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. 

brotherly love

Ollie bollie bo mollie

Me mi mo wallie

Ollie!

 

He is almost 7 months old now!  And is seriously the sweetest tempered baby I have ever birthed.

We loooooove him!

 Once Cal gets home from school, the real party of the day starts. 

He keeps his brothers laughing, playing, and yes, fighting until the sun goes down. 

 Looking at these little boys makes me glad I married Doug Lewis, that one boy I had a crush on when I was 15!   :) 

First day of KINDERGARTEN!

We made it home from our travels TWO days before the big first day of school. 
With a little prep, a Father's blessing, and a little partying...we were ready!  

Cal with his best buddies Lincoln and Shep.

He was happy to have Jake with him in his class!

And I had to get a picture of him doing his job after school.  It was so fun to hear him talk all about his own life... one that really didn't know anything about.  I could tell he was loving the independence.  He even had to tell me about all the "cool" snacks other kids brought like Oreo's and juice boxes and how his snack was not that cool. :) 

Hip, hip hooray!!  It was a wonderful next step...one that we have both been really looking forward to!  (No tears all around...well except Rhett who realized that he couldn't stay at school too.)

Arizona

Lunch and Last Chance with the Mamma and my sistas! Life doesn't get much better for me. 

(We are lamenting here over our identical cowlicks.  A gift from our mom!)

We had plenty of time to snuggle and love on all our favorite cousins!

We celebrated Grandpa Rob's 97th birthday!

It was so sweet to get to spend a little time with my Grandma Donna as well.  She passed away less than 2 weeks after these pictures were taken. Oliver and I are headed back to AZ for a quick weekend to celebrate her and her wonderful life!

And Arizona summers, wouldn't be 'Arizona Summers' with out some fantastic rain storms and monsoons!  

Utah

We celebrated many fun events in Utah.
I think it is safe to say we celebrated "Adam" in St. George. :)
Then headed north for my new SIL Taryn's bridal shower, SIL Paige's baby shower, and then Doug's brother CJ's wedding. 
It was a non stop Lewis family party! 
We are so, so excited to add Taryn to it!

Georgia

I was getting a little desperate for adult conversation, so we left Doug at home (or should I say at work) and I took the boys on a road trip to visit my brother and his wonderful family. Driving through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and finally Georgia did feel a bit long!  But as always, the company was so worth it!  

Top right: FDR's home (where he died with his mistress by his side.)

our top 10 exciting celebrations

10. My birthday: I turned another year wiser... 29, yikes!

9. Preschool Graduation: I love these 9 little monkeys and it was so neat to get to see my own little Cal grow so much this year.  Each of the kids got an award.  I gave Cal the award for being a super reader.    

8. Cal's birthday:  He's 5!  Some mom's throw big elaborate parties.  I guess that is not me.  His actual birthday was several days later on the cruise, but we wanted to open his presents the day before we left. I texted 2 friends at 9pm and invited them to a casual low key breakfast party... He seemed to have fun regardless.  (That is when he wasn't in time out or pouting about the tee ball game.)  

7. Father's Day:  these 3 boys sure are lucky to have such a great dad. 

  6. 1st day of work:  Dr. Doug started residency... boo for long hours and single parenting.  But he does look like such a cute Doctor.

 5.  Ollie bear is 4 months!  Doug's Aunt Mary stitched him this darling sleeper.  (4 months later and I still sometimes find myself in shock... I can't believe he was born in the CAR.)

  
4.  Brothers:  I had no idea 3 boys was going to be so much fun! I hit the neighborhood pool with these little swimmers almost every day.  I love my boys!

 
3.  Rhett is potty trained!!! (Mostly... he still needs lots of reminders.)

 

2. We had an awesome 4th filled with a very hot neighborhood parade, pot luck breakfast w/ face painting, a barbecue with old and new friends and perfect seats to watch the firework show.    

1.  I got me some new wheels! Wahoo! Who knew the swagger wagon could be SO exciting!