We are counting down our days for several things. It is just that time again when we count down for major and very important events. We are very excited and can't wait for these things to take place. Velani only cares about one of these things and well the rest are just extras for her, but I am sure she will enjoy them all as they occur. So here is our list and a short funny story.

Enjoy!

1. Mom's arrival

2. Braulio & Alison's wedding

3. Fun road trip back to Dallas (a hint of sarcasm in my voice)

4. Mia's Birthday

5. Hanging out with the family

......and then there is just plain ol' counting.

The other day Velani called "mom" and just chit chatted for a while. Velani had been a little sad and upset right before that because she had dialed a wrong number and thought it was "mom" and then they just hung up on her. So after finally talking to "mom" for a while she went silent and "mom" said "okay Velani, cuentame algo" and Velani did just that and replied with "uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco.......doce" in a low sad voice. My mom and I just started to laugh. It was funny and just very sweet.

So as you can see we really are doing alot of counting in this cuhrazy house of ours. Mia just claps, dances, screams and looks cute!

XoXo

Stefani

Ready or not...

I am so excited that in a few more weeks I will be back in Texas!

I have been in St. George for 9 months now and even though I like it now it's not the same being away from our family. We are here for a reason and we have been privileged to have met good people. People have made a difference in our lives and I'm sure we have made a difference in theirs. We have learned to be independent. It's not easy and I know it'll only get harder before it gets any easier, but we will not give up. We will keep pushing for a better future. I will keep encouraging and cheering Jahvel on. We still have about a year to go before he starts to apply for medical school and who knows where we will end up next, but I know it will all be good. We are not gonna give up. We set ourselves up for a better future and this can only be accomplished if we persevere.

It's hard to believe that we have been here for almost a year. We have had many good experiences here and I'm not gonna lie we have had our lows, but we have truly been blessed, we have each other and to me that is more than I could ask for.

Now it's time to go back, say hi and spend some good ol' times back in Texas before we continue with our purpose here in St. George. So Texas start getting ready for the Thompson's come back!!

XoXo

Stefani

See this Gorgeous little girl here? she is my baby!

She is now 11 months. Where has time gone? I brought her here to Saint George when she was only 3 months old and look at her now.

We have been through so much. I have learned many things one of which I haven't quite gotten down yet and need to accomplish and that is enjoying each and every minute with my girls. I let them play, but realize I need to play with them too.

I realize that time is just going by so fast and I need to make good use of my time so here is a list of things I need to work on.

I need to just let go and not be so picky about having the house upside down and a total mess. One day I will just laugh about it, okay not really, but still. I get frustrated and sometimes I end up in a bad mood when I try to do many things at once so I guess I just need to slow down, take a breath, count to 10, drink some water, and relax!! It'll be ok. I need to let people help when they offer to help, why not? sometimes mothers need a break too. I need a date night and spend time with my hubby. I need to quit writing about me and stay on track.

So my little Mia is growing up beautifully.

• She sleeps through the night, yay!
• She is eating yummy, adult solid foods and will not have more of that what is it called, oh yeah, baby food.
• She is crawling and cruising ALL over the place.
• She says and waves HI and BYE.
• She bites (not a good thing) if she is being bothered or if we try to take something away from her.
• She yells and screams in a high pitched tone when we chase her or when she is happy and excited.
• She smiles just like in the picture above.
• She loves being in the water.

The list can go on and on. So for now we just count down till the BIG 01!!

XoXo

Stefani

What?

I don't know what to say. I am hurt!


A few weeks ago we went out to the park as a family. The girls were having fun, but we weren't. So we decided to just take a walk. The Temple here in St. George is walking distance from the park so we decided to take a walk and just hang out there for a while. When we got there there was a couple taking wedding pictures and Velani kept starring at the bride's dress and then she said the following:

"Wow, she is a princess! you see mami I told you! you have to be a princess."

What!?

What does she mean I have to be a princess?

I mean don't I already look like one? Oh wait, no I don't!

I was a "princess" 4 years ago and I guess I kinda lost it a little after my first child and then completely lost it after the second one.

I thought our children always saw us as princesses and beautiful, but not my 3 year old, oh no! she knows exactly what her mom looks like and apparently she doesn't look like a princess at all and that's why she told me I had to be one. I guess I'll have to start looking a little more like one and less like a person who cleans, mops, and well, less like a mommy.

I will take her advice and start little by little. I started with a nice new haircut and now I gotta start dressing better.

You know, I'm starting to actually feel better now. When I dress up and fix myself up I feel better about myself than when I don't and that's exactly what I need, to feel better so I can do better.

XoXo

Stefani