Celebrated Rite of Spring

Being a female and not having a recollection of my brothers participating in a pinewood derby, this event is strange to me. Dads with their competitive natures in force and boys laughing and loving every minute of it. I can't decide what is more fun for the boys, the making of the car or racing it. Since I don't have a great understanding of this strange tradition, here is what I know...

The pinewood derby is a racing event for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America. Cub Scouts, with the help of parents (DADS), build their own cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles.

The Scout is given a block of wood made of pine with two notches for wheels, four plastic wheels and four nails. The finished car must use all nine pieces, must not exceed a certain weight (usually five ounces), must not exceed a certain length and must fit on the track used by that particular scout pack. The idea behind the pinewood derby is for the parent, usually the dad, to spend time helping the child design, carve, paint, add weights, and tune the final car. However, it is often the case that the parent takes over the construction of the car! Once the car is completed the racing begins. During the event racing, dads exhibit crazy, fierce, and competitive behaviors. Their STRONG desire to succeed and/or win really shows! However, it still makes for great family fun and memories. The pinewood derby was selected as part of "America's 100 Best" in 2006 as "a celebrated rite of spring" by Reader's Digest. Here's to the arrival of spring!




The Fredette Vette is in the right hand lane! It's the coolest of all Pinewood Derby cars!


The "Fredette Vette" is in the middle lane and in the lead!!!!


I'm awesome, and my "Fredette Vette" won all six of its races!


What? Not 1st place, but the "Shiniest Car" award! I won all of my races, unfortunately, my "times" weren't as fast as the three top cars (Meanwhile, Eric is diligently checking the computer that has the race times logged, "how can this be, our car is the fastest, I, I mean we, worked on it forever!"). AAAAAAH, just wait til next year!


Bowen and the "Shiniest Car" at the Derby! Both are pretty awesome!

Happy Birthday Princess!

Prin.cess
[prin-sis, -ses, prin-ses]
-noun
1. a nonreigning female member of a royal family.
2. History/Historical . a female sovereign or monarch; queen.
3. the consort of a prince.
4. (in Great Britain) a daughter or granddaughter (if the child of a son) of a king or queen.
5. a woman considered to have the qualities or characteristics of a princess.


Han.nah
[Han-nah, Han-na]
-noun
1. third daughter to Eric and Jennifer Thomas.
2. a determined, talented, energetic, NOISY, outgoing, beautiful, brunette, blue- eyed girl.
3. born March 27, 1997.
4. turned 14 this year!!!
5. considered to have the qualities of a hurricane; strong, nothing gets in her way, conquers all difficulties, showers those around her with love.

Happy 14th Birthday Princess Hannah!



Hannah and friends.

Hannah was kidnapped at 6:30 AM Saturday morning by her friends. She was crowned with her princess tiara and then all enjoyed a FUN breakfast at IHop.




It was a great way to celebrate a 14th birthday!

She opened presents....

and she blew out 14 candles on her requested birthday cheesecake!

WE LOVE YOU!

Beauty and the Beast

Willowcreek Middle School presents...
Beauty and the Beast



















Hannah was AMAZING as LeFou! The show was outstanding and all the kids did a great job! Way to go Hannah, I'm so proud of you!

State Drill Competition 2011

STATE DRILL COMPETITION 2011












LHS Pionettes Rock!

March Madness

Wow...it's March already! Where did February go?! 2011 is already flying by and things at the Thomas household just continue to be total chaos and fun. The kids are all growing up and there are many changes for the 2011 year. Caitlin is preparing to graduate from high school and is still trying to decide which college she wants to attend and make her future life plans. She has been awarded some scholarship offers and has had a few disappointments as well. She wants to pursue a degree in Journalism and she is considering a minor in Dance. She is not quite ready to give up dancing and performing, it is her passion. Courtney will be done at Snow College in April and has decided that Utah State University is her school of choice to finish her Special Education degree. Hannah just finished another school musical, "Beauty and the Beast." She snagged herself one of the leading roles and really, really, really stole the show as LeFou, Gaston's quirky sidekick. She was amazing and she really sang her heart out every time she was on the stage. Junior high is still full of good times and difficulties. Girls can be simply, "mean." She struggles with her self confidence and really needs a loyal friend that can help her be her best self. She has 9th grade cheer tryouts and Willowcreek Middle School dance company tryouts this month. I hope she can make both the cheer squad and the dance company. She is working hard to be able to do so. Bowen is his usual precocious self and has discovered a love for reading. I finally convinced him to read the Harry Potter books. He has decided that reading is awesome and that these books are even better than the movies. Eric continues to work hard. He seems tired both physically and emotionally from the trials at hand. He has really worked hard as an operations manager and has thrown in his hat for the manager of his branch. He is being considered, but he feels that they will hire a man from outside of the company who has made promises of grandeur by bringing in 2 million in revenue his first year. Eric is committed to hard work and to keep that branch running smoothly, efficiently, and productively. He would be a great branch manager! I would most definitely hire him! The family budget continues to be our struggle. Never enough, however, we seem to be blessed somehow whenever there is a need. I am grateful that my children are healthy, talented, strong, good and valiant. They continue to work hard at making the right choices. I know their efforts and good works will be blessed. I have also decided that vanilla flavored, Tootsie Rolls are simply, wonderful!