3 Day Weekend = 900 miles

Our weekend was full of traveling! Lots of fun! We went to Midland on Sat. and the game was canceled the minute we stepped on the field for wind!!! Only in west TX! So the game was rescheduled for Monday! Two trips to Midland in one weekend!! On Sunday we sandwiched in a trip to Keller! We had so much fun meeting Miss Sydney Faith! And Brent enjoyed playing guns, and cars with Griffin! Here are some (actually alot) of pictures of our favorite (and only) niece!!!

Sound asleep on Uncle Brent!

Griffin has been handling the new adddition pretty well!

He kept asking Brent "How long are you going to hold her?"

Sweet Family Picture!

Uncle Brent brought Griffin a nerf gun! They played guns for hours!

I am beginning to wonder if Brent bought the gun for Griff or himself!

We are very excited about having a niece!!!

Braggin on my Hubby

Not much going on in our little world! Soccer, soccer, soccer! It is a good thing I have grown to love this sport! A-high is in 2nd place! We are 5 and 1. Brent had the expectation of turning this program around, but I really thought it would take a couple of years! Boy ~ did he surprise me!!!! They are doing so well, and I am very proud of him and his girls!!! Last night we beat Odessa High 3~0 and tomorrow we go to Midland to take on Midland High! My students made the team a banner for the Cooper game!

Tonight I am going to a Ladies Retreat with church! I am so looking forward to the time with girlfriends and having the opportunity to become refreshed! Then tomorrow it is off to Midland! And then the highlight of my weekend will come on Sunday! We have a new niece and we get to go meet her on Sunday! I can't wait!

Happy Friday!!!

Tag! Your IT!!!

So here is a little survey!!! I stole this from my friend Shannon!

1. I’ve come to realize that my ex-boyfriend... any of them....were part of the learning process, and help make me the person/wife I am today!
2. I am listening to...the heater in my classroom!
3. I talk...alot....and (some would say) LOUDLY!
4. I love...my husband!
5. My best friends...are miles away, but close to my heart!
6. I lost... Brent would fill this blank in with "my keys" I am always losing my keys!!!!
7. I hate it when people...neglect or hurt their children!!!!!
8. Love is...never ending!!!!
9. Marriage is...different each year. Everyone tells you it gets better, and I thought there was nothing better than newlyweds....but it truely does get better!
10. Somewhere, someone is thinking...that I have too much time on my hands...to fill one of these out!!!!
11. I’ll always be...called Thompson (even though that hasn't been my name for over 4 years)
12. I have a crush on...my nephews!
13. The last time I cried was because...two of my students came in and were so excited because one of the men teacher's had eaten breakfast with them! It was so special for them, and touched my heart!
14. My cell phone...is always in the process of dying!!!!! This drives B crazy!!!!
15. When I wake up in the morning...I don't like to talk for a while!
16. Before I go to sleep at night...B, the puppes, and I all get on the bed to get it nice and warm! I hate cold sheets in the winter time!
17. Right now I am thinking...about if I want to wake up early on Sat. and ride with the team, or sleep in and drive by myself!!!!
18. Babies are...a miracle!
19. I get on MySpace...NEVER....It is so addicting to me, so I just stay off! I am sure I will give in one day!
20. Today ...Brent and I are going to go out to eat for Valentine's Day because we didn't want to go last night and wait the crowds! I do not like waiting! This is a new peeve of mine since living in the metroplex!
21. Last Night I...babysat my nephew. Brent and I love hanging out with Grayson!
22. Tomorrow I...will be happy cause it is Friday!
23. I really want...my new niece to come this weekend, so I can be there.....otherwise she is coming on Monday, and I can't go until after TAKS!!!!
I tag all of you that read this!!!

P.S. For my fellow eagle fans....We beat Cooper!!

