Grandpa and Linda

Newborn

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

And We're off to California

1:15pm - Just left. Sitting in traffic on the 495 and trying to get to the open road. This picture was a couple minutes ago on the George Washington Parkway (Turn your head to see). See you soon!

5pm - 7pm - I got a very bad sleep. Not sure about this sleeping in the car. The Nyquil helped.

7:30pm -Just got to Ohio. We had a little sliver of West Virginia and went right below Pittsburgh. Snowing since about 7pm.

1:19am - In Putnam County, Indiana. The area where our ancestors lived. 2 1/2 hours out of St. Louis.

4:00am - The gateway to the west was welcoming. We will be headed down through Oklahoma City now and sleeping in Albuquerque tonight. Last twelve hours on Sunday. The big question - Will Gardunos be open when we get to Albuquerque?

Little Update

Grandpa made it to DC. Robert stayed at his hotel last night and will again tonight because we have no beds left in the house...well, nothing left in the house. Robert does the final walk through at our Fairfax place tonight and hands over the keys. It's kind of sad. We have had many happy memories there over the past two years. Grandpa and Robert will leave on their cross-country trip tomorrow when Robert gets off work. They will try to get in 12hrs. driving days. Please pray for them that they'll be safe on their journey. It's a long way and it worries me.

We signed the house lease this morning, so sidebar lady can officially change our address. The kids are excited that the house is so big, and can't wait for a backyard! I may be down in Oceanside tomorrow to give the guy our deposit and get the registration papers for Bruce and Linda. I'll probably hang out in the desert until Robert gets back. That's the latest.

2 days and counting...

Bruce -
"Mom, a lot of things are changing since we're moving. Like, we eat dinner on the floor, we have beds that are just mattresses on the floor, and we have A LOT of trash."

Yes, our house decor consists of mattresses on the floor and a small tv in Bruce's room on the floor that will be officially be turned off tomorrow. Nearly all the clothes are packed in suitcases.
The owner has had a lot of people schedule showings of the house. We had two today. That's been stressful and I'm glad I only have to deal with it for two more days. We sold some stuff on Craigslist then put everything else up for FREE and had a great response. We only have a few small things to get rid of. The piece of furniture I find myself missing the most is a table and chairs.
We fly out of VA around 7am(4am for you guys). We got Claire a ticket and her carseat is airline approved, so she'll be in her carseat for the majority of the flight and I'm hoping she'll sleep since we'll be getting her up early. We were able to pick seats so we have the entire row on both sides of the aisle.
We should arrive in Fallbrook around 1pm, I think. We'll leave the kids in Fallbrook and Robert and I will head out to look at homes in Oside. We have 4appointments set up. Robert flies out the next morning. The kids and I will probably spend a lot of the week in Palm Desert at my moms house. She was recently laid off at her work, along with a lot of the other employees, so I'm going to take advantage of getting to spend time with her. I'll be back to Oside to look at homes if the ones we look at on Saturday don't work out. I'm not sure what my schedule will be, just playing it by ear.
Just thought I'd give you the update.

Last Family Pictures in DC

The primary sponsored a Family Temple Day a couple weeks ago. A photographer in our ward took everyone's family pictures for free. the kids were freezing, and you can see it in their faces.
PS - Robert has lost 12lbs. since this pic.

Not offended => Proud

I won best chili and fatest man awards this year for the Fairfax Ward. So the award for fatest man was more subtle...I was asked to be Santa for the ward Christmas Party tonight.

I will ask KaDee if she has any ideas on how to get my eyebrows white. Or cheeks red. I have been practicing my lines in my head (so not to let the kids hear me). Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas, toodles and strumbles for all the good boys and girls, ho, ho, ho. Oh man, this may be a disaster. okay Robert, just don't say anything, just sit there and look fat.

