Just have to say..

So, today was our last day of 1 o'clock church.. Very sad for me.. (9? ugh!)

I just have to say how very grateful I am for fabulous Primary teachers.. My little girls absolutely love Primary, and their teachers. Every week they fight over telling us about their lessons, and something that was said to them personally.. Savannah's especially, would always call if she was sick, or ask about her whenever I saw them.. Just being fabulous teachers and truly loving my girls! It really means so much! (I hope that somebody somewhere spoke well of me when I was their Primary teacher through the years)
Though I'm sad they have to move on, (Adi - Senior Primary?) I'm sure that their next ones will be equally amazing..

Thats all.. Just wanted you to know :)

Its Christmas Eve.. Already?

This happens to me every year.. December flies by, and I feel like I haven't got to enjoy it as I should (note to me (again) don't go out of town in December, it only makes it worse!) I'm not the most organized gal in the world, and true to form, I have a lot more to do than I want today..

Merry, Merry Christmas, all of my dear friends! Have a wonderful day tomorrow, and I hope Santa brings you what you want!

Is my husband sweet, or what?

About 2 days in to my New York trip, I could tell I was getting sick.. I can be a very mind over matter sort of gal and just push through like I'm just fine (though in our room every night, Davy could tell I wasn't feeling great) So once we got back home, I have just been sick.. I cough and cough, and haven't really had much of a voice the whole week..

Well, 2 days before we left for New York, my friend asked me to teach her sunday school class the 21st.. Then, yesterday morning her teaching partner called and said she wouldn't be there either, because she was sick.. (ironic, because I had zero voice the whole time we were on the phone) so she asked if either Davy or Chelsea could come sit in with me.. Normally, Chelsea would like to, but it was her birthday, so I just assumed Davy would come with me..

After I got off the phone, Davy came in and asked what the call was about, etc, and I asked him if he would come with me (which IS a sacrifice, because we have an AMAZING Gospel Doctrine teacher, and he hates to miss his lessons..) and he replies, "Well, I prepared your lesson this morning, since I wasn't sure if you'd have a voice today.." So.. HE taught the lesson! How sweet is that?

He must know Santa is watching.. :)

Happy Birthday Chelsea!

::There is supposed to be a baby picture here, too, I need to figure out how to scan::

Here I am again, wishing another daughter a happy birthday.. for those of you who don't know, Adi's birthday is December 20th, and Chelsea's is December 21st! Davy calls it our own version of March Madness..

In keeping with Adi's post, I'll try to do 18 things about Chelsea! (try)

*Chelsea loves her phone.. I know most teenagers do, but to me, she seems worse than usual.. She prefers to text, and seldom goes more than a half an hour without texting.. This includes during school.. (she doesn't take it to church) She starts about 7:00am and goes, well, very late..

*Chelsea is currently doing a Kindergarten internship at Sage Creek Elementary (where she went, and where her sisters currently attend) Right now she goes right after school, and is there from 2:30-3:15.. When we get to 2nd semester, she will be there for the entire time for afternoon Kindergarten (in Springville the schedule has A and B days, 4 periods a day, and she will be able to do her internship 3rd and 4th period every day!) She absolutely loves this, and loves her class.. Everyday after school I get the review of how cute the kids are, what they did, and funny stories..

*Chelsea loves babies.. She must get this from her mother.. We are very distracted everywhere we go by cute little squishies (our term for babies) She also loves to go in to BabyGap and Gymboree to look at baby clothes..

*Chelsea is an amazing big sister.. With her big age difference, she almost takes on the junior mom role, but she is super fun, and always good and thinking of something fun to play with the girls..

*Chelsea loves her car.. She got a white 2006 Jeep Liberty this summer that she named "Lilo" (apparently, cars must have names)

*Chelsea loves to do absolutely nothing.. She is often found just sitting, staring.. We tell her she excels in the sitting department..

*Chelsea hates gooey things in bags! Ha! I just had to put this.. Whenever she has to fill out a questionnaire with the question, What do you hate?.. This is her response.. Like if you get fast food and there is some kind of open sauce, etc, and you reach in and get it on your hand.. Does this make sense?

*When Chelsea was born, her hip joint wasn't fully formed, and out of its socket.. She had to wear a Pavlik Harness for her first 2 months until it was in place!