Clobber the Coogs

We had our big team dinner last night to get ready to Clobber the Coogs tonight! The two girls and their families that hosted it had a theme of Cavemen/Flinstones. It is so much fun to see what the girls can come up with! One of them even had on a Cougar pelt! B and I decided to dress up this time! His girls played so awesome on Tuesday night he thought it would be a nice reward. They were shocked! They about died when we walked in the door! You know you are old when you feel the need to wear clothes under your costume to avoid showing too much skin!

Soccer is about all we have been up to! Hope everyone is staying warm!

Falling Behind!

I have kind of been falling behind on keeping up with my blogging!!! Soccer is keeping us pretty busy! Tonight we are headed to Lubbock to take on Lubbock High! My mom is going with me, so I don't have to make that boring, dusty drive on my own! Drew is meeting us at the game and going to go eat with us after! I am so excited about seeing him! Speaking of brothers!!! T.J. is engaged!!!!! He has been dating Chandra for three years! We love Chandra and can't wait for her to be an official part of the family! They are thinking around September, or that is what they were thinking before they were engaged...but since the engagement neither one of them can stop smiling long enough to answer any questions!

My soon to be sister-in-law!

This is the gang (without Chandra) before he proposed! This is the evening he brought the ring over to show all of us!!!! Brent and I went ring shopping with him!! And then afterwards we all went to Mom and Dad's! Drew and Lana just happened to be in town for a funeral, so they got to share the happy night with us!

And then here is a random picture!!! Back during the series of ice storms that A-town had the lake became frozen!!! Who would've thought that Lake Ft. Phantom would freeze??? It was like an ice rink! Of coarse the whole lake didn't freeze, but our little cove was solid! I was too much of a scaredy cat to actually step out on it! But it had to be pretty solid for snow to sit on top of it!

I love Christmas Break!!!

Well, I started off the break with the stomach bug!!! No Fun! Brent came home from school throwing up and I was determined I wasn't going to get it!! I had it twice in the spring and he didn't get it either time! So I thought if I kept cleaning the house, and let the fresh air in by opening the windows, I would avoid the germs!!! They found me!!! And I missed the last day of school before the break! I felt so bad for my kids! They had to have their Christmas party without me! After a couple days of recuperating, I was back up and runnin! I started off the holiday break by getting to see some old friends! We had a track get together! I had not seen some of my track teammates in years! It was so fun talking about old times and special memories we made on all those track trips! I think we are very lucky to have been able to have such a unique relationship with our coach! She was like our momma! And it was fun seeing her again! Alot of my track girlfriends have babies that I had never met! Not everyone was able to be there, but it was the start of a tradition that we hope continues!

After that reunion I headed off to another one! This group of friends I have learned is a rare group! When we were in high school people would tell us that our friendship would fade! I guess we are stubborn, because we have been determined to prove everyone wrong! Everytime I get with my girls it is just like it has always been! I am so thankful for that!

After the night of friends, we headed off on Christmas Eve morning to Ft. Worth. We celebrated Christmas with my grandparents and aunt, uncle, and cousins! We always have a ball with this side of the family! There usually ends up being some kind of wrapping paper fight! The boys seem to think it is funny to wad up the paper and throw it at people! We made it back just in time for Christmas Eve service at FBC with B's family. This is such a special time and tradition. After a late night, Christmas morning came all too early! We started off by having our Christmas together with our puppies. Then headed over to Mom and Dad's. It's funny how as you grow older Christmas morning starts later and later. We practically had to drag the boys out of bed! I remember when they use to run into my room before the sun was even up, trying to get me out of bed!

You can tell the boys just got out of bed!!!!

This is Drew's baby! He is crazy about her!

After Christmas morning breakfast and opening presents, we headed off to Grandad's. The Christmas Day events are always the same at Grandad's. The girls are in the kitchen and the boys are watching football camped out in front of the t.v. I know we wouldn't have it any other way though!

My Boys!!!

This is Marjorie... She is wonderful! She is a true blessing! Even though it is hard during the holidays because Grandma isn't here to share it with us, she is a joyful addtion to our family! She makes Grandad so happy, and that is why we love her!

