A Day In the Life

Cali's 2nd Birthday

2009-07-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some highlights of Cali's 2nd Birthday - in PA

Great Grandma & Grandpa Acker

Train Candles! I had these exact ones on MY cake when I was little!

Cali in her PJs - and a sneak peek at my belly! (taken beginning of June)

on the golf course

2009-07-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

So. I have a lot to catch you up on. I'm going to do that through pictures - because (1) They are more interesting (2) They are worth 1,000 words and i don't want to type 1,000 words and (3) because they are more interesting. Oh i mean (3) i'm really tired and don't know what i'm saying anymore.

Here are some pictures that my friend Tricia took with her Nikon D40 on the Venango Valley driving range - that just happens to be in her back yard! (interesting note: she now lives in the farm house that my mom grew up in -- and this is the back yard that my mom & her brother & sisters played in when they were little!

* Trish & Cali *

Our Trip to Hershey, PA

2009-05-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Dave and I have been traveling a lot lately! We drove up to Cleveland area with Downhere on May 8th - and my parents came and picked up Cali and I while Dave drove to shows in Michigan - then back to Nashville where he flew out to do a show in Denmark. As soon as he got back from his short trip to Denmark, Dave drove up to PA to spend a few days relaxing. We left Cali with Grandma (Grandpa was on the Appalachian Trail for a 100 mile hike) -- and headed down to Raystown Lake, near Huntingdon, PA - and my Aunt Dar & Uncle Alan took us out on their boat. On the way back to their house, we stopped at a gas station - and the sign on their front window made me laugh: click on the picture to see a larger image... "Yes, We Have Worms!"

The next morning (Sat May 23) we drove down to Everette, PA to meet the Downhere guys for an afternoon festival show. Our friend Christina, who stayed with Dave & I last spring, met us at the show - and then we travelled on to stay with her in Hershey, PA. Her family fed us a fine supper - and then took us to Hotel Hershey and a quick tour of the Hershey area. We ended up at Hershey Chocolate World - for a free tour. (Christina's dad works for Hershey and they hooked us up with some yummy chocolate before we left!)

On Sunday, Dave & I went to Hershey Park - and I don't know if it was being pregnant- or if it was just miserably hot -- but it was MISERABLY HOT! We spend a few hours at the park - road the antique cars and up the kissing tower - and then came home to rest for a few hours before taking Christina to a Coldplay concert! -- Chris Martin ended up burning his arm at the beginning of the show - and then falling off the drum riser during one of the songs. The poor guy had a rough night - but was humble and won the audience over, despite his run of bad luck. Pete Yorn opened the evening, which got off to a late start due to a small storm that rolled through. The rain held off for the concert- it was a beautiful evening!

Riding on the Antique Cars

view of Hershey Park via the Kissing Tower

Hershey Stadium - where we saw Coldplay

We left Memorial Day morning - May 25th - and drove through State College, PA. We stopped to get ice cream at the famous Creamery- but alas- it was closed for the holiday. We wanted to get our picture taken on or by the (also famous) Nittany Lion statue -- but it was volleyball camp week at Penn State - and didn't want to wait in line behind a bunch of bubbly teen girls.

you can see dave to the right.... waiting.....

oh well, Dave, maybe next time!

We came home to see Cali on her SECOND BIRTHDAY!!!! I'll do a separate post about her birthday laid-back celebration in PA.

You can see more pictures via my facebook page.

Cali's first run around the bases

2009-05-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

You Asked For It! Picture of my growing Belly...

2009-05-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here is my beautiful cousin Kelly - due with a baby girl within the next few weeks! I still have a few months to go... I'm currently at 29 weeks already. Dave & I have a name picked out - but you're not going to know until he gets here!!!

This picture was taken just outside my Grandma Ewing's house. Don't let the photo fool you; it was freezing when my cousin Janell snapped the picture! We ran back inside as soon as we could.

And here's Aunt Denette with Kelly's 3 year old Anjali (on right - big beautiful brown eyes) and Cali on the left.

Dave's Wit and My Crazy Ideas Have Lead to "Now Humor Me" t-shirts

2009-05-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

With the latest craze of Swine Flu - Dave was inspired to twitter, "I think i got the donkey flu when i went to the zoo last week. It makes you feel like a real ass."

Now, Dave has had some really great tweets that should not go unnoticed.

"On our way to chicagoland. Its the land where chicas go. Its true look it up."

"So far me and today are getting along just fine. I haven't spent much time with it yet but I think i'm really warming up to it"

"It's warm outside today and there are a lot of yards for sale around here. We went and looked at a few but they were covered with junk."

"Trying to apply some strategery to the complexitization of my fascinatorial life."

"Lord save me from these foul odors that persecute my nose as i sit in this travelling gas chamber known as the van."

"The plane we were on was headed to hawaii. I should've hid in the crapper."

