Happy Memorial Day!

This morning we had a conversation with the kids on the way to the park about the reason for today. We want our kids to know and appreciate all the soldiers who fight for our freedoms. Today is about them, we remember them!
We ate yummy breakfast with our Ward family at the park.
Played some awesome basketball. He and Lincoln tried so hard to get that ball in the basket. An A for effort!

Me and Si sported our awesome matching t-shirts!
Later in the afternoon we went to mom's for a BBQ and swimming. Sierra got to have her bestest friend Karlie and her family there and we also enjoyed the company of the Reeve's and Elliot families. My dad came too! We all ate delicious food, swam, Sierra learned how to do a flip from Karlie, enjoyed good company and lots of laughs. A fun day! Love these long weekends!

50th!

Today is Jake's Aunt Leanne's 50th birthday...and we celebrated!!!
We swam in her pool...

Jake threw some kids around...(Ashton)(Kate)
and then threw the football around too!

Then we ate yummy food at Janelle and Terry's and had German Chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Love birthday's, SO FUN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT LEANNE!

Our Graduate!

Today my big boy graduated from preschool...

Ms. Jan presented him his ribbon which says "Excellent Citizen and Very Sharing Student" and his Preschool Diploma

I asked Ashton "Are you sad at all about being done with preschool" and he said "no, I'm just excited to be done with school." Smart boy! :)

So many family members came but some scooted out before they could get their picture taken...Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Leanne and Marne...

Papa with Ashton

Grammy with Ashton and Sierra Our family...We let Sierra miss school, I let her choose and she really wanted to come to Ashton's Graduation!
me with my boy
Ashton and Sierra with Ms. Jan (Sierra is Ms. Jan's former student! :))

Ashton with his best buddy, CJ

Ashton says to me "Mom, CJ is so precious!" Cause he's so much smaller than Ashton :)
and then we celebrated with lunch at Macaroni Grill with the Dunn's and Papa

On to our next adventure, KINDERGARTEN!

Lee Dewyze wins it!

Yep, we watch American Idol and last night we had an American Idol pary with my dad! :) He brought Stonefire and Carrot cakemix and we had dinner and then I threw together a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. YUM! Yep, not sugar-free! Then we watched, Sierra even stayed up late to watch. We would have been okay with Crystal or Lee, in fact we didn't even vote. Right before Ryan announced the winner Dad said, "Lee" Sierra said, "Lee" I said, "Lee" and Jake said, "Crystal." So excited for Lee! Love him!

worries

A few nights ago Sierra woke me up in the middle of the night and whispered...

Si: "mom."

me: "what?"

Si: "Are you ever going to sell kitty?"

me: "no, go back to bed."

The Lakers play at home...

Ashton has watched a lot of Laker games with his daddy and lately has been watching the Lakers vs. the Suns, and he asks his daddy lots of questions. "The score is 6 to 8, did the game just start or what?" Today Ashton played as the Lakers and he was "versing" BYU. He was announcing the whole game as he was making shots and then he was writing the score with chalk in squares on the concrete. "score is 7 to 8." (he shoots a basket) "Lakers score, now score is 8 to 8."

Just because, Blakey wanted me to take a picture of him too but then he would just glance at the camera, not long enough though. Oh well, Ashton is smiling.:)

Tutti Frutti

Tonight for our Beehive activity we went on a bike ride from the church to Tutti Frutti and it was so much fun! Full of adventure, the girls did so so great! My chain fell off once but I happened to get it back on not knowing what I was doing. One of the girl's chains fell off too but luckily her dad came along with us and was able to help her get hers back on. One of the girls had a beautiful beach cruiser but had no gears so all the hills were tough but she never walked, AWESOME! The frozen yogurt was so delicious, a yummy treat and then back on our bikes we went and rode back to the church. We had two parents come with us, which I greatly appreciated and 2 of the girls brought friends. We were quite the sight. There was a total of 13 of us cruising to Tutti Frutti! :)

Griffith Observatory

Today the 3rd grade went on a field trip to the Griffith Observatory. I was lucky enough to be able to go along, I was a parent driver and drove my girl plus two of her girlfriends. Ashton stayed with Sophi and was telling me that this was going to be the best day ever! He got to go on Sophi's Preschool field trip to Placerita Natural Area. They got to see the animals and go on a tour/hike. He said he learned that owls can eat skunks because they can't smell them. :)
We were gone all day at the observatory and found out when we got there that it didn't open until 12:00pm. We were there at 9:45am. Whoops!!! So we went on a hike, great hiking!

We had to take a picture of these California girls if front of the Hollywood sign.

Sierra, Karlie, Caitlin

On our hike, took a picture with the observatory in the background
In the Planetarium, waiting for our show to start

In the gift shop, they had to go to the gift shop even though none of them had any money to spend :) Little shoppers! The cutest little astronauts I have ever seen!The whole 3rd grade including their teachers.

A very fun, exhausting day! :)

Love...

I love that my children have each other!

Another nice day...

