Mike and Beth

Happy Birthday Hadley

2010-08-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hadley celebrated her 4th Birthday at our house by having a swim party. All the kids had a great time.

Uninvited Pool Guest

2010-08-01T12:04:00.001-07:00

SarahBeth leaves for Georgia

2010-08-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth flew to Atlanta for a week to visit family. Here she is boarding the plane in Phoenix.

Maggie....Missed but Never Forgotten

2010-06-27T10:44:00.001-07:00

Our hearts are very heavy at the loss of our pet, Maggie. She was so much more than just a pet. Maggie was our faithful friend, always there to brighten our day. She brought so much joy and happiness into our lives. Our home will not be the same. We love you Maggie!

I Love My Parents

2010-06-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful visit with my family in Georgia last week. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss someone until you see them again after a long time. I love my family very much and think about them every day. I wish I could see them more often but I love every minute I do get to spend with them.

Brenda's Family

2010-06-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

While I was back home in Georgia, I had the chance to spend time with my older sister Brenda and see her "kids" as well.

Aren't they Cute!

2010-06-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

My kids enjoyed an afternoon in the pool together without any prompting from me! I was so proud.......they actually had a good time.

Happy Memorial Day!

2010-06-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

We had everyone over on Memorial Day for swimming and a cookout. The weather was perfect, the water felt great and the food was wonderful.

Before and After

2010-06-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Just look at the difference a year makes! SarahBeth went through so many changes this past year! Her first day of school was so tough and now look at her on the last day of school. She didn't want it to end because she will miss her friends so much.

I Love My FAMILY

2010-05-16T11:03:00.001-07:00

I had such a great time with my family while they were here for Josh's graduation! I miss them so much and they just left an hour ago!

More Graduation Pictures

2010-05-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Graduation Day at U of AZ

2010-05-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Josh graduated on Friday from the University of Arizona with a Major in History and a Minor in Sociology. My father and two sisters flew in from Georgia as well as Josh's father to attend the ceremony. We were all so proud of Josh. He looked very handsome in his cap and gown.

Congratulations Joshua

2010-05-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

After four years of hard work, Josh is graduating from the University of Arizona. I am so proud of all that he has accomplished. He will be starting Phoenix Law in August. I know he'll do great!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SarahBeth

2010-03-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth turned 14 years old today. It seems like she was just a little girl yesterday and now she is a beautiful young woman.

More Disney Pics

2010-03-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

A Magical Day

2010-03-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Disney Land was truly a magical day! Joshua was so excited. He was like a little kid. SarahBeth loved everything about the day....the sights,the rides...everything! The part I enjoyed the most was watching the faces of Austin, Ashlyn, Carter and Hadley.

Universal Studios

2010-03-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun at Universal Studios. The rides were a blast and the Back Stage Tour was fun and interesting.

Shining Star

2010-03-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

SarahBeth was in the play "Just Leave It To Us" at her Junior High School. She played the part of Blossom Tooley. She didn't have the biggest part, but she still stole the show! I know SarahBeth will be a star some day!

Clint's New Car!

2010-02-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

Clint was able to find a car for an affordable price that seems to be reliable as well. It gets him to work and hopefully in two weeks to Culinary School as well!

How Cute!

2009-12-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

Caden had on the "Red Sox" outfit Grandpa Mike gave him before he was even born. I can't believe it is almost too small already!

Happy Birthday!

2009-12-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

Mike celebrated his 55th Birthday on the 28th and my 50th Birthday is on the 31st of December. I made a silly cake and we celebrated together with our families.

Christmas Decorations

2009-12-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

As I was taking down the Christmas decorations, I realized I had not taken any pictures of all my hard work. Although Christmas has come and gone, I am posting pictures of our festive "abode".

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T20:10:00.000-08:00

santa was really good to us this year!

Family is the Best Gift of All

2009-12-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

Having your family around is the best Christmas Gift of all. We are so lucky to have our children with us at the holidays.

Holiday Fun!

2009-12-25T19:14:00.000-08:00

Mike's family came over on Dec. 23rd to celebrate Christmas. We had a great time opening presents. Mike's grandkids are so appreciative of their gifts.

Father against Son

2009-11-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

Mike and Bart finally got a chance to play against each other in Air Hockey. Mike won the first game, but Bart came back and won the last 2. It's very apparent where mike's kids get their competitiveness from!

