Merry Christmas! Love, The Browns

Santa Visit 2011

We took a trip to Trolley Square to visit Santa. This has become my favorite place to see Santa, because 1) You can use your own camera 2) We get to eat at the Spaghetti Factory after.

It's a win/win in my opinion.

Plus this year we ran into our friends. So everyone was happy. We even got a few pictures with Santa and all the friends.

It was a good time!



Syd, (Bre wouldn't be in the picture), Bella, Tanner, Claire, Sawyer, Wyatt and Mason

Bre's ultra sound

Bre had to go to Primary Children's Hospital today to have an ultra sound. Luckily nothing scary and the end result showed nothing so it was all good.

But it was a little scary for her so I made sure her best friend and comforter Sydney was there. They were so cute together. At one point when Bre was crying and saying her tummy hurt, Syd started to say the same thing and pull up on her shirt.

Holding hands. Oh how I love these two!!!
She did really well through the whole thing only whimpering a little but towards the end it was full screaming. I think she was just scared and uncomfortable since I know it didn't hurt.
After it was over we stopped in the cafeteria for some lunch. Bre was a trooper and had been fasting for almost 6 hours, so she was starving.
Doughnuts with pink frosting always make things better.

Quote of the day

The twins are just starting to say full sentences and the one I hear the most from both of them is:

"Mom, Claire Bear being mean"

This cute sly smile usually means she's up to something, or thinking about doing something she shouldn't

We Did It!

We made our first trip as a family to see the lights at Temple Square.

This felt like a huge accomplishment to me, since we've never tried it. It might have been a little overkill but I dressed all the kids in snow clothes. I wish I could say it was because I wanted them warm, but honestly my first thought was, "I don't want to hear complaining about being cold and wanting to go home".

I thought all the nativities were amazing and the kids really didn't complain.

So we might have to start making this a tradition.

Bella's Jem & The Holograms Birthday Party

About a month ago I asked Bella what kind of party she wanted and she said a Jem and The Holograms party (we have a channel that shows it and she and Claire can't get enough). I thought this was a great idea since I loved the show when I was a kid, but I reminded her that none of her friends would know what that show is. But we went ahead and planned the party anyway.

We gave everyone a VIP Pass that doubled as their pass into the party.

We started at our house and watched an episode of Jem so that everyone would know what we were talking about. After the show we headed to the church where the girls split up in 3 groups. One group did lip syncing, one group met with stylists who did their hair and nails and one group played pin the ear ring on Jem and musical chairs. After the girls had been to each group it was time to open presents and have cake.

They all had a great time.

Bella after she had her nails painted and hair done

Girls getting their nails painted

Girls getting their hair done

The birthday guitar cupcake cake

Blowing out the candles

The Stylists

Happy Birthday Bella

Dear Bella,

A few nights ago I listened as you read Good Night Moon to the twins and I almost started crying. It seems like just yesterday I was reading that to you in Laura's basement and now you're old enough to read it to your sisters.

I will always cherish that time I had with you! You were and still are the light of my life!

You make me so happy! I love to watch how you interact with your friends and what a good example you are to others. I know that other people see it to because they are always commenting to me about what an amazing person you are. You have so many good qualities. Here are just a few:

• Caring
• Sensitive
• Smart
• Thoughtful
• Great Reader
• Can memorize anything
• Great at making everyone feel a part of the group

I feel so blessed to be you mom!

I hope you have a wonderful year and a great birthday week!

Love,

Mom, Dad and your sisters

5 Lessons We Can Learn From Children (taken from KSL)

I saw this article on KSL today and I thought I would share. It's a great reminder and I think goes well with the theme of Thanksgiving.

5 Lessons We Can Learn From Children

1. Forgive easily

This is especially difficult for a lot of folks. It’s easier to hold on to a grudge, with the expectation that the offending person will realize their mistakes and beg us for forgiveness. Have you ever apologized to a child for making a mistake? They often extend forgiveness without any hesitation, and quickly move on with having fun. The lesson to learn here is truly to forgive and move on.

2. Ask questions

If you’ve ever spent time with a 5-year-old, you’d think their questions-to-statements ratio is skewed. My son is in kindergarten and asks a lot of questions. But I love it because I know he’s learning in the process. The key for adults is to ask a question when something doesn’t make sense, and not let our pride get in the way.

3. Be straightforward

When you least expect it, kids will say what’s really on their minds. They have no qualms about telling you how they feel about your tuna casserole, or they would rather play in the snow than pose for the family Christmas cards. Likewise, grown-ups need to learn how to voice our concerns, and be honest and truthful even when it’s uncomfortable.

4. Dream big

Ask my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up, and she will say “a princess” without any hesitation. What’s stopping us from having lofty dreams like that? While our dreams may be far-removed from reality, it’s the act of dreaming that needs to be revitalized in our lives.

5. Don’t stress

Have you noticed that kids take their lives a day at a time? Adults do have adult-sized worries sometimes, and while it pays to think long term and have a big-picture mentality about life, it doesn’t do any good to worry about things. If you observe your kids when they play, you’ll notice that their whole world revolves around playing, at least for that moment in time. It’s easy to fixate on the negative, but there is a lot of good news worth talking about. Kids are often naturally positive, and we should take a step back and learn a thing or two from our children.

