New House

We arn't completly done yet but we have moved in. We lack a little baseboard and we still need to paint the garage but we love it. It's much better than our apartment.



Here are a few more photos.








This one is from up a tree across the street.










From the street on top of my truck.




Side view.



Up another tree on the side of the house.



The Fireplace.

Competiveness???

When Glenn & I would come down to visit Mom and Dad Thomas when we lived away, it was always FUN to stay up late into the evenings playing games.

We played all kinds of games - Skip Bo, Upwards, Phase 10, Mormon Rook, Uno - but the one most enjoyed by Dad Thomas was Scrabble. Each time he would mention Scrabble, Mom Thomas would just roll her eyes and sigh. I kinda' agreed with her (but didn't show it) but still enjoyed trying to beat this man, plus my husband... as for Mom, I felt that we were in this together.

We'd get the board game out and "go to town" late into the evening playing and playing. We heard many of Dad's famous stories about "the word that was worth 100 points+" time-and-time again. And it always seemed that after midnight, we'd all get giddy and laugh and laugh and laugh at about anything!

Now, Thomas' play by the rules. When growing up my Mother and I played this game but didn't play by any of the rules. At the Thomas house you can't look-up words. Words can be challenged. You can even lose your turn if you misspell a word. And, Dad Thomas will always keep score! MAN!

It was a fun time always and so many times Heather and Big Ben would join in the fun. I remember Melanie once or twice had joined us too.

Who would win - well, I don't remember! :)

Then there was the Thanksgiving Weekend when we came down from San Jose. Glenn & I were assigned to bring the mashed potatoes. Easy! Wednesday night I open one of the 10 pound bags and began to peel on one side of the sink. Dad Thomas walks into the kitchen and grabs the other 10 pound bag and starts on the other side of the sink. I remember saying, " No no Dad, I can do it. Glenn will help me." But he assured me that he wanted to help.

Watching out of the corner of my eye I noticed that whenever I started a new potato he would always try to start a new potato too. A few times, I would start a potato and then throw it back into the sink - not finished! He would then really quickly try to finish his potato then grab another one to start at the same time I did.

FINALLY he posed the question, "Cindy, do you want to race?" WHAT! "Yeah, race me in peeling a potato..." I remember looking at Glenn and Mom, thinking, good grief - you are serious. SURE! The race began and even though he seemed to be going really really fast, I think I was faster! And when the potatoes were thrown into the pot - MINE was peeled neatly while HIS had a few spots here and there. YES, he may have been quicker, BUT "Quality Control" AKA MOM THOMAS declared me the winner! :D



I guess Stara's are a little bit competitive too!

Helicopter parent

I never thought I was one of those parents.

You know, the kind that are over protective, hovering, won't let the kid do anything without freaking out that they are going to get hurt.


Well, Nathan just got a new skateboard. I had seen him try to ride the neighbors and it wasn't pretty. So I bought the protective gear to go with it. He could hardly move because of all the padding.

This is what he looked like most of the time that first day.
I am glad I bought the padding and was a little over protective.
OUCH!.

18 Screaming 7 Year Olds

As I mentioned last week we sent out 18 invites for Kate's friend birthday party convinced that half of them were not going to be able to make it. But since we had it at 8:30am everyone could come!! But Mindy had one trick up her sleeve. She got three neighbor kids to come over, these were 6th graders. They loved helping out and actually made a huge difference.

So the plan for the day was for me to make Pancakes and then to play games and do crafts. I made enough pancakes for an army.

That was enjoyed by all. Because I do make the best pancakes in the world according to my kids.
Then we face painted

Decorated Beach Buckets (Mindy hid these around the yard and they had to find the one with their name on it)
Then they decorated flip flops "jewels" they glued on.

Then a game where each girl put a balloon on each foot and you run around and try and pop each others balloon. A big hit!

Then they made necklaces, Paige has one on. (I think she had as much or more fun than Kate!)
Are you tired yet!!!!!!

Kate wanted Mindy's famous sugar cookies instead of a cake so Mindy obliged. (They really are unbelievable)


This might explain why the kids only get a friend party every other year.

A look to the past

William Webb
1675 – 1746

I William Webb of Harlton in the County of Cambridge, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the following manner: I commend my Soul unto the Hands of Almighty God, my Maker and Creator hoping through the Merits of Jesus Christ to inherit everlasting life and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as for the Estate which it hath pleased God to bestow on me I give and dispose thereof as follows:

All my messuages and tenements, workshops, out-houses, barns, stables, yards, herds, fences, gardens and orchards and backsiden thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining now to my occupation to my wife Lydia to be held by her for my sons and their heirs and assigns forever.

