Summer Late Nights

This last week of summer Jaden and Jill invited their friends over for a late night.

They enjoyed tons of Candy, Music, Singing, Laughing, Movies on the big screen, Games- capture the flag & ghost in the graveyard, and lots of Dancing.

The boys were more into the dancing to the cool music than the girls. They were hilarous.

The kids have great friends and I am so grateful for that.

Mini Golf with Mom

I love Miniature Golf, so we headed off to the local green and had a lot of fun. Tyler got a lot in on the second try. Tate carried his ball around a lot of the time. I was not having a good game... Good thing we were not keeping score. 

A Trip to Grandmothers

The kids and I enjoyed 3 fun days at Grandmother's House.

They went swimming for hours, played Lego Harry Potter and watched movies.

It was a great relaxing time. Thanks Polly.

Six Flags Great America

Jaden and Jill earned Six Flag tickets for reading at school. Congrats Kids!

This year we did not take the little boys, so we could enjoy the freedom of riding all the rides together. There is always a little lonesome feeling for me when only half my family is together.

Jaden and Jill were just shy of their height limit, so Mike rigged up some extra heigth inserts to put in their shoes. Jaden was then able to ride all the rides. He especially love the Raging Bull and was able to ride it in the morning, but not in the afternoon. They were checking more closely that time. My poor short kids. He loved that ride and was very sad that he could not ride it again. It is insane, and I don't think I will ever go on that one. Luckily Jill and I are the same page for roller coasters.

 Jill and I enjoyed the water park the most that day.

Crazy story:
Today was an exceptionally hot day in Chicago. It was 95 degrees with high humidity, so it felt like 115 degrees. I loved the water park break in the middle of the day. I made sure we were all drinking plenty of water, but all day I was not  feeling quite well. I could tell the heat was affecting me. I felt really tired also. I took a nap at the water park, and kept drinking water. Then later in the evening I started to feel worse. When Mike and Jaden went on a ride I became sick and light headed. I could not even watch Jill ride her ride. On our way out Jaden really wanted to ride the Superman ride, so I thought if I went to the car where it was cooler and could lay down I would be better. As Mike was explaining to me where the car was, I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying, and was thinking... I don't think I can even walk to the car. So I just sat down with Jill to wait... Not being able to walk to my car should have been an indicator to get help.  As we waited I became very sick and could not move. Jill would go get me some water and rub my back and say... It's OK mommy. The line and ride took forever. So an hour later when they were done with the ride I could not walk and was crying. It felt at one point that I was going to dye. I know logically I wasn't, but this heat exhaustion feeling was scary, even more than having children. Mike got the EMT and I ended up in the first aid office for an hour after closing time. I ended up getting sick on the way to the car and a little on the way home. That was awful.  So people remember from this story to drink Lemonade too and not just water to keep up your electrolytes!
I am so glad we did not have the little boys today, as I would not have been able to watch them.

Boating with the Thompson's

One of my fun friends from College lives near us in Illinois, and we were so excited to finally get together for boating. We talked about how incredible it was to be living near each other still 19 years later. Who would have thought we would still be living next to each other and hanging out with our husbands and children. I love it.

All of our kids are really good friends and it was so much fun and a beautiful day.

Tribute to Bob Thomas

Mike's Dad passed away February 12, 2011

We will truly miss him!

We will miss the Math quizes,

Playing our favorite games: Settlers and Scum,

Being updated on the cycling races,

and discussions on Mitt Romney running the world.

Bob was a man who was friendly with all and loved to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever he was... at work, cycling races, presidential caucus', and with neighbors.

We Love You Granddaddy!

This pictures was taken by the kids at our home. They kept making him laugh and then kept taking pictures. It was a fun night.

The Blizzard

It is only the first week of February and we have experienced a few adventures.

We had a blizzard last night with predicted snow of 18 + inches of snow and wind at 45 + miles per hour. They were instructing everyone to stay home.

So....Monday, the school called for me to pick up Jaden for sickness, and Mike was going to stay over night in Wisconsin to keep from driving home in the blizzard. My mind began thinking... sick kids, no husband... I better get to the store and stock up on medicene. It was an interesting sight to see ALL the people at the store buying food and getting ready. The lady in front of me in line had two packs of pepsi and gloves.... The necessities in life! I bought two weeks of food, almost normal for a trip to the store for me.  I could invision lots of snow and a house of sick kids. I would probably not be out of the house for awhile.

Bring it on. I am prepared.

When I returned from the store Tyler was feeling sick and threw up all over the floor. Huge mess! Jaden at the same time was yelling for me... Threw up. Luckily he being older it was in a bowl. So much nicer to clean up. So that night I only had four hours of sleep, as Tyler was so sick through the night. Poor guy.

Tuesday morning I went to the Library before the predicted blizzard was to begin. The snow had begun to fall. I picked out many books on tape and movies for me and the children.  My plan of action in case I became sick also.

At home again I returned a call to Mike. As I was talking to him I turned around and saw him standing there in the house. I jumped. My mind recognizing him, but wondering why he was standing there. He was on the phone right then and I thought he was at work. That freaked me out. He had decided to come home to work and not stay over night to be here during the blizzard. I liked this, especially if I became sick.

By 3 pm it was beginning to blow and become hard to see. I was just waiting for my little girl to get home from school to know we were all safe. Then bring on the storm!

It came and it was incredible! I have never seen anything like it. We watched "wind tornados" in the snow and watched the drifts pile up around us.  It was completely white out conditions and very dangerous. I never felt scared mostly due to the power never going out and we did not need to leave anywhere.
So we all cuddled up and watched movies.

Here is the outcome in the morning!

