My new thought for my future...

Paul Mitchell The School
My mom was a beautician and all growing up she experimented on our hair. (perms, highlight, cuts, etc.) She would have people over to the house to do their hair and go to their homes if they were older. They have a school here close to us in Virginia. They are sending me information. This seems an ideal job for a stay at home mom.

Figuring This Blog Thing Out...

So, I've managed to add a few extras to the blog. (pat myself on the back) I think I've finally got this thing figured out. I love this Jason Mraz song. I really am "Lucky", so this will have to be my theme song.

Scare at Six Flags

So, last night our family is riding the very slow train that takes you around the Six Flags grounds. We're about halfway through the trip when one of the girls working on the train, steps off the train and falls flat on her face. The first thing on my mind was, "is this part of the ride, some kind of funny show or something?" The girl remained completely lifeless on the ground. I knew something was wrong.
So, I jump off the train and start asking, "Are you okay?? Can you hear me?" all the time pushing on her shoulder trying to get a response. I was the only one doing anything and the other train workers were just standing there doing NOTHING as was everyone else on the train. I tried to get her pulse on her wrist but couldn't find it(I'm terrible at that). So I know that I need to roll her over to make sure she has a heartbeat and that she is breathing. I can't get her over because she was a thicker girl and it was dead weight so I scream, "Somebody help me and somebody call an ambulance!" Finally a guy from the back of the train runs up and helps me get her over, then he goes back to his seat. I found a heartbeat and could feel her breath on my hand. What a relief! I was fully prepared to start CPR.
She remained totally unconscious for a while then her eyes started rolling back in her head and they were twitching and then she had some twitches in her legs. I'm pretty sure she was having some type of seizure. (by the way, nobody is there to help her yet and the girls that work there just then call in for the supervisor to come.) All the while I'm holding this girls hand and putting my hand on her cheek and telling her it's going to be okay and that someone is coming soon to help her. A couple times her body tries to sit up and I have to tell her to lay still and not move.
So, then the helpful workers tell me to get back on the train. So I tell them, if I get back on the train then one of you needs to sit by her and hold her hand until help arrives. I start getting on the train and the girls just walk off. So, I'm back off the train next to this poor girl thinking that if this were my daughter lying on the concrete having a seizure I'd want someone next to her comforting her.
FINALLY the suprevisor WALKS up to us and starts trying to make jokes to her and a few minutes later a medical guy that works for six flags comes up and start asking her questions in which she finally is able to make some noise in response to. He didn't take her pulse or anything. By the time we left she was still on the ground with the "medical guy". I hope they took her to the hospital. I worried about her all night.

Other Things We've Been Up To This Year...

Arlington National Cemetery- We've seen the changing of the gaurd twice now. It's very touching and last time we were there we saw a soldier getting buried.

Hershey. PA - We took the free little tour showing how the chocolate was made and got our free chocolate.

Six Flags

Battle of Bull Run - Toured the grounds and walked the trail the soldiers took through the forest.(this is the Stonewall Jackson Memorial) "Rallly behind the Virginians!"

Gettysburg - We bought the driving tour cd and drove through the battlegrounds.

4th of July in DC

Maid of the Mist

We had a great time at Niagra Falls. We took the boat that takes you along the base of the waterfalls. We got soaked and it was so much fun!

Road Trip

Thursday:
traveled halfway, to Bellfonte, PA(near College Station) and stayed with my cousin, Pam and her husband Richard
Friday:
traveled the rest of the way to Palmyra, NY. Saw the sights! Camped that night at the Palmyra fairgrounds with my cousin and her church branch.
Saturday:
traveled to Niagra Falls to see the sights, then back to Bellfonte for the night. (pics to come)
Sunday:
back home to Virginia

PS-
Robert was with us, I promise! He won't let me put pics of him up here or facebook. :/ We shall see.

Visiting the sacred grove and the Smith farm. The farm was so beautiful and it was so wonderful to have a visual of where all these miraculous events took place. (the pic of me and the kids is inside a replica of the 1st home Joseph Smith grew up in.)

Palmyra

The first thing we did was head to the Hill Cumorah. (For those not familiar, this is the hill that the angel Moroni led Joseph Smith to. The golden plates were hidden there. Joseph Smith translated them in to the Book of Mormon.) That night they had a pageant. You can see the stage at the base of the hill. It was excellent. We climbed to the top of the hill, where they have a statue. It was a beautiful view! I'm so grateful for the courage Joseph Smith had to restore in fullness the Lord's church and am forever grateful for the Book of Mormon.

Met my match??

Claire went to her 1yr. check up today. Here's the stats:
30" tall - 75th percentile
19lbs. - 14th percentile (yes, I'm feeding her constantly)
head 47" - 90th percentile(Prettyman's are know for having big heads)

Anyway, all my kids have been great at the Dr.'s. Never afraid of the Dr., never too much work. Claire, however is a wild woman! When she wasn't squirming and yelling to get out of my arms, she was running around opening in the cupboards. She would open it then look right at me because she knew she was being naughty. She was tearing the magazines, and climbing on the chairs and stool. She would not stay still for the Dr. and she was just generally wiggly and wild! The 3 older kids were with me and despite them being great I felt like I was in a marathon. My son Bruce says to me,
"You're no match for Claire mom."
I agree!

A Glimpse In To Our World.

This is where we have been living for over a year now. They're condos and we're the 2nd door from the right. Our condo is the 3rd and 4th floor. Our garage is around the back. Don't try to figure it out in your head because we're still trying to figure it out. It's pretty spacious.


Here is where Robert works. It's the Small Business Administration Headquarters in DC, right near the capital building. He takes the metro in to work.


If you're just looking at these pictures you can't imagine the beautiful scenery surrounding us. There are trees as far as the eye can see. DC, lakes, camping, hiking, parks, museums, shopping, we've got it all within minutes of us.

1, 2,...4,5

So today I realized that my children's ages are 1yr., 2yrs., 4yrs., and 5yrs.!! People have always told me that I had my children really close together. I think they just might be right! I guess I really dropped the ball by not having the 3yr. old slot filled. :) I often get the question, "If you had it to do all over would you maybe wait a little more time between children?" The answer is, "No way!" I look at parents with children ranging from teenagers to babies and I don't know how they do it! To me, that is much more difficult. Of course, you'll have to ask me that question again when my children are 13yrs., 14yrs., 16yrs. and 17yrs.!! I'll have 4 teenagers at once! Scary thought. What's Robert's opinion on why we had the kids so close together? He says, "That's what you get when two impatient people get married."

The Birthday Girl!!

Claire enjoyed her very 1st birthday party! Of course, our camera broke, so we had to do cell phone pics but they turned out alright. She is sleeping off the party now. :)

1 Year Ago Today

Claire Suzanne Thompson was born in Reston, VA 1yr. ago today by c-section. Our lives have never been the same. She is such a great baby! Birthday party pics should by up tomorrow.