I'm a QUITTER!!!!

Just a short update on the life of the Thomas House.
I am in school and working part time, both kids go to school full time and are enjoying TOT, Aaden is playing soccer, and Aaron just started a new job. Sooooo basically, we are swamped!
As you can already tell, I will probably not be blogging any more because it is way too time consuming. If you want to keep up with us and the going ons of our family just find me or Aaron on facebook!
Facebook is a much easier and quicker way for me to stay in touch with people via the world wide web.
So, for now, this is good bye! So long blogspot. It's been real, and it's been fun, but I just don't have time for you any longer!

I Don't Camp! (Or Do I??)

So a good friend of ours decided that our small group should go camping. Well, after all was said and done our small group camping trip turned into 2 families! I was NOT looking forward to this outdoor excursion; I did not think that it would be fun. Boy was I WRONG!!! I did not realize that I was going camping with "Lori the Camping Queen"! This woman is a camping professional, and made the whole trip amazing. She had everything we needed to prepare wonderful meals, and she even arranged for her brother's friend to come out to the lake with his boat so we could enjoy some boating fun on Saturday. So, I, Jessica Thomas, am a super-camper!
Here are some of the pictures to document our great weekend!

Aaron, Aaden, and I

**Please excuse the icky camping hair and no make up**

Hank with his fish! He caught two fish...Aaden was too impatient and would give up.
(That's Brian, Lori's brother, fishing with the boys.)

Rylan and Hank swimming in the lake.

(Our campsite was right on the lake, and it was shallow, so the kids were able to pretty much swim until they could swim no more...with their life jackets of course.)

Aaden and Me at our awesome campsite.

(We were at Johnson Creek at Lake O' the Pines. Very nice and I highly reccomend it!)

Jason (a friend of Lori and Chris) brought his HUGE jetski

over to our campsite, and all the kids got to take a ride.

Here they were just posing for the picture.

That's right! That's me. I know, I'm awesome! (Ha ha ha!)

I tried and tried and tried to wakeboard but was unsuccessful.

I am, however, determined, and I WILL wakeboard one day!
(Oh, and I don't have a picture, but Aaron was an awesome wakeboarder!)

Aaron and Aaden tubing behind the boat. You pretty much just hang on for dear life.

The kids both thought it was so so so much fun!

Wordless Wednesday

All About Aaden

Aaden got to go to summer camp for the first time this year. This past week he and his daddy have been going to Winnsboro, TX to Camp Deer Run. It is this awesome Christian camp out in the words with hiking, swimming, crafts, water games, story telling, and bible stories! Aaden had a blast! We are so proud of our little PeeWee (what they call the day campers)!!! Aaden and Aaron on his [their] first day of camp.

Aaden was so excited to be going to Camp Deer Run where his daddy went when he was little, and worked when he was in college. They had a great week, and I am sure this is the beginning of a long standing tradition for these boys (and Rylan when she gets older).

NOW SOME EXCITING NEWS!

5 years ago on June 24, 2004 we were blessed with our first child, a beautiful baby boy. We named him Aaden Scott Thomas. Aaden was born in College Station about 6:30 in the evening. I was in labor for 12 hours, and it was worth EVERY second!

We recently just celebrated his 5th birthday! I can't believe it! Wow, how time flies! He started out as a perfect and beautiful baby boy, and he is quickly growing into such a little gentleman. He is funny, somewhat shy, and very very loving. He already loves the Lord, and has a very sweet heart. I am so proud of my big boy!

He will be starting Kindergarten this year at ACA, and he is super excited! I love watching him grow and learn new things with each day.

Such a proud daddy holding his baby boy for the very first time!

I just love this picture! You can see his perfect little round head, his pink cheeks, and his tongue curled up as he cries for the very first time.

