... but you can't take the 'Ham out of the Lewis

Felix is growing!

2010-06-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am up early this morning and I decided to take the extra time to count my blessings. Our newest blessing is our little boy, Felix. For starters, he is an easy going, peaceful person with a ready smile and has very few complaints. He just recently started crawling, so my life has turned into a mad dash to make sure he doesn't have anything gross in his mouth!

Here are the things Felix has been enjoying this week:

* Smiling a lot
* Crawling all over the place (even on the concrete patio)
* Sampling globs of our food at meals. He seems to like cheese & beans the most so far. He eats whatever we're eating.
* Playing games with Theo & Penny. They love playing Peek-a-boo and also hiding him under a blanket and then watching him crawl out.
* Watching the Fifa Cup with Daddy (who wouldn't like this?)
* Chewing on anything papery (this is the hardest thing to keep him from doing)
* Having crazy chubby legs. I tried to put legwarmers on him (to protect his knees), but he was too chunky for them! Looks like I need to do some sewing!!

"Snapping"

2010-05-05T21:43:00.000-07:00

Penny and Theo like it when I snap along to the closing credits song of the Curious George cartoon. Here is Penny "snapping" and Theo dancing along.

Enjoy!

Proof pic of Penny

2010-04-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

Yup! She has about 150 chicken pox. It doesn't seem to be slowing her down at all.

Holla for Challah!

2010-04-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

The kids and I made this challah yesterday. It was really tasty with our roasted chicken, potatoes, and carrots. We enjoyed it again today with some vegetable soup and I even used it in a couple of egg casseroles I made for a church Easter brunch. I'm planning on trying it out as french toast tomorrow morning!

Chicken...

2010-03-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Pox!

All 3 of our kids have the chicken pox! It's a very exciting time at our house. I had hoped to get them over with before Theo started pre-K next year. Now Penny & Felix have theirs out of the way as well. So far, they haven't been a big deal at all. Penny has the most (about 50), Felix has lots (slightly less than Penny, maybe 40?), and Theo doesn't have many at all (10 max). They are sleepier and quieter than usual, but nothing substantial is bothering them yet. Penny & Felix already have several pox that have turned into blisters, but they don't seem annoyed at all. Here they are watching Maisy and having a snack (not a bad life, if you ask me).

Egg Hunt Pictures

2010-03-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

My mom sent these to me yesterday. Aren't they great! We clearly had a wonderful time playing with friends and hunting eggs last week.

#5

2010-03-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Felix can roll over!! He was laying on his stomach last night and I saw him rock, rock, turn his head, and roll over onto his back. He hasn't done it again since, but I know he will. He is getting so much stronger and more active. It is fun to see him grow!

We are excited to be celebrating Holy week here at our house. We've colored eggs, participated in a Palm Sunday parade, and we got a few new books today to read this week. Theo & Penny are so excited. I realized, we spend so much time talking about and reading about Christmas with our little ones, but not as much time teaching them about Easter. I want to make sure I show my family the beautiful story of Jesus' life and what it means to us. Most of all, I am excited to witness the new life and growth in my own home. The Lord is good...all the time. All the time....the Lord is good!

#4

2010-03-26T22:42:00.001-07:00

Fun egg hunt at church today. It was so great to see my mom and Sandy enjoying this special time with the kids. Andy had a 1/2 day, so we all went out for lunch before the grandmas headed home.

Pics once my mom & Sandy send me some!

#3

2010-03-26T22:40:00.001-07:00

So, we were supposed to go to the Burlington Children's museum with Theo's pre-school class yesterday. My mom & Sandy were going to meet us there and we were all really excited about it. On the way to school, Theo mentioned that his teeth hurt. I asked him what he meant and looked into the rearview mirror to see him puking. Yuck! I, of course, took him home and he was perfectly fine the rest of the day. Weird. The grandmas came over and we had a great day together with egg dying, pizza, and playing dominoes.

I'll post pictures once I get some from my mom!

Spring Post #2

2010-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Theo had a program at school last night to celebrate Easter. They sang some really cute songs (some that I sang myself as a child). He was really enjoying himself and it was so sweet to see him doing things independently of me and Andy. He really is growing up!

Enjoy!

Blog Goal for spring

2010-03-23T15:39:00.001-07:00

I am going to attempt to give you one interesting Lewis family blog post per day to celebrate Spring 2010.

Spring Post #1

Felix is becoming a mover! He is only 4 1/2 months old, but he has a definite interest in getting himself from place to place. While he can't actually move in the traditional sense, he does have ways of getting around. His new favorite trick is to wiggle himself from the middle of our living room to partway under our couch. It takes him 10 minutes to accomplish and it's really fun to watch (thought I should admit that he usually does it while I'm folding laundry in the bedroom or stirring dinner in the kitchen). Here he is after achieving his goal this afternoon.

Pre-school Sing-a-long

2009-12-15T20:16:00.000-08:00

We had a great time at the Catch the Son Christmas Sing-a-long this evening. It was low-key, simple and fun!

Enjoy!

I'm a Little Snowman

2009-12-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

I'm a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes up I shiver with fear
Soon I'll melt and disappear

Enjoy!!

Felix smiles

2009-12-15T14:30:00.000-08:00

This isn't the world's greatest picture, but Felix smiled today!! You may think that milestones are "run of the mill" around here, but there is nothing commonplace about seeing a little person smile at you out of genuine happiness. He and I have spent the last hour talking, cooing, singing and smiling together. I think I like this motherhood stuff.

A visit from Danny & Alycia

2009-11-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

Felix's 1st Bath

2009-11-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

Felix had his first bath last night. We figured we should wash him off since he was already a week old! We learned the hard way about newborn baths when Theo was a baby. We did what we thought we should. We washed Theo on a bath pad in the kitchen sink. He cried and cried and hated every minute of it! We realized a few weeks later that he didn't want his water lukewarm and he didn't want to be in shallow water. He wanted to be with me in the big tub in some hot water! So, when we had Penny, we decided to give her a bath with me in the tub to begin with. She really liked it! We did the same with Felix and he liked it, too. Andy took some really cute pictures of him enjoying a swim!!

Theo & Penny make Felix's 1st week muffins!

2009-11-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

When each of the kids are 1 week old, we spell their name in cupcakes. We had already consumed plenty of sweets, so I found an extemely low sugar recipe for carrot muffins on Allrecipes. They are really tasty and we don't have to feel bad about eating the the 60 mini muffins that we made! This started as a funny idea from my mother-in-law when Theo was a newborn and now it's turned into a time honored, Lewis family tradition!