Noah's 1st Christmas

2009-11-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe Bart, Josephine and Noah will be going back to Sweden next week. Time has flown by so fast. We had Christmas for them yesterday and had so much fun, as usual. We will miss them!

Black Belt

2009-11-28T12:06:00.000-08:00

Joshua received his Black Belt in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu on his first attempt. He started taking classes as a Freshman at the University of Arizona. Once Joshua puts his mind to something, there is no stopping him!

I Love My Puppies

2009-11-19T18:19:00.000-08:00

My dogs are so important to me. They love me unconditionally! They make me laugh too.

YUCK......

2009-11-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

My scar is really yucky. SarahBeth said I look like I was shot in the throat! She always makes me feel so much better!

My Sisters

2009-11-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

Both my sisters flew in from Atlanta to be with me during my recent surgery. I enjoyed having them here even under the circumstances. They were a great help! I miss them so much!

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

2009-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures I took of SarahBeth yesterday for no particular reason.

Practice Makes Perfect!!

2009-11-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

Sarahbeth wants to learn how to do a cartwheel. Ashlyn and Amy gave her a few pointers. Check out the video....I think she could use more practice!

More Family Pictures

2009-11-01T13:30:00.001-08:00

Bart, JoJo & Noah

2009-11-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

Bart, JoJo and Noah came for a nice long visit. While they have been here, many events have been taking place. We had a "Welcome Back" Barbecue, Mike's brother Rick and his family as well as Mike's father came for the weekend, and of course all the Halloween festivities. We have enjoyed getting to know Noah. He is such a sweet, happy baby! These are some of the many pictures taken since their arrival!

Who is that Masked Puppy?

2009-11-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Even my dog Max got into the excitement of Halloween. He couldn't decide if he wanted to be a bee or a cat!

Even More Fun Pictures

2009-11-01T13:05:00.001-08:00

More Halloween Pics

2009-11-01T12:57:00.001-08:00

Trick or Treat

2009-11-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love to decorate and make "Goodies" for everyone to enjoy. This year we had a party for all the kids and grandkids. There were some great costumes, fun games, and good food. The kids and grandkids went out trick-or-treating. I think everyone had a good time...I did!

School Activities

2009-11-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

I'm really proud of SarahBeth for getting involved in activities at school. She is in the "Booster Club" and she attends activities after school, like a Masquerade Party sponsored by the Drama Club, which she is also a member of.

Finally...Fall!

2009-11-01T12:40:00.001-08:00

Even though the calendar says Fall, it hasn't felt like Fall here in Arizona until this past week. We had several days of really cool weather; it was so nice! Here is a picture of SarahBeth dressed and ready for another day of school.

SarahBeth and Friends

2009-11-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

SarahBeth has made some really nice friends since moving to Arizona. Some are a little "Batty" but so is SarahBeth!

Right after New England scored the winning touchdown.

2009-09-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

This was the kickoff right after. You can't even hear AC/DC in the background and it was loud.Turn the volume up. It was rockin!!!

2009-09-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

Weekend in New England

2009-09-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

I got to make a quick trip to Massachusetts to see a supplier and go to Monday Night Football. Our seats were right on the 45 yard line, just the right distance up, padded seats. It was a blast, but very tiring trip.

Play Ball

2009-08-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Mike's softball team had their first two games last night. Unfortunately, they lost both. The first game was really close. I think they should have won but the umpire made some bad calls and interpreted a rule wrong. The second game came down to the last inning. I'm sure they'll get better. We had fun watching! Quick update. We are 4-2 now and solidly in third place and a playoff position.

Leap of Faith

2009-08-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

First Week of School

2009-08-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

My Mom just called and seemed disappointed because I hadn't put any more pictures of SarahBeth's first week of school on my Blog, so......here are pictures from Wednesday, Thursday, and today.

Day 2...Much Better!!!!!

2009-08-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of school was much better. SarahBeth didn't get sick, we weren't late, and I didn't cry when I dropped her off! She looked really cute today in her vest.

Do I Have to Go?

2009-08-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth's first day at DRJHS was a little shaky. She was very nervous which made her sick to her stomach. Because of that, we left later than planned and got stuck in traffic. The entire way to school, SB kept thinking she was going to throw up but wouldn't let me stop for fear someone would see her and she would be known as "The Girl Who Threw UP On the Way to School!" We arrived at school just as the first bell was ringing and she was pale and looking scared to death. Once she got out of the car, I started crying because I felt so bad for her. Hopefully her day will get better (I don't think it could get worse!)

