Friday, April 10, 2009

Blessed

We've joked that poor Cbug could not have had worse timing for his birth. I mean, really, if he HAD to come 3 weeks early couldn't he have just come about 3 days earlier than he did? 3 days earlier would have meant some really important things for him...like a nice tax deduction as well as helping us further benefit from the tax stimulus plan. See what I mean? Those 3 days really cost us.

Our church does an amazing baby blessing once a year for all the babies born during the previous calendar year. So, even though Cbug was 3-months-old at the time the 2007 babies were celebrated, he just went to the blessing as a spectator and had to wait until this April to celebrate with the other 2008 babies. See what those 3 days cost you, dude?


Seriously, though, his birth could not have been better timed. Being born when he was meant so much GOOD for us. Most of my family "just happened" to be in town when he made his grand appearance and I wouldn't trade that for any amount of tax dollars. Also, by waiting until this year's blessing time he got to celebrate with some of our favorite 2008 babies.


This time is exactly as it is is named...a blessing. It is a blessing for the babies as they feel the warm hands of our Shepherds laid upon their tiny heads, hands and feet. It is something that the Momma's and the Daddy's treasure as they take a few moments to pray for their sweet little ones surrounded by a body of believers. And it is a blessing for our whole church family as we stand and remember what we are called to do- hold each other before the throne from the moment of birth through the moment we meet our Saviour. I truly love this night each year but of course it is especially sweet when I have a baby of my own being blessed and committed to the Lord's service.

This was a special time of prayer with an elder and his wife that are so special to our family. I'm not joking when I say that he had some sort of God-ordained touch on Cbug's leg while he prayed. I have never seen our little man sit so still and listen. That in itself was so moving to me. KJ sat very still and listened, too, but of course he had been bribed with cookies.

Ok, so maybe the whole night was not sappy sweet (if this family photo is any indication). It is always a crazy adventure to wrestle two little boys into any situation like this. If you notice a little pregnancy glow, just attribute it to the fact that I was a sweaty mess by the time this party was over (a party that ended without anyone blowing out any candles, much to KJ's chagrin)!


Be blessed!
ABL

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Capturing moments

Random side note: This is post #100 for DRRF. I think it is very fitting that the 100th post is doing exactly what this blog was created to do- capturing family moments.

We had the best time on our camping trip this weekend. I’m not sure you can technically call it camping since we put our tent up right next to a ranch house with full kitchen and bathrooms. To KJ, though, we slept in a tent and we were CAMPING.

This weekend was one of those times that I wish would last forever. One of those family memories that I just want to lock away and remember. Some memories are important because they involve significant life events, others are important just because of who you shared them with. While the weekend was not necessarily a significant life event, as the boys are growing and changing I love times when we can just be together as a family. It is so good to be away from all of the distractions of life and watch their little personalities develop. We were so blessed to be able to get away, relax with good friends and make some fun memories.

Weekend memories:
Unplugging from phones, computers, tv, etc

The “Lewis Villa” (our tent was HUGE)

Cbug’s new word “doggie” (he chased and chased those poor dogs)
Riding 4-wheelers Brothers wrestling and laughing
Digging in the sand
Throwing rocks in the creek


KJ's excitement over his own sleeping bag

Watching my friends love on my boys

Enjoying how much our boys love their Daddy

Communion

Laughing around the table at meal time

KJ and Cbug beginning their life-long friendship with GCH


S’mores

Wildflowers

Campfires

Wagon rides


Kite flying

Sunset




Happy 100, DRRF!


ABL

Monday, March 23, 2009

House Divided

Two words....MARCH MADNESS. Gotta love it.



The Duke vs Texas game was an especially exciting one for our family as we have loyalties on both sides. As evidenced by the photos, we will let our boys wait until they are old enough to make the decision for themselves before we influence them. In the meantime, KJ can say "Go Duke" while holding up his Texas Long horns hand-sign. Poor kids may need counseling someday to survive this "holiday" at our house.
Time will tell who will win the family challenge this year! I can't wait until the boys can do their own brackets!!
ABL

Sunday, March 15, 2009

News FLASH...

