Little RyRy turns ONE!

Can you believe this tiny baby is now a WHOLE YEAR old!? I cannot, and it's slowly breaking my heart. Ok, it really would be if he wasn't such a monster. 

This tiny baby is not even walking yet (kinda late compared to big bro who was walking like a pro at 10mo) but that doesn't stop him from getting into EVERYTHING. Just the other day, I went to the bathroom (in our master bath)-- came out, couldn't find Ryan ANYWHERE. I asked Tristan where Ryan was and he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Finally heard little monster growls, and found him in the guest bathroom...in the cupboard under the sink. He had taken everything out, and climbed in. I guess he wanted a man cave.

We kept his actual day simple and went to Ryan's favorite restaurant. Red Robin. Ordered his favorite food-- Red Robin French Fries...and then we had them sing to him and let him eat the sundae. The simplest things can be soo pleasing to a 1 year old. 

Happy Birthday baby boy! We love you sooo much!

Love, Mommy & Daddy

and even big brother :)

People {and blogs} I love

I love people who are honest, real, and open. They are my favorite kind.

I have a hard time finding these people sometimes, but when I do... they are so worth the wait! Sometimes I hate social media. I hate that sometimes life feels like a big status update, and nobody is ever really sincere or genuine. I guess that's why I've been hiding from my blog; because I'm a big chicken. I became concerned with how my life felt and less with how it looked and I just kinda wanted to hide for awhile.

 And then, there are days like today where I am just carousing Pinterest for ideas for Ryan's upcoming birthday, and I find something that helps. That might even be life-changing. We'll see. 

It is some kind of miracle when you stumble upon a blog-- from a perfect stranger no less, that really hits home with you. I found this couple's blog while on Pinterest, and I immediately felt inspired by their story. They openly admitted to needing help and guidance from family, friends and God and they were rewarded sweetly.

I wanted to share some of the post that I loved in case somebody else out there finds it inspiring the way that I did. I personally like the first 3 the best, and #3 is my all time favorite because I love to write letters and journal but I strongly encourage you to click the link and read the whole post. The hubs and I want to try a few of these out! I am so excited to start new traditions to strengthen our marriage! We'll keep you posted :)

1. Weekly Questions: For the past five years Tim and I have been asking each other the same five questions every Sunday night. These questions have made the biggest difference in how we love and serve one another throughout the week. If you're going to incorporate one of these 10 things into your marriage, we hope it's this one.

2. A Small Metal Box: After reading this story, Tim and I made a pact that each time we made love we would put a dollar in a special metal box and save it for our 50th anniversary trip to Hawaii. This has surprisingly been a great way for us to creatively pursue intimacy with one another over the years. Our only advice would be to not count the money in your box. Focus on quality, not quantity.

3. Traveling Journal: There is a journal we share that's filled with words that would make you blush. We take turns writing in it, always hiding it for the other to find in an unexpected place. It's been foundduct taped to our shower, in suitcases when traveling, even in the refrigerator behind the Cool Whip. (Pretty sure Husband was trying to tell me something). Overall, this has been a great way for us to verbally affirm and encourage one another.

This is why I love the blogging community. Putting your life on public display can be scary, especially when things aren't smooth sailing... but the thought that something that you may have struggled with, and learned from may help someone else (or even yourself) is the point of this all right? With that said, I vow to return to my blog and not hide from sharing my life and my lessons with all the people I love.

WE thank all of our family and friends for all the love and support and encouraging words and phone calls and texts and messages, and babysitting, and...anything else I'm missing...we appreciate it :) We love you all!

XOXO,

Thompson's :)

My quarter life crisis

Well friends, family, anonymous readers, ETC...

I've been slacking I know. It's not that I've fallen out of love with my blog...it's just that I needed some space to think without the whole world knowing what was going on in my life. Yeah? This happens. Don't be offended.

I suppose that I was overdue for a little unsettledness in my bones and well...we're going to call it "My quarter-life crisis". Other people might call it, "The Grass is Always Greener" syndrome.

But here's the honest/raw/real deal because that's the only way I know:

I woke up one morning and felt like my life just wasn't enough. I know those of you that know me are thinking right about now that I'm the biggest brat in the whole world. How could my life- the very life that I have worked so hard for, created, nurtured, and loved for the past 4 years just not be enough? Don't get me wrong-- this has nothing to do with my husband or kids, and everything to do with me. I'm not going to go into detail but I just felt an unsettledness within me and felt like I needed to be 24 and live and experience things outside of changing diapers and making bottles.

I can see clearly right now that I have everything that I have ever wanted-- and more and I am not in any way intending to give the impression that I am sacrificing any of this-- I am trying to find a balance. I am trying to be true to myself and find out who I really am and what I really want from this life.

So the truth is that this past month I haven't had much to blog about because I've been navigating off my GPS. Or is that I've had too much to blog about but didn't want to share any of it with the world? Either way my GPS lady was screaming, "REROUTE-REROUTE" at me over and over and I just ignored her, and finally she irritated me enough that I decided to turn it off all together. I decided to find my way on my own this time because if I'm honest with myself--- I hate having people telling me what to do. And besides, I'm really good with directions.

At this point, who knows whether or not I'll do what I know is right and just listen to the GPS lady or if I'll just continue to travel blindly, but I promise I'll let you know.

