Thatcher's Story

Thatcher's Story
I didn't want this to get lost in my list of posts, so I am creating a place so that everyone can easily access this link. Please read this touching story about baby Thatcher, our friends son who was born with a rare liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant. Jessie has worked closely with Brad for over 4 years and I became friends with her while working at WSA until I left last spring. Thatcher was born a month before Braden and this story really hits home for me. When I look at Braden I think about how incredibly lucky I am. This could just as easily be our him going through this. Jessie will most likely be the living donor for Thatcher and they are in need of our prayers! I promise you will be touched by reading this story. Thanks!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Connor is 3!!!

I can't believe it...Connor is 3!!! How did he get this big, this fast? In only 2 1/2 years, he will be going to kindergarten and pre-K in 1 1/2! This year we had a party at home, like we have done every other year and I think that next year we will have to do it at a larger facility. With all of his friends and family, it makes for a pretty large crowd. And to think that there were so many people that couldn't come this year (which made us so sad)! This year most of the kids went upstairs to the bonus room to play so that helped a little, but cake and present time are always interesting! LOL

Connor had a great time and got so many nice things! As you will see in the pictures it was a John Deere tractor theme. I made the cake again this year. Thanks to my friend Kristy for letting me borrow her cake pan!! It was a real John Deere pan and is very hard to find, so I really appreciate her letting me use hers. Since we moved Connor's party date up to the beginning of the month, it actually fell on Daddy's birthday so we had a cake for him too. Of course it was a golf ball cake! I made the cakes the night before and had two pairs of eyes watching me the entire time. LOL

The other exciting thing was that Connor had a celebrity at his party! I know I have posted about it before but our friend Marabeth is the sister of Julianne Hough. If you don't listen to country music, (which I don't...I know its a crying shame when you live in Music City and don't even listen to the stuff) she sings "My Hallelujah Song" and "That Song In My Head". Of course she is also most well known for her two wins on Dancing with the Stars. We get to see her on occasion when she is in town visiting Marabeth, but boy were we surprised when she showed up at our doorstep for Connor's party! She is so sweet and laid back. I told her that I was so jealous that she got to attend the LA premier of New Moon (being the Twilight addict that I am) and found out that she is just as starstruck and in awe of Rob Pattison as I am! LOL We didnt want to go around snapping pictures like the paparazzi, but she made it in a few candid shots. Brian...I included them for you so you would have proof that she was here! Ha! To think that she went from attending Connor's party on Saturday, to appearing on Regis and Kelly on Monday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy!!! I wish I could stay in these moments forever but unfortunately they go by way to fast. I am loving this age, but it does has it's challenges. We have now started asking about bad words (ex- stupid, dad gummit - Tow Mater says this on Cars, etc.) It is actually quite comical. I have caught myself saying stupid in a conversation with Brad and have actually received a small lecture from my 3 year old about how its not nice to say that and I need a spanking :) What do you say to that one? Today he got Piper (our elf on the shelf) and said he was putting him in the fire. I told him that he had better not do that unless he wanted coal under the tree for Christmas. He was actually quite interested by this and said "Yes, I would like coal for Christmas." What do you say to that? The other night he said, "werrey idulous". He had heard me say something was "really ridiculous". LOL Lets just say we never stop laughing around here!

Here are some pictures from the day. There were so many, but I tried to limit myself...Ha!

Here is a picture of Julianne (left) and Marabeth (right) at a premier in LA in October...I wanted to include a good pic of her since you cant really see much from my pictures.

Connor watching me finish the cake decorating the night before the party.

Connor loved his cake!
Being silly as usual!
And Daddy's simple chocolate cake with a golf ball on top.

Connor was NOT in the mood for pictures before the party. I will have to remember to get these when he is in a better mood next time!
Brad snapping pictures of our guests...he was really just trying to get one of Julianne to frame. LOL (far left corner)
All of Connor's friends playing in our bonus room.
LOL! Connor is demonstrating how Mommy and Daddy exercise with P90! Guess someones been paying attention.



Cutting the cake...look at all of those hungry faces just waiting!
Brian, here is another picture of Julianne for you! Ha! (Marabeth on left, Julianne on right)

Aunt Hillary trying to help Connor with his cake. He got the bench he is sitting on from the Baker's and the Farris's! You cant see from the picture, but it has a John Deere tractor on it and his name. It is made from the same metal and paint as the outdoor AC units which means we can put it outside and it wont rust!


He was so excited when he realized that he got a CARS bike with training wheels! It is still in the house (down side to having a Dec. b-day) but he is riding it all by himself now. Although we still struggle with stopping and turning around.
Mommy was so happy that it came with knee/elbow pads and a helmet! :)Pinata time!
CANDY!

Connor's Chuck E Cheese Party

On Friday (Connor's actual birthday) we went to Chuck E Cheese in Knoxville to have a party for Connor, since they weren't able to come to his party at our house earlier in the month. We had a great time playing and spending time with family! Connor's favorite thing about CEC is the coins. He always looks forward to getting the coins and usually we have so many leftover that we take some home. Well, not this year...Everyone played something and needless to say we had lots of tickets at the end. Everyone gave theirs to Connor and he got a BIG bouncy ball. When we got in the car, he wanted to know where the coins were. Oops! He had a great time and felt very special! Thanks for everyone who came out to meet us and sorry we were late! (We got caught in a bad traffic jam and of course the weather was not good. No snow, but messy rain.) It was a long trip from Nashville... Maybe that is why I look so tired in this next picture. Ha!






Such a fake smile!


I love this sweet picture...talking to Chuck E! I was about to have a heart attack though with his face on this phone. Can we say germs! LOL
He blew out the candles before I could even get the picture!
Open his presents..
MONEY...MONEY...MONEY...MOOONEEEY..........MOOOONEEEEYY!


Nathan wearing one of Connor's party hats!
Mmmm...good cake!

Christmas with the Thompson Family

On Saturday we had Christmas with the extended Thompson family. Connor also got his very special birthday present from An Am, Uncle Pete, Grannie, and Pops! He got his very own John Deere tractor and wagon! He was so excited, although I think he was a little confused because he didnt think it was actually for him. He is very shy about playing with his presents when everyone is watching. He looked it over and showed everyone how it worked and finally decided to sit on it and take it for a ride. After that point, every 5 minutes he wanted to go back outside to ride his tractor. It was very cold so we had to bundle up! We had the traditional Christmas breakfast and played Dirty Santa and exchanged gifts for the kids. AND... I am so happy to say that Benny got to join us because he came home from the hospital Friday night. Straight from ICU! Benny, Kim, Jordan and Summer got to come and were so glad to be out of the hospital and we are so thankful that they got to be there.

Here is Connor going to see what was waiting for him in the driveway. (Like I said...he wasnt too sure what to think about it.)
I think he was more excited about his wagon. He kept telling us what he was going to put in there. He is going to "work on his garden', and take Cooper for a ride.
Checking the oil with Pops.
Connor only wants to ride it in 2nd gear and boy will that thing fly!

In his cabin...


Opening presents...
Watching Paisley open her present that he helped pick out.


Monday, December 14, 2009

Dont give up on me yet!

As most everyone else, we have been busy busy busy!! Please dont give up on me! Pictures are coming soon...this week hopefully! Our computer crashed this weekend. We had several viruses and our WIFI card went kaput! Although that probably wouldnt have mattered because I havent had time to post anything anyway. Birthday pics will be up soon, I promise! But now, I have many presents to wrap for our sad tree. Stay tuned...


Here is one picture that will leave you wanting more :) Although if you received a Christmas card from us this year it is the same one.