INTERMISSION.............


Due to internet connection problems I am unable to post things very regularly. As soon as the problem is fixed I will continue blogging. It is summer and Water World season has began so I will need to get things going to keep you all updated. Love you all...

Emily

IMPORTANT!!



Protect yourself! Check out this website......http://www.license.shorturl.com/

































J/J

http://http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

TRY THIS....

Earth Day!

Take this interesting quiz........


http://http://myfootprint.org/

If you want my "planets" Leave a remark and I will think about it.

Catch up Time Again..........

Ok, I am completely failing at keeping up to date on my blogging. I am playing catch up. Since March Madness we have done a lot of celebrating. We celebrated....

Martha and Cami's visit during our Spring Break- It was so great to see them. We miss them and Jayla and Cami loved hanging out with another girl and playing full-on girly stuff together.

Jakes 1st birthday (march23)- Loved the chocolate cake! I will get pics posted ASAP. I can't believe that our baby is growing so big. He walks and tries to run after the "others". He watches the kids jump on the trampoline and now "jumps" thinking everything is bouncy.

Tanners Big 8 year old B-day(march 28)- Briefly posted about this big event. The baptism itself was great. There were 6 baptisms and all were boys. It moved a long really well. We hit 2 birds with one stone by Robby (Tanner's cousin)coming to Brighton to be baptized at the same time.

My 31st birthday(april 4)- Dan was gone, but sent me flowers in his absence. They are beautiful (not totally dead, yet). He could never know how much that meant to me. I didn't want to cook so I took the kids to Wendy's. I don't ever like to cook when Dan is gone, because the kids are happy with grilled cheese and "red" soup. They wanted me to take them to Lone Star. Ya right, Me alone with 4 kids under 8. I did buy myself some new shoes and a new pair of shorts (trying to have a decent wardrobe when I go to Mexico, instead of sweats and lame T-shirts that I live in.)That was a feat in itself, since those that know me know I HATE to by myself anything. I have issues in my older age. That I'm sure will be blogged later. I am beginning to think I am MENTAL.

My life has now just taken another busy detour. We now have Cub Scouts and baseball to fit in our already tight schedule. I am turning into a scheduling Nazi. Nothing can be thrown into the mix without ample notice. I am more of a perfectionist as I get older.
IE: I spent 3 hours cleaning the unfinished basement. I threw toys away and couldn't leave it at putting things back in their rightful places. I had to sweep and vacuum the cement floor! I don't know what gets over me.

The Pictures below are Raenie's idea from her blog.I loved theirs so thought I would see what our family pictures produced.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

2 upset children in 2 days

The last 2 days have had some drama in them. Yesterday Jayla got her name "moved down" on the board. I found out from a little boy who is always looking for ways to upset her. He said that she had gotten her named moved down and since it was from him I said "ya, right. Jayla did not get her named moved down. Stop trying to tease her." She immediately started a melt down. I tried to console her and tell her I didn't believe him, but the break-down continued. I sat there for a minute...... and then I said "You really did get your named moved down?!"

"Yes" she said between sobs. I tried to make out what had happened between the hyperventilating. The last thing she said was "...then Mrs. Martinez moved my name down. My stomach hurt really bad then. I wanted to throw-up" So basically her story was that her and her friends were whirling their sweatshirts around. She, unfortunately, had a jacket with a zipper. She then accidentally hit a kid in the head. This was her first "felony", and hasn't had the chance to become a hardened criminal yet. So you can see why her sensibilities were so tragically hurt. I let her know that she was not in trouble with me (which her little snitch said she would be) as long as she said she was sorry to the wounded child and not swing her jacket around any more.

Then, today while I was volunteering at school and specifically in Tanners class tragedy struck again. I was grading papers when I saw Tanner return from the bathroom rather quickly. My ears perked up when I heard him try to tell his teacher that there was a kid in the bathroom teasing him. She didn't really respond, due to 5 other children vying for her attention. He told her again, this time she looked at me and said "well, your mom is here. Take her to go check it out." Gladly I did. As I walked down the hall I tried to squelch the momma bear inside me, who just wanted to rip the kids chest open and stop on his heart. I told Tanner to go ahead to the bathroom and I would wait in the hall. If the kid was still in there to come out and tell me. As soon as Tanner walked in I could here him saying "No, it wasn't me!"

