Caitie-Bug

Why so serious...Military!

Maniacs (how about those sparkly headbands...I'm pro)!

LHS Pionettes 2010 Region Champions (headbands are still sparkling)!

Kick it higher!

Costume change!

Caitlin is working it!


We love Caitlin! She has always been a joyful and smiley girl! From the beginning, she was happy and sweet. She never cried as a baby unless she was SICK, STARVING, or wanted her mommy. She loves her big sister, is the best supporter of her little sister and adores her brother. She is a good example to her siblings and always gives 100% to anything she does. She has grown up to be beautiful, talented, intelligent, giggly, fun, dramatic, and high maintenance for her mother! She loves to perform and she is a strong, athletic and beautiful dancer. She wears a smile on her face. She makes dancing look simple and fun (no one would have any idea the hours and effort you put in when watching you perform). Good luck at State tomorrow...you and the entire drill team rock! We love you!

Go Hannah!

It's a Hannah blog day! Hannah and her cheer squad, Mac's All-Stars, Jr. Blue team have had two competitions thus far. They have also had two first place trophies to display at the gym after both competitions. Go Jr. Blue! Hannah is a joy and fun to be with. She works hard and loves performing with her cheer team. Competitions are the best and she never seems to be nervous, just excited. She is growing up so fast and has adjusted to life in junior high. She is beautiful and smart. Go Hannah! We love you!


Hannah with her cheer team.


So excited...first place feels great!



Hannah gives a great performance!


Look at her go!


Mac's Jr. Blue Team looks great!


Fun, fun, fun!

P.S. Hannah got a part in the school musical, "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." She will be dancing, singing and playing as the wife of Gad, one of the 12 brothers. It will be a great opportunity for her to develop some new talents!

Insanity...

24 sparkly headbands for the drill team...FINISHED, homemade cinnamon rolls...BAKED and delivered to practice...drill team region dinner...SUCCESS (even with the non-cooperating balloons), Webelos activity...OVER for another week, dance auditions for the school musical today...GOOD LUCK HANNAH, Courtney needs Spanish homework help...NOT SO MUCH HELP, 2nd grade spelling homework...LOCATED, one sore foot from too much dance practice...BE CAREFUL CAITLIN, drill team region competition...TOMORROW, go, go, go Pionettes, daughter at college...NEEDS MORE CASH! How's your week so far?




Yes, I really do love them, even with the insanity of it all!

Mothers....

I thought I would share a few of my "motherhood moments" with all you mothers...just so you can share my pain and joy!

Sunday evening at 9:00 PM

Courtney sends me a text..."Mom, I need ideas for my speech tomorrow in class." "I need to deliver a two minute introductory speech on me." "HELP!."

After many texts being sent back and forth and a long cell phone conversation, the help is delivered and she figures out she is brilliant and didn't really need my help. Aaaah, my work was done!

Monday morning at 7:00 AM

Bowen, unfortunately, cannot locate his "homework folder" or his gloves and I am supposed to be out the door in ten more minutes.

Quick tour of the house proves unsuccessful. Time for some serious investigation, cushions overturned, pillows thrown, closet disassembled, HA...success, one homework folder located, however, gloves are gone forever. Time to buy new ones (I really hate that).

Monday afternoon at 4:30 PM

Home from work, open front door, the pleadings begin..."Mom, I need...," "Mom, guess what...," "Mom, I'm hungry!" "Mom, look my driver's education certificate of completion, can we go, RIGHT NOW and get my license?" "Mom....."

Dinner baked and served, one load of laundry complete, homework finished, Family Home Evening...over, however, no driver's license obtained. Maybe tomorrow.

Tuesday morning at 6:59 AM

Text from Caitlin, it reads, "Mom can we make a headband for my drill team costume by tomorrow for the coach and the team to see (I volunteered, previously, without knowing I was going to get one day's notice from my daughter)?"

Aaargh!

Tuesday evening at 9:31 PM

Semi-nutritous dinner fed to the starving family.....check
Two loads of laundry...finished
Bowen delivered to and from scouts...check
Webelos weekly activity...whew, I did it, including one "showman badge earned"
Hannah to and from cheer...done
Shopping trip for sparkly sequins for drill team headbands...successful
Hannah and Caitlin to mutual...check
Piano practice...whew, over
Homework complete...check
Hannah and Caitlin home from mutual...check
Bowen bathed and clean...done
Kitchen rugs...vacuumed
Book on end table...one chapter read
American Idol on TV...watched some
All three children...accounted for and in bed
Fourth daughter...hopefully studying and getting ready for bed at college
Text to Courtney...goodnight and I love you
Eyelids...involuntarily drooping
Body...passed out on bed
Caitlin's driver's license...not yet, maybe tomorrow
Husband...a bit grumpy, smile, maybe tomorrow

Wednesday morning at 9:01 AM

Text from Caitlin, "Mom, they loved the headbands, I need 17 more by Friday."

Text from Caitlin a little while later, "Mom, I have a question?"
Mom's response, in text lingo of course, "WHAT?"
Caitlin's sends another text, "Mom, who should I take to the Sweetheart dance next month?"

Mom, thinking to herself, why is she texting me, isn't she supposed to be in class?

Mom's response, in text lingo of course, "IDK (I'm pro at texting)?"

This texting continues for several more minutes until it is interrupted by Courtney's cell phone call, "Mom, thanks for your ideas on Sunday night, I got an A."

Mom's response with tears in her eyes, "I knew you could do it, Hurrah for you!"

