Home Again

Well, after a long 4 hour flight with 4 children, we made it back to Arizona. The flight story is another post. :) We arrived Tuesday night and when the plane landed I had tears running down my face. Change is hard, especially when you have to leave people you have grown to love so much. My sister in law (Kate) picked us up from the airport and it was so good to see her. We came to my mom's home that was totally redone after we left. I walked in to a beautiful home BUT not the home I remembered. I got the kids ready for bed and put them down. I took a shower and then I sat and tried to gather my thoughts while putting my feelings and emotions in order. My mom had left to get me something to eat. Jeremy and my dad are driving home and should get in today, I miss him. Yesterday morning my kids were up at 5:45 am. I guess their inner Michigan clocks are going to have to be reset to Arizona now. When we were ready for the day we went outside and their was a banner hanging that read, "WELCOME HOME THOMAS FAMILY". My brother and his wife had hung it up late the night before after I was already in the house. It was beautiful! Then we went to suprise my Nana Emily. She was so excited to see us!! The kids are loving the weather. My brother Daniel and his wife Kristy came and met us at my Nana's house. It was so great to see them! Daniel took the kids out to my Nana's yard and played football and swung them on the swing, they were having a blast! They picked some pink grapefruits off the tree for their snack. I took lots of pictures! Later that day we met my sister in law (Kate) at the park to suprise her kids. They had no idea we were coming home! My mom got out of the car and walked over to them and then a minute later I got my kids out and had them run to her kids. As they were running my niece, Hannah, got this look on her face like she was going to cry and she put her hand over her mouth in a danty way. She was SO EXTREMELY SHOCKED! She put tears in my mom's and her mom's eyes. It was priceless. After her shock wore off she was in heaven. My kids were so happy!! Sariah acted like we had never left and she and Jeremiah played like they had been playing with eachother all the time, it was so sweet. When we were leaving the kids were making their own plans to see eachother again, it was so amazing to see them together again, they missed them. I have had a hard time, it was bitter sweet for me to leave Michigan. I can't explain it because it would take forever but my feelings are mixed. I am happy to be here but at the same time I am very meloncoly. Life is so hard, I wish I could just have it all but unfortunatley it is one for the other, it stinks! However, I know I will be fine. I have some great pictures that I will post soon. I just thought I would update everyone since I have been getting calls to ask about it. I love all my Michigan friends and family and miss you so much! Thank you for everything. To my Arizona friends and family.....be patient with me. I am happy to be here and love you all so much! It has been so long though that I feel a little displaced and disoriented. I know I will come around. Until next time...

THINGS I HAVE DONE

Things I have done… Just copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done It got me to thinking about what I would like to do in life and what AMAZING things I have already had the chance to do! Can’t wait to read yours!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo... by myself HA!
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (was transported but FOR and WITH my son.)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies... no, but I have bought a lot :)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (with help)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a lightbulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (small one involving car insurance BUT I won!
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Girls just want to have FUN!

Dinner with the Carlson Family

(clockwise) Mailee, Victoria, Isabella, Laura

Me, Baby Laura


The girls!


We had dinner with our very good friends the other night! We took a picture of our families that night and the girls wore matching shirts. They looked so cute! The one with everyone is on Luisas camera, I will get it soon. These are some I took before we ate. Luisa made a very yummy chilean dish. She is from chile, and has some awesome recipes! We had such a great time. It is so nice to have friends that are like family, especially ones that your husband likes too :) I thought the kids looked so cute so I wanted to share. The boys were in the other room watching T.V. OF COURSE! :)