We decided not to have a party this year with friends because we wanted to go to the lake instead. We made the trip to Tow, TX (6.5 hours away) to Lake Buchanan. There was Meme, Poppy, Great Nana, Aunt Sissy, and Uncle Seth (my parents, grandmother, sister and brother in law). We left Friday after school and came home Sunday afternoon. It was a VERY quick trip, but well worth it! (This was a few weeks ago, by the way. Better late than never!) Aaden told Meme that he wanted a non-glutenfree (so regular) white cake with white icing and spider man! Here is what she and Aunt Sissy came up with. Pretty good I think!

Blowing out his candles!

Uh oh! They're trick candles! Keep blowing!

Everyone had to blow to get the candles all out! Ha ha ha Poppy!

Happy Birthday Aaden! We love you!!

Summer tiiiiiime...when the livin's easy.

Last night was ACA Graduation 2009. Aaden is no longer in Pre-K, and Rylan will be headed to the "big kid" class.
The program was a 50's theme, ACA Soda Shop. All the kids looked amazing. Here are my 2 precious ones dressed and ready for the show.

Also, we had that problem of unwanted guests in our house brought in by an uninvited rat sooooo, we decided to get a dog to guard the yard for us.

His name is Ike, and he is a super sweet lab/chow chow mix. He is about a year old and the kids just love him.

So school is out and we are officially into our summer. ACA starts back for summer June 1, so we have a week and a half off. Our days will be filled with sleeping late, big breakfasts, pajama days, and lots of playing outside. Happy Summer Everyone!

Shoo Flea Don't Bother Me!!!

The NIGHTMARE seems to be over! What nightmare? FLEAS!!!! That's right little itty bitty tiny black bugs invaded our home and our lives! It was HORRIBLE!! Here's the crazy part! We have NO pets. None! Not one! Animals got under our deck (which we used to love, and now we loathe) and spread fleas into our yard, our bodies, and our house. There must have been millions! They were everywhere! We even stayed in a hotel for two nights to get away from them. It took about a week to get rid of all of them, and there is even still a few stragglers.
Bug Busters came and sprayed our deck, our yard, our house...and they were still there. They then came and sprayed again...and they were still there. We then had all of the pine straw picked up all around the house, and then I spread granules...and they were still there. Then Aaron came home and we raked out from under the deck...and they were still there. We then started to tear the boards off our deck...and we found a huge dead RAT!!! Ugh! (Aaron accidently touched it with his bare hand and I thought he was going to puke! He HATES rodents.) We removed the rat, they sprayed the deck and the yard again, and...they are almost all gone. Seriously, a NIGHTMARE!!! I would not wish fleas upon my WORST enemy!
I'm just glad it's all over...I pray it's all over!!!

Soooo Busy!!!

Spring is arrived and so have our busy schedules. The end of the school year is approaching, and with that come many activities. There is school (as in ACA), and the 5k (coming up in a week, May 2), BSF, soccer, ACA graduation, and preparing to start school this summer. I have a very full plate right now (hence the non-blogging), but I hope to have things settle down some this summer.
I hope to post more (pictures and all) about Heart and Sole 5k and Fun Run after it happens. We are all very excited and have a busy week ahead of us.
Wanna Pray?? Please please please pray for a Sunny Saturday May 2!!!! We need beautiful weather for a successful event. Hope to see you ALL there!!!

Heart and Sole 5K and Family Fun Run

http://www.acaheartandsole.blogspot.com/

Please look at this blog, and add yourself as a follower. Also add it to your blog so others can see it.

Thanks sooooo much!!!

Pollen

I HATE pollen!!!! Ugh!!! Yellow yellow everywhere!! Our cars are yellow, our porch is yellow, our sidewalk is YELLOW!!! There is yellow pollen all over EVERYTHING!!! Today we are cleaning up all the YELLOW!!! (Ok, not all of it. Washing our cars would be a waste of time until the pollen stops falling.) The kids are washing the porch. I am spraying down the front of the house, and will mop the whole house before the day is through. (Our dark vinyl floors also seem to have a thin film of yellow accross them.)
Hopefully after today our house will look cleaner and brighter! (Until tomorrow that is, Ugh!)
Did I mention that I hate the pollen!!!