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

2009-08-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but it's already time for school to start back. SarahBeth starts on Monday and will be in the 8th grade at Desert Ridge Junior High School. The Owens' kids start school on Wednesday. Austin will be in the 4th grade, Ashlyn is in 2nd, and Carter starts Kindergarten! Even Hadley will be going to preschool 2 days a week (lucky Amy). Josh will return to the University of Arizona on the 20th and start classes on the 24th. He will be a SENIOR!

We celebrated with a Barbecue, and swim party. After swimming everyone played BINGO for prizes. Needless to say, things got a little competitive!!!

Good luck everyone! Have a great year!

Happy Birthday Amy!

2009-08-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Amy's @? birthday Saturday night as well as "Back to School" . SarahBeth and I made a cupcake arrangement and a crown for Amy to wear! Everyone enjoyed the cupcakes... especially JJ!
Caden seemed a little bored with it all!

Amber's Visit

2009-08-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Amber, Clint's girlfriend, graduated from the University of West Georgia last week. She and two friends are driving across country seeing the sights and enjoying a well deserved vacation. They came by here after visiting the Grand Canyon on their way to San Diego. I enjoyed spending time with Amber and meeting her friends. They took advantage of the pool, a nice hot shower, home cooked food, and a good night's rest (they've been camping out). I'm really happy Amber is part of Clint's life!

Junior High School

2009-08-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth had Open House Wednesday, August 5th. She was a little overwhelmed at the size of the school, finding her way around, and all the students. She wouldn't let me take any pictures while we were there (not cool) but I did get a picture of her in her new gym clothes when we got home!

Over the Rainbow

2009-08-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

We had a dust storm the other night. In the middle of the storm, there was a pretty rainbow. If you look hard enough you can see it.

JJ and Kaylee Come for a Visit

2009-08-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

JJ and Kaylee came Thursday for a short visit. They had fun playing with SarahBeth.

Happy Birthday Hadley

2009-08-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Hadley turned 3 on July 24th. She was so cute!
The girls had a Tea Party with Hadley's new tea set.

Eat More Chicken!

2009-07-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Friday was "Cow Day" at Chick-Fil-A. Anyone who dressed like a COW received a free meal. SarahBeth went with Amy and her kids. They all looked Moovalous!

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Mike's kids and grandkids came over on Saturday to celebrate Father's Day. After swimming a while, we had an Air Hockey Tournament. Mike had brackets all planned out for a double elimination tournament. Guess who won?!.....Mike! Happy Father's Day!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails!

2009-06-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Thank heaven for little boys! Mike now has two new grandsons. Noah was born to Bart and Josefine and Caden is the son of Matt and Cindy. They are just a week apart in age... Noah was 11 days late and Caden was 2 weeks early. Both are healthy and beautiful. (I know boys are suppose to be handsome, but they are both beautiful!) I can tell by Bart and Jo-Jo's BLOG that Bart is a wonderful father and I have seen Matt in action! I'm not surprised at how well suited both are for fatherhood. They have a great role model in their own father and they have had a lot of practice with nieces and nephews! Congratulations to both Bart & Josefine and Matt & Cindy.

The Loft

2009-06-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

I finally took pictures of our Loft for my family to see. We enjoy having the extra space to play and have fun.

DESIGN on a Dime

2009-06-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

When SarahBeth came to AZ to live, I let her design her own room. She chose pink and brown circles. Next we went to Good Will and Savers and looked for bargains! We found an old headboard we painted "Ballet Pink" and an old entertainment system that we turned into a window seat. Using ribbon and some neat coordinating materials, I made throw pillows and a cushion for the window seat. I also made a memo board and some other cute items to accessorize the room. The room is so cute!

Girl's Camp

2009-06-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of SarahBeth with her new friend Kelly. They left Wednesday morning bright and early for Girl's Camp in Northern Arizona for 4 days. SarahBeth was very excited!

THE BIG MOVE

2009-06-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth decided to move from Georgia to Arizona. What a big decision! After days of packing and many tears, she made it! We had a cookout and pool party to celebrate her arrival.

