Brooke, Brooke, Brooke......

What a funny GiRl.....
She will NOT stay in her Bouncy Chair!

She scoots her way down and then usually

just plays on the floor with the toys!!

Guess I should just skip the chair and

put her straight on the floor!!!

Brooke is 5 1/2 Months!!

Holy Smokes Girl~Slow down!!

What a little BUSY BODY!!! She worked herself down and then took a quick snooze--then back to work when she woke up....

Crazy Girl...she makes me laugh!! She keeps scooting clear to the floor and never makes a peep!! The kids think it is funny how she gets out!! Looks like a perfect Ab workout---I should really try that!! :)

Tuckered out and rechargin!!!

Times have CHANGED.....

I took this picture today~March 27, 2009
Love the personality that shines through in each child!!

I took this one October 19, 2008

Crazy what happens in just FIVE MONTHS!!! Look how much they have ALL grown!!

I really am blessed to have five healthy, beautiful children!! I love them very much and feel lucky to be their MOM!!!

Mission Accomplished!!!

It ended up being a GORGEOUS day!! It was not by any means hot---but it wasn't at all cold either!! I had the kids bundled pretty good and they actually started taking their hats and gloves off.

The Zoo was PACKED--parking was unbelievable!! We had to park quite a ways a way--but no complaints here---we needed the walk!! :) Troy met us there and we had our little jaunt to the Entrance of the Zoo---there was a horrendous line to get in---but with our handy dandy Family Pass (THANK YOU LAUREL & DAVE) we walked right on passed the forever line and one into the ZOO!! VERY HANDY!!!

We got right to work and started seeing the animals!! We saw a few birds and owls--then it happened!! Ya, not even 6 minutes into our adventure--Troy got called back to work!! So we were on our own--no big deal--we are used to it!! The kids were great!! They know to stay right by me and they really were very GOOD!! Brooke was a trooper and was in my Bjorn the whole time. Emily was very GOOD and had fun in the stroller. Tyler, Brandon, and Kara are very good and always stay right next to me!!

We continued without him and really had a fun time!! We saw most of the animals--the giraffe would not come out of his house--so they had to look through the windows!! The kids really thought the Lions and Tigers were really cool--there were 3Lions!! They also liked the Leopard and the Bald Eagle. We missed the monkeys and zebra---but ya got leave some excitement for next time RIGHT!?!

The kids really loved the Giraffe Slide--that was a definite hit. The other little statues, tunnels, and slides they had fun playing on too!! Overall, we had a WONDERFUL time! We stayed for about 2 hours and then it began to get a little breezy, so we headed back to the car!! I wanted to get back to the car before it started raining and storming---it never did--YEAH!!!

We really had a fun day and the kids are definitely ready and excited to go again!! I think next time we will try to pick a day not so busy so it will be easier for the kids to see the exhibits and animals and not wait in line---they are not the most patient children!! :) We are glad we risked the weather and went---it ended up being a FUN & ADVENTUROUS day!! Definitely a Memory Builder!!!

And we are OFF to the.............

It is a little bit chilly today--but we are going to attempt the Zoo again!! We are going to meet Troy over there right now!! The kids are bundled and VERY EXCITED and we are going to try to have a little FUN for SPRING BREAK!! The good thing is we have a ZOO pass---so even if we just stay a little bit---we can go back again real SOON!!

TOOTLES!!!!

An ABSOLUTE Hit.....

I rented the movie BOLT for the kids last night and they LOVED LOVED LOVED it!! They have watched it three times so far!! Our kids are not super movie fanatics--but this one was a keeper!! They seem to really like it!! They are now watching it one more time before we start our activities for the day and I have to return it!!!! I have to say--it is nice when they will actually sit down and watch something for more than 30 minutes!! It has even caught Emily's eye once and awhile and she will hold still for a few minutes!!

Simple Question of the Day.......

Silly gIrLs......

The three big kids had another movie party last night in their room so the door was shut and we didn't hear from them for 2 HOURS--I can really get used to that!! :) They are sooo good--they actually sit there and watch it!! VERY FUNNY I think!!

Brooke and Emily of course are not invited to their little shin dig---so they had their own little play time together!! I got Emily undressed and went to get her pajamas!! This girl LOVES to be naked---goofy kid!! She snuck back into the boys' room and got Brandon's slippers and pranced around in them most of the night!!

Emily thought she was the coolest kid around wearing these goofy slippers!!

Emily just carried her jammies around---she did NOT want to put them on!!

Emily is such a funny girl and has SOOOOO many funny expressions that I LOVE to try and capture!! She definitely speaks through her eyes--which is good at this point, because we can't understand what she says using her words most of the time!!

