UPDATE:

It has been a very busy couple of months -

 

Here's a quick recap!

 

 

August - All 3 boys started school - Chris (10th), Shawn (8th) and Isaac (Pre-K)

 

 (Life in an apartment - not so bad at this point)

 

September -

(Chris) - Marching Band Season - Lots of time spent on a bleacher watching the band practice, play and perform.

(Shawn) - Cross Country - I will never understand people who like to run

(Isaac) - LOVING Preschool - Spelling and Beginning to write words

 

Shared the news with family and friends that we are expecting family member number 6

 

October -

(Chris) - More marching band! 

(Shawn) - Break from Cross Country - prepping for BBall

(Isaac) - Swimming like a champ!  

      

Still living in the apartment! 

 

November -

(Chris) - Marching Band State Champs!  Pneumonia, Turned 16, got his license, started Wrestling

(Shawn) - Played Basketball

(Isaac) - Just going with the flow!

 

BIG news - We moved into our new house November 14!

BIG BIG news - We found out that Baby T is a GIRL! 

 

December - Has Flown By!

(Chris) - First long solo drive - to Elkhart - 1 trip in the ditch - all okay - parents slightly traumatized!

also - wrestling 1st place JV and is on Varsity as the position allows - in the 132 weight class

(Shawn) - Played Basketball, helped out a bunch in the new house

(Isaac) - Loving the Christmas spirit - Did the Christmas program at church

 

Chad and I - are just holding on!  It has been a busy Crazy couple of months.  Our marriage and our family survived 5 months in a 2 bedroom apartment.  We love our new house and all the space - it is very overwhelming to figure out where to put everything! 

 

Hoping to be better about blogging in 2014.  Lots of exciting things going on.... My niece should be here early January!!!  I cannot wait to be an auntie!  Baby Willow will be a little (or a lot) spoiled! 

 

Our baby girl will be here sometime around April 10th

Isaac will turn 5!

We will go to Kindergarten round up - (mixed emotions here!)

 

We have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season - My Christmas cards are late going out.... oops!  so here are a couple Christmas pictures to hold you through ~

 

Love ~

The Thomsons 



 

House progress

Just wanted to get some progress photos on here of the house

This was from a few weeks ago - Need to get back out there and take more photos.  I have lots of videos taken but very few pictures!  Yikes!

I love this view! 

Yep - House is sold!  21 days!
Now - to move to an apartment :)
 

 The boys went to see their mom.

When they get back - we will already be in the apartment.

This is the last picture of the boys at our current house.

 

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July! 

 

National Junior Honor Society

 In April, Shawn was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.

He shook hands with his principal and the superintendent of the school district.

Family Photo Op

and.... a Goofy Pic too!

 



 So Proud of Shawn!

He was focus on this goal from the beginning of Middle School.

Some students do not get inducted until 8th Grade.

 

What an acoomplishment!

More Snow Day Pics

Learning how to use the snowblower

Snow Hands!

A man with a shovel... such a turn-on!

Just shoveling away - the next pic was with Shawn's face in the snow - but too blurry :(

Love my boys!

Band Concert - Shawn - February

Snow days are made for....

I LOVE SNOW DAYS!

Especially ones where you are cleared out by around noon so you can actually enjoy them!

 

We had 2 snow days last week and got to go sledding on one of the 2 days.

 

Best Friends - since birth!
 

Me and the 2 younger boys.... Chris was getting his nose cauterized.

Do not ask me what Shawn was doing!  GoofBall!

Happy Halloween

 The boys - Chris didn't want to dress up this year.

But Chad did....

 He's a REPLACEMENT REF!  

Guessing his call was a bad one...

Replacement Ref Copy "Cat"

He'll be so sad to not get to wear "make-up" on his face!

Trick-Or-Treating at the Stough's house

The Family on Halloween.

Minnesota Weekend

Not sure who's having more fun.... Isaac or Grandpa!

 We travelled to MN for the Marching Band competition.  Before heading to the Metrodome, we stopped at the Mall of America. 

We wandered and shopped a bit, but ultimately spent most of our time at the Lego Store (see above) and the Amusement park INSIDE!

Isaac chose to ride the Merry Go Round and the Slick Track Cars.

Hi Grandma and Grandpa!

Looks like a nice quiet ride.... till you get to the turn

and then it whips you around the corner and back into place.  

 Shawn opted for the multi-level challenge course.  

I wish I had taken a shot from far away - He was up near the roof of the Mall!

 This kid has NO FEAR at all....
It was fun to watch him enjoy it!

We did go to the Marching Competition in the afternoon.  

No Cameras allowed... so no pics 

East competed at 3:00. 

Prelims ended around 5:00.  

Placed 7th in prelims.

Finals started at 7:00; East went on at 8:15. 

In between the shows, we walked to get some food.  

It was the night of the Zombie Bar Crawl. 

Isaac thought the costumes were super funny....

Thank Goodness - Since they were actually pretty creepy - Think Blood and such!

We went swimming every day, relaxed with Grandma and Grandpa, and overall had a nice (expensive) weekend out of town. 

and to top it all off.... I got pink eye on the way home. 

Super Fun!

Air Show

I can't recall if I posted these, but as I was cleaning out/looking through old photos, I found these. 

The boys always enjoy the Air Show.  This year, we didn't get to go on Saturday so our stay was a bit shorter than usual. 

 Flying the Helicopter...

 I guess Isaac thought it was an amusement park ride or a no-hands job.

 Even the big kid was in on the action.

He was apparently under attack.

 Flying the plane

 I always love pictures like this. 

The boys walking together....

 Mission Control?

 Ladies and Gentlemen - 

This is your captain speaking!

 Watching the planes in the sky.

 I guess Shawn gets scared? when I take his picture?

Big Boy Haircut

My baby boy got a big boy haircut tonight....

Sheesh - Where'd my baby go? 

We also got him a new bike this week. I will try to get some pictures tomorrow when we are outside playing. 

Til then - We keep on keeping on! 

The big boys (Chris and Shawn) head to their mom's house tomorrow.  Pray for Chad - He has a 14 hour car drive tomorrow....\

Chris will be back in 2 weeks.  Shawn will be back the middle of August. 

Happy Summer Time! 

The Middle School-er

Shawn Graduate Elementary School - 6th Grade on Tuesday Last Week

*** Back Story***

Chad has shoulder surgery on Monday so he was unable to drive to the graduation.  He was on some GOOD stuff!  Anyway, We told Shawn that we would try our best but that we might not make it.  If I couldn't get off work, then he would just have to go on without us, but we would try our very best to be there.  

He searched and searched the gym.  By the time we got there it was full, so we stood off to the side and eventually grabbed a couple extra chairs.  Shawn was unable to find us so he walked in to the gym looking very glum. 

It was priceless however, to see the smile on his face when he finally found us a short bit later. 

Made all the stress of getting there (and getting Chad there) worth it. 

Not sure who is happier he got that certificate
The teacher,
Shawn
or
US!!!

Shawn got recognized for many activities and awards

Safety Patrol

Band

Honor Roll

(to name a few)

Congratulations Shawn!