Happy Birthday Evan!

My baby turned five! Evan will always be my baby :).

It's hard to believe he will be in Kindergarten this coming August. Time goes by so fast!

Evan got a fun present for his birthday. It snowed!

We didn't play in it too long because not much was on the ground yet and we had lunch with Matt at his office after shopping.

At first we planned to have his birthday party on his birthday but I had a Leadership Training Meeting and a lot of our invited guests had it as well so we moved it to Saturday. We didn't want Evan to sit at home on his birthday so we asked Papa and Grandma Thompson to watch him and Alex at Lowes Xtreme Air Sports. Michael and Julie were in town from Cedar so they also had Elai. Laura rescheduled a date so she could also go. They had a lot of fun without us!

For Evan's party we also planned to have the party at the Thompson but since it snowed (a lot), we moved it to our place. It didn't snow as much in Spanish Fork so we had parking. Our place is small for the amount of people that were coming. That's one of the downfalls living in Utah and having a birthday in November. Luckily it all worked out and we all had fun! We didn't hold back on the Pinata. It's not a party without one.

 

My mom and sister are overreacting in the pictures ;) lol.

The kids were unable to break it so we brought out the big guns and got it on video.

Evan got some great presents and was very spoiled. Here's only a few.

Evan's cake made by Laura.

He keeps asking for a Lightning McQueen cake. I might just persuade him to do something different next year.

 I love this picture of all the Thompson grand kids with their grandparents even if they're not looking at me, except for Alex :).

Thanks everyone that came!

After the party we took Evan to dinner at Denny's and then the BYU football game against Idaho. It snowed so much the day before that it was comical when we got there. We had to do some snow removal.

 We had a lot of time to kill before the game so we had some fun playing in the snow. I'm glad I picked the very top :).

 



Stringtown Nightmare Express

Amy invited us to go with her and her boys to this neighborhood train ride. Our husbands were doing scout training so it was fun having something to do together. Its out in Lindon and so much work is put into it and it's free! Can't beat that. Dressing up was an option but a fun excuse for the boys. We wanted to get there early because once it's dark, they do more to scare. I didn't want them jumping out at us :). When we got there the line wasn't horrible but it was very slow. They usually have two trains going but one of them was getting worked on. Half way through the wait they got it working again. The boys seemed to enjoy watching them working on it so it wasn't a huge deal. There was much applause when it was going again though.

As we got closer to our turn we got to watch a Disney Halloween movie in the garage. At this point the younger kids got a little antsy but it was our turn shortly after. Evan loved the ride but Alex didn't. No one jumped out at him and luckily I was able to hold him but I could tell he was scared because he would jump a little when someone came around the corner. After a while he started to cry :(. Evan was all smiles and laughed. I love that he loves Halloween. I just hope this experience didn't scar Alex for life because it was completely innocent.

 

Thompson Bunch (Bryan and Lin September 22, 2012)

Words written by Bryan Thompson
Sung with the Brady Bunch Tune

Here's the story of a lovely lady

Who was bringing up four very special kids.

All of them were fun loving, like their mother,

The youngest one especially fun to have around.

 

Here's the story, of a man named Thompson,

Who was busy with four kids of his own,

They were a very close to each other,

Yet they were all alone.

 

Till the one day when the lady met this fellow

And they knew it was much more than a hunch,

That this group would somehow form a family.

That's the way we all became the Thompson Bunch.

 

Lets go back to January when this all started.....

 Matt was in the bishopric at this time and was on a run with our Bishop. Matt thought to tell Bishop that his dad has decided he wanted to start dating again. Bishop thought of his wife's sister, Lin, who was single and wanted them to meet. It was arranged and the Bishop and his family prepared a lovely evening with dinner over looking snowfall and the Provo Temple at the Jensen's home. Matt and I were invited so we got to see it all from the very beginning.

Bryan proposed to Lin during the Thompson reunion in July.

 He privately asked her with a ring pop...

 and then asked her in front of everyone with the real thing so it could be recorded since Matt, me, our boys and Leanna couldn't be there.

If you are wondering about their attire, this reunion was a pioneer trek. They all dressed in pioneer clothing and experienced what our pioneer ancestors did as they crossed the plains.

Their marriage was was set for September 22, 2012.

It was a beautiful day. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. This wasn't planned but they ended up being sealed in the same room where Matt and I were sealed :).

Just two 1/2 weeks before their wedding, Bryan fell while moving furniture and cracked 3 ribs. That's why he has an oxygen shadow.

 They had an open house that afternoon at the Provo Library.

Before it started we had a family session done by our good family friend JaNae Lee. She did an amazing job as always! Now I get to introduce our whole family!

You should know us but for those that are new to our blog here's a little run down about us. Matt is Bryan's first son and first born. He graduated from UVU a year ago and has been working at Employer Solutions Group for 7 years and is the IT Manager. He's now in the High Council working with the Young Men. I'm a stay at home working mom. I work for my father doing payroll and accounting. I'm also a licensed Cosmetologist. Evan is our oldest who will attend kindergarten next August. He's excited! Alex is our youngest and is two, enough said!

 



This is Jessica, her husband Jaron and sweet daughter Addie. I now have a niece. Woohoo!! Jessica is Lin's first daughter and first born. She works as an RN at Utah Valley Regional in the Mother Baby Unit. Jaron works at ROI and Addie is in kindergarten.

 

This is Laura, Bryan's first daughter and second born. She works at Aroma Tools and is the traveler of the family. She will be traveling to Bali this next summer. Yes I'm jealous.

This is Kayla and Bronson. Kayla is Lin's second daughter and second born. She graduated from UVU earlier this year and accepted a teaching position at San Jaun High School where she's a drama and history teacher. Bronson is the head mechanic at Montella's in Blanding, UT.