She then decided to go and bug Brooke!! She loves Brooke now--much more than she did at the beginning!! She loves to give Brooke kisses!!

I love Brooke's expression here---it was dark in the room--so my flash kept going off and it was really annoying Brooke!! Not only would she not look at me, but she made this funny epxression!!!

Got it!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!! Love her cute smile, her bright eyes, and her cute chubby cheeks!! Ya she was in between clothes and jammies so she was naked too!! Oh well!! Still a pretty dang cute baby that I LOVE to PIECES!!

Luckiest GIRL ever....

I just have to say that I am the LUCKIEST girl ever----no not because my freezer is TOTALLY CLEANED and DEFROSTED----its because my Mom stayed and helped me!! HOW AWESOME is that?!?!

It really didn't take us super LONG---but it was soooo nice having Mom's help---THANKS MOM---you are the BEST!!! She helped me take everything out and she also was a huge help refereeing my FIVE great helpers!!


BEFORE our little project began....

Look at that FROST.....

All emptied out and ready to start defrosting it!!

Look at my GREAT help---THANKS Grandma---you really are a LIFESAVER!!!

The kids had a great time rearranging all of the frozen piles of food!! OH FUN TIMES!

Brandon and Tyler had a blast riding their bikes and scooters around the nice piles---great obstacle course!!

Patient little Brooke playing inside while we are all outside working on the Freezer!

The wet gloves drying on the counter....that frozen food is dang COLD!!

Ta Da!!! Sparkley CLEAN and NO FROST!!!

Tyler entertained Kara and Emily in the wagon most of the time and Brandon went in and out checking on Brooke!! What GOOD kids!!

Totally finished product!! Food back in and organized!! It was great to get to take an inventory so I know what I have now!!

Brooke of course LOVED the attention she got from Grandma snuggling her!!

Funny Brooke----she's sooo stinkin CUTE!!

She of course has the Thompson Pout!!

Mr. Brandon, the FIREFIGHTER!!

Crazy, Goofy kids--they were GREAT Help--but not as Good as Grandma!! THANKS AGAIN MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!

Tyler's Spelling 'B'........

Tyler participated in his School Spelling 'B' last week!! He did a GREAT job!! There were 20 points possible for a kindergartner and he got them all!! Way to GO, Tyler!! We are VERY PROUD of you!! We love you Buddy!!

Tyler's written test!!!

What a CUTE Boy!!!

Peek a BOO!!!

This is how Brooke woke up this morning!! The kids thought it was hilarious that she poked her foot through!! What a silly girl!!

Looks pretty comfy!!

Cute little PIGGIES!!

Sleepy Heads...

Here are a few random pictures of some sleepy kids!! These were taken during naps of kids that did NOT need a nap because they were NOT tired!!

Tyler, of course is WAY WAY WAY too OLD to take naps---he stayed up and watched a movie!! Silly boy!!

Kara did NOT need a nap--as you can see---she was NOT tired!!

Instead of a nap---she stayed up and watched a movie--pretty intense movie obviously!

Brandon is WAAAY to BIG for naps!!

We needed Brandon awake and Brooke couldn't even get it done----he was out COLD!!

I LOVE how Brooke is looking straight at him!!

Emily joined in trying to wake Brandon up!!

Brooke taking a snooze on the couch---with her eyes partially opened!! Silly Girl!!

Brooke waiting for church to start!!

Such a CUTE girl--simply EXHAUSTED!!!!

Couldn't get much BETTER!!

The other night, Troy wanted to watch a movie and it did not match what the kids wanted to watch!! (Imagine that!!) We have one TV, so that caused a problem--Troy happily solved the dilema!! He set up his laptop in their room and let them have their own little 'Movie Party'--you would have thought they were at the movie theater!! Tyler, Brandon, and Kara were oh soooo EXCITED (and so was Troy)!! It was funny!! The kids got their jammies on and we put blankets and pillows down and put the movie in!! Of course there was popcorn--ya can't have a movie without POPCORN!! The lights were out and we didn't hear from the kids until the 2 hour movie was OVER!! WONDERFUL!!!!! The kids were happy and so was Troy!!

Tyler and Brandon were GLUED to it!! They couldn't even wait for Kara to get out of the bath tub--they started it without her!!

Kara joined in on the FUN!!

You can't watch a movie without eating POPCORN!! They chowed down!!

They were soooo excited to be watching a movie in THEIR ROOM--by themselves!! Little did they know, their Dad was just as excited--to be watching his movie in the living room without ALL the usual background noise!!!

Brooke took a quite snooze on the poof pillow!! I love her hands!!

Emily obviously was NOT invited into the Movie Party---but she still got her POPCORN!

Silly Kids had a GREAT time!!

Brooke woke up to get her jammies on for the night!! Happy as EVER!!!