Here Comes The Sun...

Look what I found outside my window yesterday! The sun! It made for a beautiful sunset.

What a Busy Month.....

What a busy month...there has been time, however, for fun in the snow! Many of the Thomas family decided to enjoy the icky cold temperatures and go sledding up American Fork Canyon. What a blast was had by all. Bowen has no fear and goes, goes, goes, no matter the speed. Hannah loves the outdoors and the snow, she had fun and helped her younger cousins also have a great time.

The Whole Thomas Gang....Fun Times Sledding!


Bowen Ready to Tackle the Mountain!


Snow, Snow, Snow...Makes for Great Speed on the Sleds!


Hannah Having a Great Time!


Bowen Has No Fear!


There has been time for competition...on Saturday Hannah had another cheer competition. Her team took home another first place trophy! Hannah was awesome as ever and had a great time with all the girls. Courtney came with me so I didn't have to hang out alone with all the other "cheer moms." She is great company and having her there helped to pass the time more quickly. Besides, I was updated on all the happenings at LHS and the upcoming "sweetheart dance" and on the boys and her college ambitions! It made for a great Saturday! Way to go Hannah

Go Hannah!


Feeling Joyful and Triumphant!


Last week was also the region competition for the drill team. It was tough but the Lady Pionettes showed very well! I think they were robbed of the opportunity to compete at state as they took fourth place and this region only sent the top three teams to state. They should have placed higher in both their dance routine and their kickline routine. Lone Peak was the first place region winner! I am so proud of all the girls and their accomplishments. They have all worked hard and really overcame alot of hardship this year. Maybe next year we can get more corporate sponsorship so we can have alot of bling and glitz and look better when we compete! Caitlin did so well, she danced her little heart out and took home the "Region All-Academic Award" for drill team. She is so beautiful with a mind to match! We love the PIONETTES!


Lehi Pionettes Ready for the Region Competition!


Caitlin with the Pionettes Drill Coaches Dianna & Lynnsey....So Adorable! We LOVE the coaches and appreciate their hard work!


Caitlin with her "Good Luck" Poster!

There has been NO time to rest...Eric was sick most of the weekend and so I was busy running all the kids around, cleaning, and grocery shopping. I think I will schedule some sleep time for next weekend!

Hannah - 1st Place Winner!

Good Catch Hannah....Great Stunting Technique!
Hannah has got the moves!
Soooooooo Cute!


On Saturday the 17th, Hannah had a competition for cheer. It was in Salt Lake City at Cottonwood High School. Her team and the gym, Mac's Cheer, showed up ready to take the floor! That is just what they did, all three teams that competed that morning took home first place trophies. Hannah's team, the "Mini Blue" team scored a total of 91%! That made her team eligible for both Nationals and World's competitions in California. The Mini Blues gave a flawless performance. Hannah was full of energy and enthusiasm and did so AWESOME! Way to go Hannah and the Mini Blue Team! We Love You!

January Blues

Why is it that January seems to bring on the "blues" or feeling a bit of sadness inside. I'm not sure why that seems to be. Maybe it is because its cold outside and usually hazy, although today there is sunshine and it looks beautiful out there. Maybe because it snows, snows, snows and then there is mud, ice, and muck on the sidewalks and roads. Maybe it is because the post Christmas bills are landing in your mailbox and the checkbook numbers are depressing. Maybe it is because a new year has arrived with all its new hopes and goals (which most are repeats from the previous year) and you feel so overwhelmed. But, in honor of the "blues" I would like to share a few thoughts that help bring a smile to my face, which is the best cure for the "January blues."

First of all, Miss Courtney is 18 and growing up so fast. She finally got a better managed job at Jimmy John's, not quite as cool as Rue 21, however, it is managed much better and she really likes the people she is working with. She was so happy to just finally find another job, we all know how painful job hunting is. She is finally focused on the future and her education dreams. She is set on becoming an elementary school teacher and studying Special Education. This is something she will be incredibly good at. She has a lot of compassion and love and she is so nurturing. She does so well volunteering with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and really does enjoy the youth she works with, especially those with special needs. I am so happy for her, as she has her whole life in front of her just waiting to be lived. She is eager to try the ACT one more time in hopes of improving her score a bit. She asked me if she could take it in April, imagine that! So her request for academic advancement of any kind really does make me smile! She is beautiful, those of the male gender had better stay away, I'm not ready for her to fall in love yet!

