Life Lesson

Any time you talk to your Grandparents you can probably learn a thing or two! Well, my sister told me this story that my Grandma and Grandpa Thompson shared with her.

I guess that my Grandparents had gotten in to a pretty good fight and my Grandma had just had it! So she says to my Grandpa, "let's write 5 things we hate about each other on a piece of paper and just get this over with". As my Grandpa is telling the story he jokes and says "I thought she said 5 PAGES......hahaha". Off they go in to their seperate rooms to work on their lists. After a certain amount of time they come back together to share their "hate" lists. My Grandma puts her paper down on the table and sure enough there are 5 things written down that she hates about my Grandpa. Now she wants to see my Grandpa's list so he sets it down and there are 100 things written down that he LOVES about her!

I love this story. It speaks volumes about finding the good in a bad situation and my Grandpa Thompson is truly the best at that! He is such a great example of thinking positive and "life is what you make it"! My Grandma is a neat lady too and she cracks me up! I think she is too hard on herself and doesn't give herself enough credit! I love my Grandparents!

Biggest Loser!

If you didn't watch the Biggest Loser this season, you missed a good season! There was a father/daughter couple from SHELLEY, IDAHO!! So, here's MY story in a nutshell: I was working late one evening and my boss says to everyone: Hey that girl from Shelley from the Biggest Loser is coming home and she missed makeover week by one week so her dad wants her to get a makeover, does anyone want to do it? UH let me think!? YES!!! I wasn't the only one that wanted too, so me and a few other gals from Carlisle Beauty did Kaylee's makeover when she came home. Moses (her dad) was with her and we talked and asked questions the WHOLE night. I think I ended up leaving around 10 but the girls said they were there til about 11.

Anyway, the next morning was her big reveal to her family and community, which was at Shelley High School just 2 miles from my house! So of course we went. We were coached on how to react at certain times and had to film things a few times so they could get different angles. It was a fun experience to be a part of. Funny part is they didn't even use that footage because Kaylee had to go and get a boyfriend, who just happened to be on this seasons show as well, and you know Hollywood, they like a good love story for some ratings! So they used some new footage! I was sad because I went and did her hair in the morning for the reveal at the school, so I was excited my hairstyle would be on TV! OH WELL! Kaylee ended up playing volleyball with my family on an Apple League, it was lots of fun and she drew a crowd everytime she was there! Moses is hilarious and SO nice! I'm glad I got to meet them!
Jen and Lajae and Caders just waiting to see Kaylee and Moses!

Her mom really didn't get to see her until this moment because the camera guys wanted a real reaction.

Moses talking about their experiences

Moses and Jen and LaJae

Moses and Me

Moses, Kaylee and her boyfriend Vance (white team) came to my parents house and talked with my whole family about their experiences and what motivated them to go on the show, during the show and when they came home. It was fun to hear the inside scoop and also know what they learned. It was so fun and we were so grateful they took time out of their schedules to come talk to us!

Kaylee with Jen and LaJae

Kaylee and Me.

Now that I have celebrity status on my resume I'm sure they will be calling me for next seasons makeover week! Keep dreamin, I know!

Catchin UP!

Cade is between 16-18 months in all these pictures. (don't worry, he's almost 2 for reals!)

Sometimes when it gets "too" quiet this is what I will find Cade doing..........reading! I'm so thankful that he loves to read at such a young age. This was so funny though because he dumped all his toys out of this basket and climbed right in. I bet he stayed in there and read for a good 10 minutes! He cracks me up.

Cade was being so cute sitting on this chair and just posing for me! I love him.

Cade is definetly his Dad's boy when it comes to loving the outdoors. NOt saying that I don't, I just like to stay warm inside too. Cade (and Bryan) could stay outside all day long, be frozen and not really care! I will have to get use to it, or I'm sure I will be left out!

The only gloves we had for Cade were mittens so it took him a bit to figure out how to pick up things, but he did and loves to throw Jacks ball for him.

Cade loves going on horse rides with Daddy, and I think Daddy likes it just as much.

Me with my cute hat the my sis-in-law Em made me! I wear it ALL the time!

Yes, our goat has his head completely bent backwards. He is a funny, weird little goat but we like him because he eats all our weeds. Cade loves him and he tolerates Cade.

Puddy does this all the time....we're not sure if it's normal goat behavior........?

Cade loves to try on mom and dads shoes. I love his concentration. He does have pretty good balance.

I love his face, he gets so excited!

This use to be my real phone and Cade would always seem to find it and connect to the internet. I finally upgraded and this became a play phone, well he's no dummy he hated it when it didn't work!

This was the first snow of the season and I felt like a good mom for bundlin Cade up and actually goin out and playin! Pat on the back for Tiff.

Peek-a-boo! Cade got this little farm set for his birthday and he absolutely LOVES it! Borderline obsessed!

Sometimes Cade likes to help clean out the cupboards, even when they don't need cleaned out!

Classic picture of Cade, one sock off (usually both end up off, and trains all lined up!)

Cade has a really good view of all the horses and Jack's pen from this window. (No, I'm not an unfit mother, it looks like I'm standing far away from him but I'm not!)

Hooray! I "caught up"! yeah right!

got me thinking.....

There are many who read the Nie Nie Dialogues, if you are not you are truly missing out. Her blog is inspiring and motivating! She and her husband were recently on 20/20 and the Glenn Beck program(s) and I watched them and was inspired yet again. Her and her hubby survived a plane crash and her body was 80% burned. She definetly looks different than she did before, BUT here is where it gets good. She is so genuinley strong in the gospel and her testimony it makes me want to do better. What got me thinking is on the Glenn Beck program he asked her what helped change her mindset from negative to positive, and this was her response (kind of summed up in my own words) She said that she thought of her life BEFORE the crash and thought of the positive non-materialistic things she had in her life. For example, her husband, her children, the gospel, her relationships with family and friends and God. Then she said she thought of her life AFTER the crash and what positive non-materialistic things she had. Well, she still had them ALL! It really puts things into perspective and if she can have a postive outlook on life after everything she has gone through, then I'm pretty sure I should be able to too. I am truly blessed in my life and need to express my gratitude more, especially to those I love. I need to not take the "little" things for granted and have more patience in suffering. I need to be a better neighbor, friend, sister, wife, mommy, daughter and member of the church! I'm not trying to be hard on myself, I just know there's always room for improvement! I'm thankful for good people like "Nie Nie" who share their stories to help others.
(Cade's Blessing Day November 2009)