Snow joke!

After several days of beautiful low 70's weather here in Tucson, a winter storm moved in today and we got some snow even in the lower elevations! It didn't stick but it was fun to watch. Pat and I along with Scott and Rachel will be winging our way to Illinois next Wednesday to spend our "Rodeo" vacation long weekend visiting Tina, Jon and the kids. The weather there according to the reports has been COLD! Well, we will stay warm it by holding the grandkids close the whole time! We are so excited to see them!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Who knows who I got this recipe from but it is great! Request from Tina, Wendy already called for it. What better place to share it!
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 2/3 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c. sour cream
It isn't necessary to chill. Roll out on floured surface. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

subbing in Primary

Everyone tells me I need to post something. I say "like what happened to me in Primary today???" I have been subbing in Sunbeams the last 3 weeks because the old teacher was called to Young Womens. These 4 children were with me in nursery all last year. I was holding a little girl on my lap (she shall remain anonymous)and noticed she was digging for gold. She struck it rich! I caught her hand just as she was trying to flick it off. I fished in my bag for a tissue and remedied the situation. At least I though I did, she found another one on the other side! At least she didn't try to eat it!

thanks for the fire truck!

and jammies (not pictured)

happy birthday ellena!

Ellena turned 1 today! We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and had a cake smashing. Don't let this picture fool you-- it took her a while, and some help from daddy, to really get into this cake. She just kept sticking in her fingers and licking the frosting. Check our Thompson Family blog for more pictures.

Happy Homecoming!

On Thursday, January 10th, Pat, Rachel, Wendy and I took a half-day off school (not Wendy; she took a half-day off from sleeping in... she was on vacation!) to go to Tucson International Airport and pick up our son Scott. He returned from Oklahoma after serving an honorable two year mission there for our church. We stopped on the way at a store to get balloons, markers and poster board for the big welcome. Carlie and Trevor (and baby Ellena) had gone ahead in their car. As we were pulling into the airport parking lot, Carlie called to say that Scott was already at the baggage carousel with Trevor. His flight had arrived early! We hurried in and there he was. There were kisses and hugs all around. As with all missionary families, we had spoken to him by phone only twice a year, received weekly emails and seen snapshots for the duration of his service (two years) but had had no face-to-face visits.
One of Scott's companions from the mission field, Robert Caranza, who is from nearby Marana, Arizona and had returned some time before was also there with another friend. Scott had already told us that the first thing he wanted to do was to have lunch at In-and-Out Burger so away we went.
That evening at 6, Scott had an appointment with the Stake Presidency to be officially released (meaning that his tenure as a missionary with all the attendant rules and responsibilities had officially ended). He received some counsel and a blessing from President Ric Nielsen. He went home to change into some "civilian" clothes and we all went out to dinner at Midtown Molina's, an old and popular Mexican restaurant.
Now, he is home and settled in to his new room. Wendy took off for the Sundance Film Festival and then home to Seattle and it was fun having her visit. I think it was also fun for Scott to have her here during the day to do stuff with. He is closing in on a job and plans to take some Pima Community College on-line courses. He reported his mission in our ward's sacrament meeting on January 20th. He gave a fine talk and we were so happy that several of our dearest friends and family members were able to be here. We are proud of him and are so pleased to have him among us again.

Wendy's Last Night in Town

Daughter #3 Wendy, resident of Seattle has been home with us in Tucson since January 6th. She came for the occasion of our son Scott's return from his mission. She has kept us entertained and Scott occupied these last weeks. So tomorrow she heads back to Seattle by way of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. She and Scott have been renting a couple of movies per night (Scott needs to catch up after his two year movie dearth) and tonight she asked him to go to the video store and get two more. Scott said no, partly because the store was to close in 10 minutes and also because he had TIVO'd Mel Gibson's "When We Were Soldiers" and they could watch that. Wendy protested and asked, "Is that a Viet Nam movie? I don't like those movies; everybody is so...sweaty."