Felix and family

2009-11-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from last weekend. Both of our families were here enjoying getting to know Felix and playing with Theo & Penny.

3 Babies

2009-11-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures of all 3 kids as we got ready to head home after each birth. Can you guess which child is which??

Felix is Here!

2009-11-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

I'm posting this a week after Felix's birth! We've been busy nursing, changing, snuggling, resting, and getting to know our new little boy. I hope you enjoy reading this story.

Felix's Birth Story

Felix Gordon Lewis
October 30, 2009
9:08AM
7 lbs. 12 oz.
20 inches

Andy is a teacher, so the worst part about waiting for the birth of a new baby is writing sub plans that may never be used. He wrote sub plans for Wednesday (10/28) and ended up being at work all day! My mom was coming into town on Wednesday afternoon, whether I was in labor or not. Theo's pre-school was having a field trip to the pumpkin patch on Thursday and she wanted to go along. I told Andy to stay at work a little later on Wednesday and work on any plans he wanted to. He only stayed a little bit late, but he was able to write detailed plans for both Thursday and Friday. My brain told me that the baby wasn't coming any time soon, but my subconscious must've known better. At 40 weeks, it was fairly inevitable that we would meet our little one before school on Monday!! Contractions started on Thursday, Oct. 29th at 4am. Andy had woken up in the night to take Theo to the bathroom and I thought I should get up and go too. When he came back to our room, I was leaning over our bed. He later told me that he immediately thought, “Contractions!!” when he saw me standing there (actually he ran into me. It was really dark in our room). I had been up for a couple of hours each night for most of the last week, but I got a full night of sleep on Tuesday. I was well-rested and ready to have this baby! We timed contractions for a couple of hours before calling Andy's boss and our midwife to let them know what was happening. Mom took Theo & Penny on the field trip and Andy and I headed over to Ann's (our midwife) house to be checked at our morning appt. I was dilated to 3 cm already!! Ann said things could kick into gear sometime that same day or it could still be awhile. We would have to wait and see. Andy already had the whole day off, so he and I spent the day contracting, walking, trying to rest, and getting pretty excited. My contractions were 4-6 minutes apart and were lasting for 1-1 ½ minutes. We knew the baby would be here sometime soon, so Andy's mom and my dad started driving up on Thursday afternoon. Andy's dad needed to go to work on Friday, so he said he'd come as soon as he could. Thursday evening was frustrating. I had already been contracting for a whole day and things weren't getting much more intense and I wasn't dilating much. Ann checked me again at 8:30pm and I was only dilated to 4 or maybe a tiny, tiny bit more. She said we had 2 options. 1) go home and try to get some rest and see where things were when we woke up. Or 2) break may water, try some herbs and nipple stimulation and get things going. I was hesitant to do anything. I didn't want to have any chance to blame myself (for having “messed with nature”) when things got intense. We decided to go home and rest. I was sure it was just a matter of hours before things would change. Unfortunately, I was ½ right and ½ wrong. We came home, went to bed around 11, and Andy went right to sleep. I slept for 3 minutes out of every 5 from 11pm until 3:30am. The contractions seemed more intense, but I was able to manage them silently, so I knew the real ones were definitely not here yet. Around 3am I started to get scared that my water would break at home, things would get intense, and we wouldn't be able to get to the Birth Center (it's only about 1 ½ miles from our house, but I wanted to get there). We called Ann and headed over there around 4am. My friend, Pavlina, was planning to photograph the birth, so I sent her a text and she met us there. We arrived, excited but tired, and Ann checked me again.....5 centimeters. I did my best to keep frustration at bay and get to work getting this baby out. We spent the next 3 ½ hours walking, laboring in the tub, talking, reading, and spending time together. The baby's heartbeat was strong and steady, so we kept at it and hoped things would happen soon. Around 7:30am, Ann suggested that we needed to do something to get things going. She suggested walking and/or breaking my water. I asked if we should walk and then break the water or break it first. She reminded me that we'd already walked around the neighborhood (in the blustery, cold, dark night) for about an hour without much change. Even though it kindof scared me, I agreed that we should break my water. I was tired and wanted desperately to meet this baby. She broke my water at 8am and I can't even describe how much it impacted the labor. Almost immediately I needed to vocalize to manage the contractions. They were fast, intense and obviously doing their job. Andy and I were really getting excited. The baby was coming......soon!! All of the pain, pressure, waiting, and wondering were almost over!! At some point, Ann asked if I felt like I wanted to try pushing with the contractions. She hadn't checked my dilation, but she knew from the way I was vocalizing and reacting that my body was ready to do its job. I quickly (just like my other 2 births) got up on my hands and knees and pushed. 1 push for his head.....another small push for his body and he was welcomed into the world right into his Daddy's hands. Shaking and amazed, Andy showed him to me and we saw that we had another son! Felix Gordon Lewis was here!! He was beautiful and amazing. Each tiny part of him was so soft and smooth. Our parents brought the kids to see him and Theo and Penny thoroughly loved meeting their new brother and checking out all of the aftermath of the birth. The bed was soaked, I was a mess, but I was ecstatic! Right after the kids got there, I threw up all of the food I had eaten right into a bowl. Felix was in my arms, Theo was on my left, and Penny was on my right. It was so strange to throw up and convince my little people that I was alright. I felt way better after everything was out. I was so blissfully happy from having given birth that nothing could steal that feeling from me. Our parents headed home with the big kids and we started packing up to drive home. This was the first time we had birthed a baby in the daylight. Theo was born at 10pm and Penny was born at 5am. We dressed Felix in the same outfit his brother and sister had worn home, tucked him into the carseat, and drove the 1 ½ miles to our house. It’s been a week since he was born and I still can’t believe he is here. He is generally calm, loves his siblings (and even tolerates them holding him several times a day), and eats & sleeps well. I am excited to see his personality continue to emerge, but I am not in a rush. I want to savor each stage and development and spend as much time as possible just enjoying where we’re at. Once again, I am amazed that God allows us the honor of being a part of His procreative process and that He makes it so transformative for us. I know He is making me more into the woman He wants me to be through my children. We are truly blessed! Welcome to the world, Felix.

Wow! What is that?

2009-10-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Andy did a henna tattoo on my belly last Saturday. It was fun for me and I was amazed at how creative he is (he always says he isn't artistic!). Enjoy this very amazing picture of my hugeness!

