First off sorry it’s been a while since any of us has posted anything, but this growing family has been very busy. James has decided to quit working for the Seattle Times, Starting the 23^rd he will only be working at the Casino 4 days a week, he wont be able to pick up a fifth day it looks like, but I don’t think the family will mind having one extra day with him. We sure do miss him when he works so much. Katie had t-ball clinic on the 7^th of march when we first got there I don’t think she was up to playing but mommy streached with her and the group and went around to the different stations with her to get her warmed up. The First station was the basic catching the ball in the glove like a crocadille. She wanted no part of it. I tried to get her to play, but she was playing the shy card. The next station was hitting the ball with the bat. She started out acting shy but once I picked up the bat and showed her how fun it could be she decided she wanted to give it a try. So katie and mommy took turns. She eventually warmed up and wanted to play. the 3^rd station was throwing the ball once again she played the shy card and didn’t want to particapate mommy eventually got her to throw twice. I noticed the first time she threw right handed then the second time was left. So not sure what hand she will be throwing with. The last station was her favorite. The kids got to practice their slideing skills. This station katie had no problem with. Pluse what kid wouldn’t want to run and slide on a big mat. Needless to say I think she had a great time. I cant wait to see her actually play with her team.  I don’t thnink she will like to throw the ball, but she wont mind hitting it or sliding other then playing ball katie loves going to school, sometimes when I go to pick her up she pretends like she didn’t see me. Geeze whats up with that.  Katie is still doing swimming lessons and going on field trips. Katie loves being a big sister to her brother James. She does not like to be called “katie”. She wants to be called “Sister Katie” you know that sister part is a big deal  to a three year old. It’s a good thing She likes being a big sister. Jimmy is growing entirley way to fast can you believe he will be 9 months old on the 19^th. I cant believe it my little man is growing so fast.Jimmy is starting to say more words. His first words were mama, baba, and now he is saying dada. His next Doc appointment is in a few weeks and I will be able to catch everyone up on how much our little buddy is growing. I think he is small for his age, maybe because katie was so much bigger then him. I don’t think Jimmy will be blessed with his dads height, but more like Papa Pat’s height. Katie will probably be taller then him..lol.. poor guy.Jimmy has been enjoying the taste of real food these days, he started fussing at us when we had a snack or dinner so we shared a little with him but anytime we have somehting he must try it. Or he sill snatch it. It’s pretty funny watching him eat something for the firs time when his eyebrows go crossed and his lips pucker up. He loves blood oranges the most. Jimmy id dtarting to crawl and the boy wont stop grabbing things, better not leave anything on the floor or itgs his he thinks. I taught Jimmy  to clap his little hands, So now when we say “yeah good boy” his chubby little hands start clappings.  I believe the worlds best teachers  are your own parents.  And the worlds best hugs come from them too. I sure do miss my dads hugs. i cant wait to get to california and see everyone. I have been thinking aobut how much I miss it there. Work has been going fine for me. I’m still at the bank and liking it. Trying to keep up with stuff around the house, but working full time and running after 2 kids is exhausting . I cant wiat for james to be home more to help with the kids and help around the house. I cant wiat for that family time we need.  April is coming fast and grandma thompson and possiable grandpa thompson will be heading up for a week .  I was lucky enough to get the same week off so we are planning a trip to  the island to see great baba. It’s been a while Im sure she will be amazed how much Katie has grown. It will be her first time seeing Jimmy too, so I bet she is extra excited to Meet James Gary. As for me I just cant wait to get away. It’s so much needed. Well Our growing family is about to get a little bigger As we just found out that baby #3 is on the way. That’s right you read that right. I’m  10 weeks and due the second week of October.  James and I realize that life is going to be three times more challangeing. But we are ready to be parents for the 3^rd time. There is nothing in this world we love more then being parents.  I have a Doc appointment on the 30^th. So I will let everyone know how the wee one is doing. James and I are fully prepared for the next chapter in our life, but like I say we chose to take our own road in life we may have taken the long bumpy road, but at least we paved it ourself. Jimmy and Number 3 will be about 15/ 16 months apart. And from how this mommy feels  I belive it’s a girl. I feel almost how I did with katie only better. With James I was so sick I was on meds to prevent me from being sick. No matter if a boy or girl James and I will be excited. The most exciting part for me is Jen is also prego she is about 2 or 3 weeks a head of me. We sure now how to plan our kids. As Katie and Hailey are 2 days hy of a year apart, michael and james are about 6 months and the ones on the way are just weeks.  My dad retires this september and turns 60 in october what a great gift 2 new babies, making it  over 6 grandkids for him to chase after. What a way to spend a retirement. Well I think I have filled the family in more then what they were expecting. So I Better go I got a bun in the oven!

Love the Growing family.

A Baby is . . .

A baby is cuddles and tickles on toes, 
the sweet scent of powder, a kiss on the nose! 
A baby is teddy bears, rattles, and pins, 
meals at midnight…giggles and grins.

