Greatness!

Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah...Go Cougars! The boys in BLUE did it! They beat the big rival in RED, the University of Utah, in their final game of the season! BYU enjoyed an OT victory of 26 to 20! It was a great game, a great time, great weather, great hot chocolate and even greater as we enjoyed most of the game from the sideline. Way to reach out and touch the football ourselves! It topped off a wonderful holiday weekend!

Cute, Cute, Halloween

It is the middle of November and I have not posted any cute, cute, Halloween pictures. What a great day of family, fun, parties, TREATS, and adorable children in adorable costumes. The weather was also nice! A bit of sun helped to warm up the day and made it possible to wear costumes with layers and not hide them under warm winter jackets!

Caitlin and her friend Brooklyn made the cutest fairies!


Bowen as BYU's newest receiver and Prom Queen Hannah!


#7 in all of his glory!


Cute, Cute Halloween!

Bowen Wisdom

He is so adorable...that's why we love him!


Here is Bowen's response to the question, "what is brainstorming?"

"It's when my mom drinks her smoothie really fast and her head hurts, but with lots of smoothies and really, super fast!"

Brainfreeze to brain storm...DUH!

Just thought you might enjoy a little of Bowen's profound wisdom!

A Great Day Indeed....

A great day to be baptized...sunshine, family, friends and food!


Bowen, dad, and the beauties!


This is why we love them!


The two most "Handsome Men" ever!


Bowen's baptism came and went all too quickly. It was, however, a great day. We enjoyed the company of family and good friends. Bowen was so excited. You would have thought it was Christmas eve instead of the night before his baptism. He tossed and turned all night and had a stomach full of butterflies. He absolutely beamed and smiled all day long. He looked so handsome and was such a great helper to me. He made sure the snickerdoodles were well baked and put out on a nice serving tray (he mostly wanted to make sure they were within his reach). The sun shined and it was a picturesque fall day. There was a special Spirit during his baptism and confirmation. His father gave him a beautiful blessing and I felt of his goodness and strength. He is a choice spirit with much work to do. Not sure how we are going to get him there, I guess we will start with learning how to listen in second grade and work on improving that "thought to mouth" problem!

Thanks family and friends for sharing this great day with us! We love you!

Homecoming 2009

Another Homecoming and another daughter to enjoy! Caitlin was invited to the Homecoming dance early this year! Her date invited her about 4 weeks prior to the dance (I think he wanted to make sure no one else asked her first)! She was excited and thrilled as this was her first Homecoming dance. The LHS drill team worked hard and performed an amazing half time routine. Wish I could say the same for the football team. The week's activities were fun and Caitlin's schedule was busy, there was a parade to march in, an assembly to dance in, a football game to perform at, and a dance to celebrate.

Caitlin is growing up quickly and turning into such a beautiful young lady. She is my hard working, overly stressed girl, but she is so much fun. I enjoy watching her perform, she is a real natural in front of an audience and loves to dance! She is a compassionate girl who loves everyone unconditionally! She is my sweetheart and was easy to shop with. She picked another blue and black dress (same colors as the prom dress), but it was a pretty one! She had a great time trying on dress after dress until she found the one she wanted. Of course, that decision came after many shopping trips, worry, pondering and consideration (I'm not sure anyone put that much thought into their choice for president in 2008). However, she made the right choice as she was beautiful and had a great time!

Her date was thoughtful as he picked her up for the dance with flowers in arms, some for her and some for the mom! His mother has coached him well. He looked nice and they matched so adorably well!


Practice, practice, practice! Getting ready for the Homecoming half-time routine!


The Pioneers!


The Awesome Pionettes!


Fun times at the game!


Looking good girls!


Caitlin all "prettied up" for the Homecoming dance!


She's a beauty!


Caitlin & Derek - LHS Homecoming 2009!

Eight is Great!

Bowen turned eight on September 7th. Having a birthday is the best! He was able to enjoy the big day with lots of cousins, cake, presents, food, and family! It was a great time, just ask him. He got the IPod Shuffle he has been wanting, video games (thanks grandma), clothes (boring), a football, and many other fun things. He also was the "star" student for the week at school. This made him feel very important and he got to share pictures and stories all about him! The party that included 7 little boys destroying my house was my favorite part and I think he liked all the attention he received for the whole week. The only thing better than having a birthday is being able to celebrate for an entire week!

Bowen is such a good boy! He has so much energy and a zest for life. He will keep me busy! He is a bright little guy with an inquisitive mind. He giggles and loves sports, especially football. He adores his Grandpa Thomas and loves to "hang out" with him. He is social and loves playing with friends and cousins. I can't believe my little guy is 8 years old! He is growing up quickly. He is fun!

