4th of July with Pop-Its

Kandyce, Clay, Liam and Myka came over on the 2nd (my birthday) to say hi. They are always so good to come visit when they're in town, and I really appreciate it. I shared my cupcakes that mom & dad had given me, then we went outside for a bit.

 We sat on the swing, then I remembered that we had gotten some pop-its for my birthday celebration at work, so I grabbed them for the kids to play with. We had a lot of fun with them. Myka was the cutest. She's hasn't been one to be very warm towards me, but she was this day. She would go sit on the swing and tell me to come sit with her. She's just a doll.

Liam was a beast. He's such a cute kid. He was pretending to be a dinosaur, and spitting all over. It was pretty funny though.

I forgot that Liam doesn't like loud noises, so I think the first one I threw scared him a bit, but after that he warmed up and had fun popping them.

Here is a cute little video of them playing with the pop-its.

When we were out of pop-its, we decided to play in the sprinkler. Liam was a bit more hesitant than his sister, but Myka just went right in there and stood while the sprinkler got her soaked. It was pretty funny. Then Liam would grab my hand and pull me into the sprinkler, then say, "Stay here," while he would run away.

It was a lot of fun spending time with these two, and playing around, and hearing them actually talk to me. I can't believe how big they are getting. Myka just is more and more grown up every time I see her. I'm thinking it's time for another niece or nephew to come along.

And one last video of them playing in the water. It was lots of fun!

The Big 3-0!

It finally happened. I turned the big 3-0. It was just as awful as I expected it to be. Just another year older, and not much to show for it.

Just kidding, but it was a good day. Greg surprised me by redoing our kitchen floor. Goodbye ugly carpet, hello beautiful floor. I was a bit nervous about it, but he did a good job. I love it.

This is what the floor looked like under the beautiful carpet.

The final product.

Doesn't it look so great? I love it.

This is what I walked into at work. We loved us some good parties and decorating.

We continue to have fun with them, even weeks later.

The giraffe/elephant combo won the "chicken war". We're totally mature.

Since it was the Friday before the 4th, and we got beautiful sparkly crowns and necklaces. It was a good day for sure.

My actual birthday was good too. Mom and Dad stopped by with some rugs for my kitchen, and some cupcakes. It was good to see them.

Then Kandyce, Clay and the kids stopped by where we had loads of fun, which I'll post about later.

Greg spoiled me rotten, like usual, and I'm excited to see what this year brings.

Some Randoms

Last month I started seeing a Chiropractor, which, I will not get into on this page, mostly because there isn't much to tell.Anywho, driving from work to the Chiropractor allows me to drive past the temple. I forget how beautiful it is up close. How often we take for granted the fact that it is literally 5 minutes away.

Because, let's face it, I was a cute kid, and this was one of the rare times Brady and I got along. Haha!

At work, we had a LEGO day, where kids came and played with LEGOs. This day was also the day that our Area Manager and his boss came to discuss the "new" MSR program. I spent a good amount of time in there talking to them, and asking them various questions. It has been just a really rough year and a half. In some ways it has gotten better, and in other ways, it hasn't. I love it there, and I love what I do, but if this is going to be a career for me, it needs to be somewhere that I feel like I am appreciated and if I were to ever try to leave, they would fight to keep me there. Once upon a time it felt that way, but not so much anymore. It was really good to spend some time with Mike & Kevin though.

Anyway, back to the LEGOs...we had a few left over, so I grabbed one. I was a total jerk though, and only grabbed one for myself. Chandler was a bit mad, so when I went to lunch, he stole my LEGOs and started building them himself. I suppose I could have been a bit more upset with him, but I deserved it. This is his, "This is so stupid" look. Grateful to have such a fun co-worker/station neighbor.

Oh, just looking for flooring to replace our carpeted kitchen. I had my doubts as to whether he'd actually do it or not.

Greg and I were asked to babysit one night for some members in our ward. Normally, I would make excuses to not, but since the lady is one of the sisters I'm assigned to visit teach, and I haven't been in a while, I couldn't say no. Plus, it was so they could go to a church meeting. They have 3 kids, and the two girls were so cute. The oldest has a disability, so the mom wrote out a schedule to follow, which was nice. The youngest, who is probably 2, just clung to me. It was nice to feel loved. I even was able to hold her pretty much the entire night. Then, when we were watching a movie, the two little girls wanted to sit on my lap and cuddle. It was great. Greg was awesome to go with me, even though I knew he really did not want to. Grateful that he came.

 

Summer Work Party 2016

I have gone to the work party for the last few years, and it's always been somewhat fun, mostly because I was with my Logan co-workers. This year they were going to "Finding Dory" with dinner afterward. I didn't sign up to go, because it just didn't appeal to me. A few weeks prior to the event, I was talking with my co-worker Chandler about it. I told him I wasn't going to go, then he said that I could be his plus-one if I wanted. I figured, what the heck, plus, in years prior they have drawings, where I have earned some money. Can't say no to that.

The Saturday morning of, I was working with Kriss, when we both got this text from Chandler about where the movie was being watched.

Kriss and I both responded at the same time with, "Trashy is the new Classy." Did I mention that we were both wearing the same color tops? Yeah, awkward!

Chandler had already gone down to SLC, (hashtag worst date ever!), so I rode down with Kriss and our other co-worker Shannon. (It's important that I also mention that Steve was in the Caribbean on a cruise.)

We get there and get our tickets, and say hi to some of our other work peeps. Caleb was there with his wife, so I chatted with him for a bit. Seriously miss that kid. Chandler finally showed up so we went into the theater. I was quite shocked at how full it was, granted everyone had their 50 kids with them, so it filled up fast.