Fall Baking

2009-10-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

No baby here yet, so I've been doing some tasty Fall baking instead! I adapted these 2 muffins recipes this morning (didn't have all the right ingredients and didn't want to make a trip to the store!).

Make some yourself and enjoy!

Curry Chocolate Muffins

2 C. flour (I used whole wheat)
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 C. cocoa powder
1/2 C. sugar
3 eggs
1/4 C. oil
1 C. milk (or any other dairy-ish liquid)
1/2 C. chocolate chips (I used 70% cacao chocolate chips)

Mix all ingredients together in any order and scoop into regular size or mini muffin tins (makes 12 regular muffins....not sure how many mini muffins it makes). Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

White Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

4 eggs
2 C. sugar (I used 1 brown and 1 white)
1 15 oz. can of pumpkin
3 C. flour (I used whole wheat)
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. white chocolate chips

Beat eggs, then add sugar, pumpkin and oil. Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then add to the wet ingredients. Add the chocolate chips last. Makes 24 regular size muffins. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

The kids have had each of these muffins today and both recipes were given 2 thumbs up by my discriminating taste testers!!

Sleepless morning

2009-10-25T04:06:00.000-07:00

I woke up a few hours early this morning. I'm not sick, I'm not uncomfortable....just awake! I've taken some time to reflect on what I love about our life and to pray for friends. I could go back to sleep, but this time if becoming so precious and enjoyable. Maybe just another 1/2 hour.

Pray without ceasing

2009-10-22T18:25:00.001-07:00

I took these pictures of Theo sleeping last week. I thought it was too cute. It really gives a whole new mental image for the instruction to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

A Wonderful Man

2009-10-22T18:14:00.001-07:00

I am blessed. My husband is a man who takes great care to be loving, patient, and honest with me every day. As the birth of our 3rd baby rapidly approaches (any day now!), you would think he and I would become more and more anxious about what it will mean to be the parents of 3 children.....age 3 and under. The exact opposite is true. I am becoming more and more thrilled and can't wait for the whole, beautiful process to begin. I joked with Andy this evening that soon this baby wouldn't be coming between us anymore, at least not physically. He sweetly told me that he can't wait for this baby to really come between us and be with us. He really is a great man.

Night Hikin

2009-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

We went up to the lookout tower on campus at sunset last night. We hadn't intended for it to get so dark, so fast, but the kids took a late nap, so everything happened a little later than we'd planned. Theo & Penny loved walking on the trail, through the tunnel, and up all the stairs of the lookout. The view was very pretty and it was so nice to be outside.

Random Question for Penelope

2009-09-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

I took a video of myself trying to get Penny to talk. It's very, very contrived and staged, but it gives you a chance to hear her cute voice.

Theo's 1st Day of Pre-school

2009-09-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today was Theo's 1st day of pre-school. I got to bring snack and be the parent helper, so I had the opportunity to see him enjoying his new classroom first hand. We played, sang, listened, ate, climbed, and made new friends. He loved it and I know it is going to be a really fun experience for him. He and Penny posed for a picture by the front door and he even let me take a few pictures of him enjoying his after-school, chocolate chip cookies!

Feeding the goats

2009-09-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

Our friends, Ron & Judy, have a couple of goats. Theo and Penny would've stayed all day feeding them leaves, if we had let them. It was fun to see them walking up to such a strange animal so confidently and putting their hands right near their mouths! If you had asked me if Theo would have like that, I would've said no. I love seeing them grow and change!

Puppy Love

2009-09-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Everybody Party Now!

2009-08-29T20:47:00.001-07:00

Theo had a birthday party with his family and friends today. Here are a few highlights for those of you who couldn't make it. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the sunshine and all of the toys!

Theo is 3!

2009-08-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Theo's official 3rd birthday was yesterday! We are having his birthday party tomorrow, but yesterday was the real day we first became Mama and Daddy. We didn't have much planned for the day, so we thought we'd ask Theo what he wanted to do to celebrate. He chose playing "Happy Birthday" on the harp and riding his bike to Deals Only (our neighborhood, weird discount store) for a treat of his choice. He chose one of those cute popsicle forms that you fill with juice...it was 99 cents! After our trip to "Deals", we played in the yard with the new playhouse and fort some friends had passed on to us. I think Theo and Penny will happily play in that little house all day, every day for at least 2 or 3 months or until the rainy season starts. They love it! We made tuna salad for lunch and the kids and I headed to bed for a nice nap. After we woke up, Andy presented me with a birth day present (it's the mama who does all the work, so she deserves a present, right?) of a new camera! We had wanted a smaller camera for awhile and he found a fabulous deal. You're sure to get more blog posts now that I always have a camera in my pocket. In the late afternoon, Theo wanted to pick blackberries, so we walked across the street and picked several pounds. The kids loved eating the warm berries right off of the thorny vines and some even made it into our buckets! We ate dinner at a local BBQ place and did a little grocery shopping before heading home to get ready for bed. We even got to drive past the Bellingham Birth Center where the kids were born (it's only about a mile and a half from our house, so we see it a lot!). All in all, it was a wonderful day! I can't believe it was 3 years ago that we brought that tiny baby home.

Our 1st First Thursday

2009-06-06T09:29:00.001-07:00

Andy took Thursday off and we all headed to Seattle to enjoy a few free museums! Seattle has a program called First Thursdays where some museums are free on the 1st Thursday of the month each month. We were able to enjoy the Museum of History & Industry @ UW, Seattle Art Museum, and the EMP. MOHAI had lots of hands on things for the kids, SAM was a great place to talk about diferent pictures and what was happening in the scenes, and EMP had a Jim Henson exhibit complete with Bert & Ernie and an opportunity for the kids to do some puppeteering, too! We also went to Pike Place Market and enjoyed the booths and a tasty lamb gyro. It was, of course, a day with record heat, but the museums all had some level of AC (SAM was the coolest by far) and there was shade at the market. Penny rode in the umbrella stroller most of the time and Theo walked on his own almost the entire day! We ended the day at Woodland Park where we shared a tasty Red Mill burger and shake. The weather was starting to cool down as we headed home and we all got to bed around 10:30pm (the kids had been sleeping in the car for most of the ride home). It was a wonderful day and everyone had a great time!

