Merry Christmas!

This year in an effort to make my life a bit simpler, I have decided to be lame and not send out a Christmas card.   I know, I know...a blog post is not the same and won't even reach many aunts and uncles and long time friends, but some little extras this season just didn't happen.  I am loving getting family and friends cards in the mail.  They are all up on the fridge and every time I see them I smile and think 'maybe I should send out cards'.  But this year it is just not happening.  Over the last few years (since being out of the baby phase around our house) I've felt like I was in a pretty set routine.  Now that Nicole is in high school, my sweet little routine just went out the window.  Now I get up at 5am and get her to seminary.  Then take my other 3 to school, then take Kurt to preschool.  Then pick up Kurt, then pick up my other 3.  Then teach piano then pick up Nicole from play practice or basketball practice or games or choir rehearsal or scouts...uh wait that's Nathan in scouts then take Nathan to basketball etc.  And now that we live 15 minutes out of town I drive about that in whatever direction I'm headed.  By the end of the day I feel like I should go out to my mini-van and collect my cab fare.  But then I realize that I don't do it all for a tip at the end of the day.  And then I start to really ponder why do I do this?  Why do I run them here there and everywhere from 5am to 9pm?  Why don't I just tuck them all inside the house and selfishly keep them all for myself?  It's because Dave and I love them all so much that we want them to have all the new experiences that church and school and plays and piano and scouts and sports brings.  They are learning and growing in the gospel and in their testimonies and in confidence in themselves.  We can't give them all those experiences here inside the walls of our home.  Dang it.  And in a way that makes me feel sad that they are starting to need things that I can't give them.  What we can give them inside these walls is love, patience, good counsel and a listening ear.  I can also give them their own laundry baskets and a list of chores so they can learn to pick up after themselves.  No more wet towels on the floor please.  We're still working on that one.   So this year is one of change and growth.  For us all.  That is what this life is all about right?  Learning how to become our best selves.  Growing-Changing and eventually Becoming who we are meant to become.  Becoming our Potential.  I saw a quote today that said "Life is a Happy Adventure".   So that is what I am looking forward to in the years to come.  Our family is growing, changing and becoming something new and it is my job as a mother to make sure that we are as happy as we can be while we have this adventure called Life together.  Here is the card that we would have sent out to you all.  We love you and merry Christmas!

Meeting Michael Mclean

Last weekend my parents took Nicole, Dave and I along with my brothers and their wives to The Forgotten Carols with Michael Mclean.  We weren't expecting to meet him after the show, but it was a great finishing touch to a really great evening.

And what's up with Nicole meeting Carmen Rasmusen a couple weeks ago??? Knock it off:)

MJ

Those who know me know that I am a big MJ fan.   My sister in law (and neighbor) Liane put on an awesome Halloween party.  This year I was Michael Jackson and Dave was...eh....ummm...a thriller monster guy?

Beat it baby.  Michael lives:)

Time machine

Last weekend Dave and I took a short trip to Washington for a business dinner. On the way we stopped in Auburn where I grew up from age 0-12. It was the first time I'd been back in 20 years and the first time Dave got to see the house I grew up in and my old elementary school. The school was brand new when I started kindergarten in 1981. I think it opened in 1980. It was so awesome to be back in the school. My old P.E. teacher and basketball coach was still working there after 30 years! Ms. Jennings. And the old murals that were painted on the hallways brought back such memories and a few happy tears. Cafeteria smelled the same:)

 My favorite recess activities-box hockey and the ring bars.

Here's the old house.  My Dad planted those trees behind me when they were just little things.  We use to have a basketball hoop by that telephone pole to the left.  Many hours spent on that hoop.

