The Thomasson Times: Mom, Dad and All Those Boys

2012-01-16T23:27:00.001-06:00

Yes, I know Christmas has come and gone. Frankly, I'm okay with that, but you know how I am about the Blog. It's amazing that I'm adding a post about Christmas and it's only January 16th! Plus these pictures are just too good not to share, so here we go...

First and Second Timothy decided to try their hand at decorating yummy homemade sugar cookies one afternoon in late December.

They gathered up all the necessary ingredients....

and got to work.

Intense concentration was needed.

And maybe a lick or two!

I think they turned out just about the prettiest cookies I've ever seen! Good job, Fellas!

All Aboard!!

2012-01-16T23:06:00.001-06:00

I know this post is sadly overdue, but after much deliberation within myself, I decided that this was a very definite case of "better late than never."

One afternoon this last fall, Chip and I

met Colter and Jude and Family

for a very fun afternoon riding the train!

Once on board the train, one must always present one's ticket to the conductor.

They look like train riding veterans, don't they??

To be honest, I didn't get many pictures of them during the actual train ride, because they were too busy looking out the windows!

But the ones I did manage to snap showed some pretty happy little boys!

I'm so glad they have each other to be best buddies!

Chip is 5! Etc...

2011-12-14T23:46:00.005-06:00

We recently celebrated a big milestone at our house. Actually, several milestones as three of our four boys have fall birthdays. Nick turned 16 and Tyler turned 12 in October. They are turning into such grown up fellas, and we're very proud of them. Unfortunately, grown up fellas such as they don't take too kindly to their mom snapping their picture all the time. That, you see, is the reason that I have no shots of their birthdays to share with you. One must pick one's battles, you understand. Be assured, however, that their special days were celebrated handsomely. That said, Chip is still young enough to be bossed around by his mom so I can document it on the blog.

Chip was very excited to turn five. To him, that is very big and gets him closer to being as big as Tyler. Granted, that won't ever happen, but at five, it seems like the penultimate. Chip wanted to take cupcakes to school for his party. Lots of thought went into getting the sprinkles on afore-mentioned cupcakes just right.

Perseverance pays off, though, when the finished product is picture perfect.

The platter came home completely bare and licked clean, so I judge that as a hit!

Later that evening, we enjoyed Chip's birthday cake. Blowing out the candles is always so much fun!

Happy Birthday, Chip! You just get better and better!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T17:59:00.003-06:00

I don't think there are many crafts more precious than the ever-popular Handprint Thanksgiving Turkey. Chip brought home this sweet-as-sugar picture from Sunday School.

Today is Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for! I have a fabulous husband, four of the best boys anyone could ever ask for, health, a warm home, my Nook ;o), my church and God's Grace! Have a very HAPPY Thanksgiving!

Fall Sports 2011

2011-11-24T17:06:00.005-06:00

75% of All Those Boys were busy this fall with Soccer games and Cross Country meets that kept them on their toes...literally. This was Luke's second year running Cross Country and he really enjoyed it.

Chip LOVED Soccer and wants to play year round now. He really took the idea of being on a TEAM quite seriously!

Tyler was an animal and ran Cross County AND played Soccer. Yes, he was a tired fella once in a while when the two sports collided, but he did extremely well.

We are very proud of all of our fine athletes! And now...bring on Basketball!

Fiery Flames

2011-11-21T22:20:00.001-06:00

Day 2/365- Fiery Flames

Nothing complicated or special about this photo, but I do like how the flames are so vivid while everything else is subdued. :o)

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-11-20T23:12:00.004-06:00

As most of you know, I'm not that great at Necessary Childhood Events. I'm awful at throwing birthday parties for my kids. Heck, I'm usually not even ready for their birthdays even though they come on the same day every single year and really shouldn't sneak up on me the way they seem to. I'm also really bad at loading up my kidlets and going anywhere...like to see Santa...or to a festival of some sort...or to the Pumpkin Patch. Thank goodness I hooked up with some mommies who excel at that sort of endeavor and they make me go along. I end up having the best time of my life!

We had a fabulous time at the Pumpkin Patch this year.

The weather was beautiful! Sunny and warm...just perfect!

Chip and I loaded up with Rebecca, Garrett and Wyatt

and Christie, Aliah, Annabelle and Violet for this adventure.

I know what you're thinking...Hmmm, only Chip got to go? Yes, this is correct thinking. All Those Other Boys were in school. Yes, they were annoyed that they didn't get to go, but, frankly, it's a whole heck of a lot cheaper to take just one than 4, so there. Anyway there were LOTS of fun things to do at this Pumpkin Patch...and we tried them all!

The first big thing was the Zip Line!

To be honest, I wondered if Chip would be brave enough to actually do this activity or if I would be forced to hoist myself over the fence and rescue him. I really hoped that didn't happen, because my least favorite thing to do is any sort of hoisting.

But he didn't need rescuing of any kind! He loved the Zip Line!

And of course, the overgrown tricycles are always awesome.

Next came the train ride. All of the kids really liked riding the train and did it over and over and over. :o)

Another fun thing this Pumpkin Patch had to offer was lots of wonderful slides! Whee!

Chip had a little trouble with the rolling bars on this slide. His nylon pants kept creeping up his legs!

The little boys in particular loved the corn box where they could dig to their heart's content!

After such a fun afternoon, it was time to go home and recover. I tried to get a group picture of the kids with the pumpkins, but by this time, they were all pictured out. This is the best of the bunch. They were tired...but very happy!

Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-20T10:17:00.002-06:00

Some things are worth staying up all night for! This is true of the new movie in the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Tiffany, Katie and I attended the grand premiere of Breaking Dawn well before dawn...more like midnight! I had a WONDERFUL time!

Project 365...Take 2

2011-11-17T00:28:00.004-06:00

I can't believe I'm going to try this Project 365 again. I really do believe that some good things can come from a project like this, namely better photography skills, even looking at the world around me in a fresh new way. That said, I won't reap any benefits whatsoever if I don't actually do it. So. Here is Day 1 of my New And Improved Project 365.

2011-11-16T22:45:00.002-06:00

Tyler is turning out to be quite the budding artist. He enjoys drawing a great deal and turns out beautiful things on a regular basis. Recently, he brought home these wonderful pieces: a handmade bowl and cup! I am very proud of them and have them displayed where everyone can get a good look at them. Thanks, Tyler! You're doing great!

Luke's New Ride

2011-11-16T16:33:00.002-06:00

Luke got a new ride!
Last week, he started the arduous, yet worthy, task of buying his own vehicle. We are very proud of him for being responsible enough to handle a monthly payment. He loves his truck and looks pretty darn cute driving it all over. Not that I'm biased or anything. Good job, Luke!!

2011-11-16T00:05:00.004-06:00

Okay, I said I wouldn't try to play 'catch up' here at the Blog, but I'm pretty sure there are a couple of things you really need to see. One of those things is most definitely Open House at Chip's preschool.

The evening progressed just perfectly. Chip found his cubby, and we all exclaimed over its perfection. He looked at all the things he would be playing with, and they met his approval.

He even thought a picture with his brothers would be in order.

However, by the time we were done with Open House, Chip was also done with taking pictures. Thus...

Not a very merry beam of sunshine, eh?

Told you that you needed to see that! ;o)

2011-11-15T23:44:00.004-06:00

Hello, Loyal Readers who have been waiting almost an entire calendar year to hear from us. Your wait is over, as I have been bitten by the blogging bug again. I honestly can't believe it's been as long as it has since we last visited. Every time I thought of coming back here, I would get overwhelmed at how much I would need to 'catch up on.' Finally, though, I decided that I would do the only thing possible and simply start from here. Makes sense, doesn't it? So to get us started off on the right foot, if you will, here is a nice fall picture of All Those Boys for you to enjoy!

They are all growing like weeds, as you can tell from the photo. All are busy with friends and activities...and the pride and joy of this Mommy's heart!

2010-12-11T21:24:00.002-06:00

Today I offer for your viewing pleasure an oldie but a goody. This was taken when it was so stinkin' hot outside it was hardly tolerable. You know, when it feels like you're breathing through a sponge because it's so humid? One of those day. But I've figured out a couple of things over the years. One of those things is the fact that FOUR YEAR OLDS DO NOT CARE IF THEIR MOM IS HAVING A HEATSTROKE. Not even a little bit!

