The Brown Bunch

Oh how I've missed BLOGS!

2011-07-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

I'm finally on my blog again! I can't believe how long it's been since I've written! That is sad for someone who has finally found the ultimate scrapbook type journaling dream! Just been too dang busy for fun! (yah, play your little violin for me!)

So catch up time! Here are some highlights from the past 10 months:

* First GRANDAUGHTER born March 8 in Germany to Jerry & Jessica: Madison Ryleigh

* Went to Johnson Elementary's 25 year reunion (Yes, Brooke White, pictured here, made an appearance to her old school)

* Highly involved in Mesa High's #1 Drama Program

Said good bye to Booster presiding

* Stake Roadshow - Kyle plays #1 Villan - Haman

* Weddings galore! Neices Nettie & Tia, Gonzales/Bingham in our back

yard & buddy DeeDee's daughter to an Osmond!

* Grandkids birthday parties: Chance, Charlie & Jaydon

(made a trip to UT & WA for two of them!)

* FPED Defense show in VA - showcasing our business to many potential customers

And now Summer! If I could think of a theme for this summer it would have to be

"Summer of Surgeries"

Jenni had her nose fixed from an accident when she was about 2 years old. They told us we had to

wait till she

was over 16, when her nose stopped growing (I thought your nose and your ears never stopped growing) Anyway it was a hard surgery, but she's recovered now and has this perfect shaped nose. Let's hope in the sports she's involved in and and the accident prone girl she is that it stays that way.

Kyle also had his wisdom teeth out. (why do they call them that? don't we want to keep all the wisdom we can?) He wanted me to video him as he came out of the anesthetic so all his friends could see

him. Yah, he was pretty goofy (see FB for one of the videos) He got pretty swollen and laid on the couch for days. He's doing better now, but still has 2 big holes he's trying to keep food out of.

School dances!

2011-07-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Just had to post some cute pictures of Jenni & Kyle and their dates

(Jenni's was Christmas formal obviously, and Kyle's was Prom)

Catching up on Kids

2010-09-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

First off, our first born started Dental School, here at AT Still. We're so glad they could stay in state (and even in city!) They had a neat white coast ceremony before he began. It was almost like the graduation ceremony will be, except that they got their student coats, which look just like Dr's white coats! He's on his way! We're so proud of him! Next big news is that they had little Dylin Dee Brown, born one week ago today! He's so precious, and my sweet Stephanie surprised me and let me come in to witness! Wow! 2 birth witnessing this year! It's such an amazing miracle!

Paul is working hard at 2 jobs in Utah, and having so much fun with little Chance. He plops him up on a pillow as he gets ready to play Modern Warfare, and says "let's get the bad guys, Chance!"
Jerry is soon leaving for international adventures. He and Jessica are going to live in Switzerland, for who knows how long? They said just a year or two? I'm holding them to that! I can't go long without seeing that grandbaby! They'll be getting hitched in about 3 weeks, so yikes! Gotta get ready for that!
Brandee just moved out, but not far away, we're so glad! She's got a cute little apartment on Broadway and working hard to pay all her bills now! We still love her to come cook when ever she can!
Kyle just made the musical at school, and we are so excited to see him in that! We have such a great Drama program at Mesa High, and I'm glad he's involved!

Jenni is playing badminton now, and has a great season going. She's on JV, and can really keep great volleys going, and even smash it at times!

Summary of Summer!

2010-08-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Yah it's been too long since I've written! So here is a quick overview of our summer 2010!

Started with Girls Camp. Chuck & I were asked to be camp cooks. A perfect calling for Chuck, but I hate cooking, so I was his assistant. It was pretty fun now looking back! Our most popular dish was Philly Cheesesteaks Sandwiches! YUM! We also took up our solar oven and the certifying girls made peach cobbler in it. It was great to be next to the Brinton's cabin (we got to sleep in it rather than in tents like everyone else - being cooks had it's priviledges!) The camp director (amazing Bethany Wells Rudd) made us these adorable aprons. She made us past camp directors looks bad, with all the cool, cute camp stuff she did.

Our next quick trip was taken directly from girls camp. The bishopric brought Kyle up for the last night with them, then we took off early for Utah to go to Chance's baby blessing. He is the cutest little boy, and he was so good during his blessing. It's amazing to see your son give that blessing and realize that it wasn't long ago, that he was getting his. WOW! (no more tears!)
Skye and her mom put on this amazing luncheon afterwards. Aunt Lynette & Sara came too. My cousin Amy even came later in the day and brought her kids. The rest of the Tolman's couldn't make it. It's been good to see my relatives more often too.

A few weeks later back here in AZ we had a "Skye on Skype" Baby Shower. Modern day tech allowed us to have her and Jana there. She opened a few gifts for us (ones we had taken up to them), then we opened some on this side for her. Her Dewitt cousins came and it was such a blast! We also got to hear her play the harp for us (had some technical difficulties, but still enjoyed it - mostly enjoyed watching Chance enjoy it. He loves his mama's playing)

This summer we also had my 30th Mesa High Class Reunion! Still hard to hear myself say that. I sound so old! We decided to keep it simpler this go around. We had only one big activity on June 12. Some people made other activities that had had smaller turnouts to; Cruising Main the night before (City of Mesa sponsors once a month, and since we did that way back when, why not?) It was hilarious trying to get out of the back of Ralph's truck when we decided to do a Chinese Fire Drill. By the time we got our old bones up, the people from the cab had already gotten all the way around and were ready to take off again! On Sat there was a group of Harley Davidson riders who took a quick trip out of town, and a group of us who went to Peter Piper Pizza for a BYOGB activity (bring your own grandbaby) It was fun to see those cute little ones. Our big event was in the MHS cafeteria, and we only had about 1/3 of the people we've had in the past, but I've realized that only those who really loved high school are going to come now. It was so great to see so many, but sad that when you're in charge you don't get to visit and catch up as much.We found our old Gahtso cup at a city museum and brought that back (our class won it all 3 years!) Our student body pres, John Waldron did a great program, and the decorations were great! Only regrets; we didn't talk about the food fight there in the cafeteria, do our class yell, or even sing Carry On! We are getting senile, you can tell! Seriously someone would point out someone for me and I would think "you mean behind that old guy?" So great to see "old" friends! Class of 80's really great!

Next was a family reunion, on the Brown side. We went up to Cedar City, UT and Paul, Skye and Chance came down to meet us there! It was great fun! We not only saw all the Brown cousins, but we stopped to see my cousins the Bates, new place in St. George. The Kleinman Clan was in charge this year and did a great job on food and activities. Of course we had "Mafia" games late into the night. Brandee came up and got some real drama in that game going! It was so fun to have her up there! The last night we had a talent night show where our Brown gang did a skit to "Once there was a Snowman". You can see from this picture all the cousins showing the snowman tall, tall, tall!

I went straight from there back up the Salt Lake Valley with Paul & Skye because we got word that my sweet Aunt Gayle had passed away. It was fun to travel back sitting in the back seat with little Chance. I stayed with Aunt Lynette and had some sweet times remincing my aunt's life as well as talking about my dad in heaven finally getting a sibling up there with him. The funeral was beautiful and I had another "awakening" watching her children and their love for her and for God, and for the church, even though they are not all active. It was precious time spent with my Aunts Carol, Norma & Lynette, and many cousins. We all went to Gardiner's Village and walked around and had lunch. They are some good people & I love them all. (no pix, left my camera with Jenni)

We had a few other get aways this summer to the cabins of some friends. Missy Gardiner had us up near the beginning and Ralph Deifenderfer in July. It was so nice to get out of the heat here! At Missy's we felt young again, watching dare devil friends cliff dive (Lane in pix), reading our journals from high school, and playing games, but felt old again at Ralph's laying around in hammocks, sitting on the front porch watching the weather & sitting snowbird style all the way home (among other things).

This was also the summer of meeting foreign friends! We finally got to meet our sweet Jessica's parents who came from Switzerland. They are amazing people, who have their own Christian church there. We had a barbeque and sat and talked about their travels all over the world. One of the most amazing things however is the great daugther they raised, and we just love her. She's a great blessing to Jerry. (We have found since then that they are going to be a mommy & daddy, so stay tuned for further announcements & celebrations!)