Goodbye Old Friend

When we moved in took a lot of effort and about 5 tries for the movers to get our couch through the door. Our walls paid the price as they brought it up 3 flights of stairs. They told us that we'd never get it out in one piece. So....the boys went to work last night and our old couch is in the garage in about 30 pieces. Robert also completely demolished our dresser and that went out with the trash already. We have trash day twice a week and we have 2 trash cans. They are completely full each trash day with 2 or 3 bags sitting by them. We are down to very minimal furniture.

Us

The House Is Listed

We've been cleaning all weekend and have two families looking at the house today. We're hoping they rent it out or sell it quickly so that we don't have to worry about people walking through.

Bruce - really excited about the move. He's excited to live close to the beach and to be able to DRIVE to all of your houses. He said he will miss his school. His teacher said, "it's been a blessing to have him in my class."

Linda - she is sad to leave her friends and her preschool. She cried the other night because she said she will never see her teacher again. When I told her preschool teacher we were moving her teacher cried and cried. They really love Linda.

Jane - she doesn't care one way or the other about the move. She will love all that's about to happen because she's been a little bored in the days.

Claire - we got rid of her crib and we're getting her used to not having it before the big move. She did really well last night and slept all through the night without getting up.

New job and moving Tweets

If we can get the final signatures today, we will give our current landlord our transfer papers next week. Notifying him – last day the 18th of December and pay through the end of December.


We would fly out on the 12th of December. KaDee and the kids will stay in Fallbrook. I will fly back the same day or the 13th of December. We are hoping to find a place in Oceanside and movie-in after the 26th of December.


My last day of work here in DC would be the 18th of December. I would start work in Santa Ana the 4th of January.


Dad and I will be leaving here on the 18th of December and hopefully arrive on Sunday or Monday in the Promised Land.


Dad and I will leave DC for California on the 18th if he can get out here that day. Hopefully arrive in the promised land by Sunday or Monday.


The deal they are making my boss is to work 49% for 504 from Santa Ana until a person is hired here in DC.


My job title will be the same on paper - Financial Analyst, but I will technically be the Quality Assurance Specialist. The job duty is making sure the center’s operations run smoothly and finding/recommending areas for improvement.


The new job duty is better than I thought. I think it will help my resume as I will now have sales, operations, IT, product and policy development. I think I would be in a good position to take over a bank’s SBA lending department in a couple years when the market improves (should I need to have a fall-back).


We’re really excited to get back to California. California may be seen as a dead zone to many but the Contrarian inside of me says that there is a wealth of opportunity (church, service, career, politics, etc.) and I’m ready to dig in!

Fairfax Thompson Tweets

Rainy Halloween. We walked in the rain. And as part of our tradition, we leave early, come back and take out the candy the kids don't want or that we don't want them to have and give it to the kids as they knock on our door.

Linda tells us on Thursday that Miss California was in her class and read them a book. Huh?
Well, KaDee and I didn't believe it. But Friday morning I picked up the local paper to
read that Miss California was in the DC area on Thursday. Hmmmm.
Linda told KaDee that she has three boyfriends - Jesus, Daddy and Grandpa.

I'm hoping transfer papers are signed this week for Santa Ana. We need them quick so we can give them to our landlord.

Enjoying the view before the rest of the leaves fall.

Job Update

I talked to the guy over the Santa Ana Center and told him I was frustrated with how long things are taking. He is going to start the transfer process this week. He will transfer me to Santa Ana and detail me to DC until my boss can be convinced to let me go. He said he is going to try to have our kids start school in January and for us to be able to transition during the holiday.

When we get the transfer papers in November, I can send them over to our landlord to let us out of the lease. I found some Southwest tickets this morning for $99 one way to San Diego (non stop on other airlines for about $125 if we go to LAX) if we go around the 15th of December. I'll be shooting for my last day of work to be the 18th out here, one week vacation, one week admin leave...We'll see what happens, that's the plan for now.

Fairfax Thompson Tweets

KaDee is planning her school board run in 2010 in Oceanside. Well, maybe not planning that hard. Bottom of any priority list the Fairfax Thompsons may have right now. But it would be fun to mess with liberals!

