Extended Christmas!

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!!!

Happy Birthday Ty!!!

It's official!!!  There's ANOTHER teenager in the Lewis home! 

 Happy 13th Birthday Ty!

I Love You!!

Dear Santa...

Oh, how I love this little boy!!

Christmas Traditions

Today I spent the day making delicious carmel apples.  Kevin always gives them to his employees, and I usually give some to our neighbors.  This year I also made some homemade dark chocolate truffles that I passed out to my book club gals.  They were yummy...well, at least I thought they were!!

Say Cheese!!

Fantastic Fifteen...

My first baby turned 15 today...

I'm in denial. 

He keeps telling me he is able to get his learners driving permit in 6 months.

He also keeps telling me how tall he is getting...like I can't tell when he stands next to me. 

I don't like hearing the things he's telling me and I'm constantly telling him to shhhhhhhhh.....

I will accept that he's getting older.

Eventually.

I can't even express how much I love this kid!  He's a joy to be around and I feel so blessed to be his mom!!

Happy 15th Birthday, Tanner!!!

I LOVE YOU!!
His cute friends made him this candy bar poster. 

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!!

2nd Grade Musical

Veteran's Day

Well, as it turns out, my life is about running to and from baseball practices and games. 

 It's busy.

  Crazy busy.

I'm not complaining, just pointing out a fact.

This past weekend Ty's team played in the Veteran's Day Tournament at BLD and came in 2nd place out of 24 teams.  Pretty good, if you ask me!

It was a fun and busy weekend.  Great job Ty!!!

 

DRJHS Flag Football Championship

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.

Handcart Trek

Today, Tanner set out on a fabulous adventure:

Mesa Arizona Desert Ridge Stake

Youth Handcart Trek

He was so excited, and I am so excited because I know he will have a fantastic experience!

I can't wait to hear all about it when he gets home on Saturday!!

Bball Players and Super Heros

October 7th marked the end of the first quarter for my kids' schools.  It was also Diamondback/Super Hero Day.  Tate went for the straight D-Backs look, while Treyson decided to do a mixture of the two.

One of our very favorite D-Backs goes by the nickname "Tatman", so Treyson mixed his Batman shirt with Ryan Robert's name and number. 

Unfortunately, the D-Backs went on, later that day, to lose game 5 and failed to advance in the playoffs, ultimately ending their quest to make it to the world series.  It's always a sad day for me when the season is over, but luckily, the new season is just around the corner!! 

Again??

We were back at Urgent Care this afternoon with Tate...

While we were at Ty's football game he sliced his hand open on the soccer goal post.

I couldn't believe the amount of blood that was gushing from his hand.  I have a really strong stomach, but when he showed me the gash, I nearly lost it.  I have never seen such a deep cut in my life!

Luckily, we were able to get into Nextcare immediately, and after a complete panic attack (Tate-not me), and 3 layers of surgical glue, he was as good as new!  Well, almost.

Poor kid!

General Conference

How we watch General Conference:

Ty in full catcher's gear.

Hey!...at least he's watching!! 

Tate kept asking how long "Geneval Conference" lasts...

Treyson snuggled up into the corner of the couch and didn't move...

Tanner took notes....

wait...what?

Yes.  My 14 yr old took notes.

It was a proud moment for me.

I love conference weekend!!

Exchange

Tate: Dad how much does a car cost? $200?
 Kevin:  Nope, lots more than that!
Tate: $400?
Kevin: Nope!
Tate:  How much was your car dad? A lot? How much?
Kevin: $20,000.
Tate: Man! That's a lot!  Will I ever have that much money? Ah,  I will just wait and use your car when you get arrested!!
Kevin:  Why am I going to get arrested?
Tate:  You have three tickets and when your in jail I will use your car!

Gimme Shelter!

After Tate ate his ice cream the other night, he was "freezing". 

He thought the best way to get warm was to build him some "shelter".   

This kid cracks me up!!

My New Favorite Time-Waster

I'm sure I am probably a few years behind on finding this gem, but let me tell you...it's AWESOME!!  Unless you have a low self esteem--then it could make you feel super un-awesome.  {hee hee}

I have found so many projects that I'd like to do, and recipes I'd like to try...

If only I could log off the site...

Happy Birthday Treyson!!

This Weekend

FOURTEEN

{FOURTEEN}

The number of hours spent with DIRECTV either on the phone or with a technician in my house in the past week.

You would think that someone at that company has a clue.

Turns out...NOPE...NOT SO MUCH!

Ugggggg.........

Another Awesome Find

At Tanner's baseball game on Saturday, I was complaining about not being able to get the red desert dirt out of my kid's baseball uniforms.  That is when my friend, Ella, told me about this awesome stuff:

Holy Cow!!  I don't think Tanner's white baseball pants have ever been so white!!

