Christmas was a success

Isabelle asked Santa for ice skates. I think he thought roller blades were a better alternative.

Charlie asked for a skateboard. Where did that come from? She instead got the Rose Petal Cottage.

Christmas Eve and the Jex home. Grandma always gives the girls P.J.'s. Kara is our cousin and a favorite friend.

Charlie was a mermaid in her past life. Here she is in an Ariel wig from Grandma and Grandpa Brown. Grandpa even shows off his inner-Disney.

Aunt Emily and Uncle John spoiled the girls. They look forward to dinner and a movie out in the next week.

Isabelle is just a little excited about her own perfume, lip gloss, and body wash. She's such a girl!

A new sister to add to the Brown family.

Paul and Stephanie are engaged!! They plan for a May wedding. I'm excited to get another sister. We love her.

Bed rest can have some positive side effects

Okay...so the doctor has put me on restricted activity because of, well... y'all know I got some issues,right? So I've been a little down and I decided to do something just for me. I read the Twilight series in 6 days. It's been 2 1/2 years since I've read the first one. I have been completely obsessed while living in this make believe world. I was taken out of my pregnant sick body into this world that makes me so happy. I felt like a teenager again with "first love" feelings exploding from me.

I saw the move Twilight and enjoyed it as well as I could. I think the next time I see it and the audience isn't gooing and gawing or giggling uncontrollably I will enjoy it more. I had lower expectations and so was greatly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I've researched Robert Pattinson and watched some made for TV movies and other work of his. I enjoy his performances and like him as an actor. He's not my perfect Edward, but come on...he'll do!

Favorite Family Decorations

Since we moved to Clinton we have purchased 1-2 live trees so we don't have to store them. I love a good 8-9 foot tree with a lots of droopy branches. I don't like the really full compact trees. I like to decorate with reds and golds and of course only white lights. The star on top was a little crooked because I couldn't reach around my pregnant belly into the tree and Chad thought it was just fine.

My mother made this winter pillow for me. It's cross-stitched mittens with a great red background.

These stockings were hand stitched by myself. I think each one took around 40-50 hours. My mom helped me sew the stocking onto the front. Luckily I only have one more to make for the baby. Then...I'm saying no more.

This sleigh and reindeer were a toy that my 90 year old grandmother played with as a small child. There are wheels on the sleigh and a small little string to pull it with. My grandma said there once was a Santa inside the sleigh. It's a treasured antique.

I love nativity scenes. This one was a gift from my mother last year. I hope to get the matching stable back scene soon. I think Joseph's attention to Mary is so tender.

Hannah's wart

Hannah likes gross things...kind of like myself. She finds science and the medical field very interesting. So... she would be very upset if I didn't gross all of you out and post her wart pictures. She recently had her first wart burned with liquid nitrogen. We will have to do 2-3 treatments. This is what the wart looked like 2 days after the procedure.

Halloween was goulishly fun!

We had a great Halloween this year. Isabelle was a monkey, Charlie a bumble-bee and Hannah a pirate. It's the first year in many that Hannah has not wanted to be something REALLY SCARY! Hannah and I have had a nasty bug and haven't felt well for over a week. She came home after about 25 min of trick-or-treating and snuggled with a movie. I feel bad she didn't get as much candy as her little sisters, but they were great to share. It was a warm night with a little rain and I think it kept the treaters out in force. We went through all the treats plus the back ups. That does tend to happen when you hand out 2-3 treats per person. Grandma Brown came over to see the girls and help me hand out candy. All that up and down was a little hard on me. Yeah... to a successful holiday.

Who's the winner...chicken dinner?

I say that of all the girls...Charlie looks the most like me. Now, the personality is all Chad. I know it's not a good picture of me...but the only one I could find at this age. She has his dimples though. I love the dimples!

Halloween 13 years ago!

