Welcome back

Well I finally have found time to blog again.  We had an awesome summer filled with t-ball, Branson vacation, swimming, fishing, trips to the zoo, icecream, and peaches.  Too much to fit into one post so I'll catch you up on this past week.

Both my babies started school on Wednesday and they love it!  We started the week with "New Student Dinner" on Sunday at ICD, met up with some old friends and met new ones.  Monday was open house for both Megan at FBCA and Jack at ICD.  We were able to meet both teachers and see the kids classrooms.  Jack has Ms. Staab(who I'm told is the hard ass of the 3 Kindergarten teachers at ICD) and Megan has Mrs. Toulou (she was Jack's preschool teacher so we are very familiar with her).  Both kids were so excited to start school on Wednesday they didn't actually go to sleep until 9:00 on Tuesday night.  So come Wednesday morning we hurried to get uniforms on and teethbrushed so we could drop off both kids on time.  We dropped Megan off first and with about 20 hugs and kisses she seemed to be good to go. (only 10 hugs and kissese were mommy induced) Only to find out at pick up that my baby started to cry 20 minutes after we left and wanted another kiss and hug.  God Bless Miss Patti for comforting Megan and letting her take a little morning cat nap to feel better!
Darrell and I both walked Jack into his first day at school and helped him get settled then joined the rest of the kidergarten parents for the "boo-hoo" breakfast.  Mjsr. Ted game a very comforting speech and reassured all of us that our babies/bigkids were going to be in good hands. I'm not one of the moms that cry one my babies start school.  I was more excited for them!   I did great until I read the sweet little card they gave to all the parents after breakfast...
"I wonder what you are doing right now,
And if everyone is treating you kind.
I hope there is a special person,
A nice friend that you can find.
I wonder if the teacher know
just how special you are to me.
And if the brightness of you heart
is something she can see.
I wonder if you are thinking about me,
And if you need a hug.
I already miss the sound of your voice
And how you give my leg a tug.
I wonder if you can possibly understand
How hard it is for me to let you grow.
On this day know that my heart breaks,
For this is the forst step in letting my baby go."

(Just to let you knwo I had to stop 4 times while typing this to wipe my eyes.)

So put the kleenexes down and enjoy pictures of the first day of school..

Grandma Thompson's dumplings

I know it's been forever since I posted.  No Christmas pics for 2012...we got busy and well life happens.  So to new things.  Since Mother Nature has blessed us with a wonderful winter week. I was looking for yummy cold weather food to make.  Today I attempted to make Grandmas Thompson's FAMOUS Chicken and dumplings.  This recipe was never officially written down, it was in Grandmas head.  You could ask her a million times how to make it and she would tell you, " a pinch of this, a cup of that".So all we really have to go by is what we "saw" her make.  So after a phone call and text to Darrell's mom and aunt I felt up to the task at hand.  I boiled the chicken, made the dumpling dough, put it all together and waited.  I have to say, it turned out pretty good.  Darrell hand seconds so that's a good sign!  However I have to say no one will ever be able to make chicken and dumplings like Grandma Thompson.