A Day In the Life

2015-10-02T08:53:00.001-07:00

Hi.

I used to blog. A Lot. And then I had another kid. And then another kid.

I now have 3 kids.

One of them is a 2.5 year old.

I clean lots of messes all day.

I do lots of laundry and clean up pee and poop off the toilets because no one can seem to get it INTO the toilet.

Life has gotten BUSY - and I haven't written much to document our life. However, I do snap iPhone photos and post them to Instagram.

Instagram is probably the best way to keep up with the Lewis Family these days!

Follow Us On Instagram !!!

You can also find my latest work at The Painted Square and listen to our podcast about starting up your own business: Square One Show.

Thank you for finding me. I'd love to sit and chat sometime over coffee. I promise, I'll wash my hands after washing all our toilets. ;)

~Jessica

Tall Ships Erie, PA

2013-09-05T17:23:00.001-07:00

Beautiful evening in Erie and something really cool to do. I'm kind of surprised it wasn't completely packed for the tall ships parade! But then again, it was nice we didn't have to fight crowds. Erie has some weird people ( maybe we are considered some of them!?)

On a side note, here are the kids papers from school today!

And another side note, Owen made Truett into a hamburger.

Sleepy and Cranky

2013-09-05T05:53:00.001-07:00

One thing I have learned about Truett is that he is really cranky when he's sleepy, just like his mama.

Owen Loves His Momma

2013-09-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

My friends Mary & Frank were watching this the other night - and she said she had to share this with me. She couldn't stop laughing. "Owen loves his mama.... Owen loves his mama."

I remember watching this years ago.... thanks Mary !

Logos, Branding and Change

2013-09-04T17:43:00.001-07:00

Change has been a good thing for my logo! I started off making the logos myself (yikes!), and I would hope that they got better with each new revision! And the very last logo with the scribbled live beautiful was done by a professional. E-ail the amazing Kristie Wenzel at Kraft & Jute; she does an astounding job and will help you re-brand!

We are always changing. Over the past seven or eight years, I have learned so much about photography and my style. I have found what I love to take pictures of (girl senior portraits!), and what I hate to take pictures of (group shots at weddings and someone is always missing and we have to wait for one person to take the group shot...).

I have tried many different camera settings and presets and editing styles, and even though it will still change with time, I feel like I have found what I'm really drawn to: natural beautiful portraits. No crazy editing, just simple, beautiful images that look fantastic when printed and brought into the home. What I love about my new logo, is that it's not big and flashy, but more of a simple hand written message: to live beautiful. It's not solid black, but a very soft gray. To me, it's the essence of Simple. Beautiful. Which happens to be Kraft & Jute's tagline! That has been my challenge of how to live my life.

It's fun to look back and see the changes. I'm happy about how far I have come, and I look forward to seeing how I can improve my skills over the next few years!! If you have any questions or comments - I'd be happy to blog about it.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2015: And yet - I've done another change. !!???

You can now find all my work at The Painted Square! See what the new logo/brand looks like.... :) I know. The suspense is killing you.

Why I would like to completely ditch Facebook.

2013-09-04T04:44:00.001-07:00

Facebook seems to be just quick random updates... how I'm feeling, what I think, what you should watch, what you should buy... I really hate all of the self promotion and advertisements everywhere!

The blogging platform is more story based. I quit blogging after Owen was born. It was overwhelming to keep writing stories and updates when I had a two-year-old and a newborn baby. But somehow it's easier now that I have a six-year-old, four-year-old, and a five months old?

I've learned a lot over the past few years. About business, Entrepreneurship, photography, family life, being a mom, being a wife, being a Christ follower and more. There are a million blogs that you can read from people who are so much more qualified than I am to speak about such things. So, as I re-enter the blogging world, I will continue to just be myself, and you can read along and join me if you wish!

And the best part about writing again, is that I continue my collection of stories.

Hey there! I'm back

2013-09-03T19:03:00.002-07:00

On April 22, 2013 - we added our third kid - Truett Everton Lewis! More on him soon...

I'll be honest. I'm overwhelmed and tired of facebook. Every time I open the app on my phone, I waste so much time scrolling through everyone's posts. I'm happy, then sad, then humored then enraged, then thoughtful.... the emotional roller coaster as I read everyone's posts is just too much. What I should do is just delete everyone and only show those friends who post whimsical comments.

So maybe I'll start posting on my blog again! We have moved into a new home ... ok well .... THREE years ago! But I FINALLY have some before and after pictures to share!

I can also update you on how Live Beautiful Photography is going as well as how Kraft & Jute is doing. Oh yeah- I'm also homeschooling Cali & Owen this year. Cali is a 1st grader and Owen is K4 - meaning he's learning his letters and numbers. He's also learning how to be more quiet (that kid is LOUD) and how to hold a pencil. I asked him which hand he likes to write with - and he said, "both." Awesome. Ok - so I'll just teach him how to be ambidexterous.