Caitlin, has worked hard this last semester to maintain her 4.0 GPA, which she did! She is looking forward to the drill team's region competition next week and she has worked so hard, I hope the team does well and places so they can advance to the state competition. The countdown calendar to the 16th birthday has a small amount of numbers left. I believe it will be 104 days to that blessed event! She cannot wait for the big 16 as she wants to drive and date and thinks that birthday will bring her great amounts of teenage freedom. I hope it brings the joy she anticipates. She loves her little brother and reads with him often. He loves her and really depends on her. She is the president of her young women's class at church and is a great leader. She leads with love and spends time praying for the welfare of the girls. Wow, she teaches me daily and this brings a smile to my face to watch her grow up so wonderfully.

Hannah, her hugs and kisses bring a smile to my face each and every day. She is so full of love and shares it with everyone in the most energetic way. She giggles and giggles and giggles. She can see all the love and beauty that the world has to offer, much of it unseen or missed by many. I appreciate her view of the world.

Bowen, wow, what a little man! He makes me laugh, mostly because of all the things he says or the questions he asks. I think it is great that his mind is so inquisitive and that he continually seeks for answers. I have made a habit out of adding little words of wisdom or love in the form of notes added to the lunches of the kids. On Monday, Bowen, in his most authoritative voice and with his hands on his hips asked, "Mom, why did you put the note, 'Remember to Smile' in my lunch?" I, of course, replied, "because I love you." This was not good enough. He informed me that loving me means not putting little notes in his lunch because all the other first grade boys thought it silly and laughed. He told me I could draw hearts all over his lunch sack in lieu of the notes, this way, the first grade boys might think there is a girl that loves him rather than his mom! That makes me smile, however, a little broken hearted that he would rather have a first grade girl crush instead of a loving mother. Watching Bowen grow up will be an adventure and not for the weak hearted.

Have a great week and remember to smile a bit to beat the "blues."

Christmas Review & 2009 - A year of Blessings!

Christmas afternoon brings lots of drowsiness...that's what happens when the day begins at 5:30 AM!!!!

The kids sharing their love and the "We Are So Adorable" pose!

Hannah so sweet, so groggy and so full of Christmas joy!

Courtney....5:30 AM is not her best time! She wanted a sewing machine, I guess becoming the "domestic diva" is in her future.

Bowen and his Christmas abundance! He scored and seemed quite pleased with all the "Star Wars" paraphernalia!

Merry Christmas to Caitlin, she loved the new cell phone with a keyboard! That makes TEXTING all the better!

Christmas was joyous! Everyone loved spending time with family and friends. I was surprised with a new camera by Eric, I need to learn to use it and then our pictures will improve and you may actually be able to identify the people in the photos. My favorite part of Christmas morning was our family kneeling around Courtney's bed in prayer and expressing gratitude for all our "gifts." Not just those under the tree but for our gift of family, our gift of good friends, who might as well be called family. Our gift of warmth and for a house that provides that, our gift of truth and light, our gift of love and our gift of laughter. The Thomas family is truly blessed. Thank you for your support, your prayers in our behalf and the love you share.

Christmas morning happened in a whirlwind of 10 minutes, everyone tore open presents with energy and vigor and there were "oooos" and "aaahs" and "hey mom" and "wow." Santa did well and there were smiles. We had a yummy breakfast of biscuits and gravy and the cinnamon rolls had not quite risen to their potential, so they became the Christmas night time treat. We spent the afternoon with the Thomas family and there were more presents to open and lots of food to eat. The kids love spending time with their cousins. All the kids showed off their surprises and were adorned with their new Christmas clothes. All the kids seem to be growing up so fast! I'm glad there are still babies and toddlers running around. Keep the babies coming Johnny and Megan! My mom paid us a visit and brought more presents for the opening. I loved my gift, it was my life story. It included lots of pictures, some great and some I wish never existed. There were excerpts from both my mother's and my grandmother's journals and it is full of memories. My girls laughed at the teenage pictures, like I said I wish they never existed and enjoyed reading it as much as I did. Thanks mom! It was a holiday to remember.

December 26th was the Lund family party and it was fun to play games and eat food! It is always fun to eat food! Missi and family traveled north to join us. Her girls are growing up too, so cute and so mature are they! I think Zoey is actually more mature than Courtney, like that is a surprise! Yeah for the Christmas memories of 2008!


I can't believe that 2009 is already here! I think 2008 passed by quickly. We had a great year, it had its difficulties and trials, but with it came blessings, growth and lots of fun! I most definitely look forward to the new year and will hope for it to be full of blessings and happiness for our family and for yours. Happy 2009!