The "T" List

Things the Thompsons' are thankful for:

(to be added to over the next few days leading up to Thanksgiving 2009)

-70 degree weather at Thanksgiving

-a 2 yr old that still naps (most days)

- the feta and pesto torte that is in my freezer - yum!

-Cory's job

-the joy of sisterhood

-the safe arrival of Mom and Dad

-no major travel delays

-mom's homemade potpouri simmering on my stove

-pumpkin pecan pies - one to give away, one to keep

-Ashley's grandmother's egg-free spice cake recipe

-no wait at Hannah Jane's allergist appointment

-that Ella was not seriously hurt when she fell off of Tana on the trail ride today

-fresh oranges from the Frasiers

-Mr. James and his daughter Faye

-Winn Dixie's thawed and ready to cook turkeys

-the anticipation of Thanksgiving day

-the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade

- Cory taking over the project of preparing and cooking the turkey

- my family and being healthy

-my Lord and savior Jesus Christ

-God's grace

-a wonderful meal

-having my dad at another Thanksgiving

-help cleaning up after dinner

-my amazing husband

Hannah Jane:

-school

-family

Ella:

-horses

-my friends and family

Nana:Retirement from 33 years of school teaching! My teacher's pension! God's best gift: His Son, Jesus Christ. Our amazing children and grandchildren - The Thompson Family!

Grandy:

My amazing family, my country and freedom, our soldiers who sacrifice and fight to keep our freedoms, my work, my health and my time with my very favorite grandchildren: Ella, Hannah Jane and Maggie in Louisiana for Thanksgiving 2009, daughter Emily and son-in-law Cory.

Louisana Fall

Fall in southern Louisiana has been unlike any other I've experienced. It is the first week in November and the highs are in the 70's and the lows are in the 50's. It feels like September. It's actually really nice. Mom was in town last week while Cory was out of town. The girls and I thoroughly enjoyed having her. We were all spoiled by Nana aka "Nonny" as dubbed by Maggie. While mom was visiting we went to a pumpkin patch in St. Francisville and had a true farm experience. There were animals that the girls got to pet and we picked pumpkins from the field. We also got to feed the cows! It was quite an experience. I have never been so close to real cows in my life. We all loved it! Our Halloween weekend was so fun. Cory and I had supper club Friday night and I had gumbo for the first time. I learned that some areas of southern LA put potato salad in their gumbo. I tried it and it was quite yummy. I would love to learn to make a good gumbo before we leave LA. Then Sat. evening we went to a neighbors' house for a pre-trick or treating party. The girls and I went around the neighborhood to collect candy. I was wishing for a golf cart like many of our neighbors have. Cory stayed at our house to hand out candy. I pulled Maggie in the wagon the entire night and she dared the older girls to try to take her spot. She was so funny. I especially loved it when she would walk right up to the door and proudly announce "Here comes the clown." Hannah Jane dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and Ella was a glamorous movie star.

Locks of Love

Well! Way too much time has passed since I last blogged. I honestly didn't know this much time had passed. Wow! What a month it has been. Ella made an important decision last week. She has been growing her hair out for about a year now and decided now was the time to cut off 10 in. and donate it to Locks of Love. We are so proud of her and we think she looks pretty darn cute with her new hair-do. Sorry to take so long in posting these pictures. Hope y'all enjoy!

"Pacie Pop"

Yesterday, unbeknownst to Cory, he picked out Maggie's ideal candy. She still uses and adores her pacifier, and like any child she loves lollipops. Well, Cory ran into the convenience store yesterday to get a drink, and he picked up some ring pops for the girls. After lunch we let the girls have them. We laughed and laughed at Maggie because she turned her Ring pop into a Pacie Pop. The look on her face was one of complete contentment.