We also had Michelle Moka from Germany come and stay for a month. We took her to Botanical Gardens & Hole in the Rock, but it was too hot to get out for long. So we decided to take her to CA and see Hollywood, since we had to get Chuck's truck back from there anyway. Brandee stayed and took her to the beach in San Diego too. She is a very sweet girl, who we met through brother in law John, along with her sister Marie.

Another amazing foreign friend story, is that my old 3rd grade pen pal, Marcus Buisman from Austria found me on Facebook! Is that remarkable or what? We've had some good discussions, and he has an amazing memory of 3rd grade and our friends there. It's been fun getting reaquainted!
One more semi-foreign friend tidbit. Stephanie from work got married to her sweetheart in that foreign land of Oklahoma. She will be leaving us soon to go back, and we are heartbroken about that, but are happy for her & Emily! (pictured here with Josie)

So that was pretty much our summer. Sounds crazy now that I look back at it; a lot of fun stuff crammed into 3 short months!

Happy Birthday to me!

2010-04-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

I had such a fun birthday! I love birthdays! Never mind how much older you are getting . . . and how that leads to no more birthdays . . . so anyway, I just wanted to see how cheap I could make this birthday, cuz we are so short on $$$. I just wanted to go get a free breakfast at Denny's, sit at the park and watch Charlie, then go see the movie Avatar, which is now at the $2.00 theater! Yah, it would have been so cheap, but my sweet hubby also went out and got me flowers, candy for the theater, and pretty new earrings. We also went to Cold Stone after the movie (only spent .77) and free dinner at Joe's bbq with Whitmers (it's Joe's bday too). Funny we went there cuz Chuck also brought home a large smoked bbq pork! (yah, for MY birthday, cuz that's me, big meat eater) Isn't he so sweet! (thanks Curt!) He just didn't know when to quit! I got to hear from all 4 grandbabies today! (Jaydon & Gavin sang to me) It ended at almost midnight by seeing baby Chance on Skype. He was wide awake and we swear he whispered "Happy Birthday Grammy"!

April Fools!

2010-04-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Got Chuck & Brandee good for April Fool's Day! We have this pesky woodpecker that just doesn't get that our chimney is made of metal. He pecks on it every day and we can hear it in the family room, especially as we're doing scriptures. Kyle & I had been trying to think of some April Fool's thing we could do to them. Just about then they got back from the gym so I said "Guess what happened!" (even at that moment not knowing what I was going to say) The woodpecker gave me the que so I said "That woodpecker fell right down into the fireplace!" They came running over saying "Are you serious?" "Is it still alive", etc. . . . Yah, I got em good!

Baby Chance has arrived!

2010-03-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

and just a few days after Aunt Brandee's 20th birthday! He is so precious! Paul & Skye are the cutest mommy and daddy too! It was quite an adventure awaiting his arrival! Skye invited me to come into the delivery room, so when they called and said they were going to induce her we did all we could to get some buddy passes and go! (thanks again Clint!) Chuck just wanted to take off and drive and I guess we could have made it (I think 15 hours labor and it only takes 11 hours to drive) but it was nice to get there in just 1 hour. Jana & I had so much fun being the nervous waiting grandmas. We could not go to bed that night, so drove back and forth to the hospital, and finally got the call at 3:00 am that she was beginning to push. They were such a great team, and Skye hardly made a peep. Also looking beautiful the whole time. (how does she do that? The pearl necklace and her lucky earrings helped) After he was born the had to whisk him away cuz he was having a hard time breathing. They did some tests and found that he had developed a little tear in his lungs on his first intake of breath. They said it's very common especially in premies. (They said he's 3 to 5 weeks early) He also had a little fever and they are giving him antibiotics for it. He'll have to stay a few days later than Skye does. He's got to get home and into this adorable bassinet his mommy has waiting for him!

We didn't get to see much of him, but had a great time hanging out with Kent and Jana and Paul and Skye (when we weren't all catching up on the missed sleep) Finally a few hours before we took our flight back home they let Grammy and Papa hold him. It was so sweet! He is beautiful! Paul & Chuck also gave him a blessing. Thank you Lord for another sweet grandson!

On the road again!

2010-03-20T21:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, we were there! Well 2 days after closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, but we were there. Brandee's northern adventure has come to an end. She spent 4 months in Seattle & 2 months in Vancouver, BC. She was ready to come home. She wanted to drive down the coast and we didn't want her to drive by herself, so I flew up (cheap flight on Allegiant) and drove down with her. It was a fun trip, and was good to be with my girl again. This picture is in downtown Vancouver at the outdoor torch they always showed. It was awesome to see some of the places we had just been watching the week before. They had big signs and poster everywhere with those athletes we'd just seen on TV. It was cool to be so close so soon after.
It was kind of hard watching Brandee say goodbye to Brooke, Hue, Stephen & Steph. I'm so glad they've gotten so close. Our last afternoon there we went to a little cafe and had "Fu". It was so good!
After that we stopped at John & Chawna's store and said hello. I had no idea Chawna got braces on, and when I saw her I tried to tell her she had something in her teeth - no idea it was a space! It was pretty funny!

They have all been so good to Brandee giving her that job. She had to do some volunteer for it, but they'll be paying her too. I think she gained a lot working there, and credit's that to Hue and some good business advice he gave her.

After that we went to Nikki & Shaun's and saw the boys and their new house. It's beautiful! I especially loved how she decorated their play room and bedrooms, and the playhouse in the back is amazing built within a cherry blossom tree. We had a fun night with them, which included yummy pizza, skipbo and lots of laughing. I tucked Jaydon in bed and read him a story, then he put 2 pillows on the ground and a blanket and told me that I was to sleep there with him. He then got his little stuffed animals all down off his bed and said his friends had to sleep there too. After a few minutes he started putting them back and I asked why. He said "they don't like the sound you're making". It was so funny! Now if it was Papa sleeping there I could have understood, but I wasn't even snoring! Those boys are so cute.

Then we took of driving down the Oregon coast. It was beautiful!
We thought we'd find a real nice seafood restaraunt and have dinner (nice one, a break from the fast food we ate) but we couldn't find one. We should have stopped sooner, but finally stopped and had the worst dinner ever! Brandee knew it would be when she saw the 24 hour sign. It was nasty chicken friend steak and some stuffed linguini thing. Uugghhh! We had to throw it away and just get a subway sandwich and split it. I told the waitress how awful it was and she just kind of agreed that it was not a popular dish, but no offer to bring anything else, or discount or anything! Still burns me!

So days of driving were fun & frustrating with this girl. Boy can we DEBATE! We ended the trip so fun though. Brandee's friend, Frank got us in to Disneyland and we had the best time! We were only there from 4:00pm to midnight, but that was plenty. I even got Brandee to attend a show, but she still couldn't get me to do Tower of Terror (free fall! no way) We watched Alladin in the big theater in CA adventure side. It was an amazing production. I just love the magic of that place! Afterwards Brandee wanted to drive straight home (she's so much like her dad that way. Talk about back seat driver!) We stayed at a cheap hotel real close and left the next morning. It was a fun trip, and now we're glad to get Brandee closer. She'll be finding a new job and a new place closer to home. She is such a great girl and I love her so much. We really had some good talks and know how much we mean to each other. We are different, but are really trying to understand each other. Together we learn so much more. I'm glad God gave us each other.

Kyle's Eagle Project

2010-02-14T08:37:00.001-08:00

Kyle has been working on his Eagle Project for weeks now. It has been an amazing experience. He went to the City of Mesa and they gave him a few options of what he could do. He wanted to paint a house for someone, so they gave us this address. When Chuck he drove to get a look at it, it ended up being Brenda Stewart's house (who used to work for Curt at our office) We wanted to keep it a surprise, but I blew it and said something. She is such a sweet person, who we have really missed. He really wanted to do it then. What a blessing to help out someone you know.

So this young man has been working hard getting friends to come help, making calls for donations, picking up paint from the City, etc. We've still got a few more days of work to do, but we are proud of Kyle for this great project. Brenda is so happy too. Thanks to everyone who has come to help!

Utah Trip for Teesie's Birthday!

