Lots of photos. Let's see.....we'll start at the top. Ethan at a football game. He has been opposed, recently, to having his photo taken so all I'm getting is the back of his head and from far away. He plays tight end on the offense, defensive end on the defense. Tight end is a position in which you are on the end of the line and you must hold the ball very tight. Defensive end means, also, that you are on the end of the line and that you must be defensive about all comments made to you during the game. That is what I don't know about football. John says I must add that Ethan starts on both the offense and the defense, which I do Really know is impressive. He practiced all summer and went to a really great camp, so he was ready for the season.

The thing that Emily is holding up is an anemometer. It is something she is learning about in school. Hers was the only one that worked when the class tried to use it. Did I mention that I have the best kids? I shouldn't really have to; I think it is obvious. The next picture is Emily sleeping. Also I guess I have to mention that I have the cutest kids. Isn't she just precious?

And then John on the tractor. Doesn't he look so proud? He loves driving the tractor. Mowing the grass. John (husband) looks the same way when he is mowing the grass. Must be a "men and their tractors" thing. We have so many rocks in our yard right there. The boys are trying to get them all picked up and take them down to the lake.

Next picture is Thompson version of Where's Waldo.....Where's Emilytha? We have been calling her that since she was 2. Ethan had a birthday party and a little girl in his class came to the party. Her family was new to the country and she could not say Emily's name without adding "tha" to the end and we liked it. We also call her "toots", Smelly Gayle (Gayle is her middle name), what else? I think that's it.

And last....John in front of the cat tower he made. Isn't it cool? And the cat is trying to play with his hair. The cat loves it. He likes to tease the dog and then run up there where the dog can't eat him. It's so funny.

And now let's see.....what's going on in our house? School is going well for everyone. Even me. Well, let me qualify that. I'm not doing so hot in research. My instructor is from another country and she is difficult to understand, plus crazy, plus I don't like research to start with, plus the test questions are not well worded, plus, plus, plus......I could go on and on. I will pass the class and just move on..... But I am doing very well in all my other classes, which is the way it should be. The things that will make me a good nurse practitioner, I am doing well in. I love my pathophysiology class. I love to know exactly why something is going wrong in the body. It's very exciting. John is back from Alabama, glad to have that two weeks over. It's been a great weekend, going to hate when he goes back to Baltimore tonight.

First day of school

Today is the first day of school and I am a nervous wreck. Holy Cow!! I thought I would be more worried about them when they were little. NO. It just gets worse. When they were little they had more people around making sure they were where they needed to be. Now they are bigger and they have to know so much more. I just wish it would be acceptable for mommies to walk their kids to class in junior high and middle school. Oh NO!!! John and Ethan would have FrEaKeD!!! It just would have made me feel better I tell you. They wouldn't even let me take pictures. They rode the bus this morning. It was the first time Ethan rode the bus to school on the first day. It just broke my heart. But, they really have to so they will know what to do tomorrow. The first day there is a lot of help. Tomorrow will be less. John and Ethan are plenty stressed about being at a new school, especially Etahn--first time changing classes, not the smae teacher all day. Emily is so execited about school because we got the BEST teacher ever. Really. Mrs. Vanborgandine. I'm not sure I spelled that right. We get to call her Mrs. VanB. Thank goodness! I had such a good summer with them and I just miss them so. Pity party at the Thompsons.

A New Edition to the Thompson Family

His name is Clyde. Clyde the cat. And I cannot figure out why oh why all my text is being underlined and furthermore, can't find a way to turn it off. We, actually, got the cat a couple of weeks ago. I just haven't posted it. Shame on me.....because I know you all are waiting with baited breath to have all the information about the Thompsons you can get. Sorry! So, back to the story at hand. This is Clyde. We adopted him from the animal shelter. He has got to be the best cat. Puts up with Emily toting him around like a champ. He even likes the dog. Does the dog like him? Eh, I don't think so, but he does tolerate him. He's a people kind of cat. He likes to be held and petted. He likes us. The only thing I don't like about this cat is that he likes a morning massage. And he wants it at about 5:30am. Yea....that's not any fun. Not even when I have to get up that early. You know those cat tree things you see at PetSmart that cats climb and play on? The big ones are like a hundred dollars or so. My John built one for Clyde and it looks just like those and we hardly spent any money at all on it. I'm so proud. Just dreamed out what he wanted and built it. And....the cat loves it. He has a perch way up tall that he likes to sleep on. I need to post a picture of that.

Alright, that's the cat story. And since I know you guys are not getting enough of this underling business, let's talk about something else. It's getting on my nerves. The kids start school next week. Tuesday. They say they aren't excited, but they really are ready. We had a great summer, but now that I have started school they are getting a little (a LOT) bored. So, they are ready. John and Ethan had open house last night. We walked through their whole schedule so they won't be so anxious on the first day. Alright, class is about to start. Off I go.

A Night out with Emily

Emily and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner one Friday night a couple of weeks ago. The boys went to a Montgomery Gentry concert and didn't invite us. So, we had to go shopping. Had to. We went to an outdoor mall with lots of good stores and restaurants. Do ya see that dessert that is almost as big as her head??? You should have seen her eyes when they brought to her. Huge! It was so fun! Even the people at the next table got big eyes for her huge dessert. Oh, what fun! Sadly, though, it was one of those trips where you just can't find a thing to buy. But we still had fun being together, holding hands, and just talking. Those are the best moments for me.

It's been a long time since I've posted. We have had some stress. The Army is asking (demanding) for John's assistance in Baltimore. He will be there for a year. Could be worse, I know, but still I am bitter. He will be home on the weekends. I just think it is such bad timing. I just started school and it is not going to be a piece of cake. Do you know how many ATP a molecule of glucose yields and how this is relevant to a diabetic....how a broken second messenger system in a cell can lead to cancer? See? Why now? Two years from now would be better. But, as we have no choice(say that like you're mad).....we will survive and adjust. Ok--but that's the bad stuff.....let's talk about the good stuff. School starts back next Tuesday. No, wait....that's bad stuff too. Actually, I will really miss them. Even though they will tell you they are not ready to go back, they are. Open house for John and Ethan is tomorrow. The next day for Emily. We are having a monumental moment this year. John starts junior high and Ethan starts middle school. I can't believe how fast they are growing. Emily has really grown this summer. She is looking forward to dance starting soon. Football started eons ago for Ethan. And poor John got cheated. They didn't have enough players to have a soccer team, so he will have to wait for spring soccer. Alright, someone needs to crack a whip behind me. I need to get busy cleaning and studying.