Spring Planting

2009-05-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

I planted my strawberry pots today. I'd been meaning to do it for two weeks, but I didn't have quite the right size pots or a drill to make holes for the hangers. It felt good today to get them in the ground and have my plan for hanging them on the fence posts actually work!

Our friends, Anna and Ryan, had this cool box in the garage sale 2 weeks ago and I got it for a steal (they either gave it to me or it cost $1 or something like that) and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it, but I knew it was pretty cool. I got the idea to drill some drainage holes in the bottom and make it into an herb garden. I'm growing cilantro, sweet basil, oregano, tarragon, and peppermint. I added a few marigolds to make it look cheerful. The most surprising part about all of this planting is that I did it all (including the drilling) while my kids and my friend Kristin's boys were all playing in the yard (Penny did sleep for part of the time). Maybe I'm more productive if more kids are around. Perhaps that's why God is sending us this new little baby!

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

My parents came to visit us for Mother's Day. We had a great time eating snacks and playing cards on Saturday night. Sunday morning, Andy made waffles and eggs for all of us, we went to church, and Dad & Andy made us a great BBQ lunch. The kids loves having their Memaw and Papa to play with and the weather was beautiful. I felt very celebrated and am so blessed to have such a great, supportive family. I wasn't expecting a gift from Andy and the kids (we had a very busy week and I just assumed they hadn't had time to pick anything up). You can't imagine how shocked I was to received a sweet, hand-painted bowl with Momma written in the center. Andy and the kids had painted it together at our local pottery shop. It is the perfect size for a small bowl of cereal or a snack. In fact, I've already used it twice today!

Fun with our Community Friends

2009-05-11T14:06:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday, our friends from WWU, Yuta & Suguru came over for dinner. We had a great meal and the kids loved climbing all over their new friends. Here are a few pics of our fun time together.

Saturday Sabbath

2009-05-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

We are usually pretty busy on Sundays, so having a real, restful "sabbath" isn't likely to happen. We are observing our day o' rest on Saturday instead. So far today we've slept in until 8:00, made waffles & orange juice, and played (Penny & Theo) while watching a hockey game (Andy) and knitting (Me!). I even got to have a nice, long phone conversation with my Aunt Genine and cousin, Misty, who we'll be visiting in Kansas in June. And....it's only 10am! I love days of rest with my family!

Garage Sale Jail

2009-04-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Kyle and Lindsay were selling their giant baby gate at our garage sale on Saturday. If we had decided to put the kids in their, they would've cried. Much to our surprise, they wanted to play in there and loved it! It was cute to see them all crammed in there like zoo animals. The garage sale wasn't super lucrative, but the day together was fun and the KFC afterward was delish (try the new grilled chicken!).

Penny's Recital Costume

2009-04-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

Penny and Theo will be performing in the Dancing for Joy dance recital with me this year. We've been taking a Mommy & Me class and our class has decided to do a simple dance! Penny got her costume this week and it's really cute. Theo hasn't gotten his yet, so you'll have to wait and see his later! Enjoy!

He said he wasn't tired....hmm?

2009-04-27T14:46:00.001-07:00

Easter Cuties

2009-04-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Theo and Penny looked quite dapper on Easter Sunday. Memaw bought Penny an Easter dress which looked so cute with the Easter bonnet that Grandmalew gave her. Theo had a blue Easter shirt, but wore his shirt that looked like Daddy's instead. He wanted to be a grown-up that morning, so his outfit was complete with belt and watch, too! It was (as usual) a very cool, rainy day, but we had a wonderful time at church and at dinner with friends in the afternoon. The day clearly proclaimed that He is risen indeed!

Pre-school Egg Hunt

2009-03-31T17:04:00.001-07:00

We went to a really fun egg hunt at church today. Theo & Penny had fun and we got plenty to fill our little baskets! We should decorate eggs soon. Hmmm....decorating eggs with a 2 1/2 year old and a year old, sound fun??

Makin' Cookies

2009-03-31T17:01:00.000-07:00

Theo and I made some cookies with the mini Easter cookie cutters that Sandy gave me for my birthday. It was really fun and they were super tasty!

These are so cool!

2009-03-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

I found some cheap window crayons & markers at Target yesterday and have really been enjoying them with Theo. Here are pics of our endeavors this morning!

Penny the Astronaut

2009-03-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

Andy and Theo are at worship team practice, so Penny and I are home by ourselves. It is so interesting to me to watch her play by herself. She is so content to push things around in a laundry basket, play with our fabric alphabet, and go find her favorite stuffed animals in her room. I love knowing that she thoroughly enjoys playing with Theo, but she is also very pleased when playing alone. This evening, she decided that the bag for our alphabet was a hat and spent about 45 minutes taking it off an on. Taking it off was usually punctuated with a loud, "Ta Da!". I couldn't get her to say it on camera. Enjoy!

Wisdom, Wisdom, Wisdom...

2009-02-21T17:07:00.001-08:00

......true, right? You hate to admit it, but it is sooooo true.

To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask?

-Jim Rohn

over 45 degrees!

2009-02-20T17:00:00.000-08:00

It was warm today! I hadn't realized how much I missed the spring and summer, but now I'm getting excited. Penny and Theo really love the yard and I love seeing them play so independently. Penny can't walk on her own yet, but she can get on and off a small bike and ride it (albeit slowly) herself.

Snuggle Daddy

2009-02-20T08:10:00.001-08:00

This was my adorable entertainment yesterday evening. Have you ever seen anything sweeter?

Theo can skate!

2009-02-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

Andy and Theo tried their hand at ice skating last Monday. Theo wasn't too sure about the whole thing, but he tried his best and actually skated very well for a 1st-timer! Hopefully we can go again soon.

Tenant Lake & Hovander Park

2009-02-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

Andy had 4 days off in a row last week, so we took a trip to Ferndale on Monday. We wanted to walk around Tenant Lake, but the walkway was flooded, so we walked up to the observation tower instead. It was 60 steep stairs, but Theo walked up and down all by himself (I carried Penny) and we didn't stay outside as long as we would've liked because it was freezing cold and really windy up there! We went over to Hovander (just on the other side of the park) to see the animals and got to see geese, turkeys and chickens. We saw an awesome goose fight and Andy was wondering how we would explain to Theo why the goose was killing the other goose. Luckily, it never got that violent and the geese eventually left eachother alone. After our outdoor fun, we really kicked the health value up a notch by eating burgers and fritos wraps and the new Sonic!

Penny and Theo Love to Share!

