My Boyz

Stephen was successful getting the boys to take a nap! Yea Steve!

It's amazing how sweet boys can look when they are sleeping!!

4th of July

Erin, Brynn, Darrin, Emmett, and Alexa Stang

Cambry, Brian, Braxton, and Sara Loveridge

The 4th of July was always such a big event at my house when I was growing up so when Independence Day drew near and we had no plans, I got so sad and real homesick. The Stangs and the Loveridges saved the day by coming over and entertaining us for the evening. Coralee did a great job decorating the house, Steve smoked ribs and a pork butt, we made smores, broke a pinata, did small fireworks at our house, and then drove up to the water tower to watch fire works all over the valley. It was quite an evening and we had so much fun!Break the Pinata!!Yummy Smores!!

Dress Up

Coralee is so much like me it makes me laugh! She loves to dress Landon up and I remember doing the same thing to Gavin and Tim!! Coralee and Landon came down stairs one day and boy did I get a kick out of Landon's outfit! They are so silly!

Steve told me a funny story that I feel is appropriate to share with this pictures. He was at work one day and he was sitting around with a bunch of co-workers and they somehow got on a strange topic of conversation. They were joking about how ugly the men would be as women. (Can't remember how they got on this!) But anyway, they are going around talking about how ugly each man would be as a woman and then they get to Steve and they say, "Actually you'd make a pretty woman!" Landon obviously takes after his dad!! That topic of conversation probably evolved from the fact that Steve loves to impersonate women for Halloween!!!

Dentist

Landon had to get two fillings yesterday from Dr. Betty at Children's Dentistry. I was so nervous for him, but he was a champ and did amazing. I think I would have gotten claustrophobic (sp) with all of that stuff in my mouth when I was his age. He had a freak out right at the beginning, but once he settled down, he never even winced the rest of the time.

Braylon and Coralee were in the room with us the whole time and did so well. Braylon was watching Dr. Betty use the popcorn popper (or laser) to blast the sugar bugs (or cavities) and was a little concerned. He asked, "What she doing to my Lanny?" Dr. Betty thought that was the cutest thing she'd ever heard.

Although my children fight and drive eachother crazy, I'm so grateful that they love and care for one another so much. They really do have great relationships with one another. I am so blessed to have such great kids.

Besides Braylon's comment, the other highlight was the Knock Knock Joke Book that Coralee and I found. It was crackin' us up! Here's our favoirtes:

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Amish

Amish Who?

Amish you shoo Mooch

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Coincidental

Coincidental Who?

Coincidental chair and let's look at your teeth!

Ha, ha, ha! What a day at the dentist office!

Bolder Boulder

I have to boast a wee bit because Stephen and I did something on Memorial Day that I would have wagered I'd never do in my whole life!! We ran a 10K race called the Bolder Boulder! I have been fretting for a month over this stinkin' race and was glad when it finally arrived. Although we'd been running, I didn't know if I started training early enough because, needless to say, I am not a distance runner. In high school, I felt that the 400 was a distance race!!! So, I am very proud to say that I RAN the whole 6.3 (or whatever a 10K is) and didn't have to stop and walk!!!! It was quite an accomplishment for me. Steve is a distance runner, so although it was an accomplishment for him, I don't considerate as much as an accomplishment as it was for me!!! (That's a compliment Steve!!!) I forgot my camera on race day, so I do not have picture proof, but I scanned our bids and here are our official results! Yea us!!!!

Steve Lewis
bib number:
MF257
overall place:
11503
location:
Brighton, CO
division:
M30
division place:
271 out of 520
gender place:
7969 out of 21941
mile 1:
00:09:19.01
mile 2:
00:09:21.95
mile 3:
00:09:18.83
mile 4:
00:09:08.26
mile 5:
00:08:53.68
mile 6:
00:08:45.43
net time:
00:56:37.37
pace:
09:06 (based on net time)

Rachel Lewis
bib number:
MF258
overall place:
11508
location:
Brighton, CO
division:
F29
division place:
160 out of 748
gender place:
3537 out of 26182
mile 1:
00:09:19.09
mile 2:
00:09:21.52
mile 3:
00:09:19.31
mile 4:
00:09:08.03
mile 5:
00:08:53.92
mile 6:
00:08:45.83
net time:
00:56:37.73
pace:
09:06 (based on net time)


















This was such an amazing experience. It was so much fun to see so many people running and walking. The announcer said that there were 54,000 people participating over the course of the morning. There were people cheering us on the whole. People passed out doritos, cupcakes, popsicles, beer, water, gatorade, necklaces, vegan yogurt, and I can't remember what else. Those are the things that I remember seeing.

People stood on the sides of the roads with squirt guns and garden hoses spraying people down. It was awesome. The only thing I'd change about the race, is I would have put us in a faster wave. There were just way too many walkers that we had to weave in and out of, but I thought I feared that I'd have to stop and walk so now I know for next year. Yes, we want to do it again. Even though my ankle wouldn't work the day after, it was too much fun!!! And I am in the best shape I have been in for a long time. It's worth it just for that!!! Thanks for pushing me Stevie! You are the best!!!!!

Last Day

It is hard to believe that my baby girl has just completed her first year of school. It seems like the first day of school was forever ago and at the same time it feels it was just yesterday. I have to admit, I am happy to have a break from rushing around every morning trying to get everyone out the door on time! I am so happy to be able to have our mornings move more slowly. I am so ready for summer! Yea!! Here pics of the 1st and last day of school.

