Amazing What $15 Can Buy...

For the past several years, Romney and I have tried to make a habit of taking the kids on a date.  We are not that consistent at doing it, but we have found that those dates provide some quality one-on-one time that is nearly impossible to achieve at home.  (My dad was great at taking the time to do that with me and some of my fondest childhood memories with him are from those dates.)

Christian has been begging me to take him on a date, but for what ever reason, we have not been able to find the time to go.  So finally on Saturday morning, I told him that we were going on a date, just the two of us.  I did not really have anything planned, but he was so excited.

We started the morning at Krispy Kreme and ended our date at Boondocks Fun Center.  We rode a go-cart, played dozens of arcade games and climbed through the play land...together. Yep, even me.

It wasn't much effort on my part, but I'll tell you that I have not felt that loved in a long time.  He kept hugging me and telling me that I was the best mom in the world.

On the drive home, he told me with his cute squinty eyes, "Mom, this has been the best day of my life!"

A perfect way to spend a morning...all for $15 bucks and a few hours of my time. Turns out, that morning was just what I needed. Thank you Christian!

We got Annie!

You only have to watch that show called, "Toddler and Tiaras" on Discovery one time know that those families...namely the mothers who put their kids in those beauty pageants are slightly unstable.

I love the website's description of the show: "On any given weekend, on stages across the country, little girls and boys parade around wearing makeup, false eyelashes, spray tans and fake hair to be judged on their beauty, personality and costumes. Toddlers and Tiaras follows families on their quest for sparkly crowns, big titles, and lots of cash."

Um....sick.

I have watched portions of the show with Romney and he can barely contain his nausea.  The moms who are putting dentures in their babies' mouths and doing the jazz hands and winks from the audience are just plain scary.

So, you can imagine that given my feelings about that show, why I would have some reluctance in sharing some exciting news about Lauren.....

A local high school and community theater program are putting on a production of the musical "Annie."  They opened the auditions to several neighboring communities for the parts of the orphans including "Annie."

Well, those of you who know Lauren, know that she is incredibly animated, funny and let's be honest, entertaining.  She has always wanted to be in plays and is constantly asking me if she can be in movies, (but I only have to watch the news and see Lindsay Lohan to remind me that I am not interested in that path!!) There has never been a time when a play made sense, but when the flier for "Annie" came home in her backpack from school, I figured now is as good a time as any.

So, for the past several weeks, Annie songs have been heard around our home.  She tried out last week along with at least 90 girls.  The tryouts were intense and very competitive.  She had to sing a solo, a group song, act out a scene from the show and perform a dance on stage in front of 4 judges.

To make a long story short, she made the first cut and then after a grueling 4-hour 2nd casting call on Friday, we received a call on Saturday morning from the director that they would like to offer the leading role of "Annie" to Lauren.

What?  We got Annie??

We are all freaking out a little...(including me because the part involves 3-hour rehearsals every day except weekends until April.)  But all that said, we are thrilled.  This is an amazing opportunity for a girl who has found her passion and will now be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bloom.

Congratulations to my darling Lauren!!!

(Don't worry, you won't find me prompting winks and jazz hands from the audience!)

United

I cannot tell you the number of times I heard my parents say, "Your friends will come and go, but you will have your family forever."  This was always in an effort to help us get along and not fight--an effort to help us realize that we should try just as hard to be respectful to each other as we were to our friends.

Somehow my parents were successful.  All 8 of the siblings are good friends and this started from a very early age.  Yes, the usual fighting was there, but somehow we learned to "enjoy" each other.  What was it?  How did they help us to see friendships rather than foes?

I mention this because I really want this to be a reality in my family too.  My kids generally get along with each other, but they also generally don't.  The bickering and annoyances, the "I hates," the "she's bugging me," the "he's looking at me," the irritability, and let's be honest, the selfishness, it is driving me crazy.  At one point during the break, Christian even asked if we could drop-off one of my other kids at an orphanage.  Help.

I really want to help them see that there is power in being united.  Hopefully I will be able to help them realize that there is not a lot that can be done with a broken chain.

So, although my one word to help me focus and make the most of 2011 is "Embrace,"  I think the one word that I will use as a 2011 focus for my little family is: "United."

How funny that I am now the one saying, "Your friends will come and go, but you have your family forever."

Embrace

I am a big believer that there is power in a hug.  Sometimes when Romney gets home, I tell him that I just need his hug.  Feeling his strong arms around me for just a second completely re-energizes me and gives me the ability to refocus.  There is something so strengthening about being pulled in and embraced.

I have thought a lot about the coming year and what the future holds.  I have decided that if there is one word that will help me get the most out of whatever is in store, that word would be "Embrace."

Sometimes I find that my execution in all aspects of life is done with straight arms.  I can execute, but how often do I embrace the tasks I am given?