The story is this....the first time Tanner went to the bathroom this 3rd grader came in. After Tanner had done his "business" . There was a toilet there that was clogged with toilet paper. The kid accused him of doing this. Tanner said it wasn't him and then giggled. The kid continued to pressure Tanner and say that it was him, and "what's so funny. You got a problem?! " So , on and on it continued until Tanner came back to class .

Now, here's where I am standing outside the boys bathroom waiting for this punk. After Tanner stated his innocence again, he came out. I told Tanner to go back to class and I would handle it. The "idiot" child came out and spotted me (not hard, I was blocking the entrance). "Do you have a problem with the kid that just came out of here?" I said. He shook his head. "Why are you giving him a hard time?" "I don't know" was his answer. As we stood there and stared at each other, he began to talk. Stating the story above except trying not to sound like he was being a bully. "I just thought it was him that used that much toilet paper." My reply was this, still trying to remember I was at a school and not in nature..." Listen kid. The next time someone tells you it wasn't them, you stop right there and take their word. The next time you decide to push around that kid, I will hunt you down!" Not once did I tell the crap head that the kid he decided to target was my own.

Come to find out that stupid 3rd grader bullies lots of children. Hopefully after today he will think twice about it. Tanner had strict instructions to inform me if he ever remotely threatens Tanner again.

So, far that is the end of our drama.

Tomarrow Dan comes home!!! YA!!!!!!!!

-Coming Clean-

So I am a pretty private person, so this will be pretty hard. I have decided to use this blog more as a journal rather than just sort of general info about the goings on in the Lewis home. I will try to be more honest about the "real" things in my life.

This comes about as sort of being a voyeur to other peoples blogs, not really participating, but being glad to know that other people struggle in life and that not everyone has it "together" like I think.

Their blogs has made me more comfortable in my own daily struggles of life and children so I thought I might pay-it-forward. Hopefully I don't burst any one's bubble who thinks my life is sooo pulled together. ;)

So Dan is out of town. He left yesterday and will be back on Thurs. evening, and then will leave again early Fri.to Vail and be home again late that night. So basically he is gone the whole week. Right now he is in Santa Barbara at a conference for Farmers. This is a yearly thing, but why they have to choose it to be the week of my birthday who knows. That is why Jacob was induced last year so that Dan wouldn't miss his #4 child's birth. I always feel bad when he leaves because he hates being gone from us for any length of time. I miss him as well except I still have the daily grind of life to help keep my mind off it a little. Since the beginning of the year he has been gone alot. First a few days in Vegas, then Kansas City , Moab, Sacramento (that was with me, though), Santa Barbara and then in a month to Cancun ( at least I get to go there too). So I know that I don't have it as bad as some people. But, it still sucks when he leaves. The kids miss him tremendously, and want to call him for EVERYTHING he seems to be missing out on in their minds. At least he will be home on Sat. Just in time for Tanner's baptism.

Tanner is such a young man in training. Last Wed. the 28th was his birthday. We told him that we would take him shopping for a suit, so we/ I did. We found one at Sears. He also found a tie. A REAL tie, not a clip on. He begged me over and over to buy it for him. He thinks that clip-ons are for little boys. I mean he IS 8yrs old. I gave in. That night was his interview with the bishop for baptism. I told him to go put something nice on. He came down stairs with his suit and tie on. It was so grown up of him. He had tried to tie the tie himself. I was so proud of him. After helping him fix a few things, we got in the car. I had the radio on and he said "Mom will you please change the music to church music. I am in a suit and need to listen to something "good" ". WOW!

MARCH MADNESS- BABY!

Here is the summary.....

Thurs March 15- From the airport we went straight to Arco Arena and started watching basketball. All the games went pretty much like this.... At the beginning it was exciting. We thought that we would witness a great upset, but by the end the underdog lost, most by blowout. There were 4 games that day and yes I watched all of them. I think Dan was surprised that I had lasted, but I like basketball especially in person when there aren't child interruptions or housework to make me feel guilty watching it on T.V. The day was great.


Friday March 16- No basketball. It was a day of "firsts" for me. First time eating at In & Out Burger, and first time visiting San Francisco. I was not let down by the infamous burger joint or San Fran. Pics below......

Golden Gate Bridge.

The bay. Alcatraz is the island behind the light house.

Dan and I of course.

San Francisco, looking off of the parking garage.

Last but not least, Ghirardelli Square. MMMM chocolate!

