Little Mermaid: A Blanket DIY!

Thank you to everyone for your kind words of congratulations!  We are excited to welcome baby #5-but honestly didn't know how everyone would react.  We've only received love and kindness; not a single sarcastic remark or eye-roll.  We have the best friends and family!

I decided to post quickly about a recent (not as exciting) project the girls and I worked on. One Sunday afternoon, Addie and I were perusing Pinterest...great parenting I know.  But, she found a mermaid blanket and instantly fell in love with the idea.  I clicked the link to read through the tutorial, and it looked easy enough so we decided to go for it!

 

 

The next day was President's Day, so we ventured out to the fabric store, where Addie picked out the colors of fleece she would like to use (pink and teal...that's my girl!).

We started on it later that day, and after a couple of evenings remembering how to use my sewing machine working on it, it was complete!

The tutorial was super easy to follow, and the whole process only took a few hours.  

(The first time through I did have to watch the attached to video to understand one step, I also changed the length of the body by a couple of inches to customize it to fit Addie)

 

Addie was pleased with the end results and we all felt very accomplished to finish a project so quickly!

It's basically a fleece sleeping bag with a tail.  In fact I was thinking maybe they'd be good for camping when it's cooler.  They could get in these first before their sleeping bags to stay extra cozy.

 

But, this blanket is made for lounging and for pretend play...who doesn't want to be a mermaid, especially one that is warm and fuzzy?! 

You can see I made a second one.  For the second one I didn't even need to use the tutorial, it was that simple.  I had my pattern already cut out and I was able to make it in one evening over about 2 hours. 

If you're interested, I spent about $15 to make the first blanket.  This also included coordinated colored thread for the tail fin.  For the second blanket I spent just under $10.  Thankfully fleece is on sale this time of year, but I think it's on sale quite a bit.

It's not pictured, but Ella actually worked beside me and made one for her "American Girl" doll.  Even with her imperfect cutting and sewing, it still turned out well.  She could just use scraps, so her cost was $0!

The second mermaid blanket wasn't for Ella though.  The girls together chose the colors, and we made one for my niece who was turning 8!

So, if you're needing a simple sewing project that daughters of all ages will love...here you go! 

(The tutorial does also include photos in case you want to make a shark for a boy.  My boy wasn't interested though).

Guessing Game!

 Saturday we thought it would be fun to play a guessing game with the kids.  The rules were we would show them a picture one kid at a time, then they had to guess what it was.  Once they had their turn they had to wait in the kitchen as to not influence the next guesser...

First up was Nathan:

He guessed correctly and figured it out in about thirty seconds.  This isn't his first rodeo.

Ella was a different story.  

She figured out it was a baby, but just which baby she was confused about.

 

Is it Evelyn? Addie? 

 

Me?  Nathan?

 

She even wondered if a friend of ours was having a baby..

 

Then Nathan came to offer a few clues...

Finally, here she's asking me, "Mom, are you pregnant!?"

 

Addie did not want to participate in this activity and started off pretty grumpy.  She quickly warmed up when she saw the photos.

She knew right away that it was a baby.

 

Matt pointed out to her the date on the photos, so she soon figured out what this all meant!

Finally came little squirt:

No idea...

 

Matt explains this is a baby, and the baby is inside Mommy's tummy...

 

Evie loves babies!

 

So, the cat is out of the bag!  

Blessing number 5 is expected to arrive around September 5, 2016-which quite fittingly is Labor Day!

Thankfully, everyone is overjoyed!

 Five can seem like a lot of children.  The reality is we live in a three bedroom house, don't drive a large SUV, and are surviving thriving on a single income.  However, when I look at the above photo I feel I could have a dozen (I mean, I won't, but just look at 'em!)

We are so blessed, beyond our own comprehension.

Thank you Jesus!

Popping Corn.

Our entire family loves to participate in gardening.  OK, well we all like the idea of gardening, and we start with great gusto.  Then it usually ends up being Matt's project late summer, and then finally ends with me cursing the carrots because it's so dirty and laborious to dig them all up and wash them.  

That being said, I'm so grateful for our garden.  It's not large since we live on a normal city lot, but we've learned to grow what we will actually eat (and what we've had good success with in the past).

 The harvest our children most look forward to is popcorn!  

It grows just like regular sweet corn, so once the stalks are brown in about mid October we pick all the ears.   Then we hang it all up by the husks and wait for it to dry.  This is about a three month process. -(gardening provides so many lessons in patience)- 

This year, I used the ears to decorate in the fall time, then once it became Christmas season I hid them in the coat closet.  I don't know if I'll do the same next year, as it became a common game to see who would find a popcorn kernel in their shoe!

In the past, we've removed the kernels at Christmas and eaten our popcorn during our family celebration.

This year we waited a little longer and instead took advantage of a snow day when Nathan and Matt were both home and blizzard conditions assured we were all staying in.

We popped some later and it turned out great!

 

We are also going to try to keep some of the kernels for planting in our garden this year.  The only disadvantage with planting popcorn is that you could just buy a bag of popcorn kernels cheaper then what it cost to grow it yourself (because we bought starter plants).  If we can keep and plant our own seeds, then it will make more sense...either way we'll probably keep planting it since the kids like it so much. 

It's fun to enjoy some of the fruits of our garden in the middle of winter.

  -Some people eat canned tomatoes or beans all winter.  Our supplies are long gone (if there were any), but we got popcorn!

