Christmas Lights!

How to put Christmas lights up in the dark:

You wear a headlamp.

 

Family Christmas Photos

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great this year!

We started the day at the Mesa city Turkey Trot.

Kevin and Tanner decided (the day before) to run the annual 10K.  I've never seen so many people in my entire life...

Tanner came in under 55 minutes and made his goal, and Kevin came in at 1:04.  Pretty good for not training at all, if you ask me. 

So, you're probably wondering about the girl...well, that's Sadie...and she likes my boy...and my boy likes her.  I don't like any of it, but what can I do?  He has to grow up...I guess.
Oh, and Tanner beat the Turkey!  Don't ask me how that guy ran a 10K in a full-on turkey costume, but he did, and everyone who beat him got a certificate.

 

It was great to have G&G Lewis down to celebrate with us!  We finished off the day with pie and multiple episodes of Downton Abbey.  It was a fantastic day!

Happy Halloween

My All Star!

Father's Day 2012

Little League Championships

It was a great Little League season this year, but the best thing was that Kevin was able to coach Treyson's team!  It was fun to watch him with the boys...especially since they all really liked Coach Kevin!  Their team made it all the way to the Championship game, coming up through the losers bracket, but just couldn't beat those pesky Pirates!   They played really well, and had a fantastic season and I couldn't be more proud of my boys!!

L-R top:  Coach Brad, Coach Tony,  Kolten, Trevor, Joey, Payton, Treyson, Nicolas, Coach Kevin

Bottom Row: Diego, Mason, Spencer, Patrick (Mini P)

Tate's team was coached by Coach Kimball and they had a fantastic season!  They didn't play great through the season, but battled in the tournament and made it to the Rookie Championship game!!  They played their hearts out, but couldn't quite get the runs they needed to win.  It didn't matter though...they got their trophies and about 5 minutes later it was all forgotten and forgiven.  That's what I love most about Little League.  Well, that and my cute little boys in their uniforms! 

Top Row: Coach P, Coach Greg, Zack, Crew, William, TATE, Griffin, Gannon, Coach Kimball

Bottom Row: Tyler (TyTy), Justin, Andrew, Dylan, Mia, Brandon

Fantastic Week

It was a fantastic week at the Lewis house! 

On Tuesday, both sets of parents rolled into town for the festivities.  My parents drove a van down and brought my grandma's piano!!  Woo hoo!!!

I love, love, love it and am so happy it's mine!!!

Treyson qualified for Academic Night, but didn't want to participate in the ceremony.  It was Tuesday night.  I'm so proud of him for working so hard!

On Wednesday, my main man graduated from ASU with his Masters in Post Secondary and Higher Education.  It was a super day!

After graduation we went to have lunch at Firehouse Subs. 

The next couple of days were spent getting ready for Tate's big day. 

On Saturday we started the day out super early with Treyson's baseball game at 7:30 a.m.  He had another game at 1:30 p.m.  It was a big day for him.  Luckily, they won both games even though Treyson and Kevin had to leave the second game early for the baptism.

The baptism was wonderful!  I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and the blessings of the priesthood. 

 After the baptism we had a birthday party for Tate. It was so fun to have some good friends here to celebrate with us...the Richins, the Stecks, the Herreras, and our wonderful parents, and also Tate's friend, William Fife. It really was a great day!

April

It seems to be my mantra lately...

Where did ____________ (fill in the month) go?????

April is no different.  I'm reeling at the speed at which this month has flown by, and yet it has seemed really long, too.  That probably doesn't make any sense to anyone but me.

I'm going to try my hardest to re-cap this month.  I did post on the 3rd about mom and dad coming down, so I'll start from there.

The easiest way to describe my month is this way...with a photo of my calendar.

Maybe it doesn't look too bad to you, but it was incredibly busy.  Baseball is in full swing and there were days that I had 4 games to go to.  It was incredibly difficult to choose between watching Tanner play, or watching Ty, since their games were scheduled on the same days at the same time.  They were both so understanding and seemed to be ok whether I was there or not.  I hate having to choose.  It makes me sad.  Especially since I hate to miss ANYTHING!! 

My dear friend, Stephanie, came to sunny AZ with her family and some friends for their spring break.  It was so wonderful to spend an afternoon shopping, lunching, and catching up!  She is an amazing woman, wife, and mother, and I love her dearly!  I sure miss you, Steph!