Since our last blog we have driven many miles, taken many doses of medication and worked on many pieces of make-up work. On the Tuesday before we were to leave on Thursday to go to NC for Amber and Stumpy's wedding, Ella came down with the flu - yes, the Swine flu. Cory was out of town - of course - and I was bracing myself for the worst. The doctor put us all on Tamiflu and instructed us to be sure Ella was fever free for 24 hrs before we got around other people. It wiped her out for a couple of days, but thanks to Tamiflu and the grace of God she made a quick recovery and we still managed to make it to NC just in time for us all to take part in the wedding. Hannah Jane was the flower girl, Ella helped carry the bride's train and Cory and I sang/played Colin Ray's "In This Life." Maggie, who had missed her nap, was wrangled by Nana and Grandy throughout the ceremony. We left LA a day later than planned, but as they say "all's well that ends well." The wedding was at 4pm on Saturday, August 29th. We arrived in Banner Elk around noon. The wedding was a piece of heaven up on the mountain side at Don and Linda's house. Another answered prayer - the weather held up beautifully. We were all thrilled to see the bride and groom commit to each other in marriage. We spent Sunday on Watauga Lake on a Pontoon boat with Cory's family and some of Amber's friends who were in the wedding party. The girls got to "tube" and had a blast! Maggie did not tube, but loved the water. It was a little chilly for my likings. I guess I've been spoiled by the warm south Louisiana water. We drove the entire 800 miles home on Monday to get the girls back to school on Tuesday. It was a beast of a drive and I hope we never repeat it. We were in the car for 15 1/2 hours. Owch! The girls were amazing! It was no fun at all, but Ella had already missed 4 days of school. We couldn't have her miss another day. The makeup work was grueling. I spent several afternoons last week working on homework with her for 1 1/2 hours. She had 4 makeup tests and then more tests on the current material they were covering. Today we finally finished the last piece of makeup work. I don't know who is more relieved me or Ella. Our Labor Day weekend has been a full and productive one. We spent Saturday working on the house and yard - they were both in desperate need of attention. We had a couple over with their 2 daughters for dessert Saturday night. Sunday we went to church and then went over to some friends house for dinner Sunday night. Today, Cory cleaned the cars and I re-arranged the garage so that the Pilot will actually fit in the garage! I am ecstatic about this and neither Cory nor I know exactly why. Be sure to stay tuned for pictures of the girls from the wedding. I have to mention that Jennifer Conant made the girls' dresses. She's such a good friend and so talented. They were perfect! Everyone loved them.

Every summer around this time, a day will come along and catch you by surprise. In the midst of the heat and humidity, you notice something changing. It isn't quite visible and barely palpable. The feeling is very subtle, and comes from a slight change in the sun's angle at the end of the day or something about the way the sky looks at sunset. It's a gentle reminder that the summer cannot last forever and soon will give way to autumn. Today was that day for me.

The days are getting shorter, and there's a little sadness in that moment, but anticipation as well--football, the chill in the air (or for Louisiana, temps back in the 70s), the changing of the season--and the moment passes with the awareness that another summer comes to a close.

The summer of 2009--out first in Louisiana--has been great. We had lots of fun and sweated like we've never sweated before. The girls are becoming acclimated to school and we have been here for over six months now. It feels like we live here.

We are looking forward to seeing our families next weekend at my sister's wedding, and to the onset of a warmer than usual (for us) fall season. Here's to what's left of the summer of 2009.

Maggie's latest thing is to wear a set of wings around the house. She at almost 2 1/2 loves to get dressed up just as her big sisters did at about this same age. And they - Ella and Hannah Jane - enjoy dressing her up. Interestingly enough, she is particularly drawn towards the wings. We have collected several sets over the years and she likes to have on either the butterfly wings, ladybug wings or fairy wings as often as possible these days. Also, when she gets all dressed up in a princess dress, gloves, dress-up shoes, jewelry, a tiara and wings of course she gets this look on her face. Cory and I recognize it well because it's the same look that the other 2 girls had on their faces when in full dress up mode. It's kind of this sweet little demure look that says "I know I look beautiful." It is a priceless expression. Although I didn't capture the expression, I did get a picture of her with her wings on this morning.

