7/24/11: Eris has grown so much over the last year and there have been so many new experiences that she has been a part of. She was recently in "Seussical the Musical" where she played a 'who' and a 'jungle creature'. She has such a talent for the performing arts. It's amazing! This will have been the 3rd full play that she has participated in. Her first was "Alice in Wonderland" with Mesquite Kids on Stage where she played a 'sea creature' and the 2nd was "Treasure Island" with Missoula Childrens Theater where she played a 'seagull'. She had her year-end show for dance in June and did fantastic. Previous to that she won 2 trophies with her dance class in a competition. She was the narrator for a 10 minute skit she did with her 2nd grade musical theater class and was able to memorize the whole thing all on her own! She graduated from her 2nd year of 'Let's Play Music' where she has learned vocal and keyboard. She passed level 5 in swim lessons and is thinking about trying out for swim team. She is also an amazing reader and reads at least a chapter book per week (even in the summer)! She is still very creative and always thinking of innovative ways to use milk cartons and bottle caps. She is becoming so much more responsible and loves to help out. I am so proud of all of her accomplishments and the amazing daughter and friend that she is. She is so excited to be baptised in September. She even said "I can't wait to be baptized! I have been waiting my whole life for this!" I love her passion for the gospel and she teaches me so much every day. She has answered questions about the church that I never knew the answer to and others that I never even thought about. I am amazed at how ready she is to jump right into being a member and her excitement for it has been such a blessing. We enjoy reading 'The Friend' together and looking at the church website. We have open conversations about her beliefs and goals in life and through it all I think that she is preparing me for this step more than I have been preparing her.
10/27/10: Eris graduated from the beginning gymnastics class to the intermediate one today. She did a fantastic job in class and I was the proud mama watching in the background. After Shayla's comment about wanting to hug Jesus today, Eris recalled her experience during our sealing in the temple. She doesn't remember it happening specifically but loves to hear and tell the story over and over about how she said that Jesus held her hand and walked her through the temple. She has such a beautiful spirit about her and knows so much for her age. She doesn't let us forget to have scripture study and prayers and today she got out a pen and paper on her own to write down questions for a quiz about Alma the Younger. She is such a blessing in our life.
10/10/10: This is a writing assignment Eris did the first week of school. At the Orientation Night, I spoke with her 2nd grade teacher who told me how impressed she has been with Eris. She says that Eris is a great student and gets along with everyone. She is an excellent reader and writer and she is very happy to have her in class.9/27/10 Notes from Mom:
To My Er Bear,
You are an amazing little girl. I love how curious you are about the world. You are always asking questions and I hope that I do a good job answering or researching them out for you. You have grown so much and are getting so smart. I love how you love to read. It reminds me of when I was little when I always had my nose stuck in a book. But you keep busy with other things too. I love your little happy feet tap dance that you have been doing everywhere lately. You are a beautiful girl with such talent! You always know how to make others laugh. I know that when I get grumpy, you can help me feel happy in no time. You are always my big helper and my good friend. I love spending time with you and watching you learn and grow. Continue to always try your best!
2nd grade Father's Blessing: August 29, 2010
7 years old:
- I bless you with a blessing of comfort, that you will know that your Heavenly Father lives and he loves you. You'll know this as he watches over you to help you choose the right. Have the courage to stand up for what you believe is right. Your parents love you and will always be there for you. I bless you that you'll know you can talk to them anytime and that they can help you cope with the emotions you feel on this earth. I bless you with a mind open to learn new things and to a knowledge of your Heavenly Father and that he lives and loves you.
7 years old:
- Eris is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. She loves reading, art, riding her bike and scooter, rollerblading, swimming and playing with her friends. She is also an amazing climber and enjoys being outdoors. Eris is involved in music, dance, gymnastics and tae kwon do and can't decide which she loves most. She is a great big sister and a wonderful helper. Eris is so smart and loves school. She is currently in the highest reading group in her grade and was the only one in her class to achieve the summer reading program award. She is very creative and is always coming up with fun games, beautiful crafts, and interesting inventions. She is interested in science and loves asking all sorts of questions. She's our little Lew Bug!