2009-02-19T19:41:00.001-08:00

Andy snapped these cute pics of them sharing a snack last weekend. I can only hope that the goodwill continues as they grow (and Penny starts wanting to take more of Theo's stuff!).

Teddy Bear Bread

2009-02-19T19:36:00.001-08:00

We baked this really cute bread last week. The idea came from High Five Magazine (the toddler version of Highlights). If you have a toddler or preschooler in your life, this magazine will be very well-read and well loved. We read each month's issue at least a million times....maybe more! We made the dough from scratch and Theo and I rolled it into several different sized balls. Theo's favorite part was putting the craisins and blueberries on for eyes (he actually put them on the ears, but, whatever).

Miss P

2009-02-05T19:04:00.003-08:00

Penny and I are hanging out at home while Andy and Theo are at worship team practice. She's cute, huh?

She loves the new drums

2009-01-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

Snack time hilarity

2009-01-27T16:09:00.000-08:00

So, I find it hilarious that Theo's snack is Theo's and Penny's snack is Theo's. Of course, he needs to yell at her for asking if he can share a bite of his snack with her. I think she ate some of his peanut butter today, but I wouldn't call it an official nut eating experience. Enjoy the dim, but funny video!

Daddy's new drums

2009-01-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Andy bought a drum set to celebrate his last birthday in the 20s. I know it sounds nerdy to say this, but it is so beautiful and I just can't wait until we have all of the parts and he can really play it! Here's a pic taken in our kitchen. I'll post a better one once everything is set up!

Theo's art

2009-01-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

Theo and I did some watercoloring this morning while Penny took her morning nap. He is so much fun to draw and paint with. I love seeing his creative shapes and he is (starting the process of) learning that he needs to rinse his brush in between colors! He'll get it (someday!). I put a sting up near our table to hang up his art (thanks for the tiny, cute clothespins Lydia!) and am excited to have a place to showcase his craft.

My dreams

2009-01-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

As I looked at my children this morning, saw them playing with their Daddy, and took stock of the blessings in my life, I realized how much Dr. King and I have in common. I have a dream that the things that held back my parents' generation from doing what they knew was right, will not plague my children's generation. I have a dream that my children will live lives that do the work of the kingdom here on earth, but yearn for Heaven as well. I have a dream that the work of God's people and the work of good people will be done together and without argument. I have a dream that we will all be working as a team. I am in no way, eloquent, but I do love my family, I love my God, and I love my country. Change is coming, and I say, "Come quickly."

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.

I have a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four (two) little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today."

Penny's 1st Birthday

2009-01-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

Penny's actual birthday was yesterday. We had a party with family and friends on Saturday and it was so fun to celebrate her 1st year with the people who have shared it with us! She is such a happy, funny girl and I have loved seeing her grow and change. It was so strange to think on Saturday of all of the ways our life is different than is was on the day before she was born last year. She got her 2 front teeth on Friday of last week, so she is eating so much more than she was even a few days ago. I can't even begin to tell you about who she is, but I will make a list of anything I can think of that makes her distinctly "Penelope May Lewis".

Penny can:

-eat

-drink from a cup

-crawl

*(she has a cute, one-legged crawl that is great for getting around and never gets caught in her dress or skirt!)

-stand up (while holding onto something)

-walk around furniture

-steal toys from Theo

-make her wishes known

-sign "milk, cheese, and more"

-point to her head, clap her hands, blow kisses, and give hugs

-be wonderful in general

Christmas 2008

2009-01-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas and Penny was so much more involved on her 1st Christmas than Theo had been on his. I guess that's the difference between being 4 months old and being 11 months old! We decided to stay home for Christmas morning at our own house and then head over to Andy's parents' house for Christmas Day. My family celebrated Christmas together on the Saturday after Christmas. It sounded like a great plan, but very nearly didn't happen like we'd thought. There was too much snow to get out of our driveway and nowhere in Whatcom County had tire chains!! Luckily, craigslist came to our rescue and we were able to find a pair of chains for sale (that didn't fit) and then find another pair that did (and re-sell the ones we had originally bought!). It was a lot of finagling, but it all worked out and we made it!

Here are a few pictures of our fun time with our families!

Pics from our visit with the Olalla Lewises

2008-12-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

A nice, quick visit

2008-12-23T07:52:00.001-08:00

Doug, Sandy and Tyler came to visit last Friday. They had intended to stay for my dance school's performance on Saturday, but the weather forecast for the Olalla/Port Orchard area was awful, so they went home early on Saturday. We had a great time visiting together and did some elf work for Christmas (you're a genius Doug!). Here is a video of Uncle Tyler playing a great rendition of "Mr. Sandman" on the Jaymar.

Beautiful Snow

2008-12-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

Penny and the caterpillar

2008-12-18T13:17:00.000-08:00

We got this Alphabetpal from some friends in Port Orchard (thanks, Keri!) and it was too cute to wait for Christmas to give it to Penny and Theo. Theo loves to sing along with the letters and name the colors. Penny thinks it is great that she can make it talk to her and that she seems to have the most fun running it into the couch and wall. I love watching her dance when it sings. We are so blessed to be on the receiving end of friends needing to weed through their old toys!! This one is definitely a keeper!!

Stir-crazy, creative toddler

2008-12-18T12:04:00.001-08:00

Here is what you do if you're two-years old, a sports fan, a super creative kid, and you have a living room with a big, open space!

Bundled Boy

2008-12-18T12:00:00.001-08:00

We're on day 2 of Andy being home from work!! What a wonderful, early start to the Christmas vacation. Yesterday, Andy and Theo took Todd for a walk, so Theo needed to be all bundled up. Penny has a runny nose, so she and I stayed inside where it was warm and dry (a little too dry for my liking, but I'd rather be warm and have chapped lips than be too cold!). We're still deciding what to do today. We wanted to go to Seattle, but they're having a snowy day there, too. Maybe we'll just stay home and make some Christmas treats together!

Last rehearsal before our show!!

2008-12-16T08:43:00.001-08:00

Dancing for Joy will have our Christmas show this Saturday! I can't believe performance week is finally here!!!!!!! Last night was our last rehearsal before the show and it was so much fun. Emily (one of our wonderful dancers) was celebrating her 13th birthday, too, so we got to have delicious brownies before we started dancing. It was the best dancing I've seen from these ladies. I am so proud of them and can't wait to see everything (lights, props, costumes, make-up) together on Saturday!!

Here are a few pictures of our fun evening together.

