Another Lewis Family Member

Take a slow, deep breath. Ready? Sure? No, I am not pregnant. Last Friday morning, at 9 am, our newest addition arrived to our already busling household. His name is Hunter, and he is a 8wk old Boxer pup. Calen finally got his dog. He got his brother. He got his sister. He got his playhouse. He got his trip to the beach. The boy got his dog. Calen's doing pretty well.

For the first hour he shook like a leaf. He was scared on his new surroundings. With these kids that is fair enough. There was also a terrible thunderstorm outside; adding to the anxiety. He sleep most of the morning, but by late afternoon was entering the puppy blues. He missed his mom and his siblings. He didn't eat at all that day. That night was long. His crying disturbed Riley and she would cry. She ended up in our bed so we could at least get some form of sleep. Hunter would have also been content to sleep with us.

Saturday, he was still in his puppy blues. He wouldn't eat, but he would have little bursts of energy. He would play with the kids. We also began training for basic commands and setting rules for our newest little fella. That night he finally ate. He went to sleep really well, but when he woke up, the crying started.

*Note: it has now been one week today that Hunter joined our family. Everyone is doing well. Jax can't keep his hands off him, but Riley doesn't mind. She's getting a reprieve. Calen said last night, " I have a baby brother and a baby sister and a puppy. What big responsibilities I have." Yes, you do.

Hunter is proving to be 100% housedog. He doesn't like to go outside and is eager to come back in. He doesn't like the chilly night, the wet dew, or the dark. He fits in so well with our family.

By Sunday, we came to the conclusion that Hunter is the ultimate house dog. He has little desire to go outside unless necessary. Then he is usually right on the heels of someone. He is eager to come back inside. He also wants "to be with his people." At night, he is fine if we are in the same room with him.

At this moment. Riley is asleep in the glider. Jax is playing with legos. Calen is doing is bookwork, and Hunter is curled up at my feet between the boys. All is calm, but I know that a storm awaits with three active, curious, natuarally clowning around boys. The thing is the dog will be the easiest to train.

*Update: Hunter is now 11 eleven weeks old and been with us for three weeks. He is the perfect dog for our family. He has blended right in, and Danny and I enjoy watching him be one of the kids- most of the time. The kids couldn't love him more. He loves, loves, loves to go ridin' around and is now sleeping through the night now that he is sleeping with Calen. Now, if we can just get Riley reprogrammed not to wake up at 12am, 3am and 6am.

**NOTE: pictures will be added once I retrieve them from the camera. The camera has taken to holding pictures hostage, but has yet to demand any form of ransom. Motive: unknown. Solution: a new camera without the attitude.

Florida Here We Come

We just got back from spending 8 wonderful days the Sunshine State. Danny had an AMSSM meeting in Tampa to attend. Because I am still exclusively nursing Riley, we decided we would take the entire family. We have also been telling Calen we would go to the beach for the past two years. It would be a vacation/educational experience- just one of the perks of homeschooling. We also decided that it would be easier to drive than to try to get everything we needed to an airport, on a plane, and in a rental car.

We packed up the car with all of the essentials and left on Thursday evening when Danny got home from work. About an hour into the trip, we got our first ever, "Are we there yet?" from Calen. We laughed and told him "no, no".

We drove just south of Atlanta, stopping only twice. There we spent the night and was on the road by 10 the next morning. During this leg, we only had to stop five times. First for lunch right outside Moultrie. (Brooke, I almost called you to see if I could borrow your washer/dryer. Jax had a stomach bug). Next, Wal-Mart near Valdosta for a Shout and detergent run. Even though it was vactation, I would still have to do laundry with that tag along bug of ours. The third stop was for a "we need to get out of the car/stomach bug" moment. We spent about 15 minutes at a Burger King before we hit the road again. The next two stops were potty breaks for Calen. We pulled into Tampa at 6 pm.

Enjoying the pool

Come on in! The water's fine.
Brrr. That nice breeze is cold when you first get out. Who cares? The pool is soooo overrated.

Saturday, Danny had meetings all day long, but the kids and I enjoyed just lying around the hotel room. We even enjoyed pizza in our room that night, followed by a walk around the boardwalk, and then Calen and Danny headed to the pool for an evening dip. Sunday evening we went to the Florida Aquarium. The kids really enjoyed the watching the fish, otters, birds, and stingrays.

It's official. Calen was hatched from an egg.

Man, those things are fast!
I don't get it.

Monday was Busch Gardens. Calen road his first big roller coaster. Unfortunately, it was the old, wooden one. He thought at all would be as rough as that one so we had to do some coaxing to get him on the next one. He perfers the metal ones right now.

Jax rode his very first ride with "Bubbie"

This egg doesn't taste like the ones momma makes.

So, how fast can these baby go?


Oops. I barely missed that elephant.
I'm ridin' the rails and watchin' the deer and the antelope graze.

See!? I knew my bros were wildebeasts!

The boys were having so much fun, and Riley was being such a trooper that we stayed all day. We even went back Tuesday morning and stayed until 1:00 before Danny had to head back for some meetings.

Let me drive! Nobody's lookin'!Finally! Everyone's one the other side of the fence, and I'm on my own!
Can we put one of these in the backyard? We're pooped.