  

Our "used" snow blower was broken... Good timing. So Mike and I began to dig us out of the 3 foot snow drift in the driveway. This literally would take us hours, and Mike is sick too. All of the sudden a blessing came driving by.  A truck with a snow plow, only charging $20. The best $20 spent!

So in ten minutes we had a clear driveway and two huge piles on each side of the driveway! What a blessing!

This was the 3rd largest storm in Illinois History!

Jaden, Tyler and now Jill are sick. They are sad to miss playing in the snow. We have had movie day as they are too sick to move. I feel so bad for them. So far Tate and I are sick free. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

We have another snow day tomorrow due to the freezing cold temperatures predicted for tomorrow.

What a week. I can't wait to go play on the hills and make forts with the kids.

Mike dug a tunnel for the kids tonight out of the snow he had to dig from the side of the house. (There is a crack in the wall somewhere and our game room flooded last winter/spring when the snow melted, so now we have to shovel our grass too! Crazy!

Winter adventures!

This blog is for my few readers/friends, if any and mainly for my scrap book, so if you read all of this good job. I usually write little. I need to journal more thoughts.

Happy Winter....

Oh, one thought the kids and I were talking about... I was so grateful to know that if a weather reporter was not able to inform us of a storm, our family would still be prepared, as we have a prophet who has taught us how to be prepared and we have followed him! We have food and water and would have been ready. What a wonderul secure feeling to have a Prophet of God on the earth to lead us in these times.

Meeting an Amazing Woman!

Last year my friend recommended reading a book called

"Left to Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza.

It was her story of  how she survived the 1994 Rwandan Holocaust. She talked of coming to know God, to rely on him and how God's power protected her. She lost all of her family and friends during these three months. I thought about that year in my life. I was her age and was about to graduate from college, move to Boston, buy a car, nothing compared to her horrific year.

The book touched me greatly with her suffering, her survival and her belief in God. Would my Faith be strong enough to endure, I asked myself. It really put life in perspective and gave me a strong desire to do good and to increase my Faith in God. I know I have fallen short this year at times, and so it was awesome to renew my thoughts as...

This month my friend chose the book for book club. It has been nice to remember the miracles of God on the earth today in so many ways.

Then my friend found out that Immaculee was going to speak on Thursday an hour away. So three of my friends from book club and I were able to go hear her speak.

She is an amazing woman. To be like her would be amazing and to think what she had gone through was incredible and even unreal in my memory as my lifes has so much comfort and protection.

3 of us did not have her book, so we bought one and had her sign it. We were then  able to get a picture with her.  This is one person that I am truly blessed to have met. Listening to her really gave me a stronger desire to increase the relationship I have with God and to do much good in this world. I hope I can have that faith in my bad days, even though they do not compare to hers in the least. I am truly grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life, and to hear it played out in Immaculee's as well.

I hope all of you get the chance to read her story. It is a book that could change your life and will change your outlook on life.

Love to you all.

Merry Christmas!

May the Spirit of this Season be with you all

as we take time to reflect the significance of Christ's Birth

and the Joy God's gift brings to our lives!

We have now been in Illinois for four years. Our longest stay in a home so far... and This year was so fun. I feel so blessed... Our favorite time was our trip to Disney World. It really is one of the happiest places on earth and Magical. I could go every year. We were also able to make a quick trip to Utah with my parents coming back to Nauvoo Illinois and our home. While here my Dad helped Mike tile the backsplash in our kitchen. It looks beautiful and my dad is Awesome!

Mike and I also had the opportunity to go on a two day Pioneer Trek this summer with the youth of our church. It was a great expereince to work hard and to see the sacrifice others made for their beliefs, which I am a part of now.

Mike broke his leg this year and here's to hoping he doesn't fall again this winter. He also started a new Job at a new company in Wisconsin, and is enjoying the challenge. Look's like we will be here longer now. He loves boating and spending time with the family. His new project was installing our new projector. Family movie night will be great during this cold winter.

I- Aleath- am loving being home with the children and reading my books for book club. I did find out I am anemic, so hopefully taking iron will help with the energy level and I won't need to sleep as much. I also planted two trees and did some landscaping as we are now staying here longer. I guess you could say we are putting our roots down.

Jaden started 3rd grade and loves, loves Reading. He is on the Harry Potter series. He also really excelled at baseball this year. I hope he continues as I love watching baseball over soccer. He is a very responsible son and so fun to have around. His life pretty much consists of legos, and lego Star Wars.

Jill is in 1st grade and really loves to sing. She has been asked to sing a duet with her Dad twice in Church, and the spirit of God has been so strong. I love to hear her sing. At least she'll sing with Mike and I. She is also enjoying Jazz and ballet. She is so much fun. She has so much happiness and spunke in her she makes us laugh.

Tyler started preschool this year and likes it even though he says he doesn't want to go to school. Due to overhearing older siblings. He does not want to grow up, but can't wait to be four in a couple of weeks. He is a character, and adds a lot of smiles in our home to and many new challenges for mom.

Little man Tate just turned two and the sweet calm boy has left out the door. He really only yells 'Hey' at everyone. He is so cute though and gets away with too much really. He loves to be like the big boys and laughs alot. Some day he might talk, but I have learned in a way to enjoy this time of no talking, because they are still nice to you.

Life has also brought challenges and I have seen the Lord's help. I hope I can live up to my end of life.

I am truly grateful for perfectly wonderful family and friends that bring us so much joy.
I am thankful for Jesus Christ and the peace that comes to me and my family as we follow him.

We love you all. (To those few people that read my blog... I really love ya!)

Merry Christmas. Love the Thomas'