We readers are wee readers

2008-12-16T08:39:00.001-08:00

I love it when Andy catches them doing something cute. Here they are reading in their room. I love seeing them share and work together (since it's something we work on...all day....every day!).

*Also, isn't that the craziest picture of Theo you've ever seen?

My List

2008-11-27T22:07:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be 30 in February (yikes!) and here are some things I'd like to accomplish in the next year or so. I am incredibly thankful for my health and the support of my family and friends in all areas of my life.

1. Finish losing my pregnancy weight (10 pounds to go!)
2. Read through the Bible
3. Learn to play the guitar & harp at a beginner's level
4. Be able to run 5 miles at a time (I know, I'm lame, but I have to start somewhere)

These are all very concrete, tangible goals. Beyond that I have so many more abstract goals. These are the few most dear to my heart currently:

* To know my husband more intimately and know what truly speaks to his heart during this stage of life.
* To continue getting to know each of my children and to be God's hands and feet in their little lives.
* To allow God to continue healing me of my inherent self-loathing and to teach me how to see myself as He does.
* To continue looking outside of myself and my typical routine for places I can serve and let God use my experiences (both positive and negative) to be a blessing to others.

A Sweet Gift

2008-11-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

My friend, Krista, from a mom's group I'm a part of sent me these great note cards! Aren't they beautiful? She also sent me some tasty cookies and muffins, but you can't see them....they're already gone!

Messy Eater

2008-11-22T23:02:00.000-08:00

10 month old baby + lentil stew + I forgot to put on a bib = wow...what a mess?!!??

The sound of (toddler) silence

2008-11-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

Zachary and Theo decided they wanted to fingerpaint today. My sister had given Theo some washable fingerpaints for his birthday, so we were all ready to have some fun! I found a couple of old shirts in my closet and figured out how to make them fit the boys. They fingerpainted for about a 1/2 hour and were very quiet for most of the time. The silence was broken by Theo singing his rendition of "Brown Girl in the Ring" (it goes something like, "brown in the...brown in the....brown in the.....lalalalal"). They made some beautiful pictures and had a very nice time. It's a gorgeous, sunny day today, so we're all getting on our shoes to go play outside!!

Penny's 1st barette

2008-11-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

I decided to put a barette in Penny's hair today. She barely has enough, but I found one in my drawer that would stay. It's a little bird barrette that I bought at a craft fair with Sandy while I was pregnant with Theo. I have worn it a few times, but it is so much cuter on a sweet, baby girl! It made me excited for the barrettes I ordered for her for Christmas. There is a great, stay-at-home mom here in Bellingham who makes baby barrettes. Check our her Etsy store http://www.angelhairclippies.etsy.com/ and buy some for a little girl in your life. Her husband is in the Army and I am proud of her for being industrious and finding a way to use her creativity and supplement her family's income. I got Penny the cute ones with the cupcakes, the dragonflies, and the reindeer (but in red/green).

Daddy's 1st Tumma-time

2008-11-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

Theo and Daddy had their 1st Tumma-time together on Saturday. I had to get a picture. Prior to this, I had been the only one lucky enough to be able to put Theo down for naps. Tumma-time is Theo's special name for lying on my tummy on the couch while he falls asleep. It is a highly refined ritual that must have Mama, a cozy blanket (that must cover up his toes!), and one of his hands must twirl my hair. Andy put a lot of effort into making this attempt successful (I even hid in the kitchen for 20 minutes while they read the same story over and over) and it worked! He even did it again on Sunday!!

Our new friends

2008-11-11T17:28:00.000-08:00

Mami, Marino and Risa (our community friends from WWU Asia University program) came over for lunch today. Theo and Penny entertained them well and we all enjoyed our time together! Here are a few pictures from the visit.

A Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

2008-11-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

Sandy and Doug came for a visit on Thursday night and stayed until yesterday afternoon. It was great to see them and the kids had a great time playing with them. I also had 2 small dance performance (1 on Friday and 1 on Saturday), so they acted as much needed babysitters while I was gone. Yesterday, while we were all watching, Penny pulled herself up on Theo's little wooden chair. She sat down just as we were trying to take her picture, so we posed her in the the standing position again to capture the moment. While taking the picture, Andy was saying, "This is not posed....honestly, it's not posed." Sandy stayed at the house with me and knitted while Penny slept and I worked on some reindeer overalls for Theo. I cut out a pair for Penny, too, but my sewing machine started acting weird just as I was finishing Theo's. I'll have to sew hers up sometime this week. They turned out really cute. I'll post a picture once Penny's are finished. Doug, Andy and Theo went to the Whatcom Museum exhibit on shipbuilding and to the Children's Museum exhibit about industry on the waterfront. They took some great pictures and said they had a great time. Now, Sandy and Doug have gone home and it's just the 4 of us again. Today should be a simple, relaxing day.....gotta go get ready for church!

My Children's World

2008-11-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

Last night was just proof of many changes that have been happening in our country for decades. I am excited to know that my children will live in a world where opportunities for people off all colors extend all the way to our country's highest office. I won't say that I agree with all of President Elect Obama's policies and ideas, but I am thrilled that so many people are willing to jump in and get their hands dirty working for our country! When I looked at my kids this morning, I realized all I have to be thankful for. Our country has a fresh opportunity for change, people around the world are excited about that change, and above all, God is still in complete control!

Boo to you!

2008-10-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

Halloween has been very fun and relaxing so far. The kids and I spend most of the day at home playing and resting. After Andy got home from work, we all headed over to a community Halloween event (which was very, very well attended and slightly crazy!) and stayed for about 10 minutes before deciding that it would be more fun to come home and Trick or Treat (or Trick or Teet as Theo says) around our own neighborhood. It was only 5:30pm, so there weren't many people home passing out candy, but it was plenty fun for Theo, Penny and us. We came home and ate a tasty baked chicken dinner and then carved our pumpkins. Now our pumpkin seeds are roasting and we're getting ready to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". The cutest part of the evening is watching Theo react when someone knocks on the door. He runs to the door at breakneck speed, puts on his Bernie hat, and picks up his basket of candy while we open the door. Then he painstakingly passes out 1 piece of candy to each Trick or Treater! He is such a hospitable guy. Penny has enjoyed an evening of watching all of the commotion and crawling all over the living room. Gotta go...the movie is starting!

