Happy Birthday Hannah-Banana!

Happy birthday to my baby girl. Wow, I can hardly believe that you are 12 years old today. You are growing up soooooooo quickly! You are a gift to our family. You are so full of love, life, laughter, intelligence, determination, silliness, beauty, opinions, creativity, volume, sweetness, compassion, kindness, wit, energy, talent and you have a great sense of fashion, which is always important! 12 going on 16! Enjoy the day. We love you!

The presents are the VERY BEST PART!

RIP, PULL, TEAR, DESTROY, anything to get them open!

What....March 26th?

It does not look much like March 26th to me......AAARGH!

Really it's the end of March?

I guess a little stormy weather makes you appreciate the sunshine!

Way to Go Thomas Girls!

Way to go Thomas girls! Sorry this post is all about pink and no blue. Bowen news will have to be on the next posting. Another week has flown by. Caitlin, the almost 16 year old decided to ask a boy to MORP, the last girls choice dance of the school year. She will be going in a large group with the big sis, Courtney and all of their friends. It ought to prove to be a good time. The girls decided that pizza delivery to their prospective dates by Mr. and Mrs. Claus would draw the right amount of attention to win them a date. So, they were off...delivering pizzas throughout the halls of LHS. Apparently the way to a man's heart is truly through his stomach as all the boys that received a pizza also replied with a "YES!" Mom is happy about the fact that Caitlin's first date will be accompanied by her big sis!

Courtney was notified last week about being a UYSA (Utah Youth Soccer Association) scholarship winner! She was awarded a $500 scholarship to any Utah school of her choice. She was one of 14 winners selected from about 150 soccer players. She was invited to attend an awards luncheon and REAL soccer exhibition game at the Rio Tinto Stadium. The luncheon also included a visit from Mr. Real Soccer, Dave Checketts himself to congratulate the winners. It was super nice and she felt "special" for a moment. She was selected as a winner based upon her academics, soccer abilities, community service and recommendations from coaches, both club and high school. She was thrilled to receive it! Less she has to save and more she is able to contribute to the college fund! Way to go Court...you make your momma proud!

Hannah had a big week! Her 12th birthday is on Friday and she has been begging for a new hairdo! She wanted a "grown up" style because she is turning 12 and on her way to junior high fame. So, her wish was granted, Hannah is now sporting a very grown up looking "Camp Rock" style hairdo! She is way too cute and growing up way too fast. She also had junior high cheer tryouts. I was very nervous for her endeavor, she was very confident going into the tryout and came out terrified. "It was sooooooo scary," is all she could say. "All the judges just looked at me with really big eyes," was all she repeated for a couple of hours. Well, the judges' big eyes saw what a bubbly, cute, skilled tumbler and dancer she is...she was chosen for the 7th grade cheer squad! She is excited! Way to go Hannah-Banana! We love our little Cheerleader...oops, I mean our grown up, almost 12 year old cheerleader!

Caitlin with the Clauses! Wow, She Will Do Anything for a Date to MORP!

Hannah and Her Friend at Cheer Tryouts 2009! Congrats to Hannah, 7th Grade Cheerleader!

Hannah with the "Grown Up Girl" Haircut!

Courtney with her UYSA Scholarship! Courtney Rocks!

LHS Pionettes Rock!

Caitlin returned home from her "California Adventure." Caitlin and the LHS Pionettes went to California last week to compete in the Nationals Championship competition. She had the BEST time ever! She did not want to leave the sunshine and return home. However, her mother was really missing her and was so pleased with her safe arrival home. Here's the scoop on her adventure.....

Caitlin traveled by air to California for the Nationals High School Drill Team competition!

Caitlin and the Pionettes danced their hearts out to become nationally ranked as 6th place champions! Way to go girls!

They Hipped Hopped to 3rd Place!

They did a little "Umpa Lumpa!"

The Pionettes were adventurous at "California Adventure."

They were all a little terrified in the "Tower of Terror!"

There was time for a little "Driver's Ed!"

Caitlin even managed to find time for "Spelling" homework!

They played in Disneyland!

The girls hung with the "princesses!"

Caitlin sent her love!

They played on the beach!

Caitlin jumped for joy in the sunshine and sand! She has decided she is moving to CA and near a beach!

I'm sure they will...The End!

Enjoying the Sun...

Apparently, one of us is enjoying the sun! Caitlin sends greetings from California. This from the balcony of her hotel room. Caitlin is at the Nationals Competition in CA with the LHS Pionettes! Go, Fight, Win Pionettes!

Lesson of the Day...

Here is the gratitude I gained last night as I was with Bowen, the little man of our home, at the store:

Bowen wanted a treat as we were checking out at the grocery store. I had already paid for the groceries when he notified me of his request. Therefore, the answer was a sharp, "no, we have plenty of sweets at home." He asked a little more loudly a second time, still "no." As we were following the bagger out to the car with the groceries (yes, some stores still help you out to your car with a cart of groceries), Bowen decided that he wanted a treat, regardless of his mother's negative response. So, he began to scream and demand and I think there was even a foot stomping involved. WOW, it had been along time since Bowen had thrown a real tantrum. Not since his two and three year old days had I seen such behavior. I was a little shocked, embarrassed, and anger came into play as well. At this point, a lady was entering the store and saw our loud exhibition as we were exiting. She decided to voice her feelings regarding our public display, "you should not spoil your children and you should learn to be a better mother to avoid this kind of behavior." Another, WOW! I am not sure who was displaying the worst behavior. With this voiced opinion, I thought quickly and then immediately turned toward the vending machines holding gumballs, fumbled through my purse for a quarter and Bowen was victorious as he threw the shiny, red gumball into his mouth. This reaction was only because I wanted to display some bad behavior too and spite the very opinionated, "mother of the year!" So, nonetheless, Bowen's tantrum was rewarded, I felt justice and the lady was still uptight.

From this loud exhibition, I gained a lesson in gratitude. I'm grateful my children get their pants dirty, pull out their hair bows after I spent hours to gain perfection, pick their noses, burp without saying "excuse me," pass gas on occasion, throw temper tantrums, and sometimes quarrel in public. This keeps me from being too arrogant, proper or judgmental of other people's children.

I'm grateful my children occasionally miss the bus at the precise moment I've stepped out of the shower, or text me to let me know that their near starving self forgot their lunch or that they left their research paper, that is due today, on the counter at the precise moment I am stepping into a business meeting. Experiences like jumping into the car wearing whatever was handy and racing to school or excusing myself from a meeting to take the forgotten items to a child, have a tendency to loosen rigid plans into something better known as spontaneity.

I'm also grateful my children sometimes call me names like "crazy" because sometimes I am a little "crazy," and it helps keep a person humble to be told they're "crazy" especially when they thought their behavior was semi-normal.

Lastly, I'm grateful for the gift of children in my life! What a lesson I learned from a brief moment in the grocery store!

Spring Fever...

LOOK WHAT I FOUND WHEN I CAME HOME YESTERDAY...The teenagers think it is spring in Utah! Apparently 50+ temperatures means the shedding of jackets and coats with the application of sandals, t-shirts, sunglasses and the TOP DOWN!



I think it is still a bit nippy to be riding topless, but I am old and without a teenaged brain! Enjoy the sunshine...for a few minutes!