no regret...my new blog!

the bucket list...

ok...so i have made a life bucket list...things i want to do before i die! i am a person who makes lists all the time! what i need from the store, what bills are due, what i should pack, what my husband needs to get done, what i need to get done. i love crossing things off the list...and so do my kids. so i have decided to make a life list...mom's bucket list...the things i want to do for myself, my family & others before i leave this earth...i decided to make it on line where i can easily document it and you can watch me "check" off my life goals, dreams & aspirations. so head on over to http://momsbucketlist.blogspot.com and while you are at it let me know what things are on your list? :)

Ty's 1st wrestling match...EVER!

Fall 2010

Abby & I loaded up the boys on Saturday for some fall pictures....it's always my favorite time of year to photograph them!

This slideshow of pictures are so cool! They were all taken by Aunt Abby on....drum roll please.... her IPHONE! I can hardly believe a phone took such cool looking pictures...of course, you have to have "cool" kids to get "cool" pictures!

I can't wait to see how the pictures from my camera will turn out...I just have to locate where my cord is so that I can import them into the computer!!! so stay tuned!

so i've been bad!

yes, i will agree...i've been bad...i haven't blogged in forever...it's like our life has stopped. haha...i promise i will get back on here soon and update with some pictures of what we've been up to. I've got some photo's of Ty's soccer season, last day of preschool & more...

the kiddo's are really growing. i swear Ty must be hitting a grow spurt...he used to eat like a bird and now he is finishing his plate and then finishing ike's plate. i wonder if he'll be as tall as zach? Ike has made lots of new friends at story-time at the library. he loves playing with others! Kane is SO BIG! he's walking & talking...baby talk that is. He waves & claps and says hi & bye-bye, momma & dada! I know he is overdue for his first hair cut...but I just can't imagine cutting those cute blonde curls! He is like my little abby of the family, blonde hair & blue eyes. He is such a loveable baby...he loves giving hugs & kisses!

I promise to post some pictures of my little guys ASAP

new blog...

I started another blog awhile back...but hadn't posted on it...i am planning to keep this blog (tyandike.blogspot.com) for all the family updates...

my new blog

jenniferleighthompson.blogspot.com

is basically a journal of my learning experience of becoming a "country girl"

i love learning new things...and i have learned and tried a lot of new things since we moved to the country...and now i think it is time to document some of those things :)

check it out

Winter Wonderland Photo Shoot!

I got the boys outside for a little photo shoot...I needed some pictures for our Christmas card...here is a few of the pics I took!

I just registered to win FREE LEGO's - so should you!

Ty and Ike have asked for Lego's for Christmas - and I just stumbled across this contest for a chance to win! I'm registered are you?

Here is what the contest says:

LEGO® DUPLO® wants to encourage imaginative play in children. In keeping with this theme, they are offering a LEGO® DUPLO® prize pack to one of you! To enter for a chance at this prize pack, ...


reviews.jennyonthespot.com/2009/11/9/share-your-story-duplo/

Jenny on the Spot’s Lego Giveaway

My Front Porch Looking In.....

You know that country song...On my front porch looking in...just heard it...decided to post a few pics I found on inspiration for redoing my enclosed front porch! Zach finished some of the walls that needed replaced out there...so now it is ready for me to make my mark on it...I never really know what to "call" my sense of style/decorating...I wonder what they would call it on those designer shows...because I'm somewhat tradition, somewhat eclectic, somewhat shabby chic, somewhat retro, somewhat craftsman...I like a mix - but I know what I like...

Anyways for those of you that don't know we've be renovating and redecorating our home for the last 4 years we have lived in it! It's been a lot of work, but thank heavens I married quite the handy man! If there is something Zach doesn't know how to do or has never done before he just gets in there and figures it out! I love that about him! Of course when you do the work yourself and on a tight budget work takes longer - but that's the way to do it...little by little it will all come together...But poor Zach's honey-do-list is always growing...One project gets done or halfway done for that matter - and I'm seeing the next thing!! *Zach you're the best!! thank you*

Anyway...I was online searching for backslashes for my kitchen (zach put in new cabinets and counters, etc...) I am pretty sure I want a brick one!! there was an old brick chimney that we found when we tore down a wall...so the chimney is in my kitchen...I love it...i thought the backsplash in brick would tie it together...anyway i found some pictures of what I am wanting my backsplash to look like...and i came across some more photo's for other ideas for my house!! I thought I would share some of my ideas for my enclosed front porch...i've been saying i need a coat tree! of course this won't take up my whole porch...but just right when you come in the front door!!

Kane Eats Rice Cereal!

These pictures are overdue...Kane is enjoying his first meal from a spoon! - Rice Cereal - He loved it and it came so natural to him! I was thinking it might be neat to blow up a picture of Ty, Ike & Kane at this age in their highchair eating to hang in the kitchen! I thought that might be cute!