{blurry cell phone photo--at least it sorta hides my hideous sunburned nose and sudden and extreme case of adult acne!!!}

Treyson made it into the elementary school's annual high jump competition again.  I didn't get any photos of him jumping (too many kids and parents to get a good view), but I did get some of him waiting to jump. 
(Try to ignore the fact that the boy in front of Treyson is scratching his butt....uuuggg...)

 (...and I have no idea why this boy is wearing a white glove on his hand.  Maybe trying to channel his inner Michael Jackson?  Wow.)

Easter snuck up on me this year.  Needless to say, I was grossly unprepared.  I did manage, however, to get some eggs boiled for our annual coloring...

Sadly, that was the extent of our Easter celebration.

On the 10th, Becca and her family came down because Rob had meetings in Phoenix.  We had such a fun time hanging out with them!  They were incredibly good sports to support the boys by watching their many, many baseball games.  Of course, I didn't take any pictures.  I don't know why.  I can't explain it.  Dang!  We love you guys!!  Thanks for coming down to visit!

On April 12th and 13th, I got to tend my very favorite redhead in the whole world!  She is such a sweetheart!

On the 16th, Tanner was recognized at a school assembly as a Golden Scholar.  I was so proud!!

The 17th provided me with some much needed "girl time".  Leslie, Sara, and I lunched and talked the afternoon away at Liberty Market in Gilbert.  It was great!  Thanks, girls!

Bevan, Donna, and Anna Bean (as Treyson calls her) came down for their annual the-winter-is-over-the-ski-resort-is-closed- trip to visit!  We had fun catching up and loving on that sweet Anna!

Tanner's last Freshman baseball game was on the 24th.  I am not ashamed to say that after the game I sat in my car and shed a tear or two.  It has been such a fun team to watch.  Most of these boys have played together in 7th, 8th, and now 9th grade, and will probably not play together again for a while.  Next year, a few of these boys will move up to Varsity, while most of them will be playing J.V.  It will still be great, just never the same.

Top Row: Coach Gilbert, Adrian Montano, Justin Boubelik, Sonny Santibanez, Tyler Muzzy, Brendan Morris, Ryan Beaver, Tanner Lewis, Coach Peloquin
Bottom Row: Daylan Amey, Brandon Balli, Sam Eichinger, Max Cook, Jake Peloquin, Harrison Alteri, Evan Spitzer, Christopher (Boston) Rossini

This weekend is looking to be another busy one.  The baseball booster is having a huge garage sell to raise some needed funds for the team.  I also have a couple of baseball games and a bridal shower to attend.  However, next week holds a couple of very special events:
Kevin is graduating with his Masters Degree (wooooooo hoooooo!!!!!)
and
Tater Bug is getting baptized!!

Playing Catch (Up)

Wow!  I have no idea where February went!!!

I have so much catching up to do...where, oh where to start??

I guess I'll have to start where I left off...

Mom and dad were here until the 13th.  I love having them here, but I was so sick while they were here that I was not a very good host.  In fact, I was a horrible host!  Sorry, mom and dad!

On Valentine's day I finally decided to go to the doctor, after being sick for two and a half weeks.  It took me that long to decided that enough was enough.  The doc gave me a kenalog shot for my allergies, and a hefty load of antibiotics for my PNEUMONIA.  I layed in bed for the next two days just trying to feel better.  By the end of the 2nd day, and just one day short of 3 weeks, I was finally feeling better.  I wish I would have gone 2 weeks earlier!!

The 17th was our 17th wedding anniversary!  Seventeen years have flown by in the blink of an eye!  We didn't do anything fantastic...just went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse...but that's my kind of date!  It was a good time!  I sure love my guy!

I forgot to mention that Tanner made the Freshman baseball team!!  I am so proud of him and all of the hard work he has put in to constantly improve.  He will be a infield utility player, but will mostly play 3rd base...a compeltely new position for him.  I have no doubt that he will rock it! (How's that for a proud mom?)

Ty had baseball camp for a week at the Jr. High, followed by a week of try-outs.  He was told last Thursday that he made the 7th grade team.  Way to go Tyger!!!

Treyson and Tate both had their Little League evalutations a few weeks ago (I told you February was a blur!!!).  Treyson is on the Braves in the Minor division, coached by the one and only Kevin!!  Tate is on the IronPigs in the Rookie division, coached by Kimball Richins. 

Between high school games, junior high games, and little league games, I am on the move...and that is grossly under-exaggerated!!  I had a small melt down about a week ago, but it's out of my system now, and I think I can handle it from here on out.  The hardest thing about all of my boys participating in the same sport, during the same season is that I'm the kind of mom that doesn't want to miss ANYTHING my kiddos do.  Unfortunately, something's gonna have to give this season because unless cloning or time travel becomes readily available, I'm going to miss some stuff. 
That makes me sad.
Oh, and there were at least two East Valley Heat tournaments (Ty's club team) this month, but they're a blur, too. 

