The airplane has landed...

Justin arrived at the Pocatello airport last night at 10:00 p.m. He has been in Orlando, Florida for 12 days and we missed him terribly. The girls and I went to pick him up. (Zander was at Ty's birthday party and Zack was at Nathan Tolman's late-night.) The girls and I were so anxious at the airport... We are so happy to have him home.... I must say, I feel for single parents...I am glad my Justin's home!

Are you following my blog????

I have been blogging, however, I have been back-tracking. I want to use my blog more so for journaling. So, if you enter this place and think, "Lori hasn't been working on her blog..." Check the later posts. I am back dating events of 2008 so I can print them into a book.

Scouts caroling...

Last night the boys went caroling for Pack Meeting. The scouts surprised us by caroling to us. It was quite a sight to see. Travis Smith had his big white truck and he was pulling a large flat trailer full of kids. I loved that the trailer was lit with Christmas lights. Ellie and Adrie loved that they left a bag of goodies for us. When they were finished it was quite comical to see the leaders on each corner of the trailer trying to keep all the children on the trailer as they drove next door to sing to the Gibbs family. We have the greatest scout leaders!

Prayer Works

Zander has frequently talked about the Direct Writing Assessment that was going to be taking place at school. Last night he told me that it would be today, and he was a bit nervous.
Our after school conversation went as follows:
Mom-"How did the Direct Writing Assessment go?"
Zander-"It went good. Really good."
Mom-"Really good?"
Zander-"Yeah. Last night I prayed, and He definitely helped me."

The faith of a child...prayer works.

The Best Mom Ellie has ever had...

I brought home breadsticks from Papa Murphy's tonight and this was Ellie's response...
Ellie-"Oh, thank you mom! You are the best mom I ever had!"
Mom-"Ellie, I'm the only mom you ever had."
Ellie-" Well, your still the best."
Maybe I should bring home breadsticks more often...

Zan-Man

Zander is in 5th grade and likes school! (I haven’t been able to write that for a few years.) He likes being treated more grown up and he said that’s how the 5th grade teachers treat them. He is currently playing tennis, and playing the piano. He played the piano in Sacrament meeting last Sunday, November 30th, while Zack and Ellie sang. It doesn’t get cuter than that! He is also busy playing sports. This year he played soccer, baseball, and took a rock climbing class. I think he is part monkey. You should see him climb! He loves to climb trees, too. Infact, he was a little upset this summer when dad cut down his climbing tree. He did however forgive him fairly quickly when Justin built a tree house in its place. It's great! It has electricity and an enclosed slide.

Zander is a cool kid. He's fun to hang out with, still loves to read, and likes to ride his motorcycle with dad and Zack.

I can tell he is growing up. He likes his brady bunch hair-do and it is cute to watch him spend some time in the morning making sure it flips up in the back.

He helps me so much...you know the kind...first child syndrome. He is an extreme perfectionist, and always sacrificing for everyone else. Gotta love him!

My Boogalou Bear

Zack is the kind of kid that everyone is drawn to. He has many friends, he’s confident, funny, and sweet. He is in 3rd grade and his teacher describes him as being very intelligent and an extremely thoughtful boy. And he is! He is taking piano lessons and we have noticed much improvement this year. He also loves to play sports. Lucky for him, he's a natural little athelte. Recently he played football and soccer, and he is getting ready to start basketball. If we can't find Zack it is usually because he is off reading a book.

He and Zander hang out pretty much...always! I don't think Zack realizes how unusual it is to have an older brother who enjoys hanging out with the little brother.

I love that Zack still holds my hand while were out and about. He is not embarrassed of me...YET!!! I am sure that day will come sooner or later, but I hope it is much, much later.

Little Miss Sunshine

Ellie started kindergarten this fall. I miss her terribly while she is away, but she loves it and figured out quickly that school is great for her social life. (What's up with these independent girls we have?... They are both so brave and confident.) Ellie is ALL girl. She is taking dance lessons and is a beautiful dancer. She has informed us several times, however, that she doesn't want to take dance lessons, she just wants to perform on the big stage.

Ellie is kind, thoughtful and an excellent helper. She is always cleaning, organizing, playing pretend, and helps with Adrie. I love my Little Miss Sunshine!

Little Miss Muffin

Adrie is two years old and extremely independent. She loves nursery, being naked, her baby dolls, and her best friend Trevor, who she calls, "Ya-Ya." She talks very well but has chosen to give her friend this nickname. My favorite thing about Adrie is watching her dance. That girl has rhythm!

Here I Go!

I am excited to blog! My best friend Anne came over today to get me started. Thank you Anne, I Love Ya!

Thanksgiving 2008

Justin and Lori at Uncle Ben's and Aunt Nancy's for Thanksgiving dinner. They were kind enough to invite the entire "Coffin" side of the family. We had a blast!