Let me introduce you to Bryce! He is my newest cousin! My aunt and uncle adopted him! He is precious! He is checking to make sure all the presents have been handed out! Too CUTE!

Next stop, the Camp house! This year Griffin actually understood the present process. The past couple of years he has been more interested in the boxes, and wrapping paper than the gifts! It was so fun watching him open. Grayson didn't really get the opening part, but he loved all the toys! His favorite was a book! Who knew? Christmas is so magical in the eyes of children! I love it!

There is a story behind this pic! Griffin was up in B's lap helping him open! As soon as Grayson realized that Griffin was getting Brent's attention he flew over to Brent and climbed up! I guess Grayson isn't used to sharing his Uncle Brent!

Well, here we are! The Camp Crew is continuing to grow! Lisa is due with a little girl in February, and Brandon and Sarah are getting married in May! Big families are so much fun!

Overall, we had a wonderful holiday with friends and family! I managed to see some movies, a chick flick (with mom) and then B and I saw The Pursuit of Happiness (one I would recommend) We also started off the soccer season! Looking good so far! We are 2 and 1! B and I enjoyed time at home together! With the season starting our life is about to be thrown in the fast lane! It's a good thing we love soccer!

What a Weekend!

The weekend started early for me, since I was off on Friday for the wedding! Friday was a special day! I am so glad I was able to be a part of Molly's wedding! One of my life-long friends was married to one of our high school friends. Molly and Peter's relationship has been fun to watch. From the time we were in high school they have had a special relationship, but mainly as friends. Friday they started a new chapter of their relationship, and I couldn't be happier for them. They both deserve the best, and in each other they have found the best! Here are a few pics from the wedding!

Meant to Be!!!

Isn't she beautiful!!!!

This is a picture that we have taken at all of our rehearsal dinner's. We started this pic at my dinner, and then decided to continue the tradition at Sarah's, then Brittney's, and now Molly's!

On Friday night after the wedding I drove back to A-town for Brandon's graduation on Saturday morning. I have known Brandon since he was 10. I feel like he is my brother as much as he is Brent's. I have loved watching him grow from a kid, to a teenager, and now into a man. We are so proud of him!

Then on Sunday I drove to Sweetwater with two of my college roomies for Mel's baby shower. When all of us roomies get together, it is like we have never been apart! I am so blessed to have made these wonderful friendships that I know will never end. It is fun spending special times like pregnancies together! As you can see, there is a new addition to our roommate family! Sweet Camille Raye is almost 2 months old! Isn't she precious!

We finished off the weekend by celebrating at an engagement party for Brent's brother, Brandon, and his fiance, Sarah last night! They are getting married in May and we can't wait! The weekend was very busy, but lots of fun! I enjoyed getting to see so many old friends and lots of family! It made me very anxious for Christmas to get here!!!

This weekend was Griffin's 4th birthday! I can't believe that it has been four years since he was born. Brent and I were newlyweds, and living in Plainview when we made the five hour drive to be there for his birth. There have been so many changes since then! It has been so fun watching him grow and change. He has developed his own little personality, and we enjoy being around him so much! We have learned a tremendous amount about parenting through being an aunt and an uncle!
My students are beginning to get crazy!! We are having Sex Ed. classes right now, and that makes them sooooo hyper! Only 8 more days of school for me! I am taking Friday off for the BIG wedding!!!! I can't wait to see everyone!

I love this time of year!!!!!!

I love this time of year for so many reasons!!!! We went to City Sidewalks last week and it really got me in the Christmas Spirit! I am ready for no school and lots of time with family spent relaxing and being lazy!!! This year it seems that we are extra busy! I am sure it was the same way last year, but this year I am feeling like there isn't enough time to fit it all in! Too much going on to blog about it all, so I hope this picture will do!

Giving Thanks!

