Cousins- Life's Built-In Best Friends!

Here are some of our favorite times with cousins from summer and fall 2013:

Fourth of July

Mason got to come home from the hospital on Independence Day!

Crazy kids excited about their fireworks!

Meeting and holding new cousin, Mason!

Camping in Santa Cruz

Dance Performance with Reagan

Sleepover and movies with Zomo!

Bridge Bible- 10 year Anniversary!

Preschool with our cousin!

Pumpkin fun at the ranch!

Happy Halloween!

10 years!

Last July, Justin and I celebrated 10 years of marriage! A lot has happened since that extremely HOT wedding day in 2003. As a way to document the first 10 years and to preserve the memories for when we are old and gray, I made this video. The password is: love.

Justin from Kim Thompson on Vimeo.

We've experienced so many blessings, and also some heartache. We bought our first home, got our first puppy (who is now an old dog with gray fur and arthritis :( ), been blessed with two healthy, intelligent, loving little girls, and lost two babies before we got to meet them. I'm thankful that through it all, good and bad, Justin and I have grown closer and learned to love eachother more with each journey we've been on! I'm thankful that God led me to such a wonderful husband!

Our 10th Anniversary Northern California Adventure

Swimming - Summer 2013

If there was one word I could use to sum up last summer, it would definitely be "swimming". Both girls did A LOT of swimming!

This was Aubrey's first year on the Shafter Stingrays swim team, and we had a wonderful experience! When the season started in April, Aubrey couldn't even make it all the way across the pool without panicking and holding on to the wall. They actually moved her down to Bubblers for a week until a very patient Coach Cam got into the water with her and helped build her confidence. For the first few weeks, she did many of her practice laps with the kick board, but eventually she built up her strength. Back stroke was always her strongest stroke and though she nearly sunk in her first freestyle race, she rocked her first back stroke race and got her first ribbon for 8th place! That ribbon inspired her to work harder and swim faster! Along the way, she earned many more ribbons and medals. She proudly ended the season with a first place medal for backstroke and a Rookie of the Year trophy! More than the awards, it was a great summer of bonding with our dear friends the LaGores and of Aubrey learning to believe in herself!

^^Aubrey's first EVER backstroke race where she won her 8th place ribbon

Her first ribbon!! 8th place in backstroke

Swim team buddies- Charleigh and Aubrey

Proud Stingray daddy and his girls

First medal- third place at the meet hosted by the Stingrays

A familiar sight to all swim team families

Swimmer take your mark...

^^This was a mid season freestyle race! Go Aubs!!

A strong freestyle by the end of the season!

At Aubrey's last race of the season, cousin Zoe made signs to cheer her on. This is the race where she won her first place medal.

Coach Cam, Coach Heidi and Coach Zach with Aubrey at a morning practice (she looks tired)

Juliet also did a lot of swimming last summer- in the little pool at swim team practice, at Papa Cc's house, and at swim lessons. She had a wonderful swim instructor named Mr. Ricky who had a special little bond with Juliet! She quickly learned new skills and moved up to Sharkies where she is trying to learn side breaths. She can make it across the pool as long as she can roll over and take a breath.
Sometimes her bravery can be frightening, but we sure are proud of this little fish. We are hoping she can join the Stingrays next summer.

Moving up from Star Fishies to Sea Horsies....she kept moving up to Sharkies!

A happy girl in the baby pool at swim team.

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