Happy Birthday to Rylan!!!

Today, March 3, was Rylan's 3rd birthday. She has been excited about her birthday for a month. We've gone to other people's parties, and she was disappointed when we got there and she realized that it was not for her. Well, today was her day!!

We had a really fun party at The Mud Hut!
Here she is blowing out her candles. (A close up of barbie is a little further down.)

The star of the show painting her tile with her friends.

So excited to be at her party!!!

The second star of the show. My dear sweet friend Christy made the most amazing and beautiful cake I have ever seen. Barbie's dress is all cake and icing. Christy, you are amazing!! Thank you so so so much!

The birthday girl!

Happy Birthday Rylan!!! I hope your day was as special as you are!!!

25 Things

On FACEBOOK there is this "note" going around where you name 25 things about yourself, and then you "tag" people and they have to do the same. Well, I did it, and then I totally was thinking of more things to put on my list. Sooooo, here is my attempt at a 2nd "25 Things List". I am going to write 25 things about myself (all different from my original list), and if you read it I just want you to consider yourself tagged. (Ha! So, if you are reading this you can now do your own list!)

1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE chineese food. I could eat it EVERY day. (Sesame Chicken is my favorite!!!)

2. I make my bed every day. Even if I don't have time in the morning, I will make it later in the day. (This drives my husband crazy!)

3. I think rice cakes are good. I buy them and eat them because I like them! YUM!

4. I almost never wear sandals or flip flops. I have several pairs, but I prefer REAL shoes...cute shoes!!!

5. I am almost always wearing heels. (See above.)

6. I rarely wear t-shirts outside of the house. I will sleep in them and work out in them, but I don't like wearing them out.

7. I enjoy dressing up. I love dresses and skirts, and I wear them as often as is appropriate.

8. I do NOT go out without make-up.

9. When I was little my hair was as straight as a stick! As I have gotten older is has gotten wavier and wavier and even curly.

10. My hair is two completely different textures. The underneath is kinky and super curly and the top layer is softer and just wavy. (I know, wierd.)

11. I am coaching 4 and 5 year olds to play soccer. (Our team is the Mad Dogs...GRRRRR!)

12. I love to read, but only fiction.

13. I watch t.v. shows and movies that I am too old to watch. (Nickelodeon and Disney Chanel)

14. I LOVE LOVE LOVE kids! I originally wanted to have 6 kids, but I have decided I can help more children by teaching.

15. I pray all the time. I pray for big things and little things. I pray for silly things and serious things. I pray for God to change the traffic lights, I pray for my children, and I pray for strangers walking on the road. I am CONSTANTLY praying.

16. I have prayed with people on the phone. It is an amazing and peaceful feeling.

17. I eat my apple pie with cheddar cheese (the sharper the better). I melt the cheddar cheese over the pie and it's the best breakfast. Mmmmmm. (Don't knock it 'till you try it, it's SUPER good.)

18. My favorite flower is roses, but I HATE rose bushes.

19. I have a very very black thumb. Plants and me do NOT get along.

20. I love to stay up late...like, really really late. 2 or 3am is a peaceful time for me.

21. I hope to and plan to graduate from college some day, and then get my masters. I think that education is important.

22. I am already planning on my children attending Texas A&M University. If they choose not to go there I think I will be disappointed.

23. I like to sew. I am not very good at it, but I enjoy it.

24. I randomly do projects around the house without telling Aaron. I have made and hung curtains, recovered chairs, painted various walls or rooms. I just decide one day, and then I do it.

25. When I was in high school and college I got LOTS of speeding tickets. I don't know how many exactly, but I know it was alot! I am much more cautious now that I have children (although, I did get 2 tickets in 1 week over Christmas...different offenses though, and different cities.)