So on this blistering hot day, I got a brief chuckle out of what happened to Chip's hair when he went down the slide. I only did it for a moment though...because it made me hotter.

And today I get a second chuckle from this photo because as I post this cute shot of Chip on a 100 degree day, I'm sitting in my house listening to the wind howl outside on a 15 degree evening. Why, oh why, can't we have something in the middle??

2010-12-07T22:12:00.002-06:00

Even just a few years ago, I would never have dreamed that a sight like this would thrill me as much as it does. I'm so non-athletic it's not funny. I'm actually offended by athletics, in a way. But put one of my kidlets in the action and suddenly, I'm all about it.

Funny, isn't it, how a mom's interests can change in a moment when it involves her boy?

Project 365...Day FOUR

2010-12-06T08:13:00.002-06:00

A couple of week ago, Chip hit a nice milestone in the life of a kid. He turned four. Now I know that everyone has their own personal favorite age, but mine has always been four. They're just really fun at four, to my way of thinking. They can talk well, therefore they can reason somewhat. They're potty-trained and not as dependent on naps, if at all, so they're very portable. They have a sense of humor and SUCH a personality! Four is wonderful to me.

Well, Chip is all of those things I just mentioned and even more.

This picture is special to me in a bittersweet kind of way, I guess. I'm so glad he's at this stage of life and yet realizing that my youngest kidlet is not a baby anymore is sobering.
Still, I love FOUR! :o)

The Light of the World

2010-12-06T08:01:00.002-06:00

My Project 365 photo for yesterday (hey, it was a very busy day as you shall soon learn) is a snap of the luminaries we prepared for our church's Christmas program.

It was very cold last night and, I have to admit that while the sun was shining, freezing to death while putting out little bags of sand and tealights didn't seem like such a hot idea...
no pun intended.

But when I slipped outside for just a moment once it was dark, I felt very differently. We had our sidewalks lined with glowing lights, guiding the way to the door of the church where we celebrated the Christmas season. It's not hard at all to see comparisons between these little lights and Jesus being the "Light of the world".

2010-12-05T11:48:00.004-06:00

This fall Luke decided to try Cross Country. I honestly expected him to really truly hate every single moment of it. Everything: practice, meets, everything. Does that sound negative? Well, look at it from the viewpoint of a person (me) who can barely understand the reasoning behind running a race in which you run as fast as you possibly can for a short distance. Add to that nonsense the fact that Cross Country folks run a long....long....long distance. Distances that I think should be traversed only by large, gasoline-guzzling vehicles.

So imagine my surprise and delight when he not only liked Cross Country, but LOVED Cross Country!

I found out also that I enjoyed going to the meets! There's a lesson here to be learned about broadening one's horizons, I'm sure, but I shall choose to ignore it.

He did pretty well for his first year and intends to do it again next year.

I'm just thrilled that he tried something new...and that it turned out to be such a wonderful thing for our whole family.

GO EAGLES!

2010-12-04T23:06:00.003-06:00

Well, here we are...day three of my Project 365 and it hit me at bedtime: "(GASP) You didn't post a picture!" I berated myself. I was pleased to see that it was not yet midnight, therefore not yet tomorrow!

I had a hard time picking today's photo. But I finally chose one of my favorite sky shots. I think we've had some of the most beautiful sunsets ever this fall, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if you see more pictures like this one here.

Project 365....CHECK

2010-12-02T23:51:00.006-06:00

Recently, I read on a friend's Blog that she is going to try to post one picture per day for a whole year. That's a pretty neat idea, to my way of thinking. First, I'm eager to see what she shares each day. Second, I have read about how good this sort of thing is for honing photography skills, which is always a plus. Last, I figure this is the perfect place to show things that I think are beautiful or at least important enough to photograph.

I think I'm going to be really flexible and not set many rules for myself to follow. When I get too rigid, I argue with myself and don't have time to fold the laundry, so this must be avoided at all costs.

Today's picture of a local church steeple says alot to me. The sky is cold and wintry, just like today. And it reminds me that, in this month of busy-ness and excitement, to not overlook the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

So here we go! My own personal Project 365 is underway! Stay tuned....

2010-12-02T23:21:00.005-06:00

Earlier this fall, a friend and I loaded up our boys and headed to the apple orchard. Cousin Colter even got to go along as a double treat! It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and the apples were waiting patiently.

They waited a long time.

A long time.

Maybe even a loooonnnnggg time. Maybe.

There were just so many fun things to do! We (over) fed the ducks, played on the swings, drank apple slushes, slid down the slide (repeatedly), and had FUN. Who cares if your moms drove 45 miles one way in the Big Ride with the express intention of PICKING APPLES? That'll wait.

Eventually we got to the apples! These boys are really good at picking just the right one.

We picked and picked then loaded up our tired, sticky kidlets and headed for home. It was a great day. Oh, let me tell you, those apples made the best cobblers and applesauce ever!

Faces for Radio

2010-11-30T14:51:00.001-06:00

When it's time to say MERRY CHRISTMAS, radio folks know how to do it best. ;o)

Look at my wonderful boy on the right! I'm a proud Mama indeed.

The Big 4-0

2010-11-26T15:32:00.004-06:00

Earlier this fall, a momentous occasion occurred. A certain person somehow turned an age that seems unbelievable...I'm talking about me turning 40. While I'm not at all concerned about getting older, I must admit that the number '40' seems like it must belong to someone else, not me. There can be no way that I've been alive 40 years! Why, that would mean that my life is either close to or more than HALF WAY OVER. Now, I know that's a very 'glass half empty' type of attitude, and I don't usually roll that way. It does make me stop and think about how I'm living my life though. Considering I only get one time around in this wonderful life, is this the way I want it to be? After careful thought, I decided that YES, my life is exactly the way I love it! That said, now onto the important thing: HOW DID WE CELEBRATE??

Well...it looks as though I have a very 'good' friend who made it her role to announce this special day to the world at large. Or at least the traffic on 1061. :o)

Mr. Tim and All Those Boys showered me with most excellent presents.

My favorite coffee....

Flowers......

An AWESOME bag just made for my darling camera....

And a DELICIOUS cake all decked out in black frosting.

The first 40 years of my life have been pretty darn great. I'm looking forward to the next 40 just knocking my socks off!

Fall Splendor

2010-11-25T15:50:00.004-06:00

2010-11-25T15:02:00.005-06:00

It is so hard for me to believe that nearly four months have passed since I last sat down and updated the Blog. I think that sometimes daily life gets 'in the way', doesn't it? There are so many things that have to be done and dealt with...it's amazing I'm not pencil slim! Be that as it may, today is Thanksgiving and I have so very much to be thankful for! And that's what this Blog is all about, isn't it? All the things I love so much. It seems fitting to return to the Blogging world on Thanksgiving Day. So welcome back to The Thomasson Times. Let's begin where we left off, shall we......

I believe the last time we visited was in early August. Let's kick off this reunion with Tyler's All-Star Baseball Team. That's right! Tyler was invited to play with the Red Sox this summer. He enjoyed himself very much! This level of play was very different from what he is used to, but he handled himself well.

And who could resist pants that cute??

The team had an excellent coach!!

While we're on the subject of Tyler's sports, he had a great soccer season as well. He hadn't played soccer since he was a wee little tyke, but he really wanted to play this year. Turns out, he's a natural!

He got a nice medal for finishing up a stellar season. I bet we see more of Tyler 'David Beckham' Thomasson on the soccer field!

My Little Angel...Right?

2010-08-08T16:44:00.004-05:00

The other day, I caught Tyler playing with a gold chain he'd found laying around the house. He rolled it around in his hands and twisted it and untwisted it. Pretty soon, he'd morphed it into a halo. I always knew he was a good boy, but come on!

Well, I think we all know where he got his angel genes from, right? Indeed.

On the Road Again

2010-08-06T14:41:00.003-05:00

This summer, we hit another milestone here at the Thomasson Household. Nick became a driver! Sure enough, number two son secured his driver's license. See, he's really cute and could charm just about anyone. So that mean lady at the DMV? Not a problem for this looker. Now I really truly never have to drive myself anywhere. Ah, the life!