Robert is ready for soccer to be over. Too many other things to attend to right now and the parents don’t seem to care about the game. Two boys are always in La-La land and it drives Robert crazy.

Jane, Linda and Bruce all started the BoB reading books. Let’s test all this hype!

KaDee gave flowers to the lady that takes Bruce to school. Wow, has that been nice for the mornings! Walking Linda to school at 12:30am with three kids is much more manageable.

Spring Cleaning has commenced! The pre-move cleaning will be a slow process as we use every trash day to the max. Today we dumped the Potato Smasher, Small Crock Pot, Old Blender. The toy box is also out for trash.

Still no Move Date! Robert’s boss is in Vegas and gets back next Tuesday. Robert is planning on having a lot of the work done before his boss gets back. Trying to play down the need for another worker hired before the transfer. Most of Robert’s co-workers know about the transfer and they don’t think the hiring of a new guy would need to happen first. It’s Robert’s boss that needs to be convinced.

Work on the Van before the cross-country trek – Fix Head Light, Rotate Tires, Have Everything Checked Out. What are your feelings on flushes (e.g. transmission fluid, radiator fluid, power steering)?

Some people in the ward found out we were moving by KaDee’s blog. KaDee has also told the Bishop’s counselor over Primary. Our Hometeachers know. So, when will the ward start leaving us alone?

Dad mentioned driving out with Robert cross country. If Dad can’t, do we have a back-up driver? High speed internet the whole way! Leave Friday, get to California on Monday.

My boss has given ground on his fight against my transfer. He called me in his office and the conversation went something like this:

Bin: Have you talked to your wife? Or changed your mind at all?

Robert: When I came to talk to you before, it wasn’t a rash decision. This is something we have been discussing for a couple months.

Bin: Well you know, I won’t get in your way. I just want to do everything possible to talk you out of this.

Robert: Well, that interesting, because since my mind is made up, I have been wondering what I could say to you to change your mind.

Bin: Understood. I want to make sure you consider everything.

He then went on to list all the reasons I should stay and not go. Then he said something like “Well, since I can’t change your mind, I guess I won’t stand in your way. John and I will go in and talk with Grady about the details. When were you thinking about leaving?”

So, the last and most important player is Grady. He will be back in the office next week. I have told his second in command that I would like it on his agenda. We’ll see.

I always wonder what Robert and the kids do while I'm in ward counsel.

Fairfax Thompson Tweets

We had a good time with Grandma and Grandpa. The cleaning lady at their hotel couldn’t figure out why popcorn and candy was all over the room of two adult guests.

After good reports from his class, it appears that Bruce is one of the better behaved kids in his 1st grade. That’s good news. He saves his craziness for his Mother when he gets home. Last nights conversation…Dad - ”Bruce, what did you do at school?” Bruce – “Badada”, Dad – “Bruce, what did you do at school?”, Bruce – “Badada”

Robert told the guy in charge of the Santa Ana office (John) ‘yes’, after he promised him the same grade/step, no probationary period, 5 days paid admin leave, making the director a 15 grade, and a better working environment in the Santa Ana office. Robert talked to his boss (Bin) to ask for the transfer. Bin isn’t happy and will do everything he can to stop the move or delay it. Ultimately, Bin’s boss (Grady) will be the one to decide. Grady is out of the office for a couple more weeks. John spoke with Bin this morning to try and smooth things over.

Robert is moving forward with his business. He had the first programming completed on the website earlier this week, made two more site purchase yesterday and is hoping to complete the entire set-up by the middle of October. Operation s is ready…Verizon and HP have a deal on the netbook and wireless internet (Verizon is the only provider that offers service underground in the Metro). He’s hoping that marketing and finances are in place by January or February.

Robert sent a long email to the soccer League Director after he thought the director was accusing his team of running up the score. The situation has been worked out.