You can follow Dave's twitters here: www.twitter.com/davidlewis

You can follow Now Humor Me's twitters here: www.twitter.com/NowHumorMe

With Dave's wit - I just can't pass up the opportunity to create humorous t-shirts, hosted by Cafe Press. I couldn't just create a t-shirt shop without a name -- So I came up with "Now Humor Me." our tag line: "Think You're Funny? Now humor me."

You can visit the shop (and please, blog about it and link to it everywhere you can!) - www.CafePress.com/NowHumorMe.

(click on the picture below to see full size)

I just bought the domain www.NowHumorMe.com - and will be developing that over time. For now, our shirts are hosted at Cafe Press.

Working with Mark Wagner :: check out his new music!

2009-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Dave and I have been involved with helping our friend Josh begin Sixdegrees Management. (you can check out Sixdegrees blog too). It's incredible to see how God has brought this whole idea into a reality. We are currently working with two artists: Randall Goodgame and Mark Wagner.

Dave met Mark on the bus doing the Ressurrection Tour with Andrew Peterson. Mark just happened to be an extra person on the bus hanging out- because he was finishing his CD with producer Ben Shive, who was playing keys for Andrew Peterson. (did that all make sense? haha)

Mark and Dave had a great conversation about the music industry, where it's headed (no one seems to know) and that maybe Sixdegrees Management would be a good fit for him. After a few more meetings - we are proud to be helping Mark take his music and ministry to another level.

His new CD (coming this fall) is about bringing Hope to the hopeless. Here's a video of Mark that gives you a snapshot of his new CD "The Sun's Gonna Rise."

Mark Wagner EPK from Chris Raines on Vimeo.

Main Street Festival in Franklin with the Berry's!

2009-04-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that about 100K people will visit downtown Franklin between yesterday and today! There are hundreds of booths selling handmade goods and local businesses promoting their products. We met our good friends Josh, Julie & Conrad for a night on the town: here's some highlights!

The guys took the kids so Julie and I (the preggo ladies) could look around

We wanted to get some root beer but they closed JUST as we walked up.

*****

click here to see more pictures from the Festival on the Lewis Photography Blog

*****

Movie "Yes Man" and Last Years Trip to LA

2009-04-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

Dave & I just finished watching "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey. As I was watching it - I randomly remembered seeing signs around Hollywood last year when we visited for our 5 year anniversary. We saw three or four different crew signs that said "Yes Man"- pointing the extras and actors where to go for filming.

And almost a year later (that would be tonight) - we happened to pick up the movie from our local Wal-Mart Red Box. ($1.00 movie rentals -- our kind of budget!)

Read last year's post of Dave & I in LA

Highlights from the blog post:

** We were going to go to Mexico - and decided not too.... I gave 9 red flags of why we didn't go...

** We were at a Jimmey Kimmel Live taping

** We won tickets to see the Broadway show "Wicked" - (current top 10 American Idol Adam Lambert was part of the cast... Dave went back and checked the program.... although he did not play Fiyero that night...)

** A "MUST SEE" picture of Dave "wearing" a football jersey and pads.

Cali cookies and "Totally Random Picture of the Week"

2009-04-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

They have never tasted better: chocolate chip cookies by Cali Lewis ! Coming to a store near you...

And the TOTALLY RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

I cleaned out my purse the other day and was appalled at how much garbage I was toting around.

Free tote & t-shirt Giveaway!

2009-04-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

Just in case you don't follow the Live Beautiful blog - or my tweets -- I'm partnering with Jo of Life's Perfect Pictures to do a live beautiful tote and t-shirt giveaway -- a winner will be announced for each! Just running one week only - so head over to Life's Perfect Pictures and see the 8 different ways you can enter to win! :)

ENTER TO WIN

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T15:42:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter Take 2 on 12seconds.tv

Spring Tornadoes

2009-04-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a weird day - with severe stroms and tornadoes touching down all across Middle Tennessee.

Dave was in Florida doing sound for the Andrew Peterson Resurrection Tour. This is the second set of severe weather he has missed! I'm glad it happened during the day. I can't sleep at night when the wind is picking up and the lightening brightens the room. Tornadoes have always scared the crap out of me. In fact, I've always had dreams to tornadoes coming after me. They most always fizzle out before they get to me, but I do remember one cartoon tornado - with eyes- that followed me under the deck. I don't remember it getting to me though. And yes- after a busy tornadic day yesterday, I DID have a dream of us rushing to the basement to avoid disaster. I know exactly what to do though, in my dreams- and I always get mad of those to want to stand outside and watch.

In between the storms - Cali grabbed the swiffer (which sucks, in my opinion...) and was cleaning the walls while I sewed some new totes for the live beautiful etsy shop.

After the storms rolled through - Cali got to go outside and do some more puddle jumping!

Amish Volleyball...

