Swimming in January

I was on bed rest for the month of January, but received special permission from my doctor to take my bored kids to swimming lessons for two weeks. They had been off track since the third week in December and were just a LITTLE stir crazy.

Charlotte of course made friends with all the boys in her class. Each day she would tell me, "Mom, I told the boys in my class they were handsome." GREAT...just what I want to hear. My three year old is the queen of flirts already.

Isabelle was one of two students in her class. Her partner was two levels ahead of her so she was able to try many skills she wouldn't have if she were in her age level. She was very brave and impressed her teacher.

Hannah learned many different kinds of strokes and breathing techniques. She's becoming a strong swimmer!

I've traumatized your children...

So, my brother John called me yesterday to invite the girls on a 6 hour play date. Did I mention that I was in the midst of yelling..."I'll give you something to cry about" to my three little angels? Anyway... John and Emily had promised to take the girls to "Marley and Me" while they were out of school. Their impromptu phone call could not have come at a better time.

I got a phone call a few hours later and this is the first thing I hear "I think that I have seriously traumatized your children." Oh, no... thoughts were racing through my head. I guess that "Marley and Me" is much more of an adult film than was let on by it's family friendly Christmas movie advertising. My children fought throwing up and giggling through the kissing scenes, pretended not to know what the word a**hole means (since they've never heard it before...) and tried not to get up and leave while the dog was being put to sleep. Hannah and Belle cried while Charlie asked for more popcorn. So, maybe you should hold off taking your kids to see the show.

Next, the clan headed over to the ever popular Chuck-e-Cheese. They were shocked when they learned that the restaurant had run out of food at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday night. So, they played games and ran to Burger King. On a positive note, the games at the new Chuck-e-Cheese seem to be much more advanced than when I was a kid and they work. If you can handle a crowd it may be a place to try.

Emily and John brought the exhausted kids home around 8 pm. They went right to bed with no "I had a bad dream, can I sleep with you" exploits to our bedroom. It was fantastic. Thank you John and Em for your perfect timing and for loving our girls so much.

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'.