We had a great Thanksgiving break! It was nice just to spend time with B. He was out of town for three weeks straight before Thanksgiving with HSU soccer. It was nice to have him home. The puppies and I missed him! We had tons of fun with family and friends this past week! Here are some highlights!!!!
Seeing Miss Camden (and Ally and Jay)
Sleeping in with the puppies in our bed!
Seeing my brothers! (and their girlfriends)
Going to Gatti's with our two nephews!
Christmas Shopping!
Scatagories and Skip Bo with the Camp Crew!
Scrapbooking (for me) and Fishing (for B)!
Decorating for Christmas!
No papers to grade (even though I should have!)
Pool Tournaments at my parents between B, my dad, grandfather, and brothers!
Cooking and Eating!!!
Hope you all had a fun, festive holiday! Only three and a half more weeks of school!!!

All the pics won't load, but enjoy this one!

Can you tell he is a Camp????

Home Sweet Home

It is so good to be back in good ole' Abilene! Last week I was in Junction with my fifth graders. All the fifth graders at Fannin had the opportunity to go to an outdoor school that Texas Tech has in Junction. It was a wonderful experience for the kids and for the teachers. The Texas Tech Junction campus is the campus where the movie "The Junction Boys" was filmed. The old barracks are still there where the movie took place. It was alot of fun to see! I slept in a bunkhouse with the girls.....all 32 of them! Let me tell you, fifth grade girls get giggly at night! It was so much fun bonding with them in a setting that a teacher normally doesn't get to. The lessons (the tech teachers teach) are amazing! I learned alot! We were able to swim in the river after catching macroinvertebrae with our fishing nets. We went on scavenger hunts with compasses and went on a geological dig! I walked more than I have ever walked in a weeks time. My feet and legs were numb when we arrived back in Abilene on Friday. By Saturday morning I missed my kids so much that I was ready for Monday to be here, so I could see them again! This group will forever be special to me because of the unforgettable memories we made in Junction.
You can look at all the pics from our trip at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hillcountry/OLC/AbileneISDPhotos.htm Then click on Fannin.

Nice Surprise

We had a nice surprise Friday night. We got a call from Bryan and Lisa saying they were in town and were going to stop by. For those of you that don't know, they live in Keller...(down the street from where we used to live)... and we didn't know they were going to be in town! So it was definitly a surprise that they were in town.... and when they showed up they had pink balloons that said "It's a GIRL!!!!!!" They are expecting in Feb. and found out Friday the sex of the baby. So they drove in to surprise all of us that IT IS A GIRL!!!!! We are all so excited to have a little girl in the family! Brent and I have two nephews....and don't get me wrong they are so much fun....but a little girl will be a very sweet addition!!!
Before we found out the big news on Friday, we went with Grayson to get a haircut, his first hiarcut! Before the haircut, he had the most precious curls. Everywhere we went people would compliment on how cute his hair was! However, sometimes the curls made him look a little girly, so unfortunately, the curls were cut off on Friday! Thanks to the taxi and a Baby Einstein movie, he was very good during the process. However, when they removed him from the little car, he screamed! His haircut makes him look so much older. He doesn't look like a little baby anymore, which makes me sad....but he is still so cute!



Before (with curls)










After

Playing Games with Uncle Brent

Well, I guess since there is a strike forming I will update..... It is just that now I am so far behind I don't know where to start!
So I will just start by posting these precious pictures of this beautiful baby girl!!! I can't imagine how you feel with your own child, because I am consumed with this baby girl, and I am 250 miles away from her! She is so petite and delicate. Every time I have been around her she is so quiet and peaceful. I am so glad I was able to be there when this precious angel came into the world. It was fun getting to see the fam, and catching up with everyone. Seeing all those grandparents, uncles, and aunts swoon over her was very special! Watching Ally become a mommy has been amazing! Along with Jay, they have jumped into parenthood, and never looked back! I am so proud of them, and excited for the new change their life has brought them! Camden Jaye is very blessed to have two parents that love her unconditionally. So for now, here are some pics! I can't wait until I see that beautiful baby girl again!









Sorry, I am computer impaired....I couldn't get them to rotate! Isn't she precious!