 This is Michael, his lovely wife Julie and adorable son Elai. Michael is Bryan's 2nd son and 3rd born. They live down in Cedar City where both Michael and Julie are going to school at SUU. Elai is 16 months and the cutest thing ever when he smiles. He's even the cutest thing when he doesn't smile :). He just woke up from a nap in this picture.

  

 This is Leanna. Second daughter to Bryan and fourth born. She is currently serving in the Canada Edmonton Mission. She's been serving for 13 months but made her presence in the form of a card board cut out.

 

This is Colter. Lin's first son and third born. He returned from the England Birmingham Mission in April. He's going to school at UVU and works at Abundant Health.

This is Bridger and Randy. Bridger is Lin's second son and fourth born. They're engaged to be married in October.

Bryan and Lin. I love this picture of them. Lin has raised four amazing kids. It's been fun getting to know them. Bryan has also raised four amazing kids and I'm so lucky to be apart of this family. 

I love my boys and niece and nephew!

Can't wait for Leanna to get home!

The whole Thompson Bunch

Oldest to youngest siblings

Matt, Jessica, Laura, Kayla, Michael, Leanna, Colter and Bridger

 



Pioneer Night Fun

 

 

28th Birthday

My 28th Birthday landed on Sunday this year so we waited to get together with family and friends on the 23rd.

That didn't stop Alex from giving me a little birthday surprise after church.

Good thing he's cute

We had a yummy BBQ in our backyard and all the little kids swam while the adults talked and ate. I got a lot of birthday love and enjoyed spending time with people I love. Bryan was in charge of the camera to take pictures but we didn't take the camera off video from the one above so all we have is video of me opening presents. He thought he was taking pictures lol.

I will just put up one. Alex gave me a gift card to my favorite clothing store, Down East. Matt hid it in his hiking boot to throw me off.

 



10 Year High School Reunion

Yes, Matt and I are old and both had our 10 year High School Reunions.

For those that don't know, I grew up in San Diego, Spring Valley to be exact. I went to Monte Vista High School. Home of the Mighty Monarchs. No, we weren't the butterflies as Matt loves to call us :). We were Lions.

This is the only picture I have of my alma mater. Fun times with friends there but wasn't able to attend my reunion due to our busy schedules. I heard it was fun. I hope to be able to catch the next one.

Matt grew up in Spanish Fork and went to Spanish Fork High. Home of the Dons (snigger). Even the late President Gordon B. Hinkley wondered who came up with that mascot ;). No it was a great mascot. All of Matt's siblings are Dons and my brother Ammon.

They had theirs at the school. I don't remember who catered but it was really yummy! We were too busy having fun to remember that detail.

These are two of Matt's best friends growing up, Travis and Weston.

 Matt with other friends

 We had a little too much fun taking pictures.

Time flew these past 10 years and before we know it, our 20 year reunion will be here. 

Philmont Day 7 and 8

Thursday was our last full day at Philmont :(.
Matt woke up bright and early to go on a hike with the Perry's and Sis. Strain. They woke up at 4:00 to hike Lovers Leap to watch the Sunset. I would have loved to come but I love my sleep and I didn't want someone to have to take care of our boys when they woke up, so I got a full nights sleep :).

When I woke up, this day had to be my favorite morning.

I was worried about leaving Alex because of what happened yesterday but the head Nursery Instructor reassured me that he will be fine and they will make the best of it. They're awesome! Matt also helped by telling me that he will go get the boys from their classes before he goes to his second meeting just in case I didn't come back in time, which I didn't. This was my first activity outside the compound. I got picked from the lottery to ride horses :) We got started late due to some scouts out riding during almost half of our time there but I thought it turned out great because it didn't make us be on the horses for a long time to make myself hurt. I didn't walk funny :). I had a lot of fun on my horse named Dragon Fly. She was beautiful!

 It was a beautiful day too!

Here's the group of ladies I got to ride with.

 

Luckily I got back before Matt's next meeting. I just played with the boys waiting for him so we can eat lunch together. Alex had a great morning in Nursery so there was nothing to worry about.
After Lunch we took the boys back to their classes and I headed to the last meeting for the spouses. There I got my picture and a cool patch. They talked to us for a little bit and gave us instruction on another meeting that we got to attend with our spouses. During that meeting Matt and everyone else was recognized for completing Philmont Training. He got a certificate, more patches, a scarf and a fun Bolo Tie. His is of a Scottish man named Scottie. It's fun that he has that because his father went to Scotland on his mission and he has ancestors from there.
All the guys had a photo op with all their Philmont souvenirs.

After that meeting we had a final meeting with our Stake and a few other wards and had a Testimony Meeting. We all got to bare our testimonies.

Till dinner we had free time. We bought more patches and souvenirs to remember our trip. After dinner they had an Closing Ceremony where everyone had the opportunity to do a skit with their groups. Evan did a little patriotic skit. Alex would of been up there with him but he stayed with us of course.

A lady from my group made up fun lyrics to the Book of Mormon Stories tune

Matt and his group sang a beautiful song from the Hymn book. At that point it was too dark to record.
The rest of the night we got our stuff ready to head home in the early morning.

Day 8
After Breakfast we got our remaining possessions in the car and headed home. It was bittersweet for all of us. Well Matt and I really. We were excited to get home and get back to our routine but sad to leave such a fun place. Evan had too much fun and just cried as we were leaving. We hope we will be able to return again some day. We made great timing getting home. We didn't caravan like we did on the way up. We got back into town early enough to stop by our parent's place to tell them about our week, give them presents and Matt's dad was able to tell us about the Thompson Reunion that we missed. Matt's dad proposed to Lin :). We're having a wedding in September!