Family is Everything

2009-06-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Georgia Scenery

2009-06-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

Thompson Family Reunion

2009-06-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Thompson Family Reunion was Saturday, May 30th at my uncle and aunt's house on the lake. The weather was great and the food was wonderful. I'm so glad I was able to attend this year!

Happy 3rd Birthday JJ

2009-06-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

JJ celebrated his 3rd birthday by having a pool party with his whole family.

A STAR IS BORN!!!!!

2009-05-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn was a shining star in her recital. Afterwards everyone went to Red Robin's to eat.

A Few More Pictures....

2009-04-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

More Pictures of the New House

2009-04-26T18:36:00.001-07:00

Our New Place

2009-04-26T18:17:00.000-07:00

It took a while, but we have just about got everything unpacked and put away. The house really feels like home. Check out the before and after photos...

Grandpa's Little Cuties

2009-04-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't know, Ashlyn, Hadley and Kaylee have Grandpa wrapped around their little fingers.....and with good reason too. Just look how cute they are!

Kaylee turns 1

2009-04-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe a year has passed since Kaylee was born! She turned 1 and celebrated her big day at the park with all her family.Happy Birthday!

"HOPPY" Easter!

2009-04-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Grandkids had a great time hunting for all the eggs Mike and I "hid" in Amy's back yard.

Ashlyn turns 7

2009-02-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

For Ashlyn's 7th birthday, we took her to the mall for lunch. She wanted chicken strips and a Blizzard! After we ate, we took her shopping for her gift. We had a fun time!

Christmas Morning

2008-12-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

The kids opened up their gifts from Santa. They must have been pretty good this year!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2008-12-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone in the blink of an eye. Sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays that we forget to stop and reflect on the true meaning of the season and what matters the most. Mike and I are both blessed with wonderful families.

We spent Christmas with Mike's family on Dec. 23rd. We had our traditional "Christmas Breakfast" and opened gifts.

Mike, Josh and I flew out on the 24th to Georgia to visit my family. After leaving an hour and 30 minutes late, we finally made it to Atlanta and to my sister's house around 9:00pm. Everyone was there. It was great to see my family! I hadn't seen most of them in a year.

Here Comes Santa Claus!

2008-12-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

The last day of school was a blast. My class competed against another 3rd grade class in the 1st (and Last) Annual Winter Olympic Games. My class was very well-behaved, but unfortunately we didn't win any events. I was still very proud of them! When we returned to class, we had a surprise visit from Santa! I even got to sit on Santa's lap. (I was terrified I was going to break his leg!!!)

Austin's soccer

2008-12-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

Austin's soccer was a lot of fun to watch this year. He is a very good player with a lot of speed.

Fun at the Sun's game

2008-12-14T14:36:00.003-08:00

We went to the Sun's game for Janeille's birthday. It was a great game and Janeille got to see her favorite player(Grant Hill) in person for the first time. JJ enjoyed the game and noises but I think he enjoyed playing games himself even more.

CONGRATULATIONS JOSHUA

2008-11-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

Joshua is currently a Junior at the University Of Arizona. Today, the University of Arizona and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences recognized Joshua as a Magellan Circle Scholar. With this recognition, Josh received a scholarship which will certainly come in handy. Josh was selected along with 37 other scholars from several hundred applicants. He was recommended by two of his professors. Way to go Josh! I'm so proud of you.

History in the Making

2008-11-21T16:06:00.000-08:00

I recently went on a field trip with my class to the American Heritage Festival. It was a very interesting and educational experience. We were able to talk to various people from the past and see artifacts as well as authenic dress from various time periods starting with the American Revolution all the way up to the Vietnam War. I was impressed with the knowledge these historians shared with the kids in ways they could understand.

TRICK or TREAT!!!!!

2008-11-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween.......all the Grandkids came by to do some "Trick-or-treating". Austin and Ashlyn were soooo scary! Carter was a Ninja Turtle and Hadley was a little cutie Rainbow Brite! Jeremiah and Kaylee were both "hoppy" to be enjoying the night. One was a frog and the other was a bunny. I gave a Tootsie Roll to Kaylee and found out she has a sweet tooth...or will have one day!

KIDS AGAIN

2008-11-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

On my fall break, Mike and I went to Disney Land. After everything he has been through (and me as well) we decided we deserved some fun! We only spent one day, but we had a great time going on the rides and taking in the sights. I can't wait to go back with SarahBeth!

