Yes We Did!

Wow! I haven't posted since August? Where does time go? First and foremost, Congratulations fellow Democrats on our victorious win! It wasn't even close! How wonderful that Americans were not swayed by Insane McCain and that gun-totin' hockey mom! How strange yet wonderful it will be to see Barack Obama on the television! I was quite moved by Ruth's post when she said that Otis will never know how monumental or how extraordinary it is to see a minority or a woman run for President of the United States. It is my hope that this is a great move forward. Secondly, I've learned enough french to now know what those crazy Frenchmen who attacked me were saying! Un gateau de cadeau or roughly translated, "a gift cake". And yes, I was so traumatized by the event that I remember what they said and I've taken up French lessons.

A lot has been happening since August. Jake and Ruth had a bouncing baby boy, that, by the looks of him lately will soon overtake my brother and sister-in-law with his sheer size! Good Grief that child is humongous! The boys are Seniors in high school and we are counting down the days till graduation and freedom! Stefan has been very sickly this year. He had mono this summer, strep throat, and most recently what looked to be hand-foot-and mouth disease. He managed to score a 32 on his ACT's this last October! That's 2 points higher than he scored last June! Way to go Stefan! Now, if he would just apply it! The boys also recently had their Senior pics taken which we have yet to get ordered. Oh yeah, and in light of the recent economy I've learned to bake bread, which I might say so myself, I am very good at! Who knew? I don't have a lot of new pics to post...but I'll add some because everyone likes looking at pictures. Hopefully, I'll get around to posting after Thanksgiving. There will be many family members here to take embarrassing photos of!

A House Divided

My husband is a Republican. I am a Democrat. Things have been heating up in our household this week. I come home from work, mentally exhausted from trying to help people change their lives, I want to sit quietly and watch the Democratic Convention rally cries of change for our country. I think to myself, "these are my kind of people, they get it". In comes my husband with a grin on his face, set on I'm assuming, a suicide mission as he says, "what are you watching that for you reefer-smoking-liberal commy?" My response is just as crude. "Shut up you gun-toting-bible-beating-war-monger!" And so it will continue until November. What he doesn't know, is that I have a secret weapon. It is called KIDS, one of which, will be old enough to vote by this election. Yes, I have turned my husband's only offspring against him in a strategic move last night. I had Andrew watch Obama's acceptance speech. We talked about how important it was for young people to vote, to make their opinions count in this country, and how Obama's inspiration can be his inspiration. Stefan is a little more skeptical. He actually keeps up on politics and understands that Obama probably can't accomplish one fourth of what he promises, but he does admit that one fourth is better than what we have been dealing with for the last 8 years. Joe Biden sealed the deal for him. The three of us have decided to adopt P. Diddy's campaign slogan, "Vote or Die".

However, we put a twist on it. "Vote Democrat or Die". Mwah-ha-ha-ha! (evil laugh) Take that Mark! If you haven't noticed, I added a goofy picture of me so that my mother feels vindicated for the "Clinton pub incident" and I have also added an Obama news widget, which doesn't quite fit, but you get the gist. I will end with a pic of the cutest baby neice in the world. Just think, if you don't vote for Obama, you will break her little heart. (Guilt, that's my other strategy)

So Much News!

THE THOMPSONS INVADE EUROPE!

Where do I start? It has been a crazy start to the year. In January, the whole clan went to England to bug Jake and Ruthie, then we headed to France just so the Parisians would be convinced that Americans really are as rude and selfish as they thought! HA! But that's another story, way too long for a blog page. Here we are in front of the Eiffel tower. I can't stand taking a picture without doing something goofy. My husband loves it. This next pic is of me, getting ambushed by some crazy Frenchmen, who I am pretty sure had a little too much wine at 10:00 in the morning. I was walking from the Eiffel tower, minding my business, freezing my butt off at this point, wearing two coats, and carrying a box of pastries that we had bought that morning, but they were so pretty, we didn't want to eat them. So, I have the box, and I'm wearing two coats, I'm sure looking pretty miserable. Here's the scenario: Your a Parisian, it's Sunday morning, you've just had a breakfast of chocolate and wine (I'm pretty sure that's all they eat), so you're feeling pretty good. You're bored. What next? Well, go harass tourists at the Eiffel tower, of course! These men grab my box of pastries and start chanting something in French, that I have NO IDEA what they are saying. They catch on pretty quick that I have no clue and start jumping up and down, pulling on the box, and scaring me to death! The wife in the bunch is trying to make them stop, I'm pulling on the box, (I paid a lot of money for these pastries, I'm NOT letting them go!) they're pulling on the box, and the wife is slapping their hands. She'd get one hand off, and they'd put their other hand on it. As you can see in the picture, my mother, who WAS right beside me, is now off to the side yelling, "SAVE THE CHOCOLATE!" You would think someone's MOTHER would protect their child from harm. Thanks a lot mom, remind me not to walk down a dark alley with YOU in tow. Not to mention my HUSBAND, who you would think would be trying to rescue me. Oh nooooooo.....he's too busy TAKING PICTURES!!!! Who does this weird crap happen to? ME of course, even in another country, weird things happen to me. I have to say, it was something I don't think I'll ever forget! Back in England, Jake gave us a whirlwind tour of Oxford and the surrounding sites. Here's a pic of him in his natural habitat. (Both his workplace, and the pub). He wasn't kidding around when he told us it was cold in England. We thought, 40 degrees, that's not cold! It doesn't even freeze there! What he didn't mention, is that the English do not believe in HEAT. No heat, anywhere. Just small radiator things that feel slightly warm to the touch. So, imagine never heating your home or workplace. After a few months of that in the winter, everything would start to feel pretty darned cold. And it does. The first night, I slept with my sweatshirt, sweatpants, socks, and I would have worn a hat if I had brought one. FREEZING! English people seem to be a little stand-offish, and very rigid. DUH, that's because they are freezing and starving to death! No fat people, anywhere. Needless to say, my husband and I felt pretty out of place. I will say that all that walking instead of driving is obviously a good thing. We should do more of it in America. But, think about what you believe when you see someone biking down the street here. First thought. "He must have lost his license for DUI." Right? It's strange how walking or biking here seems to hold that stigma. I have too many stories to publish in this one page, so it will have to continue with several posts. However, I am so excited to announce that my little sister is having a BABY! After doctors told her that she only had a 10% chance of ever getting pregnant, she gets a "surprise"! No matter, this baby is a miracle, and we are so excited for her! Her little girl is due in June, and her name will be Aaralyn Je. Congratulations! We can't wait to have a baby in the family! So many things to tell, not enough space. I will end with a picture of my mother sitting in the pub where Clinton did not inhale. Kinda looks like maybe she did though! That's payback for not saving me from the Frenchmen...JO JO JO! (That's me laughing in French!)