So of course I found myself here today, and I think it was mainly to share with my family and friends what I've learned..and what I've learned is that I know nothing about what I think I know. I learned I have a lot of learning and growing (up) to do. So that's what I'll be doing for awhile. I'm going to try to keep up with my blog but if I go missing for awhile, you'll know why.

I love you all and I am soooo thankful that I have had good friends and family to be able to lean on, but most of all I am thankful to have a husband who is trying his hardest to be patient with me while I find my way on my own. And for any of you that have ever had to deal with me, you know this is no easy feat.

Till Next Time :)

Playroom Ideas

I finally printed and framed our family photo- only 8 months later... but at least it got done before the kids graduated. My most recent addition to the playroom, and what inspired drastic makeover ASAP. I've just been letting this room sit, but once the photo went up... I decided we're getting this done.

This is the 2nd home I've had a bonus room in that I just can't figure out what to do with. The angles are weird, there's no door...it leads to the kitchen... it's kind of a bizarre place. And with kids, there's no point in trying to have a formal sitting area, so my first thoughts go to playroom. In the past, I've wanted it to be a "Bonus" room, meaning toys/tv/video games/big comfy couch. But with my goal of squashing tv addiction in mind, I've decided to ex that idea and create a playroom that inspires creativity, and leads the children away from the TV. I can't tell you how much I can't stand couch potatoes, and I refuse to let my boys become obsessed with video games. 

We will have imaginations in my home, and we will play outside.

^ Family Rules. 

If I chant it enough, it will happen... right?

To the right of the fireplace is a long wall where this will go: 

^ Found on Etsy. Ordering this next weekend! Can't wait for it's glorious arrival on my doorstep.

^ Don't mind floating balloon. We buy dollar store balloons on occasion because they are hours of fun...this one was given to us at the last Relief Society Activity. It was still floating, a week later.

^ Crate bookshelves found 

My next project.  This will go on the wall to the right of "couch" (that is non existent as of yet) so that we can create a comfy place to read and cuddle :)

^^ All of this will go in this area: 

Batter up!

I never would've pegged Tristan for a baseball man. From day one, people have been constantly telling me he's going to be a little football player, and I have eagerly agreed. He's short, stocky, carries his cup under his arm just like a football-- he's a natural.

But this little man has a few more skills up his sleeve. 

He got this sweet T-Ball set "from his little brother" for his birthday this year, and we finally pulled it out to play with it, and it was love at first sight! 

This first picture here is literally the first swing-- look at the excitement on his face! 

I love it. I love this kid. 

There is nothing like watching the man you love play with your children. These are the kind of things we grow up and remember about our parents...the things they taught us.

I feel incredibly lucky to have found such a great Dad in this man :)

Summertime & the livin's easy...

Okay, I decided that the kiddie pool was WELL worth the 20 bucks.

The first day, Tristan screamed his face off when I put him in the pool, while Ryan enthusiastically kept trying to crawl from his pool into the big pool.

Tristan stuck to the well known- the sand box and the water table, which is exactly how he is. You have to give him a big push in the adventurous direction and then he's all for it. With food, I sometimes literally have to shove the food in his mouth- once he gets a taste, he digs in. He's a skeptic. I don't know where he got this, but we're going to overcome it.

The 2nd day, I didn't just put Tristan's feet in... I basically threw him in, got him all wet in one go and Eric and I got in and played with him for about 2 hours while Ryan napped. Just that one day has made the 20 bucks and chasing it down the street well worth it, despite the fact that I spent my entire time trying to pick out all of the grass spears and tree particles from it.

I love these kinds of days. Lazy, relaxing summer days. Sure, with kids nothing is truly relaxing, but this is as close as it's ever gonna get. Good friends, good food, sun, entertained kids. I can't get enough.

Thanks summer for stopping by, hopefully you'll stick around awhile. Gotta soak up enough Vitamin D to last the winter months. You know how us Seattlites get in the winter ;)

Bailie & Ryan in the baby pool. Bailey was so sweet to Ryan :)

Little Ryan loving his pool.

The boys

Jessica helping the boys sort out the car sharing method.

Success!

4th of July

Yes! The 4th of July has finally come and gone and now it can officially be summer in Washington!

We had a pretty fun 4th this year- kept it simple because I had to work the day of AND the following morning at 5am. We still didn't get to blow too many things up but I foresee years of this in our future so I can be patient on this. I worked in the morning and then we headed to the Green's for a nice BBQ...although we realized when we were eating that we can't really call it a BBQ if nothing gets BBQ'ed... because we had Ribs for dinner. But they were far tastier than any BBQ so all was well. The boys played in the sun and bounced around in the bouncy house all day and nobody got hurt so it was a glorious day :)

After dinner, we headed to another BBQ event at our friends Felicia & Brian's house for some fireworks. The boys were in total awe of the fireworks! Tristan would say "WOAH.... WOAH....WOAH" after each firework and Ryan was clapping after all the pretty ones! He wouldn't even let me cover his ears. This boy is growing up too fast, I sometimes force him to cuddle with me for long amounts of time so that he knows he is going to have to stay my baby for awhile.

Tristan even did his first Sparkler-- which I was VERY surprised about. Tristan is not the toughest little kid out there and he tends to be a bit on the sensitive side, so I thought he would freak out about it but he totally loved it. This is a good sign for his future because I have every intention of getting him riding a dirtbike by age 4 so he might as well give up on being a wimpy kid.