Rock Climbing in Seattle

Brandon, my bro in law, and his brother on belay.

My neice, Taylor, giving it a try.

My neice Sadie. She did pretty good.

My sister Sarah almost made it to the top. This photo was taken from a bridge above. It was a beautiful place.

Me at the top.

Me on the climb.

Emerson gearing up.

My sister, Angie, on the climb. Her husband, Brandon, is the climber in the family so she's had lots of experience. She went all the way up and did awesome!

Sarah on her first try. Look at those hot cross buns!

Rick...his first time and he made it to the top. You go honey!

Taylor holding Brahm, who loved all the attention!

Angie and her son, Cavin.

Sarah and my baby, Miles.

Some super hot guy with my son, Brahm.

It's all about wheels...

Brahm happily inherits McKay's hand me down bike and some training wheels.











One of many trips to the nearby skate park.











Check out Emerson's skill as he sits on his bike at the top of this bump. Yep, they're rolling with the big boys.

I'm Whooped!

Like I say...I'm whooped!

Visit to Pumpkin Patch

In October we (me and Miles) joined Emerson's class for a visit to the pumpkin patch. It was actually really fun!











See Emerson on the far left, middle row, sucking on his camo coat?

Don & Shelly go "ROCK"

These are our next door neighbors..the best in the west..Don and Shelley. California is having a huge drought, so they are going all rock, save a few plants and shrubs. Step 1: Don removes all the grass and plants from the yard. It was lots more work than you might think. I suppose Shelley did some, too. :)

Step 2: Unload huge crates of rock onto the driveway and begin covering ground. I forgot to mention that there was LOTS of other preparatory work involved. Don worked on this yard for a couple months straight every day, all day.

Step 3 (or really like 24): Awesome neighborhood volunteers begin showing up to help unload and disperse rocks. It was actually a really fun day. We really did have such a fabulous neighborhood! Such wonderful people.

We had to make sure to get them all even...as in spread out evenly by height because Don is a little...should we say...OCD? Okay, so he's really just very professional. I'd pay him to do my yard any day...that is if I actually owned one.

Neighborhood Farewell BBQ

Yes! We had the awesomest neighborhood in the world in Santee. Here is "grandpa Don" holding Miles for me so I can eat. He and his lovely wife, Shelley, had a neighborhood farewell BBQ for us when we moved. We just love them so much! Thanks guys!

Our wonderful friends and neighbors, Sandy and Allen . Sandy was so kind to help me out one day when I hit my head and was gushing blood. It really wasn't that bad after all, but it sure looked like it from how much it was bleeding. She also makes wonderful soup!

Here she is...the one and only cooker, baker and preparer of all the food for this event....my favorite next door neighbor Shelley Weber! I took some pix but couldn't get them all to download, but she really went the extra mile. It was fabulous! THANK YOU SHELLEY!

Here's our wonderful and very spiritual friend, Stephanie, who lives across the street. She was my "monitor sitter." Whenever I had to pick up the boys from school and Miles was asleep, she'd come over and listen for him or I would take the monitor to her house. She is such a sweetie. Thanks , Stephanie!

Last events in San Diego

In June Rick graduated from Internship. I was the brave little toaster that I always am for such occasions, and I brought all 4 children to a military special event. It was a bit wild, but could definitely have been worse. We're so proud of Rick! Love you, Hon.









On Sundays we have a tradition of going on walks. This afternoon we went on a walk right along the coast of this inlet/bay on Coronodo Island. It was beautiful and we're so happy we got to live in this beautiful place by the beach for a year. We will miss it so much! Sorry Miles, you were sleepin' so you didn't get to be in this lovely picture.

LEGOLAND, CA

McKay and Emerson....This is a pirate ride and we are all pirates, as you can see! This ride is awesome because not only can you soak passersby, but they can soak you. There are water soakers on the boat, and outside the enclosure for viewers to enjoy as well. The kids wanted to go on this over and over. We were all soaked!
Rick and Brahm soaking me.
A cute picture of Daddy and Brahm. Brahm has this new thing when we ask him to smile for pix, he gives us this strange look.
I admit, I had lots of fun soaking people on this ride. The kid in me just came right out at Legoland. I highly recommend it...that is, the ride, and Legoland, too.

Mini Legoland cities

McKay and Emerson on "the strip" in Las Vegas.












Yep, since you know we'd never go there...here is the closeset the kids will ever go, with us anyway.

Mini New York City.

fun rides and stuff..

Dad and McKay getting ready to start this ride. It's way up in the air, above everything, and it twists you around and upside down, sideways and backwards, etc. I would have thrown up, but these boys took it like men.









Emerson got on the same ride, barely making the required height, as you can see. He was given a less radical ride; one that only went side to side and not upside down, etc.

