Bye Bye blogger...

Google blogger is gone so... follow us here

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Photobooth

Just found this little gem on my laptop... and it's too funny not to share!

They looooooove photobooth.

I looooooove them!

Cutest little brothers ever!

Shtuff

Photo barf! Enjoy! 

LAST SWIM MEET EVER!!!!

(BEST FAMILY EVER!!!!!!)

April Fools-- Yummy Cadbury Egg, right? 

 

It blends right in with all of CJ's yummy Easter treats...

April Fools FAIL. Finger through the egg. Cadbury egg= hard boiled egg covered with chocolate and wrapped to "perfection." I gave myself a pat on the back for effort and then gave CJ a real Cadbury egg. I'm wayyyy too nice.

My second prank also failed. Salt on the toothbrush--

 CJ rinsed it all off before putting it in his mouth. Sad.

Shout out to Natalie Bennion! She's my #1 blog stalker! 

And also really buff and tuff ;)

CJ won $15,000!!! Weeeee! 

(Ok, I wish! Intuiplan won the money-- So exciting for them!

And there's nothing cooler than getting a big check)

Drew's method of listening to conference.

 

If you hadn't heard, my family's house had a huge fire back in the middle of December.  The kitchen was destroyed and the whole house was smoke damaged. Literally EVERY room was covered in soot.  This is a pic of our kitchen before (and probably 5 years ago,because who takes pictures of their kitchen on a regular basis??)...

And after the fire...

The renovation begins...

And now it's done! It's SO different but so pretty!!

Dallin's setting apart. He's now in New Zealand as a missionary for 

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

NIT tournament BYU game... at the very top of the stadium

For my major, we have what's called "practicum." I was assigned a 2nd grade class for a month and got to teach them. SOOOO much work but SOOOO MUCH FUN!! 

Look how cute they are!!

And this, is my absolute favorite "thank you" note.

hahahahahahahahaha

Happy Easter!!

Conner got his mission call to Texas, Ft. Worth!!! 

His mission covers the Reber's hometown! Whoo!!

And he's also a NATIONAL CHAMPION. Sick.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/tribpreps/55890059-190/lone-peak-team-state.html.csp

This picture....hahahaha

We did not plan this very well with the lighting

And I just thought I'd throw this in here for no reason except that if I could apparate I would be here right now.

Weather forecast for Provo: freezing.

April snow brings May...?

May your April be warmer than ours so far!

Love, Taryn

V-day forgetfulness

Conversation I had with CJ the other night:

CJ: Can we change the name of the blog? "The Lewis'" is so boring.

Taryn: I agree! I just didn't take the time to think of anything cooler. Do you have any other suggestions?

CJ: How about... "To Infinity and Beyond!" I like that movie.

Taryn: Um, no.

CJ: Whyyyyyyy?

Taryn: It's corny. We might as well call it "To Eternity and Beyond!"

CJ: YES I LOVE IT.

Taryn: No.

CJ: Whyyyyyy?

Taryn: Because it's corny.

CJ: No it's not.

Taryn: Yes it is. And it has nothing to do with us.

CJ: Well, what is something unique that defines us?

Taryn: .......

CJ: I KNOW! "What's for dinner?" or "I'm hungry!"

I'm totally flattered that this is our defining characteristic as a married couple.  Apparently we eat... and that's about it.  I love my husband.

Yesterday for V day we celebrated with dinner and color me mine (I think every couple in Provo had the same idea) and then went and gave grandma some valentines.  Before we left, CJ sent me on a scavenger hunt and every location had a cute poem with a coupon on the back of the paper (ex: "Lunch or dinner at Cafe Rio"). I asked him what he wanted a few days ago and he said "warm gloves." (?) 

REALLY??

 I found some on Amazon and he was a happy boy! 

(men are so easy to buy for. i love it)

My poems/coupons

my "thoughtful" V day gift.
"I love you" in every font possible.

side note: we did not eat at happy sumo even though
 this picture might suggest it. We are not sushi fans.

gerber daisy :)

On our way home, we passed a new swim suit store that will be opening soon and then it hit me. I ordered CJ a swim suit for Christmas (it was obviously an amazing deal) and "IT NEVER CAME!!!" As soon as I got home I searched all of my hiding places just in case, and lo and behold, there was CJ's Christmas present, still in the package.  

The swim suit was even red for Valentine's Day. wink wink. 

I'm such a good wife. Giving him winter gloves and a swim suit on the same day...

Lets be real- I'm forgetful. I will probably end up renaming this blog "to eternity and beyond" because I will forget how corny it actually is. Don't judge.

I hope your V-day was as eventful as ours!

Love, Taryn

My love/hate relationship

As most of you probably already know, I'm about to finish my 14-year career in swimming.  Literally, in 2 weeks, I'll be completely done with the sport I've loved/hated for more than half my life.

I've always been competitive and I have loved being able to race.  I love being a part of a team... something bigger than myself.  I love representing the university I've cheered for my whole life.  But sometimes I wonder why I put myself through it all.  Why couldn't I be a basketball player or something?? I mean it's in my blood...

I'm not gonna lie and say that swimming was awesome and wonderful and and FUN all the time...

Because there were so many days when I wished I had the nerve to skip practice and just sleep.  

There were so many days that I trudged my sore body up to campus and ended up falling asleep in all of my classes.

There were so many times when I wanted to go do fun things with my friends, but I stayed home and went to bed instead.  

There were so many times that I scraped ice off my car at 5 a.m. in 0 degrees.

There were so many times that I legitimately got tired of eating.

Should I keep going?

There were so many times when the sun hadn't even risen by the time we were done with morning practice. 

There were so many times when I asked myself why I hadn't quit yet.

There were a few times when I worked out more hours that day than I had slept the night before.  

And there were a few practices when my goggles were filled with tears but I had to keep going (obviously swimming is soooooo dramatic).

Sound fun?

Well... it was.

In a weird, twisted way.

I went back every day in the beginning because it was FUN.  Later, it became a passion-- achieving something that you've never done before is sorta gratifying isn't it? Maybe part of it was that I got super tan every summer?

But honestly, the real reason I kept swimming is because I met amazing people who came back to the pool, day after day, and pushed me harder than I ever would have pushed myself.  I learned how to work hard and I learned what it means to be dedicated. I learned how to win graciously and to be a good loser. I never wanted to be a disappointment to my coaches.  I became obsessed with my goals and had them posted all over my bedroom while growing up.  It was FUN.

Hawaii October 2012

I feel so lucky that I had the chance to be on this team.  I got to travel and see a lot of cool places and eat a lot of yummy food. Now that I'm near the end, I keep thinking about how I only have 2 weeks left to enjoy eating whatever the heck I want... And how I will have to make time to exercise (how do all you people do it???). And then it hits me that I will never be in as good of shape as I am now... and that is seriously depressing.

So here's to my last two weeks of wet hair, chlorine, and competitive swimming.

GO COUGARS!