31years old

I turned 31 years old yesterday, the 25th. I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to live these past 31 years and for the countless blessings he has allowed me to have. Grandma and Grandpa Thompson watched the kids while Robert and I went out. The kids each gave me a gift, which they were very excited about.
I was born in Price, Utah by c-section. I came a month early, weighing in at 6lbs. 11oz.

Skunked

Robert rides his bike 2miles from our house to the Coaster each morning...VERY early in the morning. Our house is only a block up from a small river and the trail is along the riverbed. Each morning I wake up to an email detailing his adventures on his bike ride. I've never met anyone that has been sprayed by a skunk. Robert just may be the first. :)
Here are a couple of his adventures...

1/22 - It wasn't rainy when I left the house but it started to come down on the bike trail. I got pretty wet by the time I got to the train.
A skunk decided to sleep on the trail this morning. I was inches away from hitting it. It woke up and scurried down the hill.
My light was dim this morning. I'll have to come up with something else. As it warms up, I might run in to snakes on the bike path. (lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my)...

1/25 - Another skunk this morning. This time it was worse because the skunk started running away from me in the direction I was headed along the bike trail. I didn't know if I should pass the skunk or stop completely. I just held my breath and went by it.
I saw up ahead of me what appeared to be a raccoon. I had plenty of time so I rang my bell a lot and it made it gallop off the road...

Need a favor?

Robert's sister is getting married next month and I'm doing wedding favors to pitch in. Their colors are red and black. Here is the result. The girls and I had a fun time putting these together the other morning. Jane helped taking the kisses out of the boxes and when Linda got home she folded the little boxes and helped put the kisses and red foil in. We've done 50 so far. I found these big Hershey Kisses(about 3"tall) at Walgreens here and bought out the 50 they had. I need to go to another Walgreens to see if I can find the rest. I think they turned out nice. Now, 50 more to go and stickers that say "Laura & Zane" to apply underneath the bow.

18 months

Claire had her 18month check up today. She now goes to the same Dr. that her brother Bruce went to as a baby. Crazy. Here are the stats:

22lbs. (20th percentile)
33" tall (86th percentile)
48cm head (97th percentile)

Claire is soooo active and cuddly and fun. Her favorite activities now include climbing in and out of her high chair at will, jumping on the trampoline in the backyard, and chasing birds at the beach...she really loves birds. She can say a lot of words and now graces the nursery with her presence. What a great girl we have.

Pictured above is Robert and I trying to fatten her up with no-bake cookies. :)

Old School

I sent Bruce and Linda's former teachers in Virginia our new address. These were their responses. The note from Linda's teacher made me cry. It's hard to take your kids out of a great situation and in to the unknown. However, the kids are doing really well here and are happy and enjoy their new school and teachers.

"Hi Bruce!
We all miss you so much! We hope you are doing well at your new school and that you have found some new friends. Thanks for sending us your new address!
How do you like your new home?
The Might Ducks"
(Bruce's class named themselves the Mighty Ducks)

"Hi there California Family!
Thanks so much for writing and I am glad you made it there safely. I have discussed it with the class and we hope to be sending letters or drawings to Linda soon. It is quite funny...anytime we see the color pink or a heart, somebody mentions her. I am glad that she enjoyed the gifts. She was a gift to us! :) Take care and keep in touch.
Denise"
(each child in Linda's class had a symbol and Linda's was a pink heart)

Back to school!!!

E.G. Garrison - A School For the Visual and Performing Arts

Bruce and Linda are at their first day of school right now! Linda is at her first day of Kindergarten ever, and Bruce is having his first day of 1st grade...again. This was not the school that I originally thought I wanted based on test scores and things, in fact I hadn't even heard of it. However, I feel the Lord guided my path as I went to the district office many times and visited schools. When I met with the principal of this school I felt totally at peace and they had room for both of the kids. They incorporate acting, singing, dancing and music in to their learning which will be great for the kids.
My little Gators!! Turns out this school does not enforce a uniform so Bruce was happy about that. Linda is wearing a uniform and looks adorable.

Mrs. Kirkman - Linda's Kindergarten teacher

Mrs. Leupold - Bruce's 1st grade teacher (I didn't have time to get a pic of her and Bruce.)