Some things I love that you might be surprised to learn...

1. I am right brained, so, of course, I love anything creative and artistic. Blake and I steal the Dirty Dancing line all the time that "He will change the world and I will decorate it." But I do. I love decorating and interior design, I love photography and visual arts, I love scrapbooking, painting, coloring, writing, etc.

2. I love quiet. I am not one of those people who needs background noise. I can sit contently in silence and type or read a book. In fact, this is one of my main complaints about living in a house with 4 noisy boys. There is just never a quiet moment.
3. I love hair, and people who do hair, hairstyles, hair fashion. It's totally an ART! Secretly, I can see myself going to cosmotoglgy school just so I can hang out with a bunch of catty women in a salon and be creative with hair. Any time I get to hang out with my friends daughters, that's the first thing I do is go get a brush and a bunch of little hair toys. So fun! I have spent my life being very brave with my own styles. I have probably been every color, length, and style imaginable...except extentions, but who has $1200 laying around to spend twice a year on HAIR



4. Musicals/Broadway. This has been a long time obsession. Some of my faves are: Rent, Mama Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Smokey Joes Cafe,

5. Tattoos. Apparently, my art obsession knows no bounds, and I especially have an appreciation for people who express art even on their bodies. Kat Von D is my idol! I have a small one for myself, my husband has 2 large, but at that I feel like such a poser...I need more.

6. Ebay. IT's my automatic shopping go-to. I am just amazed every time I log on and not only find what I am looking for, but usually find it for 99 cents. That's amazing!
7. Trees. One of my favorite things about living in Alabama has always been the trees. Not only that, they are just beautiful (there is no way for a tree not to be beautiful...even when it's dead). The symbolism of trees goes back to Adam and Eve. So...anyway...I have a thing for trees.
8. Vintage and Antiques. I inherited this gene from my grandmother who lives in an antique museum. I just love a piece (be it garment or furniture) that has had experiences and is quality enough to still be around living today.
9. The smell of freshly bathed babies. There's just something about that soft skin all lubed up with baby lotion and that wet hair snuggled about against you that makes motherhood magical.
10. I don't think I could ever pull it off, but I also have to admire the glamorous burlesque style such as that of Dita Von Teese. Very cool.

Starting School...

Apparently, the oldest son of Blake Thompson has found a way to be a school stand-out 3 days in (Why am I so psurprised?).

School started Tuesday and last night the parents and faculty of our 200+ student lower school gathered in a full room for an Open House. The principal stood and was addressing many issues regarding the year, the number one concern being carpool. She asked that we please continue working with our children on their numbers, that even some 5th graders were having trouble responding. Then she announces that, although she never likes to single anyone out, she has to mention one kindergartener who wins the award of "best at carpool." As she mimics the cuteness of #81, and the crowed laughs and cheers, I hear Elijah Thompson's name. A redness of both pride and embarrassment shoot over me as I realize, THat's MY Son!! For the rest of the night (and possibly the school year) we were refferred to as, "Hey! 81!"

Way to go Lijah Lucy! You are already off to a great school year!

10 Things I love about Zion

I am spending the weekend with my 3rd born. My baby. Just the two of us. He is very much a typical third born, but there is so much that makes him unique. Here are 10 things I love about Zion:

1.) He smiles with his eyes. He has sweet little bubbly facial features, but when he smiles, he squints his see-through emerald eyes and lights up the whole room.

2.) The way he feels when he lays his head on my shoulder. I love this with all my children, but Zion definately does it the most often. He is also so funny when he holds me so tight that I can let my hands go and he doesn't move an inch. There's no doubt he loves his Mama.

3.) Okay, he has this thing he does that's hard to explain but it's when he's being silly. He lifts his hands in karate blades above his face and rocks back and forth like he's being a threat. Really, he's just being adorable.

4.) Peepee-tatter? Hlip Hlops? My diaper bout to "lick"? "I very not wanna do that..."? And the way he will have no trouble learning Spanish as a second language because he's got the tongue roll thing down pat. He's very creative with words.

5.) Sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't but it's always classic ZZ to say: "I don't want that" followed by a long pause and then a, "maybe I do."

6.)He is madly in love with his brothers and immulates and follows their every step. For example, Elijah has this look he makes when he's thinking and now Zion does it: He cocks his head to the side, puts his finger on his chin and squints one eye and says "Hmmm...Maybe...". Also, he has picked up Judah's coffee drinking habit, so I have two coffee buddies and one who can't stand the nearness of the stuff.

7.)The fact that he's not even 3 and he's been potty trained almost a year. He just did it on his own too. What a joy they are to raise when they make your life easier.

8.)He loves to pray and he always starts out the same way: Thank you, God. Thank you...

9.)He loves to joke and play tricks.

10.)I like this now. Probably one day, not so much, but... He loves being the baby. If we are in public playing with other children, he will find a nurturing little girl and grab her hand and let her play 'Baby' the whole time. His brothers will get mad if you call them baby. They are "big boys." But Zion, if his brothers have just declared themselves the big boys, will look at me with pride and say: "I the baby."

Step into My Garden