The easiest way to raise boys:

...is to send them outside.  In the dirt. On a bike. Building bird feeders. Jumping on the tramp. Jumping a bike on a ramp.  :)  You name it! Every SINGLE picture I have from April looks something like this:

Some of the outside projects were: 4 trees removed (foundation issues), grind stumps, take out old fence, put in a new fence, plant new sod the yard (in the pouring rain no less), build a rock wall around the flower beds, plants new plants , install drip systems to the flower beds.  Just thinking about it makes me hot and sweaty!

We've been Duked.

In March Doug and I traveled to Durham, North Carolina to buy a home!  Thanks to my Mama & Lindy we had a fabulous time just the two of us and picked up Duke shirts for the bunch of us. 

After we got back, we all headed out of town and went camping for 2 nights at Lake Sam Reyburn.  Doug was able to show off his finner skills such as: doing just about anything with a hatchet, making dutch oven peach cobbler, fishing, and expert river guide! (We did see some cool birds and alligators.)

Prince Ollie on the other hand thought sleeping in the cold, outside, was just about the worst idea ever until Grammy rescued him to the car with the heater blasting.

1 year later and He's the one driving "The Car"

One year ago I was not in labor.

One year ago Doug was camping at Father's and Son's. 

One year ago I was cleaning my carpets late into the night. 

One year ago I knew I had 14 more days to clean, dust, and wash. 

One year ago I was patiently waiting 7 more days for my mom to arrive to help clean, dust and wash.  

And THEN after lounging around for several days and taking walks together around the neighborhood, she would deliver my baby.

At home.  

In my bedroom. 

Peaceful music would be playing.

Doug would be coaching me quietly through each stage. 

I would get strength from my mom's eyes when I thought I just couldn't do it anymore. 

Kim would be quietly capturing the sweet memories for his scrapbook. 

And before we knew it, we would be snuggling him in our bed together without interruption. 

But one year ago, our sweet Oliver came whether it was time or not.  

Whether I had taken an end of pregnancy belly picture or not. 

Whether my midwife Mother was in town or not. 

Whether Doug had unloaded the camping gear from the car or not. 

Whether I had a hospital bag packed or not. 

Whether I had taken off my undies or not. 

And whether we made it to the hospital or not. 

As silly as this sounds, I have mourned his birth for what it could have been.  Sure it will be a great story for him to tell.  But it was not the story that I wanted. At first I tired to be stoic about it.  Yes! I delivered my baby in the car- on the freeway! With my husband driving like a crazy man and yelling at my over and over to "Buckle Up!" and "Stop Pushing!"  But then my mom gave me permission to be sad.  And I was.  And amazingly a year later I still am a little.  So to cheer myself up, we took a few pictures of Oliver Ben driving THE CAR on his 1 year birthday.  We are so grateful for our healthy baby.  And I know in the end that is all that matters.  

...but so help me. If there is a baby #4...SHE had better come how, where, and when I tell her too!  :)  

   

Cupid gets real!

Cupid was very practical this year:  Socks, underwear, clothes, and toothbrushes for everyone!

Ollie was quite happy going back and forth between the sucker in one hand and his toothbrush in the other.  

Doug's Dirty 30 Bash!

Best birthday night EVER. Thanks to me.  :)

(And to all of you who celebrated and took time to write awesome cards!) 

Phase 1 (6:30 pm sharp!)  

Doug's favorite fast food take out (from McDonald's  Jack in the Box, Sonic, & Taco Bell) & Catch Phrase with the Carters, Ekman's and Sitton's.   They took a short quiz about The Douger.  Highest score got to choose the first take out bag, and so on.  Girls team ruled!! 

Phase 2 (7:15 pm sharp!) 

Dessert and one of Doug's all time favorite.... Mafia with the Fuja's, Heaton's, Edginton's, & Miller's!  

Long live the memories of the Moderator Mishaps! 

Phase 3 (8:30 pm...not so sharp)

  Doug's favorite candy and beloved Settlers with the Tanner's Barney's and Campbell's! 

   

And since Doug walked in the door minutes before the partying began, Phase 4 with the boys happened after work the next afternoon.  A HUGE THANK YOU to the 30 plus family members and friends who took time to write & send Doug wonderful birthday wishes.  He loved all the LOVE.  

Hello 3; goodbye blonde beautiful curls.

"Raspberries," is what Rhett asked for for breakfast.  And an entire carton is what he ate. 

 We think he is still cute and wonderful even without his trademark hair. (Although I will be growing it back out as fast as I possibly can!) For a week straight it was the first thing he told EVERYONE we saw, "I got a hair cut."  And now there is no question, he finally agrees with us that Yes, he is indeed a boy! 

 

The birthday boy had one wish... to go to Chucky Cheese!

We had a fun, low key Number 3 party! 

Rhett loves all his little buddies so much.  He is such a social guy and is so happy when he gets to play with friends.  Our family is definitly a happier place with this little guy around. 

When it is 35 degrees outside...