Brixey boy's came and we didn't go anywhere. We watched "Lots and Lots of Trains" and played and played and ate donuts. During nap time, put homemade mac and cheese in the crockpot, finally got makeup on and changed my clothes. Threw together some Brie and crackers (so yummy). Si came home. Brixey boy's got picked up. Dropped Ashton off at mom's and me and Si went to Activity Day's. Today they got to display something they have accomplished and mom's were invited and we got to eat yummy food. I loved being there with my girl. She displayed her drawing of the owl that is framed in our house. She got to get up in front and talk about it and then she snuggled with her mom the rest of the time. Thanks Si!
When we got home it is major clean up time because now no babysitting till next week. Kids helped me pick up toys and each vacuumed one room and then Si mopped the hallway and I did the rest. :) Ashton watered all the plants. I loved all the help.
Ashton waited for daddy to come home. Our kids are SO glad when daddy comes home! :)
Sierra practiced her piano without being asked! :)

Daddy had pack meeting and we made banana, chocolate, peanut butter milk shakes and devoured them too! :)

TODAY

A busy day but a pretty great day!
Drove carpool.
Brixey boy's came.
Drove Ashton to school but we were late because I had to get gas first.
He was sad about getting there right during circle time, but later told me "mom, I was so lucky because I only had to do clean up one time and everyone else had to do it 2 times!"
Picked up beehives to go heart attack another beehive for her birthday, Jordan cried in the car until he fell asleep. I had a beehive in my car and was frantically in the house trying to make him a bottle out of frozen breast milk and it was taking FOR.EVER to defrost in the hot water. By the time I got back in the car with the bottle he was asleep. OH WELL! Luckily the beehive I had in the car is the oldest of 5 children, I don't think the crying bothered her much. :)
Walked to get Ashton from school.
Ate lunch at the park.
Strollered home while Ashton scootered.
Got home in time for naps. :)
Watched Mulan with Ashton during nap time.
Everybody woke up, Sierra got home and...

we all loaded up in the car to head to Chuck E Cheese for Blake's 3rd Birthday Party. His family was there waiting for us.
Blake was so excited when we were driving over there. He kept saying "have to go to Chuck E Cheese." And when he saw it he started screaming. :)
Chuck E Cheese was NOT busy. There were only like 3 other families there and it was wonderful. We could play whatever we wanted to. I actually felt totally comfortable letting my kids just go play without me following them around.
Sierra got 500 tickets and got a diary.
Ashton earned 85 and got a racecar. (with mom paying an extra 30 cents) :)
Came home and made bread.
Jake cleaned up all the toys, a good husband.
Ate lots of warm bread.
A good Wednesday!

This is the kind of day I had today...

Crazy...and felt like my helmet was on backwards!

A GREAT DAY!

Drove carpool. Babysat today and it went great! Took Ashton to school. Stayed at home and played and gave Jordan a nap. Then, I strapped the boys into my double jogger stroller and put Ashton's scooter on top and his helmet underneath and we walked to school to pick him up. We got there a half hour early so Blake could play at the park. Got Ashton. Played basketball at the basketball court, he has been dying to do that. He actually made 2 baskets. We walked home while Ashton scootered. Put Blake down for a nap and Jordan went down shortly after. Played catch with Ashton and watched Spongebob, snoozed a little on the couch too. Carly came home with Sierra. Boy's left. Took Carly home and headed to...

Vincenzo's for this big guy's birthday party! Uncle Blake turned 21! :)

We love it when someone has a birthday! An excuse to party! :)

We then headed over to Aunt Sophi's to meet this sweet little guy. Meet Leo, their new kitty.We all enjoyed him. He is the sweetest thing. Just purrs and purrs, didn't hear one meow.
AND...introducing the newest addition to the Brown family...Rachel Anne

7 lbs 5 oz; 19 1/2" long; born today, May 12th

This is my step-brother, Ryker and his wife, Christa. We just love this sweet family! Congratulations!

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

A Happy Mom's Day

Woke up at 7:20am to the crinkling sound of tape as Sierra was heartattacking our room.
I got breakfast in bed. (I made the waffle batter the night before and my sweet husband cooked them and put fruit on my plate too.) :)
Went on a scavenger hunt.
Found presents, a potted plant that Sierra painted for me and planted a pink flower she made at activity days, a candle that was wrapped up from the shower yesterday :), money :), Sierra's blanket that Grammy made for her a long time ago ("it has hearts on it," she said!) :)
The kids sang Mommy songs to me.
Got to go back to bed and read, my favorite thing to do! :)
Mom stopped by with yummy cinnamon rolls as she was headed to Orange County.

Yesterday for the shower we had this clothesline hung up with onesies and "it's a girl" (heather k. made) and Sierra made me this sign and took down "it's a girl" and put up "We love mommy!" So sweet and so clever! :)
Church was great! I felt the spirit, I learned a new scripture story and I got a pink rose, my favorite color.
Tonight we had Terry, Janelle, Travis and Miriam for dinner.
Terry made a salad.
Miriam made strawberry shortcake.
Jake and I made spaghetti.
A fun evening!
My kids and my hubby made my day GREAT!
I love being a mom!
I love all the mom's in my life! Mom's are great! I love my mom to absolute pieces and appreciate all she does for me! Happy Mother's Day!