Snuggles

We just had our carpets cleaned and because Coralee has so much STUFF in her room, her bed was covered because the carpets were not all the way dry. So, she had to sleep with Landon.

She complained at first because, "Landon is too loud". But, I tucked them in and they seemed to be doing okay.

I told them that they needed to be quite and go to sleep and Coralee says, "But what about snuggles?"

I replied, "You can snuggle if you want to, just go to sleep!"

Because we ran like crazy today, I didn't hear a peep come out of their room which is extremely unusual. I went in to check on them and this is what I found.

I smiled as I reflected on my grumpiness when we had gotten home tonight because I was tired along with kids. Not a good combo in our house. All of the tension and anxiety subsided as I saw my two sweet angels asleep in their bed. It is these tender moments that make me LOVE being a mother. I wish I held on to these moments tighter so that I wouldn't forget when the days get hectic and crazy and the kids are loud and fighting!!

Mrs Twiss

Coralee has had the best teacher this year!!! We have absolutely loved Mrs. Twiss! Coralee has learned so much from her and she goes above and beyond by doing amazing things for her students. I have truly been impressed and so grateful that Coralee had a teacher who has built her confidence and self esteem and helped her to love school during her first year of school. Coralee also got an acheivement Award from Mrs. Twiss for her efforts in the classroom this year along with all of the other students in her class. She had a great class.

This is another award that I was extrememly proud of. Coralee memorized over 55 sight words this year at school. I really did not do a whole lot to help her unfortunately. She did it on her own and in the classroom. I was so impressed with her and also with Mrs. Twiss for helping her to learn so much! Good job Coralee!!!!

Legacy Award

Yesterday I was in charge of Coralee's class party which was titled, "Blasting Off to First Grade". It was so much fun and I had a BLAST try to plan something that would make the kiddos feel special so that they would always remember the end of their first year of school. Little did I know that I would be the one who would not forget the end of the school year.

Right at the beginning, Mrs. Ortega, the principal, came into the classroom to hand out awards. I had no idea what to expect as Coralee is my first child to go through kindergarten. She handed out attendance awards (if they would have handed out awards based on the number of days kids missed I bet Coralee would have gotten one!!), pride awards, and then Mrs. Ortega began to talk about the Legacy Award. Se talked about what a special award it is and how hard it was for Mrs. Twiss to choose the kids who got it. The award is given in recognition of great character, citizenship, work ethic and helping to continue the legacy at Pennock. She called two kids, one boy and one girl and I thought for sure that would be it and then she announced, "Coralee Lewis" and I have to admit my eyes filled with tears. I was so surprised and again I must admit, I was very proud. I try not to be a proudful person, but it is crazy how much pride can swell within you when it comes to your children. I have had so many prideful moments this year as I have watched Coralee learn and grow into such an amazing little lady. I am so proud of her as I know her father is. We only wish he could have been at the class party to see her get her award.

Here We Go Again

Well, I'll give this whole blog thing another try! It has been a long year for me. For some reason the past two years have just been tough, but I think that I am climbing my way out of my funk. At least let's hope so. School is out in four days, preschool is done, seminary is done, and the weather is starting to stay warm consistantly. I sense good things on the horizon! Here's a small glimpse into our past five months:

After Christmas our cousins Braden and Leah came to visit! Horray!

Steve turned 30 on January 1!!

Coralee go her first loose tooth early February!

Coralee lost her first tooth February 26!

Braylon overcame his fear of water at the Brighton Rec Center February 27 and now he is a mad man in the water! kind of scary considering we are getting passes to Water World this summer.

On March 9, Nana and Grandpa returned triumpantly from their mission in Africa! Yea!! We sure missed them!

To celebrate Nana and Grandpa's homecoming, we went to touristy Kansas City on March 18! We did a church history tour and saw the Visitor's Center, the Reorganized Church, Liberty Jail, and Adam-Ondi-Omon. It was incredible. Here the kids are during our tour at the Visitor's Center.

Here's is our family at Adam-Ondi-Omon. It was amazing!

The real purpose behind the trip to Kansas City was for the NCAA Basketball tournament baby!! Oh ya, we've been three years in an row and we put our bid in for the sweet sixteen next year in Salt Lake!! Our fingers are crossed.

Stephen and the boys built our family's FIRST snowman at the end of April!! Will it ever get warm and stay that way?!! I answer myself, "No!!!!"

Sally Bally left me on April 9 and claims to be happy back in Wyoming amongst her family and friends! Shame on her! Hee, hee!

My mom came to visit on April 7 and then Dad and Cam came on April 10th. We went down to Colorado Springs and toured the Cave of the Winds and then went to Garden of the Gods. It was an awesome day. Here's Coralee, Grandma and Grandpa and the Cave.

Cameron, my baby brother, and I stopping for a pose in the Garden of the Gods.

Landon developed a love of photography whilest in the Garden! Here are two of the twenty photos he took with my camera:

Well, that gives a glimpse of our lives up to the beginning of April. I'll catch up on the rest soon. I swear! Okay, you all know I don't swear so I guess you won't hold me to that. But, I have a dream and that dream consists of me blogging more regularly this summer. We'll see!