Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Thompson Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching, meaning the year's end is soon upon us. As we in the Thompson family look back on 2011, we are surprised that each yearly iteration can actually be more complex and unpredictable than the prior. Here's a glimpse:

One week before what was to be our relaxing trip to stay with Oma and Papa in South Florida, a small fire began at our residence in the inauspiciously named Chimney Hill apartments. Most of our things were salvageable, since it turned out to be mostly smoke damage. However, we were forced to move in a matter of days in the dead of winter. While the myopic view might lend this experience to being no more than an unfortunate disaster, the outpouring of help and support, both physical and material, strengthened our testimonies of the goodness and love in those around us.

Christopher spent all summer applying for jobs in international trade compliance, but by summer's end, it was apparent that the market out East was too soft. So, after hearing about the oil boom going on in the North Dakota Bakken Shale play, Chris decided to head West and look for opportunities there. He was immediately able to land a position with an oil services firm, doubling his previous salary, and launching the Western chapter of the Thompson family story. After a couple months with the oil company, he joined as an associate with a law firm in Minot that specializes in oil and natural gas related work.

Angie was shuttling around much of the year with the kids, having spent several times each in Tennessee, Wyoming, and Florida while living in Michigan and North Dakota. Missoni and Alize also enrolled in recreational activities like gymnastics, ballet, and horseback riding, which kept Angie constantly busy. She also worked with the Beehives in Young Women's at church on Sunday and Tuesday nights. During the summer, Angie took the children daily to the swimming pool at Lifetime Fitness nearby. Since the spring, Alize went from saying a few words and in diapers to now forming perfectly structured sentences and being completely potty-trained.

Now this whirlwind of a year has settled us in North Dakota, where the people are wonderful and friendly. Angie is already part of a coterie of young mothers in the ward, and is running a small hair styling service out of the house. The girls have likewise made plenty of friends both through church and at preschool.

As our minds ponder this year and this Christmas Season, we have most to thank he who we Celebrate our Savior Jesus Christ. We are so grateful for our knowledge of him and our wonderful church that helps us get through so many difficult moves and times. We are so blessed!

To those we love and miss everywhere,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

A few more Wy pictures















Fall time fun!




























































We have been traveling for the last 2 or more months. It has been a lot of fun visiting all of our family members and seeing everyone, but it was hard living out of our suitcases. We started our trip out by flying to Salt Lake from Detroit. We were able to see some of our old friends and go to the children's museum with Grandma. Then we headed over the mountain to Wyoming. We got to spend some time with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Duane, Aunt Melissa and Ryder. We also saw Aunt Brandi. It was a really fun 3 weeks. We went boating in Grandpa's boat, went to Yellowstone, saw Aunt Debbie and Cousin Jeromy and his wife, Ashley and their little girls. We saw cousin Amy and her adorable baby boy. We also got to ride uncle Duane's horses and that was a lot of fun too. After Wyoming we headed out to Aunt Tiffinie's in TN. We got to spend a few weeks hanging out with Bryce and Brynlee and then we headed down to Florida to spend two weeks with Daddy and Papa and Oma. Awww Florida, the best place on earth. We couldn't have asked for better weather while we were down there. Not to hot, not to cold. Perfect. Chris and I got to even go away for a night to Naples, our old stomping grounds. We had a wonderful date and stayed over night in the Naples Grand, where he had taken me on a weekend getaway the first month we were married. We also got to eat at some of our old favorite restaurants. Thanks Oma and papa for watching the girls. We also got to take the girls to a fun bounce house and spend hours on the beach. Then we headed back up to Aunt Tiffinie's house to spend Halloween and Brynlee's first birthday with them. It was wonderful, Aunt Tiffinie took us somewhere fun every single night before Halloween and then she also took us to Disney on Ice and we had 2nd row seats, which we could never had afforded, so THANKS AUNT TIFFY FOR EVERYTHING! Grandma joined us and it was so fun having her to spend Halloween and Brynlee's birthday with us. She also flew home with us and helped us on the flight and drive home to Wyoming. We stayed a few more days with Grandma and then headed off to meet daddy in Billings MT for the night. Then 6 hours later we arrived in our new home, here in Minot North Dakota. So in the last 2 months we were in MI, UT, WY, UT, TN, FL, TN, UT, WY, MT and ND. What a wild time. Hence our name Traveling Thompsons. LOL. It was fun and I will share a ton of picts with you! So sit back and enjoy!

Our Engagement Picture

Our Engagement Picture
We went down to the beach!

Missoni loves New York!

Missoni loves New York!
This is the little onesie we got Missoni in NYC when her cousins were here! And Don't you just love the matching bows?