- Eris Tregen Lewis
- The name "Eris" was found by Tregen while reading one day. Its original meaning is “Greek goddess of chaos” but we sometimes think of it more like an “heiress to the throne”. It also sounds similar to birth mom Sarah’s name backwards. Her middle name "Tregen" comes from birth dad Tregen.
- Our sweet angel Eris came to us in a very special and unique way. A little over a year after our marriage, we were asked by Eris' birth parents if we would be willing to take care of her if they weren't able to do so. We were staying with my parents to save some money and attend school but excited and anxious, chose to move back to the condo and get ready for the new addition to our family. Shortly after announcing the news, all family members were supportive of the decision and couldn't be happier to have Eris join the family. Just after her 2nd birthday, she came to our home to stay. At first we were Auntie Jen and Uncle Spencer but 8 months later we became mom and dad at her adoption held on May 22, 2006. We were then sealed together as a family in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple on May 27, 2006. She still has a great relationship with her birth parents and will always remain close to them. Her birth mom, Sarah, sends letters, stickers, tattoos... regularly and Eris brightens up whenever she gets one in the mail addressed especially to her. We love that they are still a big part of her life and that she is able to understand her story.
- I bless you that you will successfully complete your mortal journey. You will have great faith in your church leaders and your Heavenly Father. They know you and will lead you. Remember your past. It will be a great blessing to you and will help you understand the difference between right and wrong. I bless you with charity. Remember your birth parents and the charity they have shown in making this decision. You will know the charity your Savior has for you and through this knowledge you will freely give to others. I bless you that you will make good decisions. I bless you to be strong and healthy and that your mind will continue to develop as quickly as it has. I bless wisdom will flow to you. I bless you to be close to the Spirit. Choose good friends, especially those you date, that when you find a husband, you will go to the temple and be sealed and feel the love that we feel now and be a family forever. This and all other blessings your Heavenly Father has in store for you, I leave with you in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
- We were sealed in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple shortly after her blessing was given on May 27, 2006. It was a beautiful and amazing experience to have so many family members with us as we were able to be sealed together as an eternal family. When Eris first came in the room, she was radiant in her beautiful white gown, her hair all done up in curls and her sparkling, big, blue eyes. She couldn't take her eyes off of the chandelier and the sealer told her that she could touch one of the crystals. Her eyes lit up in wonder and amazement as she saw all of the different prizms clicking together with her simple touch. The sealing was perfect and although I don't remember the details of what was said, I remember feeling so at peace and so in love with my husband and new daughter. One memorable moment was when all of the visitors stood in line to express their congratulations and Eris' hair caught on Grandma Pearl's earring. With a little tugging and luckily no tears, we seperated the two with little problem but it was a day full of little surprises. As we left the temple together, I asked Eris if the nice ladies walked her to the Celestial Room and she said "No, Jesus did." I was taken back by such a comment so I didn't press it further but what a special moment for her to experience if Jesus held her hand and personally walked with her to the room where she would be sealed to her forever family.
- We didn’t have much notice but we got together some of our old stuffed animals and blankets. The Hogue’s let us borrow a daybed and some Pooh bear bedding and Eris brought some clothes, hats and toys with her. We went shopping shortly after her arrival to get her some more clothes and toys and decorated her room with pictures of us and her birth parents and other family members. At her adoption and temple sealing, several family members gave us clothes, books and other gifts to help get her more settled. Daddy postponed
Paramedic School
The Birth:
- Originally Tregen Eris Lewis, born to Sarah and Tregen on September 2, 2003 at 6:09 am. 5 lb 2 oz. 18.5" long.
The First Days:
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I had the opportunity to visit Eris in the hospital the day she was born. She was so delicate and tiny. It was amazing to see something so fragile and yet so beautiful. From then on, I felt like we had a special bond. At 9 months old, she was one of my flower girls at my wedding and that was probably when our bond really started to bloom. I remember picking out a pretty white kitten Easter basket the following spring knowing that she would absolutely love it. When her birth dad lived with us for a few months, she visited occasionally and I loved to spend time with her. She was always so happy and full of life, and so smart too. She wasn't even 2 yet when she started speaking in sentences. She knew many songs at that young age and absolutely loved to sing them all. We would always dance in the kitchen and go on walks or she would sit on the counter and kiss the cookie jar pig's nose. I loved to dress her up and do her hair or paint her nails. There were a few times when I had the opportunity to babysit her during the night and she loved to lay there and have you lightly tickle the bottom of her feet until she fell asleep. She was my little buddy even before I knew that I would someday become her mom!