Chandler and I enjoyed making our own commentary throughout the previews. Then were a bit more quiet once the movie started. It was a really cute movie, but holy cow it dragged on FOREVER! There were bout 7 different times they could have ended it. I nearly shouted, "Just die already!" (Seinfield reference). Chandler called me heartless, but good heavens. It was really long. (Netflix and TV series have ruined me! 45 minutes is long enough.)

It was really cute though.

After the movie we headed upstairs where we enjoyed some catered Cafe Rio. We sat in the very corner to avoid having to associate with anyone, and so we could people watch. Our HR guys got up and introduced everyone. It's interesting being able to put faces with names and voices.

Once dinner was over, they did have a drawing, but it was for one movie package, and a bunch of Bee's tickets. Totally not worth it. But it was fun to talk with my Logan peeps and see Caleb and Britt. We also took some epic photos. (Kriss & I photo bombing this table. I was saying goodbye to Caleb (who's head is behind the flower)

 It was a good evening. It would be nice if they would do it in Logan in the future, though. The drive is not fun, but it was a night out, so I can't complain.

While I was gone, Greg texted me some photos of our Lily's. They are always so gorgeous! I love when they bloom, and love that we have a variety of colors.

More and more bloom every year. The yellow ones are the newest.

Thursday Three | 07.21.16

• I took today off. And tomorrow. And I only feel 1% guilt.
• It was an awful week, so I'm glad I took these days off.
• Greg almost made me eat 3 meals today....we had cookies instead.

Thursday Three was developed by Kristin from RUKristin. You can read more about it {here}, then play along over on Instagram and follow me @bre11414.

Family Time in Logan

The family all came down to Logan to do some temple work. The kids came over to my house while the adults were off partying.

Greg bought this silly little "decision maker" toy. You ask it a question, and then let the pendulum swing until it stops on one of the answers (definitely, maybe, try again, etc.) They played with it for a good 20 minutes before Alex decided that he had had enough waiting for cotton candy, then they all got up and went into the kitchen to see what they could find.

They finally found the cotton candy machine, and spent another good 30 minutes or so making cotton candy.

Then we went for a walk to the park around the corner from our trailer park. Alex, up front with Greg, while Aidan stayed back with me. Their personalities kill me.

They had fun playing and climbing.

For the record, I DID NOT condone this behavior. I told them to not jump and grab on while it spun around, however, once I left with Aidan, leaving Greg in charge, he let them do it....haha

This was a fun toy...until Aidan went flying off and hit his head. I do have video, but it's over on my instagram page if you want to see it. It was funny, but sad at the same time. Poor kid! He and I left early and went to get some ice for his head.

After the park, and once Greg and the other two got there, We pulled out some water guns that we had. We couldn't find our water balloons, so the guns would have to do. They of course had fun, especially when it came to squirting m. Little punks! You can see that they enjoyed getting Greg too, which was funny because he had the hose.

After water guns, their parents came and we all went to Pizza Pie Cafe.

Aidan's battle wound, with Shar's stank face in the background.

And a picture of all of us who were there. Just missing a few spouses and Kandyce's kids (who were at their Grandma Kaylene's house, because my parents didn't think we could handle 5 kids! Psh, they under estimate our abilities. Only 1/3 left with any injuries, so the odds were clearly in our favor!)

Left Side: Me, Aidan, Lilli, Kenz, Ben

Right Side: Dad, Mom, Kandyce, Brady, Ashbee, Alex

Photo Cred: Shari

It was good to see family again and we miss them all so much!

Thursday Three | 07.14.16

• I always enjoy it when people randomly ask, "Do you have an autoimmune disease?" Was it the crazy hair? The bloated stomach? The crippled hands? Or the bags under my eyes that gave it away? "You have no wrinkles."
• But really. Its awesome. Especially since she was so busy on her phone while I was working on a loan for her and her husband, and when we were done, she just blurted it out. I love it!
• It's almost the weekend people! #cantwait

Thursday Three was developed by Kristin from RUKristin. You can read more about it {here}, then play along over on Instagram and follow me @bre11414.

Family Time in Cokeville

June 10 my sister & brother-in-law picked me up in Logan to take me to Cokeville for some family time. My entire family was there, with the exception of my little brother Kennan, who is currently in Florida, and some spouses. It was a lot of fun to see everyone, and to spend some time back in Cokeville. I forget how much I really loved growing up there.

This is how I felt about my safety, being in the car with two crazy drivers....

This view never gets old.

The boys were nice enough to let me sleep in the back room, while they slept in the living room. Remember how we could sleep wherever, whenever we wanted? How nice would that be.

Oh Alex, such a beast! We had a nice pillow fight, and then he came into the gym with me where I taught him the proper way to hold your hands when playing volleyball...Wrist & hands people. Wrist & hands always! He's such a goofball.

Liam pretending this was a motorcycle. He would pretend to put a key into the ignition, start it, while making motorcycle noises then fly down the ramp. He is his father's child.

It was a beautiful, rainy day in Cokeville. Liam is enjoying licking the rain off of the rails. Gross kid.

Walking to Grandma Norene's house.

The other reason I went to Cokeville was for a volleyball tournament. While I wish I was able to play, I wasn't able to. I will also write more about this over on my other blog, but it was a great day, and I loved seeing all the support from those in our small community!

The Thompson team. Sisters, Cousins, Sisters of Sisters, and Friends of Sisters.

Sunday was a nice relaxing day. I slept in (oops! ;) and when everyone came home, I went out to the swing set with the kiddos, Liam, Myka, & Aiden. Lots of fun was had.

Kandyce on the left, and Myka on the right. Total twinners!

It was a great weekend, and always fun to spend time with the family, and especially the nieces and nephews.