2010-02-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

I found an amazing rate on Southwest last October to SLC, and without everyone's permission bought tickets for us all to go up for Teresa's birthday. (What did I have to loose? If they couldn't go, I'd go see Paul & Skye and my other Utah relatives 5 times!) But by a small miracle, 5 busy moms were able to get our schedules cleared and we went. It was supposed to be a surprise, but Teresa found out. I knew she would, she could never stand to be surprised (seriously, I remember her finding presents when we were teenagers and unwrapping them, peeking, and putting them back!) It was good she knew ahead though. We were able to really plan some fun things. Here is our itinerary! (we crammed a lot of fun in 54 hours!)
We ate at Les Madeliene's Cafe in downtown Salt Lake (this was a cafe Jill saw on the cooking channel, that had these yummy crescent Eurpoean type pastries).
We went to the SLT Temple (and didn't even get shushed for talking in there) Highlight was sitting across from a mirror in that amazing Celestial room and seeing ourselves squished on the couch there; my eternal sisters!) Then the chocolate began! Teresa took us to this cute little candy shop, near the Capitol. It was expensive, but fun to try all these handmade chocolates.
Getting back to Teresa's place so she could see her hubby who had gotten back from Switzerland on a church trip for 2 weeks (his flight came in about 4 hours after ours) What timing! We kept telling her to go spend time with him. He was jet lagged, so she let him sleep, gabbed with us till the wee hours, then snuck up to be with him. Yah, there was not much sleeping on this trip. (except for Doreen who would lay down and close her eyes and ossmosisly take in our conversations. She really needed this trip; new RS pres and planning her Aubrey's wedding next month)
Then dinner at Bajio's (which I have missed since they closed the one in Mesa)
Then Sunday church with Teresa, where she has told her missionary story about all of us, so it was fun to have her Utah friends come up and already know who we were.

Yummy dinner of meatball kabobs, and opening presents for her birthday. (she had like a million!) They wrap every little thing in different birthday bags, so it looks like they make out a ton on birthdays. Then OD'd on all the chocolate she got, including a big chocolate cake (which Doreen almost ruined by reading the incredients on the label) Yah, there was more chocolate! That night Paul & Skye also came up to see me, and we gabbed for a while. Or at least I gabbed with Skye (poor girl had a bad cold, which seems to last so much longer when you're pregnant) But she looked so cute with her little belly. And Paul talked lots to Rick about web stuff. Missy's daughter, Marin, also came by that night to see her mama. We all have such cute kids!
As we were digesting our chocolate, Rick got his
guitar and played for us, we even talked them into singing together, and Tyler into playing the piano for us, Tiff into playing a song she wrote for the guitar. They are all so amazingly talented!

Next day, we got up and helped with preschool
Valentine stuff. That was fun! (she's such a
great preschool teacher!) Then we
went to Granny Annie's restaraunt, that served these huge breakfasts, along with a huge scone, huge hot chocolates, and huge cinnamon rolls (we each took one home to the fam) We gotta go up there when we go back to Utah. My munchkins would love it! So yah, it was like one big party! I had so much fun (except when I'd think about Kyle back home doing his Eagle project while I partied)

2009 Year in Summary

2009-12-11T12:37:00.001-08:00

Wow, you actually came to the blog! What a friend! I know it's easier to sit somewhere comfy and read a newsletter, but I just didn't have it in me this year (besides this is funner) I know you could read through all my blog entries and get caught up, but who has time for that? So here is a quick update on everyone this year:

Chuck is loving being a grandpa! He gets all goofy with his "Hey buddy" and funny noices. You can always tell when Charlie comes over - we hear it all through the house. He's been crazy busy at work with lots of research and development in the anti-terrorist barrier industry. It's been exciting, but scary as we try to develop something unique and keep our business open at the same time. He didn't have to travel as much this year as in the past, but did have a job in Utah this month and froze his tooshi off (why not in the summer??) Chuck is Sunday School teacher to the 17 year old class, and is always watching sports! (he says this really is the most wonderful time of year; football, basketball & baseball)

And I, yes, I have

gained weight this year, as you can tell by Chuck's face. I've got my 30 year class reunion next year though, so time to get fit again. (why is it harder the older you get?) I've been working in the office part time, and love being with the good people who work for us there. I also love being a grandma. If someone would have told me I'd be volunteering to babysit after all the years I did daycare & foster care I'd have never believed them. At church I'm still with the Beehives (12-13 year old young women class) They are a great bunch of girls.

C.J. has applied again for dental school and awaits word on if he'll be starting Aug 2010. He's still selling shoes at Nordstroms and will let you know when the good sales are, so go visit him!

Steph is a busy a little mama chasing Charlie around all day. She's so good to take him to the park and out to his other grandma's place to visit the goats. She is also the most organized and wonderful secretary in RS (that's what I keep hearing) CJ still works with the priest age boys. And Charlie is just having fun exploring the world. He is always on the go and figuring things out. They live here in Mesa in the Dolphin house.

Paul & Skye are having a baby!!!! HE's due mid April, and Skye is so cute barely starting to show. Paul is working 2 jobs now, one for APX Alarm and Thrive doing websites and helping people sell. Skye is now officially helping people to be more beautiful! She's doing tanning & eyelashes! (just in time, as her mother in law needs it!) They are teaching 5 year old in Primary and always have a funny story to share about what they say and do. They are still living in Cedar Hills in a basement apartment with the most incredible view of the valley below, including the Tipanogas Temple. They are starting plans for building a house this year . . . yes, in Utah. It's a great place to visit, so see them if you're up that way. We love doing that!

Jerry has been trying different fields of work this year after things slowed down working with dad. He tried landscaping and is now in sales at a call center selling construction tools. He tried out his lines over the phone with his dad, and all Chuck could say was "No! I hang up on guys like you all the time!" We are amazed though, he can take the rejection and is making sales everyday. He also has an sweet new girlfriend, Jessica Frey. She grew up in Switzerland and then moved to Oklahoma where a friend set them up on a blind date. She's been gone for 4 months back to Switzerland, but will get home this month, so he's always on skype (computer) talking to her. He has also been taking care of her little yorkie, Bella. She's part of the family now. Jerry's moved back into Mesa (1st part of the year was in Casa Grande) now he's between the yard trailer & home - we don't know where he really lives, but we like him around.

Brandee has ventured out this year and lived for 3 1/2 months in Mukilteo, WA with Nikki & Shaun (Jenni's sister) She loves helping her with Jayden & Gavin. She got a job at Red

Robin, but did not last long as the perky hostess there (can't you just see her? "Thank you for coming today!") She found a better suited job at the cutest little coffee shop next to an adorable little bookshop over looking the ferry going to Whidby Island. It is SO her! However the little AZ girl was freezing her tooshi off and wanted to come home (not to mention missing you know who; pictured right) She has decided now to give Canada a try, living with her Naito cousins. Not that it's any warmer, but at least she's not coming home before her northern adventures are over. Thanks to Nikki & Shaun for having her and being her springboard into being out on her own (well almost).

Kyle is sexy, single and sixteen (that's the summary he came up with for this) He is at Mesa High this year and loving leaving the junior high scene behind. He tried something new when a friend talked him into being on the swim team. He made some good friends there and just had the goal to not finish in last place - he accomplished that! (needless to say to say

he won't be doing that next year) His real talents are in drama. He's been in some little one acts and attended Thespian conference this year, and hopes to try out for the spring play. He's studying for his learners permit, and is hoping to get it over Christmas break. He finally feels motivation to get that and his Eagle project done, since dating just isn't the same when mom has to drive you. He will be doing his Eagle project in January, painting a house in a low income area of Mesa. If any of you feel inclined to help, we'll let you know the details!

Jenni is a big 9th grader now and has had quite the year so far. She tried out for volleyball, but so did 40 other girls (many of which played club) So when she didn't make it, she gave cross country a try. A little too hot in August, so she went for Badminton at Mesa High. She had to start at the bottom of the totum pole, but did pretty good in her exhibition games. For fall she tried out for basketball, but they were, of course looking for taller girls. Wish the coaches could have seen how aggressive she can be and let her try driving that ball under and around the tall girls! Anyway, so no sports this winter. She's looking forward to track in a month or so. She has decided to try out for cheer at Mesa High, but I'll believe it when I see it. She is also "considering" going out for dive (we've heard gymnasts make really good divers) so stay tuned to see what she ends up doing. Her biggest exciting news is that she got her braces off this past month!! She'd have such a beautiful smile if she weren't always popping her retainer in and out!

