Pumpkin Patch

Our family met up with Rachael, Andrew, Emma and Macy Carlson for an afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch. We weren't too sure how it would go with our boys being much older but I figured Chris would click into caring mode and want to help Emma. Boy was I right! I failed to realize however that Shawn would also want to be with Emma. This caused the typical Thomson argument over who got to be with Emma the most! (Heaven help the baby!!!)

Chad says the pregnancy has made me more sentimental about the beautiful fall colors.

Rae and I are both expecting! She is due in February and I am due in April. However, as Rachael said... the 3rd baby shows much faster than the 1st! Anyway, we had to get a picture with the bellies so we can show our babies when they meet each other next fall. Maybe another trip to the pumpkin patch will be needed to take more pics of the babes.

This was the first time we actually got on the hayrack and rode out to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. We usually just pick on that is around the activities instead. However, aside from the cockleburrs it was much more fun to go out and pick our pumpkins straight from the vine. (Chris is grimacing because a cockleburr made it into his sock.)

Probably one of my favorite moments of the day was shortly after we arrived. Emma wanted to go down the slide so Chris hopped up into the tractor. He told Rae to hand Emma up to him and he would help her. That way Rachael could catch Emma at the bottom. It was absolutely adorable, and it made me excited for them to be big brothers. Chris will be amazing with a little one around. We will just have to work on taming Shawn's energy level a bit, especially around a baby.

I am so thankful we had the afternoon to spend with our friends. It is not often that we are all able to get together. Hopefully next fall will be easier, when/if Rachael and Andrew move back to the Omaha area. Chad and I agreed it was one of the most enjoyable days out of the last few weeks.

(***Thanks for sharing time (and your kiddos) with us Rae. Can't wait to see you all again!)

Home Safety

We had a neighbor whose home was broken/entry was forced during the night last night. The owner is an older gentleman whose wife passed away within the last year. He was pretty severely injured. The intruders first assaulted him and then took all of his expensive possessions. (We have reason to believe it was someone he knew... lots of money, expensive items, frequent female friends, recently fired housekeeper.... it could add up to a lot of potential intruders.) This gives us reason to believe that it was an isolated incident.

With that being said, it is always good to remember home safety.... so please please please take a minute to review your home safety...

Do you lock the doors?
Do you have lights near entries and exits?
Is your yard a haven (with darkness) for people to hide?

Just something to think about! I know we have revamped our family plan tonight. Better safe than sorry!!!

Baby Bump

As promised... a prego photo. I can tell you that I am not quite sure what to think of this growing belly, but it is very weird. Chad had been telling me that one day I would just wake up and have a tummy. When I woke up on Wednesday morning... there it was. I haven't gained more than about 1 or 2 pounds so it is funny how the bump just appears out of nowhere!

Needless to say, it is becoming more obvious that I am pregnant. Though I wouldn't mind it being a bit more obvious. Right now I just feel like I have been gaining weight in my belly and lower back. It will be nice to look "prego" rather than just slightly overweight.

We are at 16 weeks tomorrow.... no gender known yet.... probably around Thanksgiving. Boys heard the heartbeat two weeks ago. We go to the doc for the bloodtest that tells your chances for down's syndrome and other disabilities in a week. We will keep you all posted....

busy busy busy

Wow - It has been a long time since I last wrote...

A lot has been going on, so I guess it's only fair that I haven't posted any pics or news. We told the boys about the baby in the last post. The following weekend, my mom and dad came to visit, along with Aunt Annie. They came to watch the boys play football, but we found a little time for fun too.

Saturday night we went to the Pumpkin Patch (which Annie found out is much more than just a pumpkin patch). They have these huge trampolines coming out of the ground. Annie and I jumped with the kids. FYI - babies do not enjoy this activity so much!
We also rode the go carts. These are tricky because one person steers and the other one pedals. Annie and Chris ended up beating out Grandma and Grandpa.
A sister pic....
We rounded out that weekend with a football game. Sadly, the boys lost, but this last weekend Chad's mom came to visit. She got to see the boys play football and see them win. The boys also found/made their halloween costumes. It was nice to have Chad's mom in town since we don't have the opportunity to see her very often.
This week is conferences and next week is finals for my first master's course. Time sure is flying by. We also hope to get together with friends Andrew, Rachael and their girls Emma and Macy in a week or so. This weekend is the youth group function and also the boys last regular season game. We then move on to the tournament. Funny how busy life gets to be....

Hopefully we can post more news later. I might even post a belly pic... we will have to see. As of 15 weeks, there isn't much of a belly to take pictures of. We also won't know the gender of the baby until around Thanksgiving. We sure have a lot to be thankful for this year!