Life as a Lewis

For a family that regards Halloween as one of the least important holidays ever invented, we've spent a lot of time celebrating this weekend. :) Friday we visited a local church who always hosts a fall festival. Camden helped man one of the games while Rory flew around with her friends. Brian and I just tried to keep up. She's wearing Camden's batman costume from kindergarten (or first grade). Saturday morning, these 3 got into the spirit of dressing up while they looked for a costume for the rest of the weekend. Brian makes a very convincing biker (he seriously looks exactly like one of the musicians at our church). Camden settled on a super geek. He says he has plenty of experience. Tonight we're catching our breath and handing out candy at the front door although we've had a shockingly low number of trick-or-treaters. I guess it's better that way - more leftover candy for us and less trauma for Camden as he open...

Okay, so maybe it's five on Saturday, but who cares. 1. Rory walked out the door with cowboy boots, fuchsia corduroys, and a red plaid shirt yesterday morning. I resisted all urges (past the initial prompt that maybe she had a shirt that might match a little better) to make her change. 2. Guess who made the JV basketball team?? We're less than a week in and life is already crazy, but I think it will fun to watch. And I know the extra physical activity is going to be good for relieving all that middle school angst and aggression. Or it will make him cranky because he's so tired. Time will tell. 3. Camden is attending a church Halloween party tonight so Brian and I are dragging Rory along for date night. Who knew scheduling an actual date night was only going to get harder instead of easier as the kids grow up? 4. I've had 3 photo shoots in the last 10 days. The weather has been perfect for every single one (we're currently experiencing a very warm bu...

We absolutely do not have this parenting gig down, but what these kiddos have going for them is a dad who is willing to play a little catch football in the evenings. There's very little that can't be fixed by 20 minutes of quality time. (This is not a pose, btw. This is his stance, and the toes of his shoes are constantly torn to prove it.)

1. In the last 2 weeks, I have spent 4 days in Louisville, KY, working at the annual D6 Conference and 2 days at an off-site planning meeting. Can I tell you that I still pinch myself that I get to do this job? My family is so sick of hearing me talk about it. 2. My parents have been here twice in the last 2 weeks. They stayed with the kids while we were in Louisville and then were here this week for Grandparents Day at school. Also, hello, Fall Break! 3. Camden tried out for the middle school basketball team this week. While he was supremely nervous, I might have been even more so. Seriously, I felt like vomiting when I dropped him off. I did a good job of covering up my own nerves for his sake (how adult of me). Baseball tryouts were more intimidating because of the set-up (all the coaches lined up, etc.), but he's played baseball for 8-9 years so there is a sense of familiarity (plus, the whole left-handed pitching skills almost make him a shoo-in). This is his firs...

Rory turns 10 today, and she cannot quit reminding me that she is a pre-teen. For a girl who wants to grow up as quickly as possible, this is a big deal. We celebrated over the weekend while my parents were in town and she is taking snickerdoodle cookies (that she made herself) tomorrow for lunch so her actual birthday is a little anti-climatic. She requested Fazolis for supper (she is clearly not a foodie) and we have leftover cake and ice cream. Rory is giggly and tenderhearted, ditzy and intelligent. She is an awesome helper and a hard worker. She spends an inordinate amount of time in front of the mirror fixing her hair (which is always a bun or braid). I am still her favorite human (although I have a suspicion the tween years could change this). She thrives on personal responsibility and independence. Once her mind is made up, you cannot convince her she's wrong. She is frightfully forgetful. She adores music and has no idea she cannot carry a tune. She cries at the d...

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? -Dr. Seuss

One of my all-time favorite pictures of Camden popped up on my FB feed last week. September 2010 Camden wasn't thrilled about it, but he let me recreate the picture only "because you're the mom." Of course, I'm pretty sure only "the mom" would want to recreate this picture. September 2016