Yorktown

We went to Yorktown on Saturday. It is the sight of the last battle of the Revolutionary War. We all love the history here. Especially Ethan. He remembers even small details. I just wish he could remember his multiplication tables. These pictures are taken at Redoubt 9 and 10. Their capture from the British was a critical strategy to eventually defeat the British. John, Ethan and Emily fought the British for about an hour here. It was a lot of fun to watch them play. And we were freezing. It was supposed to be a warm day. It was 64 when we left Hopewell expecting the temp to rise........but when we to Yorktown it was 54. But we were determined to have fun anyway.


We were so determined to have fun we went to the beach too. John bought a kite with his own money. Him and his dad had a lot of fun getting it off the ground. Ethan shot more enemies that were trying to get onto the beach. Emily and Tiger got some sunbathing in. Oh, how we love the beach!

Emily is 7

Emily's Build-A-Bear birthday party. It was so exciting. She and her friends had so much fun. They chattered non stop. Emily's new friend is "Tiger". We went to Yorktown Saturday and made our way to the beach where Emily and Tiger got some sunbathing in. Even though it was only 54 degrees and no sun in sight.

I put her in front of a window to open her presents so all of those pictures are too dark. I knew better than that. I'm so mad. But all of the Build-a-Bear pictures turned out very well.

We want to send out a special thank you to the most wonderful, special grandparents a little girl could ask for. You guys helped make her special day very, very wonderful. We are very grateful for your love.

Bowling Fun

We love to bowl. We went on Saturday. We were supposed to go to Yorktown, but it rained the day before and we were afraid it would be too muddy. John won once. Ethan won once. Emily just likes to have fun. Never gets mad. But we do love the bumpers! It does keep everyone in good spirits when there is no such thing as a gutter ball. John (dad) plays really well. I have to be content to have fun....like Emily....cause I ain't that good. Emily loves the shoes. She wants to have a pair to wear to school.

She is having a birthday party on Friday at Build-A-Bear. Actually, she does not know that part yet. But she knows something is going on and she is very excited. Our big 7 year old girl. She is losing baby fat and turning into a real little girl. It is bitter sweet.

I have a job. I will be working part time at a smaller hospital in the town where our apartment is. Not as big as the great big Richmond hospitals, but definitely bigger than the one I worked at in Palestine. I will be working in the ER. So, if any of you get hurt, just make your way over here to Virginia. I will be happy to take care of you!

Alright, off to bed for me. Love to all you guys, our precious family and friends, Kathy Jo

No news

I don't have a new picture to put in, but I just can't make myself write a new entry without adding a picture. This is Christmas 2005 in Blackwater Falls, WV. What fun we had!! We decided to skip presents and just go on vacation. We did do stockings. It worked out surprizingly well. Fun was had by all! We got to feed deer from the back porch of our cabin, go sledding, build snowmen, and drink lots of hot chocolate!

I had hoped that I would be posting a picture of some progress on our house, but no luck. Just as soon as all of our ducks are in a row, the rain came. So, once again, I will say....next week.

Everyone here is well, I think. I'm afraid to say it. The last time I said it, Emiy had a relapse. I am gainfully employed. I will be working at a local hospital in the ER part time. That is a little bit of a change for me. Most of my experience has been in ICU. I start on March 26. I am looking forward to it. There is only so much you can do in a little 2 bedroom apartment. Love to all, Kathy Jo

A Picture of John

I needed to add a picture of John. I realized tonight that I didn't have one of him on here. This was actually taken last year, but it was a proud moment. A deal he worked out with Grandpa Bill. This was the day we picked up the Gator from Grandpa Bill's house. He loves it!

Sick Emily

My poor sick Emily. She is such a trooper. Smiling even though she feels so bad! Cute little thing! She has stayed home from school 3 days now. Actually, today, I think she could have gone, but I knew she was having a substitute today and she is still a little weak.

But Monday she has to be well, because she is going on a fieldtrip. And she is so excited!

John is the only who hasn't gotten sick. And I think he would like to, except that today is Friday, so he wouldn't miss any school. Poor guy!

Well, the builder has not started on our house yet. He had to do soil testing first. Someone please tell me why that is necessary?? What is that going to tell us? Sigh....next week, but at this point, I'm not holding my breath! I guess these are the lows of building a house. Hopefully, the highs are coming soon. I'll post pictures.

Love to everyone, Kathy Jo

We have been reminiscing of when John was in Iraq. It always makes me think of this picture. It's my favorite. What a handsome boy!! John, not the camel. We are so proud of him for serving, but glad that it is all behind us. What a long, long year for us all!!










Ethan is home sick today. He said he wasn't feeling well at school yesterday. His teacher wrote in his discipline folder that he was working very slowly. Crazy teacher!! Couldn't have been the raging fever he had, could it?? He feels queasy, crummy, and has a high fever. Not very happy! He does not enjoy missing school to be sick. Although, he has been very entertaining. At 2:45 this morning, he thought he had to throw up and sat on the bathroom floor waiting for it come and telling me why a bowling ball weighs more than a beach ball. And while he was waiting to fall asleep later he was telling facts about Abraham Lincoln. Now he is laying on the couch watching TV. He feels too sick to play Play Station, so you can know that this is a serious illness.





John took Emily and John to school today. He said that Emily was a nonstop jabber box on the way to school. Poor John could not get a word in at all. Finally, Dad told her she had to let John talk, so she sat back, folded her skinny little arms, put her nose in the air and said...."so, talk". Funny little girl. She is gearing up for her birthday. She has been planning it since January. We have to talk about it all the time.

And John....the quiet man. Still hates school! No change there. He has to take the Virginia SOL writing test today. A big stressor for a new kid, but it will not count for him this year since he is new. Got to drive his Gator this weekend. He was a very, very happy boy!! He got to do REAL work with it. I did not get to take any pictures because it was a boy's day so I really didn't get to see them much. Emily and I went shopping to pass the time while they were gone. Sigh!! We looked at EVERYTHING in the Build-A-Bear Workshop. EVERYTHING! But it was great fun.

Emily and I sitting on the couch in our apartment. We are "Best Friends Forever" according to her. I hope she still feels that way when she is 14.

First Blog Entry

Well, hello Thompson fans......This is our first blog at, this, our new site. I will try not to keep changing on you. As most of you know, we have moved to Virginia. We have been here for three weeks. We are building a house in a little town about 20 miles from where our apartment is. The kids started school last week. And they are adjusting very well for having been dragged across the country. They have very good teachers. They have some new friends and already have some fieldtrips scheduled. They have been great little troopers.

John, John, and Ethan got to do some hard labor this weekend while Emily and I did shopping. Window shopping, actually. We are gearing up for her birthday party and we were doing some planning and some daydreaming. John, John, and Ethan did yardwork with a friend and got to drive the Gator around and just do some manly things. They had a great day and slept very well last night.