Easter 2013

Dear Henny and Zellie, 
You were two pretty lil Easter eggs.  I took some lovely pictures of the two of you on our back deck.  On Saturday we went to Grandma LaJeans for a yummy lunch with Krispie, Currie and Anne.  The Easter Bunny found his way there to drop off some eggs for you to find.  

Henry you were a great big brother and took out time to bring a couple eggs to your sister.  So sweet.  

You both really enjoyed the hunt but REALLY enjoyed getting your Easter baskets.  The day was gorgeous for some outside play so we spent some time in the back yard.  

Then we spent the night with Grandma P and Bahboo.  The next morning we went to church with Grandma LaJean.  Hazel was as sweet as pie but Henry, you were a little challenged to sit still so we went and chased each other in the basement.  Afterwards though you both had to do a little meet and greet so people could ooh and ah over your cuteness.

We then went back to Bahboo's and Grandma P's and played with dominoes, building towers and paths to tip over.  Zellie you had a great snuggle with Grandma P.   

In the afternoon Mama, Bahboo, Henry and Grandma LaJean laughed our way through The Croods.  It was a fun weekend with lots of sweets.  What more could you want? 
Love, Mama  

Model Presents

Dear Peep, 
You're a good lookin' boy who is very loved by your Aunties Krispie and Currie.  They gave you so many nice clothes in addition to some pretty fun toys for Christmas that I had to have you model them all (Christmas post to come)!  When I told you I was taking them for your aunts, you were more than willing.  You made the pose choices and locations, which made me giggle a little.  My little model.  Thanks Aunties.

 

Click on the photos to make them bigger.
Love, Mama

The Perfect Evening

Dear Peepso, 
The last two weeks there have been visits to Suckstown and Happyburg in Babyville.  Just after returning from a wonderful three day family trip to St. Louis, Missouri during August 2-5 many things started happening rapidly (posts to come).  We went to an appointment with WW and things were looking like baby girl could come early.  We were all worried and spent a long day at the doctor's for monitoring and a trip to the hospital for monitoring of semi-regular contractions, some effacement, 2cm dilated and a steroid shot that left WW's bum less than happy.  With relief, things stayed put and by the following Thursday there were no further changes.  We had our match meeting that went awesome.  Then, we got word that Steve's grandma Hazel, GG, was getting weaker and the decision was being made to call in hospice.  We spend the week with her and said goodbye on that Friday.   About the same time Daddy's Aunt Kelli, age 44, was loosing her battle with cancer in California.  A super tough two weeks in our family.  Luckily after we returned home from GG's we had a wonderful evening with Aunt Krispie and Aunt Currie.  We got some hot dogs and no dogs and marshmallows, lit a fire in the fire pit and had a great time together around the fire talking about the tests and sadnesses of the previous week. 

I love these women.  You do too.  Glad they live so close.  We are fortunate for that.
Love, Mama

Rails to Trails

Dear Peep, 
We had a calming Sunday last week making our way across the B-Line trail in town.  The B-Line is an old train track turned into a paved walking, biking, jogging, running trail.  It is super clean, well lit and a lot of fun last week with you.  We enjoyed meeting up halfway with your Aunties.  You even rode on Krispie's handle bars for a short distance.  We are grateful to get to spend time with family and to enjoy a nice day.  It was enough entertainment for you, on the way back you snuggled up next to Daddy and fell asleep with nearly a kerplunk.  Krispie and Currie are waiting a new niece any day now!  Perhaps you can make a new friend when she makes her appearance. 

Love, Mama

Christmas Excitement and My 400th Post!

Dear Peep-St. Nick,
After a rough week leading into the Christmas holiday Daddy began recovering from pneumonia and the hospital mishap and returned home late on the 20th.  It took a couple of days to feel sort of normal again at home.  While we recouped Grandpa Tim and Trish took you to Wonder Lab with the annual pass they bought you for Christmas.  We are so excited to use it!  We reworked Christmas a bit this year.  We went to Grandma Jean's on the 24th for our traditional brunch and Grandma P and Bahboo joined us along with Auntie Krispie and Currie.  We opened presents, had some pie and came home.  It was a nice low key Christmas and we will meet with Grandma P and Bahboo later in the week.  We received such cool and thoughtful gifts.  Grandma LaJean bought you a very cool garbage truck, which you just happened to play with ANY time we were around the toy aisle at a store.  Your aunties came in with some exciting new toys; popsicle makers, a play dough dessert and ice cream pumper, and a baking kit just for you with an apron and utensils.   We were very proud of how you showed gratitude.  We were happy that absent was a sense of greed on your part.  

Henry helped Aunt Krispie play Santa to deliver the gifts.

 

Eating all of the special treats his aunties brought to share.

Conducting Silent Night for his aunties.

Playing hide and seek with GG.

Reading the Run Away Squash with GG.

Ready to eat GG's homemade apple pie. Yum!

  On the 25th when it was time to open our presents together you were excited to see all the gifts but you were not at all interested in opening any.  We said, "Henny! Those are your presents in the middle!  Open them up!"  You said, "Nooo.  I got my presents already."  We had to beg you to open yours.  When you finally did you showed so much enthusiasm it was the most fun Christmas in a really long time.  

New Toy Story boxers got as much excitement as your very own red guitar, although you wanted to sleep with your guitar and your pluck (pick) and the undies you did not.  You loved Mr. Potato Head, all the cooking toys, and you gave us exams with your doctor's kit.  

I had taken your old unfinished table and made it to look like a half stove/ half hibachi and drilled knobs into the side.  You pulled off the blanket with the skills and posture of a distinguished bull fighter, swiftly and cleanly.  We heard a gasp and, "Uh, uh, uh, uh hibachi!"  All of the gifts were as big a hit as the last.  

  We have a hunch that you're not really buy the whole Santa Clause story just yet.  You watched tons of holiday movies and we went to visit Santa a the mall but you sat on his lap stiff as a board.  After you opened all your presents you said thank you Mommy, thank you Daddy, without solicitation I might add.  We played the old line to the t but you weren't biting.  That's okay.  Santa or no Santa your energy makes for a great Christmas, not to mention we are all incredibly grateful and happy to be together to try to get back to normal after Daddy's hospital visit. 

  After all the gifts were opened we were pleasantly surprised that you took to our tradition of watching A Christmas Story as many times as it could show in a day.  We played with toys, ate some chili, played diving board into the blue blanket, you chewed on Daddy like a zombie baby, took a nice long bubble bath, went for a drive to see Christmas lights, and you passed out on the kitchen floor on our return.  It was wonderful having a relaxing day with my two favorite guys.  

A shark emerged from the tub!

 Christmas the last few years has been all over the place in emotions....this year it was Daddy's unexpected illness, last year just before and just after Christmas Mommy's grandparents both died, the year before Mommy's free spirited aunt Judy died and the year before we got our first call from our friend and your birthmom J, a joyous occasion for certain.  I know everything will always turn out okay as long as team Thompson can stick it out together, nothing is going to stop us.   I can't wait until next Christmas!

Love, Mama