Random Thoughts

• Most days I find myself wondering "Where did Claire come from?"
• Oh Chelsea Handler!! You're so bad for me yet I can't stop!
• I'm secretly jealous of the twins. I would love that close relationship they have.
• I can't believe I've joined the 5:30am crowd at the gym.
• Bella wants a Jem & The Holograms birthday party....and yes it's happening. I might be a little more excited than she is.
• At the primary program I caught myself thinking "I wish it was appropriate to record this", only to learn that exact thing was happening at my friends ward!! Are you kidding me?!!
• Today I'm not going to think about how many calories are in my glorious cupcake from SO Cupcake. I deserve it, right?
• Ready for a vacation. Too bad it's not in my future.
• Is it nap time yet?

Grandparents and Goodies

This morning Bella went to grandparents and goodies with grandpa at the school. The other cousins weren't ready in time.

But she had a great time eating breakfast and reading books.

Disney on Ice 2011

We went to Disney On Ice this year with the cousins and everyone loved it. Except Elysia, who said "I'm boring of this".

Claire had fun waving to everyone and saying hi to all the princesses. Cute!

The pictures are not the best. We all look bad. Oh well.

Bella, Nikki and Luke
Laura & Emmie
Yikes! Not the best picture of me

Family Pictures 2011

We had some family pictures taken recently. Here are a few, didn't want to bore you with all of them. These are all the unedited ones. I liked them a lot more than the touched up ones.

All My Girls

Dad & Girls (there is a mom and girls, but I don't like it)

Family

Bella

Claire

Breanna (should have posted the touched up one)

Sydney

Bre & Syd

Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween!!!!

Love,

Bat Woman, Superman, Violet, Bat Girl, Super Girl & Spider Girl

aka The Brown's

October Fun

I can't believe October is almost over! We did a lot which is why it probably flew by.

Bella was Star of the Week, and in first grade that's a pretty big deal. Seth came and talked to the kids about what he does for a living. Somehow he made insurance sound interesting. Just kidding, Sethy. I was actually impressed when at the end a boy raised his hand and said "Where do you get the money to give to people if their house burns down?". Wow. Someone was listening.

He was a hit because he brought Marshmellow Munchies (It's a company he insures) for everyone and balls from one of the companies he works with.

Even with all that fun stuff the kids seemed more happy playing "stump the dad". A game where the class asks questions about Bella. Sadly Seth lost. The final score was 1;4.
Claire and her best friend Wyatt and cousin Elysia had a Halloween party. She wanted everyone to dress as superheros since that is what she's going to be for Halloween. Poor Wyatt, out numbered yet again by the girls. At one point Elysia turned to him and said "are you a bird?"....he was Captain America.

They played BINGO, colored, danced, listened to scary stories, decorated cookies, watched a Halloween show and jumped on the tramp.
And this is how Seth carves a pumpkin......

I left him alone for 5 minutes and came back to find this

Halloween Excitment!!!!

We're all getting pretty excited for Halloween this year. Bella has even decided to be a part of my family theme. This is very unusual, as you can see from years past she has always wanted to do her own thing (even as a 2 year old).

Can't wait to post pictures from this year.......just a few short days away!!!

2010

Burt, Mary Poppins and one of the penguins, Curella DeVill, one of the puppies. Bella was a cat

2009

I know the kids dressed up that year, but I can't find any pictures and considering the twins were about 7 weeks old I think I get a free pass on Halloween for that year, right?

2008

Disco King & Queen (Bella was a ballerina and Claire was mini mouse)

2007

Oven with a bun in it and the bun maker (Bella was a princess)

2006

UPS Man with his Package (Bella wanted to be a monkey)

Motivation, Motivation......where have you gone?

What is wrong with me? First I haven't done a post in almost 3 weeks and the worst........

I have lost all motivation to work out.

I don't know what's happened to me. After I had Claire I was up at 6:00am, 5-6 days a week to work out and eating so well. Then the twins came and I did the same.

Now the twins are 2 and I'm in a slump.

Yesterday as I enjoyed my chocolate donut, you now the kind with 500 calories, I was thinking it's ok I'll go to the gym in the morning......then the morning rolled around and I slept in.

Working out for me isn't just about losing weight or maintaining weight, I really LOVE the way I feel after a good workout. yet for some reason I can't find the motivation to do it anymore.

Any advise?

Heard in the car

This was a conversation I heard between Claire and Wyatt this morning:

C: Why did the chicken go to the light bulb?

W: Laughs hysterically, so much that he can't stop.

What the? I guess I don't get 3 year old humor.

Love these two.

I better save this for the wedding video.

Innocence

Claire was so cute in her own little world today trying to catch butterflies.

Tip-toeing around the front yard and then running all over.

I stood there recording everything because it was too cute not to. Then I head her say this:

"Why do they fly away from me? I'm nice."

Oh man I love this girl!!!

Daddy/Daughter Road Trip

Seth & Bella just got back from an awesome trip to California!

Bella had 2 firsts: First road trip & First Utah game

She loved every minute of it.

They were lucky enough to go with our friends the Barlow's. Jeremy took his 2 oldest.

There was lots of swimming at the hotel, sight seeing around LA, playing, eating out and of course the game!

Jeremy took a million great pictures, but I decided to only post a few of my favorites.

Birthday Morning!

The twins birthday started off great. Donuts in mom and dad's bed and opening presents. Not sure if they understood it was their big day, but they defiantly enjoyed the singing, the breakfast donuts and the presents.I love this picture because they are so cute holding hands and Syd was being bashful when Bre gave her a kiss.
Cheesy grins
Enjoying donuts in mom & dad's bed
Enjoy their new presents