The Story of My Life

PACKING!!!! I have learned to HATE it! We have packed so many times in our short married life that I feel like I should be pretty good at it, but I still dread it! I am moving classrooms......so I am having to pack up!!!!!! I am very excited about going to fifth grade....however not excited about packing! The good thing is we (the other teacher and I) have some wonderful men moving it for us! The husbands that is! My principal's husband, some of his buddies, my teacher friend's husband, and Brent are going to take off Monday and actually move my stuff and another teacher's stuff for us! How wonderful is that!!!

Not much else is going on in my exciting life. Brent's cousin is getting married this weekend in OK City. We are taking Friday off, so we can go ahead and get there for all the festivities. I am looking forward to a weekend away from packing and remodeling! Then, when we get back, only 4 more days!!!!! As we say in Mrs. Camp's class......"Hip Hip Hooray"

Well, that is all for now....I figured I better update before the nazi got ahold of me!

REMODELING!!!!

Brent and I could be considered professional remodelers. I feel like we haven't had a break lately! On the weekends and at nights we work harder than we do at school. We have been redoing the cabin at the lake, and helping Brent's parents redo their new house, and my parents are redoing their kitchen......and we are EXHAUSTED! All the "projects" are coming along! The lake house is almost finished. It is so small that it really hasn't taken much. We put in a new countertop, painted, new sinks, new shower, and of coarse the fun part....decorating! We are going to wait and redo the floors this summer. Brent's parent's house on the other hand is going to take all summer! I don't see the light at the end of the tunnell, although they do, which is good! Right now we are in the process of scraping off many layers of wall paper (some of it has been there since the 20's) It is fun because there is usually so many of us over there working together. I know that this house will look absoluetly incredible when they are finished with it. My parents are aiming to have their kitchen done by the end of school. Brent is doing the tile backsplash. Dad is doing the painting and borders. And the rest is being done professionally. Mom and I are just decorating, which is the fun part! Brent and I enjoy doing these "projects" but I am looking forward to this summer when I can try and fit in some scrapbook time! Only ten more days!!!! I'll post pics of all the renovating soon!

Traumatic Experience

For those of you who have not met Adi and Ele....here they are! Obviously this is at Christmas....I don't have any recent pictures since my camera is broken!!! Aren't they sweet?

The trip to the vet was not a good experience yesterday. We had to go get our yearly shots and since we are new to Abilene we had to visit a new vet. Our vet in Plainview was the first vet that both girls went to. He was wonderful! Then in Keller, we had a bad experience with a vet. Ele hurt her tail and had to have emergency surgery(very expensive!) It was not a good experience for her, or for me! I wasn't able to stay in the room with her when they did her IV and I could hear her! It was awful! Well, our recent visit to the vet wasn't that bad, but it wasn't the best. Our first mistake was taking both girls at the same time. We have never done that before....and will NEVER do it again! The vet was great! We knew he would be, he was highly reccommended by my whole family (and we go to church with his daughter). He was very calm and wanted to know all of the girls' history! This meant alot to Brent and I because these girls are our babies!!!

So Adi went first and was ok during the shots and blood test, but then when he got the trimmers out to clip her toenails....she went crazy! She is our calm one. Brent had to help hold her down! The vet decided to not traumatize her (or me) any more and said we could do her toenails next time and give her a sedative before she came in! Then it was Ele's turn! She is our anxiety child! She gets hives when she is anxious. We had to put her on antidepressants once. We told him he would need to muzzle her because she tried to bite our vet in Keller. (although I don't blame her) We really didn't think there would be a problem since she was muzzled, but as soon as Brent got her up on the table she went crazy!!!! It was so hard to watch! Meanwhile I had a hold of Adi and she was going crazy because Ele was going crazy! They were both jumping around, trying to get loose, whining, growling!!!! It was awful....and very embarrassing!!! When the nurse came back in after it was all over, I asked her if all dogs act this crazy......and she said no and smiled!!! But then she said they had had worse situations! I think she was saying that to make me feel better! The vet told us we could give them both a "doggy downer" next time. So all in all, it was a very traumatic experience for both girls....and for me! I told my mother that night that it was embarrassing having children that misbehaved!!!

