more about Zion

Zion - swimming

2011-12-17T13:08:00.000-08:00

Hey....Zion is getting faster!

Check out the photos below -

Zion didn't have the best start -
in his defense - our swim team doesn't have starting blocks to practice on.

BUT....my point is:
Look at the boy in the other lane and how Zion catches up to him by the end.

YOU ROCK ZY!!

I AM

2011-11-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

I am mischievous and awesome
I wonder about the future
I hear Captin Underpants
I see King Kong
I want to play vidieo games all day and every day
I am mischievous and awesome

I preatend to fight aliens
I feel happy about flying
I touch Captin America's shield
I worry about getting grounded
I cry about doing chores
I am mischievous and awesome

I understand Long Division
I say God made the world
I dream about Heaven
I try to walk on my hands
I hope for an Everlasting Life
I am mischievous and awesome

by Zion Thornton

4th grade award!

2011-10-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

The school year is moving along and the boys are getting into the groove.

Zion is always up for a challenge, so when the teacher sent home a spelling challenge....

Zion took the bull by the horns.

Congrats to Zion for spelling,

Antidisestablishmentarianism

Zion turns 10

2011-08-07T02:25:00.000-07:00

Zion's birthday fell on a Sunday this year,
so he ordered meatloaf with spaghetti and sauce
for dinner on Saturday night and we let him open his gifts since Sundays are busy days.

movie - (Tim Hawkins) funny guy!

Books

Clothes (boring!)

and the 'biggie' gift

which, at this photo, Zion still doesn't realize what the 'biggie' gift is.............

<><><>

and then he does............

an iPad

Sunday after church ........he ordered lemon pound cake (just like his dad)

Happy Birthday Zion - I love you!

Zion - the rock star

2011-05-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

Zion loves music and dancing and thinking he is "ALL THAT"

He went from long hair

To Justin Beiber hair

To a "hawk" in the past year

I think he is working on his image.

Anyway, I am sure you have all heard someone trying to sing with an iPod in their ears.
It's not that easy to carry a tune when you can't hear yourself sing.

Clearly...............

Awana Talent Show

2011-04-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night we had a special AWANA.

A Talent Show!
So proud of all the kids for stepping out of their comfort zone and getting on the stage.

We had a lot of different enteries.

Art Work Presentations

Gymnastics

Jump Rope

Dancing

Singing

Piano

and then there was the COMBO presentation,
by Zion

Who couldn't just sing,
but sang with his foot behind his head.

Here it is:
Adding to the Noise,
by Switchfoot

Academic Fair

2011-04-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

I get the idea of a Science Fair,
not really sure if an Academic Fair is just a more generic display of school work.
Never heard of one before...........
ANYWAY,
It was on Wednesday night,
the same night as AWANA,
so I just popped into the cafeteria during the school day to see if the boys had submitted anything.

I only found things for Zion.
So, here are photos of his entries.

This mask was attached the poem below

Zion's Many Colored Days

by Zion Thornton

On bright brown days how good it feels

to be a monkey and jump from tree to tree.

On other days I'm other things.

On evil red days I slash my claws.

Some days of course, I feel sort of blue.

Then I feel sad and down.

Then come my black days.

I feel like kicking and slamming the door.

I growl.

I stab at every cloud.

But it all turns out all right you see

and I go back to being me

This is a book that Zion wrote and illustrated.
The school had them published and it will remain in the school library.

Good job Zy!~

Swim meet

2011-04-23T04:25:00.000-07:00

The swim season here on Guam is coming to a close.

Although, of all the sports the boys have been in, swimming on Guam doesn't end.

The weather is always "swim friendly"

So Zion will continue to swim over the summer months and improve for the fall 2011 season.

Here are a few photos of the swim meet today.

He took another 2 seconds off his 50 backstroke.

He is now right at a minute.

His 50 freestyle is down to 51 seconds.

Great job Zion! B times are coming soon!

Keep on kicking!

opps....google trouble

Follow the Drinking Gourd

2011-03-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

Zion was selected to play the part of "teacher" in a play at school called,

"Follow the Drinking Gourd"

The play is about the history of the Underground Railroad.
You can read about it here.

They have been practicing for over a month.
He is (of the three boys) the most interested in Performing Arts.

Here are a few photos:

(*photo credit: Samantha Gillam)

And some video of the singing, mostly for my music teacher mother.
(*I am pretty sure Zion got the "Performing Arts" gene from her!!)

Not every day that you hear "Amazing Grace" at a public school performance.

It brought a tear to my eye.

I could seriously sing that song every Sunday and be okay with it.

Zion, great job!