Totally Pulling Them Off

2012-02-05T09:01:00.001-08:00

Dave and I have been watching How I Met Your Mother on Netflix... So the title of this post and photo of Cali would only make sense if you watch the show... :)

2012-01-21T21:07:00.001-08:00

My husband did not think that this would have voice text thing abilities. And I'm deathly not going to be posting this. We just had popcorn and pure for supper I mean snack time. And much time at your mother.

Ok. I just spoke into my phone and between not knowing exactly what to say and voice to text errors... That is what came out. Guess I'll need to work on this.

Photo Frames and Wall Hangings

2012-01-21T13:09:00.001-08:00

I love this old cabinet door that hangs in my living room... I've been designing a new product in my head that would have this kind of feel....

Am I back?

2012-01-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Blogging used to be what I did. I had LOTS of time to write - and post whenever I had a chance to connect to the internet. Oh how things have changed in the past 5 years! Facebook come into the scene- and I dropped all the blogging - and just started posting little blurbs on my facebook page. I also put more time and energy into my entrepreneurial ventures: Live Beautiful Photography and Kraft and Jute. To be honest, it was nice not blogging for a while. However, now that I look back over my life journal, I'm sad that I missed lots of sections of it.

The entrepreneur part of me thinks it would be GREAT if I could just enter my blog address into some website and they turn it into a book. I could have options - like which cover to use - and if it's hard back or soft back, etc. I can also delete some posts that don't need to be in the book. But then again, it's a journal... a snap shot of my life... Anyway. If you are a book press company - let's talk! I have so many ideas that flow through my brain; I need some good corporate resources to pitch them to.

I'm also not a good writer. Never was. And I'm an awful speller. Spell check makes me look awesome. (It just corrected me and let me know that "Sepllcheck" is actually two words. Go figure.)

Because I have a million ideas - and they all hit me at once when I sit down to write - it's hard for me to write a concise thought. And I digress...

Well- I just downloaded the blogger app on my iPhone; maybe I'll be able to keep my life journal on blogger going. Let me know what kind of stuff you want to hear. I love posting my opinions! :)

I'm a Pirate -- ARRRRR

2009-12-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

Sara Harper (www.SaraDHarper.com) took this in the car on the way back from seeing downhere in Elizabethtown, KY for the Bethlehem Skyline Tour. Enjoy!

Lewis Update!

2009-12-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

Our Acker family Christmas is over.... as of Black Friday! Mark, Mandy & Blair will be in Minnesota and Cali, Owen, Dave and I will be in sunny SoCal with Nana & Papa Lewis. It's snowing and blowing outside now, but we'll be ready to take the kids to the beach in a few weeks! It won't be warm enough to swim, but they can play in the sand!

What's new in our world? Dave is on the Bethlehem Skyline Tour with Downhere and our good friends Jason Gray and Lanae Hale. I wish I could be out with them! Sounds like it's been sell-out crowds/full houses every night. That's soooo encouraging. I miss being on the road, but looking forward to being on the K-LOVE cruise the beginning of February! I'm thinking of leaving BOTH kids with grandma & grandpa. Dave & I need a really good vacation to ourselves. I'm still BF Owen.... he's 5 months already!

Update on the O-man: He's not so fond of bland rice cereal, but loves squash. That's the only thing I've given him.... however Grandpa gave a taste of pudding and our friend Mary Ann gave him a taste of whipped cream and he REALLY seemed to like it. I don't blame him; it's good stuff! He can roll over from his tummy to his back, but can't quite get from his back to tummy yet. He rolls over on both sides, but just can't make it over! He's definitely Mr. Laid Back and Cool. Surprising, eh? He'll just sit in your lap and watch everyone (mostly Cali) do their thing.

Update on Cali : She'll be 3 at the end of May! She's talking up a storm. Here are some things she's been saying/has said in the last few days:

"I want to take a shower with the boys." Of course, Grandpa responded, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh my Gooooooooooo sh"

"I want to bite it! I want to bite it!" -- while making sugar cookies with her little spoons and mini cookie cutters.

"Peek-a-boo Owen!"

"Let's go hide in the closet, Grandpa! Okay...."

"You want to go downstairs? YOU WANT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS?" (all her toys are in the nice cozy warm basement.... she loves to play down there and cook us food and ride the elevator (steps.))

"I'm gonna race and run, okay?"

She lives in Cheerios, cheese, bread, V8 Splash, spaghetti..... and some other small random things.

Update on Dave: He's still touring with Downhere! We've been in PA for the past few months and he's been going in to McLane Church to help our friend Brandt improve the sound and lights. He does such an amazing job. I told him he should do some consulting -- go to different churches and fix sound problems/help order new stuff / set things up / train volunteers. He's not so sure. :)

He's a great handy-man! He's fixed our van's spark plugs, changed the oil, changed the front brake pads, and something else.... i can't remember!