2009-04-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

My dad, besides being a former police officer and current preacher, is also a bus driver. A few days ago, he took a bus load of Amish to a wedding. I should have him write more about his experience, as most of us have probably never been to an Amish wedding before. I asked dad how the wedding went, and his response was, "Well, it was all in German... I assume it went well?"

He stayed on the bus most of the day - but did manage to capture this great picture!
Look closely - you can see the volleyball net is between the two buggies:

He said the girls played volleyball in the morning - and the guys played in the afternoon. Apparently they are not allowed to play co-ed volleyball?

Check out my dad's current blog post: The Quick and the Dead: Murder at the Donut Shop

The "Cold Butt" Game

2009-03-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

And here's how it works:

Take off of your diaper and sit on the cold tile floor. Then repeat "ohhhh ! Cold Butt!"

After repeating three times, laugh hysterically.

Game created by: Cali Lewis.

Puddle Jumping !

2009-03-25T13:54:00.001-07:00

Cali and Conrad

2009-03-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

I spent this past Saturday night with my dear friends Josh & Julie Berry - and their 2.5 year old Conrad. Dave was out of town in Thomasville, GA - running sound for yet another downhere show!

We went to an Acquire the Fire event, which is actually where Josh and Julie first met (awe!). They are good friends with Phil Joel and his band - and they were playing/ leading worship Sat night.

Cali and Conrad were pretty good during the show -- but when it was over and we headed back stage to the green room -- they had a LOT of energy to burn!

Here's a super cute video of them running around in the green room.

Blair Mackenzie, Welcome to Our World

2009-03-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations goes to my dear younger brother Mark and his beautiful wife Mandy. They welcomed Blair Mackenzie Acker into the world on February 24th. I cannot tell you how excited I am to meet my new neice - maybe next week? I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you! A new baby and pictures go together like peanut butter & jelly.

Yesterday, Cali was sitting in her high chair - and out of nowhere was saying, "cousin Bair! cousin Bair!" so sweet.

look at how big my brothers hand looks.. or how small Blair looks... or both!

Hello Friends & Family! Here's an update

2009-02-22T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you - I haven't been updating my personal blog as much becuase we have been pretty much stuck INSIDE and not really doing anything exciting! Not much to report.

I've been busy making and taking orders through my Etsy shop, Dave has been in Saskatchewan at Briercrest Bible College with Downhere for Youth Quake (2K kids/youth leaders). Let's just say it's COLD up there in mid-February! He flies home tomorrow - and Cali and I are very excited to see him again!

Have you ever heard of 12seconds.tv ? Cali & I have been trying it out and here's the official channel from Live Beautiful. I'll put a widget in the sidebar so you can keep updated on all the 12 second video updates. Not sure where it's headed yet - but I'm all about new social media.

I've also been racking up the twitter comments - and even made a live beautiful Tweet Bag for my Etsy shop. Yeah- that's how crazy i've been. Follow Me on Twitter if you dare! And you can Follow Dave too, while you're at it! He is pretty darn funny.

Well - my rice and stir-fry is ready and Cali is behind me asking for more juice.... gotta run!

i love you guys!

The Daddy Dance: Cali and Daddy practice the Victory Dance for the Steelers Game Tonight

2009-02-01T14:41:00.001-08:00

Here's Cali practicing "Hey Hey Goodbye"

with Grandpa & Grandma.

Here's Dave and Cali doing the Victory Dance

Kentucky is Still Frozen :: Pictures from the Ice / Winter Storm

2009-01-31T21:02:00.000-08:00

My parents took these amazing pictures on their drive north through Kentucky today.

Pastor "Warming" Things Up in Cold Sanctuary

2009-01-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

AH. I miss going to Apex church in Dayton, OH. I attended while going to Cedarville University. It was a teeny tiny church back then.... in fact, it wasn't even a church, but a singles group when I went!

My brother Mark Acker still attends and can be seen playing guitar in the worship band... He just forwarded this YouTube video of Pastor Rob warming things up... Sounds like it was pretty dang cold this past Sunday! (my brother keeps his thermostat at like 58 or something at home - so if he says the sanctuary was cold - it must have really been cold!!!!)

I hope you enjoy the vidoe as much as I did.

U2 new single "Get On Your Boots" - Listen Now !

2009-01-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

U2 has a new single called "Get On Your Boots" - from the brand new album "No Line on the Horizon." Release date for US is March 2nd for digital download and March 3rd for physical CD.

CLICK HERE to LISTEN to U2's new song - and see brand new album artwork!

Now I just have to wait until they release tour dates...

Today's Ultrasound Picture :: We're Farther Than We Thought!

2009-01-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

Lewis Baby #2 is 13 weeks along - into our 2nd trimester already!

Looks like everything is normal so far.

Here's a peek at the new baby -- officially due July 22nd.

Apparently I was a Little Devil When I Was Young...

2009-01-06T16:01:00.000-08:00