KaDee is preparing for her primary program. Just got a new 1st counselor. Her old one moved to Adam-ondi-Ahman. Her husband told her "it was time". Has a sweet set up now that Bruce's friend from church pics him up every morning for school. The other day Claire found hairspray and bit the top which sprayed a big spray of it in her mouth. She was sick to her stomach the entire night. KaDee called poison control and they said not to worry but that she might act drunk.

Really sad picture and Claire injury update

My friend that stayed in the ER with me when Claire had her finger injuries emailed me this picture. I guess she snapped one right before they stitched her up. It's a sad picture. She said she thought I could handle seeing it now.

Claire's fingernails are starting to show signs of regrowing. She got her stitches removed a while back. The stitch in her nail bed is still there and supposed to dissolve soon. My Dr. said there was no need to x-ray the cracked bone again unless she was unable to bend her finger. She is healing really well.

Why do my kids keep getting hurt?

Jane fell last night and hit her ear really hard on the window ledge. These pics don't do it justice. It is very tender. The top, darker part is looking like a blood blister. Grandma Thompson witnessed the event.

Open Houses

Bruce & Linda had their open houses yesterday and wouldn't you know, the batteries were dead on my camera when I got it out to use it. :( I managed to snap this one in Linda's room with my phone.
Bruce is a riot. He acts like an old pro at this school thing and showed Linda all around and told her the ins and outs of Eagle View.
Linda was bursting with excitement. It almost made me cry with happiness for her. She was even more happy when she saw her fun classroom. She'll actually start on October 13th. The teacher wants to get the special ed kids in order and used to the schedule before Linda comes in so that it's not chaotic for Linda. There are only 8kids in her afternoon class. She is 5doors down the hall from Bruce's classroom. She'll eat lunch at school when she gets there at 12:30pm and then she'll get out at 3:45pm with Bruce. Her teacher seems great and Linda is going to LOVE it.

OTHER POSTS FROM THE YEAR 2009...

Last Days in Virginia (trying to catch up)

Bruce and his buddy Briggs on their last ride to school together.

Linda with all of her teachers on the last day of her preschool.

Early morning at the airport in DC. Waiting to board the plane to California

Grandpa & Linda Through The Years

Newborn

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

Grandpa Thompson and Linda have birthdays close together. I started the tradition of taking a picture of Linda and her Grandpa each year. It's fun to look back at how much Linda has grown. Linda really loves her Grandpa!

Team Thompson Reunites

Grandpa & Robert are back in California!

They made GREAT time.

Highlights of the trip:
Ghetto Hotel in Albuquerque
Seeing the Bar-S Factory where they make the hot dogs
Seeing a lot of dead deer in Texas
Seeing the Diner, Drive-ins and Dives trailer on the road
Gardunos of Albuquerque...I'm so jealous. Best Mexican food EVER.
BBQ in Oklahoma City

Thompson Moving Update

Well, we made it to California last Saturday and the weather has been great! Driving out of the airport the first thing the kids noticed were the palm trees and then the fact that there were mountains. The kids have been playing outside in Grandma's yard with bare feet and loving every second of it. The kids and I are at my mom's house in Palm Desert which is right next door to Palm Springs. We lived in another neighboring city, La Quinta, before we moved to Virginia so I'm very familiar with everything here and have already run in to some old friends. Linda and Jane were both born in Palm Springs actually. (a shopping area in Palm Desert pictured above)
Like I said, we arrived on Saturday and from the airport we went straight to Oceanside where we had scheduled homes to look at. We looked at 5 or 6 homes, picked out top 2 and applied. We chose this one(pictured above) and it's ready to move in on January 4th! We work fast. :) It's nice and big inside and most importantly it has a backyard. Hooray! We've missed having a yard these past 2yrs. Even better is that the weather will permit us to play outside all year round. We're about 2miles from the beach and the Coaster which Robert will take to work.

Trip distance: 2692.884333.5 mi Time: 39 hrs 21 mins

Robert flew back to DC the day after we arrived here and worked all week. Tomorrow him and his dad will start their cross country trip from Washington, DC to California! We've missed Robert and it'll be nice when we're all together again.

