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!

Happy Holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours! We love you all and wish you the happiest of holidays this season.

"Busiest Time of the Year"

This time of the year can be sooooooo stressful. I feel like I am going to war each morning and my daily victory is when I can finally go to sleep before midnight. In light of the "busyness" I thought I would share my Christmas letter addressed to Santa Claus.

Mom's Letter to Santa

December 2008

Dear Santa:

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, nagged, chauffered, and cuddled my four children on demand, visited the doctor's office so much that I doubled my insurance deductible. I purchased sixty-two cases of candy bars, enough wrapping paper for at least 505 presents, enough fireworks to have my own “stadium of fire” and 8 tubs of cookie dough all so that we could contribute our fair share to the cheerleading, drill team and soccer funds. I have also learned how to mend choir robes and dance costumes with staples and a glue gun. I lost my mind but ended up with more logic than I started with.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a grocery receipt in the laundry room, between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 10 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and a back with muscles that do not require six ibuprofen tablets and a heating pad at the end of the day. I want arms that don't flap in the breeze but are strong enough to carry a screaming seven year old from the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, a SMALL one, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my third pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows, a stereo that only plays adult music and includes a feature that prevents a teenager from increasing the volume and changing the station. If it can be equipped with automatic seat belts in the back seat, that would be great.

It would be nice to have a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals or super model reality shows and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can stash chocolate. I would also like a closet with only a door knob on the inside and space that will allow me to hide so I can talk on the phone or finish the book, “Breaking Dawn.” A double bolt lock for the bathroom door would be a bonus.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, “Yes, mom,” to boost my parental confidence, along with one seven year old who can manage to sit through school all day without sudden bursts of energy, four kids who never fight, perfect report cards, clean bedding and bathrooms, a robot who does laundry (and never mixes the whites with reds) and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools or a girdle. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, “Don't eat in the living room” and “Take your hands off your brother,” because my voice seems to be just out of the hearing range of my children and can only be heard by the neighbor’s dog.

And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of first graders. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the neighbors’ houses seem just like mine.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth, blow dry my hair and put mascara on both of my eyes all within the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature and without it being served in a styrofoam container.

If you don't mind I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my teenagers to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if you could make my 11 year old not so cute while sneaking goldfish crackers upstairs to eat in her bed at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
Mom

P.S. - One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa forever and happy enough for a lifetime.

I hope this helps add a little humor to your "busiest time of the year." A good laugh is a good remedy for me. If you have any requests for Santa, I can put in a good word for you.

Giving Thanks

I wish to send everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving wish. What a joyous time of year. I truly am so thankful for the blessings in my life. I have been feeling a bit unsettled during these tumultuous times. Sometimes I get too caught up in the "world's events" and feel too anxious. When I remember the important stuff and focus on the gospel principles, then I feel at peace. How grateful I am for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ and for all the blessings in my life. Here is a quick list of my top 10 blessings:

1) My beautiful children, all four of them. They enrich my life and bring me so much happiness and joy and laughter and tears and worry, I am grateful to be called "mom" (I could be called worse)!

2) My cute love muffin. He works so hard to provide for our family and still manages to be the best dad ever and do a dish or two. He vacuums the stairs as needed and will always take out the trash. He is a blessing to my children and me!

3) My mother and my mother-in-law. What two wonderful examples of strength and womanhood. How grateful I am for their wisdom and their wit.

4) My testimony of truth. I know the truthfulness of the gospel, I know the richness of its blessings and I am so grateful for my Savior and his love for me.

5) My employment. I have a job, a great job that allows me the flexibility to meet the needs of my four active and busy children. I am close in proximity to them and to my home. Employment is becoming increasingly more difficult to find and I have a job that allows me to serve others and help bring more souls unto Christ.

