Blessings in Florida

Dear Livvy-

You are so lucky or should I say blessed? You just returned from Florida after visiting your Granny and Grandpa Glancy for the 4th time in your short 18 months! You and I had a blast during the 2 weeks we were there. We were only scheduled to stay for a week, but we were having so much fun(and Granny couldn't bear to see you go) that we extended our stay for a whole week. It was fantastic. You were able to play with Uncle Andrew and Aunt Tiff, and also Uncle Jordan and Aunt Sarah. They love you so much, aren't you lucky?!

At the end of each day, I couldn't help but think how blessed/lucky you (we) are, and why? Here's a list:

1-You have a great family who adores you, and loves you no matter what! You found your vocal chords while we were in Florida, using them to demand attention or for any other desire with a high pitched scream that deafened the ears. But everyone endured it with a big smile. You also got sick the first day we were there and each family member took their turn at patiently wiping your nose or helping me suction you out before bed because you are way too strong for mama alone(this could be an episode on "dirty jobs"). They even let you snuggle them or give them kisses with that snotty nose, shrugging it off because everything can be washed or wiped up after. And one last thing....you cut 5 teeth while we were there, including four molars. Cranky? A little, but no one seemed to notice.

2-You have a quick, keen mind! You learn so quickly, and pick up on things in a flash. You began saying "Bye-Bye, Nana (banana), Night-Night, Jordan, Wow!, Yeah!, Thank-you (instead of your quick, snappy, one-syllable, adorable, "thanks"), and Bye-Bye Daddy" while we were in Florida. You also learned very quickly that walnuts from Granny's nut bowl fit inside everything and that you don't like grapes, bananas, or broccoli anymore. You learned that Granny will give you Diet Coke if you just ask :) and that if you point to the door enough times, Aunt Sarah will eventually take you out and let you dip your feet in the pool. You also learned that dogs are not so bad. The first day we were there you would yelp anytime Penny came near you, but by the time you left, Penny was running from you for fear that you would pinch her, or pull her tail.

3- You have health insurance! Statistics say that more than 9 million kids in the U.S don't, so for this, you are blessed. And a good thing it is!!! We were able to use it at the Urgent Care Clinic in Florida for your 103.1 degree temp, double ear infections, and a cough/congestion that the doctor warned us was bad enough that it could easily turn into pneumonia. We were able to fill two prescriptions, and buy Sudafed, Robitussin, Tylenol and Benadryl. (And don't forget the new nose sucker....)

4-You live in a free country where your mom and dad are able to vote for their leaders and you eventually will be able to as well. We were in Florida for the Presidential election this year. I stood in line for an hour and a half so that I could vote early before we left. The night of the election, we ate yummy soup and worked on a puzzle while we watched history in the making. America voted in our first "Black" President, Barack Obama. He is expected to bring great change for us. You were in bed long before Obama was announced the winner, but he made history, history that shows that in America, anything can be accomplished. If nothing else good comes out of this election (which I doubt will be the case), remember, that this is a prime example that as an American, you are blessed with freedom and rights that allow you to do anything you can dream of, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED!

5- You have been more places and done more things in 18 months than some get to do in a lifetime. Just this trip, you went to the beach where you chased seagulls, had a picnic (where the seagulls snatched a whole piece of chicken right out of our hands...it scared us to death) and played in the sand. We also went to Ellenton outlets for shopping, a few fun consignment shops and Busch Gardens. You were able to ride the "animal train" at Busch Gardens just like the one Granny gave you for Christmas. You also chased the birds and squirrles and petted the Clydesdale horses. You were in awe. You swam in "the boat" (naked), went running with mama, and ran errands solo with Granny. And, it was your first planeride where you were able to sit in the seat instead of your carrier. You were able to watch out the window and discovered that you love clouds (this new plane experience for mama, as I described it to daddy was "church times ten" or in other words, exhausting).

Always be grateful for everything you have, even the tinniest things. Every minute of life is filled with a blessing, whether great or small. The challenge lies in being able to recognize each one.

Love,

Mom

I voted today....

and the decision was hard, but I made it, and I feel good about it, still.

I agree with most that I am technically voting for the lesser of the two "evils". I don't love either candidate, I like a little about each, but I don't feel like either one of them has the whole package.

So, today I had to go with what my heart was telling me was right because I believe in answers to prayers and a supreme being who is active today in guiding our lives. There isn't always a lot to back "feelings" up with, but for me, they're more important than any fact or reason I could give you.