Halloween 2009

This year Ty decided he wanted to be a Pitcrew for Lightning McQueen from Disney Cars! Aunt Katie & Uncle Neal had already got him the outfit for his birthday, so we only need a few more accessories to complete the costume. Ike wanted to be Dr. E! (that is what he calls his pediatrician). Grandma Jane had purchased a scrub set with lab coat awhile ago from a scrub show at the hospital so we just added some accessories from his doctor kit and he was ready to go! We dressed Kane as a baby chick! Two weeks before Halloween the town had the annual fall party for the kids...they have a weenie roast, hayride, costume contest, etc... Kane won first place in the contest! he won a $10.00 McDonalds gift card! Ike actually came in second and won a $5.00 gift card...Third place went to a cute little football player named Eli. On Halloween we had a fire in the woodstove and decorated the boys little table like their own little halloween party! we took them around to a few houses and then came home and pigged out on pizza and yoohoo's! The boys then enjoyed handing out candy to the trick or treaters! What Fun!

BIG BROTHERS/ little brother - Fall photo Shoot Preview!

We took advantage of the beautiful day on Saturday to get the boys out to play and to take some photos while the fall leaves were still plentiful! The boys had fun playing! My mom had bought these big brother shirts for ty and ike and the little brother shirt for kane as a gift when kane was born...well, i finally put them all in their shirts for a photo shoot...here is a preview of some of our fall photo's!

More from our Sanibel Trip!

"Hey Girl, look, me no tube!"

Ike was quite the ladies man on this trip. It was hilarious to watch him. At the park he instantly found a little girl to run around holding hands with...the most hilarious thing was we were all swimming at our condo pool...ty and ike had been wearing there fishing inner tubes when ike decided to go down to the deep end where two girls were playing...i think they were in 2nd grade...anyways ike walks up to the girls and says hey girl, look, me no tube!" and points at himself and jumps into the pool. He thought he was so big and cool and was showing off to those girls!
"what's for dinner?"
Dad prepared alot of food for us all when we were on the trip! He is quite the cook! We kept our "mess" of fish we caught on the fishing trip! Zach and I prepared the fish we grilled about 1/3 of the fish and fried the rest! It was quite tasty!
Here is another slide-show pics from our trip to beautiful Sanibel Island! The weather was great...actually I am use to it raining every day in the summer on Sanibel...but this trip was different...it hardly rained during our trip. I can't wait to go back...I'm already eager to go! :)

Sanibel Island Trip - July 2009

Here is a start to some of the updating I've been promising! In July, just 3 months after Kane was born, we were heading down to Sanibel Island - "Paradise" of Florida! We went as a "big" family...14 of us headed south! Abby & Brandon joined Zach & I and our 3 boys - we drove my new town & country - and it made a great traveling vehicle...and we actually had plenty of room! We had a good time relaxing and spening time with family! The boys loved the ocean & the pool! Zach actually saw a real aligator this year! Every time we have been to the island Zach has been searching out the gators...and this year there really was one in the pond by the pool. We actually saw tons of wildlife! A huge iguana walked right in front of me while we were visiting the ducks & birds at the periwinkle campground! I just love Sanibel - life actually seems to slow down there! We of course had to go to Cheeburger Cheeburger - i've never been down there w/o going...Brandon, Neal & Zach decided to eat the 1 pounders!! They were huge burgers and topped with all kinds of stuff...they all managed to wolf them down and still had room for fries & onion rings! The shells were plentiful this year (i mean Sanibel is known for "shelling" but this year there were even more!) My dad chartered a fishing boat for the guys one day! There was an extra spot on the boat so they invited me to go, I think they were wondering if they made a mistake when I was catching all the fish! :) Katie & Abby watched all 3 of my boys so I could have a "fishing" break! It was so much fun! I caught all kinds of fish and just kept getting braver and braver as they day went on. These fish were a lot different then the blue gill, bass and catfish that I am used to! I even caught a shark...and held it in my hands! It was awesome...I had some blood on my shirt after that one! It was a nice vacation! I really enjoyed watching the boys play! They loved spending time with papa and of course cousin Clayton!

So Much to say....