The Great White Hunter

2010-07-30T19:58:00.003-05:00

Chip has recently discovered the pleasures of fishing. He wants to go every single evening and usually does. Our pond is great for a little boy to fish in because it is so overstocked with fish that they are practically climbing right up on the bank to get out. Each time a hook is thrown into the water, a little fish clamps onto it and is yanked from the teeming masses.

Here is Chip waiting patiently for a nibble. He is still having a bit of trouble remembering exactly what the bobber is for and what he's supposed to watch for it to do. Like, perhaps, to sink thus notifying him of the presence of a fish hankering to be caught. (Note: Yes, I notice the absolute nightmare that is the outfit Chip is wearing. Please do not fear; this is all for research and will be covered in a later post right here on the friendly Blog.)

Success!! A fish, live at that, is pulled from the murky depths!!

It is one thing to catch a fish at the end of an impersonal pole; quite another to come face to face with such a creature.

But when it's all said and done, there is nothing like showing off your proud accomplishment with your dad. Good job, Chip!

The Twilight Experience

2010-07-29T16:22:00.003-05:00

I know it seems an unlikely thing for me to admit, but here I go. I am a Twi-Mom, a Twi-Hard, Team Edward, whatever you want to call it. I dearly love the Twilight Saga. All of it, the books and movies. And Edward.

Speaking of movies, the latest installment premiered this summer. My fellow Twi-Mom Rebecca found out about a really neat deal. Turns out we could watch all three Twilight movies in one very long, very fun night! Well, we certainly couldn't pass that up, now could we? So we donned our 'Team Edward' shirts, fought crowds of women, hooked up with Edward in the lobby, then over-loaded on Twilight. ;o)

What a neat night that was! We can't wait now for the next movie. Granted, that's not coming out til fall 2011, but we Twi-Moms are nothing at all if not patient. We'll be there. Front row with a big bucket of popcorn. And Edward....lots of Edward.

2010-07-23T22:59:00.005-05:00

What a magnificent Vacation Bible School we had this year! The weather was just about right: hot, but not unbearable. We had a TON of kids. The air conditioner did a great job of keeping the building cool. I didn't run out of Coke Zero. Like I said, MAGNIFICENT!

I'm sure you'd like to see a few pictures from the week. I'm more than happy to oblige!

Here is a lovely portrait of this year's directors. Chip did a superb job and graciously allowed us to help. HAHA!

Each day we started off with some rousing tunes. Wanda and Darrell really got into the music!

Every day, Bob, Sandy and Pam taught a thought-provoking lesson for the kids.

One day, we even had a real-true-to-life cowboy come and show us some neato rope tricks! He was a big hit with everyone!

We made photo frames in crafts and gave everybody their own picture to display in said frame. Here are Tyler's and Chip's pictures. Poor Chip was pretty nervous about sitting way over THERE away from Mom, but he was a real trooper!

Here he is again with his buddy Garrett.

Luke and Nick helped out in Recreation. They had a blast!

Now you can easily see how much fun we all had. Thank you to everyone for making this the best VBS EVER!!

2010-07-22T22:57:00.002-05:00

This spring we all really enjoyed our first foray into the world of Track. Luke and Nick both participated and both did very well. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of Luke. There is no reason to look at the screen disapprovingly. I already know how bad that is. I shall stitch a scarlet letter of some sort to my bosom to show the world that I am a Bad Mother. Good enough? Good.

Let's move on then, shall we? I did get some magnificent photos of Nick! He is not only speedy, but seems extraordinarily gifted in high jump. Watching him jump is just beautiful to see. I think you'll agree!

Here we have Nick bearing down on the finish line.

These photos show him approaching the high jump bar then SPRING! lightly arching over said bar. Makes my back hurt just looking at him.

It is worth noting that he was named League Champion for High Jump! This last picture shows his winning jump.

I truly enjoyed everything the boys did this year, but I think I might very well be hooked for life on Track. GO EAGLES!

Pomp and Circumstance

2010-07-20T22:17:00.004-05:00

Nick hit a big milestone this spring. He graduated from Middle School and will now officially enter High School in the fall. We're very proud of him! He was not only an excellent student this year, but also a great athlete. (More to come on that in later posts!)

Nick was awarded several certificates: one for each sport he played, as well as one for outstanding English achievements. That's my boy! Respect that language! ;o)

Here he is with us, minus Luke who was at work. Chip is not nearly as leery as he appears. He's just concerned about when he's going to get more candy.

And here he is with Sandy and Jim. Joe came too, but slipped out before all the picture takin' got started.

Finally, I snapped him with Grandma and Grandpa.

We are all so proud of you, Nick!!!

Topeka or BUST!

2010-07-15T20:41:00.003-05:00

Just before school was out for the year, I got to go on a field trip with Tyler's fourth grade class. We went to the state Capitol in Topeka then on to the state historical museum. Our tour of the Capitol was very fast but informative. A good portion of the building is under renovation so I didn't take too many pictures.

Here we are just before our tour began.

The museum was really neat! Here's Tyler in front of some art work featuring good old Kansas wheat.

There was a hands-on area where kids could dress up in old-time clothes and 'horse around.' (Get it??)

And here we have Tyler and his friend Tristan peeking out from a tipi. Hello, Boys! It was a perfect field trip!

Muffins for Moms

2010-07-14T21:34:00.004-05:00

One of the special things about having a child in elementary school is events like Muffins for Moms. Now I'm sure you can tell just from how I typed that last sentence that I'm not terribly bowled over about Muffins for Moms. Not that I don't like muffins every bit as much as the next mom. And I'm definitely a mom, which more than qualifies me to rightfully attend Muffins for Moms. It's just the fact that Muffins for Moms is held early. Quite early. TOO early. As in like 7:20 early. I'm all in favor of being awake at 7:20, mind you, but I'm not ready to have on makeup and public-ready clothes. Nor am I ready to eat a muffin with a little 3/4 cup carton of milk, chocolate or otherwise.

That said, I wouldn't have missed this FOR THE WORLD. And this kid right here is the reason. :o)

This kid enjoyed himself too, although I think he might have still been half-asleep. I'm just guessing here, but the dazed look on his little face lends alot of weight to that idea.

Overall, Muffins for Moms was a splendid event. I can't wait til next spring to do it again!

2010-07-14T21:28:00.002-05:00

I really like this picture and wanted to share it with you! It's not often that I am given roses (hint, hint) and I'm always delighted to receive them. I usually take pictures of any flowers I get my hands on, but this one really makes me happy!

Happy Easter!! Better Late Than Never....

2010-07-14T21:11:00.003-05:00

Hello, Lonely Blog Readers. I've decided to play catch up over the next few days! Prepare for inundation of the best kind.

So I bet you've all been wondering what we did for Easter. Well, I can barely remember it myself, but I feel certain we had fun!

We went over to Sandy's house the day before and had an Easter Egg hunt! Everyone had a great time. Chip and Colter really know how to hunt down those eggs. Brightly colored eggs with candy in them don't stand a chance around these two!

Jack and Jude don't get the whole 'hunt' mentality just yet. They just look cute and that's enough.

Tyler is the pro here, of course. It comes with age.

Sunday, we went to Grandma's. Here's a great picture of Grandma and Grandpa with most of the grandkids!

It was a beautiful weekend! Whew! I'm sure we all feel better now knowing what we did for Easter. ;o)

Little Boy of Summer

2010-05-31T20:39:00.002-05:00

It has come to my attention that baseball players come in all sizes. Chip really, really likes baseball and is pretty good at it. He will gladly play catch or practice batting for as many long hours as allowed.

I really like this little video clip showing him batting with Tim.

But the real action is found in front of the batter, don't you think?

How do you think he hits so well with his eyes closed??

Another Awana Year is Over

2010-05-21T16:40:00.003-05:00

It is with equal parts of excitement and sadness that I announce the end of the official Awana year. Let's face it...we all need a break from the intensity of Awana, but Wednesdays sure do seem empty for a couple of weeks. Til a million other things fill up those two hours.