Zack eating Thanksgiving dinner.

Whitney and Gramma Nana (Shana)

Bart, Megan and Trevor

Nathan and Libby

Denise, Deni, Michelle, Misti, David, Brayden, and Doug

Adrie and Shane

Jack and Angela

The host of Thanksgiving dinner...Uncle Ben and Andee

Cute cousins...Saige and Ellie

Fireworks!!! Zander and Saige

Ellie Corinne

Cousins dancing away all night with the Juke box...Bonnie, Adrie, Kate, Ellie, and Saige.

This is my cute grandpa Coffin. He provided great entertainment for us. He is a great dancer! Go Grandpa!

Halloween 2008

This is my baby brother Bart. He was Captain Jack Sparrow. I wish I had a picture with his full costume on. He looked like the real thing. He and his wife, Rachel, have a Halloween party every year. We always eat, play games, eat again, and visit. I love that costumes are mandatory at their party.
I am of course, a hippy. The coolest thing about my costume was the necklace I wore. My mom really wore it in highschool. Groovy!


We went trick or treating down town with friends of ours. Here are some of my best friends! Nema Blanchard, Angela Gentry, Melanie Taysom, Melanie Johnson, and me Lori. The following pictures include our children. Imagine how fun it is to keep a group this size together while going from shop to shop.


Zack, Josh, Zander, Dresden, Josh, Ty, and Brody.


Josh, Adrie, Bridger, Ellie, Tahni, and Tori.


Brody, Preston, Porter, Zack, and Pedro, (oops... Josh).


Our little Adrie was a darling little bunny. She hopped everywhere. Zack is in the scary skeleton costume. The weather was beautiful. I don't remember a Halloween like this. We could actually see the kids costumes because we didn't need the three layers of winter clothing to keep us warm.

Ellie dressed up as a friendly witch to go trick or treating down town, trunk or treating, and to Uncle Bart's Halloween party.

Ellie dressed up as "Dorothy" from the Wizard of Oz for her kindergarten party. She even had the red sparkly shoes!

Zander is in 5th grade, therefore, I was not aloud at his class party.
I did, however, get to sneak in and snap a quick picture with some of his friends. You can hopefully tell Zander was a "nerd" for Halloween. This picture includes Kade Smith, Ellie Wolper, Kate Smith, Zander, and Richie Chatterton.

Halloween...I helped with Zack's class party. Zack was a cute little "nerd".

Crazy Hair Day at School...

Zack-Attack and Zan-Man...Lookin good!

The boys loved crazy hair day. Ellie had her Halloween costume party at school that day so she had "Dorothy" hair. The picture includes Zander, Ty Gentry, Zack, Dresden Blanchard, Tahni Gentry and Ellie.

Carving Pumpkins

It's always messy and time consuming, but always worth it! Justin is really good at doing things like this with the kids. Zack carved a bat, Zander a skull, and Ellie a witch on a broom stick. Adrie and Justin are in the picture for moral support.

We are a Happy Family...

The entire Thomas family met for family pictures.
*Note-Adrie is the only one crying.


Here is my wonderful family. I am the oldest child (age 34), Bobby is sitting on the right (age 32), Brad is sitting on the bottom left (nearly 30), and Bart is standing on the left (age 26...today!)




I am thankful for my own little cute family. Zander (age 10), Zack (age 8), Ellie (age 5), and Adrie (age 2).

Bare Bum Dancer

Adrie takes her diaper off daily...numerous times. Today she was dancin' with her bare bum and Ellie's boots. Go girl!

Go to Bed!

How many times do I ask the children, "Please get back into bed." And then it becomes, "Go to Bed!" And once they are in bed I think they are asleep, but, oh no. The boys are reading. This is how I found Zack tonight. Apparently he wasn't ready for bed when I sent him and he really wanted to read. Don't worry, I put a book mark in his place.

Sea World

Friends forever...Lisa and Lori get to spend the day together at Sea World!


Ali (age 10), Ellie (age 5), Jenna (age 4), and Kennadie (age 6).


Zack (age 8), Zander (age 10), and Payton (age 7).


Ali is a part of the Shamu show! She is pictured on the far right big screen. This was a definite highlight of the California trip.


Zander and mom hangin' out at the Shamu show.

Zack and Justin spending time together.

Who wants to get wet?????

We do! Zander, Ellie, Zack, Ali, Lori, Kennadie and Lisa. It is afterall, 95 degrees here in sunny California...in October, I might add. Gotta love it.

Zack and Ali at the amazing pet show.

Payton and Ellie

Zander and Ali... friends since birth.

Kennadie, Ali, Zander, Zack and Ellie waiting for the second Shamu show. Oh no, please don't tell me you are sitting in the SOAK ZONE?????

That's what you get for sitting in the SOAK ZONE little Miss. Ellie.