6 years old:
- Eris is also hitting many milestones in her life. She just learned to ride her bike without training wheels and got up the courage to try swimming lessons again. She can float on her back and swim some. She also will go off the diving board and down the big slide by herself. She has improved significantly since last year when I had to dunk her in the water over and over until she would jump off the side of the pool into her teacher’s arms. She watched “Wizard of Oz” and said that she wants to have courage like the lion so she has been being very brave in many aspects of her life. She wanted to get up and bear her testimony at Gavin’s blessing and because of this, she convinced mom to get over her fears and do it with her. It was a great milestone for us both. She has grown so much in the last year. She grew 3 sizes in shoes and 2 sizes in clothes. She is very sweet most of the times and very helpful, especially with Gavin. She likes to help change diapers and get mom burp cloths and other items to help with baby. She loves to hold him and wants to carry him around on her own but mom’s not ready for that step yet. She sings to him (both songs that she knows and little ones that she makes up on the spot) and gives him lots of kisses. She has a beautiful voice that can make you cry. She is also great with Shayla. They share a room and play very well most of the time. She is very patient with Shayla and very helpful for her mom. She is doing well with cleaning her room on her own and showering herself. She also recently learned how to tie her shoes all by herself. She is very funny and knows just how to make her mom, dad, sister and brother laugh. She likes to tell jokes and asks you “do you get it?” She is very concerned about all living things. If we find a bug in the house she wants us to take it outside and doesn’t want it killed. A few months ago she caught a tiny fish out of a pond and carried it around in a cup of water. When it died an hour later, she was devastated. She is very emotional and sentimental. If she sees a touching commercial, she will cry, or if she remembers her favorite skirt from a couple of years ago, she will sob. She also hates saying good bye to family members and friends who leave after visiting. It was almost torture to get her to let go of aunt Whitney when she had to go back to
Virginia - Fav Songs: all Taylor Swift, Kelly Pickler, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
- Fav tv shows: Word World, Phineas & Ferb, Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana
- Fav movie: Freaky Friday, Parent Trap, Goonies
- Fav color: red
- Fav food: spaghetti
6 1/2 years old:
- Eris is full of fun and friendship. She is always watching out for others. If she sees someone alone, she introduces herself and makes them feel happy to come and play. She is constantly making friends with other kids at the park. She loves to help and is always doing favors for me. She is getting very good at cleaning her room and likes to help with the bathroom too. She loves wiping the table and helping with the dishes, feeding the animals, etc. She takes very good care of her fishy she got from Auntie Whitney over 1 1/2 years ago. She plays very good with Shayla most of the time and is very patient and willing to share. She is very funny and loves to tell jokes (many times ones that she has made up). She has a beautiful smile with big bright eyes to match. She can always make you smile. She is taking a jazz class which she loves and is getting much better at her coordination and confidence. She rides her big bike (the one that I rode when I was 6) everywhere and has even ridden to school and back with Shayla, Gavin and I walking along behind. She knows how to gracefully hop off before she crashes. She is getting more interested in sports and is doing excellent in practicing t-ball, soccer, basketball and volleyball. She still loves to be read stories but she is a fantastic reader as well. She is one of the top readers in her class according to dad who has had the opportunity to help her class a few times. She has also gotten 100% on every spelling test so far and is getting very good at writing. She loves to try to figure out spellings on her own and is usually right. She can climb to the top of the rope at the gym and also loves to climb to the top of the monkey bars or other parts of the park. She is catching up with her classmates with her height. She is learning to jump rope which was all she wanted for Christmas this past year. She is also getting better at bouncing on her ball and hoola hooping. She is taking a music class and is learning the basics of singing and bell playing. She is very good at it and it still makes me tingle when she sings. Her voice is like an angel. Her hair is starting to get a bit darker although it’s still blonde. Her eyes are a beautiful bright blue and they sparkle in the sunlight. She is a beautiful, sweet, smart and talented girl and I love her so much.