*Chelsea plays piano, and is starting to teach herself guitar..

*Chelsea can run long distances! She has never been a sprinter, more a cross-country gal.. Has been known to head out and run 3-8 miles randomly (definitely one way she is NOT like her mother)

*Chelsea does not have hair extensions.. People are always asking her if she does.. Not like anyone who reads this think she does.. But just for the record.. Its all hers..

*Chelsea loves her Christmas birthday.. even though she pretends she doesn't.. She's never had the problem of those joint Christmas/birthday gifts.. everyone is great about making the distinction..

*Chelsea loves to scrapbook.. Its her newest hobby..

*Chelsea is hilarious.. She has a quirky sense of humor, and is always making Davy and I laugh.. Hard.. She has been known to write satirical, persuasive essays to us.. that is how we know she really wants something!

*Chelsea is a Disney fanatic.. Hmm.. I wonder where she got that? If we are ever on the freeway and she sees a mileage sign to Las Vegas, she always tries to persuade me to keep heading south to Disneyland.. (even if we're driving home from say, Boise)

*Chelsea writes poetry.. it is one of her outlets..

*Chelsea loves to whine.. For real! She thinks its funny.. Sometimes it is! She thinks its funny to pretend to be high maintainance..

*Chelsea is very scatterbrained.. One of the most common questions we hear from her is "What was I going to say?"

What can I say? I tried to be random.. and I think I was successful! Happy 18th Birthday! Holy Cow! Is my daughter that old?

Happy Birthday Adeline!

::okay, this is supposed to have a baby picture.. but, I haven't quite figured out how to scan those in..::

In honor of Adeline's 7th birthday, here are 7 things about our wonderful little gal:

*Adi LOVES to talk.. talk-talk-talk.. sometimes it can really drive you crazy, like when you're the only one in the car with her.. or alone in any way with her.. but she's so darn cute, and her funny sense of humor paired with her mature vocabulary make her a riot.. talk-talk-talk-talk-talk..

*Adi is a girly-girl.. She loves pink, princesses, dresses.. All the good girly stuff! Her princess is Sleeping Beauty (pink) She loves having her hair done "fancy" (to clarify, she likes it when it is done, not having it done) and can't wait until her hair is as long as her 2 sisters'..

*Adi LOVES school.. every morning she wakes up and asks, "what today is it?" (the cutest question in the world, to me) and is thrilled to hear its a school day, and will immediately start rushing to get ready so she's not late.. Cute story, this last trip to Disneyland, on our first day, we had just entered the park, and were at the end of Main Street, about to turn into Tomorrowland when she turned to me and said, "I'm happy to be at Disneyland, but I kind of miss school" (What kind of kid is that?)

*Adi is a perfectionist.. She hates to be late. When Adi is doing schoolwork, or coloring, she always uses her best penmanship, she always colors in the lines (and colors every detail, including backgrounds) in fact, she has always stayed in the lines, even as a 2 year old (I used to think it was because she was copying Savannah, but I've since learned its her perfectionism) When she and Savannah are coloring or doing some kind of project, she always reminds Savannah to use more detail, or will point out any spots that aren't filled in completely.. (she goes through crayons, let me tell you) Sometimes we think she is well suited for a military (or missionary) scheldule..

*Adi is an amazing helper.. If you ask her to do something, it is always done right, completely, and usually a few things more on the way (her sisters need to take notes/lessons from her!) AND when she is done, she almost always asks what else she should do.. If I am doing any kind of job, she just can't help but pitch in! (Adi has scrubbed many a toilet!) Everyone needs a helper like Adi!

*Adi loves to dance.. She takes a dance class that she loves.. They were working on doing the splits, and she was frustrated that she couldn't do them yet (no one in her class could) so she came home and would practice her splits, setting a timer so she was stretching for what she thought was a good amount of time, and after about a week she could do them! One motivated little girl.. Now, her other side of dancing.. the kind she does at home.. We don't know where it comes from, but she has some interesting moves and we worry that she could have a successful career as a pole dancer! She can dirty dance with the best! (Davy used to joke that this is what she and I did together when we had all our time together when she was in preschool/kindergarten.. can't you see it?.. "no Adi, bend your knees more!")

