FeBRUarY NEwS

February 2013 from Nana


Will power!  Is that what it takes to do this?   The month is flying by and I am just painfully forcing myself to sit down tonight.  Wow!  It shouldn't be this hard.  I cannot go to bed until I am finished.  
I do know it will get easier and easier.....right?

Britt....you are this month's poster child.  You have done so well.  Thanks for doing such a great, great job and in a timely manner.  I'll have to send you a really fun treat.  Maybe someone else will want to be FIRST next month. I can read and reread your blog every day, Britt,  and never get tired of the pictures or expressions.  I feel like I'm right with you!!!  Thanks so much.

Well, I just returned from Scouts.  Those little guys are getting more and more fun.  Can you believe I taught them about Electricity tonight?  We put together a circuit and demonstrated how a light switch works.  Since I just repaired my own doorbell, I felt quite qualified.  They are so smart and seem to know everything I'm going to say before I say it.  They also had to do an architectural drawing of their houses on graph paper.  It made me think of Jer and his interest in drafting.    How did you learn to do that?  It was so hard and we weren't even drawing to scale.   Wonder if you will be designing your own home someday???

Last week we made catapults.  It's amazing what you can do with a box, a few rubber bands, piece of tape and a toothpick.  They really worked and we divided up into sides and had a  marshmallow war.  Of course, they loved that.  They are cute boys and each has quite a story to tell.  

Well, I'm at it again.  Obviously I went to bed with my attempt failed.  I wouldn't have slept for a week, but I'm back at it again.  

February was such a FUN month.  Here are my highlights, which spill into March a little.  I know I'll get this figured out eventually.  In the mean time....just follow Britt's example.  

I enjoyed a wonderful weekend with the Clements girls in Salt Lake.  It was a frightening trip there through a treacherous snow storm, but well worth the journey.   Sunday morning we traveled to the Tabernacle for Music and The Spoken Word.  It was indescribable!  Lloyd Newel was right beside us along with Aunt Dianna's father who serves as his escort.  Who would think that he stands in the balcony with his back to the organ to make his presentation?  I hope we can do this as a family somday.
Then, on Sunday afternoon, we made pasta and had a fabulous Italian dinner.  It was so fun.

 VALENTINE'S DAY was spectacular!!!  I received a darling invitation in the mail from the Stower's inviting me to a night of delicious dining and pampering.  I was met at the door by 3 precious girls dressed in red and they whooshed me downstairs where I reclined on the big couch and had my shoulders and feet rubbed while we watched a clip on The Piano Guys.  Wow!  Did that feel good.  Then we went upstairs and had a delicious salmon dinner.  I loved being spoiled.

Can you just see the love in those eyes.  Doesn't she look happy holding a BOY?

I must put in a few pics from Lauren's baptism and birthday.  These are just a few highlights for me, and I know that Casha will share in much more detail.  

We enjoyed a fun Birthday Lunch at Costa Vidas - Celebrating the Big #8

I surely enjoy my little piano student.   She's doing great!



A sweet moment for Kate and Kole after Lauren's baptism....  I just love to see these little ones enjoying each other so much!!!



When the crowd left, Trent and Jen set up their Bounce House right in the living room.  The kids had a blast!

 

Haillie performed for us and brought the house down with her Taylor Swift song.  Her talents are exploding and we ALL loved it!!!!

Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda surprised us with the most incredible experience.  The girls enjoyed an afternoon at the BALLET........CINDERELLA!!!!! 

We had such a wonderful time.  It was amazing!!!   We had lunch at a wonderful restaurant, the Blue Lemon, in City Creek, enjoyed walking through temple square and ALL LOVED the ballet.  I couldn't believe how enthralled the little girls were.  Haillie is inspired to want to take ballet lessons now and Taryn, Macy and Lauren were on the edge of their seats every minute.

Taryn was so darling to ask "when will they talk, Nana?"  Thank you soooo much, Uncle Jeremy.  It was the memory of a life time.



 
One of the tender memories of the month, was

the shocking illness of our niece and cousin, Danielle.  I know she is grateful for ALL of the sweet love and support offered in her behalf by our family throughout this ordeal.  Thank you for your phone calls, visits, cards, pictures, cookies, concern and espeically heartfelt prayers.  It is difficult to imagine spending a month in the hospital in such a fragile condition.  So happy she is finally at home again.