We had an awesome Award Ceremony the end of April to recognize the Clubs and Crew. Each Club presented a little something to show what sorts of things they've been doing each week.

This is Tyler's Club, T&T Boys.

In his Club, each boy recited a memory verse of his choice.

This is our amazing Trek Club. You should know that we have one of the largest Trek Clubs in the STATE. Yes, that is very cool.

In Trek, they performed a skit. Nick was cast as the 'cool guy.' Hmmm...no typecasting there.

The audience was held in rapt attention as each Club performed at their best. (Yes, Mr. Tim is out of uniform. Yes, that is a serious Awana violation, and yes, he will be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly.)

It was a wonderful program to cap off a great year! Now onto summer to relax and refresh...and prepare for another Awana year!
(Thanks to Luke for all the fabulous pictures!)

Good Job, Tyler!

2010-05-17T08:06:00.002-05:00

We recently attended Awards Night at Tyler's school. It was great to see him and all the other kids honored for working so hard and earning good grades! I loved seeing him recognized for being such an excellent student. He was on the Honor Roll for the whole year. This means he only received A's and B's.

Here he is getting his certificate and medal.

And here is our proud student! Congratulations, Tyler! We love you!

It's Good To Be Back!

2010-05-10T20:46:00.003-05:00

Hello, Loyal Readers! I'm sure you are all quite tired of reading and re-reading all of our old exciting happenings here on the Blog, so it is time to present you with new adventures to enjoy.

I took some new family pictures a while ago. I even got some really good ones of All Those Boys, shots that are 'affectionately' referred to as Foursomes by said boys...and not in a very nice tone of voice either.

So like the title says, it's good to be back!

2010-05-10T20:37:00.004-05:00

Tyler wrapped up his basketball season while the Blog was on hiatus, so you haven't had a chance to see any neat pictures. Let's take care of that straightaway.

This is what one might call Ty's official basketball portrait.

Here's Tyler himself gearing up for a free-throw.

And look! Tyler's team got second place in their tournament!! Who doesn't love medals? Congratulations, Tyler! You did GREAT!

2010-03-11T08:47:00.002-06:00

I just found this picture and got a chuckle out of it. See, we spent quite a bit of time at basketball games this season, cheering on the EAGLES! Looks to me like Chip felt very little inclination to keep his eyes glued to the riveting action taking place on the floor. He would never make it as a referee.

Nick the Future Legislator?

2010-03-09T08:04:00.003-06:00

Nick was recently chosen to serve as a Page for a local representative. We are very proud of him for receiving this honor! Mr. Tim took the day off from work to accompany the Exalted Page to the state capitol in Topeka. I sent a camera with them and, to his credit, Tim took lots of pictures documenting this momentous occasion. However, only three of them are any good. ;o) So here within lies the photographic evidence of Nick's special day as a Page.

Here's the Page ready to take on whatever errands are thrown his way. I'm thinking that if he ever wants to pursue a career in politics, this could be a great campaign shot. Just look at the sincerity on that boy's face! I'd trust him with my portion of the deficit!

Nick took a solemn oath to uphold the position of Page to the best of his ability.

And here's a lovely shot of Nick on the Capitol steps. He had a great time and did a very good job!

2010-03-03T08:40:00.003-06:00

Chip loves to sing. I'm sorry, I don't think I made that clear. Chip LOVES to sing!! He sings all the time. Barney songs, songs from Sunday school, Teletubby songs, anything. I really like this video of him singing 'Fishers of Men.' (I will make you fishers of men....if you follow me.) Granted, he's my kid so I think these sorts of things are magical and amazing, but I think most people would agree this is pretty funny...especially the high notes. ;o)

Chip's Photographic Adventure

2010-03-01T09:52:00.004-06:00

The other day, we were waiting (like as in for ETERNITY) while Luke was at the orthodontist. Chip played with everything I had packed for him in about 69 seconds, and boredom was on its merry way. Can't have that, now can we? So I dug around in my purse and pulled out a little camera. Here within lies the results.

Does it surprise anyone that I am Chip's favorite model? I like to think of myself as his muse.

Once he tired of me, he moved on to a still life.

And don't forget some macro work!

Then he set about documenting the scene.

Where would we be without a self-portrait?

This last one is my very favorite. This is a sorta-almost-not-quite-there portrait of me and the nurse. I think his work shows real promise.

2010-02-14T13:09:00.002-06:00

When Luke enrolled in 'Tech' (Not sure what that stands for...I think it's what we used to call 'Shop') at school, there was one thing I was really looking forward to. I knew that at some point during the year, he would bring home a completed project that he'd slaved over.

Now there's a funny thing about being a mom. I never imagined that when my kidlet was taller than me and (occasionally) shaving, that I would still melt over anything he did/made/presented me with. I had always thought that was something that faded away as the child grew. But guess what? It doesn't!

I knew that Luke was working diligently on an awesome night light in class, but didn't know when he would (FINALLY) bring it home. What a great day it was when the completed night light was carefully escorted home to its permanent location.

It's a beautiful piece of woodworking. Best of all is how proud this wonderful young man feels, knowing that he made it with his own two hands. I am so happy to have this project and will treasure it forever!

2010 Pioneer League Basketball Champions

2010-02-08T10:40:00.002-06:00

Nick's 8th grade basketball team was named CHAMPIONS this last Saturday in the 2010 Pioneer League Basketball Tournament. It was a looong day spent far from home, but they prevailed.

Here is the happy Champ!

And here is the awesome medal he was awarded. GO EAGLES!!

2010-02-07T19:32:00.002-06:00

A standard Christmas gift around our house is the basketball. Simple, year-round fun, and good exercise all wrapped up in a colorful sphere. Chip is quite the basketball prodigy. He dribbles all over the house...all...the...time. Believe me, that noise can get to be pretty darned annoying. But I allow it because Lord knows how we're going to pay for college; maybe he can get a scholarship and pay his own way.

This is a video I made of him handling his basketball. Only this time, I asked him to do a fancy stunt. Pretty funny!

Luke's Big Boo Boo

2010-02-07T19:21:00.003-06:00

The other day I got a phone call no mom wants to get. Yup, it was a coach telling me Luke had had an 'accident.' The rest of the call was sketchy as I began to grab my shoes and my extra phone battery so I could go pick him up. About all I heard was 'blood...lip...teeth...not sure...maybe a couple knocked out.' The last thing I wanted to hear was that some of his expensive, recently straightened teeth were no longer in his mouth! And blood?? Do you know what I paid for his basketball shoes?? Surely he'd had the sense to lean way over to avoid splashing his shoes. ;o)

Well, several hours later, he was patched up good as new. A couple teeth were loose, but they were all there at least. He got some stitches and a couple of shots to stave off any infection that had been lingering on the forehead he collided with. And, best of all, he got some serious bragging rights!

Here he is about to get stitched up. He was NOT amused at his mom whipping out a camera, of all things, to document this event. I'm teasing in this post, but I sure am glad he's okay! I love you, Luke!

2010-02-01T13:21:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we were treated to a fun visit from some aliens. Well, actually, that's kind of a misleading term. They live in Missouri, so if you want to get technical about it, they are probably officially aliens to Kansas. And how often do you get to call your relatives 'aliens' anyway? You have to seize these opportunities whenever they come, because they are rare.

At any rate, Paula and Christy came to town! It was great to see them! We finally got to exchange Christmas gifts too! Sandy and Leslie came over too. We had yummy snacks and visited all afternoon.

Here is a nice new picture of me, Sandy and Paula. I think we all look fabulous! You can hardly tell they are SO MUCH OLDER than me, can you? (Good thing I just got my Christmas presents because after that crack...there probably won't be any more presents for a good long time.) Just kidding! I love you all!

C...O...N...S...O...N...A...N...T

2010-02-01T13:14:00.003-06:00

Tyler was chosen to participate in this year's spelling bee at the school. We were just thrilled. He loves to spell and is pretty good at it. He really doesn't get too nervous about things like this, so it looked like a positive situation.

Well, no one told me that I, the mother, the spectator, was going to have serious heart palpitations and trouble breathing while waiting for him to step up to the microphone! I swear, that was MUCH harder than spelling the word myself!