This just in...
C-bug takes steps in public! That's right folks, our 14-month-old has FINALLY decided to start walking. For a while he would only walk when he thought no one was looking, but now he is very proud of himself. He giggles and chatters while he walks just to be sure that the world KNOWS just how amazing he is. He cracks me up! Check out my facebook for a link to some stinkin' cute video footage.

In other important news, KJ has a new knock knock joke (that he made up)...
KNOCK KNOCK
who's there?
BATS
bats who?
BATS ARE GOING TO EAT YOU UP

Where does he come up with this stuff? If your child is in his class at church, and your child happens to be having nightmares about bats, I apologize! He's kind of into bats right now and I have NO IDEA where it comes from. GROSS.

I know, right? Serious news around the Lewis house. Aren't you glad you took time to read this one?
ABL

Friday, March 13, 2009

Road Trip

My AMAZING friend Tara offered to drive with me to see my family last week. We may be crazy for thinking it was a fun idea to load up 4 kids under 3 into a suburban and drive for 12+ hours each way...but we all came back friends and can already laugh about it all. We did learn a very valuable lesson, though, on "what not to EVER say on a roadtrip with your children". I thought, for your sake, I would share these with you so that you don't make the same mistake we did.

1) Never say "Aren't you amazed at how great our kids are? So flexible, so laid back, we are so blessed" because you can guarantee that approximately 46 seconds after you utter those words, a complete and total melt-down will occur

2) Never say "Can you believe we are making such great time? We are right on schedule. I'm so impressed with us" because you can guarantee that at the next major city there will be a huge accident, shutting down the two major interstates and adding 2 hours to your trip.

3) Never say "Well, if we had to get stuck in traffic at least we are amazing navigators and found this incredible detour" because you can guarantee that your incredible detour road will merely cross over the interstate you were trying to get back to and will have exactly ZERO access to such interstate...adding yet another 30 minutes to your trip.

4) Never say "I'm positive we can make it 30 more minutes until the next town before we get gas. The car would have to be leaking gas to finish a 1/4 tank before then" because you can guarantee that the next time you stop you will have a scare where someone tells you that you car actually IS leaking gas (check out Tara's blog for an amazing indicator of the IQ levels we experienced at one McDonald's).

Yep, that about sums it up. We spent the rest of the drive just shaking our heads and saying "don't say it, just DON'T SAY IT".

Tara has some adorable pictures of our munchkins on the trip on her blog as well. Too bad we don't have a video documentary of the actual car time. It was AMAZING.

Thanks again, Tara. It was a blast!!
ABL

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Growing





The same only bigger...





















...our family is growing and so is our ride!
















Sweet baby sister is so high maintenance that she required a new vehicle (before she even arrived)! Not that I mind...owning a minivan is a dream come true for me. As excited as I was, though, to bring home the new wheels, there may or may not have been a few tears shed over leaving the Camry behind. I've had the car long enough that we pulled these out from under the seat before we left the car at the dealership.The Camry was the first car I purchased on my own, the car that I loaded up to move to Texas, the car I drove to work at my very first "real job", the first car I put Texas license plates on and the car that we washed in our wedding attire. While it is silly to "love" an inanimate object, I sure do love all of the memories that were packed in that little vehicle. So, it won't come as a surprise to you that I made the car salesperson pose for the below pictures.
Goodbye, Camry! You were an amazing car. (Even the salesperson could sense my mixed-emotions and put his arm around me as I handed over the Camry keys...how funny is that!)


Hello, Sienna, and the memories still to be made. KJ for one already thinks this car is the coolest thing ever and just likes to go for ride in it. A child after my own heart!


So, we're moving on to bigger and better things around here. Anybody need the Annie soundtrack on cassette tape?

ABL

Monday, March 9, 2009

To my FAVORITE...

Babe,
I'm so thankful that from your earliest days
the Lord was preparing you





to be an amazing husband




and the best Daddy.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY (a day late)!!

We all love you so much,
ABL, KJ and Cbug