The Legoland miniature cities were incredible!!! We spent a good hour looking at them and still missed a few things. It was so neat! Here is downtown D.C. There are lots more photos, but could't put them all in.

Legoland cont...

They have the awesomest Bionicle Building center. Kids with boys...you gotta go!

I don't deny that I had some fun myself.

Brahm is the cutest knight ever.

The ride for this was awesome, but Brahm was too small so we waited outside where they had this huge lego built, fire breathing dragon.

Brahm and Emerson kept causing "traffic jams" in the water. It was sorta funny, sorta embarassing, to watch. Emerson truly enjoyed the power to control the boat.





Josh and Jonas on the lamest, slowest ride ever that had the longest (1/2 hr.) line of any ride at Legoland!















The first time we went with Rick's sister, Peggy, and her husband Josh, and kids Jonas and Noah. Here's all the boys just piddling in some water in a dinosaur's pawprint.













Peg and Noah on that same lame ride. Luckily it was one of the first rides and we were able to get on lots of other fun rides during our time there.

More Legoland

Waiting in line for a ride. We went on a school day both times and there were almost no lines for most the rides. And when there were lines, they were super short, like 15 minutes max. It was so awesome!
A little bit of Indiana Jones here.
Brahm driving a car. He really wasn't that good and I felt relieved when he was done that they don't give drivers licences to 4 year olds...especially not mine!
McKay and Emerson on the ride in front of us. It was cool cuz the ride takes you way up high above most everything and you can see the other people and rides quite far.

Growing Miles

Here's some updated photos of Miles. His eyes aren't blue or brown, but kind of a greyish, greenish, brownish...maybe we should call them hazel?
Daddy and Miles adoring each other.
A little bit of sleeping. And I mean a LITTLE bit. This kid still gets up 3-6 times a night and only takes 10-20 minute naps during the day. I am TIRED! But, I'm smitten by him still.

McKay turns 9!

McKay wanted a birthday cake that looks like our back yard for his pool party. It was really fun, and yummy, to make.

Here's a little bit of swimming. We didn't remember to take pix until later on. This is McKay's best friend, Andy, and McKay and Emerson.

Emerson, Brahm, McKay, Andy, Trent and Ricky eating cake and ice cream.

McKay with some of his bday gifts. HAPPY #9, "Sunshine!"

4 Brothers!!

The boys were so cute with him. Brahm didn't seem the least bit jealous...but let's just give him a week!

McKay says he will change "wet diapers, but not poopy ones."

Emerson doesn't volunteer to change any diapers yet, but will happily get a clean one for me if I need it.

Brahm says we shouldn't show our private parts so he thinks we shouldn't be watching Miles get his diaper changed at all.

Miles Blane Thompson arrives!

Monday, January 19th, 10:30pm, my water breaks.

Tuesday, 4:24am baby is born!

Weight: 7lbs. 5oz., 21" long

All my best boys...

McKay and Emerson, Dad and Brahm in the Itty Bitty City of Bug town.

SD Zoo...

It took a long time to convince Brahm to get close, but he finally fed the goats. Then he couldn't stop!

Emerson feeding the goats.

McKay scratching his back on the goats scratching pole. I guess feeding them just wasn't exciting enough!

The beach in December

Rick and his Dad, Dave.

Rick's Mom, Mary, celebrating the beach...even on a very chilly day (for San Diego, anyway).

McKay, Emerson and Brahm trying not to get too wet, but by the time we left they were all soaked!

Rick, me and 8 months of our developing son, Miles.

Dave & Mary come to visit

Me and Mary...my other mom!

Grandma and our family at the San Diego Temple. It is so beautiful here.

Grandma and Grandpa with the boys.

A little bit of San Diego Zoo. We had such a good time! If Grandma and Grandpa hadn't been there I don't think we could have gone. I was 8 months pregnant!

Happy #7 Emerson!

Emerson's request for a cake: Ninja! We had a little party with some friends, but I forgot to take more pictures than this. What a lame mom I am. It was really fun. We played "huckle buckle beanstalk" and "balloony, ballooney" (a game Emerson made up himself and became a favorite with the kids!)

Ace Awards

This year McKay and Emerson started public school for the first time. It was a huge and somewhat traumatic adjustment at first, but they've both done amazing and really love it now.

McKay earned the Ace Award at school for his achievements in scholastic and behavioral excellence. We were so proud of him. He didn't know he would be receiving it so that first picture was of his name being announced and him walking up, totally surprised! We are so proud of him. He's done so well and has even been helping other kids in his class in math, spelling and as a "buddy" for a new student.

Peanuts for Snow

The kids miss the snow, so I let them have this box of peanuts. They made a snowman with three bags of peanuts, threw the "snow" all over the room, and Emerson made a lovely snow angel. Did I mention how much fun it was to clean up?

Just stuff..

