She's Cute, Sweet & So Much Fun: Salem Lu Turns THREE

We celebrated our Minnie Mouse loving, tutu wearing, jumping for joy Salem Lucille turning 3 over the weekend. A private party at House of Boom/DEFY was just what we all needed to get our energy out and remember how lucky we are to have this precious girl in our lives. We ran & jumped & player & bounced. We had pizza & cake. We opened presents. We read inspiring cards. We gave fun goodie bags to our cousins. But mostly we hugged & laughed celebrating LIFE. 

 

                

The Thompson Fall Bucket List: Movie Night Watching Hocus Pocus

So we had to TAKE 2 for our movie night of Hocus Pocus but that just meant DOUBLE the fun! Friday night we had some family & friends over for an outdoor movie & s'mores via firepit. The weather was gorgeous all day until everyone arrived. Kids were inside marveling at the Halloween decorations, having epic Nerf wars, and playing dress up. We attempted to set up the screen down in the basement, but with a low speaker and a lot of loud children, the movie night turned into s'mores in the rain ;)

                                              

So Take 2 happened Sunday night with an early showing of Hocus Pocus. Snuggled up in their Halloween pajamas, the kids got comfy in the basement for a projector showing of their new favorite spooky movie. With a little popcorn and a lot of laughs they enjoyed the movie. I love how they watch in amazement time and time again; mesmerized by new parts or funny sayings. They always take me back to my childhood days, watching movies with my siblings & reciting movie lines for years to come!

       

 

Salem Lucille: 3 Years Old

Dearest Salem Lucille,

How are you three years old sweet girl?! As you say, "no more paci but I can have lovey." That pretty much sums up you turning 3 today! You are playful yet wise. Two of my favorite characteristic that you possess.

You have grown so much over the last year. You are taller...almost a tall as your brother Brighton. You are slimmer, losing that baby chunk that I wish we could hold onto a little longer. You are smarter...counting to 10 and singing your ABC's. You continue to anticipate the world around you and the daily routines of your family. You are a helper...a big helper who feels pride in completing "big girl" tasks. But mostly you are joyful. Joyful in ways that I hope you always hold onto and never lose as you continue into the world.

 

 

You potty trained seamlessly and feel so big about it. Your Minnie Mouse underwear were a huge contributing factor and made for a smooth transition. There is something sweet about a little girl accomplishing such a big moment in life.

You are in big girl "school" at Harvey Browne 2 days a week. You love Mrs. Evans & Mrs. Kinney and always look forward to seeing them on Tuesday & Thursday. You are also in the butterfly class with Vivie & JoJo which you absolutely adore.

You also started dance class with your friends and you are *tutu* cute. You love to tip tap around with your tap shoes sporting your ballet bag. You strut yourself right into the studio with the biggest smile. I love to come watch the last few minutes of class to see what new moves you've learned. And you love to come running up for a big hug in between those moves!

 

 

 

I love when people say you look like me. I love to think that the joy in your heart & soul came from your mommy! I also love the way you resemble your Mimi when she was a little girl...it melts me heart to think of all the beauty inside & outside that radiates from 3 generations.

Salem Lu, you are a joy to be around. You are easy to love. You are the piece that completed our family. And you will always be my little girl.

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

The Thompson Fall Bucket List: Go Glamping In the Woods

We have had some of the best adventures over fall breaks in the past: Disney for Halloween, NM for the International Balloon Fiesta, etc. Given all that 2020 has thrown our way, I wanted to keep that spirit alive this year as well. But given the uncertainty of how long the break would be, how that would impact the kids returning to school, and such, we decided to stay local with a staycation getaway. And it did not disappoint! We had a wonderful few days at Progress Park with a little bit of glamping and a lot of adventure. From the picturesque views to the quiet grounds, we enjoyed resting & relaxing without the hassle of travel. We canoed, kayaked and paddle boarded. We ate typical camp food including eggs & biscuits, hash browns, delicious sandwiches, hot dogs, mac n cheese, and of course s'mores! We rocked in the hammock, told stories, competed in board & card games, read books, hiked the nature trail, and played on the playground. We watched the sunrise with cool hands & feet and anticipated the sunset with giddy eyes & a toasty fire. It was a wonderful fall break and just what we needed!