Adeline! She is our wonderful, beautiful little girl! We love having her in our family!

Happy, Happy Birthday Adi dear..

New York!

I tried REALLY hard to do a little of what everyone suggested, but now when I go back and read, I realize I did really well on Melanie's list.. and barely okay on everyone else's!

(but thankyou all so so much for your ideas!)

We lucked out and were able to go with some great old friends of ours, Rob & Lisa..

They were awesome and patient tour guides.. very happy to do whatever we asked..

So..

Here are my more interesting pictures..

Lisa & I in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center..

Looks much more impressive on TV or in pictures..

to us it looked like a big.. shrub..

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral.. Really beautiful and HUGE!

Very full of incense and odd, because they were having a service (in Spanish) and hundreds of people were just milling through..
The entrance to the Apple store.. all underground here in this sidewalk area right outside FAO Schwarz (didn't get any interesting pictures, sorry Wendy) yes, I may have made it to the World of Disney Store..

Central Park

The fire station right across from the World Trade Center..

You couldn't even see into Ground Zero.. Its all just construction now..

Okay, we didn't take the ferry, but went to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty..

A little disappointing.. I thought we'd be able to see it better..

These light-up stairs in Times Square.. Not sure what they're for, but everyone seemed to want to take their pictures there.. So we did too!

So, Friday night.. We went to Lion King! Definitely my 1st choice of a Broadway musical.. and we were in the 3rd row, right in the middle! Amazing!

This is at the Top of the Rock.. Overlooking the Empire State Building.. This is on the 80th floor!

Really a nice, clear day.. could see everything!

But you cannot see how absolutely freezing we were!

Davy, Marcikay, Lisa, & Rob

(kind of overlooking Central Park)

K.. This picture just killed me.. When we came out of Rockefeller Center, this was our view..

Sorry to St. Patrick's Cathedral, but I can't be the only one who found this odd.. and a bit funny..

Rob & me waiting for a subway.. (Davy & Lisa were there too!)

The Manhattan Temple

Grand Central Station

Remarkably clean and beautiful (not at all what I pictured)

Our view of Times Square

We were on the 20th floor of the Marriott Marquis

K.. Saturday night we saw Shrek the Musical.. I will say it was definitely NOT my second choice, but I will say I was VERY pleasantly surprised - Loved It! Really funny, and followed the movie well, but had lots of extra stuff (well, it was a musical for one..) Lord Farquaad was hilarious, and did the whole show on his knees! For this we sat in the 14th row, again, amazing seats, and as an added bonus, Camryn Diaz sat 3 rows in front of us.. She was actually cuter in real life to me, and smiled and waved to everyone, even though she was rushed off at intermission and afterwards.. I tried to get a picture of her with my cel phone.. we'll just say it wasn't worth posting.. So afterwards, we went around the stage door to see if we could see her leaving.. We kind of did, but was whisked out so quickly all we got was a dandy picture of the guy guarding the door, and a woman who could have been her sister..

Now, my next picture is for a select audience, but I did get an autograph from John Tartaglia..

Better known to Playhouse Disney fans as Johnny from Johnny and the Sprites!

K, I did it for my girls, since it was someone they would recognize (unlike the pictures of "this is the guy who played Donkey") Just gave them a little more context!

He played Pinnochio, and sounded just like he does in the movie..

don't know how he can still talk normally..

Just to show you.. The World of Disney Store.. Went twice!

The nice thing was.. it was a park store, not like going into a regular Disney Store,

Just like the ones in Downtown Disney in Florida & California..

So.. I absolutely LOVED New York! Would totally go again (which shocks Davy, he even told Rob the day before Lisa & I arrived that we needed to document this trip well, cause he wasn't sure he'd ever convince me to come back!) I would like to NOT go on the 2nd Saturday before Christmas, what a zoo! (worst crowds I've ever been in in my life!)

Totally loved it!

While mom & dad are away..

December 13th was the Christmas Ball!

Chelsea had to get ready without her mommy (who was in New York!)

Thank You-Thank You to Katie for helping her with her hair,

for being the photographer..

..and thank you to Elissa for watching the little girls!

