Macy got ready and then I got Steele up and got him changed and dressed.  I fed him and then we all got in the car and headed to the donut shop.  The kids picked out their donuts and had a great time eating them as you can see...

We had a quiet, relaxing breakfast and then still had a little time before school so we stopped by the pharmacy to get Steele's prescription filled.  Afterwards, we went to LUMC and dropped the girls off for school.  Steele and I headed to Aldi to get a few groceries and then went home so he could nap.  We played for a little while, I fed him and then he took a good nap.  While he was napping, I got a lot done.  I put away the rest of the Christmas decorations that were in the garage, organized the sub-basement, purged some things and put away all my Tupperware.  I also straightened up the guest room as Papa is flying into KC this afternoon from Hawaii.  I loaded all of the donated items into the van and took them to Goodwill before picking the girls up from school. 

The girls both had a great day at school.  We headed home and were surprised by Papa when we got there.  We had a great time visiting with Papa and seeing his pictures from Hawaii. 

So I have to say... lessoned learned.  I am so thankful that God answers prayers and chooses to show us a better way, His way when we seek Him.  I make things hard.  My attitude determines my kids attitudes and behaviors.  I choose to be Happy! 

First Snow...

This winter 2010-11 has been relatively uneventful (with regards to weather) until last night and early this morning.  We got our first big snow of the season!  It was so much fun to wake up to a few inches on the ground. 

All day today, we have had continuous snow fall. 

Kaylee has asked no less than 25 times about going sledding.  She had a great time last year sledding down the big hill next to the dinosaur park off of Woodland and 47th Street.  Shad worked from home today so they haven't been able to go.  I keep assuring her that she will get to go sledding with her dad soon!

In an effort to let her enjoy the snow, we made some snow ice cream.  We used a bowl of snow, tsp of vanilla, 1 cup of sugar and about a cup of milk.  It was surprisingly good.

Afterwards, Shad decided to shovel the driveway so I got Kaylee all bundled up and out she went. 

She made snow angels, threw snowballs at her daddy and tried to get me as I was sneeking a picture from the front door.  She also got her shovel and bucket and had fun playing in the snow. 

Macy Jane and Steele were napping during these fun events... I am sure they will get out in it later today or tomorrow.

All in all, fun times with the first snow of the season.... It is so beautiful to see.  We are so thankful to have a warm home where we can watch the snow fall from our window.

It's a Mystery...

Fridays... you have to love them!  Today the girls both went to Lenexa United Methodist preschool programs.  Kaylee went to lunch bunch (enrichment) that allows her to have extra time at school.  After lunch bunch, she went to her 4-year old preschool class.  Macy had Children's Day Out and always loves to go.  Steele and I spent some time together and while he was sleeping I took a swing at starting to declutter and make sense of my bedroom and closet.  Not a fun task, but one that is overlooked far too often.  I got things started (pulled things out of the closet, started to go through things)... so now to finish what I started.  I hope that I can quickly sort through the mess and make sense of it.  I could need to call for help, Allaina I hope you are on stand by!

I had to stop my cleaning efforts Friday afternoon to go and pick up Macy from school.  She was glad to see me and ran up to me with a big smile and a hug.  I got her and Steele put back in the car and our friend Kim (who is a friend we know through the Alley family who happens to also cut our hair) watched them for me so I could go and surprise Kaylee as her classes Mystery Reader today.  She was excited to see that it was me.  We got to read two books... "The Grouchy Ladybug" and "The Mixed-up Chameleon" both by Eric Carle.  The kids really seemed to enjoy the books.  It was fun to hear their questions and watch them interact.  Kaylee got to sit in a chair beside me while I read to her and the other kids.  These are the little things that are so much fun to do.  I am so thankful that I get to participate in these activities.

On the way home, it started to snow so we will see if we have any accumulation.  So far this winter, we haven't had much snow to speak of, so only time will tell! 

Enjoyed the kids this afternoon and welcomed Daddy home around 5:30 pm.  We enjoyed dinner together as a family and then I went to work on the bedroom chaos.  My motivation quickly dwindled and we called it a night.  This will be an on-going project that I hope to work through quickly... praying for God's guidance in all of it.

Morning at the Thompson House...

It seems like each and every morning I wake up with the same thought... God please help me.  At first, that might sound like a desperate plea or cry out for help.  If I am being honest, there are days when it is just that.  But more times than not, I have really been thinking and praying that God will make His thoughts my thoughts, His words my words, His plan my plan, His attitude my attitude.  I know that without God we are just wondering aimlessly from one crisis or thing to another... and for me that is not the kind of life I want for myself or my family.  Today I pray that this day will be filled with God's to-do list and not my own.  Help me Lord follow your direction today and everyday and show me how to make you real and alive to my kids and those I come into contact throughout the day.

The day begins....

This morning three of the four of us are under the weather, Steele has a double ear infection, Macy has a URI and I just have the funk... probably a URI but haven't had a chance to go to the doctor to get properly diagnosed.  I really just wanted to pull the covers over my head and go back to bed.  My amazing husband let me sleep as long as possible which means until he had to physically walk out the door.  He does that more often than not, even when I am not feeling under the weather.   I praise God for him and his amazing sacrifice as he is trying to get ready for work and manage two or three kids all so I can get some extra sleep.

Shad heads to work and I am up and running.  Seems like each kid needs something... the ususal I need more to drink, what's for breakfast, can I play playdoh or watch a movie, and of course changing diapers always makes the list.  I walk through the house starting to assess the situation.  Laundry to be done, breakfast to make, things to put away, kids to get ready and then of course shower and get ready myself.  I start breakfast and take care of the everyday tasks when I am drawn to the computer for a few minutes to catch up on email.  I look over and both girls have pulled their chairs away from the table to face the TV and they are having a picnic of sorts.  I guess in their mind they are at the table just not facing it.  I think to myself "this is not okay" but then God intervenes and says to me in His quiet subtle voice... mountain or molehill.  Molehill is the obvious choice and find the camera quickly to snap a quick photo. 

