A Thankful Thompson Thanksgiving: 2024

 We have so much to be THANKFUL for this November...

A Thompson Fall: See a Movie at the Drive In

The time that hangs on around Thanksgiving but everyone is really ready for Christmas calls for Thanksgiving pjs + stuffing seasoned popcorn + Turkey cookies + a Christmas movie at the Drive In

We bundled up the night before Thanksgiving to head to Sauerback to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas on the big screen. Truthfully, I’ve had a few grinches residing with me all month so it seemed fitting to show them how they often act & what they often look like…haha!

 Despite the rain, it was a fun and festive night to wrap up our fall bucket list!!

A Thompson Fall: Visit a Farmer’s Market

 So technically this place is not a Farmer’s Market but…

…it could be one ;)

We tried a few weekends to make a trip to the local farmer’s markets around town but travel & youth sports made it impossible. 

So we headed south to Nashville for tennis & golf which took us right last the largest “farmer’s market” on the highway…

…Buccees!

Aspen Michael: 10 1/2 Years Old

 Dearest Aspen Michael,

You’re well into your 10th year and continuing to grow like a weed. Your hands continue to look like that of a man and your baby face is slowing changing too. Thanks heavens you still love a big hug and good snuggle any day. 

You had a big summer~ traveling to Spain for Rafa Nadal camp. We spent a few days in Barcelona sight seeing before you headed to Mallorca. You got to practice right next to Rafa…what an incredible experience!

To make things more exciting, you were able to see Roland Garros live for the Olympics in Paris. We watched Andy Murray’s last tournament and saw Monfils on his home soil. 

You’re flourishing in personality during 4th grade. Mrs. Rueff thinks you are too funny and so do your friends. You are enjoying switching classes and having more independence in class. 

Your personal tennis is coming along nicely~ you’re Top 5 in the State for 12&u. You’re also Top 65 in the South and Top 450 in US. Not too shabby for a 10 year old!

You continue to work hard on remaining calm and being joyful. Some days easier than others, but the work you’ve put in to have a large toolbox on how to handle your emotions is commendable. 

Keep working hard and being a happy little fella. You deserve all the joy life brings. 

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Whitney & Ryan: Anniversary #13

You might recall when we celebrated our first anniversary and the *paper* gift that kept on giving all year long. We had a great time on our monthly dates and continued to enjoy our passion for exploring. For year  two, I combined cotton & china into a beautiful Thanksgiving week getaway up in Mont Tremblant, Canada. In year three, a traditional leather gift came in the form of a TUMI travel wallet while the modern crystal gift included a Thanksgiving dinner at The Crystal Hotel in Portland, OR. Year four brought "tropical" fruits & flowers together with a trip to Bermuda followed by an upgraded {appliance} TV for our bedroom. 

Our fifth year was about "wood" and "silver" which included a bamboo sushi set for two, wine cork cuff links with the year 2011, and a trip to the Greenbrier. The sixth year of our marriage included iron & candy meaning bikes to burn off those personalized M&Ms and the trip to Schimpff's Confectionary in Indiana. In year seven, wool & copper were our gifts of choice which included a wool Fedora, a copper pocket watch and an incredible trip to Cuba for the ultimate throwback.

Year eight saw the traditional bronze and pottery via a money clip & homemade pottery while linen & lace came from a personalized pair of boxers & a night staycation at the Omni Louisville. Year nine involved "willow - wicker" coffee mugs for Ryan's daily cup of Joe as well as "leather" weekender bag with his initials that he used on our getaway to the Greenbrier. Year ten brought an aluminum framed sound wave of our first dance song and a getaway to a {subset} of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Chattanooga. Year eleven saw a steel mustache comb, a leather bracelet and a turquoise Lincourt button down with an ode to wear our nuptials took place; our visit to the Kentucky Castle was almost as magical as our beloved Solvang. Year twelve presented silk pajamas for our getaway to Dana Crossing as well as a handmade engraved pearl pocket knife.

This year I wanted to *again* stick with tradition and put a spin on the modern gift. Traditionally lace is the gift of choices for year #13. It is said that lace shows the elegance & beauty of the sanctity of marriage. 

For lace, I had a beautiful blue wine bottle holder handmade of lace. Sewn on the front are our initials along with our wedding anniversary date~ 11-11-11. Paired with a selected bottle of wine from a local winery, we plan to enjoy it during the holiday season.

In terms of *textiles*, which is the modern gift of choice, I ordered a hammock for two. Set up in our backyard for daytime naps or nighttime star gazing. On our honeymoon in Fiji, we had a small hammock outside our Bula that we would swing in each night & listen to the ocean sounds. Textiles are representative of the comfort & warmth that 13 years of marriage brings to each of us.

I truly love following the traditional and modern celebrations of each year. I hope when we look back on all of the years we can enjoy the way we celebrated as well as the special moments of each passing year!