So, there's a little of what has been going on...

The Big Day Has Arrived!!

We are on the airplane in route to LAX(Los Angeles), at this very moment. Claire and Jane are sleeping, Linda is coloring and Bruce is playing on the other laptop. The flight should take 5hrs. 30min. I admit I got choked up when the plane engine starting roaring and the plane began to take off. A new life awaits us in California and I know the Lord will be with us as we begin this new chapter of our lives. As the plane took off Linda and Jane start yelling, "Goodbye Virginia!" :)

Name that Santa!

Santa Claus visited our ward Christmas party tonight. I couldn't help but feel that he was part of the family. :)Bruce figured out who it was. The big girls had no idea, and Claire was just scared to death.

Saying Goodbye!

back row: Mandy

middle row: Jana, Me, Morgen, Darbee

front row: Stephanie, Catherine, Mallory

Last night my friend Jana threw a little goodbye party for me at her home. It was so nice to have a fun night out with the girls in the midst of all the stress of preparing to move. I have made such wonderful friends here and I really hope that we always stay in touch. These are just a few of the friends that have make me teary eyed as we prepare to leave. A couple other friends showed up after the picture was taken. I am truly grateful for good friends.

Let it snow!!

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. It's the first snow of the season and it's still coming down very steadily. The kids are loving it! It's amazing how much more you can enjoy snow when you know you don't have to spend the entire winter in it. :)

Look What I Found On The Stairs

Hey, when you're tired, you're tired. :)

Silly Jane

Jane is so funny. The picture of the bandaid on her eye is from last year. She hurt her eye and she absolutely insisted that she wear a bandaid over it. She couldn't figure out why we thought is was so funny. She planned on wearing it all day and even fell asleep with it on.

Funny things Jane has said recently:

During sacrament meeting we started singing an intermediate hymn after the speaker, she looked over at me and said, "Commercial mom!"

I was driving in the car with her and it was very quiet until Jane said, "Mom, me got a bad feelings about this!"

We sat down for dinner and Jane looked at all the food on the table and said, "Can we go to a restaurant?"

When she says Claire's name she starts it like she's clearing her throat..."Cuuuuh-laire" EVERYTIME.

What's your favorite color Jane? "Blond"

Happy Thanksgiving...from the kid table!

The Indians: Bruce & Zane
The pilgrims: Jane, Maeve, Claire, Liv & Linda

We had Thanksgiving dinner with Robert's cousin Jenny and her family, in Reston, VA. It was nice to be with family and the kids had a great time playing together.
We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Linda is 5!

Linda Kae Thompson

November 22, 2004

7lbs. 13oz.

18 inches tall

Palm Springs, CA

12:33pm

Linda was born by c-section. She was born with a lot of dark brown hair and blue eyes(she still has both). She seemed healthy and normal for a few hours after birth but then started experiencing difficulty breathing. They whisked her off to the NICU where she stayed for 4 days. I had to leave the hospital on Thanksgiving Day without her. I was heartbroken. The Dr.'s believe that she inhaled amniotic fluid on her way out which caused the problem. Grandpa Thompson gave Linda a blessing and she recovered quickly. Linda is named after her Grandma (LINDA Lee ) and her middle name is the first part of her mother's (KaDee). We added the E because it just didn't look right written without it.

Oh, how we love Linda. She has grown to be such a wonderful little girl. She loves books, using her imagination, singing, dancing, and all things girly. She is also very thoughtful and kind. Sometimes I find myself thinking,
"I want to be just like Linda one day."

Party in the USA - Linda's bday party!

Linda waiting for her friends to arrive.

The cake walk - winners got to decorate cupcakes!
Opening Presents

Claire, the chubby cheeked princess!

Jane decorating cupcakes

Making princess crowns.

It's my party, I can cry if I want to.

Linda got hurt, one of her friends gave a hug and all was well.

The goody bags.

Some really cute princesses!