Laughter Is The Best Medicine

My beautiful friend, Jennifer, gave me the cutest card last night (by the way, THANKS JEN!! I loved it!!) and it had this quote on it:

The most wasted of all days is that during which one has not laughed.

~Nicholas De Chamfort

I love to laugh. A lot. A lot, a lot. It's one of my favorite things. I have one of those really loud, cringe-inducing laughs, and I'm sure that it annoys the snot out of most people, but I can't help it. I love to laugh.

What kinds of things make you laugh, you might ask. Here's a few:

• Kevin--what more can I say? He's hilarious, and makes me laugh all the time. This was one of the biggest reasons why I married him.
• My Kids--also hilarious, although they don't always know they're being hilarious.
• Stupid Jokes--the more dry, the better. My dad is the KING of all dry jokes, and they kill me--sooooooooo funny!!
• "Friends", "King of Queens", and "Everybody Loves Raymond"--even thought I've probably seen every episode a trillion times, I still laugh. Love it!!
• My Friends--they're the best, and there's nothing I love more than to be with my beautiful group of friends laughing at WHATEVER...I love you all!! Thank you for being the amazing, wonderful women you are-and thank you for putting up with my obnoxious loudness!!
• Roller Coasters or Thrill Rides of any kind--these are all great for a full-on, deep-down-in-my-gut, bust up!! In fact, I usually miss the whole ride because I'm laughing so hard that my eyes are squinched shut and tears of joy are pouring from them--I can't see anything! I usually come away from Disneyland completely hoarse, and with sore stomach muscles due to all of the laughing. This is definitely my favorite kind of laugh--it's a pure, hearty, adrenaline-laced, laughing joy!!!

These are just a few in a list that could go on for pages. I once read somewhere that laughing burns calories. I figure it's not really true, otherwise I'd probably be rail thin. However untrue it may be it won't stop me from laughing, because for me, laughter is truly the best medicine!!

Pinewood Derby 2008

Last Saturday our cub scouts had their annual Pinewood Derby. I really don't know why Ty has a pouty face in the picture because he entered his "Jimmy Johnson" car and took 2nd place, trailing the winning car by only .3 seconds. Thanks to our friends, the Cenatiempo's, Kevin and Ty were finally able to learn the secrets in making a pinewood derby car cruise!! Up until now, the Lewis' were only known for their unmistakable ability to come in LAST place each and every time!!! Tanner was feeling pretty slighted since we didn't know the secrets until after he was out of cub scouts...sorry Tan!! But, luckily for Treyson and Tate, we now know and will hopefully have fast cars from now on!!!
Congratulations Ty!!

My Trip To Massachusetts

I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Massachusetts last week, with my mom, to visit my sister, Trisha. Here are some pictures to document my visit.

This is my sister, Trisha, her husband, Jacob, and their girls: Maren (bottom left), Eliza (bottom right), and baby Jane. This picture was taken right outside of their duplex in Belchertown, MA. It was a "warm" day...35*!!!! ;)
While I was there we went to the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in Deerfield, MA. We were also able to drive down the main road in Historic Deerfield and see where they filmed the movie, "Little Women".
This is a darling farmer's market called Atkin's Farms. We went there one morning for a freshly baked donut (I had a fabulous blueberry muffin), and bought some locally drawn maple syrup. It was so cute and quaint.
OK, I realize that this is a really random picture. Let me explain a little bit...

I was so fascinated by this place...Massachusetts...

It was mostly because there is no direct route to anything. There are teeny-tiny, narrow roads all through the countryside, and you can't see anything for all the trees. So, when Jacob was driving us to the store to get stuff for Sunday's dinner, this is where we ended up...in the middle of what seemed to be nowhere. I'm glad he knew where he was going because I would have had NO idea!!!

On Saturday, Trisha and Jacob took us to see the UMASS campus, where Jacob is going to school, and then we went to eat at their favorite Thai place. It was really yummy!!

This is me standing by a GIGANTIC pile of snow. It had to be at least 10 feet tall. Another random picture, I know, but I couldn't pass it up!!

I went with the twins to their dance class on Friday afternoon and got to watch them dance around for an hour or so. Their dance class was in this awesome old barn that had been converted into a dance studio. They're too cute! I loved being able to go watch them!!

Me and my sis...I sure wish we lived closer to each other!!!

Thanks, Trish and Jacob, for entertaining me and for allowing me to invade your lives for a few days!! I love you!!

Happy 35th Birthday Kev!!!

Kevin's birthday was on Wednesday...the big 35!!! We went to Red Robin for burgers and fries, and then to Bahama Bucks for a yummy treat. I had the flu all week and couldn't get up to get a cake made or anything, but his wonderful friend, Brian, brought him his new favorite ice cream and a couple of NOS drinks. He couldn't have asked for anything more...2 perfect gifts! Happy Birthday babe! I sure love you!!

6 Quirky Things About Me...

Let me start off by saying that the only reason I'm revealing any of these things is because I was "tagged" by Katie, and so I feel obligated to come through. (Maybe that's one of my quirky things...not being able to let things slide...) Also, I should point out that I'm more quirky than "normal" so this list shouldn't be much of a suprise to anyone. If you feel you would be better off by NOT knowing this stuff, then by all means, please stop reading now. Heaven knows I need all the friends I can get, and I'm pretty sure that my revelations won't help gain, or keep, the ones I already have... ;)

Here it goes:

1. I believe that a long, hot bath can cure almost anything. Kevin can attest to this, especially this week because I have had the most awful flu since Sunday night and have probably taken 15 baths. For me, there's nothing better than soaking, weightless, is a tub full of scortching hot water after puking my guts out. Kevin says that I'm "just stewing in a tub full of germs", but to me, it's the only way to feel better.




2. And then there's driving...oh where to begin....When I'm on the freeway, and know that I have to exit the freeway I'm sure to get over in plenty of time as to not cut off anyone or cause any accident or possible death because I didn't allow myself enough time to get over. This drives Kevin crazy because I will get over, usually behind a "slow" car ("slow" to him being the people actually driving the speed limit)and wait for my turn to exit. I find that I prefer this to the nail biting, 4 lane crossing, near fatal way that Kevin does it...always at the last minute.




3. I love Barry Manilow. I know you all thought that I only loved Josh Groban, but you were wrong. I own every album Barry Manilow ever made. I've been to concerts. I have a t-shirt with his ugly mug on it. I love his music. I used to sit next to my parent's console stereo when I was young and listen to his 8 tracks, singing at the top of my lungs. Great memories.




4. Speaking of singing...I like to believe that I can sing. I love to sing. I really can't sing...at all. It's really scary, actually. But, like the Little Engine that Could I will go on saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can".




5. I can't go to bed at night unless I've checked the doors and garage doors a few times to make sure they're locked. (I won't even tell you how many because I know you're all just thinking I'm seriously OCD!!!)




6. I can't eat an apple with the peels on it. It must be peeled. And cut into little wedges. There aren't many things that I dislike worse than biting into a whole, unpeeled apple. I hate the peels. They have no taste and they get stuck in your teeth. The apple must be peeled. That's all there is to it! I don't really know why...that's just the way it is.

So, there you have it. It's been nice knowing you all!!

For those of you willing to look past all of my quirky-ness, I thank you. True friends are hard to come by!!

So, in spirit of the "Quirky-ness" I tag Melissa, Michelle, Kat, and Sara, Lori, and Nikkel. ;)