Turning eight is great!


Say Cheese!!!!


Happy Birthday Bowen!


Blow Harder!!


The Party Was a Great Time (especially for mom)!


Wow...some great gifts (his sisters can officially call him nerd with this headlamp)!


Bionicles Rock!

Happy Number 19!

The birthday girl!

Celebrating the big ONE NINE!

Wow...my little baby girl turned 19 on September 4th! I can't believe how quickly my little rag muffin grew into a beautiful young lady. It seems like just yesterday she was running around the house in her pink Power Rangers costume, throwing amazing karate kicks to battle the enemy or cutting the hair off of all her Barbie dolls or riding her "Batman" bike up and down the sidewalk or terrorizing Cherokee Drive. She has grown into a beautiful, talented, compassionate, full of life, glam, stylish, FUN, resourceful, talkative, loyal, in charge and loving young woman! Oh how I love her! She teaches me everyday! She is a great, big sister and her little sisters and brother adore her. She is the life of the party with a witty disposition. Spending a few days with her for her birthday was a treat. I am so proud of her and pray for her happiness daily. I know she will be successful and wonderful at life! I am grateful to have been blessed with her as my daughter, she is one of my best friends!

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY COURTIE-BUM!

The First Day of School 2009

It was a grand first day of school for the Thomas children. Bowen loves his new teacher and so far, she seems to be handling the "Bowen" task. He has lots of new friends and loves Math and Science. Reading is apparently, "a waste of time" and Spelling is just plain old BORING! He is growing up fast and has eased into second grade without difficulty. He is fun, funny, full of life and smart!

Hannah has survived the shock of beginning junior high. It has been an uphill battle, however, she is winning so far. She has had many mishaps leading up to and on the first day, including the inability to open her locker. Then she broke her hand and finger and began the second day of 7th grade with a cast and pain. It was her right hand so that only added more pain and difficulty because now she cannot even attempt to open her locker, carrying her lunch tray is almost impossible (good thing she has had willing helpers), she even struggles when changing clothes before and after dance class. At least she has been noticed! I guess it is not the best way to get attention, but it has worked! She loves her English teacher, her dance class, her Science class and has lots of friends. She is as cute as can be and still sports a smile, even though 7th grade has been a bit traumatic!

Caitlin seems to be enjoying her junior year of high school. She is of course, very involved and active. She loves dance company and drill team. She is enjoying her seminary teacher and her Chemistry class. She loves to read and her Honors English teacher keeps her busy with books. She has a date to the Homecoming dance and a new and beautiful dress. She has a stylish hair cut and lots of cute friends! At the moment, life is good!

The college freshman has transitioned well and loves the independence that higher education and moving away from home has brought. She has met many new people and is enjoying her new adventure. She loves Snow College and is doing well in all her classes. She especially enjoys her "Intro to Education" class and loves volunteering at the nearby elementary school. She is already teaching small lessons weekly to the fourth graders and helping with the Special Needs class too. She seems to be getting along well with her roommates and she and Lexi seem to be quite content (Her mother, however, doesn't love the idea of her children growing up and leaving her behind. Hopefully, she will adjust soon!)! Go Badgers!

The College Freshman & Roommate (oooooh the independence)!

The Cutest 7th Grader!


The Very Adorable 2nd Grader & the Beautiful Junior.

What do you do to enjoy the last few weeks of summer...?

Kick...it will be over soon!


Skateboard...without the helmet until mom catches you!


Prioritize...........play time with old friends!


Definitely...have fun in the sun!


I have no idea what these two are doing......?

Make...a little time to party!

Shed a few tears...big sister and best friend is going away, to college!

Stress...moving day for Courtney!

Work hard & smile...cheer camp for Hannah!

Togetherness...it is after all, still cheer camp!

Receive....a baseball reward for playing well!

Sleepovers with cousins....finally OUT!

Definitely try to not waste time sleeping....so glad to finally not HEAR anything and it's only 3 AM! Wow, Bowen and cousins!


What did you do to enjoy the last few weeks of summer???!

September.....

Wow....September already!! It is September 8 and already we have had two birthdays, my eldest turned 19 and my youngest turned 8! Happy Birthday COURTNEY & BOWEN! Yes, I said 8, I am old! Happy, happy birthday to my two blessings! I love, love, love you both! They are so much alike in many ways; Courtney and Bowen, but yet have their differences! I am so behind and have not yet checked all the items on my to-do list. Blogging and posting pictures is one of those unchecked items.

