The day before...

The day before Thanksgiving the turkey goes in the sink to defrost.....The bread gets sliced up and placed around the kitchen to dry out to make Margene's Homemade Stuffing... Pies are baked...and crafts begin!

Nativity

I love nativities, I collect them. I try to buy1 new one a year. After Christmas of course when it's 50-75% off! :) This is a cute easy one our ward did. The vinyl is on a 6x6 tile.

Handsome!

Jackson got glasses last week. Doesn't he look sharp!

Mini Goals

My friend Melissa from my ward told me about this. She, her sisters and mom all make mini goals for a week long and tell each other what they are so they become more accountable for their actions. When they're chit chatting or texting or on FB they'll ask the other gal how she's doing or the gal will give an update on her mini goal for the week. I thought it was a great idea. So, every Sunday I will post on my blog and FB a mini goal I want to accomplish or work on for the week. When you see me ask me how I'm doing. I want people to know so it'll make me work on it and be better at the goals I'm setting for myself.

Some of the ideas Melissa told me were:
don't eat after 7pm
reading scriptures/Ensign 30 minutes a day
exercise 6 days that week

Others I thought of are:
to blog everyday
do something extra nice for my sweetheart
meditate 30 minutes everyday
not to drink soda for the week
don't spend any money for the week

You get the idea. If you want to do it too, that would be great! Just think of little mini goals YOU want to work on!
GOOD LUCK!!

So here is my first mini goal of the week that

I am going to work on:

TO NOT EAT AFTER 7PM

First Smile...

...that I caught on camera!

We're sitting at the table on Thanksgiving day eating our yummy meal and I look over and Nathan is staring at me grinning from ear to ear. I ran and grabbed my camera and he did it again!

6 weeks old

FHE Time

It's been fun having FHE lately. It seems easier the older the boys get. They all seem to get into the stories and activities more. We went to Scout-O-Rama a few weeks ago and saw these cool wooden swords they had at one of the booths. The line was WAY too long so I took a pic of one and thought I'd incorporate it into a FHE lesson somehow.

Scott found a great story in the scriptures where we all took turns reading and answering questions about Ammon and how he became a servant to the king and watched the herd of animals and when robbers came to steal them he smote off their arms with his sword. Of course we talked more about being obedient and following the teaching of Jesus Christ. But, the boys only remember the cool swords we made. Scott had cut all the wood before the lesson and then the boys put their swords together and nailed them to stay in place.

It was a fun FHE and the boys still play with the swords. I sure have enjoyed all these boys! They are so much fun!

PF Changs...Take Two

Last weekend Gavin and I headed back to PF Chang's for the first ever children's tasting event. They are starting a new children's menu to boost more families to head on over there to eat. Now, like I said before, I LOVE PF Chang's! YUMMY! When it's a special occasion Scott and I head there, without children. So, it was nice to sample the entire children's menu and we also gave our opinions and some suggestions. My friend Tiffany and her some went also. It was fun, informative and filling!

Right off the start everyone was very nice to Gavin and myself. They interviewed us and we also spoke with the chef who created the PF Chang's children's menu! I noticed the other staff members around the building were keeping themselves busy cleaning or preparing orders for other customers. When they would walk by, they were always very courteous to me. The restaurant was clean, organized, and stocked. Ready for the lunch crowd to arrive. The Chef was knowledgeable, would take critique well and was very pleasant to talk with. The event went great. The gave each of the children a goodie bag, which was very kind and thoughtful. They also gave me this DARLING PF Chang's onesie for the baby!

I know all of you out there LOVE PF Chang's, but now you can go there with your children! They have delicious food that the children will LOVE! Rice, Noodles, Chicken, Sauteed Veggies, drinks and yummy desserts! Go to PF Chang's and tell them Lori send ya!

Not sure what you'll get with that, but do it anyways! And let me know! :)

FREE MOVIE

There is a new Redbox code available to get a FREE movie:

DLLNS26

If you are new to Redbox, there are some other codes that you can use:
DVDONME
DVDATWAG (Walgreen’s locations only)
BREAKROOM

Additional Info: These little machines are located in and outside many locations, including many convenience stores. Make sure you return it by 9pm the following night so you aren’t charged an additional night. Learn more and find a location at Redbox.com and stay up-to-date with all the latest codes.

Pumpkin Caramel Cream Cheese Pie

I am not a pie fan, but at a pie testing contest a few weeks ago this pie won second place. 3 of my boys and Scott LOVED this. Pumpkin pie is Scott's most favorite pie ever. I was going to make it for Thanksgiving, but wanted to make sure it turned out alright, so I made it early. (I am still planning on making fresh apple pie!) So here it is! I did make it without the caramel though...I just forgot to buy it at the store. And it turned out GREAT!

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup caramel syrup
2 Tablespoon butter, melted
1 (8 ounce) tub whipped topping, thawed, divided
1 (6 ounce) Graham cracker pie crust 1 cup milk
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
2 (3.4 ounce) packages JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
2 teaspoon pie spice

1. Mix cream cheese, 1 Tbsp. milk and the sugar in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Gently stir in half of the whipped topping. Spread onto bottom of crust.
2. Mix caramel with melted butter and pour about ¾ of the caramel over cream cheese mixture
3. Pour 1 cup milk into large bowl. Add pumpkin, dry pudding mixes and spices. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. (Mixture will be thick.) Spread over cream cheese layer.
4. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set. Top with remaining whipped topping and caramel just before serving. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.

Go Tigers!

