NEW GRANDSON!



Deacon Matthew Patrick
March 19, 2014
6 lbs 4 oz - 19 in

 

Since he was 3 1/2 weeks early he had to stay in the Nursery.  It was hard not being able to be with him and hold him.  By the third day he was taking a bottle and things were looking up.  By the 4th day he was nursing and was able to go home on the 5th day.  He is a precious little sweetheart that is loved so much!

 

Megan is surrounded by handsome boys!

 



There is nothing more precious than a brand new baby... it's amazing how instant the love is!
This Grammy is so in love with this sweet little angel.  Can't get enough of him!!



 

His big brothers sure love him!



 



Maryland trip

I was so happy to go to Maryland and visit some of my favorite people!  Despite the freezing weather and snow, I had a fantastic time.  It is so beautiful there with so much history.  There is still so much more I want to see and do and can't wait to go back!  Thanks Jordan, Kristine and Erin for making my trip so memorable.  Especially thanks to Owen for being so adorable and fun!

I was welcomed at the Baltimore Airport by these two handsome boys!  They made the long trip well worth it.

Jordan and Kristine live near the beautiful town of Frederick.  There was lots of snow on the ground so I'm excited to go back when the town looks like this!  So many quaint little shops.  Everything is very historical, which I love!

Air and Space Museum in  Washington DC

 Dinner at the famous Shake Shack in downtown DC for yummy burgers and shakes

 Our last stop was to Georgetown where we waited in line at Georgetown Cupcakes where the TLC show, DC Cupcakes was filmed.  Very cute town and the cupcakes were delish!

Owen playing with the Bat Cave Aunt Megan sent him from his cousins, Jack, Lincoln and Coleman.  He loved it!

Having fun hanging out at home with the ever crazy Owen!  Top right picture is dinner at one of my favorites, Café Rio in Frederick.

More fun at home!



Thanks to Kristine I was able to visit Gettysburg, PA, a place I have always wanted to go.  It is only 40 minutes from Frederick and such a beautiful drive there and the movie and museum were great.  Kristine and Owen both endured my obsession with American history and followed me around while I enjoyed every minute.  On the way home we drove through the town of Gettysburg which is so beautiful and restored to its original state.  It was a journey back in time for me.  Civil War history is so fascinating.  We scored too at the outlet mall outside of Gettysburg at the Old Navy outlet!   It amazes me that you can drive from state to state in such little time.

It was a special treat to be able to spend time with Erin in Baltimore. We had lunch one day and were able to see her nice new house and of course the pugs.   What a treat to be able to spend my last night in Baltimore at the restaurant where she works and have her as our server!  She set us up in a private room and served us appetizers, delicious main course of mouthwatering steak and cheese cake for dessert.  We were definitely spoiled!

Sullivans Steakhouse in downtown Baltimore


I'm looking forward to another trip back there in the spring to see more sites and especially to see the newest member of the Lewis family!  Can't wait....

Eventful January!

The beginning of 2014 has proven to be very exciting .... This year we will have many things happening.  Two new babies, a wedding, a trip to Disneyland, trips to Maryland and who knows what else will be coming.  Stay tuned!!

Sisters sharing a moment at Dave & Busters

Justin hanging out with the donkeys

Lunch at our favorite - La Bou

The boys (big and little) had fun at Dave & Busters

More Dave & Busters

Iain proposed to Shauna at a ranch in Loomis where the wedding will take place.  Tears were shed by all!!

The happy couple, Iain & Shauna.  Love them!  Such a special moment.

Game night with the gang




 

2013 in Review

Another year has come and gone and I feel very blessed.  Many memories were made this year that I will never forget.  Time with family is my favorite and nothing can take the place of that but friends are also very important to me and I have some great ones that I was able to spend time with in 2013.
I have chosen a few pics from this blog to chronicle some great memories.....