6) My home. Although the mortgage is more than I had bargained for...it is a nice home with sufficient space for all my children and their friends and for family and strangers who may stop by. I have great neighbors and it keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

7) Food on my table. I have been able to feed my family because I have been blessed with food in my kitchen. There have been some difficult times when there was less food, but nonetheless, there has always been food. No one goes hungry at our home. Infact, some of us probably should go a little more hungry a time or two to help reduce the waist line size.

8) Energy and health. I am so grateful to be blessed with the necessary energy to do all that I am required to do. There are many who may think that I have too much energy...but it has a purpose. I usually can work 8 hours out of the home and then work 8 hours in the home and chauffer my children and attend their events, fulfill a church responsibility, be the homework monitor, feed the family, attempt to clean up a mess or two and still have enough strength to make it to my bed after locking all the doors and turning off all the lights at night. I have been blessed with lots of energy and good health.

9) Call to serve. I have always loved any calling I have been given within the church and that I have the opportunity to serve.

10) The best of the best of friends. I have so many friends who are the best of the best. They laugh with me and at me, they cry with me, they pray for me, they teach me, they endure me, they influence me, they are always there for me, they love me. What a true blessing it is to have so many to call "friend." They all make my life better and there are many, some are far away, some are next door. No matter where they are they are loved by me.

How was that for a top 10? I am truly thankful and need to spend more time showing gratitude.

Thanksgiving was so nice. I cooked for my mom and brother and for my sister-in-law. Eric's boss and his family also joined us. It was a pretty casual meal, nothing too fancy, but traditional, except for the yams part. I hate yams, so I never remember to include them on my menu. My mother loves yams baked with marshmallows on top, sorry mom, I forgot! We also spent some time enjoying pie with the Thomas side of the family. It was a great time. We missed Missi and family and Adam and family, and Justin, the fireman who was protecting the community, maybe next time.

Now for the Christmas countdown. It is total madness, not much time left to decorate the house, trim the tree, buy the gifts and partake of the Spirit of the season. Happy Holidays!

Chaos, Chaos, Chaos

Caitlin perfoming with the LHS Pionettes at their dress rehearsal performance. Caitlin is 2nd row on the end! The really cute one!
Ouch! No pain no gain! Caitlin doing her thing at her drill performance. Caitlin is the end dancer on the front row. It is fun to watch her, she shines!
Caitlin....she is so cute and has such a great time performing with the drill team! Catilin is still on the end on the front row.


Hannah looking good! She is absolutely the most adorable and energetic cheerleader in her group. Mac's Gym had their annual "Friends & Family Night" performance this weekend.

Hannah with Grandma & Grandpa Thomas at her cheer performance! She was thrilled to have them attend so she could "shake it up" for them!




Why is life so chaotic? I think I increase the chaos in my life all by myself. If there is no stress or chaos or madness, I create it! It is how I accomplish things and stay productive, otherwise I would just sleep or something like clean my house. How boring is that?! Time has flown by, it is already the middle of November and Thanksgiving is next week! I love the upcoming holiday season, it is my most favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving is a time for family and remembering our blessings and being together. Christmas is family and just pure magic. A time to reflect on our Savior and his life and example and improve ours. A time to enjoy the magic of the holiday and watch the children delight in it. I am so grateful for my beautiful family and for the joy it brings to me when they feel the magic of the season.

We have been so busy the last couple of weeks. Courtney got a job at Rue 21, a clothing store that is close to home and pays pretty good. Now, if she can save her paycheck instead of buy more clothes with her "killer" discount. Caitlin is her usual busy self, she received her first report card of the school year and she managed to maintain her 4.0 GPA. Good job! She had a performance for friends and family last week with the drill team. They looked good and almost ready for the upcoming competition season. Hannah had her "Friends & Family Night" with Mac's, her cheer gym. She has been ready for weeks and so excited to show off her team's competition number. She looked great and so did they team. They pulled of every stunt flawlessly and looked so sharp and energetic. She did a beautiful tumbling pass with her "high" back handsprings. I worry, she flies across the floor mat because she is tumbling with speed and height. She says she needs the height in order to do a triple! Nonetheless, she was so cute and smiley and thrilled to have her grandparents attend just to watch her show off her "stuff."

