My baby is 5.....

So here I sit, crying like...well....a baby because my baby is going to be 5! It has just gone so fast and it gets so hard to remember--thank God for pictures--and I have A LOT of pictures--her being so little.....Anna too!!!! Wow...wasn't expecting that pouring out of tears....neither was my keyboard....

So, Happy 5th Birthday Lauren Nicole Thompson.....I look forward to many, many more years of memories with you and blessings from you! Oh...and Lauren finds out in a few hours that she is ALSO going to see Miley in concert....the secret kept since June!!!!

Lauren

My sweet baby will be 5 this week! I CAN NOT believe it! The theme on facebook this month is what we are thankful for and I have to say it carries into every aspect of life! This will be a quick update and I am hoping for a longer one later!

I am so thankful for my girl (girls but this is Lauren's week!)...what a blessing she is! She is funny, smart, loving, generous and God blessed us with her! She completes our family and what joy she brings to us daily!

Those of you that know us well, also know that Lauren is a little stinker! God teaches me lessons in each one of those stinker moments and again, I am so blessed by her!

She loves unconditionally and with everything she has! She is amazing and I learn so much from her! I am lucky enough to be the one that gets to teach her. How amazing it is not to miss those BIG moments....the joy of seeing her learn to read...the connection of 2 + 2 + 4, the teachable moments that are mine not someone else's-- where she asks questions and we seek the answers.....The pride she has in herself for doing it or getting it....seeing her learn side by side with her sister....watching her sister teach her (Anna LOVES this!)....watching her learn her Bible verses and seeing her connect God to what he has made! Yes, I am blessed beyond measure and so thankful to God for the gift of my girls.....specifically Lauren as she turns 5 this week!!!

She had a great birthday party yesterday at the Princess Parlor. She is blessed with (as we all are) some amazing, Godly friends! Thank you to all of you for taking time out of your busy lives--we are all too busy--it just shows how much you care and she so enjoyed each one of you!!! The girls had hair done, make-up, nails polished, dressed up as princesses, went on a fabulous carriage ride and danced at a ball! What a grand time they had and I hope and pray that 5 is your best year yet my little girl!!!! We love you so very much Lou-Lou!!! Be blessed baby!

October ALREADY!!!!!

I really do have good intentions of updating often....life is just way to busy to get that much computer time! Lauren is reading....she read 3 sentences to Jennifer on the phone today....a totally differnet experience for me since Anna taught herself! It is such a joy to be able to watch these milestones!!! We have a long way to go but her progress is amazing and she is like her sister in that they LOVE school and learning! (they even want to do school when we are done.....whew....I have to have a break so they read books or quiz each other!)

This year has flown by....I can't believe it is October already!!! I started reading the Bible through this year and Jan. 1 seems like just yesterday!! We are in the New Testament now.....yes, I have now read the entire Old Testament and I have to say it was an amazing experience!!! We are on Day 2 of the NT....join in even if you have read it before! Here is the blog: http://readingthebible365.wordpress.com/

Life just continues with much of the same....for Anna it is violin, Awana and dance...plus school and CC (our classic co-op)....for Lauren it is dance, speech therapy, Cubbies, school and CC. We went on a fieldtrip to a cheese farm and that was pretty cool....the girls LOVED the fresh air!!! (especially Anna!) :-) ha ha It was a very interesting and informative trip--who knew that milking cows was so high tech!!!

We have a trip to Chicago coming up and we are excited to head there....we may just freeze with the way the weather is right now though!!! It will be a busy few days but we look forward to a new adventure!!!

Healthwise, all are healthy and we thank God daily for those blessings! Anna seems to be doing great and her next scope is coming up--if all is well--we will have more time in between scopes!!! 6 months to a year is what I would love to hear!!!

