July in Beaver Creek

Our good friends, Shauna and Doug, were in Beaver Creek (near Vail) for a dental conference and invited us up to spend Saturday with them. It was GORGEOUS up there! Wild flowers were in bloom everywhere and everything was so lush and green.
The boys loved the hike we went on, although Logan and Jaden sat down a couple times on the way up the trail because they were just "too tired." Good thing we saw some deer right then to perk them up! We got caught in a rainstorm the last 10 minutes of our hike which added to the adventure.
The two girls, 4 weeks apart in age, and very similar in personality. So funny together!
The whole crew around the fire pit. We were quite the entertainment for all the childless, wine-drinking, adults trying to enjoy the scenery.
After the hike we sat around the fire pit to roast marshmallows - $12 for a smores kit from the resort, isn't that ridiculous? But the kids were dying for smores so we gave in :) Thanks for a great Saturday, Brown family, we had a blast!

Go Kiptyn!

If you've been watching Bachelorette this season, you may recognize the guy in the above pictures (click on it to see them closer, my scanner wouldn't make them any bigger). It's Kiptyn! He and I went to the same high school and dated for 5 months our senior year. We were on the Homecoming Court together and went to a couple dances together. I have to say, he really is one of the nicest guys I have ever known. He is very sincere and kind to everyone. It's been so fun watching him on the Bachelorette and now that he one of the final two guys left, I had to spread the word about my connection with him. I thought a lot of my friends would get a kick out of knowing my connection to Kip.

So, watch the Bachelorette the next two weeks and cheer for my man, Kip!

Good-bye Grandma

As I've mentioned before on my blog, my grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer 6 weeks ago. My sisters and I planned to go up to Idaho together on Monday July 6th to see her, but last Thursday I could not shake the feeling that I needed to go sooner. So Friday the 3rd Eric and I packed up the car and headed to Idaho. We got to Idaho late in the evening so I almost waited until Saturday morning to go see my grandma, but once again I felt like I needed to get there right away. When I saw her, my heart broke. She was in so much pain and couldn't speak to me. I held her hand and told her funny stories about my kids. She would look at me during the stories so I knew she was listening even though she couldn't communicate. The next morning she was in a comatose like state. She didn't appear to be in pain anymore, but she couldn't open her eyes or squeeze my hand. My mom flew in that night at 8 pm and she died Sunday morning at 8 am surrounded by her three children and husband. I am so glad I went to Idaho when I did so that I could say good-bye to my sweet grandma. Eric drove home Sunday afternoon with the kids and I stayed with Paige through Wednesday for the funeral.

My grandma loved hats and jewelry and wanted her seven grand-daughters to have some of her treasures. I am so happy to have something of my grandmothers to remember her by. I will miss her so much!
Saturday was the 4th of July, so we wanted to make it a fun day for the kids even though we were all so concerned about my grandma. We had a picnic at my grandparents house with my cousin Hailey and her kids, Gracie, Cole and newborn Mollie.
The kids loved this teeter-totter that me and my sisters and cousins used to spend hours on. I love to see the next generation enjoying the toys we loved so much!
Our hotel was on the Snake river across from the Idaho Falls temple - where my grandparents were married 60 years ago and my parents were married 33 years ago! We saw some great fireworks later over the river. Did you have any idea that Idaho Falls has the 7th largest fireworks display in the country? It was pretty good, I have to admit!
When my sisters arrived, we dug out some of the old dress-up clothes that we used to play in as kids. All of these clothes and shoes used to be my grandma's and we LOVED putting on plays and fashion shows with these clothes. I think the gold lame dress I am wearing could be in style again today, I was temped to bring it home now that it actually fits me!

It was a great weekend with my family. I am sad to lose my grandma but so glad that she is out of pain. I know that she still lives and I look forward to seeing her again on the other side.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!!

Logan is four years old today! We had his party last night because Eric is getting his Rituxan treatment today and we weren't sure how he'd be feeling tonight. Mason kept reminding Logan that yesterday wasn't his real birthday, so in his prayer that night he said, "thank you for letting me have a fun birthday party, even if it was pretend."
We had a "Backyard Birthday Bash" and since Logan doesn't really like cake, we made "dirt" cups out of pudding.
We had some organized games, but the kids pretty much preferred to be on the trampoline all night. Thank goodness for the free trampoline I got from a lady who attends my classes at the gym! From left to right there is Nicholas, Hunter, Logan, Jackson, Thomas, and Mason.
Crazy boys!
Mason was so disappointed that we didn't let Logan open the gifts from us at his party. He knew what they were and I think he was more excited than Logan to open them this morning!
Finally this girl loves her dad. It only took her about a year to warm up to him!
The three girls - ages 18 mo, 14 mo, and 16 mo. We called them the scavengers because after the boys abandoned their plates, the girls would go around collecting all the scraps. Yummm...healthy!
Here she is being a scavenger...
Not wanting her dad to take the spoon away...
And very happy to have one more bite!

Here are some of the funniest quotes from Logan the last few weeks/months (I'm sure there are a 100 funnier things, but this is what I can remember at the moment):
"This bologna is slimy, but the slime is delicious!"
As we entered the CO state line after driving from PA, "We're in Colorado? I don't see any big bull elk!"
After playing with 9 and 11 year old neighborhood girls, "I just LOVE LOVE LOVE big girls!"
While watching the same girls out the window, "Mom, how old do I have to be to get married?"
"Girls and boys both have nickels, but only boys have peanuts, right Mom?" (can you guess what nickels and peanuts are?)

We love this kid! Happy Birthday Logan!