For the Love.

 Eeks, this year is screaming by.  I hope I will get to reflect more on this crazy year later-but for now I'm focusing on a recent highlight for our kids: Valentine's Day!

I don't know at what point in my life Valentine's day went from a romantic holiday to a day for the kids to exchange cards and candy (or in the girls' case, not candy). This year I even spent an afternoon cutting and gluing all for the sake of love.  It's not ideal-but instead of complaining, I will seize this opportunity to teach our children about giving and love.

Nathan's class had a Valentine's party with card exchange, games, and a Valentine's box competition.  He was adamant that his cards not have anything that may sound romantic...don't want to give the wrong impression!

He went with mini boxes of Star Wars stickers.  It was simple enough, no card, just dutifully write each kids' name on the box-we didn't even buy candy.  Everyone was happy.

If it wasn't for having a big brother in public school, Valentine's day wouldn't have meant much to the girls.  However, they wanted to make a box too and exchange cards with their friends at Classical Conversations (our homeschool group).  It was super last minute, but dear old mom pulled through and organized a Valentine exchange (last minute because I was hoping someone else would do it).  It was simple, but the girls and I got to create bags for each of the students.  We made a total of 50 Valentine bags.  I cut out hearts and all three girls glued them on to the bags.  They were all one of a kind!  (I should have taken a better picture to showcase their hard work.)

  It sounds tedious, but it ended up being a blessing for us to get to work together to do something kind for our friends.

 

The girls also wrote out cards to their classmates.  They couldn't bring candy so Ella picked out some cards with woodland creatures that came with an eraser...they were cute.  Addie ended up handing out Ella and Nathan's leftovers, so that worked out well too!

Finally for their box reveal! 

 Matt and I opted to not participate this year.  We still had memories of gluing on Gandolf's beard into the wee hours last year.

 Nathan made a piranha plant from Mario Bros.  He wanted it to be square and thus look pixelated.  He said some of his classmates thought it was a cat....

(he didn't win any prizes, and though he is competitive, he was not competitive about this event, so it was ok)

Addie constructed an owl.

Ella made a Valentine fox.

(which he had to cut open to get the Valentine's out)

Evelyn didn't make a box, but still got a photo since she's pretty in pink. :)

 

Our actual Valentine's day consisted or church, lunch at Qdoba, and then basketball practice for Nathan and Ella.  It wasn't romantic or special, but it was good.

What would we do without this crazy bunch?!

Hope you had a happy Valentine's Day!

Schooled.

It's that time of year again.  School is in session!

It's always bittersweet; the sadness of the end of Summer mixed with the excitement of Fall and all the activity it brings with it.  With school not starting until September 8th though, we all definitely felt ready to get into a school routine (well, maybe some were have mixed feelings).

Last Spring we wrestled and prayed about the best school choices, and now we get to see how God is going to use this year, and where He has placed us, for His glory...

So, here is the 2015-2016 Thompson Line-up:

At the Challenge Center at Robert Frost Elementary, is our 3rd grader Nathan.

Nathan is attending the same school as last year, though they are meeting in a new location.  Last year there was also only one section of 2nd graders and this year there are two sections of 3rd grade.  So, his class is filled with a mix of kids from his class last year and new friends.  

(Now there will just be two sections until 6th grade when he goes to middle school).

I love getting boys (or at least my boy) ready for the first day of school.  Nathan threw on a shirt from last year and some shorts he just received from his cousin,  I think they're a size 6 (Nathan's 9).  When I asked him if he wanted to put on something newer or more special (like NOT basketball shorts for just one day, please) he looked at me strangely and said, "nah".

He was feeling a mixture of excited and nervous, but once we got to school I could tell he was ready to go!

His class went in a few minutes earlier than expected so I didn't get a good photo at the school, but here he is heading in for his first day!

I did manage this year to not cry until I got back into the van...success!

Everyone had risen early to bring Nathan to school, but then the girls and I headed right back home again to begin our first school day!

The girls will continue to stay home with me, though how I have two schoolers!

Ella is in the second grade!

Much of our curriculum will remain the same as last year, just bumped up a grade.

This includes:
Reading and Poetry: Heart of Dakota

Math: Singapore 3A

Language Arts: Logic of English D

History, Latin, Science, Art, English, & Math memory work: Classical Conversations

Ella was also super excited to begin her day.  

We didn't get through everything we typically would, but it was a great soft, rolling start.  

And, Adeline is a Kindergartener!

Adeline too was ready to be a "big girl" and get "real school work" to do.  

At home, we'll be focusing primarily on the 3Rs:

Reading: How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and Explode the Code

Writing: Handwriting Without Tears

Math: Saxon Math 1

 Adeline also is enrolled in Classical Conversation and does the same memory work as Ella (sometimes better than anyone else).

Sweet Evelyn is a pre-pre-schooler.

 

Her year is focused on puzzles, books, drawing, playing with babies, and soaking up knowledge like a little sponge.

In addition,  all four kids are enrolled in Bible Study Fellowship.  Nathan and Ella go in the evening with Matt and Addie and Evelyn go in the morning with me.  This year we are studying Revelation.  How awesome that we get to study all together as a family!

Now that we're two weeks in we're developing a routine.  I can't say it's always smooth, we've run the gamut of emotions from joy to total frustration, but it is good and I'm so thankful to be in a position to keep my kids home with me, or not.

Can't wait to see what the rest of this year holds in store!