A day at the beach

Ryan has had a tough rotation schedule so far.  He started with 8 weeks of surgery, which meant he left at 4:30 in the morning and came home well after dinner and most times after kids were in bed.  Then he moved on to Neuro ICU where he was also on a really demanding schedule.  Now, he is finishing up pediatrics, and these two weeks have been a dream.  He randomly was given two days off (hip hip hooray!!) and we wanted to make every minute count.

One of the days, we decided to pick Cal up from tot-school and head straight to the coast.  We have never been there, but have heard all sorts of good things.  After a quick 2.5 hour drive, we drove up right to the beach, as in our tires touched the sand.  There were mini pavilions all along the shore that provided some shade, so we first transferred sleeping Grady Boy into a pack n play and let him nap while the three of us played in the sand and jumped in the water.

Cal was in heaven.  I am not being dramatic when I say I have never seen him that happy.  He was skipping and twirling and jumping and throwing himself into the water over and over, and was beaming every minute.  The undertow was a little strong for my liking, so we made sure to be by his side the entire time.  And once Grady woke up, he enjoyed the many handfuls of sand he was able to munch on, but loved sitting in the waves as they splashed over his little legs.

After tons of fun at the beach, we were all equally tired and starving.  We found a little hole in the wall pizza joint, and were pleasantly surprised.  Huge slices, lots of toppings, yummy salad and cheese bread...it was the perfect ending to a happy day.  We packed up the sun-soaked babies into their seats, and they snoozed as we made our way back to San Antonio.

Ryan and I could not say enough how much we needed that time together.  All together - the four of us.  Our family needed some time away from the norm, and to make a fun new memory.  I hope we make it back there soon!  And for future reference, this time of year is the best to go.  We heard that summertime is just scorching hot and crowded.  Maybe we can make this our "first week of November" tradition.

Some Updates

This year has gone by faster than any other.  Grady is almost one, Ryan is halfway through the hardest year of medical school, Cal is growing taller and smarter every day, and I started a job with Beachbody - with so many thing in between!  But one thing I can't stand to sacrifice is our family adventures, lessons, and memories.  Those take priority.  So, for the next month I will be playing catch-up, so there may be many things that are posted out of order.

The first update will be about my job.  I basically get to workout and make yummy, healthy food for a living (more like...for a few bucks a month!).  It is definitely a lot more work than I thought it would be - isn't it always?  But it has been such a good thing for me.  I feel like I am doing something productive, that benefits me, the family, and so many others.  It is such a good feeling to know that people see you as someone who adds value to their life.  

There are definitely ups and downs, with slow months and discouraging things that happen here and there.  At one point, I was letting social media completely overtake my life.  I wanted to quit.  I was done feeling like a bad mom and a stress case.  But Ryan helped me set limits, and more importantly helped me realize that I am the one choosing how much social media I allow to leak into my life.  So after taking a step back and taking this business at my pace and not the pace of those before me, it has been much more manageable.  

It is still uncomfortable for me to post pictures of my body, but I have had so many people reach out because of my ability to be vulnerable, and who thank me for the inspiration.  I still get a little nervous before I post for people to join a clean eating group, but then am surprised when 40 people want to take part.  I have never been one who was great at keeping in touch with friends or extended family, but being in this business has taught me that relationships are valuable.  I have reconnected with old roommates, teammates from high school, cousins, and so many others.  I especially have been able to connect with another family member who is also coaching, and we have been able to get to know one another, talk more, and encourage each other on this journey.  And that to me is worth it all.

I don't know what these next few months will bring, but I am hoping I will find my grove, gain confidence, and help others live healthy lives!  If it can someday turn into a way I can contribute financially to the family, then that will be the greatest blessing.  

C.O.L.D.P.L.A.Y.

A few years ago, I told Ryan that if Coldplay ever went on a tour again, I would be buying tickets.  No matter where we lived, no matter how long it took to get there, we had to go.  He agreed!  So, when Coldplay announced they were going to be touring in Dallas (5 hours from here) I almost passed out.  I did the countdown and bought the tickets within 30 seconds of them being released, and could not believe how fast tickets were selling!!  Even though I didn't score front seats, I was still beyond excited to go.

We asked some great friends (the Elliotts) if they would be our kids' parents for the weekend, and they were happy to help.  So Saturday morning we left for Dallas, and made a fun day of it.  We stopped and ate delicious Indian food then walked through Ikea and tested out some couches.  We held hands as we laughed about funny moments with our kids, talked about our hopes and dreams for the next couple years,  and made the perfect Coldplay playlist we wished they would play later that night.  Then we found our apartment (thanks airbnb!) and got all dolled up and Ubered our way to the AT&T Center - one of the most impressive things I have ever seen.  

Ryan and I spent most of the time leading up to the concert walking around the stadium.  Ryan told me about how amazing it was to play a football game there back during his BYU days, and it was fun to hear him reminisce.  We talked about a book we recently read "Essentialism" and words that represent time - Chronos and Kairos - and how we could better live in the present, and BE present.  We bought way too expensive snacks because we realized we were starving and never had dinner.  We people watched.  Then, it was time to take our seats.  