When it was all said and done, he made it through three rounds, but was eliminated when he misspelled the word 'consonant.' We are all very proud of him for participating at all!

And I went home and had a very large glass of Coke Zero...on the rocks.

Merry Month Past Christmas

2010-01-30T19:59:00.004-06:00

I can't believe it, but I neglected to publish any pictures from Christmas 2009. That's just unacceptable, and I imagine you're all talking bad about me behind my back. Well, I'll put a stop to that right here and now.

The early morning pictures are dark and grainy because it's early morning and it was dark and grainy looking, of course. When else does one get early, dark and grainy pictures, after all? But I like them because you can see how sleepy Chip is, yet so excited about his presents.

Obviously, the older ones would NOT allow pictures to be taken of them in the early morn, so there is no record of them celebrating Christmas with us. Besides the large receipts, that is.

Tyler played Santa Claus for us and handed out all the presents!

Later that day, Grandma and Grandma Pa (according to Chip), Suzy, Scott and family made it over to enjoy some Christmas cheer. They only got to stay a little bit because there was a blizzard brewing outside, but it was fun nonetheless.

I can't get over how big the grandkids are getting!

The stormy, blizzardy weather kept us from celebrating with my side of the family. But never fear! We'll make up for it next year. Merry Christmas!

Sharp Shooter

2010-01-25T12:42:00.003-06:00

Tyler is playing basketball this year and is doing very well. He seems to be a natural. It's really fun to watch him streak up and down the court with his team and SWOOSH! Two more points!

Each week during half time of his games, two boys compete to see which one can shoot more free throws. They each get ten shots and the one with the most successful baskets wins.

Imagine our glee when Tyler won the free throw contest last weekend! He won a certificate for a free mini pizza. Guess what he had for dinner that night?

Good job, Tyler! We are proud of ALL of our Wellsville Eagles!

2010-01-18T22:11:00.004-06:00

I know Christmas and the holidays are far behind us now, (and I'm every bit as glad as the next guy) but I know you'll want to hear all about this. So, practically spring or not, I want to catch you up on something really neat we did last year. Each year the Awana kids hold a baked potato fundraiser. It's a big hit at our church, very highly anticipated. They do everything: chopping veggies, scrubbing potatoes, serving drinks, cleaning up. It's a well oiled machine, it is. The money raised goes to adopt 'angels' from the Angel Tree Project. This means that we split up the money raised, choose needy children and buy Christmas presents for them. It's a LOT of fun...but pretty serious too. It is probably the sweetest thing you'll ever see, these kids who have plenty, choosing ever so carefully just the right gift for a child they may never know. We make sure each kidlet has a hat and gloves, plus socks and a brand new Bible. Beyond that, the Awana kids may have a couple of 'wish list' items provided with the child's profile, then they're on their own. This is my second year to be privileged to go shopping with the group, and I was every bit as impressed this year. It was an absolutely awesome day!!

This is our entire group of shoppers. They definitely earned the right to go shopping with how hard they worked at the Potato Bake!

The kids got to choose their 'shopping buddy'. No big surprises here. :o)

Or here. :o)

Dear Leslie actually VOLUNTEERED to go with this group. She is a SAINT, agreed? I'm just teasin'...these boys were absolutely perfect.

And, of course, this group was a given, right?

We had so much fun that day! I had lots of adult helpers along who kept everything moving smoothly as well. Thanks to all of them! It was a real blessing to take part in this project once again.

2010-01-11T21:40:00.002-06:00

Chip and I are now attending Sunday School each week. It's actually Chip's class, but he's still pretty nervous about me leaving so I hang out. We have a deal. He participates in the activities, and I write thank you notes or catch up on other various and sundry paperwork. Pretty soon, The Day will come and I will leave him there. Alone. With all those little girls and tall teachers. Shiver!! I'm sure this will be accompanied by loud wails of protest, but he will see that all is well.

He really enjoys singing and coloring! Every week he is very proud to bring home papers to show everyone. It's hard to believe, but he's a big boy now!

2010-01-05T10:49:00.000-06:00

Today's picture word is 'wisp'. I had alot of assistance from Chip in getting this shot. He blew out about 75 matches so I could get the resulting wisp of smoke. He didn't mind at all. Of course, I had to sing Happy Birthday to him each and every time. I figure I'm caught up singing Happy Birthday til he's about 80. :o)

Juke Box Hero

2010-01-03T19:45:00.002-06:00

One of the favorite presents under the tree this year was Rock Band. We've had Guitar Hero for a while and all the boys enjoy it alot. This is even more fun, though, as it includes not only a guitar, but a drum set and a microphone. Then, each participant plays his best and hopes to keep up with the game.

Tyler really likes to sing. He gets into the music. Alot.

And Chip likes the drums. That may be because he can't read the words on the screen.

Or it could be, judging from the look on his face, that he's simply found his calling. Rock on.

2010-01-02T12:53:00.003-06:00

I can't believe how fast time flies. I am sure you get very weary of hearing that sentiment so often, but that doesn't change its truth.

This year brings with it yet another BIG change for our household. Like we haven't had enough changes recently. This is a good one though: Luke and Nick are both playing basketball! Their games will start next week. We all couldn't be more excited!

Here is Nick in his awesome game shirt. I'll definitely be cheering the Eagles on all season long!

Movie Night With Mom!

2010-01-02T12:46:00.002-06:00

I have ALOT of catching up to do here on the Blog. I feel so bad that you've been so in the dark about all of the terribly fun things we've been doing. Well, fear not! Because I intend to overload you with experiences not to be missed.

The other night we did something very different. Usually Dad takes the older boys out to do fun things, and I stay home with Chip and prepare delicious delicacies. But this last week, I got out of the house with 75% of All Those Boys!

We went to the MOVIES!! It was very fun and exciting! We ate way too much popcorn and enjoyed our film a great deal. Best of all though (at least to me) was spending time with the neatest boys ever!

For Your Viewing Pleasure.....

2010-01-02T12:44:00.002-06:00

I give you 'Plaid.'

Not technically a complicated shot, but very plaid.

Let's Try Something New!

2010-01-01T19:39:00.002-06:00

Last year, I took part in a Photo A Day challenge, at least for a time. I think these sorts of projects can be very good for a person who loves photography as it really forces you to 'think outside the box.' I think I'll start that up again and post my findings here on the Blog. I'm hoping this makes me more likely to keep up with it!

There are two types of PAD challenges...one has assigned words; the other is simply any photo you take. I'm going to go with the first type...at least initially.

Today's word I'm supposed to convey is 'bright.' I couldn't think of many things (at least in my house!) much brighter than this bad boy.

Tomorrow's word is plaid...what was I thinking!?

Happy Birthday, Chip!

2009-12-20T12:02:00.003-06:00

Our most recent birthday to celebrate was Chip's. He turned 3 on November 18. What a special guy!

Grandma and Grandma Pa (Chip's version of 'Grandpa') came over one evening to celebrate his birthday with us. They brought him this cool basketball goal!

As you can see, he knows what to do when a basketball is placed in his hands. (Note the basket! :o) )

I really like this picture of All Those Boys with Grandma and Grandma Pa!

Happy Birthday, Chip! Our family would most definitely NOT be complete without you!! We love you so much!

2009-12-17T11:42:00.005-06:00

Well, after months of praying and negotiating with the weatherman, Chip got his fondest wish: SNOW. You see, the only item on his birthday list was a sled. So, dutifully, I found him a wonderful sled, then settled back to wait on the magical flakes to appear. And appear they did, at least a few of them. The only problem is they arrived with terrible gale force winds and negative wind child indices. Chip was not to be deterred, however, and outside we went.

Note that sleds truly need a little more snow to perform as they should.

2009-12-08T22:34:00.002-06:00

I really like this picture of my two sisters and me. We women never want our picture taken, do we? But I'm so glad we had this taken because I will treasure it forever!

Tyler Turns Ten!

2009-12-08T20:28:00.003-06:00

This is a big year for Tyler. He is now into the double digits. He's reached the decade mark. In other words, he's now ten years old. It's unbelievable that's he's that old!

We're so proud of him! He's a very good boy with a kind heart. He's a diligent student who tries his best every day.

