belated Halloween...

First off, I'm sorry. After I wrote my last post I kept thinking that I shouldn't have asked to guess how far along I am. If someone else had done that I would have totally stressed about it and then probably avoided the question. So, that was dumb and sorry and sorry it took me so long to fix the problem. So in the picture I am barely 6 weeks. Crazy. I was so mad. I swear, the deal is sealed and the next day I start showing. I couldn't button my pants anymore at 6 weeks. It would have been nice to have a little grace period where you find out your pregnant and then you get to still have your body and just be happy about it, but no, before I find out I am already starting to get big and then a few days after I'm totally sick. I was praying that this pregnancy I would be put in a doctor enduced coma, but that didn't happen sadly. I am now 15 weeks and still sick...though having periods of relief...so it's gotta be on its way out. I got stopped on Saturday by 3 people, 2 of whom I didn't know, and they said, "Well, you look about due to have a baby soon." (I admit my belly is big, but I don't think I look like I'm almost due) I then told them that I'm only 15 weeks and one of them said, "Oh, do twins run in your family?" So, sadly, I just look big...which is totally dumb considering the baby is probably the size of an apple!!! I don't know why it thinks it needs so much space right now. I'm due May 14th, which feels really far away. We'll let you know when we find out what this little dude is...hopefully soon!
So here are the cute boys at Halloween. Carter picked out his costume this year. He wanted to be a bat...so there he is. He then told us that Mason would be the monkey that Carter wore last year. Mason didn't really want to wear any costume, but when we tried the chicken on that he was last year and then Carter's old monkey costume...Mason wanted the monkey. He had a little more room in it. He fought us a little wearing it, but once he understood the idea that he would get candy he didn't even know he had it on.
This is Carter's wingspan, which is probably why he picked the costume, he liked the wings. We tried to go trick-or-treating around my Mom and Dad's neighborhood and out of the 10 or so houses that are there only 2 were home. Carter was very discouraged and Mason was just annoyed. We went to the Ward Halloween Party after and they did some "trunk-or-treating" and were much happier. I'm terrible with thinking of costumes, so I would like to take this opportunity and give a huge shout out to Old Navy...they have made Halloween so easy for me. I don't know what I will do next year when Carter no longer fits in their cute little costumes...I'll probably be calling some of you who are really good at Halloween for help. Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!

We've moved...yet again...

Yes, we've moved again. Seriously, I think we've moved enough now. Joel decided to quite his job with the city of Bonney Lake and go back to school...and look for a job. We are hoping he finds a job really, really, really soon. He is looking in the Portland/Vancouver area. He is attending Portland State University to get a Real Estate Certificate...which is different from a license...he will have to write about that. He loves his classes and curriculum, which makes me feel much better. We are living with my parents in Silverlake (near Longview, WA) right now, until we find a job. Life is a little crazy...but hopefully there's a light at the end that I'm not seeing right now...
This was by far the worst move for us. We have moved 7 times in the 5 years we've been married and 5 of those 7 times I was either pregnant or had just had a baby. It has become a rule of moving for us...if we are going to move then I have to be pregnant or have a newborn. So according to rules, this move was no different...yep, totally prego and such great timing. Though this was a new adventure in that I was just barely pregnant, instead of being between 5 and 8 months, and I was totally sick. Pretty much useless. We have never had movers and I swear next time we move...because it is inevitable that we will...I am totally hiring someone. I don't care if it costs a million dollars, it will be so worth it. This was our most unorganized, unprepared, and miserable move. We are so grateful to all the people in our ward that helped us though. Joel and I are terrible at asking for and accepting help, but this time we had no choice and we had so much help. People watched our kids, dropped by meals, helped us pack and load, and helped us clean our house. Seriously, it was awesome and we felt so loved! We lived in Bonney Lake (2 years) longer than we have ever lived anywhere and were sad to leave our friends and our familiar surroundings. I was also sad to leave our awesome house that I loved to much. All in all things are going to be great...I hope. Joel is loving all he is learning and is excited to get into a career more specifically involved in economic development...such as a consultant or something. We are so grateful to all of our family and friends who helped us so much...Joel's parents even came from Utah to help us move...Thank you!