 

Back in 1984-ish.  My Dad getting ready to mow and my little brother Brigham

and little sister Jandi hangin out in the front yard.  The good old days.

total concentration

You know when a little kid is completely focused on something important to them?  So focused that their tongue sticks out and slowly moves in rhythm with their concentration?  For example...when they are drawing, or coloring or......................playing a really intense Star Wars video game!!!  I know, I know, it's probably not a good parent of me to giggle at Kurt during his Jedi focus, but I could not resist getting a little video. 

Lauren's Baptism

 Lauren was baptized on her birthday this past Saturday.  Thank you to all the family that was able to come and be here with us!  Lauren wanted to go to the Portland temple after her baptism and to the church bookstore.  It was a wonderful day:)

public piano in Boise

My sister Tess is married to a very funny, very creative husband named Ryan.  Recently they purchased a piano for cheap and painted it and now it is hanging out in Boise waiting to be played, and getting some good  playtime I hear.  Ryan started a website called stayweirdboise.com It has some goofy fun stuff on it.  My personal favorite is titled Refund Policy...

I’m not sure which was funnier, the fact that this man was playing a recorder (an instrument any grade-schooler in America can play) or the fact that I was impressed and gave him money. Then, as soon as I handed him a few bucks he stopped playing and took a smoke break. Is it poor etiquette to ask for your money back at that point? StayWeirdBoise
-Ryan

This one got a laugh out loud from me.  And the odd look from Dave that followed that said "what are you looking at?"  Check out his website  www.stayweirdboise.com

Now I have got to go to Boise to find this random recorder man so I can not give him money.  The picture of the man walking his goat in downtown Boise is good too.  Lots of kooky weird stuff.  Good for a laugh.  Thanks Ryan.  Make sure you look at Toy Concert. 

Magic Apples

Sometimes kids capture something so simple in such a beautiful childlike way.  Today while we were watching the Book of Mormon Scripture Stories on DVD (the awesome ones that are not animated-just pictures and a narrator) about the Tree of Life and Lehi's Vision,

 Kurt said...

"I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO TASTE THOSE MAGIC APPLES"

Pioneer Trek

Last week Dave and I had the privilege of going on the stake youth pioneer trek as Ma and Pa with 21 youth in our family.  These young men and women are full of strength and love.  We had the best time ever!

I love these kids!!!!

Nathan and his cousin Ethan

Nicole

The Brown family (minus Michael who was helping another family and Papa Brown-Dave who was taking the picture;)

                                                                          

High School...bring it on.

My little baby girl is almost a freshman in high school.  I'm not sure how this all happened so fast.  I mean I know time flies, but this is ridiculous.   I feel like I was in high school a few short years ago.  Apparently not;(

This is a picture after Nicole's 8th grade graduation ceremony.  She sang a song from Wicked with her  friend Brooke.  It was so beautiful...and I'm not just saying that because she's my girl.  It really brought tears to many eyes.  Love you Nicole!!!

Mountains, California and a walrus skull

Dave and I spent the night at Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood for my birthday.  Very relaxing:)

 This last weekend me, Lauren, Kurt and Grandma and Grandpa took a road trip to California for cousin Jessi's baptism.  Cutest two cousins in the world!  We travelled back last Monday and it was pretty much the longest day of my life.  Like the longest day... It was great hanging out in the car with my parents, but Kurt and Lauren are actually pretty annoying to sit between for 16 hours.

 Lauren has always been fascinated with Helen Keller.  So when she had to choose someone to do a biography on for school...Helen was an easy choice.  Here she is reading her braille book.

Dave got to be a chaperon for Derek and his class at outdoor school.  They went to Newport beach.  They've been studying oceanography and did all sorts of experiments and dissections.  And of course hanging out with a walrus skull is awesome.

Happy mother's day to our two favorite Moms

Yay for wonderful moms! Thank you is not big enough to express the gratitude we feel for these two lovely mothers.  Truly great moms.

Reviewing my Mommy Mission Statement

I reread my mommy mission statement yesterday on mother's day and I still have a long way to go:)  Good thing we have this life to continue on and try harder each day. 

