Titus' First Haircut

 

Trick or Treat

Lancaster does their trick or treat on Thursday.

Grandma with the little frog.

The night started a little rough. A kid dressed in all black and a skeleton mask came first and scared Titus pretty good because he was not expecting it at all. Once Mary explained to him it was pretend, he came down the stairs. The kid came back down the street immediately and the brothers stared him down. Cole made sure to keep his gun pointed at him the whole time and even let off a few shots.
Family Picture

Mary and her boys

Titus being Titus

Cole really got into the cowboy part. He stayed in character the whole night.

Titus likes to mimic Cole so he looks at him all the time.

This is the night prior when they carved their pumpkins.

A good example of their "on cue" smiles.

Time For the Guilt

I still haven't received entries from the majority of families, but I don't want to list the names because it makes the game too easy and then when they do give them, I can't say because then it makes it really easy.

So I'm going to guilt by family. These are the percentages of their families that HAVE turned them in.

Johnson Family - 71%

Scott Thompson Family - 33%

Steve Thompson Family- 25%

Trish Mueller Family- 20%

Grandma & Grandpa - 100%


Heads of families need to think of their honor here and pressure their families.

Pictures from Sarah and Jason's honeymoon

Sarah has uploaded a slideshow of pictures from her honeymoon to Italy (complete with some hot accordion music).

Check it out here.

Johnson Family

NEW RULE & New Person

When you vote, just put the person that you think it is. Don't list your rationale. It has the potential to give it away.

Also, a hint...when it's you, vote for someone else.


NEXT PERSON

1) I once called in sick to work because there was a sporting event on tv I wanted to watch....I told my boss I was having serious stomach problems.

2) When playing a round of golf, I moved my ball out of a sand trap while my friends were not looking, which then led to me making a great shot and winning the hole. No one ever knew!

3) In college, I had a friend read a book for me and write a brief report/paper as well, upon which I received a 96% and received extra credit to get an A!.....I of course compensated him financially. It was during finals week and I was desperate.

Let the New Game Begin

Though I have not received everyone's entry, I can't use this blog to guilt them because if I posted their name, it would make the game easier. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE PEOPLE! GET ME YOUR RESPONSES!


This is how the game will work. I will post a list of three rules that someone has broke some point in their life. You will all try and guess who it is.

If it is your spouse, go ahead and guess someone else and I won't count it against you. I think it will be obvious if someone picks their spouse that it really is them or if they stay silent, then it would suggest it is. Does that make sense?


Here's the first:

1) Gave a job reference for a friend in an Indian accent

2) Took a porsche for a spin-my friend who ran the parking grage gave me the keys to a rich guys car

3) Confronted a guy who did not wash his hands after going to the bthroom-made him nervously wash his hands while I watched

Cute Boy

While most of you are thinking of Halloween, I am thinking that November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month.

Please watch this then send it to as many folks as you can. http://www.pancan.org//section_about/news_press_center/video_library/video_general_psa_9_16_09.php

My pear picking invention.

Here's what you do: Take a garden hoe, tape a mop handle to it, then get another mop handle or slim board and tape it on. You can reach way up in the tree where the good pears are, hook the hoe around a pear and pull. Works good!

Thompsonzoo updates, or lack of...

So, we have animals. Did we ever tell you that? We have 4 bulldogs, 3 cats, Kristen's pug, and 3 orphaned kitty's (Karen is raising for adoption). That's why Karen's email is thompsonzoo@ameritech.net

We used to have 2 kids but they grew up so now we just have animals. They eat less, don't ask for money, and think we're still the smartest people on earth. I would post pictures of them but they never let me take any, so...

Mom asked me to share what happened at the conference we attended in New Orleans. So interested or not, here goes:

First, it was impressive and very insightful. The majority of the discussion was on detection. The stats on Pan Can are so negative because 90% of the time it's discovered too late. There are few symptoms other than late stage symptoms so it's most often overlooked. The theme of the doc's was, "If you don't suspect it you can't detect it!" Most docs always look to something else. Mine did. I had a line of docs over 3 days tell me it could be anything BUT pancreas cancer. I was too young. I had no symptoms. I wasn't losing weight. Etc. It took one doctor, who perked up when I told him of our family history, to pull the trigger on the right test--and it was discovered. Anyway, most of the new developments are around earlier detection. They showed a new 'Geiger counter' that could react to dyes during surgery to find the tiniest of tumors. They have a new tracer that follows the path of disease to reveal where it's spread. They are working on a new type of liver surgery where they can remove the liver for a day to examine thoroughly (since 99.9% of PC patients die from liver tumors, not of the pancreas). Then lastly they have a new liver treatment called PRRT they are trying to bring to the States. It holds a lot of promise and has shown great results in Europe. Overall I was encouraged that so many new developments are occurring--that my hopes rest largely on just hanging on, as they work them out. I certainly have a better outlook than many before me just because of the advances being made.