That's us! Hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. If you have a blog, leave me your address, or send an invitation if it's private. I LOVE BLOGGING in all my spare time (haha).

One more Brown family!

2009-12-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

I can't leave out our newest family members! This is Nikki & Shaun, our other adopted kids. (sorry I couldn't get the picture bigger) For those who don't know our story, Jenni has an older sister who we have felt is a part of our family for 4 years now. She married Shaun Brown, making her officially a Brown! So here is their update; They live in Mukilteo, WA (just north of Seattle). We met them here living just a mile away from us (Did God have a hand in that or what??!!!) They moved up north when Shaun got transfered with Boeing. He's such a great daddy (even to our Brandee lately) Nikki looked for work in computers (her specialty area) but with the economy could not find a job. Instead she is quite the entrepreneur and just started a photography company. She got the equipment and put a little studio in her basement and is taking pictures and getting paid for it! (All those millions of pictures of her babies, that was for practice time!) She's pretty good. Jaydon is 3 years old now, and bright as a button, and little Gavin turned 1 this summer. They are 2 more of our sweet grandbaby boys!

Does this look like me?

2009-11-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

This week I fought City Hall and won! I only won on a technicality however and not for the reason I should have won. I got "flashed" by a van right by Mesa High during the summer going 49 in a 45 mph speed zone. The sign said 35 mph on school days, I knew it wasn't a school day, so I went at a prudent & reasonable speed, and within what I thought was the speed limit. I was shocked when it took my picture. I wanted to fight it, so when it came I even had Chuck return it with knowing me as the driver (I know lots of friends have said how unwise that was) Anyway I got this great attny/judge friend of mine who helped me make my case. I had all sorts of questions to ask the officer in court. Funny, I watched 4 other cases and no one questioned the officer. I felt like a real lawyer doing my cross examination. Of course the officer had proof that summer school was in session, but I just fired question after question about why were there not any indicators to those of us driving by! I had my proof of when the last day of school was, along with pictures of the speed limit signs and blinking lights at Brimhall (which he said they did not have!) So I'm giving my statement and pulling all of these facts together and the dear, sweet judge interupts me and says "Mrs. Brown, how much longer are you going to be? We only had 15 min for your case, and I've got to let some other cases go now. Please sit at the back of the courtroom and we'll hear the rest of your case in a little bit". Man! Talk about anti-climatic! I sat back there and thought of how she was going to forget all my info, and how many cases she still found the defendant "responsible", so I really got nervous. However when I finally got back up and apologized for taking so long, she was so gracious and said "no apologies necessary, I want you to have all the time you need". So I wrapped it up real quick, the officer gave his one more schpeel, then the judge said "after hearing all of the evidence I'm not even going to judge on whether you were speeding or not. This (as she held up the photo above) is a terrible picture, and you cannot identify anyone from it. Defendant is not responsible". !!! It was pretty fun, but nerve wracking, to say the least. I just sure hope that the city will put up blinking lights around Mesa High now WHEN school is in!

Badminton!

2009-10-25T22:03:00.001-07:00

Fun week at Badminton. MHS vs MVHS! Jenni & Cassady were rivals! MHS actually won! (which is a rare thing in sports against those guys) It was fun to watch with Curt & Alison!

It was especially funny to watch Uncle Curt go crazy watching girls play any sport. "They just don't think like a guy!" He'd say over & over again!

Wedding Bell Blues

2009-10-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm talking about Jim & Pam! We've been looking forward to this wedding ever since they flirted on the first season of The Office. What a huge disappointment it was! There were moments; when Jim swept her off to Plan C (Niagra Falls) and the cute dancing all the office staff did up the isle, but for the most part it was the trashiest episode ever! Doesn't Hollywood know what real romance is anymore?
Jill had a Wedding party and I brought over the bubbly (sparkling cider) She did the wedding cupcakes and we all watched together.

I think I should write some of these episodes! I can think of real romance! This happened with the last episode of Cheers years ago. I wrote my own ending after that disappointing one. Shelly Long would have come back with a little mini Sam (some little actor with perfect hair) and he'd have gotten his baby he wanted so bad!
. . . Why don't these writers call me?

It is FALL in some places!

2009-09-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

We just got back from New York & Ohio. Those are amazing places and yes, it is FALL there! The leaves were beginning to change, although it was still quite green. We went for a business meeting in Buffalo, but when that was over we went to Ohio and saw the Kirtland Temple. Although our church does not own it, the relationship between the Community of Christ church and the LDS church was amazing. Truly unified in their Christianity.

We stayed at this cool Bed & Breakfast - the Homestead House

We also went to Palmyra and did a session at the temple and walked in the Sacred Grove. It's incredible to realize what happened there, and to ponder the significance.
I loved how the missionaries would tell you about the sites, but then apply it to their lives and ask how you could apply it to yours. At church there it was cool to hear them say the opening prayer and thank Heavenly Father for the Autumn weather. Then we left for home and arrived in the 100 degrees here. Yah, we'll be thanking Him too, in about another month.

Charlie Brown can rock & roll

2009-09-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

A tearful goodbye; another one leaves the nest!

2009-08-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

Bye Bye Aunt Brandee

Jerry, the tough one who didn't cry

The best to our Brambo

It's hard to say goodbye

even siblings who rival cry

2 sisters in Seattle

I'll miss your kiss!

Our last look as we drive away. Hours later after we stopped crying we were reading the Ensign aloud and read Pres. Eyrings tearful goodbye to his father as he left the nest . . . yah, the crying all started again!

Birthday Party in Seattle!

2009-08-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

We had the best time taking the whole family up for Gavin's first birthday. It was a trial at times; driving long hours, CJ & fam getting bumped from flights, and blow outs in the RV, but all in all the fun stuff made up for the troubles. We used a friends huge luxury RV, and went first to Paul & Skye's to bring his car back to him, then drove up through Couer de Lane, ID, which was so beautiful (slept in the Walmart parking lot), then up to Vancouver to see John & Chawna for a day, then to Nikki & Shaun's for the big birthday celebration. We were also there to deliver Brandee, who is going to either be a "Nanny for Nikki" or she'll get a job & go to school there. She's so excited to get out of this heat! On the way home we went back to see Paul & Skye (slept in the church's parking lot & woke to girls camp gathering just outside the RV) Then drove to Las Vegas to see our good friend Teresa Staples, then on to home. A great big thanks to Brittney & Kyle for taking good care of our house, pets & plants!

EM Excitement!

2009-07-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

The box (unfinished)

The boys
The barrier

So what is EM? It stands for ElectroMagnetic and are we excited about it? On July 16 we had our demonstration to show some big wigs this new system our company has been working on. (the picture above is not the big wigs, it's our boys, seeing what dad's been up to) The meeting went better than we could have hoped, and the jobs are beginning to line up. This is such a blessing in this economy when so many in the construction industry are out of work. We have had so many people helping to get this together; a great freind who let us use their warehouse and nice offices to facilitate; a couple of amazing engineers who have worked for next to nothing for many hours; office staff who put so much together; and my sweet hubby who never sleeps (seriously I wake up in the middle of the night and he's not snoring, he's thinking) - he eats and breaths thoughts of EM! He's pretty amazing! And thanks to God on high for helping this come together!

Girl's Fun Time

2009-07-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

It is really starting to hit us that Brandee is moving out soon. We'd better enjoy every minute that we can. We were having fun one night playing Skip Bo & Ligretto, in between Jenny making this yummy strawberry cake, listening to music and playing with the dog, when it suddenly hit me that we were all girls, right down to the dog! This house has in the past, been mostly MALE, and here we were, no guys around and having an unplanned girls night! It was so COOL! The next day we even went out and took a bunch of pictures of the girls in the front yard. And let me tell you, they were the "models", striking poses all over the place (see facebook, I'll post more there). It was hilarious Brandee put her leg out and said "Jenny touch my leg", meaning to sit on the bricks too, and make their feet meet. Well Jenny being so obedient strikes a pose and puts her hand on Brandee's leg in such "Vanna White" style. It was so funny! We laughed and laughed! I love these girls!