Enjoying a crisp, fall day

2008-10-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

We all walked to the park yesterday evening to see the leaves. At the end of our street there is the most beautiful park with trees lining a huge, grassy field and a stately war memorial with the names of soldiers lost from Whatcom County. It's always fun to see Todd and Theo running in the grass and there are always lots of off-leash dogs there to chase Todd around, too. We knew we'd better go for a walk yesterday and enjoy the leaves before the rainy season finally starts. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy!

Making Ghost Candles with our Buddies!

2008-10-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

Caleb and Zachary were over this afternoon, so we all decided to make ghost candles! I cut out the eyes and mouths, put dots of glue on the jars and tore up the tape. The boys' jobs were to put the eyes and mouth on the glue and cover the face with tape. They actually did a wonderful job and were so pleased with themselves. It is always such fun to do a project with them while they are here. This one was a winner since it was cheap, clean, and quick!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

2008-10-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ah, the fall tradition of picking out a pumpkin....what a humble endeavor. In my mind's eye, I see a family, bundled in sweatshirts and rain gear, trekking out into the mud to choose that perfect, orange orb. They walk back to the modest farm stand and pay a meager fee for their find. Cold and hungry, they head home for a meal and a rest. What a day!

But, it's 2008. That is far too simple for us. We have to do it up big!!!! Stoney Ridge is the piece de resistance of Whatcom County pumpkin patches. They've got it all (and we always do all of it!). From the pumpkins to the donuts, the hotdogs to the farm animals, and the gourds to the apple desserts, it is all so much fun. My parents, neice and nephew, and all of us Bellingham Lewises headed over there yesterday at 10:30am and didn't get back home until about 3:00. The kids ran, we all ate, we looked at tons of pumpkins (and finally chose a few), and took lots of pictures. It was a wonderful time and I can't wait until next year when we can do it all again!!

Now we just need to carve the pumpkins and roast the seeds. That's my favorite part.

Family Band Practice

2008-10-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

After worship team practice, Andy usually plays the songs for us on the guitar. Penny and Theo got in on the rehearsal last week. I was also singing (but it's hard to take a picture of that). Maybe we'll have to start writing our own songs, sewing matching outfits, and buy a VW Bus to travel to our gigs in! Family Bandland...here we come!

Things I loved about waking up this morning...

2008-10-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

* Penny was still sleeping

* Theo was snuggling with me and telling me about his thoughts

* Andy was out in the kitchen eating his cereal

(I love this because it means Theo is waking up at an acceptable time!)

* I was warm in the flannel sheets, blanket, and warm comforter

* We don't have anywhere to be until 10am

* The house is almost completely clean, so I only have 1 chore (bathroom...yuck!) to do today

* I had a busy, wonderful day of work yesterday and am excited about being a part of the dance studio's upcoming Christmas show

Most of all, I have realized lately that my life is full, busy and tiring sometimes, but I enjoy it!

When did he start getting long legs?

2008-09-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Theo got this bike for his birthday, but his legs used to be too short to ride on it and he would just push it around the yard... until yesterday. He is able to stay on it using his tippy toes and a lot of concentration. When he pays attention to something else (like maybe his dad taking his picture) he tends to fall down. Don't worry, he's okay. :)

Needed: Christmas Ideas

2008-09-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

My goal for this year is to start some Christmas traditions at home with our kids! I am asking all of you to share your favorite Christmastime memory from your own or your children's memories. I am looking for ideas for decorations, meals, parties, and advent activities.

Christmas is my favorite holiday and I really want my kids to know how blessed we are by blessing those around us! Please share your favorite thing you've done to bless others during the holidays, too!

Oh, the love!

2008-09-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Penny and Theo did some hugging, kissing and wrestling this afternoon. After these very sweet pictures, Theo ended up knocking Penny over (she didn't mind), then sitting on her, then pretending she was a horse. All in all, she thought it was fun. These are the cutest pictures of the experience!

Vegetable Weekend!

2008-09-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

*These are pictures of: green beans, walnut pesto, frozen bell peppers, and dehydrated parasol mushrooms! YUM!

This morning our neighbors, Mitchell and Rochelle, called and asked if we'd like some mushrooms they couldn't use. They're leaving on a trip soon and they had a bucket of beautiful parasol mushrooms that they had gathered in the forests. I hadn't eaten a parasol mushroom before, but after researching a bit, I learned that they are common, delicate, and have a rich, meaty flavor. They are also very fluffy and pretty. I spent an hour this afternoon washing and dehydrating them. I even sauted a few to try. Very, very flavorful and tasty! I thought my food preserving was over for the day, but then I got another phone call. A dance student's family was gathering all of the nearly out of date bread and produce from our local grocery store. They do this several times a month. They had called the local mission and they did not want the dark bread or some of the vegetables. Luckily, we did want them! We got a loaf of dark rye bread and raisin bread from the bakery, a whole box of bell peppers (yellow, red, orange and green), anaheim peppers, 2 eggplants, a large bundle of fresh basil, and an entire grocery bag filled with fresh green beans. I had just finished with the mushrooms and started in on washing, cutting, and preserving the rest. We even made a delicious eggplant loaf (actually a recipe from a wonderful baby food cookbook) for dinner. I have green beans in vacuumed bags in the freezer and I am freezing bell pepper pieces right now. I feel like a farmer putting up my produce for the winter. We are so blessed by everyone around us. I love days like this when I see God's promise to provide for us being shown in very practical ways. I am now making an applesauce cake to finish off the day and enjoying time with my family! I hope this weekend is restful and enjoyable for you as well!

Theo, the photographer

2008-09-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesdays are the days when we are our very busiest, but we also have lots of fun! Here's our schedule:

7am: wake up

8:00-10:00 make lunch for later, do our chores, and play together

10:00-11:30 go to Toddler Time (a local indoor playarea)

11:30-2:30 Zachary comes over for lunch and to play

12:30-3:30 Caleb comes over for lunch and to play

By about 2:45, Theo has completely run out of gas. I wish he would just go ahead and take his regular nap, but of course, he won't sleep with guests over! How polite he is!

Today he actually fell asleep in my arms as Caleb's mom was picking him up. It was very sweet. To keep him occupied for the last 15 minutes, I let him take pictures with our camera. Here is his 1st photographic endeavor (I did not help him at all with these).

Theo's actual birth-Day

2008-09-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

On August 27th, we did some celebrating for Theo's actual birthdate. Aunt Jenny was still in town, so she joined in the festivities. She bought Theo some fingerpaint and he and she painted together in our kitchen. I had a small canvas that Andy had given me for Christmas last year. Theo painted a picture on it and we hung it in the living room. I think he did a great job. It is very colorful and interesting.