January

Disneyland

 

February

Snow time with Owen in Utah

March

Walk in the wetlands with Jack, Lincoln and Coleman

April

Touring my grandparents home with Wells side of family

May

Washington DC with Erin & Megan

 

June

Memorial weekend visit to Folsom with Jordan, Kristine & Owen

 

July

Trip to Utah with Jack for a fun visit

August

Fun visit from Shauna

September

Back to school for these cute boys

October

Another trip to Utah for Halloween

November

Trip of a lifetime with great friends to Hawaii

December

4th annual Christmas brunch with Pam, Patrice, Sheri, Bonnie and Jan

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas has come and gone but here are a few pictures of Christmas Eve.  I missed the rest of my family so much.  It just wasn't the same without everyone here.  I'm so happy that I was able to continue our Christmas Eve traditions even if it was only with Megan's family.  It was a great day and evening!  We drove around after dinner and looked at lights and then came home and opened gifts.  My children were so generous (as always) this year.  I received so many nice gifts....I love my family!!!

Continued the tradition of over 30 years of going to a movie.  This year it was "Walking with Dinosaurs".  Of course the boys loved it.  Justin and I suffered through and Megan slept! (Top Pic)
Bottom pic - Just hanging out working on a puzzle and waiting for dinner.  The boys were so excited to open the presents and kept asking if it was time yet.

 

The picture on the left of Coleman is very blurry (I know) but I just had to get a pic of him with his big red ball.  He was so thrilled!  It's amazing how much joy a $2.50 gift can bring to a little boy.  Lincoln was happy with his 49er blanket too!
 

I started a new tradition this year of candy presents.  I decorated these packages with Reeses and candy kisses.  The boys loved them and it helped to make the gift a little more exciting.  Inside was sweatshirts!!  (Like most kids, they are not thrilled with getting clothes for Christmas but adding the candy was a fun bonus)

Not the best pics..... Here we are enjoying or candlelight dinner of Pork Tenderloin, twice backed potatoes, rolls and green beans.  Jack is showing off his new 49er cap and Megan is enjoying her dinner.

Cute little Owen drew me a picture for Christmas.  This is always something this Grammy cherishes!

Shauna created this awesome iphone cover with pictures of all the boys!
Next year we will be adding two more boys to our family so I will need a new phone cover!!

December 2013

December has been a very busy month so far.  Here are a few of the highlights of this beautiful season.....

I had a fun night with the boys looking at Christmas lights & doing Christmas crafts.  There is a cul de sac in Lexington Hills called Ledgemont Court that always has amazing Christmas lights.  The whole cul de sac is lit up and it is so magical.
We always went as a family every year to see these lights and it is fun to continue the tradition with my grandkids!  They loved it and had so much fun running from house to house.  I love watching their faces light up!  

I had my 4th annual Christmas brunch with my friends.  This is always an event we all look forward to.  It's great to get together and enjoy delicious food, good company, lots of laughs and exchanging gifts.  I love my friends!

So far I have not done a lot of baking this year, but I did make several batches of caramel corn to give to friends.  It is so good and so easy to make!

Caramel corn
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
11 marshmallows cut in half
2 bags microwave popcorn

Melt butter in large pan, add sugar and bring to a boil. 
Stir in marshmallows til melted and smooth.
Tranfer to large bowl and pour over popped popcorn. 
Mix until all is covered and place on cookie sheet lined with
parchment paper.  When caramel corn is cooled, break into
small clumps and store in airtight container.


 

This is supposed to be a video of Owen saying Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas, but I guess I don't know how to post videos.  It is so cute and when I figure out how to do it I will repost this. He called me to thank me for the package I sent him with all the Christmas goodies.  It's so fun to be able to share with him even though he lives on the other side of the country!

 

 Enjoyed a lunch with my brother Russ and sister-in-law Stella.  We went to a Thai restaurant in our old neighborhood in Sacramento (59th and Broadway).  It was so fun reminiscing and spending time with my brother.  We don't do it often enough and hopefully we can make this a December tradition.

Lincoln's 2nd grade class at Silva Valley Elementary school had a holiday play.  Lincoln was a beaver and a skunk.  He did awesome!  The class shared lots of music and traditions of Christmas, Kwanza and Hannakah.