On Wednesday morning we checked out and headed towards the official vacation spot- Amelia Island Plantation. On the way we stopped at Dinosaur World.

Then a few miles down the road, SeaWorld. The kids had a blast! Calen loved touching the sting rays. They felt soft, smooth, and slimy.




Jax wanted in with the dolphins.

The shows were "awesome," "cool," "amazing!"

After we had drained all of our energy, we hit the road once more. When we arrived at Amelia Inn, we went out on the balconey. Although, Calen could hear the waves, he couldn't see anything at 10:00 at night. We went to bed and awoke the next morning to the sun rising over the ocean. I woke Calen up and told him to go look out the window. He pulled the drape aside just a little bit. Then with awe and amazement he said, "Wow. Oh, man" as he began eagerly pulling the curtains out of the way for a better look.

We spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning relaxing on the beach and playing in the waves and sand. When we first went down to the beach on Thursday morning, Calen would walk into the water and then run back towards shore yelling, "there could be a jellyfish out there" or "there could be a shark" or "there could be a stingray." Yes, Calen, there is we explained. After about 10 mintues he forgot what lurks in the ocean and was frolicking in the refreshing, salty water.

Stingrays, jellyfish, sharks. Oh, my!

I'm a beach bum

I'm a beach bunny

On Friday afternoon, while Jax and Riley were taking their nap, Calen and Danny headed back down to the beach. They were playing in the "wildebeast waves" as Calen called them. Immediately after getting hit with a wave, Calen would call out, "Shore!" But, Danny kept him in the water and they continued playing. At one point, they had just had a wave and Danny was helping Calen back up; however, Danny had made the mistake of turning his back on the ocean. As he was trying to help Calen regain his balance he heard it behind him. Before he could do anything he was hit full force in the back by a huge wave. It knocked Danny off his feet and swept Calen about 10 feet away from where they had been. After Danny was able to stand back up and get Calen, who at this point says he was thinking he was going to die, they both yelled, "SHORE!" at the same time. As they getting out of the water Calen looked at Danny as said, "That was the KING of the Wildebeasts wave!" They spent the rest of their time that day at little closer inland. That evening though Calen was back out, but this time on the lookout.

Ah, the easy life

The fish ain't bitin'

Saturday morning we spent more time enjoying the beach before we packed up and headed back home. By 9:30 that night we were in our garage. The kids did fantastic. They travel really, really well. Our biggest challenge was bedtime.
Catchin' the waves



Ridin' the waves

A Little Backyard Project

*Pictures to be added after I get them off the camera.

This is something every family should tackle as a backyard project- a wooden playset. Last month we bought the kids a "Sky Fort" to put in the backyard. We looked at all the different types available and finally settled on one that fit our family's needs. There is such a age gap between Calen and his brother and sister that it was difficult to find one that was a "one size fits all."

We went to Sam's, loaded all four large heavy boxes on the truck, and brought them home, slowly, to put them in the garage. That night and the next day, I spent three hours sorting the pieces and then putting them in alphabetical order to ensure a quick find of required pieces. We had a 50 page instruction manual. The cover informed us that with two moderately skilled adults it would take 20-24 to assemble the Sky Fort. Not too bad. That means with Danny and his father, who is an extremely skilled adult, it would only take them 40 hours or so (Danny is addition by subtraction in situations like this, you see...)

The one set back was that we had to use our large unattached garage for the job instead of the drive-under garage near the construction site. Oh, well, the excerise is good for you.

So, anyway, I sorted the pieces with the plan to have Danny's brother and dad and my brother and dad come help put it together. My mom and sister was also going to come help watch the kids so I could help the boys. Well, that weekend it rained. Calen drove us up the wall the next several days asking when we were putting it together.

The next Saturday arrived, beautiful, clear skies, and a warm 76 degrees. It was lovely. The weather I mean, not the project. We began by marking off the area and clearing the grass. The we put together the base of the fort. Then the boys began leveling the ground underneath before we could do anything.

Then my dad and brother arrived and began helping work on the fort. At this point, we has too many chiefs and not enough Indians. A few things got turned around and had to be redone. There was also questions about the directions. Sometimes, guys, it is best to follow the directions.

By the end of the day we had accomplished a bulk of the playset. That night my mom and sister spent the night so we could work the next day. Yes, it was Sunday, but Calen wasn't going to wait until next Saturday. While mom and Amanda and I got the kids ready for bed, Danny went to the garage to assemble the climbing wall. After the kids were in bed I went out to help him. We assembled the ladder and monkey bars and called it a night. We were nice and burnt from the sun's hot rays.

The next day, after church we headed back out. It was another gorgeous 78 degree day. We attached the ladder, climbing wall, slide, swing set arm and swings, and the mokey bars. Calen was able to play on it that evening. They only thing we lacked were the crow's nest, picnic table, and finishing the base. We had spent a total of 18 hours at this point- including the sorting and leveling.

We didn't get a chance to do anything else for several days. That gorgeous 70+ degree weather turned to snow. We were sunburnt and wearing sweaters. The next week Danny and I would take the kids out and work an hour here and an hour there, trying to finish it. We still lacked the crow's nest. So the following weekend we finished that.