Well, I just put my 2nd baby on the school bus. Hannah Jane started kindergarten today. My emotions snuck up on me. I didn't realize that I would get teary, but I did. God love her, she climbed right on that bus. Then, she peered out at us from the window with a BIG grin and waved happily as they rode away. Time goes by so fast. I am reminded yet again of the brevity of life and how important it is to cherish each day and each moment. My children are my biggest joy. I thank God for them today with a heavy but full heart.

We have had such a great weekend together as a family. Ella's birthday party was on Saturday at the bowling alley in Baton Rouge. She had 6 girlfriends come. They were so funny/entertaining to watch! Maggie actually had the highest score. She had a little help from her daddy. Ella was quite miffed about this and we had to convince her that Maggie's score technically didn't count because she had help from a grown up. After this Ella was pleased because that meant that she had the highest score. She's a wee bit competitive. Wonder where she gets that?? The cake was a big hit. I found a bakery in Baton Rouge called Truly Free. They bake cakes and other goodies that are egg free, dairy free, gluten free and nut free. Ella selected a lemon cake with white icing. Hannah Jane was thrilled to join the others when it came time to cut and eat the cake. She actually got quite bored with bowling after about 15 minutes and then proceeded to ask me "Is it time for cake yet?" every few minutes for the next hour. Today we went to church and then out to eat at one of Cory's favorite places - Izzo's - home of the illegal burrito. After lunch we went downtown by the river to the the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. It was a "get in for free day." All of us enjoyed the exhibits and the girls especially enjoyed the Discovery Science room for kids. We'd like to go back and see a show in the Planetarium. Cory's re-igniting his work-out program tonight and I can hear the instructor in there spouting off directions from the TV. Maybe he'll let me put some before/after pictures on our blog when it's all said and done. I think I'll go fold some laundry and start the 3rd book in the Twilight series. Here's to getting immersed in another book!

This is my very first entry on our new family blog! Wow! I am not just thinking about writing a blog for our family, I am finally doing it, and I am doing so I think, for a few reasons.

First of all, if I'm being completely honest, it is because some of my other friends are creating blogs. I being somewhat competitive don't want to miss out on something that seems like a fun, memorable thing to do.

Secondly, I want to chronicle our sweet girls' lives and have given up on scrapbooking for now due to a serious lack of free time. I feel that blogging will allow me to record the funny and memorable things that the kids do and say when I'm able to - you know in the nooks and crannies of my day? With blogging there's no draggin' out scrapbook parafanalia and setting it all out. I used to spend hours on the layout of the pages, adding cute details only to get burned out and journal a few comments about the pictures before cleaning everything up and putting it all away. I may be wrong but I think that this blog will help me stay focused on the most important part - the journaling. I have to chuckle to myself, however, because I've already spent hours just looking at sites that offer free backgrounds, headers and blinkies as well as trying to figure out how to cut and paste pictures to the blog and deciding on which pictures to use. Not to mention all the time I spent trying to think of just the right cute, catchy name for our blog. I settled on "The Sweet T's" with Cory's help. (I must say he was only somewhat helpful for he did not share my enthusiasm in finding just the right title for our blog). Anyway, since we have 3 sweet little girls and we are from the south where sweet tea is a staple we felt this name fit appropriately.

Thirdly, we live away from our precious family in NC. I hope that this will become a place where they can go and read our daily/weekly/I hope more than monthly entires and feel more connected to us.

While on the eliptical machine last week, I was watching CMT and saw a video by Trace Adkins called "Then They Do." It's all about how we rush our kids lives' along, wishing they would grow out of the stages in which they demand so much of our time and energy and then they do. I was boo-hooing on that machine by the time the video was over. Fortunately, the lady next to me was tearing up as well. For we as moms and dads all know that the time with our children is precious and the days will fly by, but in the midst of the day to day routine, we forget this. Sometimes we wish the morning away, the evening away, the day away, the week away. I don't want to look back on this time with our girls and feel I didn't embrace all the moments as much as I should have. I'm sure you understand . . .

I dedicate this blog to Ella, Hannah Jane and Maggie - may it be an honest record of the good, bad and ugly events in the life of The Thompson Family.