He wanted a pogo stick SOOO bad!! And....here it is!

He seemed to have a bouncing kinda theme going on as he also got cool MOON SHOES!

We love you, Tyler! Happy Birthday!!

2009-11-25T09:04:00.000-06:00

Isn't this a sweet picture of Chip and his cousin Colter? They were walking around the yard and I happened to snap this adorable photo. Many times I miss the good shot, but this time got lucky!

The Mysterious Case of the Five Minute Snow Storm

2009-11-24T11:03:00.002-06:00

Remember the snow we had as a kid? The kind where you walked level with the tops of fence posts? And actually had enough snow to make a big enough snowman to support a full size carrot nose? Well, it just seems like we don't get that kind of snow anymore. I really think that's a shame and wish my kids could experience a good old blizzard once or twice. Let me just say, though, that catching snowflakes on your tongue doesn't require a foot of snow. It doesn't even matter if it melts as soon as it hits the ground. There's no way around it...that snowflake tastes good! Chip found that out this month when we had a few flakes drift to the ground. What fun!!

Check out that dangerously pointed tongue. It could do some serious damage to any snowflake dumb enough to get close!

Hard Workin' Man

2009-11-23T23:29:00.003-06:00

Luke has been working at KOFO Radio since the beginning of September. He works every Friday night and some weekends, running the board for area football game broadcasts. This means that he makes sure all the commercials run at the proper time and that the sports announcer knows when to talk and when to hush up. He caught on to his new responsibilities very quickly and does a fabulous job. We are so proud of him for how hard he has worked this fall! Who knows? He may fall in love with radio and have a life-long career in the making.

Happy Birthday, Nick!!

2009-11-20T20:43:00.002-06:00

Now you all know what I'm going to say, don't you? Sure you do, just look at the title of this post. It says 'Happy Birthday, Nick!' so now I'm obligated to emote about how fast time flies and how can it be possible that he's another year older and on and on. It might be predictable but it's also maddeningly true. This year passed even faster than the last one, I believe. Be that as it may, Nick is truly a delight to have around, no matter his age. He is a wonderful kid who lights up any room he's in. (Sounds kinda like his mom, huh? ;o) Well, maybe not.) Tim and I couldn't be prouder of our 14 year old young man. Happy Birthday, Nick! We love you!

2009-11-20T17:03:00.001-06:00

I couldn't wait to share the very first ever-to-be- seen picture of Luke in his basketball jersey!

Basketball practice started this week and can best be termed 'grueling.' He's hanging in there, though, and will reap the benefit of all that work when games start soon.

We couldn't be more proud of our very own Wellsville High School EAGLE!

GO, LUKE!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T15:37:00.003-06:00

We only had two kidlets dress up for Halloween this year. We all went trick or treating, but Luke and Nick were just along for moral support. I'm sure they'll find their hands into Tyler's or Chip's loot at some point, but that's another story.

Tyler chose to be a zealous KU fan. Of course, he chickened out on the full-fledged face paint at the last moment, so I guess he's just a so-so KU fan. Which is fine with me. Chip was a clown, complete with smudged red nose and frizzed out rainbow hair. They both got lots of candy. First thing I need to do is sort it all out and make sure none needs to be eaten by me to be sure it's safe. After all, that's a parent's job. I'm just thinking about their well-being, after all.

A Life of Luxury

2009-10-25T20:47:00.002-05:00

Looks to me like Chip is adjusting pretty well to being the only one at home. Don'tcha think?

Football Parent Night

2009-10-15T20:23:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago the Wellsville Eagles celebrated Parent Night at a football game. At this fun event, the proud parents join their proud son in the middle of the football field and have their proud names anounced. Everyone is very proud, you see. Tim was out of town that evening so I was all braced to be doubly proud of Nick, to make up for his missing parent. Well, this was going to be a very exciting event, let me assure, until I realized that I had no (not even one!) piece of Wellsville Eagle apparel to wear. All of a sudden, I began to have un-good visions of all the other (proud!) mothers simply glowing in crimson and blue...and me wearing something all wrong. That doesn't sound very proud, now does it? The biggest problem of all is that I thought of this at about 4 p.m. that day...when we were due to be proud at 5. Hmmm...well, after a flurried visit to the drugstore to buy a seriously overpriced sweatshirt so I, too, could sport our proud colors, I arrived, breathless, at the game. You'll never guess my surprise when Nick himself met me on the path, carrying his extra jersey and said, "Here, Mom, put this on!" Apparently, mom's wear their beloved son's extra jersey to these proud happenings. Well, I never. All that nervousness for naught. So, per tradition, I stuffed myself into the jersey and assumed my proud position next to Nick. Go, EAGLES!

2009-10-15T20:18:00.002-05:00

Sitting at the computer this evening, I lazily clicked on The Thomasson Times to see what's happenin' in the land of All Those Boys. What a SHOCK I got when I saw that there had been no updates for an entire month! That's simply unacceptable. Especially when you think of all the blog worthy things that go on around here. I was angered and confused by this and about to shoot a mean letter off to the person responsible for this outrage...until I realized that person was ME. Well, that puts a different spin on things, doesn't it? In that case, the only thing to do is to get busy. Here I go....

So What's So Great About 'D'?

2009-09-19T21:19:00.002-05:00

Chip and I have begun attending Storytime each week at the library. This kind of thing was very difficult for me to handle when we were homeschooling because the lessons took soooo darrrrnnnn looonnngggg. The thought of interrupting a day of school to allow Chip the privilege of hearing a sweet, gentle story, producing a craft or two, then enjoying a light snack was simply unthinkable. Heck no! We had to make PROGRESS! But now progress is measured in a slightly different fashion, and Storytime is just perfect for us.

Here is Chip on his carefully chosen carpet square just waiting for the show to begin.

This day was all about 'D' so each child got to place a 'd'inosaur on the flannelgraph...just so.

The best time of all involves GLUE STICKS! Can I get an Amen??

My very own little 'd'og complete with spotted ears!

2009-09-11T21:19:00.003-05:00

Last week we hosted a special bonfire for the teens from the church. Our beloved youth pastor, Heather, is leaving, and the void she leaves is huge. Kids and adults alike already miss her so much. The party was fun and very beneficial. Everyone spent one last evening with Heather, shed some tears, then began the healing process. Like it or not, this is how God's world works. People come into your life...then sometimes have to leave. But they only leave physically. Heather and Erick will always be in our hearts.

Nick and Tim really know how to 'work it' in front of the lens, don't they?

Heather performs her last official duty for WBC, s'more ingredient guardian.

A raw s'more is a good s'more.

A rather rousing game of football ensued. Thank goodness no one's neck ended up broken!
What a downer that would have been.

Chip wasn't invited to play football, but he had fun anyway.

The Thomasson family sure will miss Heather and Erick. We can't wait to see them again!

My Own Personal Eagle!

2009-09-01T21:52:00.002-05:00

As most of you know, Nick is playing football this year. Imagine how excited I was when I arrived to pick him up from practice and he walked, scratch that, STRUTTED to the car wearing this!

Now if that's not a sight to behold, I sure don't know what is! GO EAGLES!!

2009-09-01T21:44:00.002-05:00

This week our family suffered a major loss. It was completely unexpected and quite painful. I'm sure most of you have been there and can relate. Yes, our beloved computer bit the dust. In a big, big way...to the tune of a fried motherboard. Ouch. Nothing worse than a fried motherboard. Now I wasn't completely cut off from all civilization. I did have my darling little phone to keep my company, not to mention our substandard laptop. But nothing like what I was mourning.

Well, look what the cat dragged in! It's Mr. Tim, bearing my new plaything. All set up and ready to go, it's a sight to behold. Now I can get caught up on the Blog. I'm sure you've been very lonely without me!

2009-08-23T20:30:00.001-05:00

Today we spent some time at a local park. I brought my camera, determined to get some new pictures of All Those Boys. I expected to get a few keepers, but to my surprise, they all ended up really good! Now I've been studying photography long enough to know how rare that is: the moon must have been in the same house as some planet or something. I'm not complaining though! I'm thrilled!

Luke at 15. He's growing up so fast.

Nick at 13. What a handsome young man!