Mommy and ME!

Mommy and ME!
We got Missoni into Mommy and me at around 3 months. Look how big her eyes got when we turned off the lights.

This is a more recent pict of Missoni!

This is a more recent pict of Missoni!
Here is Missoni at 17 months.

Missoni loved her worm and her swing!

Missoni loved her worm and her swing!

Missoni before church!

Missoni before church!

Missoni at the pool!

Missoni at the pool!
Missoni and Baylee at the pool at the Davie ward's going away party in May of 2007.

Missoni starting to eat food!

Missoni starting to eat food!
As I am sure that you all know she never really liked eating, and still would rather have something other than sweet potatoes.

Missoni and Mommy!

Missoni and Mommy!

Missoni trying to crawl.

Missoni trying to crawl.
She learned to roll over at 4 months. But she couldn't get back onto her back form her belly. So she would just lay there and beg us to help her. She started sitting up really well at 6 months.

Missoni loved laying in her dads arms!

Missoni loved laying in her dads arms!
Missoni has always slept best on or next to us! We don't mind, we love it!

We were already in Syracuse by this time!

We were already in Syracuse by this time!

I loved her in this outfit!

I loved her in this outfit!
Missoni's new swim suit. We had to get her a two peice because she was so long and wide that we couldn't find a one peice taht would fit her right. I know it shows too much skin, but isn't she adorable?

Missoni around 5 months.

Missoni around 5 months.

So we lost our camera when Missoni was around 6 months old!

So we lost our camera when Missoni was around 6 months old!
With that we lost about 4 1/2 months to 6 months we were sad. Luckily we have some good friends that had taken some pictures of her during this time. So these ones are from that.

Missoni 3 mths

Missoni 3 mths

Missoni first day in the pool!

Missoni first day in the pool!
Alice and I drove the girls over to visit auntie Sabs and this was the first time that they both got into the pool. Arn't they cute?

Missoni in her size 6 mths swimsuit!

Missoni in her size 6 mths swimsuit!
She was only 3 months here and and you can see she already needed a bigger swimming suit! What a cutie!

She could already hold a rattle!

She could already hold a rattle!

Missoni loved when Baylee came over to play!

Missoni loved when Baylee came over to play!
I am not too sure Baylee was having too much fun though!

Lisa and Colin.

Lisa and Colin.
These are Missoni and I's best friends! We loved Mommy and Me!

She loves to smile!

She loves to smile!
I just love Missoni's smile. She was already a pro at 2 months!

Oh how I love her!

Oh how I love her!
She is my little french baby! I always loved putting her in this french beret!

Missoni meets Auntie Sabs!

Missoni meets Auntie Sabs!
This was the first time Missoni met Sab. We drove over to Bonita Springs on the west coast of Florida to see her. It was a fun day. This was also the first time Missoni went into the pool. She was about 7 weeks old. Now she is a complete water baby. She can't get enough!

Baby Missoni sleeping...

Baby Missoni sleeping...
Awwww so precious!

Missoni's blessing lunch!

Missoni's blessing lunch!
All of the the Allen women!

We went to Orlando Temple!

Chris and I were sealed to eachother and then to Missoni in the Orlando Temple. I have no words to describe the wonders of the temple and how we felt on this day. They brought Missoni in to the sealing room in her white dress and the entire room burst into tears. Even people who had come into view the sealing that didn't know us were crying. It was amazing. My mom and dad were there, Chris' bro, Les and his wife Kim, and Tiff and Brock. It was a very special day. I love my family so much and so grateful for the great sealing power of the temple.

Papa flew in and met Missoni for the 1st time!

Papa flew in and met Missoni for the 1st time!
Papa and Missoni both fell right asleep. She loved laying on him. She slept very soundly and peacefully! It was so cute.

This is the first time Jordan held Missoni!

This is the first time Jordan held Missoni!
Jordan and Missoni are good friends! This was fun for Missoni to meet her cousins!

Missoni tried out this swing at Baylee's house.

Missoni tried out this swing at Baylee's house.
We went out and bought it that day. Missoni was crying when we would lay her down. So we thought she needed something to swing her and entertain her. She liked it sometimes, but always preferred mommy, daddy or Grandma's.

We had Missoni blessed the next day after the Sealing.

We had Missoni blessed the next day after the Sealing.
It was also a great day. Brandi and Gary and the kids came down for that as well as everyone that was at the sealing. We had a nice dinner afterwards at Brocks and Tiffs. I have very many fond memories of that weekend.

Missoni in her Blessing Dress!