McKay and Brahm can really create a masterpieces with just a few little stickers.
Emerson, in his favorite power ranger costume, playing basketball with our neighbors across the street. They are super nice guys...Japanese high school exchange students here. They are so good with the kids when they want to play ball with them.

Thanksgiving Day!

We were so blessed that Rick had Thanksgiving day off this year! Since we had no family here I made Thanksgiving dinner myself, which was a first. Here are my two pies, pumpkin and chocolate. The shells could use some definite improvement, but hey...they tasted really good.

FINALLY.... RAIN!

The weather here is obviously usually warm and sunny, but we really LOVE when it rains. Here the boys are totally soaking themselves and collecting rain in their lovely firefighter hats as it drips off the roof of the garage. Then, of course, it's warm towels and hot cocoa in front of the warm fireplace. I did not include the photo of them all without their towels on, but there were some very cute naked buns running around shortly after this photo was taken.

The Williamsons!!!!

Ben, Mindi, Hannah, Joshua, Avery and Zachary Williamson came to visit us just before Thanksgiving. For those who don't know them, Ben served in the Canada Vancouver Mission with us. We love them so much...they are so fabulous and it was the best Thanksgiving gift for us!

Brahm's Bday...Seaworld

Shamu the Whale was the funnest part of Seaworld for the kids. We weren't in the soak zone, fortunately.

Brahm really enjoying Shamu..

I always make a theme cake for the kids' birthdays. Brahm requested a rainbow cake for his 4th birthday, and I delivered.

Halloween Costumes

Emerson aka: Harry Potter
McKay aka: Dumbledore
Brahm aka: "scarey dinosaur...rahr"
You know you're scared of this group of threatening looking wizards and beasts.

Pumpkin Carving

Can you believe it? I was carving pumpkins while 6 months pregnant... just amazing. :) J/K Really, it was very fun. Emerson picked a pumpkin that was so small my hand could barely fit into it.

Brahm was a little grossed out by all the pumpkin guts. Luckily he didn't have to touch them. He let dad do all the work.
McKay had a blast carving out the pumpkin guts. We had a blast watching!

Our Backyard Entertainment

McKay and Emerson "Kung Fu Fighting" to dry out after a good swim.

Family Home Evening...swimming at night. Our pool has lights so for FHE one night the kids begged to swim.

Daddy is much braver than I -- the water was not very warm at night! Of course I stayed out to take pictures because someone's got to, right?

McKay shares with us the classic "karate kid" pose.

I am the worst blogger on earth...

So, hi everyone! Sorry about the lousy job of blogging. Being pregnant has really wiped me out...good excuse, I know! So, hereforth you will be given very condensed versions of the last 3 1/2 months.

The last week of summer

Brahm and I made this lovely long, colorful train. It was fun! I admit, I enjoy it much more than making buildings that Brahm just kicks over.
Saturday morning cuddle time. It's usually done in Mom and Dad's bed, but Brahm's bed was the winner today!
Emerson took these next 3 photos of us and our house. So, here's a chopped off view of the front of our house.
We love Brahm's dimply smile.

Sunshine and Water

Brahm enjoying kicking up the water. He loves to wait for the tide to come in and then run away from it.

Brahm and I spent lots of time picking up shells and clams.
Sand, sand, and more fun sand!
One of the best things about real beaches is the soft, feathery sand. No shoes, warm feet, the wind blowing....ahhh.

A day at the beach..

We spent an afternoon at the Navy Base North Shore Beach. It was WONDERFUL because only Navy members can go to this beach, so there were hardly any people there. The boys didn't mind the cold water or the sand and had so much fun! Here McKay enjoys making a "pool".
Emerson. Check out his little white waist line...there are some super white buns under there!
Rick playing with the boys. Emerson learned what a riptide is, and now he is always nervous that he'll get caught in one because of the "giant" waves. Both McKay and Emerson are dying to learn how to surf, as well. Hmmm..not sure if mom can handle the safety issues there. Rick being cute.Although Brahm's "OCD" would cause him a major tantrum under these circumstances, McKay thinks being covered in sand is a true luxury! I'm going to go with Brahm here...

Marius

This is Marius, a 9 year old boy from Romania. This is a picture of him before he was burned in a horrible fire, which also took his parents lives.
This is 9 year old Marius after the fire. He has recieved 4th degree burns over a huge portion of his body. He is coming to California to be fostered by a family in our ward here in Santee. He has been given an extended visa of 5 years, along with his 19 year old brother, so that he can be cared for at Shriner's.

His story is recorded on the website here and I hope you will go to it and read about and see who he is: http://www.teammarius.org He will be in primary with my boys and I hope they will be good examples of Christlike love to him. I hope he will feel loved and accepted here. We pray for his recovery and especially for his internal wounds to be healed. He will only have an interpreter for a month here so we realize this will be a bit of a scarey experience for him. Please keep him in your prayers!