Best. Day. Ever.

We had such a fabulous Saturday. I know I'm probably in the blogging doghouse here, since I haven't really posted anything in months (don't call this a comeback) and I swear I'm working on an update, but I just had to celebrate the awesomeness that was yesterday.

It was a crisp, sunny, PERFECT fall day. Oz and I got up a tad earlier than I'd have chosen, but we got out for a gorgeous run and stopped to throw rocks at the duck pond before heading over for a little of this:


Yep. It was Calder's first soccer game of the season. And he was PUMPED before it. I'm a big fan of pretty much all sports, and had high hopes that Scout's natural athleticism would translate into many hours of team sport participation. But alas, she's not really that into organized sports. So I was more than thrilled to see Calder in action. He's pretty good, and I must admit I was surprised.

We were all pumped as we headed home, and nearly expired when we saw what our neighbors (who have been cleaning out their garage for the past 3 days) had left on our doorstep. Not one but TWO giant boxes of Legos, a huge Lego Yoda in an unopened box, and several different cool sets of wooden blocks, and about 10 years supply of zoo books. Here's a sampling of what the kids did on Saturday:


The best part of it all was that the boxes had all kinds of Harry Potter Legos, which you can't buy anymore. And my kids are TOTALLY into Harry Potter (Scout read all the books last year and is now on her 2nd go round, and I bought black fabric to make Hogwart's robes for Halloween costumes.) So as they found stuff, we'd all celebrate. "I found Dumbledore!" "Look! It's Hermione's HAIR!" "Calder, it's the Nimbus 2000!!" This was pretty much all we did for the next 4 hours. At first we were saying, "This is just like Christmas" but then we had to revise that, because who are we kidding... we never give them this much for Christmas. Calder started saying it was like Halloween if we got presents, Christmas, Hanukah, and and his birthday all combined.

Then we piled in the car and went to Brooklyn for a birthday party. While buying the present on Court street, we bumped into some of our favorite people on earth, the Linds, and a family we loved from our floor in our apt. building. We had the best time at the party catching up with old friends and fell into bed that night happy and tired. (And I made Travs drive by Zaytoons on the way back home so I could get a falafel sandwich to eat in the car. Mmmmmm.)

What an awesome day. The only thing that could have made it better is if there had been Magnolia cupcakes at the party, but the chocolate ones Robin made were pretty fabulous too. Oh, and if Wayne had given me the clog boots he had bought for his wife.

The end.

Golden Nuggets

My sister Sara the other day was rather overwhelmed with being a mom of three, worried about dad, the rash and the spinal tap, and in general not in a good place when she heard a knock at her door. She opened the door and there was a package there with a baseball cap from Georgia and this note inside

Sara:

Sending love from Georgia! So wish I had been with y'all the other night. I have been thinking about you so very much. I know some of the feelings you may be feeling- there are some things I know for certain the gospel is real and eternal families are freaking real. I know that the lewis family is amazing and together you'll be good and I know you have people in NY that love you so much. So when you wear the GA hat know there is someone in Georgia that REALLY cares.
Love to you.
LeeAnne Pope

Then last week mom and dad got a package in the mail from Washington D.C. and inside were two DVD's about golf and some candy with the following note:

Dear Gordon and Kathleen,
We have been thinking about you a lot lately. We are sorry you must endure this trial but admire the way you are going about it. You are in our prayers and we wish you the best in the coming weeks and months. We hope you will be blessed with strength and peace.
Love,
Brian and Amy Barker [travis' sister who has probably met dad once]

These are just a few of the many Golden Nuggets that the Lewis Family has received in the three longest months of our lives. The following are a few of my personal nuggets:
· Tanner, Christian, Scout, Mason, Calder, Sydney, Crosby, and Brig who are hands down the best part of my life.
· Weekly deliveries of fresh bread and homemade fruit pies for dad from Sister Rude Jude Maxfield.
· Becca Bracy Knight and Pepper Sessions who are two of the funniest most delightful people on the planet. [even if Becca doesn't know what a spatula is]
· Jim Strong's shaking shoulders as I sit behind him during Sacrament meeting each Sunday and witness the man of "very few words" giggle at whatever unexpected hilarious thing has happened during the meeting [today it was Millie Martindale saying she wouldn't wish her trials on anyone except maybe Osama Bin Laden]
· My ASICS 2050 running shoes that are always willing/able to be laced up and go as I pound the streets of Btown "running out" my stress, fears, and frustrations.
· Travis Stratford for not only working long hours to provide a living so that Sara can stay home and be supermom but who is alone in NY as his family stays for weeks in Colorado. [I think a move is in order!]
· Rhonda and Meg Hansen for bringing homemade goodies, teaching me about politics, knowing the primary songs [when I don't] and emailing me the opportunity to sign the declaration of independence.
· Chris Martin and the music of COLDPLAY.
· Bishop Dietz, dad's home teacher, who is always right behind me asking how dad is and how he can help.
· Charles Langston for taking the time to gather "golf" reading for dad.
· Comcast for making available every sporting event for TGL's viewing pleasure.
· TGL himself who lies there hour after hour, visits doctor after doctor, swallows pill and pill and NEVER utters a word of complaint or frustration.
· My Savior Jesus Christ who tolerates my constant mistakes, questions, and complaints and supports me and the family more than I know.

So this post is an official shout out to all of YOU who through your words, prayers, notes, thoughts, and acts make our days and lives better. WE love you

A day late and $100,000 short

Yesterday was Sara Elizabeth Lewis Stratford's birthday - she turned 36. As you can see we have sort of dropped the ball in doing funny and fabulous tributes on birthdays - probably due to kids/cancer/moving/appliance debacles/remodels/gossip girl episodes and just "life" in general.

So I'll make this short and sweet. Sara rocks. Once Erin McNeil, Carrie and I were chatting and Erin commented that she didn't really know Sara that well. Carrie's response was "that really is too bad because she is such a treasure."

A real diamond in the ruff that Sara. No one makes us laugh more than Sara, she just has a way of turning daily events into a Seinfeld episode. She is clever, smart, fit, efficient, classy, and "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound".

If you have a cyber minute, I'd love to hear what your favorite thing is about Sara AND if you could buy Sara anything for her birthday what would it be.

I love you sis.

9/9/09

My friend Becca alerted me to the fact that today should be celebrated. She and my other friend Pepper, perhaps two of the funniest/smartest and least reverent people I know [outside the other Lewis girls and Erin Boss]have offered their suggestions on how to celebrate this most auspicious day.

- drinking 9 cups of tea
- eating 9 donuts
- sending 9 postcards to people you like
- biking 9 miles x 3
- going to The Nines in Denver to pick up some modern furniture
- stop by Coors field to blow Ian Stewart #9 kisses from the 3rd baseline, followed by 9 9" hot dogs (they don't sell foot longs on 9er days)
- committing to only driving 9 miles an hour wherever I go so everyone on the road will know how serious I am about this holiday.
- Nena 99 Luft Balon www.youtube.com/watch?v=14IRDDnEPR4
- TP the houses of 9 people you don't like
- Rollerblade 9 miles backwards
- Dance to "party like it's 1999" by the artist formerly known as Prince
- Interview your cat and some of his friends to find out which of their 9 lives have been the most meaningful
- Dip 99 strawberries in chocolate

I would love to hear any other ideas

Devil's Causeway

Dave on his recent backpacking trip - he is the one with the blue backpack.
What could be more fun than carrying a 50 lbs backpack across a 3 foot ridge with death cliffs on either side. What a surprise that he just happened to forget to mention this part of the trail before he left.