Steele unable to maneauver his high chair is where I put him and I felt like he should be included so he got his photo snapped too. 

God love my children for being kids... I pray that they will be kids and enjoy their innocence and childhood as long as possible.  Next time if I don't want them to watch TV then I will turn it off.  Lessoned learned!  Praying God will bless us and all of you today, tomorrow and in the weeks and months ahead!  Have a great day!

More Holiday Memories from December 2010...

Our family has been enjoying our new Jesse Tree.  This is our first year to participate in this exciting Christmas tradition.  It has been fun to teach the kids about the bible as we walk through Jesus' heritage and learn valuable lessons as we go.  We have had the opportunity to do some service activities along the way which I think have been good for our kids to see.  I hope to continue this with our kids throughout the year and encourage them to be service minded kids always looking for opportunities to help others.  Kaylee, especially, has really seemed to get a lot out of our daily time with the Jesse tree.  She is quick to ask questions and sometimes will remember our conversations.  She is such a sharp little girl.  I want to be intentional with all my kids and help them learn as much as they can about Jesus.  I pray God will help me to continue to make this a priority in my life and help me show my kids who he is through my actions, words, and attitude.  We serve a mighty God who is loving, gracious, merciful and forgiving... we are so blessed!  Praise Jesus!  I attached a photo of our Jesse Tree.  We had a Jesse Tree ornament exchange mid-November to gather all the ornaments for this great tree.  I love all the unique ornaments and think about the friends that made them when we add them on.  Thanks so much for everyone that participated.  I pray your Jesse tree is as meaningful to your family as it is to ours.

Shad, Kaylee, Macy Jane, Steele and I all went to Westside Family Church (our church) Very Merry Christmas Morning event.  This was our first year to go and we all had a great time.  They had several stations for the kids to experience the true meaning of Christmas. 

We parked in our usual spot at the back of the church and went in through the side door.  It put us at the cookie station which might not have been our first choice but it worked out as we got to decorate cookies with our friends Megan and Lizzie.  Before we sat down to make our cookies, Macy pulled a folding chair over on top of her and got a shiner (hence her little black eye in the photos).  It didn't keep her from having fun and decorating her cookie and then promptly eating it! 

After the cookie station, we joined the Ward family in the auditorium on a adventure along the starry path.  This station represented the path that Mary and Joseph took from the point when they rode into Bethlehem until after baby Jesus was born and was visited by the shepherds and wise men.  At each station there was a card for the parents to read that helped explain (in terms that little ones can understand) what took place.  They were given a paper manger scene with stickers so that they could follow along and add the appropriate stickers at each station.  The kids had a great time and I feel like had a chance to see a "picture" of the Christmas story. 

After we were done, we went outside for just a few minutes to experience the petting zoo.  It was so cold that we didn't last long.  They had a variety of animals for the kids to pet and feed so it was ashame that it was too cold to spend more time outside with them.  We came back inside and decorated wooden ornaments, and then Kaylee dressed up like Mary and had her picture taken with her friend Liam who was dressed up like Joseph, so cute! 

The kids started to get fussy so we opted to eat lunch there.  The kids had hot dogs w/chips and Shad and I ate chili frito pies and then headed home for a nap.  This was such a fun experience... I hope we can do it again next year!  Thanks WFC family ministry for this great opportunity to experience the reason for the season... our amazing Lord and Savior, Jesus!

We hosted the Christmas celebration for our small group on December 12th.  We had the most amazing food (ham, several sides, bread and dessert) and even better conversation.  Shad and I feel so blessed to be involved with such a great group of families.  We are looking forward to starting a new study in the spring and getting to know everyone even more as we continue to do life together.

The next couple of weeks were used to prepare for Christmas.  Shopping, making cookies, wrapping gifts, attending Christmas parties/gatherings...

The girls really had some fun at school celebrating the holidays.  They learned new stories and songs.  They also got to have fun holiday treats.  Kaylee had a Christmas program that we really enjoyed.  Each child had their nost painted red like Rudolph and they sang the Reindeer Hokey Pokey, It Must Be Santa, Jingle Bells and several other songs.  The kids also made us ornaments for gifts.  Kaylee made a gingerbread ornament and macy made a Christmas light ornament with her picture in the middle of it.  These are treasures we will keep forever.

After Kaylee's program, Shad and I took the kids to visit Santa Claus at the Bass Pro Shop.  Last year when we went there was a long line so we expected that this time.  To our surprise, there was no one in line so the kids got to go right up and sit on Santa's lap.  Steele and Kaylee had no trouble, but our little Macy had to be bribed by Santa with not one but two candy canes...smart guy!  Anyway, they had fun telling Santa how good they had been all year (well for the most part) and asking Santa for specific toys.  Kaylee really wanted a Easy Bake Oven and a Unicorn Pillow Pet.  Macy has started to like anything Toy Story and Baby Dolls.  Steele (if he could talk) would probably have asked for trucks or anything boy!  We splurged on some popcorn and went to see the fish tank before heading to Chick-fil-a for dinner.  This was a fun outing that we enjoyed!

During this time, Macy became interested in sitting on the potty, which is super exciting.  We would love to only have one in diapers.  She likes to sit on the potty with a carebear or Buzz from Toy Story and book and talk to them.

 She also loves to "fill" the potty with toilet paper, not so good.  One day I found Kaylee and Macy spending time together taking care of business.  These girls crack me up!

These girls are such characters.  I think I might start praying for their future husbands now!  LOL