Independence Day in AJO, AZ

The party in Ajo was definately one to remember. With 27 people under one house, 10 of those under the age of 3(correct if I'm wrong), it was a zoo! The girls had SO much fun with their Keeler cousins and actually cried for ten minutes when they said goodbye. Thanks to Mom and Dad for hosting everyone and for Dad who had to sleep on the couch........he's a good guy.Baby Malin was a hoot trying to talk to everyone in his own language. We had a great time swimming, eating, relaxing, playing fun games and watching the fireworks!!! The ones not pregnant or nursing had a great time playing baseball one day and dodgeball the next day. What a wonderful nation we live in. I hope and pray that our leaders will remember their forefathers and what this country is founded on. Happy Fourth of July!!!

Below: the girls ,and Keeler cousins, took over Grandma's hose that she was using to water the lawn and had a water fight!!. The weather was actually nice outside so we all had a good evening talking on the porch. Fourth of July morning with all the kids around the patriotic table. Aunt Carolyn did great decorating! Aubrey is in the green T-shirt(jammies) and Savannah is in the middle on the right side. Savannah in the motion of jumping off the diving board. Grandma and Grandpa have a great pool. Aunt Janae and Miss Aubrey playing in the pool.

I have some great pics of the kids at the parade. I will post them soon as I get them from Aunt Janae.....stay tuned......

Fireworks!! Malin was is in awe with the fireworks!! I'm surprised he didn't cry. They didn't phase Aubrey, she fell asleep. And we all endured Savannah's screaming everytime a firework went off. On Saturday we watched Jacob and Julianne in their swimmeet. They did a great job!

It was pretty hot at the swimmeet.especially for pregos and babies, so we didn't stay long. Baby Malin was ready to jump in....he was so hot. Also, Daddy and Uncles were asked to help time for the swimmeet......see if you can find them in the background. Savannah was so busy while we where there. So much to do!!Baby Malin and Aubrey in their FAVORITE OUTFITS!!!

Baby Malin had a blast playing ring around the rosy with all the cousins his age. Kade, Emma, Carson, and Malin.

A Good shot of his Molar. He has them all in and boy are we glad......he's much happier.

FHE's are so fun!!

I have had alot of fun with the FHE packet group that I am a part of. On June 30th, we had a lesson on Families. We talked about how each member is important to a family and each person brings different qualities. Beforehand, I put each ingredient for CCC's into ziploc bags. I gave each person two or three ingredients and told them they could start eating it. Ofcourse, everyone's response was "EW, no way!!". Then, I pointed out that if we put all the ingredients together it would make something wonderful!! So we took turns putting our ing. into the bowl and soon enough we made something yummy!!! Then we summed it up with this: " If we try to be alone and do everything ourselves, our life can be pretty boring and dull, jsut like the individual ingredients, but if we all come together and be a FAMILY, we can make something wonderful, something ETERNAL" It was a great night. Aubrey conducted,(they love conducting and it gives them practice at talking to people), Baby Malin led the music,(yes it was hilarious, we contained our laughter) and Savannah said the prayer and the scripture. Daddy gave moral support to each person. Mommy gave the lesson. I love my family. What a blessing it is to know that I can be with my family forever, even after this life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us that perfect knowledge. I am so indeedly grateful for the true and full gospel that is on this earth to guide us. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have a plan for us.

Pretending..

Savannah and Aubrey are best friends. They have been playing pretend the past few days nonstop!! I love seeing my children play together and actually liking it. Below Savannah is helping her baby go to sleep. She's singing her songs and rubbing her eyes(Like mommy does) She is five, but still loves dollies and barbies. Aubrey got an American Doll look alike from a yard sale last week and loves dressing her up and laying out her clothes. Here she is with all the accessories. And ofcourse they are both in their swimsuits. They LIVE IN THEIR SWIMSUITS.

It's Wonderful!!!

Baby Malin, as you know,loves balls. Anything round is a ball as far as he's concerned. Even the clock is a ball. Anyways, on SAturday , 6/28/08, Daddy was relaxing on the couch after a long HOT day in the heat doing yard work. He was watching a baseball game. Baby Malin came in the room, saw what was on TV and automatically started saying 'Ball, Ball" and he pretended to throw a ball. He went and sat on Daddy's lap for 10 minutes just saying ball, ball! Daddy had to leave so he put Baby down and left the room. Next thing we know, Baby Malin had pushed a chair in front of the TV and this is what he was doing. Too funny! Daddy Malin was so grateful to finally have someone that likes to watch sports with him!!! *Push pause on the playlist before watching this.*

Malin got a haircut....

6/26/08 Baby Malin needed a haircut REALLY bad. His hair grows SO fast. Here's his before pics:

Here's the after pic:

You've got to try this..

In January I started a Gratitude Blog after hearing Elder Eyring's talk in Conference about keeping a gratitude Journal. Since I enjoy typing much better than writing, I started a "Gratitude Blog". I can't say I write everyday, but I just have to tell you all that if you are looking for something therapuetic, yet cheap(Which is what I look for since we don't have money for a full body massage:) then I am telling you, start a gratitude Blog. Sorry, you'll never be able to read mine because only me and my husband have access to it...and it's very personal. But, try writing in it regularly about what has happened to you that gives you gratitude. I can actually say that I don't have anymore guilt about not writing in my journal because I'm doing it! So, whether out of guilt or just because you're grateful(I hope you choose the latter) start a Gratitude Blog. And make it personal so you write all your deepest thoughts. I hope you'll enjoy it just as much as I do. Happy Blogging!

Summer Happenings.....

