Bloggity Makeover

From Mommy: Time for a fresh new look for the summertime! We have all sorts of fun things planned for the next few months and we hope you'll continue to peek in on us from time to time. My little guys are growing up faster than I ever could have imagined and every day with them is a gift straight from the Father. It's so fun to document their milestones and memories, and we're glad you're along for the ride.

Aren't they just the cutest little things ever?

The Zoo (take #2)

From Solly: I'm pleased to say that we went to the Zoo and actually gained admittance this time! Yay! Also, Gramps, Gram and Auntie Liz came along! It was a lot of walking (well, not so much for Brother and me as Mommy pushed us in a double stroller the whole day) and we got home really late, but boy was it fun times. Here's some shots of our day together:

Me, Brother, Auntie Liz, Gram, Daddy and Gramps.

Why Mommy's legs are sore today.

Us and the Black Bear.

The strapping Lewis Men!

Here we are driving a John Deere in the farm exhibit.

Looks like Kai and me about 30 seconds after leaving the zoo parking lot!

The Greggerson sisters rest their legs for a moment.

Our absolute favorite: the sea lions at Stellar Cove. So cool!

Mommy just likes this picture - one of those "just because" shots

A picture of 2 monkeys :)

....and snails and puppy dog tails.

What is that laying on my kitchen table? Why, it's a snake. My sons informed me that they "caught a dead snake!".

"Oh!" I said, "and where is it now?"

"On the kitchen table so we can show Dad when he gets home!"

Of course it's on the kitchen table. Where else would they put it?

Blah.

Various Cute Shots...

Brielle Jaden's first bath. She's very suspicious...

They're getting along a bit better now. Nobody wanted to give up sleeping on The Megabed, so a compromise (or an 8 hour truce) was in order. They all managed to keep the grows and glowers to a minimum for the majority of the night.

My boy and his bun.

I am Officially a Lemming...

From Mommy: Yes. A minivan. This happened after I was unstrapping my youngest from his car seat and he said, "Why is Shamus smoking? Smoking gives us cancer." I turned around and, low and behold, our '86 conversion van (affectionately known as Shamus) had smoke billowing out at us from his ventilation system. D'oh.

Now, this instance happened shortly after he started sprouting mushrooms (yes, honest to goodness mushrooms) out of his carpeting. Hmmm. Time for a new form of transport, eh?

So, we hear by introduce Scarlett, our new ride. I'm bashfully admitting to loving her. Her gas gauge works. She has dual sliders. She doesn't smell of burning petrol. She gets more than 9 miles to the gallon. I don't have to yell for my children to hear me while on the road. I can reach her pedals without strain. I can park with only 1 try. Yes, Scarlet and I will get along just fine. Thank you, Lord!

Mommy's New Boy

From Mommy: Happy Mothers Day to meee! Micah bought me this little (2.7 pound) pomeranian! Isn't he just so cute? His name is Lexx and he's about a 10.5 on the cuddlability scale. The boys are just smitten with him.

Here's how the pawed members of the household are reacting to the new little guy:

Jadis: Annoyed. Very, very annoyed. I may never be forgiven for toting around that little yaipping traitor.

Kitty-One: Curious. Much sniffing is in order, but heaven forbid he sniffs back. This will result in an evil glare and a kitty-swat to the muzzle.

Brier-Rabbit: Joy. Finally someone who will frolic and play! Brier-Rabbit adores the puppy.

Niece update: Brielle's doing great and slept a 5 hour stretch for Daddy and Mommy last night! She's eating like a champ and has discovered her Binky - it was love at first suck.

More Brielle Pics...

Malachi, Solomon & Brielle
"Look how tiny!"

Auntie Nee` and her beautiful niece...






"I want to hold her!"


















The first smooch of thousands.

SHE'S HERE!!

From Mommy: So excited to arrive and see this sign!