You had a lot of lines to memorize, and you did it!
I love you and I am proud of you!

Long course meet, 3-12-11

2011-03-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

Zion competed in his second long course swim meet on Sat.
He did the 50 freestyle and the 50 backstroke.

I was at the soccer game with Michael - but Mike borrowed Sam's camera and got some good shots.

Great job Zion!
You are getting better and faster!

Skate Park

2011-03-05T03:26:00.000-08:00

Zion has been begging to take his bike to the skate park.

Honestly, I have been a little fearful of broken bones or stitches, or both.

But finally, I could put off the begging no longer.

Zion worked really hard to get his chores done and was really helpful and polite this week.

Still, I was afraid if I went, I would be a nervous wreck, so Mike took him.

He had a blast.

I sent Mike with the camera and a warning not to let him try anything too crazy!

swimming photos

2011-02-27T01:57:00.000-08:00

Zion's first long course meet
2-12-11

50 freestyle

short course meet 2-26-11

50 free

Zion swam second leg of a 100 relay at the short course meet on 2-26

Great job Zion on your swimming. I am so proud of you and how much you have learned about swimming on a team in just six months! Keep up the good work!

Zion's first swim meet

2011-01-29T03:12:00.000-08:00

Zion swam in a short course swim meet today.

That means, the lanes run the "short" side of the pool (25 meters) instead of the long side.
(* the long side is 50 meters, and of course, called a long course meet)

He got a crash course from Coach Lewis on jumping in off the side of the pool.
(*something they don't practice during the week)

He did the 25 free style.

And the 25 backstroke.

There is an audiable gasp on the video when he got to the wall on the backstroke,
but that was the timers voice, not mine......

I had several conversations with Zion about getting DQ'd (disqualified) on the backstroke for flipping over on his belly to touch the wall. He does it at practice often because he doesn't want to hit his head on the wall.

I guess in the meet he didn't care.......cause he hit the wall, with his head!

When he got out of the pool I asked him if he was okay,
but instead of answering me, he said, "Was I first??"

(a little competitive)

I am so proud of you Zy, and I love you to the moon!

A couple videos of the Gillam girls too. Sam is on the Tsunami Swim Club board, so she is always so busy working and timing and ...........gosh, I don't really know what all it takes to put on a swim meet, I just know she is busy. So here are the girls.

Maddy's finish in the 100 free (I think)

Ellie

These ladies are pro swimmers, but I am proud of them too!
They just jump in the water and fly through it like they are fish!

Right in the middle

2011-01-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

Today I ran the boys outside, because the day was nice and they had spent far too long in front of the Wii beating each other up with cartoon characters. (*it's called SMASH BROTHERS, nice right?)

Zion asked Isaac to go to the "new park" with him, that just opened with a new phase of housing development here, but Isaac wanted to go with Michael to walk the dog.

(Maybe it's more "cool" to be hanging out with your older brother?!)

So Zion turns and says, "Mom, will you go to the park with me?"

I can't even think of the last time I went with my growing boys to the park.

I got my shoes and my 'baby' and I walked to the park.

The breeze was blowing and it wasn't muggy.

We even saw a rainbow on the way.

There was no one there, just me and Zy.

I sat on the swing and watched him play with a lego car that he brought.

I captured a few photos with my phone without him noticing.

I thought about how he was right in the middle of being a man.

9 1/2

9 1/2 years ago, he was still kicking my ribs in my giant belly.

9 1/2 years from now,
he will be getting ready for his 19th birthday
and we will be shopping for the things he needs for college.

God, help me always remember this day

wanting his mom at the playground.

With a Lego car,

and imagination.

Wind in his hair,

barefoot,

the sweet smell of a little boy

right in the middle

of being a man.

Zion and his class

2011-01-14T05:16:00.000-08:00

Zion's class was invited to sing at a special Martin Luther King Jr. program today.

He had a speaking part that said,

"Martin Luther King Jr. changed my life, because without him, I wouldn't have a cool teacher like Mrs. Simpson, or my two brothers, Michael and Isaac"

Mike was invited to the event, I tagged along behind the bus.

Before the kids sang, Dr. King's speech was played.
I wanted to cheer and clap and shout "AMEN" along with all the people in the crowd back in 1963.

And I found myself thinking how his dream has come true,

and how proud he would be if he could see how far we have come since his death in 1968.

I am thankful that our boys are growing up in the
"Big Navy Melting Pot"

I am thankful that they have friends based on character and common interest, not skin color.

I am thankful for those that made that possible,

by having a dream,

and not only standing up for it,

but dying for it.

