Thursday's Thoughts

1. I am rejoicing and mourning about school ending. You remember those days when you couldn't wait for school to be done? I love the feeling of it all ending and starting those awesome days of summer. My kids are feeling the same way. I love not having to get up at o' dark thirty to start my day, i love no homework, i love all the fun outings, vacationing, I love that Preston is big enough to keep an eye on the girls so I can go for a run in the morning instead of at night, and I REALLY love the smell of sunscreen :O) I am mourning the couple of hours of quiet time when Ella's napping and Kena's at school, having a house full of kids, feeding the house full of kids, the inevitable "I'm Bord", and a messy house from the on slot of the little people.


2. I am super EXCITED about Josh's new job!!! (more in a later post) Now comes the hard decisions do we move or not???


3. Ella has been so good about putting herself to bed. None of my children have been good at sleep training but Ella is a champ! All I did was one day put her in there and that was it. Now I just love on her and sing a song and then into the bed she goes. She does cry when I leave but by the time I make it down stairs to turn on the monitor she is already asleep. HEAVEN!


4. My kids are trying to negotiate a new bedtime. Right now they all go to bed a t 7:30 but they want to stay up to 9:00. If they actually slept in that wouldn't be a problem for the summer but no sleeping in around here. We may have to compromise.


5. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new wood flooring. Josh and my brother Jason did it a couple of weeks ago. They did a great job! Thanks J for spending your whole day helping! I love your guts!

6. We are frog sitting for our neighbors who are on vacation. I use to think frogs were really cute. NOT anymore. Holy Crap!!! Literally. How much can two frogs poop? This is why the Brown's have no pets. POOP! It pretty much puts my in the home. Thank heavens Preston was brave and cleaned out the frog/poop holder. NASTY!

the big ONE!

Ella Mae turned ONE!!!

Look at that sweet smile.

Grandma and Grandpa Jarvis gave Ella this doll. It is so sweet to watch her give it kisses and hugs. Great idea mom!!!

Ella did not know what to do while everyone was singing to her. I was surprised that she didn't start crying. She gets scared when things get to loud and that happens quite frequently when your sister is Mckena:O)
I cant believe how fast time has gone. On one hand it feels like Ella has been part of our family forever but on the other is seems like just yesterday she was being born.

I remember how squeaky her little cry was, how starving she always was :O), her soft hair, the new baby smell, how delivery seemed like a walk in the park, and my all time favorite...was when she would snuggle right up into my neck and fall asleep.

Ella is so sweet! I cant even imagine my life without her. I love...

-to hear her say Uh-oh in her soft squeaky voice
-that she hollers mama until I come get her out of her crib

-how excited she gets when she plays with the kids
-that she sleeps on her tummy with her fanny in the air

-when she gives kisses

and

-when she snuggles right up to my neck and falls asleep:O)

We love you L! We are so happy you came to our family.

Happy Birthday!

St George

The reason for this trip to St George was for these two boys, Josh and his BFF Boyd, to ride in the Cactus Hugger century ride. Yup 100 miles and they were excited:O) They look like they are having fun right???

Then the weather turned and it looked like this. Rain and 20 mile an hour winds with gust to 30 to 40 miles an hour. After 10 minutes of this the snow started and their hands were so frozen that they couldn't feel their brakes. Coming down Utah hill at 40+ miles an hour with no brakes in the snow was a little dangerous, so after 56 miles I picked them up and headed back to the hotel.
It was pretty disappointing for them but they made a good call.

Here is the pit crew. It was an awful few hours for them but they handled it like champs.

As far as the rest of the vacation this is how Ella spent her time. I REFUSE to let her crawl on the hotel carpets to she spent lots of time in the play pen. She really didn't seem to mind most of the time:O)

The other kids just wanted to swim

and

swim some more.

I will spare you all the sorted details of how truly hideous the trip was but it all started out in the hotel room with hair in the sink and in the bed. Changed to another room which was full of all sorts of awfulness. All I kept saying to myself was "I can't believe I am paying for this and when can we go home???" YES it was that bad!!! Anyway, we love St George and will go back just to a different hotel!
As long as the kids have some good memories that is all that matters right??

