Christmas Van Gogh?

We have had a crafty day here at the Thompson home and we are loving every minute of it! Here the girls are painting some wooden figures that their grandma got for them. I have a couple of Van Gogh's here...without the epilepsy and suicidality, of course. :)

Organizing Frenzy

Kaela's school basket is one of the few places in our home that stays cleaned up because it is just THAT important. I wish I could maintain that frame of mind for the rest of the home. Oh, if there were just less books to read in the world!


I wish you had seen it before I started tossing and reorganizing everything but, look how pretty! It makes me smile every time I open the cupboards. :)


Our newly done "junk drawer". I used to have one of those plastic organizers for miscellaneous junk but it doesn't fit into these shallow drawers. We live in an old military home from like the 40's when people had much less stuff crammed into their homes...ah, the good ol' days.

I am still in organizing mode around here and boy does it feel good to purge the junk! Who knew Dr. Phil and Peter Walsh ARE right?! Now if I can find out where Walsh gets his amazingly crafty spectacles...

What Month is It?

Yes, we know...it's November. And yet we have put up our (gasp) Christmas tree. To be honest, too much of being conventional is a bit (yawn) b-o-r-i-n-g. Four weeks is much too short to celebrate the greatest season of the year (and, of course, the greatest person ever), so we lengthen it to suit our home. Look how sparkly! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...pass the hot cocoa. :)

Getting In the Spirit

Yes folks, it is that time of the year. The time where we start thinking about what crafts we can make for friends and family for Christmas that will also give us a lot of joy making! This year we are making those wonderful cinnamon gingerbread men ornaments. When they are drying they make the house smell so yummy and homey...mmmmm. Here the girls are painting what looks like icing on the little guys. Weeks of fun ahead for us!

For the best mom

Mom, this bouquet is for you. I know flowers are therapeutic for you so hopefully they will do the trick...along with your medicine, of course. I love you! :)

Party Time!

Look at the loot these girls brought home from trick or treating! Now it's time for our annual Halloween party, which this year doubled as Emma's birthday party.

The birthday girl with her candy and her new NeoPet "Sprite"

Time for CAKE!!! Wow, Kaela sure seems enthusiastic doesn't she? If she gets any more excited she may fall asleep!

Huff, and Puff and...

blow the cake down!

Bobbing for apples. With such a simple activity you'd think lots of kids would have done this but the girls have never had a friend over who have had the pleasure so it ends up being a huge hit every time.

Trick or Treat

Ah, Halloween on the base...so much fun! The girls had fun but sad to say that Dad had the most fun. Michael made that costume himself (we're very proud of him) and he just loves going out and having about every parent in our neighborhood take pictures of him with their kids. Good times!

Roots Part 2

My mom's birthday was last week and her sister, Rosella, made these beautiful scrapbook pages of my mom with her parents when she was little. What a special gift! Happy Birthday Mom!

Roots

Here is a sweet picture of my mom at 6 weeks old being cradled and adored by my grandma. The only thing sweeter is the note my grandma made about the picture and my mom. What a blessing to have pictures like this to hand down from generation to generation. Truly beautiful!

Dive Video

Here is one of our favorite songs lately...really gets us going! :)

Punkin Head

Here is our Emma, being a punkin head!

My Favorite Virtual Coffee Cup

My sister in law, Crickett, posted this on my Myspace page and I just LOVE it! It is my FAVORITE mug. Too bad I can't actually drink out of it! For those of you who don't know, I love my coffee and consider it a necessary part of my day; that is, if I am meant to get anything done. Thanks sis! I love ya!

Bath Time

Our babies, 7-Up & Dr. Pepper, enjoying some relaxing brotherly bath time (just before they broke out in a relaxing fight).

Fun with Balloons

Dr. Pepper enjoying Emma's balloon...who knew string could taste THIS good?!

Kaela being goofy

Kid's Night at Pizza Hut

Here we are at Pizza Hut celebrating the beginning of the school year for Kaela with GVA, and Emma getting on the honor roll this quarter. Tonight was Kid's Night, so there were balloons o' plenty and a fire truck out front for the kids to check out with their "certified tour guide" (Pizza Hut employee). :)

The girls each got a "goodie bag" with stuff like pouches of Teddy Grahams, miniature Hershey bars, and coupons for free cinna-stix. Emma, with her expert taste in chocolate, shows her excitement and approval.

Looking at the menu on the wall.

Kaela enjoying one of her favorite foods (non-meat, of course). The list is short and her menu rotates around about 3 foods. Well, I guess consistency can be a virtue!

The girls after their "tour". They look like a patchwork quilt with all that pink and white!

The whole family

Time for Corn Casserole

The leaves are turning golden and falling to the ground, the evenings are getting crisp, and it's time for Corn Casserole! My mom is a fantastic cook and put this delicious recipe together; I scrapbooked the recipe into a scrapbook and here it is. It is a real crowd pleaser if you are cooking for a group over the holidays. Enjoy!

Fancy Pants New Fridge

After our old fridge breaking 3 times in about a week and a half the maintenance guys FINALLY brought us a brand spankin' new one. It is so big that they had to saw off part of our counter to fit it in. I guess now the bother was worth it!!!

Yes, that's right, it DOES say "Crushed" right on one of those digital buttons! I am in heaven!

Homeschool with K12

Here is a picture of Kaela's school literature book. Literature is her favorite subject (along with science) and we have read 5 fantastic stories in the past 2 weeks.



Here is how we start our day...with the online school screen. It's really groovy to have all the planning done for us! YAY!




We are very excited that this year we have decided to enroll Kaela in the Georgia Virtual Academy. It is a virtual school (what gave that away?) that uses the K12 curriculum (K12.com). We have almost finished our first month and are really having a good time learning, but be careful because we wouldn't want anyone to get the idea that learning could be FUN! Here is picture of one of the many pieces of science gear that K12 sent us. Mufasa, our neurotic cat, is showing it off for us. He does a good job, no?

Emma & Her Homework

Here is sweet Emma working diligently on her homework. This year has brought much more of that into her life but she is taking it in stride. You go girl!

Kaela & Dr. Pepper

Kaela and her shadow, Dr. Pepper. He has chosen her to be his mommy and follows her EVERYWHERE!!!! I have to put him outside when she goes to bed otherwise he stands at her bedroom door crying and scratching the carpet. Poor baby. Here they are in a happy moment.

Science Lab #1

Well, here it is...our first taxonomic chart! Kaela and I have been learning about taxonomy in her life science class, but this was her first bona fide lab activity. Did you know that the father of taxonomy was Carolus Linnaeus?

Kaela's Fall Picture

I can't believe my first baby girl is almost a teenager now! Here she is enjoying her last fall as a "'tween". :)

Emma & Kaela's Hug

We finally got off our duffs and decided we better take some pictures of the girls before they get all growed up and are gone. Although picture day is always somewhat of an adventure (you're tickling me, stepping on me, the sun's in my eyes, etc.) it is (as Mom always said) totally worth it. Here is the latest of Kaela and Emma together on a balmy Sunday. Awww...after all the fussing, they DO love each other!