Alotta Snow!!!!

We were dumped on with a huge snowfall a few days ago so the kids and I took advantage of it and went out to shovel. The first thing Kennedy did was lay down in the snow and make snow angels, pictured here. It was cold, but we had fun! I am hoping we get more snow as it is so pretty when it is lightly falling (or falling heavily for that matter!)

Top Five Holiday Events for Christmas '07

1. The joy of the kids' faces when they open up their packages. I realize that it's not all about me anymore when it comes to Christmas. In fact, I could care less as to what I get. I'm so involved as to what the kids get and want to make sure that they enjoy every last moment, it's really rewarding seeing the joy on their faces.

2. Gift Wrapping! As much as that sounds strange, I truly enjoy to wrap gifts, and when it's Christmas time I wrap so many that it is so much fun to do! I also volunteer to wrap at the Hospice booth. My mom and I have been doing that since they helped my Grandpa Goose when he had terminal cancer... so it's been about 10 years now. This year, I even scheduled 2 nights for my co-workers to wrap, and they had so much fun, I'll schedule up a couple nights again next year and make it a tradition for McDonald School to do each year!

3. Our Annual Thompson Tree Hunt. Oh yes, we go out into the woods to find just the "perfect" tree. It's a hoot to get out there, bundle up, and try to find just the right one. Some years we are lucky, others we aren't. But, we are being environmentally friendly by recycling our tree each year after we are through with it and it's a great tradition to have with our family.

4. Spending time with family and friends. Need I say more?

5. Vacation. Again, more needed to be said here?

Grandpa Dave's Gift.....

A couple of weeks ago, my dad, (AKA - Grandpa Dave) sent an ENORMOUS package to our doorstep. Well, lo and behold, the reason it was so large was because there was a fairly good sized gift in there to Hayden. He waited patiently to open it, asking politely here and there if he can open it (days before Christmas I might add!) Then the moment arrived finally this morning when he could open it - it was the first one he grabbed after all of his Santa stuff was done! A remote control car was a big hit with him... he and Daddy put it together this morning with the batteries getting "juiced" up as we speak. Merry Christmas, everyone.

Disney On Ice

Wow, how could I forget to blog the ever-lovin', Disney on Ice weekend? Mom, the kids and I trekked up to Spokane to stay with one of my best friends, Jamie, and her two kids (her hubby was out of town). Anyway, the 7 of us went to Disney on Ice "Princess Wishes." It was so great! All of the kids enjoyed it, as well as the three of us adults. I think Hayden and Anders' favorite part was the dragon from Sleeping Beauty! Hayden sat back finally in his seat when it came out and was breathing real fire! Anyway, one of these days, we'll have to head to the real Disneyland, but for now, seeing Mickey and Minnie on ice was just as good for a 2 and 5 year old.

"Oh Christmas Tree..."

On Sunday we made our trek into the woods to find our beautiful (hopefully not a Charlie Brown) Christmas tree. The weather was wonderful and held off snowing until we were driving home. With all of the new regulations that the Potlatch Corp. put on going onto their land, we had to find a new spot to find just the right tree. Unfortunately, it was straight up a steep hill! I felt as though I was mountain climbing! LOL! Anyway, after trudging up the road, only to have to go back to get the chainsaw, I finally came back and started my climb. I made it all the way to the top where Hayden had found the PERFECT tree - Charlie Brown style. Oh boy, what does a mother do??? I mean, I do have my limits as far as the tree goes. So, Bryan and I started talking to him about finding a tree for his own room. That didn't cut it. (No pun intended). Not sure how it worked, but I had actually found a tree on my way up the hill... now I just needed to find it. Not sure if it was the exact one, but we cut it anyway. After all three trees were cut, we headed back down, built a campfire and roasted hot dogs. It was yet another successful Thompson Tree Hunt!

"We're off to find a Christmas Tree...."

and let's just hope we find one! Yep, that's right, the annual Thompson Tree hunt will be taking place this weekend. My parents and I had started this tradition with the Barnes' family, who are like my second family, and Bryan and I restarted the tradition years ago. I always expect to find one like you find in a tree farm, so I get a little picky... but we truly do find a beautiful tree and it's so fun to tromp around in the woods trying to find just the right one!

This year should be interesting as I'm not thinking there will be any snow on the ground due to the rain we had earlier this week. I'm hoping to have the tree up and decorated all by Wednesday of next week. The house is looking pretty with all of the decorations. I've got to admit I'm fairly impressed with my talents in decorating the outside. Bry's old sled is leaning up against our entryway... that thing has got to be at least 30 years old! Anyway, I'll post a picture of our adventure and let everyone know how we did.