The lights went down, the crowd started screaming, the smoke started to fill the stadium, and we knew it was time.  100,000 colored wristbands started blinking in sync and out came Coldplay to their newest song "Head Full of Dreams".  The most magical moment however, came next.  At the end of the song the lights turned off, all of the wristbands turned yellow, and yellow balloons fell from the sky.  I knew immediately what song it was.  The song I heard and fell in love with over ten years earlier.  YELLOW!!!!  I almost cried.  Ryan and I sang and yelled and jumped and danced, and had some of the most fun we have ever had together.  They sang almost all of my favorites:

Till Kingdom Come

Paradise

Yellow

Head Full of Dreams

Clocks

Fix You

Sky Full of Stars

Magic

Viva La Vida

The Scientist

and so many more.  The whole drive home the next morning, one of us would just start spontaneously singing one of their songs.  The lights and atmosphere and entire show was out of this world.  We are so grateful for the fastest, but most fun 24 hours together we have ever had!  

Friendship

Ryan and I have been blessed with incredible friends.  We had dear, dear friends in Utah and were worried we would never be able to make the same caliber of friends in Texas.  But we couldn't have been more wrong.  Medical school would be such a grind for the both of us if we didn't have the support system of people who are going through the same stage of life.  When we count our blessings, our Texas friendships are at the top of the list.

2014:

2016:

Thompson Family Photos

There was one day in the entire summer that the entire Thompson family was in town - so we made it happen!  My kids were tired and hungry, and not very cooperative, but we at least got one good photo of the four of us.  I love my boys!

River House

The first three weeks I spent in Oregon, Ryan was still in Texas finishing an ENT rotation.  The days were long!  Ryan was lonely and I was exhausted, and we missed our time together.  Then, Ryan came into town, we were a family again!  But with the excitement of family around, and tons of activities to pack in, we didn't find much alone time.  And, we need it!  We are used to such a quiet life in Texas, where after kids are in bed, the house is clean and studying is done, we chat and catch up and talk about everything on our mind until we are ready for bed.  I've realized this break that being able to talk things out is crucial for my emotional health!  After asking Mindy if she would be kind enough to watch our little boys for an overnight adventure, I planned a surprise trip for Ryan.  I couldn't wait for some one on one time.

*Sidenote* While trying to decide where to go, I could not believe the incredible amount of legitimate options we had.  The coast, the Rogue River, Crater Lake, Castle Crags, the waterfalls, Redwoods, Smith River, Lost Creek Lake, Mt. Mcloughlin...and that is why we want to come back to this heaven on earth.  It truly is a wonderland.  We hope to bring our family back to Southern Oregon.

So Monday night I spilled the beans to Ryan, and Tuesday morning we packed a few things and hit the road.  It was a quick 2.5 hour drive, and we especially enjoyed the scenic route along the Umpqua, and the bumpy 20 minute drive down the bank to get to the beloved River House.  We got there at noon, grabbed fishing poles and went straight to the water.  After catching a couple fish, and scaring myself with what I thought was a river snake (yeah...it was my fishing line) we decided it would be fun to bike up a few miles and float down the river with just our life jackets.  So, with no thought of what kids needing tending to or who needed a nap, we marched up the hill with suits on and life jackets on our backs, and biked up the dirt path.  After we went a couple miles, we hid our bikes in some bushes, climbed out on some rocks and jumped into the surprisingly warm river.  With our feet out in front of us, we held onto our life vests, leaned back and floated slowly down the river.  It was an incredible view.  No one in sight, on the banks or in the river, with the hot sun above us and our toes sticking out of the water, we couldn't help but be in awe of the beauty of the earth.

After another embarrassing moment (I thought a boulder up ahead was a bear...) we climbed out and dried ourselves in the sun.  Then we walked on the dirt road, hand in hand, to fetch the hidden bikes.  We kept saying, "doesn't it feel like we are dating again??"  We were carefree and giddy, so excited to be together and have some FUN.

After a quick shower we headed to Reedsport, and ate some of the best food I have had in years.  I had crab cakes with quinoa and veggies, and Ryan had an elk pot pie.  We left totally satisfied and full, and fell asleep at 8:45.

The next morning, we woke up early to try our luck with fishing since the water was still.  We put on some cozy clothes and spent the morning talking and laughing and fishing.  The morning fog was literally rolling along the water, and we saw fish jump and two bald eagles chase each other across the sky.  We heard bullfrogs, and watched a hawk dive into the water.  Tadpoles were swimming around our feet and the water quietly rushed along downstream.  I wanted to freeze time.  And part of me ached to go back and live in a simpler time.  No technology, no medical school, no big social pressures, just the hard working farm life - where you worked as a family, reaped what you sewed, and got to experience the simple joys of what the earth offers us.

After not even 24 hours away, Ryan and I were ready to see the boys.  Isn't it funny how we long for alone time, then ache for our children??  All we could talk about on the drive home was how much we look forward to taking our family to the River House.  It brought Ryan and I closer together, and I know it can do the same thing for families.  It was, truly, the perfect getaway.