Wow! It's been about 2 months! I have got to get you all caught up on everything that has been going on. That will take some time...so I will try and fill you all in quickly - the hopefully I can get back on a routine and start posting some pictures for you all.
If you've been wondering why I haven't posted, I don't have an exact reason. Although my life has seemed to be a little busier lately...I may have already said this before but going from 1 to 2 kids was nothing...but 2 to 3 seems more hectic at times. Not that I am complaining! I wouldn't trade it for the world! I am sure I am not the only mother of 3 that thinks that...especially with 3 kids 4 and under. I have also taken on a few things of my own...if you haven't heard.
Besides being mom all day I am still working at the post office on Saturday mornings and as needed as well as baking deserts for the local cafe here in town and helping out on Fridays at the Cafe.
The baking has been fun! I have always enjoyed cooking but never knew I loved to bake as much as I do. About 2 years ago I decided that I wanted to learn to bake a pie, so before thanksgiving my Mother-in-law Jane, who is quite the baker, taught me how to make a pie...from start to finish...we baked a ton of pies that day...I will have to find the picture my Aunt Kay took of me at Thanksgiving where I brought all of the pies...apple, cherry, chocolate, pumpkin I can't remember what all I brought...I need to find the picture! I find baking and cooking as being very relaxing to me! In fact, I just pulled an apple pie out of the oven this morning and now I have a banana nut bread in the oven! YUM! I bet you're thinking...how can she lose her baby weight with all of those deserts around...haha...well that's not the culprit, because the majority of my baked goods go to the cafe, and occasionaly I make one for home (so Zach doesn't feel deprived!) The banana bread is for this weekend - we are having abby's bachelorette party, and I am making some yummy stuff for a breakfast for all the girls.
My mixer gave up on me last week...and believe me mixers are an investment. So Jane surprised me with a new mixer! and I love it, you should have seen my face when we brought it home and got it set up...Zach said "oh great, I will never live up to that!" hah! This mixer is not only functional but it is beautiful! I love it! It is the Kitchenaid Professional 600 in Empire Red! it has a 575 watt motor and can hold 14 cups of flour at once!! This might not mean much to all of you...but to me it is better than diamonds, a car just about anything! I love it! we set it up last night and i have already made 4 pie crusts in it, banana bread and then I am moving on to homemade noodles! Thanks so much Jane! I couldn't be happier!
So besides the baking keeping me busy I have also take up preserving foods...canning and freezing!! Now you might have seen on here before where I made my own strawberry jam and salsa...but this year I have taken it to new heights! I have officially used a pressure canner, not just the easy water bath canner! This year we picked a few 5 galloon buckets of green beans (free I might add from a neighbor that grew them...we picked them for him first and then took what we wanted) I canned those green beans - so now all winter long when you are eating those sodium packed green beans from the grocery I will be eating freshly preserved beans...haha...not to rub it in your face or anything!! I had to buy a new metal shelf to put in our basement to hold all of my canned goods... I have canned green beans, mild salsa, hot salsa, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, red jalepeno jelly, green jalepeno jelly as well as frozen 40 quarts of fresh corn, some quarts of green beans, homemade applesauce...and i have been making at least 1 soup a week for lunch or dinner, a big batch, and then freezing the remaining in individual quart sized bags...perfect for any meal...so far I have garden vegetable, french onion, vegetable beef, chicken fahita, and chili and right now i have homemade chicken noodle in the crockpot cooing up for dinner and then to freeze! It has been so fun and enjoyable for me...I told Zach it will sure make me appreciate my food knowing exactly what it took to get it to each point! From the picking to preparing to cooking and then to preserving! I have also been making homemade baby food for Kane! Green Beans, carrots, zuchinni, sweet potatoes, applesauce, all that good stuff - and still more to go...for him i have been steaming everything and then pureeing it and then freezing in ice cube trays...perfect serving sizes! It just doesn't get much better than that! Not to mention we have all the farm fresh organic eggs we could ever want right in our backyard! We are getting about 13 or more fresh eggs a day~ WOW~ there is nothing quite like a fresh egg!
The boys also get to learn so much. They enjoy helping me pick the fruit and veggies and visiting the different farmers markets around the area! Who would have guessed living in the middle of no where could be so amazing!

well i should get back to the kitchen! the oven just went off so i need to pull that warm banana nut bread out of the oven! It smells so good! hope everyone is doing well...i will try to update with pictures ASAP

"Where a kid can be a kid!"

Thanks Nana! We had fun at Chucky Cheese!

Grandpa Lux

We made a trip north to see aunt katie & uncle neals new house! nana took us all to chuckie cheese (pictures to come). we went to see my granpa lux. the boys loved the neighbors horses & pony. we had fun spending time w/ grandpa - check out our photos!

Where have I been?

I bet your wondering where I have been & why I haven't blogged! I have decided that going from 2 to 3 children is a totally different story than going from 1 to 2! I am a lot busier keeping up with my boys! But I wouldn't change it for the world...but bear with me as I attempt to update what we've been up to for the last month...or however long it's been! :)

speakupinator?

so i am sitting at my desk...ty just came in with a box of rice krispy treats. i opened one for ty and one for ike...they are red white and blue for 4th of july...ty got excited when he saw all the colors. "wow, red, my favorite color, blue, ike's favorite color!" his voice was kind of scratchy, he then said "mom, my voice doesn't sound very loud, I'm gonna have to get a speak-up-inator!" So i asked ty what a speakupinator is...this is what he said.

Kane's facial expressions!

Kane is really starting to show his personality! I love when he coos and grins. Ty and Ike are also enjoying this stage. Kane is a happy baby - unless he is hungry or has a dirty diaper! I know that is true of most babies but the minute Kane dirties his diaper he is screamin' and when he is hungry he is hungry and their is nothing else you can do to calm him but feed him!