Missoni in her Blessing Dress!
Missoni was blessed on March 4, 2007. It was a joyous day. She was blessed by her dad. It was a beautiful blessing.

This is the Orlando Temple!

This is the Orlando Temple!
Isn't is gorgeous? I just love it!

Mama and baby!

Mama and baby!

This is my family!

This is my family!
Thanks Mom and dad and Tiff and Brock for coming to Orlando and supporting us!

We love Chihuly!

We love Chihuly!
This is Chris and I back at the Botanical Gardens. We love it there.

Missoni and Mom!

Missoni and Mom!
Missoni at the blessing lunch. Oh Missoni, don't be so dramatic!

Missoni got so fat so fast!

Missoni got so fat so fast!
I just love this picture. It really shows how quickly Missoni put on the weight. She was only 2 months here and just a big ball. I loved it! I love big babies!

Missoni was such a cutie! Especially in this darling little outfit.

Missoni was such a cutie! Especially in this darling little outfit.
Everyone was so generous and giving to us at our shower and afterwards. Missoni had everything her heart could ever desire. We were a very blessed family.

We went back to Chihuly!

We went back to Chihuly!
My mom, Ingrid, Chris, Les, Missoni and I all went back to the Chilhuly glass exhibit at the botanical gardens in the Coral Gables. I was a very fun day! Missoni was about 1 month old.

This is Chris' family!

This is Chris' family!
There was one addition made in Jan 08. But thankyou to the Thompson family for your love and support!

This was our 1st wedding Anniversary!

This was our 1st wedding Anniversary!
It was Feb 10th, and I wasn't really up for celibrating. I wouldn't eat the cake because I wanted to lose the baby fat. So I got to sit and watch Chris eat the chocolate decadence on my first anniversary!!

This is our little family right after the sealing!

This is our little family right after the sealing!
We had so much love and support that day!

Daddy loved this BYU dress! Too bad it said 6 months on it and it only fit her until 6 weeks.

Daddy loved this BYU dress! Too bad it said 6 months on it and it only fit her until 6 weeks.
She was already such a chubby girl

Sealed for all time and eternity!

Sealed for all time and eternity!
Chris and I were sealed on March 3, 2007. I don't who made it to our wedding but whoever was at that and then went to our sealing would surely have seen the difference. It was a very special day!

Sleeping on daddy chest.

Sleeping on daddy chest.
Oh how she loved to sleep on daddy's chest! She was just over a week old here!

Her first sunday at church!

Her first sunday at church!
This day we took her to Alice's baby Baylee's blessing at church. She was about 2 weeks old.

Boy meets girl in South Florida!

This is the Thompson Family love story. We should have started our blog a long time ago. So to make up for it, I am going to start back to the time I met Chris and move forward to now! Enjoy reading about our love story and how we are now doing as we make the LONG journey through Law School in Syracuse, New York! We now have a wonderful, beautiful busy 18 month old. We love her and she is the light of our lives!

We had a wonderful time down in South Florida......

We loved living in Ft. Lauderdale. Chris and I had nothing but a shabby studio apartment when we got married, but we loved it. It was so nice to see Chris ever day, while I finished up my degree at the Art Institute. He was working for Franklin Templeton and I was so busy with my thesis but we still found time to get away to the Botanical Gardens in the Gables, and Naples on the west coast. We had so much fun together our first year of marriage. Maybe too much fun, thats when I found out I was pregnant about 3 months after being married, with the biggest blessing in our life, Missoni, our gorgeous, lovely baby girl.

All because two people fell in love!

All because two people fell in love!
Wedding Day

Colin is her true love!

Colin is her true love!
This was her secon visit from Colin. She was about a week old here and he was 2 3/4 months here. He looks huge here compared to her, but don't worry she caught up to him fast!

Oh isn't she sweet!

Oh isn't she sweet!

My two loves. Missoni and Daddy instantly fell in love too!

My two loves. Missoni and Daddy instantly fell in love too!
She now prefers him over me! and cries when he leaves!

She was a week old! It was so fun!

She was a week old! It was so fun!
Missoni was such a precious baby! She was so good and easy. I am so lucky to have her. Sometimes she would cry in the evenings but we found out that I was eating too much cottage cheese and it was making her gassy and have a tummy ache!

First picture with Grandma Judy!

First picture with Grandma Judy!

This was the first time she met Baylee at the hospital!

This was the first time she met Baylee at the hospital!
She did a blow out in her diaper and it shot out all over Baylee's bed! The girls are so cute!

Daddy and Missoni in the hospital!

Daddy and Missoni in the hospital!
She was one day old!

This is her first bath. She already had curly hair and so much of it.