New Wii game - Dance Off II

2010-12-26T04:26:00.000-08:00

Creation poster

2010-12-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

Zion had to make a creation poster for AWANA.

He takes his art work very seriously.

(I remember when Michael and Isaac had to do this section in 3rd grade,
they really didn't care about it as much as Zion did).

But.........Zion does have Mike's art gene!

Mike and I LOVE Adam and Eve!

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T04:18:00.000-08:00

Zion was the only one up when I was getting the turkey ready for Thanksgiving day.
(well, Mike was up - but he was gone to play football in the church TURKEY BOWL)

So...........here is a little video of Zion's first TURKEY cooking lesson.

ENJOY!

Happy 9th Birthday Zion!

2010-08-07T01:38:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Zion

Zion spent his 9th birthday at the "BEACH HOUSE" in Guam and we had our good friends,

the Gillam family down for some ocean time,

lunch, and of course,

CAKE!

My friend Sam and I

love,

love

how well our kids get along.

They were playmates when

Ellie and Zion were only 2

and Isaac and Maddy were 4

but at 8 and 10 -

we are so happy that they all still have a great time together!

Zion is a superstar!!!!!

2010-06-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

Zion was selected as a SUPERSTAR at his school, The Language Academy, for academic excellence and model citizenship. This is what his teacher, Senor Mullin said about Zion:

Zion has lots of energy. He's pretty much ready to go the minute he steps in the classroom. He is a quick study and is always ready for bigger and better challenges. When he has a thought to add to discussions you can be sure that he will be right on target. Thank you Zion for all that you add to our class every day!

We are proud of you Zion! Love, Daddy and Mommy

Just follow the road!

2010-05-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

My mom and step-dad, Gwen are here visiting from Alabama.

They drove, so they have their own car and a GPS.
Honestly, I think San Diego traffic scares them.
(I remember those days)

ANYWAY, my mom had promised the boys a trip to the book store, so they loaded up.

My mom was trying to type in the address to the GPS and the boys were not impressed with the wait time.

Finally, Zion enquired as to why they were still parked on the curb in front of the house.

My step-dad replied, "We are trying to figure out which way to go"

to which Zion replied, "Just follow the road PawPaw!"

my husband says I have a CLUMSY GENE............

2010-04-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

while I am not sure if that could be proven by a scientific method, I can't really disagree with the theory.
I do seem to trip UP stairs, And sadly, seem to have passed the gene onto Zion. (He may look like his daddy, but...........)

The last few evenings trying to get the boys in bed on time have been difficult. Not only do we like to sleep a little later when school is out, but the time change from Guam to San Diego has messed up our sleep schedule. So for the 7th or 8th time, I walked back up the stairs to give Isaac and Zion the "business"........

STOP TALKING

STAY IN YOUR BED

CLOSE YOUR EYES!

IT'S BEDTIME!

As I get almost to their room, Zion had the fear of being "busted" and made a run for the it. For some crazy reason, he ran out of his room into the bathroom.

(*perhaps he thought he could pretend to have an urgent need in there)

He slipped in the water puddle left over from his shower and went crashing into the tub.
He cracked his big toe into the side of the tub and immediately starting yelling.........'OH OH OH. MY TOE, MY TOE, I think I broke my toe"

I was already on the verge of laughter at his little slip-n-slide routine and the broken toe chant that followed. He wasn't crying, so I didn't think he was seriously injuried, just shocked by the chain reaction of events.

As he jumped up, he grabbed his toe and continued the TOE CHANT, hopping on one foot. After a few hops, he decides to sit down and do an inspection of said toe...... can you picture it all?

Close your eyes and imagine a bathroom in a house of 3 boys...........

Got it??

Yes??

So Zion sits back onto the space where the toilet is to examine his toe, and of course, both lids were open and the toilet had NOT been flushed.........

SPLASH!!!!!!

The toe chant turned to screams and I quickly snatched him out of the yellow water.

I pulled his pajama pants off and turned on the bath water.

Stopped up the drain and told him to wash off the pee water.

Then I quickly ran down to my room, shut the door, and died laughing.

Poor kid........he DOES have the gene!
(*January 19th 2010)

Definition of a prize,

2010-03-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

according to Zion.

"Anything that comes from your heart is like a prize"

That's a lot of wisdom for eight.

Zion kicks mom to the curb.....

2010-03-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

For Christmas we went to Guam to visit Mike. We had a good visit, but made a big mistake in asking the boys if they would want to stay in Guam with Mike. Although, it could be done, for at least 10 reasons right off the bat, would not be the best situation. (*I mean, I am a stay-at-home mom so I can care for our children right?)
But we said it "tongue in cheek" thinking that the boys would rather be with the nurturing parent anyway.