Tyler at 9. Poor Tyler was very sick last week. I'm so glad he's feeling better!

And here's Chip at 2. He certainly knows what to do when a camera is pointed at him.

I completely expected today to be a rotten day. We were kicked out of our house for yet another open house. But I was wrong! I'm excited to have a bunch of new family pictures! Thank goodness for my trusty tripod. ;o)

First Day Of School

2009-08-19T20:35:00.003-05:00

Mid-August brings with it the beginning of a new school year. In past years, that simply meant that we started spending copious amounts of time in the basement together as we picked up a new year's worth of homeschooling curriculum and got busy. For Tyler and Chip, that is still true. On Monday, we'll get down to the business of 4th grade and preschool. But for Luke and Nick, this year was very different. They returned to Wellsville Schools after being gone for five years. Both boys are very excited about this big change; Tim and I are comfortable with the decision, so all is good.

Here is Luke and Nick on their very first day of school! Aren't they cute? But not TOO cute, you hear me, little high/middle school girls!? Cute like in a mom kind of way.

We are not used to getting out and about so early in the a.m. While Luke and Nick are bright eyed and bushy tailed, Chip sums it all up quite well in this picture.

And these pictures show how they looked when I picked them up at the end of the day. I think we can easily tell how pleased they are with the whole big adventure. I sure will miss having these boys around all day, but am enjoying watching them grow up into such nice young men.

What a Corny Post!

2009-08-06T23:02:00.004-05:00

Summertime just isn't summertime without corn on the cob, and that's a fact. We can't seem to grow corn in our garden so, recession or not, we are forced to buy it from people who have better gardening skills. It is one of our very favorite things to eat in the summer and long gone well before we are tired of it. Here, Chip shows you the perfect corn buttering technique.

And what good does all that drippy, yellow goodness do without a liberal sprinkling of salt?

Now that's the only thing we're liberal about in this house, mind you.

Finally, when it's done just so, there's nothing better than stretching out on your mom's bed to watch a little Barney and enjoy your summertime meal. Ahhh, life is good!

Cracking The Code

2009-08-06T22:43:00.003-05:00

As you all well know, 50% of All Those Boys will be starting a new adventure in education this fall. That's correct, Luke and Nick will be attending Wellsville High School and Wellsville Middle School, respectively. They are excited. No, scratch that...they are EXCITED!!!!!! Today Nick and I stepped into the hallowed halls of the middle school to find his locker. He approached it with reverent wonder in his eyes. He soon mastered the art of opening said locker.

Let me assure you, these pictures do not fully capture the glow of delight on his face!

Tim and I are so pleased to see their enthusiasm. We've all enjoyed our time homeschooling together. Now we take joy in watching them begin to spread their wings just a bit.

2009-07-16T22:51:00.005-05:00

Nothing says Summer quite like a visit to Grandma's house...unless that visit happens to include a roaring bonfire and all the fixin's for a good old hot dog roast.

Now while it is true that I don't eat hot dogs under any circumstances (and I do mean ANY), it is certainly not true that I shun festive occasions where hot dogs are likely to be served. Nay, I am quite happy to slather my empty bun with ketchup and eat it with relish. (Get it? Relish? HAHA)

Anyway, All Those Boys do not have the same hot dog hangups that I do, so this was doubly exciting. Grandpa had a raging inferno going so cooking the hot dogs was a breeze. Everyone had their own sharp, dangerous, pointy stick to use.

Once those dogs were truly hot, it was time to eat! Yummy!

But, as everyone knows, the best part of the meal comes last, namely dessert. Well, what does one eat for dessert at a bonfire?? That's right! Roasted marshmallows!

This picture is a really good image of what it means to be two years old: See the 'ME DO!' look on his face and the tug-of-war going on over the dangerous weapon/marshmallow roasting device?

But at the end of the day, a toasted marshmallow sure is a sweet finish.

2009-07-15T00:38:00.001-05:00

My laundry basket is usually filled with clothes waiting to be folded, but when it's not, Chip can always put it to good use. Ah, doesn't that look comfy?

Happy Birthday, America!

2009-07-07T22:08:00.002-05:00

We celebrated the Fourth of July last weekend and had a fabulous time. Saturday morning, All Those Boys and I set out in search of good deals on fireworks. After all, being the last possible minute, I expected to find deep discounts. BUT NO! Apparently 'the economy' has hit the fire cracker people too. Well, humph.

So with (small but precious) bags in hand, we returned home and prepared for our par-tay.

That evening, Sandy and Co. descended upon our humble home and prepared to eat, drink and make merry with the punks. (The little sticks you light things with, not the kids.)

This was our first year with a good camera, so Luke and I had so much fun capturing the explosions as they lit up the sky. What a wonderful holiday...and what a wonderful country we are blessed with!

2009-07-05T23:12:00.003-05:00

Friday we packed up the Big Ride and headed across the state line to visit Paula's family. We had such a great time! Her place is so nice, with lots of fun little buildings for the kids to explore. There was a pond and HUGE fields of corn to get lost in. The kidlets had a fantastic time. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Chip and Carson loved riding in the little Gator.

Swinging is always more fun with a buddy!

Believe you me, getting six little boys to stand still long enough to snap a picture is harder than it looks!

Even the men had a good time. See the excitement on their placid faces? It was a wonderful day with great weather. We got home tired but happy with lots of fun memories and kids wanting to go back. Can't beat that.

Selective Color Can Be Fun!

2009-07-05T23:04:00.003-05:00

As you know, here at the Blog we're all about fun. And I've decided that there's nothing more fun than a black and white picture with just a touch of carefully placed color.

See what I mean?

Celebrating Two Milestones At Once

2009-06-29T08:52:00.006-05:00

Earlier this summer we celebrated two big steps in Luke's life. First came his birthday. As hard as it is for me to believe, he turned 15 this year. Those years sure went by fast. Right on the heels of his birthday, we celebrated his graduation from eighth grade. It was a big month!

For his birthday all he wanted was a PHONE. Take a look at this picture and see if you can tell what was in the box he just opened. What you can't see is the smoke that virtually pours forth from said phone all day long as he texts people with lightning speed.

Of course any birthday boy deserves a great big gooey birthday cake!

It looks so innocent laying there on that plate, doesn't it? Get thee behind me, calorie laden treat.

Luke is a very good kid. He's highly responsible, tender hearted, respectful, everything you would want in a son. He's a very gifted athlete, a whiz with the camera, and a professional vacuum cleaner operator. Tim and I are both so proud of him.

Here he is with his graduation cake. Two cakes in one week...Wow! Time for Mama to hit the gym.

It's hard to believe he will be in high school next year. I still remember so well his first day of Kindergarten and exactly what he wore. He's come a long way since then. We will enjoy watching him grow closer to manhood with excitement, pride and, I'm sure, lumps in our throats.

Vacation Bible School Is Upon Us

2009-06-26T16:07:00.009-05:00

Hello, Loyal Readers! I am truly back this time. I know there was that fake post that somehow made it onto the 'Blog several days ago saying that my return was imminent, but this is the real deal. To prove it, I've got the first of several posts for you to enjoy as I try to redeem myself for this rude hiatus.

So the big question is what exactly have we been doing while we weren't blogging? Well, taking lots of pictures, for one thing. And having pictures taken of us taking pictures.

Another fun thing we've just wrapped up is Vacation Bible School 2009. It was wonderful and exciting and awesome and fantastic! The weather was insanely hot but, happily, the Lord kept the AC working just fine so the inside was nice and cool.

I have to offer a disclaimer right off the bat. In the pictures to come, you'll notice a vast majority are of Chip. There are two reasons for this, both of which are beyond my control. Number 1, Chip is touching me, just finished touching me, or about to touch me at all times. Therefore, when I point my camera, it tends to fall upon him. Second, the other kids have reached the point of maturation where they will not allow a documentary crew to follow them around, recording their every move. And Heaven help us all, if something unapproved should show up on the 'Blog. So I get what I get and it tends to be Chip. No offense to the other kidlets is intended in any way.

Now on to the magic of VBS. Tyler and some friends carried the flags and Bible at the beginning of our first day. They were so excited to help out!

And what does any red-blooded American do when presented with our great country's flag? Pledge allegiance to it, of course!