Our summer has been filled with Swimming and Gymnastics. Savannah and Aubrey are loving Gymnastics. I think we have formed a habit. They can't stop talking about it!! Thanks to their Aunts who have been doing gymnastics for years, they have the cutest little hand me down outfits that they love to wear all day!!! and night....They have a great instructor that is Olympic Certified and even worked with Paul Haun. She's FANTASTIC!! We are so excited to have her here in Maricopa. Here's Aubrey right after her pull up on the bar. Her teacher is so proud of her! Aubrey climbing up the ladder....it helps with their upperbody strength. Aubrey in her outift ready for gymnastics.

Savannah waiting her turn.. Posing for the camera. Aubrey in the middle doing her stretches. Aubrey on the beam. I wish I had more Pics of Savannah....she is doing so AWESOME!!!!!!!! THEN.........

This is what happens when it's 115 degrees outside and your children are bored.....They dress up Baby Malin. Here he is in his 5 piece blessing outfit( just call him fat guy in a little suit.)

The culprits. He's done with it... Take it off!! What are they doing to me?

It's a ........

GIRL!!!!!!! WE are so excited to announce that we are having a girl!! Watch out Baby Malin, you are really out numbered.....and daddy too.

Father Day Weekend and the First Annual Stake Conference for Maricopa Arizona Stake

What a fun weekend!! We had Julianne for the week while she went to meetings for Girls Camp. She will be a YCL this year. She was an angel in my home as she helped with the kids and cleaned my house. Then on Friday Mom, Dad, Jacob and Janae arrived from Ajo. They came for Stake Conference and to help Esther and Jesse move in. They are moving into a Foreclosed home they bought right behind us!! We are so excited to have family so close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post some pictures of it soon. Stake Conference was great. Grandpa spoke and did a great job. He even got his Presidency to sing a quartet together in the adult session. It was marvelous! We hope they make it a tradition. Stake Conference was help in two different sessions(both were from 10 to 12 AM) because we don't have a stake center yet. So, that was interesting to see our stake President walk in at 11 oclock from the other session. We can't wait for our new stake center. Anyways, Sunday morning before Conference the girls and I and Mom made pancakes and strawberries and whipping cream for breakfast. For lunch we all gathered for turkey sandwiches and Sunday night we had Nelson and Kelsey and their kids Amrie and Carson, Seth and Colleen and their three girls Nickie, Malaya, and Caylin, and Glen and Dayna and their little son Kade join us for Sunday Roast Beef dinner. Colleen and Dayna are due in about six weeks. Colleen and is having their first boy and Dayna is going to be surprised. But we think it's a boy. The pictures below explain more of the fun we had!!

Aubrey, Savannah and Aunt Janae(She's at EAC) playing the roll the ball with Baby Malin. Nelson, Amrie, Kelsey and Carson eating chips and salsa and getting ready for a grueling game of Acquire. Dad Lewis dominated us all.

Savannah Malaya and Aubrey putting on a performance for us. Look at all the beautiful pictures they drew for Daddy and GRandpa.

Aubrey, Savannah, Nickie and Malaya holding the beautiful fans they got from Aunt Julianne who just returned from a 3 month trip to China. Thanks Jewls!!

All the brothers and Dad wearing ties that Julianne bought for them in China. She got everything so Cheap!!! Including Jewelry.

Cousin Amrie and all her chubs are so KISSABALE! WE couldn't get enough of her.

Love the shirt. Cousin Elias and Savannah having an interesting conversation. He is the son of Jesse and Esther Wilcock. We will be seeing a whole lot more of them and when they finally move in!! Grandma, Malin, Grandpa and Elias. We love you guys!!

The last three pictures are all of us singing hymns together at Family Scripture Study. Below Mom, Seth and Colleen(she looks great for being 8 months pregnant. Baby Dallin is coming soon!

Dad, Nelson, Kelsey and Amrie.

Jen Wilcock(Jesse Wilcock's sister) Esther, Janae, Dayna and Glen. Dayna is due in 6 weeks. She looks great!!

I also wanted to express how much I love my husband what a great father he is to our children. He is so supportive and so loving towards me. He keeps me happy. I love you Malin forever!

Here's a picture that Aubrey drew of her Daddy. She was SO excited to give it to her Daddy. And here's asleep in my arms as I write this post. He had a long weekend.

Mischevious Malin June 4th,08

A usual occurance these days is catching Malin before he climbs on the table and spills any plate or bowl that was forgotten to be taken to the sink. He won this time......

He found a roll of toilet paper.....

Mrs. Malin

After giving Malin and the girls a bath I sent Savannah to go get Malin dressed. When they came back to my room, where I was folding clothes, this is what I found.......Mrs. Malin Lewis(aka Cinderella) This will not be a habit for sure but it was pretty funny for the moment.

Grandma Nelson and her children

Every summer Grandma Nelson's daughter and husband visit from Florida. So we all got together and had a party so we could visit with them. We met in Phoenix at the Central Ward Building and May 31, 08. That morning we went to the temple. We got to go with Mom and Dad Lewis and Rusten and Danae Keime. It was their second time going through. They're great people. Anyways, after the party, we got a picture with Grandma and her 4 children and their spouses. Only Uncle Brent's wife wasn't there. She is in Kansas City trying to sell their house. Her husband works in Phoenix and hopefully there house in Kansas will sell fast so they can be back together in Mesa. They are so excited to be back in the Valley with GRandma Nelson and 2 of their 4 married kids. Our mother and father are Sally and Malin. Sally in the red shirt and Dad right behind Grandma Nelson.

Ryan on BYU WEEKLY

Click on the link: http://www.byub.org/byuweekly/ Just click on his picture(Faces of BYU..Ryan Innes) in the middle of the page and it will bring up the clip you can watch. It's awesome! He's got a dream!! And he will do it!!!