ThompsonSpace: May 2011

Monday, May 23, 2011

Password Protected

We are finally giving in to becoming a password protected blog. Ryan has been begging me to do this for months and I am finally complying. We love to blog about our happenings and are grateful to family and friends across the miles who follow the Thompsons4. Please send us an email at kathlenethompson@yahoo.com so I can send you the protected link.

The Enchantment of Adulthood

"Thriving and thirty..." is what a friend wrote in her sweet card to me on my 30th birthday. Quite a positive thought and completely appropriate, given the occasion! I just wish that I could have approached this occasion more gracefully. There is a chance that very few of you will sympathize with my feelings. But as the date neared, I felt emotional and panicked. Not because of what I didn't have but because of everything we do have and how little time we seemingly have to enjoy all these wonderful moments. Slow down, life! SLOW DOWN! I can remember being 15 years old, changing schools due to yet another move, and wishing to be 18. For then, I thought, I would be able to make my own choices. Sure, 18 came and I realized that I wasn't quite an adult. Still under the thumb of a few select authorities (the state, my parents, the Dean), I thought to myself, "Self, 21 must be the enchanting age of adulthood!" Of course, 21 came and went with nothing greatly changing in life. In my early to mid-twenties, I can remember having a lonely heart and praying for a family of my own... just wishing to have a sweet church wedding, with a loving husband and many babies (don't laugh!) shortly thereafter. Here I sit, at my 30th year, content and happy with everything I could ever want and feeling so foolish and saddened to have wished these wonderful moments to approach more quickly. Because now, time that was flying is now picking momentum and hurling us into the future. Soon, it will all pass too quickly. I guess that is what is so enchanting about adulthood. You can dream and choose to have any life as long as you put in the appropriate efforts. However, the great cost of happiness is time and energy, which is more precious to me now than ever... just look gaze upon our beautiful babies below!

Festivities leading up to the big 3-0...

Celebrating last weekend with my girls... Happy Birthday, beautiful Courtney, my b-day-bud!

The day before my birthday, we went to Kemah for dinner and fun... Yummy Landry's!

The train ride and ferris wheel are classic "want-to-feel-like-a-kid-again" fun! Thanks to my sister Sandra for joining us! Love you!

On Sunday, my incredibly thoughtful hubby decorated our house in princess paraphernalia to distract me from the number 30! He even got me a "princess" tiara! We had a very relaxing evening with yummy fajitas, cake and presents! Many thanks to my family and friends for the beautiful cards, warm wishes and thoughtful gifts! I love you all! Thank you to my sweet mother-in-law who baked my delicious chocolate on chocolate birthday cake!

28 years ago, someone's little girl was blowing out two candles on her birthday cake...

In less than six months, my Charli will be doing the same thing as the little girl above.

It's like I said, it all moves so fast...

Monday, May 9, 2011

Catch-up on Relaxation

Ryan took us out for brunch at The Goose's Acre to celebrate Mother's Day. This restaurant holds a special place in our hearts as it was the location we realized we were pregnant with our Charlotte. It was actually the night of our first date since bringing our Caden into the world!

Coffee cups from each of our kiddos! Ahh, love them! The day was wonderful as we slept in and caught up on much needed R&R! Thanks to my sweet family!

The Rahmandars

Check out the very funny spoof of Brian and Maria's (pronounced Mariah) version of an eHarmony commercial. Incidentally, they did meet through eHarmony! The sweet couple hosted a fantastic wedding event with a traditional bagpipe player. The bride creatively made a lot of the decor! They also had the plaid groomsmen ties made, another reflection of her heritage.

Groomies!

Below, friends of ours, Layla and Christina
(Christina is marrying Justin, above right, in just a few weeks!)

The Rahmandars and The Thompsons

We are so happy to share in their special day!

Officiant, Teddy, below on left, did a great job! He is also married to one of Brian's sister's, pictured below.

Brian's sister, Mel, is really everyone's sister! Also, Teddy and Mel have the cutest kiddos, Paddy and Parker! As promised, playdate to come!

Our kiddos spent the day with G'm and had ball! Thanks for your help this weekend!

CO is an Active Place

Surprise! CO is an active place. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise for us.The weather IS gorgeous. So our trip was definitly all about GO, GO, GO!

We met our good friends for dinner one night, Sam and Jill. Their daughter, Aubrey, is just darling and the best waitress we have ever experienced! Sadly, I didn't get any pictures... maybe next time! So good to see you guys!

The kiddos played a bit of piano before we headed to Boulder to have lunch with Mimi in the mountains.

Caden climbing the flatirons grunted, "Almost there..."

Below, Cade and Charli Kate looking out over Reflection Point.

After lunch and naps, we met Uncky Lane at the largest indoor bounce house we have ever seen! With many blown-up slides and wall-to-wall trampolines we were wiped out after only one hour of fun!

Sprawled out!

Ca-ra-zyyyy!

Ryan flew home earlier in the week to return to work. So I was dreading the flight home without extra hands. But surprisingly, the kiddos did very well and they even still seemed to love each other when we landed in TX. As we deboarded, Cade saw a Subway sandwich shop and announced, "It's a Subway! We are in the right country!"

Bye-bye Mimi, Granddaddy, Uncky James, Uncky Lane and Aunt Samantha! Love you and cannot wait to see you again soon!

Musical Interlude

Caden and Charlotte love to play with the piano and Caden had already asked to have lessons! They also love hearing Uncky Lane play. Lane has always been musically inclined and his band is really great! Of course this is no surprise as Lane is quite talented with many skills! See their website to listen to their music... http://www.dellaonline.com/

Love Me Some Zoo!

As a special treat, Uncky Lane and Aunt Samantha took us to the Denver Zoo!

I could not believe how close we were able to get to the kitty-cats!

Lovely ladies!

There were probably a dozen peacocks walking around seeking out the females! Very cool!

Below, riding the carousel! We also road the Zoo-Choo train!

After the zoo, we had lunch and then headed home for naps. Uncky Lane and Samatha joined us that evening for dinner and books before bedtime. So fun to hang with them! Thanks for such a fun day!!

Are We There Yet?

We traveled by plane to CO to visit family last week. The flight there was... not great. But we were happy to land and excited to begin a bit of much needed vacation!

Gig'Em, Granddaddy and Mimi!

Our first adventure was indoor skydiving. This event has quickly become a favorite tradition for the family. Below, Caden with Uncky Lane receiving earplugs from the instructor.