Also several sums of money now owing to me and the securities for the same hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) the sum of Forty Pounds owing to me from Frank Jameson upon a note of Hand or Promissory Note. Also the sum of Fifty Pounds owing to me from William Butler upon his note of Hand also the sum of Thirty Pounds due me from John Prince on a mortgage and also the sum of Twenty-five Pounds due to me from George Cranfall now or late of Over upon a note of his Hand or by whatever other securities or security the said several sums of money may be either are or is secured to be divided among my children equally.

Also to be equally divided among my children (20 Pounds) to each of good lawful money of Great Britain to be paid within twelve months after my decease.

There is a legacy left me by my Father who was left it by his father to be passed on to my heirs. There is spiritual unrest in the land. Beliefs are springing up and being heard. We believe with others that man should be free to worship his Maker in a manner pleasing to himself. We believe that Death is not the end but that the Soul lives on and is Judged by its Maker for the good or evil it has done, with punishment or reward according to Meritt. My father John a righteous just forgiving man was told in a dream that the time was nearing when Jesus Christ would return to set up his Kingdom. It will not happen during my lifetime nor that of my children and perhaps not my grandchildren. But the time will come soon when believers may become members in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Having grieved over not being here when that time comes because I will have layed this body to rest long since I prayed inquiring after the believers and followers of Jesus who have gone to their Eternal rest. As I prayed a calm peace surrounded me and I felt his Presence. I was assured that there will be a way for the dead to enter the Kingdom. Because of the Spirit that thrilled me while in the Presence I am sure it will be so. Therefore I am not afraid to die and my heirs should not feel fear. We will be together in that Kingdom because of God’s great Son. I admonish my heirs and descendants to live according to the law and to follow diligently the teachings of Jesus and you will be blessed. When Judgment Day comes I want that we shall all stand together to receive the happy reward of being together throughout Eternity. This is my desire and from what I know it can be so.

I love you all and will continue to love you and yours even after I have layed this mortal body down for I shall live to meet with you again.

I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my wife Lydia as executrix of this my last will and testament and on her death my two sons Joseph and John to become joint executors and I hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

In witness whereof I William Webb have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-five. (signed) Wm Webb signed and sealed and declared by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in his presence and at his request.

John Crowell Samuel Baker

Will proved by Joseph Webb and John Webb executors on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-six.

The Derby

Every year an elaborate ritual is observed - a rite of passage for young boys and their fathers - a test of sorts...the Pinewood Derby!

It is a test on several fronts: The boys are tested to see if they can follow directions (cutting, sanding, painting, etc.), the fathers are tested (do I buy a pre-cut model, do we do it from scratch, do I make the boy do more, how do I make sure we win...) and even the mothers are tested (why are they spending so much time on this..., why didn't they start earlier...). The result is grueling weeks of competing interests and the final outcome - THE RACE. The race is the culmination -preparation, or lack thereof, haste or deliberation, purchased goods or paying the price...it all comes through.

So without further ado, here is the story of the 2007 Pinewood Derby:

One month before the race: "Hi Dad. I got my Pinewood Derby car today at scouts. When can we start? I was thinking tonight....".

Two weeks before the race: "Hi Dad. Is it time to start the Pinewood Derby car yet?".

One week before the race: "Dad, the Pinewood Derby is next Saturday!"

And thus the mad rush begins. We first go scouting for a blueprint for we are not girly-types who buy precut models from the store. Benjamin and I find the web-site www.maximum-velocity.com. After searching through all the blueprints, Benjamin narrows the field to four finalists, and from there to this: http://www.maximum-velocity.com/standardrail.htm.

Our course is set - we now have to build one of the most difficult cars they sport in one week. We need to get more tools! :-D Off to Home Depot we go to get special drill bits, the right sand paper, and various other tools that can be excused away to making a good Pinewood Derby car ;-).

After cutting out the patterns and tracing on the pine block (and missing the first crucial step of aligning the wheel grooves to a perfect parallel track), the wood cutting begins. Because of the design, a coping saw is used, which makes for really fun sanding later, let me tell you!