Kevin just finished his gigantic paper/project for school and that took a huge weight off of him.  One more class and he's FINITO, FINISHED, DONE!  WOOHOO!!  He's graduating on May 3rd and I can't wait!!

On the 25th we went to a surprise birthday party for our dear friend, Scott Harmon.  He wasn't feeling well at all, but he came anyway and it was fun to celebrate him!  He's such an amazing example of  having a positive attitude through health trials and being such a trooper through even the worst of days.  We just love him!

All in all it was just a crazy busy month.  March is gearing up to be worse.

I just keep taking deep breaths and reminding myself of how much I will miss this when my kids are grown.  Life is good!  I'm blessed!

THIRTY-NINE

HAPPY 39th BIRTHDAY!!!

We sure love you!!!

The Wonderful World of Disney

Mom and dad took my whole entire family on a trip to Disneyland this year for Christmas and boy, oh boy, what fun we had!!  The downside was that it was the SINGLE MOST BUSY WEEK OF THE YEAR for Disneyland, but the incredible upside was the opportunity to spend time with my siblings.  I hadn't seen my sis in 2.5 years...WAY TOO LONG...and I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with her.  I got to spend time with my adorable nieces and nephews, and even got Jane to eat some chicken nuggets and grow about 6 inches!!!  OK-so you had to be there for that one...

I got to love on Anna, and watch my youngest brother go on rides that completely terrified him.  I got to laugh with my sis-in-laws and loved watching my mom and dad spend time with each one of the grandchildren. 

I can't even express the love and admiration I have for my parents.  They are so good to my siblings and I, and go out of their way to make sure we know that they are here for us, and that they love us unconditionally.  They are truly amazing, and planned a wonderful three day reunion for us to grow closer and develop deeper relationships with each other.  Thank you, mom and dad, from the bottom of my heart.  I am so blessed to have you as my parents, and as my children's grandparents.  I love you!!

Christmas Morning 2011

We had such a fun Christmas this year!  I think that Santa was extremely successful in bringing all the naughty, ahem, I mean  nice  Lewis children fun surprises!  He brought them things they wanted, and things they didn't know they wanted until they got them.  I'm sure Apple--oops--I mean SANTA is happy that we're keeping them {him} in business!!

The biggest surprise, however, was a trip to DISNEYLAND, courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa H!!!

Thanksgiving 2011

Today started off like most Thanksgivings around here...with a rousing game of two hand touch football.  I think the boys had a fantastic time!!  They even talked Kevin into playing this year!  That is a miracle in itself!!

 Cute friends: A.J., Treyson, Patrick, Ty, and Jeffrey

We had our traditional dinner (if two years in a row makes it a tradition)...

A seafood boil!!!  Yummy to my tummy!!

It was so great to spend the day together just hanging out, watching football, and relaxing. 

I feel so blessed in my life and am thankful, every single day, for the wonderful family I get to spend my time with!!

Visitors and Halloween

We were lucky enough to have Scott, Katherine, and Bubba here for a week, and I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with my adorable nephew and his cute mommy.  Scott had meetings in Phoenix all week, so I got Katherine and Chase all to  myself.  We went to our neighborhood's annual picnic on the golf course, and we also went to my ward's trunk or treat.  

At the end of the week, Bonnie and Vaughn came to visit us too!  We spent the weekend running from ball game to ball game and enjoyed each other's company.

It was a fantastic week and we can't wait to see them all again!!

Tanner's team won the Halloween Scream tournament this past weekend.  It was the longest baseball game I have ever been to in my entire life, lasting a whopping 3 hrs and 28 minutes, and ending with a score of 25-24.  It was a fantastic game, but I was happy to see it end.  Kevin has been coaching the team this season with Jack Ross, and has had a blast doing it.  Vaughn had as much fun watching Kevin coach as he did watching Tanner and Ty play. 

I don't have one single photo of Halloween.  Bonnie and I took Treyson and Tate Trick-or-Treating, but Treyson quickly ditched us to go with his cute friend, Patrick, and their family.  Tanner was at a party with his friends, and Ty was in his bed sick with the stomach flu.  We didn't even carve pumpkins because the kids don't enjoy it much, and Kevin and I end up doing all of them.  No one seemed to care once they got home with their 2 tons of candy.