More family starts arriving. Grandpa starts pacing, puzzles are begun, card games are brought out, books are cracked open and calls are made, "We're here!" "I've read the same sentence 4 times." So hard to concentrate amidst all the excitement!

The boys can't wait to see their first cousin!

Nana and me waiting...

Uncle Chad takes the boys and goes on a lunch run to Croissant & Company - Yum.

Everybody finishes eating, then, "What was that?!" We heard "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"! Every time a baby is born the hospital plays it over the speaker system - could this be our girl? YES! Her Daddy comes through the double doors, all smiles, "C'mon back!"

May I introduce:

Brielle Jaden

7 pounds, 11 ounces

19.5 inches long....

and beautiful

Chad and I say, "I'm finally somebody's Auntie!

Woohoo!! "

Mommy, Daddy and Baby are all doing great!

Look at her beautiful Birthday Cake from Nana

Happy Birthday indeed, sweetie! We love you!

It was so worth the wait, huh Kai-Kai?

More pics tomorrow after the new family of 3 has a chance to rest and recuperate a bit.

Friday, May 11th, 5:47am

My sister is on her way to the hospital!!
Pray with me:
"Heavenly Father, we pray in your Son's name for a perfect delivery, a healthy baby and no complications. We pray for wisdom for anyone assisting and expert skill for the doctors and nurses. For We pray for my Sister that she would be protected and manage the pain and emotions involved with bringing a new life into the world. We pray for her husband to have peace and perseverance. All these things we ask in Jesus name. Amen!"

OK! Here we go!

Avoid "$2 Tuesdays"...

From Mommy: What could be more fun than a day at the zoo? Why, driving an hour to get there only to find a half mile's worth of sweaty humanity waiting to gain admittance and no available parking! That's what! After circling the entire vicinity several times and discovering the lines snaking into infinity, we decided to come another day (if you've ever considered going on "$2 Tuesday", just pay the extra dough. Trust me.). There was plenty of whining, lamenting and pouting about not getting to see the animals, but I eventually calmed down as my boys consoled me and Micah rubbed my back, promising that we'd come back another day.


Sooo, we ended up at Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center instead. It was good times. Not the same caliber of entertainment that penguins and elephants offer, but I got over it.




PS - The shirts that the boys are

wearing were mine when I was their age. Nana just came across them while cleaning out some storage. Don't they look so retro-80's? Radical!









PPS - For those of you who've been calling to congratulate me on my new niece, because you "assumed that she had to have been born by now...", no, she's still quite content staying warm and curled up just where she is.
If the expression, "Fashionably late" is exponential, she'll be born wearing vintage Versache.

The BEDroom

From Mommy: Our room seems to have finished it's mutation into a communal-sleeping facility. It was but a matter of time. We finally pushed an extra twin bed next to our king to form the "Mega-Bed".

The Mega-Bed's superpower is preventing deeply sleeping children from pummeling their parents into next Tuesday with the punches, kicks and slaps the little darlings don't even remember issuing. Lately, come morning, all Mom and Pop have been able to show for their night's "sleep" is substantial bruising.

No more!

While it does take up most of the room, the Mega-Bed also provides comfort and containment for any children who:

"Had a nightmare"

"Had a leg cramp"

"Are cold"

"Miss their dog"

"Are sad"

"Miss their Daddy"

"Have something important to tell you, but I forgot what it was - can I sleep here?"

"Hear a bee"

"Are hot"

Have "a frog in their mouth"

or any of the other reasons that bring them to our room, blanket in tow. Unconventional? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Are you surprised? I'll wager not :)

The Ol' Balloon in the Shirt

"Mom, I'm wike Auntie Juuwie!"

(Poor Auntie Juuwie.)

To My Niece:

You see Auntie's little ticker up there, sweetheart? See how all the numbers say, "0"? All the days, hours, minutes and seconds? That means time to come out!

Don't make me come in there!

This Morning:

Why do the boys look like this,

And I look like this?

Because this was Mommy & Daddy's bed last night:

Yawn.

Must. Have. Coffee.