Easter 2011

So Easter morning dawned and the family tradition of the Bunny Run Breakfast ensued--thankfully the weather cooperated and we were able to have our hunt outside--the kids each got Croc shoes from the Easter Bunny (how did he know they each needed new summer shoes to wear on our Cruise?!?!--he's amazing!)

Matthew was intrigued with the eggs--and has really been enjoying playing with them. He was doing his customary "baby elephant crawl" on the grass but we were not quick enough!!

And each of the kids were happy with their morning haul.Then after church we "TRIED" to take a photo of the kids--it's important to Mom's to take photos of their kids on occasions like Easter, but Sam NEVER likes these times (taking after his Uncle Joey early I guess) and this was no exception. He just wasn't having any of it so here it is buddy--forever and ever amen--

The Easter 2011 kid photo:

I sew

Not very well, but I did just complete my first sewing project.

These are the BEST valentines day present my kids ever got in April!!

So back in January I had this crazy idea that I'd sew Stephen some pajama bottoms as a surprise for him. He's really wanted me to learn how and I've been overwhelmed at the thought of learning how to sew. But I had a friend who said she'd help me so help me and I thought it wouldn't be too hard to also make some for each of my kids. But bad weather and a busy life got in the way and I never got back to finish them. BUT Summer is an excellent seamstress and she helped me whip these out and my kids are stoked!! What's more she turned some of the salvage material into skirts for K & Linds to wear this summer! Thanks Aunt Summer!!

A visit from Japan

My brother Ben and his wife Summer and daughter Elenore live in Japan. Ben teaches for the Department of Defense as a math teacher on a US Military Base in SOUTHERN Japan about 230 miles from where all the Nuclear issues are happening as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. So they are very much out of harms way, they experience a bit of inconvenience of minor food shortages and needing to conserve their energy a bit but for the most part are unaffected by the disaster.

Nevertheless, the military decided to "voluntary departure" people and send them home for a month or so if they wanted to, and seeing as how Ellie is not yet 2 and Summer is 6 months pregnant, they were in a group allowed to leave almost immediately. My poor brother though was not allowed to leave as he was considered "essential to the mission" and had to stay to teach any children of families who stayed behind. So they endured being apart for a couple weeks. But then Ben's school had spring break and at the time they didn't know when the "voluntary departure" orders would be lifted and so he came over for a little over a week to be with his family. This was a treat for them to be together and a treat for us since we hadn't expected to see them for at least another year (plane tickets to Japan are EXPENSIVE).

And on the morning that Ben was flying back to Japan, they got the good news that the orders had indeed been lifted and they were free to start scheduling their return home. So he left knowing that his wife and daughter wouldn't be very far behind them, so that was nice.

But we really enjoyed their visit. While Ben stayed with us he was my designated lifter of Matthew and they were such a big help, we enjoyed lots of Lewis Family Dinners and activities while he was here. And Ellie had a little dose of what it's like to live with other kids. She LOVED Matthew maybe a bit too much often tackling him with hugs and kisses. And I think she's really going to miss being with her cousins.

I feel loved....

Earlier this month I had to have surgery to repair a hernia. I discovered it sometime after giving birth to Lindsey and was planning on getting it taken care of prior to getting pregnant again because I was worried about putting stress on my body while being pregnant again, well I wound up pregnant a little faster than we expected so the surgery had to wait until after Matthew came along. And wouldn't you know, a little tender mercy that I didn't have a single flareup my whole pregnancy. Such to the point that I thought it had repaired itself, but it hadn't and after having Matthew I realized it was still there and I was having pain more often. So off to the doctor I went and surgery was scheduled.

The hardest part was the recovery, no lifting anything over 15 pounds for 2 weeks. That included a really cute one year old named Matthew who throughout my day needs to be lifted in and out of his crib, car seat and high chair. So that equated to me not being able to be alone with my kids and needing a lot of help.

But my family and friends came though for me, my mother in law came down and spent a whole week of my recovery and just picked up where I left off and kept my house running, she cooked up a storm and spent lots of quality time with my children, I can't thank her enough for her help, I love her so much and am so grateful she's in my life.

The other part that was just providence really was the disaster in Japan brought my SIL Summer and her daughter Ellie back to the states for a visit and just 2 days after my MIL left, they came to stay with me for the duration of my recovery. Summer was a lot of help and really fun to spend time with.