Thirteen years ago we thought we were it. Well, were we right? Starting our senior year we vowed to have the funnest year ever. We promised no serious boyfriends (Jodi...hmmm) and that we would be friends forever. Well, thirteen years later we are still together. Love you ladies! Kristie, Jodi, Jamie, Heidi, and Rachel.


I also seem to remember us kicking some serious arse in powder-puff. Jamie, didn't you make someone cry?

Okay, as of yesterday the vote was tied.... and the winner is, GIRL! We are happy and excited to announce that we're having another girl. We are a little disappointed that we won't have the opportunity to raise a boy, but we are grateful that we've been blessed with wonderful girls. The ultrasound showed that she is very healthy with a beautiful heart. She is about 10.5" long and has the cutest profile. We discovered that my placenta is on the front of my tummy. This explains why I only feel her move by my pelvis or by my diaphragm. The placenta is preventing me from feeling too much movement. I don't feel too bad, less discomfort is better! It's beginning to feel more real. Maybe I'll get a little excited before she's born...hmmm.

The reasons I love Chad...

Chad and I recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. It's amazing how quickly time passes. We have accomplished a lot in our 11 years. We've had 3 fabulous children, bought 3 homes, vacationed in many places, served in many different church callings, grown a successful business, made many friends and enjoyed life! Life has had it's ups and downs but this I know for sure, life is meant to be enjoyed. Each day we wake is a gift from God and we should do our best to be kind to our brothers and sisters, enjoy the earth and it's fascinating splendors, inspire others around us to be better and to spread the message that Jesus is our savior, our brother, and our friend. I have grown in these 11 years and for that I have a wonderful companion to thank for his help.

1. He makes me smile.

2. He is a wonderful, attentive, and protective father.

3. He is a warrior in the world, slaying my dragons and looking out for my best interests.

4. He laughs like a girl.

5. He loves the Lord and serves faithfully in any calling given to him.

6. When giving gifts he tries to be insightful and original. He does spoil me!

7. He loves and respects his parents and mine.

8. He has never called me a bad name or yelled at me during a disagreement.

9. He takes care of me. He genuinely wants me to stay at home with our children and has taken the steps necessary to allow me to be a domestic diva! This includes working full time while going to school part time for 4 years. He did this while serving as Elders Quorum Pres. and in the bishopric. These sacrifices have put us in the position we are in today.

10. I love Chad more today than I did on that day 11 years ago. He's not perfect and either am I, but we try to make each other better people. He is my partner in this adventure in life. I look forward to eternity with this wonderful man. I love you, hon'.

Yeah...California!!!

We had a wonderful time in California. I wish I could have enjoyed my time as much as the girls did, but it was about the girls anyway. We spent 10 days in California enjoying Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sea World, San Diego Zoo, shopping and beaches. My parents, brother Dean and his daughter McKaydin joined us for half of the trip. It was fun to have them there. Chad and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary while in San Diego. We ate a wonderful dinner at the Chart House in La Jolla while watching the sun set on the ocean 10 feet outside our window. It's one of our favorite places!

Hannah, our fearless lover of fright and gore, was afraid of a lot of rides and spent alot of time with her head in Belle's shoulder.

In line for Splash Mountain. Our longest line wait of 1 hour.

Charlie was able to meet some characters while we were line.

The Jex girls pulling the sword from the stone.

The Halloween decorations were amazing all around the park.

The boys with a sexy Cruella DeVille.

McKaydin and Charlie in line.

Our most favorite part of the zoo.

In line with the girls for a 3-D show.

I'm trying to show Hannah how to feed the manta rays. She was a little timid, but Isabelle was not.

Jaws!!

Watching the dolphin show at Sea World.

The prettiest part of my body at the beach!

Charlie's first time at the beach, disregarding the time she was there while in my belly. She asked once before our trip..."Mom, I don't have to go back in your belly when we're in Disneyland, do I?"

Chad with the girls. The temperature was 88 that day...perfect.

If you know our girls, this was their favorite part of Universal!








Universal was fun, but only once every 5 years or so.

Cousins.