I want this year to be different.  I want to embrace my role as a mom.  I want my kids to feel that I am available and eager to be there for them.

I want to embrace the ages of my kids.  I am shocked how quickly their childhood is beginning to fade.  How many times did I complain when they were younger and being obnoxious and pooping and crying and whining and making messes?  My heart pangs a little as I realize that those days also represented a time when they were dependent, believing, needy and mine.  There was joy in that journey too.

I want to embrace my callings and responsibilities in my church.  So many times I find that my ability to give is also with arms out straight.  I give just enough to do my job, but without embracing those callings, I fear that I am robbing myself of the joy that comes from giving with my whole heart.

Lastly, I want to embrace the relationships in my life.  I am fortunate to have great and inspiring people who surround me.  I am determined to embrace and cherish those relationships better.

2011 Blank Canvas...Embrace Life

I need to remember that to embrace requires more...  

Here's to 2011 and the chance to start anew.

A Blank Canvas

We had a very relaxed New Year's.  We stayed home and just enjoyed each other.  We did pull out the Martinelli's and took turns talking about what was our favorite thing that happened in 2010 and also one thing that we hoped to accomplish in 2011. It was a really nice way to end a year and I hope that we make it a new family tradition.

The tree is gone, the wrappings are tossed and pretty much all remnants of the holidays are gone.  I love the decorations for the holidays, but I have to confess that I LOVE putting it all away.  (I think that my mom is a little concerned that one of these years I won't even wait for Christmas Day to put it all away.) 

I love the cleanliness and the emptiness of my space.  There is something so invigorating to me about having a clean slate.  It seem so appropriate to start a new year with a blank canvas.

2011

A decade has passed--a significant decade in my life.  It kind of overwhelms me to think what this next decade will bring:  teenagers, Jr.High, teen love, kids driving, kids attending and graduating from high school, Thomas serving a mission, two kids in college, turning 40, etc. (I think that means that I will officially be a grown-up?)

I have been thinking a lot about my life and the direction I want to go this year as well as what I want to do with the next ten.

I love the freshness of starting over and the excitement of filling my blank canvas.  I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Happy New Year's!

Christmas 2010

Christmas was perfect.  We had my parents and my sister Kara and brother Christian here for Christmas Eve day.

After my parents arrived, they surprised us with some T-shirts for everyone.  Starting as a child, my dad constantly talked to us about the importance of having specific family values.  At one point, he had a family flag made up with the ten stars that represent not only each member of our family, but also the ten values that we had selected.  This Christmas he had Thompson family T-shirts made up for everyone and a laminated card with each of the family values we had selected over the years.  It was a great present and a fun memory.

Here are more highlights of Christmas Eve. Romney and Christian took the kids to an amazing swimming pool at our local recreation center.  The day was also filled with Christmas music, shopping with my dad and sister, baking with my mom and Kara and lastly, eating a yummy meal. 

For as long as I can remember, elves named Jingle & Jangle show up on Christmas Eve with new jammies for everyone.  It is a really fun tradition and is always a highlight of the season for me.

Santa had white flannel nightgowns made for the girls.  They absolutely loved them.  Sophie said she felt like a Christmas angel.  Much to their delight, they found out the next morning that Santa had some made up for their dolls as well.  It was great.

Time for Bed!!

The kids were in bed by 11:00 and miracle of miracles...Romney and I were in bed by midnight.  (This has NEVER happened).

We told the kids that when they woke up on Christmas morning, they would have to yell to us to come and get them.  We have a "No Peeking" policy and we told them to stay in their rooms until we came.  They agreed.  Well to our surprise, they started yelling for us at 3:00 AM...yep 3:00!!  We somehow convinced them that Santa had not even come and they slept until 7:30.  It was a magical morning and we spent the day surrounded by wrapping paper and smiling kids.  It was perfect!

The excess can sometimes take away from the sacredness of Christmas Day, but being surrounded by my loved ones giving special gifts to each other certainly helps to keep things in perspective.  I feel blessed.

Scrooge

My mom loves old movies.  She loved to watch them with us, always certain that we would feel the magic for the classics.  Thanks to her, I have seen dozens of old movies. 

When Albert Finney stared in the 1970 movie Scrooge, it was instantly added to my mom's list of all time favorite Christmas movies.

I watched it yesterday with my kids and laughed as I found myself playing the role of my mom.  It is a great show and although it can be a little slow at times, it is endearing and well-worth it.

One of my favorite lines of the movie is the morning Scrooge wakes up and realizes that he has been given a second chance to change his ways.  He says:

I will start anew
I will make amends 
and I will make quite certain 
that the story ends on a note of hope 
on a strong amen 
and I'll thank the world and remember 
when I was able to begin again! 

Thank you Charles Dickens for a life-changing story and thank you mom for introducing me to old and wonderful things!