It was the annual Sadie Hawkins dance at the high school. Courtney had a great time with her date. She and her friends planned a great and fun time. There were about 20 couples in her group. They had a "paint" war planned prior to the dance and then they went directly to dinner and the dance, all covered in the paint. What a mess! They had paint ball wars, paint ball balloons to throw at one another, paint filled squirt guns to battle with and simply painted one another with brushes. Each couple wore a matching set of sweats and then they put on shower caps with safety goggles. Unfortunately, Courtney got into the paint war prior to putting on her shower cap. She had lots of ammunition in her hair before she got on her protective cap. We spent all night last night getting blue and red and yellow paint out of her hair. I think we will have to get it cut to help eliminate the damage, but it was all worth it, she had a great time! The dance theme was "Survivor Jungle," they looked the part in the paint covered clothes. Including the smell, they stunk all night long. Caitlin attended the dance, dateless, oh the humiliation, because the drill team was in charge of the dance. She had to decorate, help with treats at the dance and then tear down the decorations afterwards and clean up. It is not fun when you have to wait until your 16th birthday to date....she has the "meanest" parents ever! But she still had fun and got to dance with Courtney's group as long as she could stand being with them....they were all really STINKY!

So much to do before Christmas arrives...anyone willing to shop, decorate, bake, wrap and/or plan festivities for me is invited! I am willing to negotiate just about anything! "It's the most wonderful time of the year......" it truly is!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Thomas Family. Everyone had a great time! The parade at Lehi Elementary school was fun...for me and the kids. I love seeing all the fun and original costumes. There are some very creative super moms out there who make some incredible costumes. The kids love walking up and down the halls, showcasing their costumes. The older girls wore their costumes to school. Caitlin had to dance "Thriller" for the student body at the school's assembly. She was the Zombie, creature, dead thing all day and all night long. She is so cute in her black tutu and striped socks. Courtney went as "Hannah Montana" to school. She looked just like her, except more beautiful! She could not endure the hot and long blond locks anymore so she dissed the Hannah Montana look for Hermione, her most favorite Harry Potter character, to enjoy the eve's events. She had to rummage through the costume box to find something that worked...I guess Hermione did! We went to the church party and "trunk-or-treat" (the congregation members park their cars in the parking lot and open their trunks for the kids to walk by and get the treats). The older girls had a party at the Zunkowski home and Hannah went trick-or-treating with her friends. Bowen went to a few houses in the neighborhood and was very content to watch "scary" movies with mom and give out candy to the kids.

The pumpkins were carved the night before Halloween and Bowen and Hannah did such a great job. They turned out so cute! We ate taco soup with chips and snacked on donuts and candy all night. My favorite costume was a little two year old guy dressed as "R2D2" or "R2R2" as he called himself. He could barely walk, but well worth the sacrifice to score the treats! The weather was so perfect, light sprinkles of rain and warmer temperatures. No snow or wind or hail or sleet. The kids did not have to cover their costumes with heavy parkas, they were able to show off their pretties this year!

I was a pirate...longing to find Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp, but my ultimate Eric finally arrived after the state playoff football game. The Vikings beat Brighton and are off to the quarter finals this Friday...so joyous was the event that Eric was a football coach all night for Halloween! Hope your holiday was scary and fun!

Hannah & Tongue at the Halloween Parade!


Bowen at the school's Halloween Parade!


Hannah Montana Courtney Who?!


Hannah as the Queen of the Nile....Cleopatra never looked so good!


Ooooh, Bowen is so adorable....he is giving serious competition to Harrison Ford.


"Aaargh"....the pirate mom is ready for Halloween fun!


Hermione (Harry Potter), Zombie, Indiana Jones & Cleopatra all ready for the Halloween Eve's events!