Go Aaron!!!

 Aaron ran his first triathlon at the end of June.  As you can see, he had some groupies!  We were so proud of him and had fun cheering him on.  It was an adventure for us as well as we moved from place to place in order to cheer for him at as many spots as possible!  We even surprised him with special shirts for the occasion...which he loved!  He enjoyed running this Sprint triathlon so much, that he has been training to compete in an Olympic length one (which is twice as long) later this month!

As Aaron ran from his swim in the lake to the transition area to get suited up for his bike ride.

Ready for the bike ride portion.

They cheered "Go Dad" more times than I could count!

Just starting the run portion of the race

Way to go Aaron!!!

A Boat Built for Two (Part 3 of Trip)

So the kids went home with Grandma and Grandpa, and for the last three and a half days of our trip Aaron and I enjoyed a wonderful get-a-way with just the two of us!  We rented a little boat housed in the Long Beach Marina that we stayed on.  It had a cute little kitchen with a booth for seating, a sleeping area, and a little deck that we enjoyed relaxing on.  There was a kayak attached that we took for rides around the marina, and to the nearby beach.  We could see the Queen Mary from the boat, which was especially cool at night. And we were within walking distance of a lot of great restaurants, shopping, a movie theater, and a nice running path right on the beach (all of which we did while we were there!)  I can not tell you how rejuvenating this trip was!  We really took it easy and had so much fun being spontaneous.  It was also awesome to be rocked to sleep each night by the motion of the boat.  I loved this trip with my Sweetheart!!!

Newport Beach (part 2)

 My wonderful husband and patient father-in-law drove six hours in our five-seater car (with three little girls in the back seat) to meet the rest of us (who were still left) in Newport beach for the second leg of the vacation! 

As much as I enjoyed having the time to relax on the beach before they arrived to join us, the beach is more fun with kids!  They had a blast digging in the sand, building sand castles, running in the waves, rolling around in the surf, and splashing each other!  They also got the chance to go visit their cousins overnight with Grandma and Grandpa before they headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a few days.

Lewis Girls' Trip

 I got to start my summer off with a three-in-one vacation down to southern California.  Let me explain:  The first three days were a girls' trip with my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law.  Then Aaron, our three kids, and his dad drove down and spent the next three days with us as a family.  And then the kids drove home with Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunty Sarah, while Aaron and I stayed three more days for our own little mini vacay!  It was fabulous...a little bit of everything!

Let me start with the first leg of the trip.  I left my sweet little family and drove down to Newport beach with Harriet and Sarah where we met Lorraine and Angela (both living in Southern California), Callen (from Seattle), and Britney (all the way from St. Louis.)  We sure missed our other sister-in-law Brittany who was unable to be there.  The seven of us spent the next three days relaxing at the beach, talking, shopping, hiking, driving a boat around Balboa Island, going to the Newport Beach Temple, and just being together.  We had so much fun!  I am so blessed to have married into such an amazing family...I sure love these ladies!!

Eve's Generous Haircut

At the beginning of the summer (after much patience, and months of brushing through tangles) Eve had 10 inches of her hair cut off so she could donate it to "Locks of Love."  She was so excited to be able to do this, and already wants to do it again!

Before:

After:

*photos courtesy of Grace

Family Portraits 2013

My amazingly talented BFF, Julyssa, worked her magic with our family in a photo shoot in San Francisco this past spring.  I loved everything about this shoot...it was in an awesome location, I loved everyone's outfits, and it was genuinely fun!!!  We just had fun playing and being together, and Julyssa was able to capture it all through her lens.  It was super windy so everyone's hair (except Aaron's) was flying around, but in the end it just added to the realness of these pictures.  When I look at them, I am taken back to that perfect day with my family...and for that (and many other reasons) I will always be grateful to Julyssa!

 There were so many more photos that I absolutely LOVE, but these are just a few of them!

Recitals

Last spring (yes, I'm starting from last spring) the girls had their dance and piano recitals.  All three lovely little ladies participated in the dance recital.  Grace danced a graceful butterfly ballet, Eve was brilliant in her Czech polka, and Daphne melted hearts as she tap-danced to Shirley Temple's "Good Ship Lollipop!"  On a side note, I just have to say how enamored with ballet these girls have become (including Daphne...she was actually really upset to have to tap dance for this recital instead of point her toes in little pink shoes...we know now only to sign her up for ballet in the future!)

Eve and Grace both did fabulous in their piano recital.  They were encouraged by their teacher to dress up in a costume that went along with their piano piece.  Eve performed "Showboat" in her sailor outfit, and Grace performed "Castle Days" dressed up as a queen. This was Eve's first year playing, so she got her first year medal...so exciting!!!

Blame it on Instagram

When I started blogging, my scrap-booking outlet stopped. Much like that, since I have started posting pictures on Instagram, my blogging outlet has stopped.  But unlike blogging which actually increased my journaling habit, Instagram has just been an easy way out that only requires me to express a few words here and there...and while fulfilling my need to share pictures of my life with my closest loved ones that are too far away to see on a regular basis, I am lacking the satisfaction of documenting my family's memories.  So, although I don't plan on ceasing to post the occasional glimpse of my life on Instagram...I am committing to continue my blog as well.  I've got a lot of catching up to do...so please bear with me!

Easter Sunday

Easter was lovely.  It truly was a beautiful day...in so many ways.  Springtime is such a vivid reminder of  God's love.  Not only do I feel His love through the perfect weather and newly sprouted blossoms and greenery, but through the smiles and laughter of my loved ones that surround me.  Today, not only did I get to hear laughter, but singing also!  Grace and Eve sang a duet in Sacrament meeting at Church while Aaron accompanied them on the piano, and it was wonderful!  I felt so full of love and gratitude as I watched and listened to my daughters sing of their love and belief in Jesus Christ.  I was touched as their sweet voices sang the words, "Then, when that blessed day is here, He’ll love me and he’ll say, “You’ve served me well, my little child; Come unto my arms to stay.”*  I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ...for His birth, Atonement, and resurrection...and all that is made possible through Him.

*“When He Comes Again,” Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 82–83

Egg Hunt at Grandma/pa's

 The Saturday before Easter we had a blast hunting for eggs in Grandpa and Grandma's backyard!  Grandma and the Easter bunny were quite busy making this a super fun occasion for the kids.  We had a delicious lunch, dyed hard boiled eggs, and went crazy in the backyard finding candy-filled eggs everywhere! We are so lucky to live so close to Grandparents and Auntie Sarah.  They are so much fun!