Independence Day 2009

2009-07-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4S10D6SdCs
It's been a fun & relaxing day! I love the 4th of July! I get all my cheesy decorations out and have my side of the family over and swim and eat! It's one of the few days I actually play in our pool. We had a mean game of volleyball going! My nephew, Matt Platt, must have just gone to see the Transformers movie, cuz he was playing like a transformer, it was hilarious! Brookie & Heather spent the night and we had a blast doing Karaoke, making "cottage cheese" shakes, and playing Lagretto (cards). Wow does she have a set of singing pipes! Be watching for her on American Idol in a few years! I included this youtube video so you'd know that we did also think about our great nation today. Celine Dion has an amazing voice (almost as good as Brookie's) & the pictures are great. I am so thankful for those who founded our country; their courage and strength and inspiration. God Bless America!

Transformer seen here with baby transformer

From 1 to 90

2009-07-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

June 6 Charlie turns 1 year old (seen here with his sweet mama)

And on July 3 Grandpa Breinholt turns 90!

(seen here with his 2 favorite daughters)

Grammy & Papa to the rescue

2009-06-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Not that we did all that much, but both Chuck and I have gone back to Washington to help out Nikki & Shaun in their move. They renovated a house and recently moved in. It's amazing the work Shaun did for 4 months everyday after a full days work at Boeing. He basically gutted the inside and made this house so beautiful. Nikki in the meantime has been raising two beautiful boys, Jayon & Gavin. She's the best mom! They don't have any family there, and since they are our other adopted kids (even named Brown!) we had to come help.

The Storm is Here!

2009-06-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

This is a cool picture I found, and it reminds me of the monsoons that have now hit Arizona! Wow, I haven't blogged in 2 months! So much has happened in the past 2 months, not all bad, but just enough to show me that the storm certainly is here. (I refer to President Hinkley when he said a storm is coming) In the past 2 months we have seen &/or lived through a friend who went a little crazy and committed a horrible crime being killed in the process; a young friend who tried to committ suicide; loved ones who are deceived into thinking temporal things are more important than they are; another loved one who had to appear in court; friends dealing with stress & hard times in their family or from losing a job; a nation which is heading towards socialism & greater debt faster than we could have imagined. It's unbelievable! It seems like it has been one thing after the other, but we are holding on and having FAITH that this all leads to a loving Heavenly Father and His plan for us to learn from these experiences. We will weather this STORM with God's help!

May - the Birthday Month

2009-05-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Chuckie, Paul & Jerry!
Oops! How could I forget my sweet daughter in law, Stephanie too!

(we got this family picture taken in May, so there are more of us than the birthday peeps)

Charlie Crawls!

2009-04-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

YAY! He did it! And does it all over the place now!

Five Generations!

2009-04-19T17:53:00.001-07:00

We had Grandpa Breinholt over for dinner, then Grandma Brown stopped by, then low and behold C.J. & Steph & Charlie came! I was thrilled especially when Stephanie suggested we take a 5 generation picture. This is quite a feat, all five generations together! That is rare and we are blessed to have them all here on earth at one time! (We sure love and miss those on the other side too) Note that sweetest little baby smile! He knows this is a special moment!

Office Staff

2009-04-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, I promised pictures of the office guys, so here they are! Danny Sutton, Operations manager (left) and Stephanie Simmons, "everything else" operator (right). We had a hard time coming up with that name. She does everything from computer drafting, web designing, general organizing, to icy beverage runs. Josie (below pictured at girls camp) is our part time secretary, and comic relief. She keeps us in stitches (and sometime when I have an hour I will list her and Steph's quirks - they have some doosies)

Speaking of girls camp, I believe I fired Josie after she wouldn't go to sleep. Danny can affirm this, as he was our priesthood there and could hear me from the other room yelling at 3 a.m. She keeps showing up at work however - and we're so glad. She's actually had a little leave of absence and we're glad she's back. I still need to get a picture of Brenda on here. She won't let us take a picture, and she actually works for Curt, but she is such a part of the family down there, so I'll keep trying. Chuck is pictured here at my old desk. When he was working out of town I was in this office, but now that he's back and I share a desk with Josie. I don't mind, until I hear Chuck snoring in the other room (heehee, it's actually only happened once or twice, after a night when he can't sleep cuz he's thinking about things at work) He's one hard worker and I'm so glad we have this big job at Sky Harbor so he'll be in town for a while. If anyone is wondering about Korea, it is still a possibility, but we have no more details than that.

These guys are the best and we couldn't have CB or K12 without them! (I'll work on getting our field staff next, so stay tuned)

Aaaaccchhooo!

2009-03-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Bless you, or as C.J. used to say when he was little "flush you". Poor Chuckie has been sneezing so bad this past couple of months. It's driving Kyle crazy! And it's thanks to all these beautiful flowers in bloom. Sad that something so pretty could tickle your nose so intensly! These tulips are on my front porch and the African daisies are covering many of my neighbors yards. I just had to post a few of the flowers around our place, they are so pretty and last such a short time. I'm enjoying them, but . . . ah . . . ah . . . whew!

Brandee's Birthday! (woohoo 19 Big Ones!)

2009-03-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Just some cute pictures of our beautiful Brandee on her special day! She celebrated with friends till long after midnight, then after a few hours of sleep, went with a friend to watch the sunrise on her special day! (sounds like college age life to me - no sleep!) Later we'll have Crab & Steaks (her favorite) and Cake & Ice Cream!
A cute story about Brandee. She loved crab from about 5 years old. (THAT was our mistake - letting her taste it!) She'd talk about it all the time, wanting us to make it for her. We couldn't really afford to have it be a regular dinner item, but we decided on her 7th birthday we'd take her to a fancy seafood restaraunt, Laundry's, and then go see Beauty and the Beast at Gammage.
We got to Laundry's and couldn't wait to see how much she was going to love this birthday dinner. Well she decided she was not in the mood for crab that night, so she is one of the rare few who has had a corndog at Laundry's. From then on she decided she loved Corndogs rather than Crab! However, she wouldn't go for corndogs for dinner tonight! (DARN)

What brings home the bacon

2009-03-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

I realized I've never written about our company. The other love of my hubby's life. We've had our company, C.B. Contracting, Inc. for over 13 years now, and started a sister company called K-12 Defense Consultants. I put that logo on cuz it looks cooler than C.B.'s logo. I know it sounds like something education related, but it is the highest crash rating system for a barrier which is pretty much what we do now; install barriers at different government facilities. We have done work at military bases, federal reserve buildings, FBI, court houses, dams, police stations, car rental places, etc. It's amazing to think of how our business has grown and changed, from cutting concrete, to doing curbs & gutters in the 80's & 90's and now to anti-terrorist security. From our office being in our laundry room, then bedroom, then home office, to a real away from home office. We have really been blessed by God with work to keep us busy, great employees who work hard, and talented office staff. Stephanie at the office is working right now on our website, which you can link to at the right top corner links. I'll have to post some pictures of our staff on here too. Just over a year ago it was only Danny, Josie and I in the office, while Chuck and the other guys were working abroad (Japan, Guam, England, etc.) We were so crazy busy and understaffed I thought I'd loose my mind. I've been doing the bookkeeping for a long time now, and we've just grown to where I needed some serious help. Along came Stephanie, and "she completes me", or at least lets me focus more on the accounting (which BTW Paul is studying in school & which I hope he'll take over for me someday)
We also get to share the office with Curt, Chuck's brother and his company. They've got a great bunch of people too. Sometimes we all re-enact scenes from "The Office" and have great laughs. Josie plays jokes on Brenda (she's Jim), Stephanie has wadded paper she throws at Danny, and Danny has hidden my cell phone in the past. I didn't punch a hole in the wall though. At times we all watch Chuck when he falls asleep in his chair, and laugh when he starts snoring! No he really works hard, and we appreciate him so much. He was really inspired to get into something more specialized. He's a genius when it comes to thinking up how to do things. I just love his engineering mind! Chuck has been pretty excited lately because they are working on changing the operations of the barriers in a way that will save money in maintenance on the systems as well as be more environmentally safe (GREEN is in!) Hopefully it will make us some GREEN, and keep us in operations through this tough economy.