We also went to the spray park with our friends Kristin, Zachary and Kyle. Theo, of course, didn't want to go in the water, but had a great time there anyway. Here is a video of Theo at the spray park this year and one of his first birthday at the spray park last year. I guess Penny can't go there for her 1st birthday......it will be toooo cold!

Penelope's Baptism

2008-09-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Penny was baptized last Sunday. It was such a sweet, meaningful ceremony for us. She was happy and calm the whole time and looked so tiny being held by our pastor, Doug. He is sooooo tall! Here are a few pictures from her special day. It's such a blessing to be supported by such a wonderful church family!

Theo's 2nd Birthday Party

2008-08-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

We had an early birthday party on Saturday for Theo! His real birthday is this coming Wednesday. Lots of friends and family were able to come and it was one of the most gorgeous, hot days we've had in at least a week. It was bittersweet to realize that my little baby was turning 2, but it was also so wonderful to see him actually playing with his friends, enjoying the party, and being his own unique, interesting self. Being a parent is incredibly satisfying to me. My favorite thing that happened was when we tried to teach him to say, "I am 2." when asked, "How old are you?". He would say, "I'm 2.", but he didn't put up 2 fingers. When we showed him how, he thought we were saying, "Peace". Now when asked, "How old are you?" He says, "Peace." Very cute. I always enjoy his slightly skewed version of the world. His new two year old world is still filled with balls, bikes, and laughter (as well as a mild amount of screaming and being upset) and seems very enjoyable to him. Here are a few pictures from his birthday party and the weekend.

Our last week

2008-08-18T16:56:00.001-07:00

Andy will be going back to work next Monday. It has been a wonderful, wonderful summer and we've spend plenty of time relaxing and enjoying one another's company. We will miss him terribly, but we know that the reason we enjoy summer so much is because we have a regular life during the rest of the year! Here are some highlights of our summer.

Best Buddies

2008-08-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Theo and Penny have actually been playing together lately. Theo will sit on the floor in front of her and show her books, toys and stuffed animals. He even shares his owl with her. He doesn't like it when she tries to grab Bernie (that's what he calls Ernie doll from Sesame Street even though we always call him Ernie and he usually mispronounces so few words). Here they are at a friend's birthday party a couple of weeks ago.

What we're doing right now

2008-08-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

It's a peaceful, warm summer evening here in Bellingham. I just got home from dance an hour ago and Andy was out in the yard with the kids. Theo was playing baseball and Andy & Penny were swinging in the hammock. It is always so wonderful to come home from work and know that I wasn't needed or missed too much by anyone. I did a little more painting on the garage door (I will be soooooo glad when we're done. Painting is not my favorite thing in the world), ate my dinner, and fed Penny for a while. Now we're all just sitting around. Penny is playing with her new favorite toy (a stacking spindle with rings from IKEA...thanks Ballouns!) and Theo is taking a bath.

Great end to a great day!

Brother/Sister Story Time

2008-08-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Theo and Penny enjoy sitting in their room and "reading" together. It is pretty cute to see them sharing books, chewing on books (that's Penny), and saying the names of all of the things in the pictures (Theo, of course). I look forward to a time when they will be able to enjoy reading as much as I do. For now, I get the pleasure of reading to them is all mine and Andy's. Some of their books are beautiful, funny, or interesting. Some of them are boring and the stories don't make any sense. We have favorites (Opposite dogs, any Curious George, I know Jesus, and Time for Bed). We also have one that we think is dumb! (The Best Mouse Cookie). I love reading new books or coming across ones we have that I hadn't stumbled onto yet (we have quite a few). Let me know if any of you need a fresh supply of kids' books. I'm always up for lending or trading!

Men at Work

2008-07-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

No, not the band. We got a cool captain's bed from Craigslist, but it made our bed ridiculously high (ex: we had to jump to get in the bed). It was free, so we're giving it away to another person this afternoon (once again, Craigslist to the rescue). This is a picture of Theo helping Andy take the bed apart. You may notice that Theo isn't dressed. Here's the interesting story of what happened before this picture was taken.

This morning, Theo had a little bit of diaper rash, so we took off his diaper, put on a big T-shirt & shoes, and sent him to play outside. About 15 minutes later, I hear "Help! Mama...." and crying. I look out from the kitchen and see Theo standing on the patio with poop in one of his shoes (his foot was still in the shoe, too!). We laughed, comforted him (he wasn't too upset, but just confused), and carried him inside for a bath. After the bath, he wanted to help Daddy fix the bed. The need to be the helper trumped the need to get dressed, so clothes had to wait until he was all done. He is now dressed, the bed frame is outside awaiting pick-up, and we're all hanging out in the house!

He loves his soccer ball (A.K.A. I can't believe he didn't notice me videoing him)

2008-07-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

He's cute, huh?

2+1+2+1=6 wonderful kiddoes!

2008-07-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

Penny and Theo had their little baby friend Asa over today. He's been coming over fairly regularly since his Mama is teaching summer school. He is a regular addition to our hilarious cast of characters here at our house. Penny loves sitting in the highchair while Asa sits in the booster and sharing the solids experience together. In additon to Asa, Jonah (2) and Amelia (6 weeks) came to play so their Mama could have a nice, quiet lunch with our other small group friend, Anna. Rory came over too since her Daddy was leading a book discussion at the church. It was exactly like our small group Bible study, but without all of the parents! The kids were great. The babies all slept. The toddler played outside and then came in to bang on all of our musical instruments. I joked that Andy should quit his job and we should open a daycare. His response was a hearty "No". Enjoy the pictures. It was impossible to get them all looking at the camera at once.

I am 6 months old!

2008-07-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some cute pictures of Penny in the crib on her 1/2 birthday. I've also included a couple of similar shots of Theo around this age. Very cute!

Goodbye, sweet friends

2008-07-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Michele and Lucas came and watch Theo and Penny for us yesterday. Andy was helping O.Shane pack their moving van and I had to work, so......Michele, babysitter extraordinaire, to the rescue! I took these pictures of the kids and I'm so glad I did. We may not see them before they leave tomorrow and then we'll have to make the long trek to Wyoming just to see our dear, dear friends. We wish them well and hope they know that we will be praying for safety, peace and joy during their move.

You are loved Balloun family!