:O)

Spring Break

For spring break this year the kids and I made some plans. Josh was crazy busy and since we were headed to St George the next week the kids and I decided to try and find do something fun around home. The first day was awesome weather so we went to Salt Lake to visit Temple Square. We stopped at the church history museum. It was really fun to share pioneer stories with them and see their eyes get big. Upstairs is a big section just for kids. They thought it was really fun.

The weather was perfect so we spent lots of time at the reflection pool and on the grass playing. I love this picture of Preston and Ella. They are BFF'S and spend lots of time together.
We went onto the Temple grounds and saw all the pretty flowers and even posed for a couple of pictures.
Then off to the pantry for some pie. YUMMY!

Tuesday was RAINING like crazy so we went to the sticky shoe and watched Mall Cop. Didn't love it but Mckena got in a good nap:O)

Wednesday was the dentist and then we were suppose to go to the Bean Museum and Grandmas house but, Abbie and Mckena were fighting. After asking 3 times for them to stop they still couldn't get it together so we turned around and the girls cleaned baseboards :O( Bet they listen next time!

Thursday was the "real" movie day. We went to Monster's vs. Aliens. All the kids liked it and Ella and I got in a good nap:O)

Friday we spent the day with Grandma. We played games, played outside and went out to lunch.

Saturday we went to the State Capital building. Josh was taking a financial class and his instructor was the head of the Governor's financial team. So on Sat. the families were invited up to the State Capital after class for a private tour. The kids loved it and we even got to sit at the Governor's desk.

I wonder how many times that desk in dusted. Pretty shiny if you ask me.
So there is Spring Break in a nut shell. Had fun just spending time together.

Thursdays thoughts

1. I know that when Moses came down from the mount he didn't say here are the 10 suggestions. I know they are commandments but I really just want the one about love thy neighbor to read like this. Love thy neighbor as long as they are not jerks. I know I know dream on, but gosh why does this have to be so difficult? Yesterday this neighbor let call him "Mr. Never Happy". Yelled at all the boys in the neighborhood for walking on his grass. REALLY??? Now I know for a fact (from moms that were outside) NONE of the kids were on his grass so I went to have a little chat with him. The second he opened his mouth he started yelling at the kids and me. That did it. The condensed version is that I let him know that his behavior was completely inappropriate and invited him to never speak to my children. He was welcome to speak with me cause I am a big girl but never to the kids. Needless to say when some of the kids went home and told their parents they said, "the best part was when Sister Brown came down...." Great... I guess as long as Preston knows I have his back that is all that matters.
2. The sweet little girl from down the street came over to play for the first time yesterday. Little Macy was at my house for 20 minutes and fell and broke her arm. Miss Abbie calmly walked her in and said "mom I think her arm is broke" As I turned around and saw this sweet little girl with her arm in the wrong direction I thought good call Abbs. I wrapped it in a towel close to her body and call her mom. As the mom pulled away from our house Abbie said "I don't think she is ever going to let her play here again" Probably right Abbie.
3. I have gone 10 days with out Diet Coke. Today was day 11 but after the day I had yesterday Kristy knew I needed one. Thanks Kristy you are the best. So tomorrow I will start over but boy it was yummy:O)
4. I have LOVED having Josh home this week (between semesters). I have made yummy dinners all week and even got to go out and do a few things ALONE!!! This kids are in heaven.
5. I have been running all week and I don't feel like I am a hundred. This is a big accomplishment and guess what... less headaches. HURRAY!!! Maybe my Dr. that I affectionately call Doogie Howser (because he looks like he is 11) was right! Who knew?

MANY THANKS!!!

We just wanted to thank all of you that have donated to the Tour De Cure!!! We feel truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family that have sponsored our team. You have been so generous in your time and money and we are so grateful. I am especially grateful for my friend Jennifer who took it upon herself to gather items donated from some amazingly talented women and post them on her blog for a sale! She raised over $500.00 in one day:O) We will never be able to say enough thanks! People who don't even know our family donated items and money! I wish you could see the look on Abbie's face every time I tell her who donated. This huge smile is priceless. When I told her about the sale she even got a little teary eyed. She can't believe how many people care about her and want to help find a cure. We love you all and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!