Speaking of helping out, Luke worked in recreation this year and had a great time. Since it was so hot, they only played outside once, but I think Luke just about melted! Here is the recreation crew. Nick wasn't able to be there very much this year due to football conditioning, but I bet he missed us!

Here Chip shows us the proper form for scooter use. He's certified in this activity.

A big part of VBS is the great crafts the kids get to make every year! One day they painted a picture frame any way they wanted! We even took a sweet picture to memorialize their year at VBS. The camping setup was just too cute.

The frames all turned out really neat. Tyler's is decorated like an American flag and I already have it installed in a prime spot in the basement. Here's his all finished. Very, very cute!

Chip even got to decorate a frame. Here we have the virgin material given to the artist....

and the final masterpiece.

Another day was devoted to decorating a bandanna to your liking. Tyler really enjoyed making his just right!

The most popular craft of all is the stepping stone. We try to make these every few years and always plan for lots of extras because all the adults like to make them too! This year, Sandy brought Colter in to make his very first stepping stone. He thought the pretty shells used to decorate the stones were just delicious! But he turned out a beautiful product. Shhh! Don't tell! It's a surprise for his Mommy and Daddy!

Chip made his too and was EVER so proud of his work! We will proudly display this beauty in our garden.

There were lots of other things going on all week as well, like super lessons full of Bible truths, bouncy songs to sing, and snacks which are always appreciated. It was a really nice week of fun and I'm so glad I could be a part of it.

Allow Me To (Re)Introduce Myself

2009-06-13T13:07:00.002-05:00

Hello, friends and family. I have been rather, shall we say, absent from the 'Blog for the last several weeks. Neglectful, really. If the 'Blog were a child I would be guilty of child endangerment. If the 'Blog were a fish, it would be dead. However, I am a lucky girl, because the 'Blog is a forgiving sort. So let's forget the past and begin again. Shall we? I have tons of things to share! Stay tuned......

2009-05-09T19:53:00.002-05:00

Not long ago we bought some bird seed in an effort to fatten up the local bird population. Chip was really excited about serving up some seeds. I managed to capture the whole bittersweet story.

Here we have an eager young lad transferring life-giving bird seed to a smaller bowl.

That takes waaaaay too long...better to just dump it and hang the waste.

SUCCESS! Meet our fearless bird seed flinger!

Throwing (and spilling) bird seed is FUN!

The only bad thing about being so good at throwing (and spilling) bird seed is that it is soon all gone. Hence the bitter part of the story.

But no worries! Chip knows how to sign the magic word: MORE!

Batter Up!!!

2009-05-01T00:12:00.003-05:00

This summer, Tyler's playing baseball. So what? Tons of kids all over the state play baseball every summer. What is so blog-worthy about Tyler suiting up?

Well, first because it's my kid and on my blog that goes a long way towards determining if an item is blog-worthy or not.

Second, is the fact that Tyler's never shown one tiny bit of interest in baseball...not even when he was little and we signed him up for Tball without consulting him. Yet this year he insisted that he HAD to play baseball or his life would be ruined, and so on and so forth. And you know what?

He LOVES it! Can't wait for practice, always pestering somebody to pitch to him, loves it. He's even pretty good, which we all know didn't come from the maternal genes. Be that as it may, it sure is fun to watch my kidlet enjoying himself so much!

2009-05-01T00:05:00.002-05:00

Here are the last photos for our April Photo a Day Challenge. Next month's words look really pretty hard, so we'll see how I do! Luke took the 'leaf' picture and I'm just delighted with how it turned out.

And the last word of the month was 'spiritual.' I took several different pictures around our church, but this one was my favorite, hands down. See what you think.

2009-04-28T13:50:00.002-05:00

I hope you have a napkin handy before viewing the first Photo a Day Challenge because you may drool. The word was 'favorite.' Now one could take that in many different ways, couldn't one? One could show a favorite book, or a favorite activity, even a favorite loved one. All of those nice things pale in comparison to my idea of 'favorite.'

Now we see why I need a family membership at the gym...all to myself.

The next Challenge was a little trickier and took some thinking. The word was 'candid.' To me, candid means, a picture taken when the subject least expected it. Let me assure you, I don't think Chip ever intended for me to find him imitating laundry, let alone snap his picture.

Look at that face. Looks like candid to me.

Check Out Some 'Contrast' and Some 'Action'!

2009-04-26T21:29:00.003-05:00

Here's Contast!

And probably my favorite picture of Chip right now! We just call this one 'Action.'

I'm a Woman of Joy!

2009-04-26T21:04:00.002-05:00

I did something completely out of the ordinary for me last weekend. Something that I really needed and enjoyed so much! What could it be, you ask? Was it chocolate covered? Well, in this rare case, it didn't involve candy, not that I didn't eat candy, but that's not the whole point of this post. Instead, I kissed Tim and All Those Boys goodbye and headed to Branson for a ladies retreat with some friends.

Wow! I know! We look so good, don't we? We are just about to head out for our fun-filled weekend of excitement at the Women of Joy conference.

We arrived in Branson just fine and were ready for all the events the weekend would hold. We saw Kirk Cameron Friday night and he spoke about his faith in Jesus. We all really enjoyed listening to him. The other speakers were just as wonderful and the worship band was truly amazing.

We did lots of fun things that only women would enjoy. We laughed alot, cried alot, ate alot. Some of us got our hair cut and styled. One brave friend even got an ear piercing that looked really sore to me, but she was glad.

It was a great weekend, but nothing at all compares with coming home! I missed Tim and the kidlets so, so much! They did great without me, but I have a feeling they were just as glad to see me as I was to see them.

2009-04-24T09:47:00.001-05:00

I have several days worth of Photo a Day Challenges to post for your viewing pleasure. I can't believe the month of April is almost over. Don't worry, though, as May's list of challenge words is ready to go.

Here we see my interpretation of 'Lean.' Taking pictures of the older boys is a rare pleasure as they usually disappear when I whip out the camera.

Next is my idea of 'Fly.' Note the fly ball zooming away from Tyler's bat.

Finally, here's 'Bass.' There are lots of ways to show the various definitions of bass, but here's the best one for me. Can you imagine me trying to capture a picture of a bass, as in fish? That would require a trip outside, which would be, of course, unthinkable. ;o)

Get 'er Done!

2009-04-23T00:35:00.003-05:00

Tim, along with our able bodied sons, is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to fighting the never-ending battle of growing grass. He takes great pride in a carefully manicured lawn, (complete with stripes, no less!) and has trained the young'uns to be excellent mowers. This year they're helping out with mowing the church yard. Let me assure you, that grass has never been more precisely shorn in all its days as when the Thomasson's are on the move. The church is a beautiful building and I think it's Tim's personal goal to make sure the grass is picture perfect too!

Jennifer's Baby Shower

2009-04-22T23:52:00.003-05:00

Having a baby is cause for a big celebration...especially when it's not yours. ;o) Joe and Jennifer are all set to welcome their first baby into the world and that means it's time for a par-tay.

We don't do anything half-way, so we started out early the day of the shower and met Paula, Angie and Carson for lunch. Everyone was super excited to see each other!

Chip loves Angie very much!

After lunch and chatting, we headed to Jennifer's house for the shower. Jennifer looked great and is so eager to get little Jack William here for her to hug and kiss!

Sandy had prepared a table with some of Joe's baby things. It's so hard to imagine when you look at his baby pictures that he's about to become a daddy.

We had a great day! Congratulations, Joe and Jennifer. We can't wait to meet your little boy.

2009-04-22T23:14:00.003-05:00

Tonight is all about catching up. There are so many fun things I want to share with you that I hardly know where to begin. I guess the best way is to just dive in and get to it. So here are the last several days of Photo a Day Challenge.

I did double duty with this photo, showing both 'Hat' and 'Protection.' Pretty clever, eh?

Then we had a beautiful 'Silhouette' of a tree against a sunset.

Here comes 'Fuzzy.'

And my personal favorite this time around, 'Tunnel.'

Last is 'Detail.' This one was hard to shoot, as getting really close to something in my house tends to show a fine layer of dust cozily nesting on it. But who's got time to dust when there are pictures to take?