How could this be! A year ago we were anxiously awaiting the birth of this special little girl and know it has already been a YEAR! How time flies. It has definately been an exciting & fun year watching her grow. She has been a blessing to our family. Mark & I truly love being grandparents!
Our family continues to grow! This year was especially fun. Everyone came home for the holidays. Our home was filled with our ever expanding family. Charla, Jade & McKenna brought alot of fun and excitement with McKenna's 1st Christmas. Kyle & Jen brought the excitement of their new life together as well as the amazement of a new little one soon to be added to their family in early April. Staci & her boyfriend Chris, what can I say about these two they are so fun and caring. Ashley finishing out the family she is so excited for her senior year to be over and always excited when everyone comes home because she is no longer the focus of all of our attention. We couldn't have asked for a Merrier Christmas no presents could ever compare to the blessings of families. Merry Christmas & a Very Happy New Year to All!
Love The Thatchers
We are so excited to announce the marriage of Kyle & Jen. Kyle found a very special girl. She is so sweet and really brings out the best in Kyle. We are very blessed as parents as our family continues to grow. We hope you enjoy the slide show.
We started today out with a visit to Windsor Castle. What an amazing place. The Queen has many formal events her as well as spends time her on occasion. The royal stables is here and often times the royal family will go riding in the rolling hills around the castle. Windsor is also home to Eton College one of the most exclusive colleges in the world. Only very very wealthy families are able to send their children here and it is where Harry & William both attended as children. This was a very fun day spent exploring the castle & the cute town surrounding the castle with little shops.
We visited Buckingham Palace & watched the guards as well as visited the Queen's Gallery. Very interesting. Tons and tons of beautiful artwork. It is amazing the architecture as well as amount of wealth the Royal Family has. The British people truly love their Royal family.
We decided to visit Parliament. What a treat the House of Commons was in session. It was quite amusing. They are boisterous and quite comical. Very different from our house and senate debates. They were talking about the current Economic down swing and voting on spending billions of GBP to help save their economy from a recession. It seems the whole entire world is trying to adjust and evaluate its situation. It is on every ones minds throughout the world.
Our first full day in London we explored the London Bridge & London Tower. Really alot of fun and beautiful views of London. You can see from the pictures is was really cold that day. We thought we were going to freeze to death!
Oh my goodness. I feel like we are the ants in a 'BUGS LIFE' we move around with thousands of other people. One thing is for sure we hear so many languages and even the English people when they get talking fast I cannot understand them. Sometimes I think I have seen more of the underground of London then I have seen the daylight. We have laughed at so many stupid things we have done. Running the wrong direction to the tube or making others around us run to because they think becaue we are running there is some emergency to get to that train or tube. It has been alot of fun. 
We started our trip to London in style. Northwest began a flight from Seattle to London Heathrow nonstop. So before they cancel it in January we decided we should take advantage of our flight benefits. We got Business Class! The seats are like big lazyboy seats that lay down. The seats have so many controls it takes an hour just to play with them to know everything they can do. We also were constantly fed. Everytime we turned around the flight attendants would be offering us something to eat. 
I didn't realize how emotional the turn of events the past week has been on me. If you haven't heard the news. Northwest has merged with Delta becoming the largest airlines. In doing so we will loose our name. Now why should I be a wreck? For heaven sakes! It is just a job! It is just a company & there are definitely more important things to worry about then the color of the tail on your plane or the signature on your paycheck. But I have realized that I do care and it is emotional. I have stood by and defended and praised this airline for 10 years. Believing in its service and quality of its people. I took this picture while travelling in Minneapolis it struck me how this Red Tail has effected my life. I have spent 10years trying to make a difference and in turn I have become very loyal. It has been good to my family making dreams come true for my children of travel they would never have had the opportunity to experience. It has brought opportunities of learning and growth for myself. So to that I say goodbye to Northwest with sadness but look forward to a new journey of becoming a Delta Airline Employee hoping that in 10 years from now I will look back and have those sames feelings of PRIDE for the BLUE TAIL.
So since we no longer have little kids! Mark & I were feeling a little lonely on Halloween so we dressed up Lily & took her to the ward trunk or treat party. She looked awfully cute. She enjoyed visiting with all of the little ghost & goblins.
This post is for Kyle. He is a fan of Nightmare Before Christmas. Disneyland transforms the Haunted Mansion into the theme. It is amazing! So here you go Kyle we know you would love to have seen it in person but the pics will have to do. We wish that you & Jen could have come. ENJOY!
Mark had to go to Long Beach on business so of course Ashley & I as well as Jade, Charla & McKenna didn't want him to be lonely so we met him and took advantage of going to Disneyland. It was alot of fun the place decked out for Halloween & McKenna never took a smile off her face. I think it made the whole experience alot more fun. 
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Ok so I am hooked! Crazy since the series really was created for the teenage girl. I totally recommend them. I realized I am not the only 40 something reading this series while travelling over several days to 5 different reservation offices. Each flight and airport I was in people would strike up conversations about the storyline. I had to warn them that I was only in the third book and not to ruin the ending. Everyone wanted to tell me!
I think Mark & I are either just very gullable or we just have become completely insane. Ashley talked us into getting a designer dog for her birthday. What were we thinking! She leaves in a year to college and then oh my goodness we will be watching her full-time. Lily is a Malti-poo very very sweet and shouldn't be more then 5 lbs full grown but it is like having a 2 year old in the house again. Beethoven our 16 year old dog has become young again and loves the companionship of Lily.
Ashley & I were invited to go see the "Phantom of the Opera" with Kathy, Stephanie & Courtney. Let me start off by saying I jumped at the chance to spend anytime I could as mom & daughter with Ashley. We had a great time the musical was fabulous but the very best part was having time away with Ashley. She is an amazing girl and I will really miss her next year. I have no idea how Mark & I are going to make it with no one at home. Life will definitely be different. Thanks you guys for inviting us it was a blast!
One of my favorite quotes reminds me that each of us is a Child of God, that we must magnify our gifts & talents especially in these trying times. Lets all do our part to make this world a better place because 'YOU ARE AMAZING'!
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” by Marianne Williamson
We are excited for the arrival of a new baby in the Thatcher Family. Kyle & Jen are expecting April 11th. Every baby is a miracle & a gift from God. We are looking forward to meeting this new little spirit into our Family. It's amazing how time has flown and now our children are having their own families. We are so blessed with AMAZING CHILDREN. Each day is an adventure and we look forward to all the future has to hold.
So since I took Staci to BYUI I thought since I was so close I had to take the opportunity to see McKenna. I don't want any chance of her forgetting us here in Washington. I watched McKenna on Monday while Charla & Jade worked. We had so much fun! I then made dinner for the entire family. Way too much food but I love having family dinners and sitting back and listening to my children talk. Rare moments that will create memories forever. If I could get on a plane every week I would but unfortunately I do have to make money! Of course I have to share some pics of McKenna so you will understand why I take every opportunity I can to see her. Hint! Hint! Jade, Washington is an amazing place to live.
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