So, there you have it. 25 things about me that you may or may not have known about me. I hope you find them interesting, or atleast amusing. Maybe I will see some interesting things about some of YOU!!!

My Three Cuties

Today was a glorious day! Anything special?? No. Just a wonderful Wednesday that began with BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), followed by a quiet afternoon with my sweet kids, and now we are getting ready to leave for church. God has blessed our family with so much! Some days I feel overwhelmed by the awesomeness that I have in this life.
Now I just want to share a few pictures of my wonderful family, and what we've been up to.


Rylan is into sleeping on a pallet in the living room. She has done it over night a few times, but here she is napping one afternoon. She says that she wants to sleep on her map (ha ha! she means mat). She goes and gets her pillows and blankets and everything. It is very precious.

In this one you can really see her set up on the floor. Oh, what a sweet baby God has given me!!!

Here is Aaden at his KinderTOT performance! That's right, I said PERFORMANCE!!! We made the trip out to Hallsville and these awesome ACA KinderTOT boys were the halftime show! They did all different basketball skills to a song. It was precious! I am so proud of my T-O-T boy!!!

Here he is cheesin' it up while we wait in the hall for the show to start.

And my third cutie is my husband. At school we had a "Are You Smarter Than A Kindergartener?" program. The kinder class were up against the adults, and Aaron got roped into going up and trying to answer the questions. The kinder kids beat the adults like 60 to 10 or something rediculous like that. "I am not smarter than a kindergartener!!!

An Afternoon at the Farm

My friend Phyllis invited us out to her house for the afternoon. She had a fun list of things to do all ready when we arrived. We got to swing on the barn swing, play on the tractors, brush and ride the pony, go on a treasure hunt (nature walk), feed the horses, climb on the hay, make coffee mug cakes (chocolate cake you make in a coffee mug, and bake in the microwave), eat home-made popcicles, excercise the baby deer, and chalk in the driveway. We took alot of great pictures of our fun, and Phyllis made this AMAZING collage out of all the pictures. It was such a fun afternoon. Thank you Mrs. Phyllis for sharing your house with us!!! WE love YOU!!!

BSF

WARNING: This post may be boring to many of you, but I just thought some of you may be interested.

I want to take a moment to explain to everyone what I do on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Many of you know I go to bible study, but that's all you know. BSF stands for Bible Study Fellowship. It is an incredible bible study which is a training tool for life using the bible. There are 7 studies total, and we study one entire lesson over 9 months (September through May...just like a school year). This ensures that each topic is studied slowly and thoroughly. BSF is an international program, and each class around the world studies the same study at the same time. There are many "layers" (as we like to call them) in this study. First you do your own study each day at home over a one week period of time. Then you go to class and have a group discussion on the questions you just answered. Then you hear a lecture on that week's lesson, and lastly there are notes that you take home and read. That way you are going through the lesson 4 times in one week.
Why does this take 2 days out of my week?? Because I am privaledged to be a part of the leadership in this program. In fact, I am a children's leader! I know, I can see the shocked faces...ha ha. (There's a children's program??? Yes, I'll touch on that in just a second.) So the leadership meets on Tuesdays to do training and our own version of the group discussion, then we go on Wed to lead groups, or in my case lead a class of children.
Ok, now the children's program. This is NOT a childcare service. The children are taught the same lesson as their parents are learning at the same time. So each Wed while the moms are having their bible study the kids are hearing the bible story being told, singing songs that coordinate with that story, and even having a quiet prayer time. It is amazing to see the kids learning so much. They truly retain the word of God in some incredible ways. Both of my children go on Wednesdays, so it is exciting that they too are learning the same lessons that I am studying. The program on Wed morning is for 2 year olds through 5 year olds. (There is an evening womens class and an evening mens class which teaches kids all the way through 12th grade.)
So that's what takes my time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I just thought everyone might want a better explaination than the one I usually give (which is that I have a meeting or a bible study to go to).