Update on myself: Two kids keeps me sooo busy! - and i'm even here with my parents who help out a TON! Mom watched Cali all day yesterday and Owen & I did some shopping in Erie. It felt very indulgent being away for a whole day, and I still had one kid with me. I even scored a free Tim Horton's peppermint hot chocolate. YUM. Totally recommend it!

I've been busy developing our Live Beautiful Photography business. We've done a few senior pictures and family pictures. I absolutely LOVE it. Every day I'm learning more. We just need to begin marketing and getting more clients. We'll get there! We're working on developing the brand and fine-tuning what we are excellent at. I think I'm going to focus on kids (baby to senior pics), although I love doing engagement photos too. It's hard to narrow it down! I'm thinking of doing some wedding photography.... we'll just leave it as that for now!

OK -- now for what you've been waiting for -- PICTURES!!!! I posted these on my facebook and just couldn't stop laughing. Maybe you've already seen them - but they are worth a second look.

Enjoy!

Happy Halloween and wardrobe changes

2009-11-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Beth Irwin for letting us borrow cute little costumes! Cali looks WAY better than any home made outfit I would have come up with. We got video and pictures of Cali in her lion outfit -- but she decided to go with the frog.

Here's Cali the Frog and Buzz Lightyear aka Parker Irwin. They decided to go the easy route...

Port Farms

2009-11-01T16:11:00.000-08:00

We visited Port Farms this fall with my cousin Missy, her husband Jake and their 3 year old Riley. Sooooo much fun! We ended the visit with Cali's first hay ride. We especially LOVED the corn pit! WAY better than sand. I think Dave & I want to make one for Cali next year... of course, that's a lot of corn to husk...

The home made slides were a hit: Cali didn't want to stop!

Dave also loved the slide.... but he had to make it a bit more challenging....

Trick or Treat? Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T14:11:00.001-07:00

Another Cali & Owen video!

2009-09-19T17:57:00.001-07:00

We're just hanging out at home tonight! Dave is in Canada doing a show with downhere - and Cali, Owen & I are trying to figure out what to do the rest of the evening. Cali had a late nap -- played with kids at church tonight-- and is now going CrAzY at home!!! I wish I had a huge playground inside that she could run out all of her energy.

Here's a short video so you can see how big Owen is getting !!!

I Should Have Known Better :: ALWAYS bring the diaper bag.

2009-08-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Last night at church, Owen and I made it through the music part - but then he was ready to eat. So he and I headed for the nursing room in the other building. Not thinking straight, I decided that I didn't need the diaper bag, since he was only going to eat for a a bit and then we'd be back.

Well. Let me tell you what happened.

Half way though eating, he pooped. And then pooped again. It didn't sound so bad. But when I picked him up to burp him, it had gone up his back and left a huge "yellow seedy" wet mark on his back. Nice. And I thought it was okay to leave the diaper bag in church with Dave.

Oh- but that's not all.

So what do you do when you don't have a change of clothes and don't have another diaper? You get creative and use a paper towel, folded over a few times and cover him in a receiving blanket. I sat back down, holding him in my lap. Then something warm and wet began to soak through my jeans. Crap. He just peed ALL over me !!

Dave showed up about 5 min after Owen peed on me and luckily I had a bunch of diapers and a change of clothes. Not 5 min later, he blew out THAT diaper AND it meant another wardrobe change. Luckily- I had ANOTHER outfit - but if little dude got that one- he was just going to have to go half naked.

We made it home without incident - and the boy was happy to have all of that out of his system.

*******

Here's a video I just took of Cali & Owen -- he's growing like crazy!

It Was Only a Matter of Time...

2009-08-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Cali was breastfeeding her plastic dolphins in the tub last night... When I told Dave later, he tried to keep a straight face while asking her,

"Cali, what were the dolphins eating?"

Cali replied, "Cali Tummy."

Owen is 5 weeks old today! I am determined to take some more "professional" looking pictures of him; maybe i'll get to that today? He is starting to smile and coo already.

Dave went to Home Depot last night and bought closet doors so we he can finish the guest room and Cali's room closet doors. That will be our project today!

I've been going through our closets and getting rid of a bunch of old clothes that we just don't wear anymore. I keep telling my self that "maybe i'll wear that next summer" but the truth is, it's old, ratty and I can't possibly let myself wear it next summer! I should not be wearing it THIS summer! Stacy and Clinton of TLC's What Not To Wear will be after me. But I'm getting rid of any evidence of bad fashion. The unfortunate reality is that I won't be getting a $5,000 credit card to go shopping in NYC to replenish my wardrobe.

We are all trying to eat breakfast and Owen feels left out in his bouncy seat. Better run!

Cali Getting Her Praise On

2009-08-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Whether it's a microphone or a Medela breast pump - she'll sing into anything. She was singing into her fisher price plastic horse during her "nap" time this afternoon!

A Few Hospital & Coming Home Pics of Owen

2009-08-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

Cali introduces Owen Franklin Lewis to the world !

2009-07-25T12:31:00.001-07:00

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.