So, for now, life is good and family is a blessing and I have lost 10 lbs! What could be better!???

A Little Blue

Just a little blue today while thinking of my friend and her loss. Thoughts of her seem to flood my mind alot these days. I cannot comprehend such a loss or such a heart ache or such a weight on my shoulders to carry. I have experienced loss before. I have lost loved ones and friends whom I miss and think of alot. This has brought me to the ultimate thought of the Plan of Happiness, that is the plan outlined by a loving Father in Heaven, not the Plan of Misery or the Plan of Blueness, but of HAPPINESS.

Do you know anyone that has "lost" someone? I do.

Whether it be a baby, a spouse, a mom, a dad, a grandparent or a dear friend.

We all lose people to death, at some time in our lives. Death is a part of living.

Have you lost someone? I have.

Sometimes during the course of our lives, we lose "things." Things like health, or jobs, or security. Sometimes we lose mobility, or function. Or a relationship is lost when it comes to an end.

I guess a part of living is experiencing loss.

However, it is called the Plan of Happiness. So maybe I should smile and remember the great eternal plan. We are loved and a loving parent's desire is for their children to be happy. Our Father in Heaven wants the same, our happiness.

So, although a little blue, I will smile and feel happiness!

Sooooooo Behind....

I'm so behind on everything, including the whole blogging thing. I will update with new pictures and posts in the very near future. It's on my "to-do" list!

Just to give you a quick summary: We have survived the summer and a new school year has begun. Bowen has met his second grade teacher and we love her. Let's hope she is up to the "Bowen" task. Hannah survived her first day of junior high, it wasn't easy, she was unsuccessful at every attempt of opening her locker, but she came home smiling, nonetheless! Catilin has begun her junior year of high school and the jury is still out on how this year will be. We moved Courtney to Snow College and mom and dad and Caitlin are still able to talk about this with only a few tears. Courtney, however, seems to be adjusted and enjoying the independence of higher education, let's see, dinners with football players, rock band with returned missionaries and dances, dances, dances. Let's hope her homework is getting done.

A friend of mine lost her husband in a plane crash. She is now left with three small children to raise, ages 4, 2 and 3 months. She is so amazing, however, the loss is difficult. I am so impressed with her strength and her faith, she teaches me daily. I know she can do this! She will be happy again. I believe that you never stop loving the people you lose, but that you are able to keep living with their memories, remembering will bring you happiness!

Soccer season has begun. Eric and Caitlin are coaching Bowen's soccer team. This makes for very fun games. Bowen is quite a natural and very agressive. He is quick and seems to enjoy being in the middle of all the action.

Hannah broke her middle finger and right hand a few days ago. This is going to make 7th grade all the more difficult. She is even more frustrated and stressed, I did not know this was possible! She will not be tumbling or stunting during the entire football season and we are keeping our fingers crossed that a full recovery will be made prior to cheer competition season, only a few short months away.

Hope all is well and everyone is happy to be back in school!

Peace

My babies.....love the 4-wheeler (yes, it's true, Hannah is too scared to drive the 4-wheeler, but not Bowen)!



Bowen is ready for some action (I really feel that this was a great photography moment for me, nice picture)!



Hannah & Caitlin are really "roughing it!"



Courtney enjoying the great outdoors (ooooh, that's my grandma's old couch)!



Beautiful Birdseye & Beautiful Children!



Bowen enjoying a moment of "sisterly love!"


The long 24th of July weekend was spent in Birdseye, the former home of my grandfather's cattle ranch. The cabin was nice and the kids all had a great time. Eric and Bowen were successful at fishing and the 4-wheeler added to the fun. Being in Birdseye for the weekend flooded my mind with memories of my grandpa Huck and I felt his presence as I walked the ground he loved. I was all warm and fuzzy and it was a very peaceful few days for me.

Eric enjoyed himself so much that he shared the fun with his family. His brother's family and his sister's family joined us. We most definitely have to make Birdseye a priority and spend more time at the cabin.

I Love the Weekend

The weekend was great! I love weekends that are full of kid spending time, family togetherness, low amounts of stress, and homemade apple pie! Hello Monday...looking forward to the up and coming 3 Day Weekend!










Yes...it's true, I will admit that I loved, loved, loved it! Although, I really want to view the ending of all of this Harry Potter stuff...hurry up and end, this movie held me spellbound. I was in my kidadulthood while watching this movie. It was funny, suspenseful and entertaining and definitely sets us up for the showdown scheduled for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Have a nice Monday!