I'm proud to be an American, passionate about my freedom and grateful for the opportunity to vote for the leaders of my country. I know my voice is small, I'm just one, but I will speak up simply because I CAN!!

November 4th will be interesting.

Adios, goodbye, Chao!

Livvy and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Florida!!! We cannot wait to visit Granny and Grandpa! It has been almost 8 months since they have seen Livvy and wow has she changed; She wan't even crawling last time we were there!!!

We cannot wait!

I'll post pics when I get back.....

p.s. Honey, you know how much I LOVE a clean house when I come home from vacation and so my day today was spent trying to accomplish just that....so, be a sweetheart and try not to use the bathroom too much? The faucets and counters are shinning! And the "lines" in the carpet look just right so maybe try to stay off the carpet as much as possible? Also, the dishwasher is empty and so is the sink so.........:)

We'll miss you, good luck on the house, cannot wait to start the tile when I get back!!!! :)

October.....going, going

and almost GONE!

Carlye became Carlye Montague on the 3rd....and looked gorgeous!

Bro's and Sis's

Livvy was obsessed with her frills....

Another shot at a family pic...

Livvy and Gus....True love



And yet another futile attempt...

The day was perfect!

Livvy had her first major spill on a night that she was just too tired to put out her arms to catch herself, so instead, her face met the driveway. Two days later, I heard a fierce scream and ran into her room to find her on her back by her crib....she figured out how to use her bumper pads as a climbing tool. They were removed in about 2 minutes :) When I found her, her nose was bleeding quite a bit but I soon discovered that she had somehow scraped the scab off her "owie" on her way down to the floor; all else was fine, scared more than anything (for both of us!).

Kirk also found Livvy on the bed doing this:
because she learned to do this:

Apparently, climbing is the new thing.

I've also been spending a few late nights canning! Yummmm! I have done peaches, pears and tomatoe sauce, that should be it, I'm about "canned" out. It should at least get us through a year :) Now if I could just get a storage room to put all of this in........

Sliding through September

September passed us by just as fast as August did....

We spent Labor Day having breakfast with the fam,





and then playing some Rock Band....we are naturals!


Even mom and dad got into it....

Notice Livvy rocking out next to her dad, she loves music and starts to bob her head immediately after the first note....



We turned in the Jeep and (are you sitting down?) I became a "van mom"! Here's the beauty....

Livvy loves all of the space she has....

And so do I....


We also had lots of family time, attending wedding showers for Carlye, attending Women's Conference at the Conference Center with all of the "women" in the family, and attending the temple with Carlye for the first time. It was the first time that all of my family was in the temple together! An experience I will never forget; it just felt "right". And maybe gave us a small glimpse of how Heaven will be: together, forever.

August Rush

I'm back from my blogging hiatus...and ready to catch up. We have had a busy summer and time has flown by!

Here are events from the rush of August:

***We went to Bear Lake for the annual Thompson family vacation. We had a wonderful time of boating, sun, four-wheeling, sun, good food, games, more sun (love it!) and some greatly needed R&R.


Livvy and her cousin Carter....did we leave any sand at the beach? Not with these two!

Daddy and Livvy......she loved the four-wheeler, it was hard to get her off and a few tears were shed after each ride.

Beach Babes.....Carlye, Mis and Jill
Livvy playing ball with her daddy. Yes, she gets this excited about most things!

Mom and Livvy....she did not want to pause for a picture, too many things to see and do.
Thompson Family

Glancy Family

Cutest Bum! Livvy had no fear, out of my hands and down to the water. See ya later!



Kirk dug Livvy a little hole to play in, she loved it. She even drank the water from it and tasted the sand. Her face was priceless when it wasn't as tasty as she had imagined it being!

***I cut my hair....FINALLY!

***Kirk took Carlye and Jacob's engagement pictures....





***The Thompson family biggest looser ended and the results were announced at Bear Lake. I met my goal of loosing 28 pounds.....Yipeeeee! plus surpassed it by 4 pounds. (yes, boasting a little, just taking a moment!) All together the family lost about 360 pounds!

***I started a new job checking at the local grocery store by our new house. I work 15-20 hours a week. For some odd reason.... I LOVE IT! I'm beginning to think its the "people watching" that I love, but I really do love the actual work that I do. There's something about that "beep, beep" as I slide goods across the scanner...hahaha, geek, I know.