I had to take a picture...guess how far along I am in this picture...and if you say you can't even tell I look pregnant than my feelings will really be hurt because that is not what I normally look like!

I will try and be a better blogger (though I have been checking all of yours, just not updating mine)...life has just been crazy and I haven't been all that happy about life...but no worries...

conversation with Carter...

This was a conversation between Carter and I last Sunday at church while the Sacrament was being passed.
Carter is kind of squirming around...
Mom: Carter you're supposed to be thinking about Jesus right now. Are you thinking about Jesus?
Carter: Yes. (matter-of-factly)
Mom: What are you thinking about Jesus?
Carter: Cars.
Mom: You mean like Jesus driving a car?
Carter: No, like he's going to give me a car.

Wow. The car gene goes deeper than I thought. Cars are always on this kid's mind. When I recited this story to Joel later, Carter said that he was actually thinking about how Jesus created cars...I guess that's a little bit better than him giving him a car...what a nut!

This is a picture of Carter on the Sunday back in June when he gave the scripture for Primary. He memorized it and was so cute. He walked right up to the podium with my scriptures, but without me...opened the scriptures up to somewhere and then recited his scripture perfectly. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.

The Big House!

Over Labor Day weekend Joel and I, without our kids, went to Ann Arbor Michigan to the Michigan vs Utah game. Joel's dad had tickets and invited any of us to come. Pictured is everyone who was able to come...top: Dad (Roger) and Connor...bottom: Laurel and Erik, Eric and Michele, and Joel...I was taking the picture.
It was so cool. The stadium was huge. I've never been in such a huge stadium that was so full. There were over 108 thousand people there. Amazing. Luckily Utah won. The score was 25 (Utah) to 23 (Michigan). Utah went into the half leading, but the second half played terribly, but prevailed. I was amazed at how many Utah fans were there. We sat behind some real diehards.
Joel's, Aunt Karren and her family we there as well. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures with them. They are such a fun family and we were glad that they were there as well. It was a quick weekend, but seriously so great. I wish more of Joel's family could have come. We have decided we need to do this once a year...a quick weekend trip with only the adults...NO KIDS! Joel and I had so much fun just being together. We haven't ever done anything like this and it was much needed. Thanks to Roger for the fun trip!

my apologies...

Sorry I totally melted down and vented for all of you...my mom said that I should put that kind of stuff in my journal and not for the world to read...the only problem with that, though I didn't tell her, is that I don't keep a journal and so I guess this is my journal. So, my apologies. I totally appreciate everyone being nice to me, though, I don't want anyone to feel bad for me, I just needed to vent. I'm so glad that I am surrounded by such awesome people...I have a wonderful family and fabulous friends.
You know me, always have to have a picture. This is of the boys. Their new thing at the time of this picture, which was in June (sadly, notice how in June my boys are having to wear jeans and sweatshirts...welcome to Washington!), was to pretend to sleep on the stairs. Joel decided to join them one day and I thought it was cute. Funny boys.

Reality...bites...