This is her first bath. She already had curly hair and so much of it.
She was already so chubby too! This was just 4 days old!

First time Oma held Missoni!

First time Oma held Missoni!
Oma came the first day that Missoni was born and brought some beautiful flowers!

Then grandma Judy arrived by day 2 and put her in her little french beret!

Then grandma Judy arrived by day 2 and put her in her little french beret!
I loved that hat!

Mommy and baby! First Picture together!

Mommy and baby! First Picture together!
Isn't she the most amazing little baby girl? She came 2 1/2 weeks early, and weighed in at 8.7 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long! What a cutie!

Papa came too! He loved getting a little grandaughter!

Papa came too! He loved getting a little grandaughter!
It was a fun day having them there!

And then she came! Our little angel!

And then she came! Our little angel!
This was the first picture ever taken of her! Soooo cute. I love her!

First picture of Daddy with Missoni

First picture of Daddy with Missoni

This was at my Baby shower!

This was at my Baby shower!
I was very large and in charge!

Final Pict of my belly before Missoni came!

Final Pict of my belly before Missoni came!
huge right?

My sis and Missy threw me an AWESOME shower!

My sis and Missy threw me an AWESOME shower!
It was a great day. A valentine theme for my Valintine baby! Her due date was Feb 14th.

This was Alice's baby shower!

This was Alice's baby shower!
She had Baylee six days after I had Missoni! The girls are so cute!

These were a couple of sillly elders!

These were a couple of sillly elders!
Chris and I were very fond of these elders. They wanted a picture with us by the carrot before they transferred! Hehee!

Our ward Christmas party!

Our ward Christmas party!
I was enormous!

Chris took me to the Opera!

Chris took me to the Opera!
We went to the Opera in Miami! It was a wonderful show!

We threw a wedding shower for Tiff!

We threw a wedding shower for Tiff!
She was a witch bride! It was a Halloween theme, but isn't it funny how well it fits her!

This was the day after Tiff's wedding in SLC

This was the day after Tiff's wedding in SLC
I was 6 months pregnant! I was already huge!

Then I met Chris' bro for the 1st time!

Then I met Chris' bro for the 1st time!
This was when we visited them in D.C. They live right by the temple! Isn't that awesome!

This was our first Thanksgiving married!

This was our first Thanksgiving married!
I was 7 months pregnant!

And it grew and grew!

And it grew and grew!
This was at about 4 months!

This was Tiff's wedding!

This was Tiff's wedding!
It was a wonderful Day in Oct of 2006!

This was me and my new nephew William!

This was me and my new nephew William!
We were in Princeton NJ and I was 5+ pregnant!

This was the very first pict of my tummy about 8 weeks along!

This was the very first pict of my tummy about 8 weeks along!
I think it is still smaller than my tummy right now!

This was Chris and I at a friends wedding!

This was Chris and I at a friends wedding!
I was about 4 1/2 months.

Then came the pregnancy!

Then came the pregnancy!
I was a few weeks pregnant here! We didn't know it yet though! We had been trying and were so glad when we found out! I hated being pregnant, but it was all worth it!

Chris took me to Black Eyed Peas Concert!

Chris took me to Black Eyed Peas Concert!
We had a lot of fun in Florida!

Chris took me to the ballet!

Chris took me to the ballet!
It was wonderful! Chris and I love the ballet!

This was the sunset in Naples!

This was the sunset in Naples!
We loved Namples, we were at the Ritz and Chris told them that he had just proposed there, so they gave us a bunch of free gourmet chocolate!

This is going back to the night Chris asked me to marry him!

This is going back to the night Chris asked me to marry him!
It was wonderful we were in Las Vegas at the Ritz!

Our romantic evening on the Ship!

Our romantic evening on the Ship!
This is the dress we named Missoni after! hehe

Chris and his family supporting me at graduation!

Chris and his family supporting me at graduation!
My husband stayed up all night to help me finish my portfolio!

Fun Honey moon picts!

Fun Honey moon picts!
We went to the bahamas!

This was my Ski Lodge!

This was my Ski Lodge!
I designed a Lodge in Pinedale, Wy

This is the restaurant in my lodge!

This is the restaurant in my lodge!
See moose Duane?

Graduation and Thesis

Graduation and Thesis
What a wonderful Day!

Art and Graduation

I graduated from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale in March, 2006. I am now and Interior Designer and worked for a very established and wonderful Italian kitchen company for over a year until we moved to New York. Here is my thesis and some graduation pictures.

Playing in Naples

Playing in Naples
The botanical garden

Tiffinie and I at graduation

Tiffinie and I at graduation
I had a tear in my eye!