Sorry about the long post that is ONLY about my babies! I can't imagine what it will be like when I actually have children!!!

I Love Thursdays Because.....

....we have Taco Salad in the cafeteria. I love them! They are so good, and I don't really know what it is about them, but they are different and I love them! I really do look forward to Thursday, because I know that I will get to eat a Taco Salad. How sad is that?

Brent is in Ft. Worth for the day. He still has to go once a month for his certification. He missed a couple during soccer season, so he is making one up today. I wanted to go with him, and just shop for the day, but it is more work to prepare for a sub, and I am really trying to save up my days!

My arm and back are so sore today!!! We painted all weekend and then last night I scraped wallpaper for two hours. Brent's parents bought an old home and are gutting it! There is like seven layers of wallpaper, atleast, and in the two hours I scraped I probably scraped a four foot area! Trying to get wallpaper off that is 90 years old is NOT easy! I am feeling it today!

No other news except.....Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!!

Not Much To Say

Brent and I really enjoyed our 3-day weekend! It was kind of a tease for summer. My kiddos have kind of been asleep this week, which has been nice! Maybe they will stay like this for the rest of the year! There is a chance I could be packing up my classroom for the fourth time. I might be moving to fifth grade. I have mixed feelings about it! On one hand I am really excited, on the other, it would be nice to stay in the same place for more than a year. My principal asked and I couldn't tell her no. I am a little excited, although if I don't go, I can have everything totally prepared and ready to go for my second year in second grade. Not that teaching fifth grade would be new (since I have two years exp. in 5th) ...that has been the hard thing about this year, all my stuff is for fifth grade. Either way I know I will be happy. I have learned in my four years of teaching....each year teaching a different grade... that I love whatever grade I am in. So I guess that is why it really doesn't matter what grade I teach next year, I know I will enjoy it! I'll keep ya posted!

Yeah For Friday!!!!!

I am so glad Friday is here! Yesterday we were in Lockdown all day, and still are partially in Lockdown today! Can't give any details online...but needless to say yesterday was very stressful and chaotic! The good thing about yesterday was that it was Mom's B-day! We took her to Copper Creek! First time we had been to the new restaurant in town! I highly recomend it! Very Good Food!! And of coarse very well decorated ~ my dad and brother enjoyed looking at all of the wildlife hanging on the walls! Granddad and Marj went with us. They have been traveling so much lately that we haven't had a chance to see them. They leave again today for Holland and Belgium, so it was fun getting to visit with them. Drew and Lana were supposed to come in town, but the class he thought was getting canceled today didn't get canceled. So they are still going to go ahead and come in town today...One of Drew's friends has an engagment party. Isn't it crazy that all my brother's friends are getting married! That would make us OLD!

Yeah, for the fact that we get a three-day weekend!I don't really know why we are getting Monday off...I guess a weather day, doesn't matter what it is for...I will take it!! Not really any big plans this weekend; tomorrow morning our class at church is going to the food bank to volunteer, tomorrow night Leigh Ann and Jason will be in town and we get to see the "Newlyweds", the rest of the time will be spent painting and working out at the lake!

YEAH FOR FRIDAY!!!!!

The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, but that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~John Lubbock

There are some days I wonder why I chose to be a teacher, and then there are all the other days that I am so thankful that the Lord gave me the gift of teaching. I love my job, even though some days are tiring, or make me crazy! Each year I think I won't be able to love the next group of kids as much as I love the current class, but every year I fall in love with all of them. The end of the year gets a little crazy, with field trips, programs, and special activities, and it tends to make a teacher ready for summer! I have enjoyed this special class of children and will never forget their smiling faces and all the memorable moments! I thought I would share my precious 2nd graders with you!!! We had a Cowboy program... don't they look cute all decked out Texas style!!! These next ones are the days when 3:15 can't come soon enough!!!