We took an hour long bus tour around the city with Bob, Renae and Ivan. It is such a cool city. I can see why people love it. It was a beautiful day, temp 68; not too cold, not too hot! Of course since we were so close to the ocean, we had fresh crab cakes and such. DELICIOUS!

Sat. March 17- Back to basketball.
We didn't get Dan or Ivan here (I think they were getting food. Shocker?!) Actually Dan was probably getting me food.

0 to 78? No, I don't know what happened when I took this pic. The final score was 74 to 78. This game was pretty boring until the last 5 min. Then hold on to your seats....... the game ends up going into double OT! It made up for the first 3/4 of the game. GO V.D.....uuhh I mean Van. D.!



Now, ESPN toted this game to be the best game of the night. I disagree I think the best game was Ohio St. and Xavier. I watched that on T.V., but I saw this one in person. Again, not much to talk about until the last part of the 2nd half. Up until then it was more fun watching the UCLA Pole Dancers, uh, cheerleaders make fools of themselves.

All-in-All we had a great time watching basketball, enjoying a vacation from the kids and best of all spending quality time with my great Hubby.

Thanks to the Lewis' for the tickets and providing such a great excuse to get away.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAYLA- #6!

Just a little about my baby girl....... Jayla was born on Feb. 25, 2001 at 6:09 PM. She was 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 5/8 inches long. I went into labor on Feb. 24 in the late afternoon (after my baby shower). I did it to myself because I was tired of being prego. I made Dan go with me to Flat Irons Mall and walk the entire thing. No really I walked into every single store, all the way to the back of the store and out again. I got my contractions down to 2 min. and went to the hospital which was just down the street from the mall. They checked me in and then gave me morphine so I could sleep. It worked I slept, but it also stopped the contractions. Needless to say I was not happy and refused for them to send me home. They called my Dr. and told him that I was determined to have a baby today. I didn't mention that I was dilated to a 3 and had been for 2 weeks. He got to the hospital and was going to put me on pitocin but changed his mind and said he would try the cervical gel first. Within 5 minutes after the gel application I was back to having full on contractions again. In 30 minutes I had the epidural and about 20 minutes after that I felt I had to push. the nurse didn't believe me until I told Dan to go get her because something was coming and I wasn't pushing. The nurse came and asked it she could go get some other nurses, because I was delivering the bag of water without it ever popping. Dan saw it , but I won't give detail about what he said it looked like. So about 5 other nurses came in, they said they had read about thins happening but had never seen it before. After the "freak" show, the nurse broke my water and called the Dr. he got there in time to throw on gloves and an apron over his soccer uniform and then there was Jayla. She was so beautiful! She had the signature pink hair that all my kids have had. She was such a great and easy baby. She has always been a great sleeper, she was a wonderful nursing baby by spanning her feedings 3-4 hrs apart. She was always talking whether we could understand her or not.

We love having her as part of our family. I am glad I have at least one girl, but especially happy that it is her!

O-R-E-O AND SWIFFER?!

What a surprise that Jake would like oreos, right!? You can't have a childhood with out pictures of messy eating. But clean up is easy thanks to my new found favorite tool..........the Swiffer Sweeper-Vac http://www.swiffer.com. Have any of you tried this niffty thing? I was a little sceptical at first, but WOW! I didn't think it could clean up the crumbs and things left behind by 4 children who eat like beavers leaving splinters of food instead of wood (well maybe that too sometimes). I don't think I will ever use a broom again. It cleans like a champ without leaving behind the tiny little dust particles and whatever else. I was so excited too because in the bathroom it cleans/ vacuums up all the hair left by us girls (boys too, maybe). I am done sounding like a commercial now. Tell me what your "favorites" are. I am always looking for great things to ease the stress in my life.

Here's a few more pics of my boys playing Star Wars before church. Nothing brings the spirit like playing like you have the force and then killing eachother......

I have change the look of my blog in honor of St. Valentines Day!! So ............

Happy Valentines Day to EVERYONE!!!

I am the room mom for Tanner's class. The school decided to have the class valentine parties on Fri. Feb. 9. So I put together a nice little shin-dig. There is a little girl in his class that is diabetic and I always feel bad for her because she usually has to decline the treats at these things cause of the excessive sugar. So keeping her in mind I made the cupid cups from http://www.kraftfoods.com using sugar-free jello. When the kids saw them they asked what they were and I told them it was jello and specifically told Emma that it was sugar-free and that I hoped she would enjoy it. She looked at me with a great big smile and said " Wow, thank you Mrs. Lewis. I have never had homemade jello before!" She obviously isn't Mormon. I had a great laugh at that.

