Allison's Artwork (April 27, 2018)

Allison created this artwork in 4th Grade and they liked it so much at her school that they sent it to the district level to be on display at a big county event. 

Allison's Jamestown Field Trip (April 25, 2018)

Allison had her 4th grade field trip to Jamestown this year. Since I have Michelle with me, I couldn't be a chaperone, but Michelle and I did drive to Jamestown (about an hour away) to be with her for her field trip.

It was a very rainy and kind of yucky day, but they weren't able to reschedule so we just had to go.

Here is a bald eagles nest up in this HUGE tree. It was pretty cool to watch the bald eagle flying in and out.

Here are some of the ships at Jamestown.

Matthew's 12 Year Old Photoshoot! (April 23, 2018)

Here are some of the pictures from Matthew's 12 year old photoshoot:

Matthew's 12th Birthday (April 22, 2018)

Matthew turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood. It sounds and feels so weird to think that I have a child OLD enough to be in YM and have the Priesthood. It is just crazy to me. I don't feel that old, how can I have a child THAT old?

Since this is a big birthday year we went to Harry Potter World during Spring Break but this is our usual family birthday celebration spot, Texas Roadhouse.

Then came home for cake & ice cream!

Matthew's Priesthood Ordination (April 22, 2018)

I like to take pictures of my kids when they turn a new age just to make sure I am getting some good ones.

I really like the way that these turned out because for one, he is in his suit and now that he going to pass the sacrament, he has to wear a suit. Ok, ok, he doesn't HAVE to, but in our ward, almost every Sunday, all the boys are wearing suits. I love it and it looks so nice. 

I like these pictures also because there are in the spring/summer when everything is green. With the color of my kids' hair, taking fall pictures don't turn out at good because their hair blends into the fallen leaves all around. I love the starch contrast between his orange hair and the green trees. I am glad I found this nice place for pictures very close to our house.

Matthew received the Aaronic Priesthood, on Sunday, April 22, 2018, by his dad, Chris Thomas. I believe those that were in the circle were Bary Dalton, Hal Dalton, Drew Jones, Kenneth Eliason and William Cowne. We did it in 3rd hour in his new Deacons quorum.

5K Run/Walk (April 26, 2018)

Our stake put on a 5K Run/Walk down by the James River. We were to go over a suspension bridge, to an island, go around the island a few times and then come back and that would end up being 5K. Allison was very happy to go with me. There ended up only being about 7 of us total from the stake that showed up.

Though I hate taking pictures of my fat face, I decided I would for this because this little one really is an incredible little girl.

When we got done with our 5K, I took her down to a place that I found going with the Boy Scouts. It is a pipeline that you can walk on. 

It is a little bit scary but so cool at the same time.

The river was moving pretty fast this day.

Pinewood Derby Trophies (April 14, 2018)

We were having a Pinewood Derby Fundraiser with 10 big trophies that were made to get people to want to pay to race their car so I felt like I needed to do something for the Cub scouts and their race. I came across something like this on pinterest and decided this is what I was going to make. It was actually really fun to use my saw at the 45degree angle for the first time and there were some other things that I had never done before that were fun to learn to do. 

I was so pleased with how they turned out and how I took pieces of wood and was able to make these!!!!

I love my scrollsaw and the things I can do with it. It is such a fun (kind of expensive) little hobby. Most of what I make all goes to someone else. There are very few things that I can actually show someone if they came to my house.

Here are my Cub Scout Trophies

This one says Best In Show, because we can't all have a fast car but it is fun to see what the boys come up with. 

I was the one that decided who this trophy went to and he was SO pleased and you could tell that the kid did it, and not his parents.