Last but not least, I must share a happy experience I had as I listened to a wonderful book while driving back and forth to Salt Lake City.  I am LOVING my Library Card and access to so many great movies, books and CD's.  Why haven't I discovered this sooner?  I enjoyed learning about the Americans who braved rough voyages to Europe in the mid 1800's and beyond to study the arts, medicine, architecture, law, etc. so that they could bring new information, ideas, expertise and talent back to enlighten the New World.   It was fun to see history unfolding on both sides of the world. Fascinating!!!  I really do love to learn and I have discovered a great new way to do it.

I am so sorry to be slow this month.  I don't know why, but I have struggled so to figure this out.  I can't tell you the HOURS I've spent and the frustration I've felt.  Bless Nate's BIG heart.  He came to my rescue last night and taught me some better skills.  I'm actually glad that it is time to do a Blog entry again in just another week or so.  Perhaps I will remember how.  I THINK I have it!!!!

I am so grateful for each of you.  I treasure the times we have together and the sweet contacts we are able to make now and then.  We have been through so many changes lately and have more to come.   I know life is hard work, but you are all trying so hard and doing those things you feel inspired to do.  I am so very proud of you.  There is no question.....you are ALL my greatest joy!!!!

Let's keep pondering a family scripture.  Perhaps we can decide on one next month.  SPRING IS COMING!!!!   YEAH!!!!          Hugs to you!!!  

 

Better Late Than Never.

LEWIS FAMILY

FEBRUARY 2013

Did the month of February fly by as quickly for you all as it did for us? Despite the speed at which it passed, it was a wonderful month full of fun and LOVE! We began the month with a fun visit to Landon and Britt’s home in Fresno. It was on Superbowl Sunday, which provided the perfect event to enjoy burgers and hot dogs on Landon’s new grill. The kids had so much fun together. Landon and Britt’s backyard was like a mini-Disneyland for the kids with their big slide, playhouse, trampoline and huge patio to run and ride bikes on. They had a ball. Sailor was so sweet to share all of her toys, and baby Riggs had that big, sweet smile on his face practically the whole time we were there. It was a great day! Hard to think that our time with them here is short now.

Riggs being a good sport.

A cute moment captured at the end of the day. 

Since we’ve moved here to California, we’ve been keeping a running list of things we’d like to see and do while we’re here. It seems to be getting longer by the week as recommendations keep pouring in from friends and neighbors. With the weather right about perfect these days, I think we’ll be turning more of our Saturday’s into Super Saturday’s as we get out to explore. We crossed one of these places off our list in February by spending a day in Santa Cruz. Steve and Dianna have frequented this fun beach town with their family for years, and after hearing about how beautiful it was, we were very anxious to experience it, too.

We got there mid-morning and went straight to the beach at the Natural Bridges State Park. It was so beautiful! There was a sandy cove we played in for hours. The spectacular arch rock formation with waves crashing underneath provided a unique backdrop for us to enjoy. There were cliff shelves we could hike to with hidden tide pools that housed sea anemones, hermit crabs, and sea stars. It was so fun to explore! Despite it being fairly cool in the morning, we were able to stay warm enough with sweatshirts and with all the running we did (chasing birds, chasing the tide, flying the kite, throwing the football), that is until we could no longer keep the kids from wading further and further into the water. Jensen’s wet and raggedy jeans were transformed into shorts, and we let them all play until their teeth and bodies were chattering and shivering uncontrollably.

 

Jensen loved writing everyone's names in the sand.

Aside from the seagulls, we had the beach to ourselves most of the day.

Taking it all in.

Sea life.

After the beach, we dried off, changed our clothes and headed to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We had a yummy late lunch and enjoyed the games and rides on the pier. It was a perfect day and we all went home pooped. We’re excited for the next Super Saturday!

Definitely not Disneyland, but they still had fun.

Valentine’s Day was a special day in our home this year. We ate all things red and scrumptious, had special Valentine’s delivered throughout the day in the kids' own mailboxes and enjoyed lots of extra love and hugs. I’m grateful for special occasions like this that encourage us to express our love and gratitude to each other more than we might do on a daily basis. Jeremy and I love our children so much and are so grateful for the happiness and joy they bring into our home. We feel immensely blessed.

A few fun moments captured throughout the month. We sure LOVE these two and are so glad they LOVE each other so much, too.

This is how he plays.

This is how she plays.

This is how they play together.

Best friends.

We hope you all enjoyed the month of LOVE and know how much we LOVE you and count you among our greatest blessings. Until next month (or I guess next week now) ... Keep the Faith!

Love, The Lewis Family