Second, it was depressing. The good new was it's finally getting funding, attention (Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs, etc.) but the bad news is it's an insidious disease that doesn't like to go away. When treated it just finds a new home. It was pretty overwhelming talking to fighter after fighter who has had years of surgeries, chemo's, complications, etc. But I suppose the good news is islet cell, my rare form, is at least somewhat treatable and many have lived with it for 7-10 years (95% PC diagnosed live less than 5). And again, based on the advances, I should be able to fight even longer. And hopefully even beat it.

Lastly, New Orleans is really cool--weirdly so. We got to spend the evenings exploring and we agreed it now tops Vegas as our once in a great while gotta-do trips for people watching, food, and shopping. We had a blast listening to the street musicians. I even had my pic taken with Grandpa Elliot, of "Playing For Change" fame. And the food--wow--amazing. I have never seen so many restaurants. And eaten as much rich food. I can't eat red meat or shellfish or sweets but I managed to do away with a lot of redfish. We loved the history and the sights. But hated Bourbon Street (slimey). We hope to go back this winter when we have some time to digest more than the Creole cooking.

We are sorry we missed the wedding but frankly it was meant to be. We met several folks with nearly identical histories, learned of new doctors and treatments, and left feeling way more empowered to fight. We are even looking in to 2 specialists who do nothing but treat neuroendocrine disease. Rare. So, one more tool in our arsenal--knowledge.

As for my health, I was clean last scan Sept. 1 and have another November 30th. The docs said the hole in my liver, left by the last surgical treatment, is closing and there was no sign of any spread or new growth. One scan at a time.

Now, can you see why I love the animals so much? Way better to enjoy them than worry about this stupid cancer thing. And so much cheaper than therapy!

BTW--Karen just ordered a new couch with a hide-a-bed so we can have guests now. She's getting the place fixed up nicely. New floors, totally revamped electrical, decorating improvements, etc. The guy who owned it the last 30 years was, well--a guy, and was cheap to boot. We've got a long list of things to fix that he 'duct taped'. But you know Karen--she's a maestro at making a home out of whatever. Getting there. Come visit!

Cheers,

Stephen, Karen, Lola, Otis, Elmo, Lily, Skyler, Hannah, Bo Jangles and 3 kitties waiting to be adopted.

Cider Mill

The Fam went to the cider mill yesterday so Sepporah could pick some apples. I can only go to the cider mill when it starts to get cold, cause for some reason going in short sleeves just bothers me. I love the fall/winter months. Here are some pics of our day.

I love this time of year!



Check me out....stealing an apple.






Sepporah couldn't wait to pick apples. She dumped her bag out once so she could pick some more. So I made her eat all the apples she dumped out. Just kidding mom.



I have to photoshop a tooth in, but for now her hillbilly roots are starting to show.



Climb monkey!!! CLIMB!!



We had a lot of fun. And I am not holding Jessicas arm to make her stay...she was very cold.



Monkey

Take Me To Your Leader

Space Alien Charlie. Kristen's little one. He's so ugly he's cute. A real character. Always on the go. So this pic shows how he is--one eye on you and the other on the next bit of trouble he can get into. Smart little bugger...

Oops!

Wow, am I in a time warp? My watch said today is the 7th. I've been telling everyone today is Mom's b-day. I feel a tad stupid. But anyway--still love you Mom--and you've always been very forgiving. : )

Happy Birthday Mom!

Being on the road, I didn't have access to more recent pictures. Plus these seemed funnier. Love the hair!

Mom...you've always been there. What else can I say? That's special in itself.

We love you--Stephen, Karen, Kristen, Nathan, Lola, Otis, Elmo, Lily, Skyler, Hannah, and BoJangles.

Have a wonderful birthday!!

Happy Birthday Grandma Thompson!

Today is a special day for a very special lady. Grandma and Grandpa Thompson are the heart and soul of our wonderful family. We all know how great it is to be on the receiving end of Grandma's love and care. Such an amazing woman. Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Lincoln Smiling

One Special Moment

I didn't even notice this was happening until after the fact, but at one point during Sarah's wedding we had three dads dancing with their daughters. Beautiful, right?

More pictures.

The Boys

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY TO SCOTT!!!

Another picture

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