Incredible (edible) Snow

2009-02-19T20:36:00.001-08:00

Okay, this maybe a very "flakey" post, but I just have to say that snowflakes are an amazing miracle! We just got back from visiting Paul and Skye in Utah, and I could not help being fasinated by the snow! I was hoping to see it fall from the sky (something I've only seen a few times in my life) and Heavenly Father did provide that tender mercy for me. (I know, I know, what about all the Utahans that are sick of it? Well that extra snow was for me!) Skye even said she couldn't believe it was snowing this much. I stood on their back porch yesterday gathering snowflakes on a black kitchen towel and inspecting them, then scooping up the soft white fluff into a cup and eating it. (I sure hope their neighbors weren't watching) We have to pay for "Snowies" in Arizona. (I just wish they'd have had some syrup to go on it) Chuck did it too! He really got into some snowball fights. I'm glad the little neighbor boys came around, I was tired of getting hit in the head! Anyway look at this picture! How can you not know there is a God in Heaven when you see this intricate detail?

Ode to My Love

2009-02-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

On this Valentine's Day I must tell my love Thank You for putting up with me for all these years! I know at times I can be a pain. (to think of someone who wouldn't just love roses on Valentines Day or a trip to Hawaii! BTW I get roses on our anniversary and love it) I think back at all the years, 26 to be exact. In some ways I can't believe it's been that long, in other ways it already feels like eternity. I've lived with him longer than I ever lived without him, and the years keep going, faster and faster. How blessed I am to spend them with you! You make me laugh, you take good care of me. You genuinely want me to be happy. You work hard, and you play hard. You help me to play too. I see you now as a grandpa and it warms my heart. You are so much more relaxed with Charlie than you were with our babies. Yet I remember one time in the delivery room, you snuggled close to my face and said "this is the greatest moment. I love this moment, and want to do it again!" Right then I just couldn't quite agree with you, but now I do. . . not . . that we'd ever be there again now, but you know what I mean. There have been many defining moments and will be more.

Grow Old With Me, The Best is Yet to Be!

What a Game!

2009-02-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

That was an amazing game! Charlie thought so too. He got so into it, as you can tell by the video. Kinda like his dad and papa. (sorry it's sideways, if anyone knows how to change it leave me a post) This is when he was happy before Papa scared him with his yelling! Here's how much I know about football; when we were ahead with like 2:45 left, I'm thinking "yah, we just gotta hold em for 2 more minutes!" I had no idea they could do all that in 2 minutes! And that was NOT a fumble at the end! We were exhausted after watching the game. Would have been a good exhaustion if we'd have won, but oh well, it was fun!

Obama has begun

2009-01-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

I just have to say a blip about this big inauguration week! It was a proud moment for the US of America. Even if we didn't vote for him, nor want him as Chief Executive of our great nation, we must stand behind him now, and pray for the best. I watched at the office on the CNN online (thanks to Steph) which streamed it in conjunction with Facebook. That meant anyone with a Facebook account could make comments throughout. There were 1000 messages a minute coming on the screen, and it was interesting to see some of them. I was a little worried about those people who seem to think he is a God "Obama, Obama, He will save us!" Also sad were all the people saying rude things about Bush. But all in all it was neat to see that as a nation we had a lot of patriotic pride for that day. I was amazed at how many people were there and glad that no terrorist decided to pick on Washington DC right then. Also very happy that they still had an invocation and wonderful patriotic, "God in the lyrics" music. I believe there are still a lot of good people in this great nation founded on Christian principles, and we'll do our darndest to hang on to them!

Charlie Meets Gavin & Jaydon

2009-01-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

Nikki & Shaun were here with the boys last weekend from Seattle (for those who don't know Nikki is Jenny's birth sister) We had the best time and finally got all these grandbabies together! Brandee says "Charlie this is Gavin" - "I'd rather look at pretty Aunt Nikki" says Charlie

"And I'd rather look at my puppy feetie jammies" says Gavin (held by Aunt Stephanie)

"Hey, those are cool, I gotta get me a pair"

"So this is your brother Jaydon? He's big" -"Yah, hey, both of you check out my feeties again?"

"I gotta help these little guys out - Let me tell ya how to handle these adults always takin pictures"

Just a side note . . .

2009-01-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, I want to acknowledge that I love my girls with all my heart. After that last entry you could be wondering. They are beautiful, and strong and have good hearts. They both care a lot about other people (and some day they'll care about my sanity - who wants a senile grandma for their kids?)My hats off to you guys with many girls (Camette, Curt, Clint, Derrick, DeeDee, etc.) How do you do it?

Girls #!$^#%&!!!!

2009-01-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

Why are girls so hard??? I really think they have a plot to drive me insane! It's not that what they do is so bad, it's that they make no sense, they raise my emotions to enormous levels, and I just can't figure them out! . . . I don't know! I ask my mom if I was like this. She said I just cried a lot. I could handle a crier. I could just hug and comfort till the cows come home! . . . . (the Lord must want me to learn more than that)

You know, snakes and snails and puppy dog tails sound gross, but Sugar makes you fat, and Spice gives you heartburn!

We're goin to the Superbowl!

2009-01-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it?
Last night we went to Trey Bashas house to see Vai, (this is Jill with Vai) and you shoulda heard all the bantering between Cardinal fans and Philly fans (Vai's whole camera crew was there) They kept chanting the Eagles fight song. Now Vai is here on official business for NBC from Philadelphia so he had to be that way, although I heard in his interviews he was teasing about being for the Cardinals. Well I wonder how he's doing this afternoon! It was so fun to see him again. He's such a great guy and introduced us to all his friends. It was neat to meet the Bashas, and I told them we know Don Grace, they love that guy (he's our neighbor who has worked for Bashas forever!) They were such down to earth people. We got talking parenting, gospel & politics. I wish his dad would run again. It was a good time. . . . Well I gotta go settle Chuck down, he's like a little kid on Christmas, he's so excited! I must say I was proud of him. He got all the way through priesthood opening exercises before he left for home. That's more than I can say about some of my beehives - 3 of my girls didn't show up cuz they left for the game!

Simon & the 3 Wise Men

2009-01-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I'm sad to take all the Christmas decorations down. I am really dragging my feet on it. See I haven't even changed my background yet (never mind that I can't remember how, and that blog background site is down) I have friends who can't wait to get things back to normal and have them down the day after New Years (and that's even painful for them to wait that long) but I know there are others, like me, who hate to take it down. It means the festivities are over, and back to normal life. I did refrain from playing that song "I cry the day I take the Christmas tree down". That really is a song.
I came across a few scriptures though that have helped me get through this. Simon in the temple waited all his life to see the Christ child, but he wasn't there that Christmas night. He was days, weeks or even months after that. He had Christmas rejoicing in his heart when he finally saw that baby. And then there were the wise men. We know they didn't see the Christ child for like 3 years. They were probably riding those camels, singing Christmas carols and drinking eggnog that whole time! I think we should leave it all up and celebrate Christmas for 3 years at a time! (that would give me a lot longer to shop)

Strawberry Snow

2009-01-11T14:41:00.000-08:00

We all went last weekend up to Strawberry and stayed in a friends cabin. (Woolfs) I say we all went, but we had to overlap and run to and from the valley to get everyone there. We had such a great time, and want to especially thank Paul & Skye who came down after Christmas to thaw out from the Utah weather only to have us drag them up to the White Mountains. We were so excited when the last morning we were there it had snowed. It was so beautiful! (I don't know why they weren't excited!) We had gone to this cabin years ago, and infact as we drove up Jerry started asking Brandee if she recognized it. She asked "is this where the trolls were?" and Jerry started laughing hysterically. They had scared her when she was about 5 years old at this cabin telling her that trolls were around the creek. It was fun to go back. We played games and ate and went to the gravel pits. I even went down on the sled. (I'll post more pictures later) Charlie tasted his first snow, thanks to Grandpa. That cute ski cap was one his daddy wore when he was that age! We played catch phrase and had the best time (when Stephanie wasn't swearing or Dad wasn't sexy dancing) We also played Mario Cart, and was amazed at how good Dad got at it so quick. C.J. & Kyle could not figure out how he kept taking 1st place. Even Stephanie won Kyle while nursing the baby! It was amazing! (Paul was actually playing for them under a blanket. It was funny to see how frustrated C.J. & Kyle got) We told Skye she needs to practise while Paul's at work, so she'd get 1st place instead of 2nd to Paul all the time. It was a weekend full of great memories!

