End of March in to April

Who's Who?

It's been a crazy few weeks. As I download all the photos on the camera I sure want to make some notes about all the pictures! Time sure is moving quickly!

Regional Meet

Nicholas competed in his final gymnastics meet this year. It was held in Austin Texas earlier this month. Nick placed 12th overall in this year-end Regional Meet. (Our Region consists of Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.)

Below is his pommel horse routine; he tied for 1st. He also tied for 5th on the rings. He placed 3rd on the high bar. It was a TOUGH day; it seemed as if the judges "cut him" by about 1.5 points overall - meaning that he could have placed in the Top 5! (Coach felt as if he had a few unfair ratings, but that's part of life and growing up.)

District Track

Ben ran District Track this year as a 7th grader!!! I guess that's pretty good. He ran against a bunch of 8th graders. Let's just say he didn't come in last, but he was near the end! ;) It was a great experience to run against all these big guys! We (and so is coach - he told me in an e-mail) are excited to see what next year will bring. We all think he has some good running genes and is capable of LOTS! Pressure's on Ben!

Salt Lake City

Each year when there is someone celebrating an 8th birthday in our home we have this WONDERFUL TRADITION! The following April this person goes to General Conference (worldwide church meeting held 2x a year). After Conference they then get to go skiing for two days! It's been fun and we can't believe that ALL the boys got to go this year!

WOW - In 2006 Glenn started this tradition with Ben. Then in 2008 he took Zach and Ben. Nick joined the team in 2010. This year Glenn took Chris, Nick, Zach and Ben! We ALL (girls included) thought about going, but it really has been a special time for Glenn to take each of the boys.

They participated in the Priesthood Session on Saturday night. (They will allow 8-year old boys to enter the Conference Center Saturday night.) Then on Sunday morning they went to sit in the Tabernacle (historical building) to listen to the morning conference and in the afternoon they went back to the Conference Center for the last meeting.

On Monday morning, bright and early, they went up to Alta... all had a Great Time! They did not want to go back to the hotel! But when the slopes closed, they had to! :) Tuesday morning, back at it! We have four skiers who want to move to Utah; we are thinking that Colorado would be more desirable! More on that later...

And the girls... we went to The American Girl Doll Store! Need I Say More! Emma is already planning our next visit... probably during the Father & Sons Campout that is coming up in May!

Chris, Nick, Ben and Zach

Fossil Rim

During the week of Spring Break we took the kids to Glen Rose TX. It's about 2 hours outside Dallas - out in the Boonies! In Glen Rose there is a great area of land called Fossil Rim. Fossil Rim is a forest preserve where you can drive along the 9.5 mile scenic wildlife route.

We were able to feed many animals along the way including ostriches, giraffes and a wide variety of deer.


Half way through the scenic route there was an overlook and Children's Petting Zoo. It had all the fun goats and birds that one can imagine. Christopher and Emma had the most fun brushing the hair on the goats. (Emma now would like us to get a pet goat instead of a dog. I told her she needed to talk with her Aunt Melissa; maybe she could pull some strings!)

The zebras were very friendly and they came over for a bite to eat also.

I was very happy they had the rhinos behind bars. I don't think THEY would have enjoyed being petted! And there's just something about that pointy thing - it would NOT have looked nice SMASHED into the truck! They also had the cheetahs behind bars. Shew!

A good time by all! Uncle Brent (AKA Hunter) would LOVE this place! Hee Hee

Roller Skating

I need to get some pictures of ROLLERSKATING! Zachary is our RK - as in Rollerskating King! Whenever there is a "slow" day (which is rare) he ALWAYS says "Let's Go Rollerskating!" He says it with ENTHUSIASM too.

Within 2 seconds one can here the groans in the background - Do I HAVE to Go! or Why!? or I'll stay home and babysit myself! (Nick, Chris and Emma don't care to skate.)

Ben on the other hand has decided that "Rollerskating is good to know. I can take a date to the rink when I get older and ACTUALLY look like I know what I'm doing." Ben is always thinking in to the future!

But Bottom Line - Zach really likes the music they play at the rink - and it's really loud and all! He is a good skater too.

So... on Friday (the last day of Spring Break) we went skating! And ALL had a great time!

One Shoe On and One Shoe...

Benjamin ran the 2400 (1-1/2 miles) yesterday in blustery Texas winds... they were the 18+mph winds from the NW that kept the day very cool. Good thing the sun was out to balance the temperature a bit.

The gun went off and he pulled to the front quite quickly. He has learned from the past few meets (and cross-country) that there's no messin' around at the start; the elbows were even thrown a bit! (Nice Job Ben!) There were probably about 15 runners (7th and 8th).

He went around once, then twice and as he came by I noticed that he had only one shoe on! Good Grief Ben! He just smiled and kept running. The coaches all looked over at Glenn and I and were smiling too. One coach said, "We're trying to get him to run barefoot Mrs. Thomas!" Yeah, "Ha Ha" I thought. (NOT FUNNY) He still has 4 more laps!

But he kept going and ended up in 3rd (for the 7th graders). His time was about 10 seconds slower than last week but we'll blame that on the wind and the fact that he didn't have on a shoe for most of the race.

He said that it was starting to feel loose and that he knew it was starting to slow him down. There was another boy behind him (on his tail) from Stafford Middle School and he didn't want him to pass. So, he decided to chuck it and the boy from Stafford never did catch him! :) He commented after the race, "Mom, that track isn't as cooshy as you think it is."

Nice Job Ben!

NHS

Benjamin was invited to become a member of the Junior National Honor Society at Griffin Middle School. Here's the conversation this morning:

Zach: Mom, what is the National Honor Society?

Mom: It's quite an honor. It's those students who are doing well in school and also in other aspects of life. For example Ben is in Scouts and also active in church service. He does track and band. He has good grades. Stuff like that. When I was in high school I was in National Honor Society.

Glenn: Yeah, I wasn't GOOD ENOUGH to be in National Honor Society.

Mom: Well Ben, looks like it's you and me at the Induction Meeting next week. Yeah, I don't think they allow for "non" National Honor Society folk to attend. (Glenn's eyes got really big.)

Glenn: Well, alrighty then!... let's just be that way.

Ben: Yeah, I do lots of good stuff Zach (said kind of sarcastically).

Zach: (this was said VERY sarcastically) Do you get a vest or something, if you join? I'd do it if I got a Vest. Vests are so cool! (Now we're mocking!)

I'm not sure where this "vest" thing is coming from... but we sure are happy that Ben is setting a GREAT example for all of us.

Cross Country Begins & Ends

It seemed that as soon as Cross Country started this year - IT ENDED! With two weeks of snow and school cancellations, the five week program came to an end last week. Track has started and Ben is off on another adventure!





In this cross-country race he ran the 2-miler in a 14:27. Not Bad - especially for missing the first week of practice. (He/we forgot to register in time.)

I asked Ben if he enjoys running; he didn't have much of a reply. (I think he'd rather be reading a book.)

The New Stake Center

Last Sunday evening we had the opportunity to gather together with other members of our faith for the dedication of our new Stake Center. The Stake Center is located in Frisco, about 6 miles from our home.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held a year and 5 months ago. It went up very quickly and of course is just BIG and beautiful inside (gotta' be the church in Texas)!