Wednesday morning at 9:40 AM

Mom, still at work and have been at work since 7:30 AM, receives another text from Caitlin (whoever invented the cell phone, does not have kids, I'm certain), "Mom, can we get my license today?"

Mom's response, "No sorry, Hannah has an orthodontist appointment this afternoon, I have to go back to the store and buy more sparkly sequins to sew more headbands, Bowen has basketball practice, there is always laundry to be done and you all have to eat sometime tonight. Oh yeah, I have to hunt for fake logs and red cellophane, I have a 'fake fire' to build for the Stake Camp Kick-off meeting, which is tomorrow night!" "Maybe tomorrow!"

Caitlin sends another text..."Okay, I love you."

Courtney sends a text, "Mom, I need help for another speech due Friday about a current event that is unethical (at least she is looking ahead this time)."

Mom's response to Caitlin, "I love you too."

Mom's response to Courtney, "Okay, check KSL.Com and read the news story about the Kiddie Kandids bankruptcy issue."

Mom still at work, the office phone ringing and a noon deadline to meet, smiles because her heart is warm and filled with love.

Motherhood...it's the best!

Thursday Morning Blues

Wow...my Thursday thus far:

Wake up - 6:40 AM

Work - 7:30 AM

The late wake up time created a bit of a problem this morning!

--I love it when my face is all puffy and you can barely see my eyes. That is how I looked this morning at 6:40 AM. Even now, I remain with that "just got out of bed and puffy face." Love that!

--Bowen was sleeping soundly all snuggled up in his bed. It was a difficult task getting him to move, yet alone out of his bed this morning. I pretty much had to pry him away from the covers and hurl him onto the floor. Love that!

--No eggs in the fridge, no bread in the pantry, pretty much sugar coated cereal for breakfast this morning. The kids really do LOVE THAT! (Their school teachers can thank me later.)

--Hannah had absolutely nothing to wear in her closet this morning. Well, you can imagine the 7th grade drama. Love that too!

--My office printer is pretty much not willing to function properly this morning. I have two reports to print and a financial ledger too. Love that!

--Caitlin passed her "road test" for Driver's Ed. She wants to go to the Driver's License Division TODAY and get her license...hmmmmmm, insurance rates increasing ALOT! Love that!

Hope your Thursday morning is better than mine! Have a great rest of the day!

Christmas Magic 2009

Christmas 2009 was filled with magic at the Thomas home. Our family witnessed many miracles and felt lots of warmth in our hearts. Part of the Christmas magic for me, is the tradition of gift giving.

As a mom, I love everything about Christmas: the lights, the carols, the tree, the treats, the time with family, time off from work, Santa Claus and the toys, my children, everything we do to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Oh, and I especially love GIVING gifts. Some years I start making my “give list” in January. I remember some of the special gifts I have given, the dress I earned and saved money for to give to my mom when she needed a new one and I was only in high school, the BB gun for Courtney, the mermaid dress for Caitlin, Hannah’s Samantha doll, Bowen’s snow boots and the annual tradition of a new watch for Eric. I am always so excited for the gifts to be opened and enjoyed and for the feelings of warmth I enjoy.

That magic lingers every year during the Christmas season. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is the best part of the entire year. Christmas and giving gifts is great. I try to be the best gift giver ever. I try to think of others and meet someone’s need. I try to emulate Christ’s example and give how He gave with love and sacrifice.

However, the art of gift giving was perfected this year by Courtney, Caitlin, Hannah, & Bowen. They spent alot of time pondering what special gifts they would give to one another. Each picked another's name and the gift giving began. Courtney, our poor college student thought of the best gift ever for Bowen. She searched and finally found her old BB gun from days gone by. She polished it up and bought some BB's and it was the best surprise ever. Bowen was thrilled with the gun and he talked about it for days. Caitlin, decided the best gift to give her older and freezing sister who was at Snow College would be to help her stay warm. She shopped and purchased the warmest thing ever, the leopard print "Snuggie" brought a smile to Courtney's face and she was caught using it frequently. Hannah wanted to get Caitlin something useful and something needed. She determined that a pair of foot "undeez" to be worn as Caitlin perfects her dance turns would meet that need. Caitlin was touched by the thoughtfulness behind this gift as turns have been difficult for Caitlin and dancing in her new "undeez" will help her feel the love as she improves her turning sequences. Bowen just wanted to get something that Hannah would LOVE more than any other gift. He concluded that a Justin Bieber CD would be joyful and triumphant. He was right, she squealed as she opened the gift and we hear Justin singing through her bedroom walls on a daily basis. I enjoyed watching all four of them as they put alot of thought and not so much money into the gifts they selected for one another. Gift giving is something I want to be good at it, it is something that should come from the heart and not the wallet. Gift giving should not be limited to Christmas, but be a daily thing. We should think of others and serve them always. When we see a need, we need to respond willingly. Yes, I felt the magic of Christmas this year. I hope you all had a very magical Christmas as well.



Courtney and her roommates prepping their apartment for the holidays!

Bowen and Hannah enjoying some "Santa" time.

Hannah pondering what presents Santa will leave for her!

Caitlin all ready to perform as a "Grinchette" for the dance company's annual recital of "The Grinch" at Lehi High School.

Caitlin and all the "Grinchettes." So, so, so, cute and green!

Courtney loves her Snuggie.

Bowen loves his Steelers jersey and hat! Thanks Santa!

Courtney, Caitlin, Hannah, and Bowen on Christmas morning. So happy to be awake at 5:30 AM (some Christmas traditions should really change)!

Christmas Day 2009...they clean up well!