I found these Fung Shui ideas for Valentines Day. I probably wont try them but if you do let me know if they work. OK, I might try the chimes though. Dan will love feeling like he is outdoors doing what nature intended.

http://www.indobase.com/holidays/valentines-day/valentine-day-tips/fengshui-love.html

WHO ARE THESE HOTTIES...........

(Oct. 2002)

Remember the days of pre-children, pre-marriage and less children. But would we really change those things now?!

This is going to be my yearly letter because I am too lame to go make up cards. If you don't like it, too bad :).

The first milestone is that we actually got our family pictures taken! It has been about three years since our last one. So 2 kids later we finally got it together, and also found a great photographer. I don't like getting pictures because they look too posed most of the time, but I think you will see that you can definitely pick up on our personalities.

Parents first........ We are loving being back up here in Brighton again ( it's been about a year). It definitely feels like home here. We have all our friends and continue to meet new ones. I haven't really done anything that exciting this year other than giving birth to #4. I stay busy by attacking the never ending pile of laundry and being the taxi driver for our kids and sometimes their friends. Dan is still working for Farmers Insurance as a "Life Marketing Manager". It fulfills all his needs. He gets to be social and not be tied down to a desk in a "cubical" city. He just got a new Ford 500 for his company car. I will miss the Maroon Impala with the South Dakota plates. It was always easy to spot. To date ,the worst part of his job would probably be the Property and Casualty licensing test he just had to take. Not to relive the nightmare for him, he passed and will never have to take it again! Besides staying busy with work, he also keeps busy with the YM in our ward. He took them snowboarding and skiing this last weekend. All the boys came home with minimal injury... It was a success!

Good 'ol Tanner!! He has been a busy boy this past year. If you look back at the past blogs you'll know why. Since Tanner was busy that made the rest of us busy..... taking him to practices everywhere. Between baseball, football and now basketball he is having a great time. I think he had the most fun playing football because Dan got to help coach. Dan has taken him to a couple Bronco games and Nuggets games. He got to go to one of the Nuggets games that started at 8:00 PM. He came home and the first thing he said was " Dad did something you would never do...He let me have CAFFEINE!" and then went to bed. He is a happy, good natured kid. He is very helpful around the house when he isn't zoned out out playing PSP or the playstation2. He is doing well in school and loves 2nd grade.

Jayla, our little princess, is just that. She too has been a busy little thing. She learned how to swim under the water at the many times we were at Water World (again look at the past blogs). She is loving gymnastics and dance with Aunt Karla. She did a little cheer stint at the High School, that was a big highlight for her. She loves being in kindergarten, doing homework and thinking she is learning Spanish. She is in a class with about 5 kids who hardly speak any English. It cracks me up when I drop her off at school; She gets out of the car..."Hola, Jairo! Hola, Graciella! Hola, Bryan!" You get the idea. She really has learned a few words in Spanish. The teacher though speaks only English in class and really doesn't know any Spanish either. At home she is a great help. She too is such a good natured person and really just wants to help everyone. She also got to go on a "date" with dad to one of the nuggets games. She actually paid attention and got into the game. Her favorite thing though was the cheerleaders and the dancers.

Lets just say this is Zack's mug shot. He is what really keeps all of our lives full of action. He is the busiest one of the four with the most attitude. He epitomizes opposites. He is so loving and happy one minute but watch out for the tornado of attitude the next. I think he has 2 personalities. When he wakes up in the morning or after a nap we ask him if he is a happy Zack or angry Zack. Here is angry Zack.........

He works really hard at the eyebrows. He is a loving brother, especially to his little one. I wouldn't ask for him to be any different. He does a good job at being toted around everywhere and he is good at keeping up with the older ones in their playing around.

What can I say about this one? Just look at him! We aren't proud or anything of our children. Jake is such a good baby. He is so cheerful and happy. Like Zack he packs around very good. He is crawling everywhere and loves to have his siblings pay attention to him. He loves to eat, and be included in everything. He knows that cars are the thing to play with, along with anything he can reach. He has a fond love of everything that plugs into an outlet. When Dan or I have a difficult day we just look at him and he smiles and you can't help but smile back.

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and hope that you're all doing well. We look forward to another crazy, but fulfilling year.