So, when it's time to go, Zion proclaims, "I want to stay here with dad"

Deer in the headlights.........what do we do?

So we start explaining all the reasons why that's not really the best idea followed by,

"BUT YOU SAID!!!!!!!!"

I thought my "baby - mama's boy" would always choose me over his dad right!??

So I went for the emotional tactic.

"But Zion, if you stay here with daddy - I would miss you so much!"

His reply.....

"That's not fair! I've been with you my WHOLE life~!"

Zion cracks me up.

2009-04-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

I know that all kids say funny things, but I think Zion wins the prize in our family. Instead of yesterday, he says, "last day" and instead of tomorrow, he says, "to morning". Instead of substitute (as in teacher) he says, "Ab-sta-tute" (I guess because she was absent, right?)

So last night he wanted his special blanket before bedtime. I told him to look in the dryer for it. He yells up to me from the laundry room, "it's not in the dryer, it's still in the wetter!"

I hope I always remember how cute he is now, in 10 years when he is 17!

Love you Zy!!
Mommy

a small paper star

2009-01-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

No matter how many books you read. You will never be prepared for motherhood. I once read a quote that said, "Becoming a mother means, for the rest of your life, your heart will walk around outside of your body". I think, so far, that is the best quote on motherhood in my opinion.

I picked Zion up from school last week and he had 2 yellow paper stars taped to his shirt. They said, "___________ is a star." and someone had written Zion in the blank.

I asked him about them, and he told me that they had a lesson on respect. What it means to respect someone. Then they had a chance to color stars, add a name to them, and give them to a classmate. He told me all about who gave stars to girls and who he gave stars to. He got stars from Joshua and Leo, but "not any girls".

After we got in the van, Zion pulls out 2 yellow stars for Isaac and "Mickal". I told Zion how proud I was of him for thinking of his brothers, (and then strongly encouraged his brothers to show a little more thankfulness).

And then he says, "I made you one too mom. And daddy. I didn't have enough, so I had to draw it and cut it out, but I colored it purple cause it's your favorite color."

Motherhood is, by far, the hardest thing I have ever tried, (and believe me, I am still trying.......) but it is by far the most rewarding in even the smallest ways.

How many days..........until MY birthday?

2008-12-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

Michael and Zion have exactly a month between their birthdays. Michael’s is July 7th, and Zion’s is August 7th. So around the middle of June, Michael starting counting down the days on his calendar. It was a morning breakfast announcement before school each day.

It was only a few mornings until Zion started asking,

“How many days until MY birthday?”

“I don’t know buddy, about 50 I guess” I replied.

And then the questions continued each day. Zion was quick to tell anyone that made eye contact (at Wal-Mart, the commissary or church)…

…“I am 4 ½, it’s ____ days until my birthday! Then I am going to be 5!”

Most people at least smiled and a few would comment on what a big boy he was getting to be. He, of course, was thrilled. To add to the excitement, we went to SeaWorld and he hit the 42 inch mark by the top hair on his head. He glowed and he rode the “BIG BOY RIDES” which included Journey to Atlantis and Shipwreck Rapids.

The bad news is, mom wasn't having such an easy time with her baby boy's transition from pre-schooler to BIG BOY. It made my heart hurt. I didn't have ANY babies. What happened? How did the time pass so quickly?

So on the last night that he was 4, I took this picture. I wanted to remember what he looked like, in the hours before he was 5. Thinking that eventually, having a 5 year old would sink it, and I wouldn't be quite so sad.

He was so happy that TOMORROW he would be 5.

The next morning when I woke him up. I said, "Good morning! Today you are 5!"

He popped out of bed quickly with a questioning look, "Mommy, how many days until I'm 6?"

(photo taken 8-6-2006)

Homeschooling Zion

2008-12-18T20:50:00.001-08:00

So I always said I would never home school.....and then I would follow it with a little, unless God told me to. (just to be on the safe side). If you don't think God has a sense of humor, guess what happened??

Yep, he told me to home school Zion. So I researched options and all that, and to make a LONG story short, I ended up with a program called K12. (I love it and you can check it out online http://www.k12.com/)

ANYWHO.......how cute is this little guy?

And I can't believe it, I taught my own kid how to read!

It was VERY exciting! We had so much fun together. Just hanging out, me and my baby boy while his brothers were at school.

So one day I am walking down the hall to the laundry room and I see this on the dry erase board. It was one of those things as a mother that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time. Zion's first official sentence.

"Thornton can not blow a wisool"

He had tried so hard the day before to learn to whistle since his brother could. Is that adorable or what??

(photos taken 3-13-2007)