After the last soccer practice Tyler's team had a little party and an awards assembly. After, the tigers all came together for one last team cheer!


GOOOOO TIGERS!!

Last Saturday was their last game. Again it's a bitter sweet for mom. I loved watching him and the other brothers play, but man will this save me a lot of time! No more rushing the boys in different directions for practice and games. But, now it's time to sign then up for something come spring. It's really a never ending circle!

Tyler was by far the best player on the team. He was regularly the high scorer. He was fun to watch, they all were. They played hard but it wasn't the world to them (yet) to win every game. They are the perfect age to watch. Tyler would regularly steal the ball at the other end of the field dribble it down and score! He would hold up his fingers with what number of goals he scored for several seconds after each point. So funny. Scott was talking about maybe playing him up a level next season. Look at the picture above this writing. He is by far the tallest kid on the team, and I think the youngest. He could easily look and play at a higher level. Hmmm...we'll see.

Great Scott!

Scott was home this morning doing some work form home, which I love because then the boys will want to play and chat with him so I can get some stuff done. Like, take a shower! I finished nursing the baby and handed him off to Scott. Brigham and Gavin were in the bath just climbing out when I was going in to take a shower. So he's holding the baby, who needs a diaper change. And there are two adorable naked little boys running around who need to get dressed. Scott asks, "how do I do this?" With a little chuckle I reply, "I don't know, how do I do this.....everyday....when you're not here?" He eventually figured it out, like most husbands do. But then it made me think about being a mom. I don't have any magical powers, even though sometimes I wish I had. I don't even think I'm a great mom. I usually don't know how I accomplished the things I do in an average day. But I am confident that most moms, if not all, feel that way. We just get it done. I don't know how, we somehow just do it! So, for all you mother's out there with youngsters or teenagers, with a baby on the way or 6 running in circles around you...I applaud you! You just get it done! And you are AWESOME!

6 Goals!

Gavin had his last soccer game on Saturday, and he did great! He made 6 goals and played almost the entire time! He usually will practice and play for about 5 minutes, then he's done. I was so proud of him! He knew after his last game they would be handing out trophy's. Maybe that gave him a little more encouragement to play longer. I loved watching him play, but honestly, I'm glad the season is completed! Mom needs a break! :)

GREAT JOB GAVIN!!! WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Super Saturday!

Our ward, FINALLY, had a Super Saturday craft night at my good friend Jori's home last Saturday. A lot of the crafts were Christmas themed and vinyl lettering, which was fun for me! Jori had tables and chairs set up outside and inside were some yummy snacks and a drink. There was a pretty good turn-out of sisters from our ward. And, it was A LOT of fun! There were crafts the sisters could sign up for, a free craft the Relief Society offered, the sisters could bring a craft (or scrap booking) they were working on, or some just came to chit chat with the ladies! :) It was a lot of fun!

FREE phots and cards!

Free Photo Gifts and Cards Open an account with seehere.com. They will credit your account for 100 4×6 prints for free. You can order 50 Free photo cards and use the promo code “newbaby” and get those for free and NO Shipping and Handling.You can order another 50 for Free by using the promocode "freebies4mom-1109" They will charge you $3.19 for the shipping and handling on this...but you can't beat that! Another code you can use for 100 free, but you pay for the shipping is "prints".

I ordered 50 4x6 Christmas cards for FREE
then I ordered 100 4x6 and paid shipping only which was $5-something
then I ordered another 50 5x7 Christmas cards and paid for just shipping which was $3 something...Check it out!!

What a Smile!

Brig's is truly the best baby anyone could ask for. He sleeps great, eats great, and is just an all around happy kid. He loves many things in his simple little life. What a great smile he has!

He loves taking a tubby time. Takes one EVERYDAY! Brigham also loves banana's, his brothers, mom and dad, his stroller and his bottle.

Here are the words he says, which are not surprisingly, his favorite things:

Dada or Dad

Mama

guys (brothers)

Ja-shon (Jackson)

Nana (banana)

Shhh (with his finger to his mouth. Always meaning Nathan)

Shhh (with finger in the air. Means Airplane)

Baba (bottle of warm milk)

side (outside to go for a walk in his stroller)

That and This

Moe (more)

Socks and Shuz (Shoes)

Moo (cows)

Trac (Tractor)

ball

Hmm...he says a few other that I can't think of right now.....Darn it!

moms bed

My most favorite place in the entire house is my bedroom! Especially my bed! I LOVE it! I have 6 pillows, a huge down quilt and I snuggle in and sleep great! I didn't realize how large my bed looks until a teeny tiny baby is sleeping on it! He usually sleeps in his bassinet or papasan chair, but I was cleaning and had moved those items. That was the first time he slept on his belly, and he slept good. I had to wake him up because he was sleeping so long! He's wrapped up snug-a-bug in a snugly and a passy. What more could he ask for?

Here is baby Nate awake chillin' on my bed. What a handsome love he is!

Is that a smile? Almost!

Big Brother

The brothers take turns helping mom out by holding Nathan during his short wake times. They also love to help bathe him and burp him. I love how surprised and excited they get about something Nathan does, like yawns. It's so cute to watch the big brothers start a relationship with the newest addition to the Thompson fam. Gavin just asked me this afternoon if Nathan was staying with us, in our family. YES! Of course he is!

I had just nursed baby Nathan and changed his diaper. I needed Tyler to hold him for a few minutes while I finished getting ready. A few minuted passed and I saw this:

Snug a bug with his big brother, Tyler.

How cute!