Then comes November....a fun filled month...Lauren turns 5!!! She is very excited about this and her Princess party!!! They fix all the girl's hair in updos, paint nails, do makeup and dress up in the beautiful gowns they provide. Did I mention hse is very excited? Plus a carriage ride...brrr but it can't be missed! We are going to see Miley Cyrus in concert, my parents are coming in for Thanksgiving and my Grandma turns 100!!!! Whew....whilrwind month...leading to December....recitals....dance and violin....Christmas and Christmas BREAK!!!!

Happy Birthday Bug!!!

It hardly seems possible that it has been almost 7 years.....7 years of hugs, smiles, kisses and indescribable love!! We welcomed Anna Elizabeth into this world 7years ago this coming week!!!

What a heart that girl has....she loves with all she is....very emotional--like mommy--in books and movies she cries at all the sad stuff!!!

What a smart little cookie--she is an ace reader, a whiz in math and has this amazing gift to memorize anything! I am privileged to watch her learn and grow each and everyday and thank God daily that I get to be the one teaching her and sharing these milestones!!! I thank God daily for these precious girls....I treasure my time with them....it is fleeting....I just can't seem to get enough!

So, Happy birthday Anna Bug!! I hope you have a great birthday week!!!

Life in fast forward......

Well.....life is far from boring here! It seems so busy that I can't find the time to sit down and update on anything! Since the last update....we have gone to the beach, have school full blown, violin, dance, awana, co-op, play dates and birthday parties, volunteered a few places, and that was all this past week--except the beach!!! ha ha Thomas goes to co-op on the days he is off and that is a great help.....but we manage--have to right! Really, I would have it no other way!!! I love my kids and can't imagine not taking them to a single thing! Thomas has been out of town this week (his annual golf trip) and I am pooped!!!! I never really appreciate just what his presence offers me--even if I don't take advantage of it!

We have had a wild year and a few more adventures still to come! We will spend some time in the windy city next month....looking forward to that little get away. In November my parents will be in town--Thanksgiving and Grandma turns 100!!! There is one more thing to look forward to in November.....but that can't be announced just yet...soon and very soon!!! We have Anna's party this weekend--can't believe she will be 7!!! Where has the time gone....it is just nuts!!! November brings baby Lauren's 5th birthday.....wowzers!!! My baby will be f-i-v-e!!!! She is learning to read and I am having so much fun watching her get it!!! She looks forward to her daily reading lessons--even wanted to do school today!!!

As for us....Thomas is busy with work...he runs 2-3 miles daily to several times a week....oh the discipline....maybe one day! I guess I have it reading the Bible through in a year--this is day 254....thanks to Trish's blog I have stuck with it--first time ever...it isn't always easy but God is always good to give me what I need! Crazy, my whole life I have had a Bible on hand and love to read--yet have NEVER read much of it at all!!! I have been so amazed!!!!!

Well....as usual this is short and quick....most pics are on facebook but I am adding a couple on here!

Back to school

Well, week 1 is in the books. Anna is a 2nd grader and Lauren is an "unofficial" Kindergartener.....We are all ready to get back to the school routine and a more organized life--well OK--maybe that is just me! ha ha Anna and Lauren started dance last Monday and are excited to be back there. Anna has also started violin this year. She is very excited and loves her teacher....hmmmmm could it be because her name is Anna? :-)

We had a back to school picnic last night and it was TONS of fun. I met a lot of new people and saw lots of old friends! Anna and her girlfriends were all over the place....Lauren tagged along and was included as much as she wanted to be!

That is about all I have for now....off to get Ms. Leah's present!!! The girls are so excited about her party tonight!

Have a great weekend!

Quick

My...over a month since my last post.....God is good and he is taking care of Chris' family. I spoke with Jackie earlier and what an amazing woman of God....how in the world CAN anyone dare complain or worry (and have God truly in them) when all she spoke was praises to our God!!! She has experienced something so real and so devastating--not a maybe or a what if--it is a for real deal....yet she is a witness to God's love and provision through it all! God bless them all and may we be more like Him.......

Jennifer will have Baby Caroline most likely tomorrow but there is a chance it could happen tonight.....Keep them in your prayers before and after!

Good night and God bless!!!