Christmas Day

2008-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Our big highlight was watching little grandbaby Charlie open his presents. He was really more interested in the wrapping paper and eating it, than he was in any toys. He got lots of cute toys and books and a walker. Also both great grandma's got him some Mickey Mouse clothes!

. . . and for the big kids we got Rock Band! This is Jerry, C.J. & Kyle rockin out! There's some pretty good old 70's rock songs on it. Chuck even got into it! You should have seem him rocking out to "Roxanne" and "Mississippi Queen" (I'm so tempted but he won't want me to put the picture of him on it) We were in our pj's almost all day. We just played and played. I must state here on our blog that I did beat Chuck at the Beatles version of Monopoly. I carried him when he couldn't pay rent after buying "Sgt Peppers Ave" (he bought it just cuz he knew I wanted it - that's my favorite Beatles song, and I owned the other 2 properties next to it! He went broke buying it, but bankrupted me soon after) I love Christmas Day!

Nine Ladies Dancing

2008-12-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

Actually it was more than 9 ladies, but I have to write about the Chrisitan Dance Companies annual Christmas recital. They hold it every year at Mesa High, and we're just waiting for some anti-Christian to try to put a stop to it - there will be a fight to keep it. It is made up of girls (and one guy this year) from all different Christian religions, and is so incredible. The spirit of Christ and Christmas is so strong through the dance and music there. They go through His whole life beginning with his birth, and ending with an amazing rendition of "How Great Thou Art". It has become one of my holiday favorites! (see this link for a write up in our church magazine recently, my buddy Jill Adair wrote it!)
http://www.lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Magazines/NewEra/English/2008/NE_2008_12_11___02252_000_011.pdf

Christmas Past - First and Last

2008-12-21T21:37:00.001-08:00

The year was 2002. We got invited to some foster family
Christmas parties where foster families got lots of presents for the whole family. It was nice, but we got way more than we needed. It's amazing to see how much the community helps out kids in need. They also had Santa which Kyle & Jenny got to meet. This was her first Christmas with us.

We also went down to Tucson on Christmas day to see Grandpa Brown in the hospital. It was such a special day. Grandma Brown was playing the piano in the cafeteria and some of the patients and their families had gathered around as we sang Christmas carols. One of my favorite things! I love it when Charlene does that! I will never forget that Christmas spending it with Dad Brown. He was/is such a special man. This was our last Christmas with him (here on earth) Special note: His parents, Granny & Papa both happened to be born on Christmas Day.

Village People!

2008-12-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

No, not the YMCA kind. This is my village, it's tiny, but it's all mine! Thanks to Jared Arnett I now have mountains, and I'm displaying it in my armoire in the living room. There are some of my neighbors who have huge Christmas Villages and tomorrow night we are hopefully joining them on the neighborhood Village Walk. I went to see the Martin's today, and fell in love with their Norman Rockwell houses. They have actual scenes from his paintings in the windows. For years I have gone to the Bartels for "Village Therapy" - that's when you get a cup of eggnog, or hot chocolate, plop right on the floor infront of it and spend at least an hour just staring at it. I know I'm not alone in this, but I pick out which house I live in and which route I'll be walking to get to the carolers in the main square. (I know, it's a little creepy) Last year I got to see the Arnetts, it took up their entire family room. You gotta check it out on youtube. See "Arnett Christmas Village". I was kind of dreading setting mine up, but about 1/2 way through it was FUN! I know you have to have a bit of a God Complex to create these little worlds, but it's a great way to stay in touch with your inner child; escape real life "playing house" with good clean fantasy "village people"!

Anasazi Reminders

2008-12-14T17:45:00.001-08:00

Last weekend we went to the annual Anasazi Fundraiser Dinner. It's the 4th year we've gone and it's always such a great event. This year we sat by Brian & Allison Trotter who have been our mentors in Anasazi (sorry the pix was from my phone) We were at the table next to Brooke White (who was in our ward growing up) She sang for it; "Let it Be" like she did on American Idol, and one she wrote "It's Gonna Change". It was moving! The next day was an Arbinger Seminar where we got to personally talk to Terry Warner, the founder. He reminded us of our "Way of Being", and how to do things with a heart of peace rather than a heart at war. Here is our Young Walker, Brandee with some friends at the skills expo. Kerri on the left was a trail walker. She's so awesome and is married and has a baby now. Susanne in the middle was on the trail with Brandee (dawnstar?) They were busting coals, like Brandee used to show us, and bongoing on drums. Even Kyle got into it! Great weekend!

The Iron Rod

2008-12-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

We had a special FHE with guest appearance by Father Lehi.

All the Brown cousins came and Nana & Grandpa. We read through the scripture and then had the backyard set up with an iron rod, that lead to the white and delicious fruit (marshmellows). We had a great and spacious building on the slides. Those prideful people yelling to those at the rod even managed to get some to let go follow them. It was touching to see the ones at the rod tell them not to go, to come back and hang on. Afterwards we put our fruit into cups of hot chocolate and talked about what it means to hold to the rod. The little kids had great thoughts on it.

What a day and age we live in, where the mists are thick and the need to hold on greater than ever!

Horsing around on Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Uncle Chris & Aunt Nora for such a fun Thanksgiving! We had the best food, and then
went out doors and rode it off. (well I didn't get on, I didn't want to hurt the poor beast, I was rather full) The kids rode, and even got tips on how to train and control the horse. My bro is like the best horse trainer, they really call him a "horse whisperer". It was great fun!

Birthday Cake!

2008-11-27T16:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is from here on out the Birthday Cake of choice at our house! It is soooo easy and soooo yummy! We got the idea from the Lara's in our ward, so we made it for Jenny's birthday. The boys always wanted ice cream cakes and I'd spend a fortune on them, when I could have been doing this all along! It's just layers of ice cream sandwiches, whip cream, crushed Butterfinger candy bars, chocolate and carmel syrup!

Gratitude Attitude

2008-11-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

The other day I read the greatest Thanksgiving day poem I've ever read. It was deep, yet simple, showing gratitude for large and small blessings, bringing to mind pleasures and joys we sometimes overlook or take forgranted. I would copy it and put it right here on my blog, but without the authors permission I could get in to trouble (even if I do know him personally) Actually it's our nephew, Clark. What an awesome guy; rough and rugged on the outside, but has this poetic side we didn't know about!

It has really made me think about what I'm grateful for; hot water in the shower, baby smiles (isn't it cool that you don't have to teach them that, they just do it!) flowers, music, the people in my life, laughing, etc., etc., etc. I wonder what this coming year will bring, and I want to remember that no matter how things change (and yes, change IS coming - Obama promised!) that there are ALWAYS THINGS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR! What will we not have next year at this time that we have this year? Will it be harder to thank HIM then? I for one will try. I hope everyone in this nation/world will. It changes your everything to have that attitude of gratitude. Thanks be to the ONE we are eternally indebted to!

This week . . . much better

2008-11-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

Although there was still much contention, we had a tender mercy and joyous moment. My little peacemaker to the right here, really did an awesome thing for her mom. She's helping me to see into the mind of a jr high creature.

After we talked for a bit (actually she has joined her older siblings in telling mom and dad just exactly how to finish raising these kids), she tenderly told me I was a good mom, and that she was on my side! It was like bells ringing in my heart and I felt like I was in a movie as I ran to embrace her. We just hugged and cried together and I told her what an awesome girl she is. She's the best! I love her so much. And you know, I don't think that moment would have been as sweet if not for a bitter past. It was truly pure joy to me!

A rough week

2008-11-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've been trying to figure out how to write this blog entry without sounding too down, or name names or blame blames, so I will just say that I know God gives us family associates that challenge us, stretch us, and help us to grow! I want to be honest on my blog, and say that sometimes life is really, really hard. I don't want to sugar coat things or supress things, but I also don't want to put on the "woe is me!" act; things can always be worse! I can honestly say that I have learned things being a parent of the people I parent, that I could learn in no other way, and for that I am grateful. I'll just say that this week I have worried and cried till I'm exhaused, I have debated certain political issues till I'm sick, and I have felt frustration as I've faced a school problem we've never dealt with! BUT! (and this is a big BUT! heehee) I AM STILL STANDING! Today as I took the sacrament at church I had more hope and love than I could contain (infact it leaked out of my eyes through the whole song) Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is my salvation! Not only for the things that I do wrong, but for everyone I love. He will save us ALL! I read an article about this lady's little grandbaby who grabbed a hot curling iron, and how he cried and cried in pain. She prayed for him and asked the Lord to let her have the pain instead of him. As she pleaded to Him she heard a voice that said "that is not necessary, I have already done that". WOW! . . . I just thank HIM for that!