I'm Back!

2008-10-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted anything! There is a good reason. My new job has been keeping me VERY BUSY! I am currently teaching a 3rd grade class at a charter school called Burke Basic School. I have 33 students. Some days I love my job, and other days I think I must be crazy for taking the position! Although I have been in the education field for 28 years, I feel like a first year teacher again. These are my students that received recognition on awards day.

GREAT NEWS!!!

2008-09-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Mike met with his doctor today and received great news. The tumors are GONE! Mike celebrated by "Ringing the Bell" and receiving a Certificate of Achievement for successfully completing the Comprehensive Chemotherapy Program. We are so thankful for all the support and prayers of family, friends and strangers. We are also very thankful for his great doctor and nurses that helped get us through this tough time. Now Mike just needs to worry about getting stronger and getting back to his old lifestyle.

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

2008-07-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth left today to go back to Georgia. Many tears were shed! I already miss her so much!

SarahBeth-

I LOVE You and I'll always be here for you!

Mom

We'll Miss You SarahBeth

2008-07-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

We had a "Going Away" Party for SarahBeth. She will be flying back to Georgia on Wednesday. Everyone will miss her!

Grandpa's Home!

2008-07-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah and Hadley were glad to see Grandpa feeling better after his stay in the hospital. Hadley already has Grandpa wrapped around her "little finger".

Meet MAX and MAGGIE

2008-07-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

Max and Maggie are my two black labs. I have had them since they were puppies; they are now 5 years old. We had to have the pool drained, but before all the water was pumped out, Max and Maggie got in (with a little bit of encouragement from SarahBeth). They had a blast! I think they thought they were back in Georgia in the lake behind our old house!

MIKE is HOSPITALIZED

2008-07-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Mike was put in the hospital on Tuesday, July 8th, when his fever spiked to 103.1. After doing blood work, it was discovered his blood count was down to 7.5 which should have been between 10 - 12. In addition, his white blood cell count was 3x's higher than it should be. His weight was down to 160 lbs as well. Mike was given 2 pints of blood to help bring his count back up and placed on antibiotics to fight any possible infections. Although an infection was never found and Mike thinks it was a waste of time being in the hospital, his blood count is normal again and he gained about 7 lbs. He looks much better! Mike was released Saturday evening, July 12th. He will be starting his third cycle of chemo on Monday. He is halfway through!

Kaylee's Blessing

2008-07-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

4th of July Fun

2008-07-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Matthias and Andy's hard work getting the motor on the pool pump working, everyone was able to come over and go swimming on the 4th! Although Mike was not able to join us in the pool, he was able to say hello to everyone and visit for a few minutes.

UPDATE on MIKE.....

2008-07-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Mike has competed two full weeks of chemo....five weeks total. He is down to about 164 lbs. Needless to say, he is very tired. This week he has been sleeping a lot. He is doing better about getting fluids down, however food is still a problem. It hurts for him to swallow. Mike has been a little "down", which is normal considering what he is going through. Please keep him in your prayers during the next 7 weeks!

POOL BUDDIES

2008-06-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

Austin enjoys playing around with Josh in the pool!

FEARLESS in the POOL

2008-06-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

HADLEY has no fear of the water at all. She jumps in, with or without her swimmies, and loves going under the water. Sometimes I wonder if she will come back up! She is a "Little Mermaid".

Miniture Golf

2008-06-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

SarahBeth has been begging to play miniture golf for over a week. I finally gave in, against my better judgement, and took her today. Boy was it HOT! But we still had a good time. Josh even went along.

I hate to brag...but I beat them both!

NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

2008-06-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

Kaylee Ruth Cole was born April 21, 2008. She weighed 8lbs 8oz. Kaylee spent the first seven weeks in the hospital. She is home with her mom and dad and big brother Jeremiah now. Kaylee came swimming the other day. She is such a beautiful baby, with big blue eyes and dark hair. She looks like a little china doll!

JUST ANOTHER DAY

2008-06-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

Mike started his second cycle of chemotherapy this week. As you can see from his picture, he has not only lost some weight, but he also lost his hair. This is a picture of Mike at the doctor's office where he spends a lot of his time these days. The nurses there are great and I really like his doctor as well. Please keep Mike in your thoughts and prayers as he continues with his treatments over the next nine weeks!