I actually recommend going to Sea World!  No lines for any rides. You don't have to go early to any show to get a front row seat.  And you get the entire Sesame Street crew almost to yourselves.  

  Highlight was loosing Rhett for 5 minutes or so... and finding him on the kid roller coaster.  The worker said he would go on it and then just get right back in line.  :)  Quite savvy for a two year old. 



San Antonio Cousin Reunion

The Houston cousins met up with our favorite Dallas cousins in... San Antonio.  It was a blast. And it was FREEZING! 

 

Natural Bridge Caverns- where Rhett and Dessie stayed connected hand in hand nearly the entire tour.

The good ol Alamo. 

 

The River Walk boat tour.  Such a perfect New Years Eve.  All the Christmas lights were still up, it was beautiful! We found the most amazing little authentic Italian shop after.  And of course toasted in the new years around 9:00 with the kiddos.

 

The LOVELY Japanese Tea Gardens and Brackenridge park & train ride.

 And thanks to a wonderful trip to the outlet mall we were driving home with table pieces crammed between all the kids and piled up to the roof on the return drive home!

8 years and counting!

While we are celebrating the number 8 this year...we love to reflect back 13 years ago when two high school sophomores fell in love!

Our "Family Birthday" party was held in a hotel room in San Antonio!  We watched our wedding movie and ate peppermint Jojo's. Happy Birthday Lewis family!  Callin's comment that day was that our family needed to get baptized.  :)  

 

the most perfect Christmas morning EVER!

Christmas Eve:

Christmas morning line up:

Santa left a note that he would be back at 10:00 with something that wouldn't fit in his sleigh very well... a puppy!  We love our little Lucy.  If she only came potty trained though...

 Ollie's & Lucy's 1st Christmas!

Pre hurricane calm/ Post hurricane bliss



The rest of the day was spend riding the new bike, walking the new dog, playing with the the new toys, skyping with family, sharing our phone with the missionaries, and hanging out and eating delicious food with friends.

December

A lot happened in December!  Callin got married for starters. It is actually his 2nd marriage, but no cameras were present at the first. We couldn't be happier! 

Oliver (10 months) figured out how to keep up with his brothers and is everywhere and into everything! 

Our little Lewis family stayed home for our first (and last) Texas Christmas.  We enjoyed visiting Santa, riding the Christmas train, making "rice-krispie" houses, spending time with friends and  eachother. I think we all missed Arizona and Grammie and Grandma's houses... but we had a wonderful time togather.  

 

Life is precious.

I joined the world this week in mourning for the loss of the sweet children at Sandy Hook Elementary school. Besides hanging my RED HEART (did you hang yours too?) on my door and adding my name to a petition to tighten gun control... the only other thing I can think of to do is to appreciate these 3 a little more.   And smother them in as many kisses and hugs I can give. (That is when I am not punishing them for turning our entire family room into a giant fort or tracking mud in from outside all over the carpet.)

I love, love, love these blue boys. 

ps. Cal loved the funny story I told him of when his Dad peed his pants. Can you tell?  May or may not have been true...but it worked!

Go Cheetah's!

Cal and I both had our first experience with team sports!  (Him playing, me coaching.) It went better than I thought it would thanks to all the super parents and my co-coach Loni! All the kids made huge progress in the 3 months.  I learned that Cal is a super fast runner and is quite competitive. :)

 

Such a fun little bunch.
But I'm not going to lie, I'm glad my lazy Saturday morings are back for a bit. 

Thanksgiving

We were so glad Doug's family decided to join us in Houston this year.  He only had Thanksgiving off, so it made it hard to travel.  We had a fabulous feast with a few friends from our Branch.   My friend Tricia even taught me how to make an edible cornucopia. :)    

 It was quite an adventure participating in the craziness of Thursday night's "Black Friday" shopping.  And of course we had great times playing bocce ball, going out to the movie, bowling, eating Texas Barbecue, and more shopping! Thank you, thank you for making the trip! (In the stinky van nonetheless!)  We are so sad that soon our favorite Dallas cousins will be much more than a 5 hour road trip away.  :(

Haunted Happenings

October flew by full of parties and dressing up.  By the end of the month, I was so sick of costumes and my thrown-together Pirate get up. But the kids love it and it is fun to see them so excited and happy. 

 Zoo Boo

Not 1...but 2 trunk-or-treats! 

ps.  We LOVE our new branch! 

Preschool fun!

Halloween day/ night

8 month giggles and grins

"HAPE BRthDA"

 

Grandpa/Mayor Lewis came to town for 1 night and it happened to be his birthday! (And the first Presidential Debate...) 

We love any excuse to make an ice-cream cake!

Minha Familia

All of my siblings were together for a quick weekend.  It was such a rare treat. We had a beautiful morning honoring my Grandma Donna.  It is so fun to see long lost cousins.  We spent the rest of the day making homemade Butterfinger ice cream (Packard tradition) and looking at old scrapbooks. 

I brought my little cherub baby with me.  He was a big hit.  I am so in love with this little guy. 

He is sporting another one of his Daddy's beautiful, hand-made, hand-me-downs.