Christmas was ok, nothing special james ended up falling asleep and it was jut the kids and i most of the day. pretty much stayed in our P.j’s and played with the new toys. sure did miss california this year. James said in 2009 he will send us home. but that’s another year away. Katie enjoyed opening up her gifts she recieved from everyone. Jimmy well he was in heaven ripping up the paper and eating wht he tore off, but for a 6 month old he had a great time with his gifts. katie even showed him wht to do. when we were all finished up katie and Jimmy played with their toys, katie’s favorite gift was from mom & dad which was a real size buzz and woody that actually make noise like the characters in toy story. Jimmy is a happy little bouncer, My mom and Aunt bought him a house seat he sits in like a johnny jumper just dosn’t go in the door way, buddy will be in there for ever just happily bouncing, silly boy. as for james and I we are still working and keeping busy. I think its almost time for a vacation. this weather we have been having is a drag. sure makes me sleepy and always tired, not good for a california girl. poor james has been delivering papers in this weather, I try and keep the house warm for him. Well Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a nice new year. James will be working and I will just stay home with the kids, Happy 2009 all.

Katie is still loving going to school and playing with her friends. She has been takeing swim lessons the last few weeks and seems to be enjoying it. She has also taken a few field trips on the school bus to cornwall park. She jsut loves going out and playing with her friends.  Can’t believe this will be her 4th Christmas. Our princess is growing up to be a beautiful little girl.

Jimmy is doing good he is starting to eat baby food now. its funny to watch him taste things for the first time cause he will push the food out with his tongue or he will make a funny face. when I show his is bottle he will grabe it in a heart beat and shove it in his mouth. Jimmy has his 6 month Check up on the 19th.  So I’ll Update again next weekend to let you know how our little guy is doing.

Today at the Bank was terriably slow. I had only done 10 transactions in 5 hours. around 1:30pm I got a phone call from Kids world leting me know Jimmy had a temprature of 102.4. I was consurned cause he had that bronchialbronchitas three weeks ago and I thought maybe it was RSV. I called the Nurse right away. Since his Doc wanted to see him if his fever returned. I then drove to the school to pck up the kids and get the info I will need to tell the doc what was going on with james. while visiting with the teach she said her son was like this when he was teething. I was like katie got her first tooth when she was like 14 months old. but then jimmy started to cry again. I got a glance in his mouth and what do you know there on the bottom there were 2 teeth tring one you can see and one just about to break thru. The teacher looked in his mouth and said i think there are three. I was so surprised no wonde he is fussy, I knew he started teething he was chewing on everything. but i didnt thik it would be today when i would see them lol.. our little man is growing up so fast he is moving and rolling and sitting up he found his little voice and loves making sounds to katie cause he knows she will do the right back to him. now he has teeth geeze i bet her will be walking when he is 8months old to keep up with his big sister. Katie is so amazing with him. he loves to rock him, hold him and play with him, she does such a good job helping me clean up and put things in the wash, James and I are So lucky to be blessed with such wonderful kids.   

anyway whats everyones plans for x-mas? looks like james will have to work so only the kids and I will be home. Sure makes me want to move back home jsut for the holiday get togethers.

To night after I pick up the kids from day care I am going to surprise Katie with a mommy katie date, We are going to drop jimmy off at the house with James then Katie and i are going to see Madagascar and have dinner, just Katie and mommy, I think she will like it every much, then home to bed for hopefully a good night sleep and a sleep in tomorrow. hopefully i will catch up on my sleep. lol. dout that will ever be the case. but worth a shot

 Yesterday I Got the kids Christmas Shopping taken care of. Just have to get the few odds and ends for the stockings. Katie has been showing me a few things that she really liked so yesterday when a friend gave me a 30% off everything in the store coupon on top of the sales that were going on and her employee discount I had to do it. I just have a few things I want to get that I wasn’t able to yesterday then I’m all done WOOT! I know its not even thanksgiving yet, but this year Katie and I are really excited for Christmas. Katie keeps asking when is Ho Ho Coming. and every time we see a snowman she has to stop and show me. Maybe this year is going to be extra special cause its the first Christmas with a family of 4. and katies at the age that every surprise it priceless. Anyways this year for thanksgiving My friend yanna is is coming over and we are going to cook a nice turkey dinner. Since neither one of us have family by it will be fun. well i need to get stuff done around here before i head home. So I’ll let you know how the dinner date goes Probbaly by the end of the week lol!

“The history of Halloween goes back 2000 years. Many believe that Halloween’s origins are found in the Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who were located in Ireland, the UK and the northern parts of France, celebrated their New Year on the first of November. Samhain was celebrated the night before the New Year.

The New Year, Celts believed, marked summer’s end, harvest time, and the start of dark, cold winter months. Those winter months were associated with death by these people. On October 31, the night before the New Year, the Celts celebrated Samhain. This day, they believed, was when the ghosts of the deceased returned to earth because the boundaries between the living world and the dead world blurred.

When we think of “Trick-Or-Treating”, the origins can probably be found in the English All Souls’ Day parades. During these celebrations, the poor would come out and beg for food from the more wealthy families. When the families gave them pastries called “soul cakes”, they asked for the poor to pray for their relatives that had passed away.”

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