You're a good man, Charlie Brown

2008-11-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

Just had to post the 2 cute Charlie Brown's we saw this Halloween! The first is grandbaby, adorable Charlie Brown in his little ghost costume (he was also a cowboy on Halloween night) and then this awesme pumpkin that C.J. and Stephanie carved. I can really see the resemblance, can't you?

Parent Weekend at BYU

2008-11-02T21:39:00.000-08:00

We went to Utah to visit Paul & Skye last weekend. It was so great! It was as much or more fun than going on a vacation, just to hang out with your kids. They are the cutest newlyweds, and working away at life. Their basement apartment overlooks the town of Cedar Hills, including the Tipanogas Temple where they got married. I finally our last morning got a picture with all of us in our BYU Parent Weekend shirts. We went the first day to the art museum there and what I thought would be torture for Chuck ended up being something we couldn't tear him away from. They had an exhibit of Geneva Steel, so he got his little "Bob the Builder" face on and was facinated by that exhibit. (wish I coulda got a picture there) Paul teased me the whole time about my picture taking. He calls me a Japanese tourist.
I found out that Sky is a professional shopper. She and her mom took me shopping and gave me a whole new look. We got lots of cute sweaters that I can only wear for a few months in AZ. Skye said it was much funner to spend someone elses money (yah, woulda been for me too!) We also went to the BYU game. It was

amazing. I've only been to ASU games and there is a whole different feeling there. They had a tailgate party, which involved plinko game, watching Vocal Point sing, and drinking hot chocolate and eating donuts! We saw Vai Sikahema and his family, as well as Vanessa Gissell and her family. Her daughter married the quarter back, Max Hall, and her other daughter married another player on the team. It was perfect weather too. We found some seats up by Skye's family and watched the first 1/2 of the game, then went back to their apartment and had wings and watched the second 1/2. What a great time! It was so good to be with them. Yah, we'll be visiting Utah more often!

The Breinholt Resort

2008-11-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

Chuck's cousin, LeRoy and his wife Kelly invited us up to their cabin a few weeks ago. Chuck, myself, Jerry, and Kyle went. We took Alejandrina last minute. It was a blast. It is a total resort and they get it all to themselves (although they invite people, and share it with the ward YM/YW often, as well as work people) It was amazing. They also took us on their razor (go cart thingy). Roy is just as big a hot dogger as he was when we all used to go dirt bike and quad riding in the 80's. You'd think being a bishop would slow him down a bit. We played volleyball, sat around the fire and ate

Burger House burritos. When we left for home our car broke down,

and only Chuck & Kyle could

fit in the cab of the tow truck. Jerry, Aleja and I stayed in the desert with a little fire and waited for C.J. to come pick us up. It was a great time.

October - My favorite month!

2008-10-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's because of Halloween, or the leaves changing, or that the holidays are coming, or it could be that Sam's Club has their pumpkins pies out (I'm getting one this week!) or maybe it's football or because it finally starts cooling down, but I love this month! I'm so glad that Chuckie is home for a while. It has been such a blessing. Had kind of a rough week this past week, not feeling well, and more teenage problems, but we're gonna hang in there. I'm looking up my "Love and Logic" notes and getting reaquainted with the Arbinger principles, so things are bound to get better. It sure helps also to have a dad around the house. (btw, I do love football, but haven't watched a complete game since the boys were playing. But everyone I love loves it so much and I like the sound of it in the background, especially Chuck's yelling at the plays . . . all weekend long!)

Come On Honey, KISS THE MOOSE!

2008-10-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Alaska, Vancouver & Seattle! It was so amazing and beautiful! And hard to believe that it's actually cold somewhere, when it's still so hot here?! I love seeing the wild life. Thousands of salmon swimming upstream, bald eagles, and two grizzly bears in captivity. Never saw a moose, until this giant stuffed one. Chuck wasn't as excited as I was obviously. He was excited enough to take off his shoes and try to catch a salmon with his bare hands. I wanted so bad to see a black bear in the wild. We saw this sign warning us of a nearby mama bear, but we never saw her.

We got to see Chawna & John in Vancouver too, and go on this incredible hike that caused much muscle pain the next morning. They were in great shape going on that hike every morning. We also went on a hike with Ned Chesley, our buddy in Ketchikan, AK. We seriously thought that hike would never end.

2008-09-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

Listen for his "do it again" and "ready, set, go!"

A visit to Seattle!

2008-09-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

We are in Seattle right now visiting Nikki, Shaun, Jaydon and Gavin. I can't believe how big Jaydon is. When they left Mesa a year ago, he was still a baby, now he is such a big boy. He's only 2 years old, but as his preschool teacher says "he's a 4 year old in a 2 year old body". He says and does amazing things. Complete sentences, and cleaning up spilled milk on his own. He is such a little man. And Gavin is quite the cuddler. It's so fun to see their little family grow. They are amazing and we are loving every minute of our quick little visit with them

Go Sarah!

2008-09-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

This was too funny! I had to post it! It is exactly what I was thinking as they have ripped on Gov. Palin's experience. And who ever said she would be running the country?? Yes, our chief executive has power, but isn't this country still ran by the people?? I am questioning that everyday now!

Introducing Skye Gunderson Brown

2008-09-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

And last, but not least, to top off our great summer, we got a new daughter-in-law! Paul did good! She's quite the catch. We all love her!

Aunt Nonie & Uncle Bills Big Day!

2008-09-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

My cousin Kimberly and I planned a big event for her parents for June 20. It was their Golden Anniversary, Wow 50 years! We had it at this nicest resort in Scottsdale. Kim has the greatest ideas and it was so fun to get together to plan and shop for it. We also had a big 4th of July party with them. It had a 50's theme, and good barbeque, swimming and a sleepover. This is my dad's twin sister and I have so many great memories growing up with them, and here's another one to add!

Introducing Charlie Brown the IV

2008-09-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

A new grandbaby and a new grandma

Kyle loses his head!

2008-09-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

We stayed at the Fackrells Condominium in Rocky Point and had a blast. I will never forget burying Kyle and within a minute of taking this picture his legs started to cramp up and he was screaming for us to unbury him. We were laughing so hard as he burst out of the sand and started limping around.

Our Exciting Summer!

2008-09-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

This summer started off with our first girl graduate!
It was a crazy night. Most years we are sitting through sweltering heat. At Paul's graduation there was a dust storm, but at Brandee's it was rainy and cold. We were in shock. It was kind of sad cuz only parents could come, so CJ, Steph, Paul & Skye (who came from Utah)and grandmas and grandpa had to sit home and wait for us. We also had to have it in the auditorium, while the other 1/2 of the graduating class was in the gym. The saddest part about it was that her 3 other cousins were in the gym. How often will that happen when you get to graduate with 3 cousins. We were all planning on yelling for them together. If the weather is any indication of this graduates future, she'll be amazing us throughout her life!

Finally beginning my blog!

2008-09-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, it only took me four visits to "blogger" over 2 weeks time, to get my blog to the place where I could finally type and get things going. This blogging is so amazing! It's exactly what I dreamed of when I'd think about the ultimate in futuristic scrapbooking! I feel lucky to be alive when it became a reality! I had no idea it was so wide spread. I have seen just a few blogs over the years when a few different Ellsworth girls would send me this strange http address, and I would open it and instantly get to see their lives and catch up on them (complete with pictures and a cute background!) Now I must give thanks to my friends at work that got me going on it; Stephanie & Josie thanks for making this really happen for me! (sniff, sniff)

My sweet daughter in law (another Stephanie in my life) started one and after I got on hers and read about things they were up to, things I didn't even know, although I see and talk to them often, it just deepened my love for blogging. Not to mention the cute pictures of my little Charlie I get to look at everytime Stephanie posts! I will also love getting on any of you, my friends blogs and catching up with you. Now all I need is more time to do this fun thing I will love!