But that wasn't all the help I got, many friends as well jumped in and helped with meals, watching my kids for a morning or afternoon and just checking on me to make sure I was okay. Thanks everyone, I feel LOVED!

Sam is 5

Birthday central around here.....Sam has turned 5!

His birthday was a busy one. I was recovering from a surgery and had a helper here--(thank you Summer!!) We had soccer games in the morning and until just before his party but we were able to squeeze in a simple party themed around.....

LEGOS!

Sam has a passion for these things. He's quite a contemplative kid and often needs some quiet time to be with himself, we've found that Legos are a really good thing for him. So of course we themed the party around them!

First off, Dad was wonderful enough to let Sam have his party on his Birthday--(thanks Dad!) Sam invited 5 friends, a couple from school and a few from church and soccer team buddies.

When the friends entered we had them play a guessing game to see how many legos were in the jar. In retrospect it probably wasn't the best activity for pre-kindergartners but we made it not a competitive thing and all counted them out together. I think I fit 11 of the larger legos into this jar.

Then, because Sam has 2 cool grandpas and one of them is an artist, we enlisted his help in creating this one of a kind lego man which we displayed proudly on our back wall. We cut out hats in the correct half dome shape and played pin the hat on the lego man! We'd also made smaller versions of this sheet and used it as a coloring page as a time filler as the guests arrived--too cool!!

Then I think the coolest thing we did was we gave them all car bases made of legos and challenged them to make a car which we then "raced" down a make shift ramp Super-Dad Stephen created in our Dining Room. This was SUPER-fun, the boys had a really good time with it! Here are some of the boys with their car creations:It was a really fun party--I think Sam had a great time and I am about all birthdayed out!

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!!

My "baby" has turned 7!

What a fun day it was for her!! I found someone to watch my younger 2 kids and dashed off to my friend Dee Dee's cake shop for a special cupcake and then to Chick-fil-a for a lunch treat. The manager at Chick-fil-a found out it was your birthday and then sent me to her school with a new stuffed cow with a fireman suit on. Then, because it was her birthday I arranged to stay a bit after lunch and read a story to her class. Her latest favorite book is lately is this really cute story called "Stephanies Ponytail". And of course I donned my hair in a funny looking ponytail just for the occasion. The kids REALLY enjoyed it!

Then later that evening we got talked into having a "simple" birthday celebration with a few friends. We decided to take advantage of the new "movie room" we have upstairs and got a Strawberry Shortcake movie to watch. We ate pizza for dinner, colored a strawberry shortcake picture, and had what else--strawberry shortcakes for dessert. It was fun!

Kaitlyn has had a full year, she's lost a bunch of teeth, learned how to ride her bike without training wheels has started taking piano lessons and is playing soccer. She is bright and loves to read. She loves school and loves to play with her siblings. She is passionate and emotional and a total girl. She stretches me to be a better mom and to develop patience. I am so grateful for who I am because she is in my life! I love you Kaitlyn!! Happy Birthday my sweetheart!

My husband calls me babe....

So the other morning we were reading the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon during family scripture study. This is pretty deep stuff and so when Stephen was helping Sam to read his verse it referred to "babes". Sam's eyes lighted up and he said, "I know what that means! MOMMIES!!!"

And a couple weeks ago I took the kids to Chick-fil-a for lunch (during spring break) and Kaitlyn was noticing the sign that said they were closed on Sundays, she asked why and I explained that it was because they were a Christian owned company and like us they keep the Sabbath Day holy and choose not to make their employees work. THEN later on she was telling me how much she liked their food. I told her I really preferred Chick-fil-a over MacDonalds food "any day of the week!" She was quick to reply, "Except for Sundays Mom!" Nothing gets past her!!

And Lindsey--well she's just a crack up a minute, but I love listening to her recite the scripture that it's her turn to read in morning scripture study. She doesn't pronounce her "r's" and she struggles properly pronouncing any sound made with the front of her mouth (dr, tr, ch, j) so listening to her talk takes a bit of time to get used to. But the latest thing she says a lot is calling me "silly" when I don't do something quite how she thinks it should be done. It was cute at first but it's starting to get old!