The only down-side is that it bleaches out any logo or stitching on the pants--the upside is that I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

Perspective

A seven year old's perspective of the events of 9/11/01.

He told me that "airplanes crashed into buildings", and "lots of people died in New York".

Pretty perceptive for someone who wasn't even alive when it happened.

This is something that was incredibly impressive to me. 

This is called "Healing Field".  It is located in Tempe, Arizona, and is the longest running 9/11 tribute to the victims of that horrendous day.  I don't know how I have missed it every year, but next year I will be there for sure.

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years already.  I still remember the day as clearly as if it had happened yesterday. 

I will never forget.

Swiss Days 2011

{My Girls}

Small Changes

...can make a huge difference.

I love that I can just add 2 new slip covers and some fun pillows to change the look of my front room. 

And...it was a ton cheaper than buying new furniture!

Score!!

Freshman Fall Ball

There's nothing like watching a ball game on a Saturday morning at 9 a.m. when it's already 102*. 

When it ended it was 115*.

I am so excited for some cooler temps!!

August

Why It Stinks To Be In Arizona In August...

...and I could mean that quite literally.

This has been the message on the news for the past week.

Umm...DUH!!! 

Do they think we're stupid??

 This forecast is actually mild compared to this past week.  On Tuesday the thermometer in my car, in my garage, read 123*.

That's HOT!!

I'm ready for some cooler temps!!! 

However, the snowbirds can stay home this year!!

Well...except you, mom and dad. 

You can come.

Gadget Girl

Those of you who read my blog know how much I L-O-V-E gadgets!  Well, recently I've purchased a few and thought I'd better share.

While in Utah I purchased this beauty

I love it!  I really do.  I'm not kidding.

They boys love to cook their corn dogs in it because it's not as scary as the "big oven", and it makes the corn crispy instead of soft (like in the microwave.).  I love that it doesn't heat up the entire kitchen, like the oven does.

SCORE!!!

The next gadget is this baby

The sad thing about this is that my kids asked me what it was. 

And, Kevin keeps asking me if I know what year it is. 

 I think that he thinks I've warped back to the '70's. 

Maybe I have. 

So what??

I, however, am thrilled that I don't have to wrestle with a piece-of-garbage-does-not-work-hand cranked can opener any longer.  Seriously, I think I've spent $50 trying to find a hand held can opener that actually works, and then have to replace them because they break.  Bleh!!  We'll see how this goes. 

This little beauty used to be my favorite gadget, until yesterday, when it was replace by my new favorite.  Here it is...do you know what it is??

It's a carpet rake!!!

I love it!  It perks up my matted down carpet, while removing all of the gross stuff that gets caught down deep.  I am so glad my gal Tiffany told me about this!!  I just rake and vacuum and the carpet looks soooooooo much better...especially on my stairs!

The next gadget on my list is this:

My microfiber duster!!!  It picks up, and holds all of the dust.  It doesn't just swish it around.  When it's dirty I just throw it into the wash and BAM, it's ready to go again!!  Woo Hoo!!

OK, now brace yourselves.  Here is my new FAVORITE gadget...

I got it yesterday at Wally World, and it brings joy to my soul.

Drum roll, please...........................................................................

It is the Shark Professional Pocket Steam Mop!!!  (Say that 10 times fast!)

I mopped my tile with it yesterday and it looks so good!!  I also used the hand attachment to clean my wood blinds and my bathrooms.  The steam gets into nooks and crannies and makes all that nasty filthiness come out, and then you just wipe it away.  The hot steam kills germs and odors and you don't have to use any chemicals.  Love, love, love, love, LOVE!!  They should hire me to be their spokesperson.  hee hee hee

Anyway...I'm in gadget heaven right now. 

 Sadly I have to go to Costco. 

 I'm hoping it won't kill my vibes. 

Peace! 

 (Oh, wait...that's the 60's...)

The Best Yet

TONIGHT!!!

Oh my goodness...I'm soooooooooooo excited!!!!!!

I've Been...

My mom left me a message on my cell phone yesterday that said two things.

1.  You haven't updated your blog lately.

and

2.  Call me.

So...I've been...

Repairing...

...only to find out that I didn't have a tool needed to fix what I needed to fix.  And, yes, I'm doing it in the house because it was 113* in my garage.  I'm not exaggerating.

Redecorating...

...my bedroom...

I found this comforter set for a fantastic price and just went with it.  New curtains, lamp shades, and decorative pillows finished off the look.   

And...I'm recuperating from a whirlwind summer. 

It doesn't help that I have a ton of extra time to sit around and think of all of the things I want to do to/in the house.