Once the model is complete, the back end of the car is drilled out to specifications for the weights, which we purchased from Michaels. First lesson in chemistry...Zinc does not weigh the same as Lead! We try not to panic as the weights we purchased will never fit in the given area, even though we hollowed it out so much that the back had to be glued back together because it got too thin and cracked.

On contacting the Maximum Velocity company, they pointed out the difference between Zinc and Lead and graciously sent us overnight the correct materials (for a small fee of course). We're now down to three days before the race.

After several nights sanding and glueing, weighing, frantically drilling out lead to reduce the weight, drilling out more lead weight to account for the wood filler that must be added to plug the hole, we finally have a fuselage. The painting process yields several new lessons learned about how hairdryers cause bubbles to appear in paint if used too close.

Because we're now down to the last minute, we make the decision (at Dad's suggestion) to take the carefully crafted wheels and axels from last year's 2nd place car and make a few minor improvements for this year's car. A polish here, an extra sanding there, and we're in business.

Until the weigh-in. Ooooops, the car is 4.9 ounces (max is 5.0 and most boys are right there...). "It's okay", I tell Ben...weight is important, but weight distribution and lack of friction on the wheels wins the day...

So, here is Ben when the big day arrives:

Notice the cool, calm, and collected smile :-). The price has been paid, and now the fun can begin. If we don't win (after Dad's sleep deprivation-induced breakdown) everything will be okay. We did our best (given the time).

So, what do you think happened? Did Ben Win????

Here is a peek at one of many, many, many races:

That would be Ben's car on the left, and Ben cheering it on at the far left! :-)

The way the races are run, a tally is kept of number of wins and each boy competes against each other boy. There are 20 boys racing. Towards the end of the races, there are three clear winners, and Ben is one of them. And then ...

DISASTER STRIKES

On Benjamin's last race before the finals, after his car crosses the finish line in first, the wood holding the front left wheel in place snaps clean off! I tend to think that some little kid near the finish line put their hand down (there were many crowding around) and scrunched it, but I'm assured by someone I trust who was there that it just came off. The only thing we can figure out is that because the axle slots were not perfectly parallel, the car did bump a little as it went down the track. This shimmying must have finally broken the slender wheel post.

We were in big trouble - this was a fatal blow from which it seemed impossible that we could recover. I picked up the broken pieces and putting on my best face said to Benjamin's concerned look - "We'll do what we can...come on - let's go."

As we walked away from the track, another dad mentioned that he had some epoxy glue. It was the kind that takes 5 minutes to set (and then it's not full strength for a while) and we did not have 5 minutes. We had about two. But we would give it a go.

But before I could get the glue completely mixed, Ben's former Wolf leader dropped by our sad little camp with a small tube of liquid hope -

SUPERGLUE

It might just work, and we have nothing but to try... a quick application, a desperate vise grip, and the clock ticking the seconds away... when suddenly...

Our time is up...Benjamin's name is being called and there is time no more...

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

has arrived. Benjamin takes the car to the track's start and I quickly run to the finish line to instruct the car stopper person to please take it easy on the car. I figure if we make it through one race, which would be a miracle, at least he should be careful so that maybe we can race again.

The first race, Ben wins! The second race, Ben wins again, but in order to beat this guy, he's got to beat him twice! The crowd starts chanting Benjamin's number (and I start feeling sorry for the other boy, but the crowd is out of control and there is no stopping them all now).

Eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight, EIGHT, EIGHT, the crowd chants, reaching a fevered pitch as the cars are placed on the track. Both boys race down to the end of the track as if they are the cars. Everyone holds their breath with one question on their minds....will Ben's car break up into pieces or win the day...

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.....

A picture is worth a thousand words. So next year, instead of a long drawn out commentary, I'll just post the picture:

Sunday Stories - The In-law edition

Remember this post from February 25th?

Originally I thought we would do two rounds of memories from the kids. But since we all did such a good job I think it is time to hear from the in-laws. Then we will take a summer break from the memories.

So the plan is that each in-law would write a short post along the following lines:

- A memory dealing with the dating and/or first year of marriage. ie meeting the other kids, mother-in-law/father-in-law stories etc.
- Or some other memory of a more recent family activity/event
- The idea would be to convey some of the quirky/funny aspects of the family as seen from an outsider

So we will follow the oldest to youngest order.

Mindy
Cindy
April
Jeff
Russ
Mike

Look below for Mindy's post!!!