I'm bugged. I feel like I'm in a rut and...actually, don't really want to figure out how to get out...that would take more work. I love my sweet Joel and love my kids (which is why I had to post cute pictures of them), but why is life so not like on tv. Why are things so hard and why do things not work out the way I planned them to. I always wanted to be a mom. Ask anyone I went to high school with, that was my dream. I was going to be an awesome wife who made cookies and took them to my husband's work and I would make great meals and I was going to have 9 boys. We would have our own football team in which I would be the
center because I figured after 9 kids I would be huge. So, let me tell you how that pans out...I'm not an awesome wife and I rarely make cookies and when I do, we eat them (mainly me). Uh, I don't make dinner hardly...we do eat dinner, just things like Mac and Cheese, Pasta Roni, pizza, chicken (the breaded frozen kind that I only have to heat up) and our veggies consist of either corn or broccoli. Awesome huh. Are you all salivating? Let's see 9 boys...not going to happen. I had no idea what a pain it was to be pregnant and then have to get a huge baby out of my body and then recover from that and then raise
it...yeah, there will never be 9...we may not even make it to 3. In my dream world, which I thought was reality, it was awesome to be pregnant and kids were so fun and obedient and I had tons of energy. Seriously what happened? Why when I ask my kids to come get ready for bed, do they flip out? Why does one take toys from the other? How do 4, 3, and even 2 year olds know how to talk back and why do they actually do it? Why is potty training such a nightmare...is this really that hard of a concept...when you pee you just do it in the toilet and not in your pants. Why do people keep telling me it doesn't get better, just new and different problems with each stage...awesome. Why do toddlers get into everything even after you tell them a million times to get out...why is the dishwasher so cool and the toilet water and the remote and the phone and electrical outlets...I admit, I am totally anal. I make things harder for myself because I want things a certain way...I want a clean and tidy house and I don't want my kids to get dirty because then I have to destain their clothes because I don't want them wearing stained up clothes that I spent money on. Why is it so tiring to be with them all day and why do I keep wanting to get away? Why am I still complaining when it is 5:15 pm and I should be downstairs making some Mac and Cheese or something for dinner...I guess that's enough venting for now...just so you know, I do love my family and they really are awesome...

Good old Utah!

We just got back from a too short, but super fun trip to Utah. We went to visit with Joel's family and planned our
trip so that we could be there when his sister Cami and her family were visiting as well. Sadly, we missed having Joel's sister Kelly (she is due
to have a baby the middle of August) and Joel's brother Connor(he just moved to North
Carolina) there with us. We hope for a full Thompson gathering soon though! While in Utah we spent a lot of time swimming. My kids had so much fun. Carter and Mason did not want to get out...ever! It took Mason a little bit to warm up to the pool though. At first he just cried and cried and then he cried and cried when we said it was time to get out. Carter took a little bit before he was brave enough to jump in, but once he was, he was jumping in and out
nonstop! Mason even starting jumping in off the edge once he saw his brother doing it. It was so cute. Carter
saw some cousins jumping off the diving board and so, of course, he wanted to and jumped off the diving board (with a float of course) and thought it was so cool...Mason then attempted, but was just teasing us...he never actually jumped off. He would just go to the edge and say "hi daddy". Joel got to do some wakeboarding and even a little slalom skiing. I was super happy because it was so nice and hot! Even though our trip was so short, we had a great time with everyone and can't wait to see them again.

I have to complain a little now...we drove...enough said...okay, not enough said. We had five days over a weekend to go and two of them were spent driving. I am never driving to Utah again. Okay, so I say that everytime we drive and then end up driving again...Joel is too persuasive. This time I might, maybe, be serious though. The drive home was the pits. Mason is at a bad car traveling age in my opinion. He doesn't last long before he gets sick of being in the car and then just cries. We left at 6 in the morning and just before Twin Falls, ID he started crying...we had only been driving for three hours and had, hmm, only 9 to 10 more hours to go. We stopped at Twin Falls and had breakfast where we watched these bridge jumpers jump off this amazing bridge. I don't know if you can see the blue parachute in the picture of the bridge, but it's there. It was really cool, though I told the kids they couldn't ever do that. Then we took a super fun picture of the our super happy kids and the beautiful canyon...pleasant. Then we went through the open house for the Twin Falls Temple which was so beautiful and awesome, but not so much for the kids. Carter the entire time was whining about the cookie he wanted that this nice Sister Missionary promised him after the tour, but that he thought he got right that second...and Mason was just done with everything. It was really awesome though and so cool to be able to take our kids there...serious it was really neat. So three hours later we were back on the road. It's noon now and we still have 9 to 10 hours without stopping to get home. I'll just sum of really fast...my tailbone gives me problems now all the time and I can't sit in the car for that long and then Mason threw up in Ellensburg where morons close their gas stations before 11pm and we had to knock on the locked glass sliding door and ask them as they are counting their till if they would let us in for paper towels and water...Carter then complains about this nasty smell as he tries to bury his face in the side of his carseat and tells Mason "We don't throw up in cars". We didn't get home until after 1am and instead of just crawling into bed, we had to clean up a nasty car seat...seriously, besides the driving, a super fun trip!