It has been good for me to have a little break, the extra money is fabulous (of course) and it has been a good "break" for Kirk. He is able to see Livvy during the week, get a little homework done and maybe squeeze in a nap:)(more on this adventure in a later post)

Can you believe that summer is gone?

Garden Fresh

Today for lunch, Livvy and I had fresh tomatoes from Grandpa's garden, fresh corn from Grandpa's garden, fresh cucumbers from Grandpa's garden and a fresh avacado, not from Grandpa's garden, but so good it could have been.

Thank-you Grandpa/dad for all of your hard work in the garden so we can reap the benefits! We love this time of year, there is nothing like fresh produce.

My body cursed you the day after I helped you plant 63 tomato plants and 30+ green/red/jalapeno pepper plants. It hurt in places I didn't know existed. Up, down, up down, up down. But today, my body thanks you with EVERY juicy bite! Yum!

Birthday Bash!

Kirk is the big 2-9 today!!! Yes, 29! Today is the big day that makes us the same age and ends the teasing about me being an older woman for another 6 months until I indeed become "older" again!

Here are 29 things that I love about the fabulous man that I call husband:

1- He is a wonderful daddy! Livvy adores him. Her face lights up when he gets home.

2-Kirk is good at everything, I haven't found one thing he can't do.

3- Broken? He can fix it! He is so handy! (good thing with a klutz as a wife)

4- Kirk loves his Heavenly Father and stands firm in his testimony of the restored gospel.

5- Kirk has a magnetic personality, he can talk to anyone for any length of time.

6- He is adventerous....even crazy at times.

7- He laughs at my jokes, even when no one else thinks they are funny

8- Kirk is a researching fiend....when he wants more knowledge about something he studies and researches until his thirst is satiated. This includes any subject from wiring a house (his current project) to fly fishing and new technology. A few days after putting an offer down on our new house, Kirk came home with 2 bags full of books, pamphlets and videos from the library on "How To's". We spent many nights watching videos on refinishing floors and tiling bathrooms. This is impressive to me, I get impatient and just want someone to show me how to do it. Kirk is usually that person, since he's researched it already.

9- He loves me no matter what...fat, no makeup, morning breath, cranky, cranky and even more cranky, he loves all of me!

10- Kirk is really easy going, he has helped me to relax a little and enjoy life more.

11- He is a good cook. He makes a mean guacamole and is great at the Bar-B-Que. And even though I am not a fabulous cook, he never complains, he is just grateful to have something to eat.

12- Kirk is very smart with computers and technology, he always likes to have the latest and greatest because the things they can do amaze him

13- He is always good to help others when they are in need.

14- Kirk is very creative, I wish he had more time to take to express it.

15- I appreciate how hard he has worked to be more sensitive, I know growing up in a house full of boys he didn't have to be so much, but he has been when I've needed him to be, he's getting good!

16- He is so competetive (sometimes great and sometimes not), but it pushes him to be better in all things.

17- He loves my family just as much as he loves his. We are truly one big family, not mine or his.

18- He gives wonderful back rubs

19- I love watching him whisper sweet nothings in Livvy's ear when he gets home at night and she is already asleep. I know she knows how much he loves her, because he tells her every night without fail.

20- He loves to gab just as much as me and is easy to talk to.

21- His "Kirkel condition"- classified as diving into a new hobby full force for a good month until he finds a new one!

22- He has good fashion sense...I have never had to "fix" his wardrobe :) and he helps me with mine.

23- He works really hard to provide for our family. I appreciate the ability to stay home with Livvy (for the most part), Kirk knows how important this is to me and tries to make it happen.

24-Kirk is so silly, we laugh a lot together

25- He takes every opportunity he can to teach Livvy something, I love watching her sit in his lap and be enthralled in the latest and greatest lesson. He is a great teacher, he is so patient and encouraging. With him as the teacher, you feel like you can do anything.

26- I love that he shares his testimony every chance he gets. I enjoy his stories of "talks" he has at work with others who are not of our faith, and sometimes are but are struggling to find their way. He is very sympathetic to them, he understands them, and they can feel that from him.

27- Kirk tries to help me get "me time" as much as possible....he knows I need it! Thanks hun!

28- I love Kirk's curiosity. He will ask question after question until he is satisfied. (this goes hand in hand with #8) Sometimes people think he is being nosy or judgemental, but its far from that, he is completely and utterly curious. He wants to know all!

29- He's my best friend



HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE! I LOVE YOU!