This is what I am striving for...

To create an atmosphere of laughter, learning and love in a clean home.
To encourage our family to live a healthy lifestyle.
To value exercise as a fun part of life not as a chore. A cookie is a treat, not a snack, and one is enough. A bowl of ice cream should be small in order to really be enjoyed. And to come to the conclusion eventually that the real treat is the apple.
To teach my children the benefits of hard work. Play hard, but work harder. Pull weeds. Fold laundry. Rinse dishes. Wipe off the toothpaste spit from the sink. Dust occasionally. Practice the piano.
To appreciate the sticky face, sticky table and sticky kitchen floor (and any other randomly sticky thing) and remember that the time is slipping by. The minutes and hours will continue to pass on. And remember someday I will miss all the sticky messes. Appreciate the sticky.
To behave my age. When my 11 year old is hitting like a 5 year old, and my 9 year old is calling someone a dumb dumb head, and my 4 year old accidentally pees her pants on the stairs, I will not have a 2 year old temper tantrum. I will act my age.
To allow my children to live their lives...not through a video game or a cartoon character, but through their own wonderful bodies. To see, smell, taste, hear and touch life everyday. By planting and picking flowers. By walking barefoot in the dirt. By picking berries then making something delicious. By watching birds with interest. By taking chances on new experiences and believing they will succeed. I will not allow them to waste their precious minds or bodies sitting slumped over on the couch with only their fingers feverishly twitching. Live. Live. Live.
To help them come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ by developing a testimony of the Atonement and a love for the scriptures.
To have an organized home; a house of order and peace. A home that is comfortable and clean.
To delegate responsibility to my children so they learn how to "keep house" and so I don't have to do it all. I accept that this is a lifelong work in progress and will never be "done".
To give my children a happy childhood. So years from now, when they look back and recall their childhood, they will have warm memories of building a clubhouse together, making smores over the kitchen stove and going on treasure hunts. I hope to give them what I received; a happy childhood.

To create, encourage, value, teach, appreciate, behave, allow, help, have, delegate and give.

Now he is a man

Nathan turned 12 in April.  He went to General Conference Priesthood session with the men:)

Uncle Paul (Dave's brother and our new neighbors, yay! :) with Grandpa Pederson, Dave and Nathan.  Nathan's favorite part of the evening was the tradition of eating at Carl's Jr. afterwards.  What a man. 

Nathan graduated from Primary and earned his Faith in God award. 

Goodbye Sharing time...Hello mutual:)

Always my little boy.

Coaching Lauren

I got to be Lauren's basketball coach again this year!

There were also five boys on the team...but they scattered as soon as they got their medals and cookies.  These five little girls are as cute as can be:)

The Giving Box

Dave and I started a new tradition last year.  We call it the Giving Box.  Through World Concern we buy from the global gift guide a goat (chickens etc.) that will go to a family in a third world country and you give it in the name of whoever you are giving a gift to.  For example last year we bought 2 goats, 2 pigs and 20 chickens for our kids as gifts.  We gave them a little toy farm animal and a card that tells them what animal we bought for a family in need somewhere in the world.  This year we bought as a gift for our kids the opportunity for 4 children to go to school for 1 year.  Books and pencils included:)  So each year we will bring out the giving box at Christmas time and the kids can play with the toys inside that represent what we have given to people around the world.  And each Christmas Eve we will add to the box.  Sometimes I will let the kids decide what we give and sometimes it will be a surprise.  I don't know if it means anything to them yet, but hopefully someday they will realize how blessed we are and how giving up a Christmas present by giving someone else a chance at a better life is important.

http://globalgiftguide.worldconcern.org/

My new favorite thing...The Piano Guys

Cello Wars

Taylor Swift Love Story meets Viva La Vida

                                              

                                                                Bach-the Cello Song
I could watch these videos (there are many more) with my kids all day!..of course we don't, but I'd like to.