I just had to add this picture.. Chelsea DREADS this part of any dance, but Jacob wore a vest and she was LOVING it.. So for anyone wondering.. in Chelsea's opinion,

vests are the best for boutonnieres!
Chelsea and Jacob Eaton

AND..

Snow!! Yay!! I know I'm in the minority, but..

love it! love it! Its finally here!

So the girls took advantage..

Adi & her castle..

Savannah with Bella & Edward..
(she's in a Twilight phase..)

Christmas Tag!

As soon as my splitting chisel-in-the-brain headache feels better I'll get on my NEW YORK post.. until then..

Why do I love tags? They really make my day.. I guess its that funny part of me that likes an office assignment.. so thank you, Bonnie!


Christmas Tag:
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! Even though its easier to bag things, its so much more fun to open a wrapped gift! Plus, with bags, its too easy to peek! I am a bit of a surprise nazi..

2. Real tree or artificial? 2 artificial.. All about artificial.. used to think I was a real tree girl.. til I had to clean them up.. yuck! AND Davy is allergic, so its nice to keep him healthy around Christmas (at least that we can control)

3. When do you put up the tree? I'd love to the day after Thanksgiving (I like Thanksgiving to get its props) but we're usually in Boise, so the Monday after..

4. When do you take it down? ugh.. usually once school starts.. Not a fan of the taking down the Christmas..

5. Do you like eggnog? as a kid, I loved it.. now, a half a glass (or less) (with 1/2 Sprite) is all I can handle..

6. Favorite gift received as a child? is it sad to say.. I just can't think of anything that stands out?

7. Easiest person to buy for? Chelsea.. we spend so much time together, I have her pegged (my other girls are pretty easy, too)

8. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a couple... My 2 favorites my Jim Shore, and my Fisher Price (my girls still can't help but play with it all season)

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I've finally made this a habit.. can't stop now!

10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? The 2nd year we were married, I received a rust/mauve (that is the only way to describe the color) sweater with matching elastic topped slacks (I never use that word.. but they were slacks) it looked like.. well, not an outfit a 22 year old would wear.. I got home and just cried.. I'm sure it didn't help that I'd given birth 4 days previously.. but I never wore it.. (I wish now I had a picture..)

11. Favorite Christmas movie? Hmm.. lots.. The Nativity Story, Small One, One Magic Christmas, Its a Wonderful Life..

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I think once we're about mid-summer I start stashing things away..

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.. and that's all I'm going to say about it!

14. Favorite thing to eat a Christmas? probably cookies & homemade candy -russian tea cakes, divinity, sugar cookies, ..yum..

15. Lights on tree? of course, its like the essence of the tree.. (sorry, just watched that episode of Friends.. it seemed to fit)

16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course! (and all seven dwarfs.. I know you were worried)

17. Favorite Christmas song? another hard one.. White Christmas (Bing Crosby), Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (Manheim Steamroller)..

18. Travel or stay home? Stay home! Thank heavens!

19. Angel or star on top of tree? Star on one, Angel on the other (okay.. its Tinkerbell, but she looks a bit like an angel..)

20. Open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? We all get a new ornament on Christmas eve, sometimes jammies.. everything else must wait until morning!

21. Favorite Christmas tradition? Probably getting our ornaments from a Christmas Elf.. ::to Savannah from Melvin the Christmas elf:: not very exciting, but my kids can't wait to see the name of their elf, and its the tradition I'm probably the most consistent with.. that, and none of us get dressed all day.. JAMMIE DAY!!

22. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? hmm.. well, one of my trees is all Disney (shocker) I think I just love it all..

23. Favorite Christmas dinner? Never grew up with official Christmas dinner.. I try to do a ham.. We buy other stuff to go with it, but generally will just eat it.. kind of like cavemen I suppose..

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? wow.. just a fun couple of weeks with my girls and Davy home (yay!) Thats my favorite part.. no schedule, just playing!

Okay.. I tag Elissa, Debbie/Colin, Melanie, and Tiffany (if you're up to it when you get home from your cruise).. (and a few others.. if they'd start their blogs already!)

Does this count? :)

I had the opportunity today to go visiting teaching with Elissa, in my old ward.. It was way fun, because it was sisters I know really well and love talking to.. In May I was given a new assignment, and we REALLY have a hard time hooking up.. VERY embarrassed to say we've only done visits once.. I miss my old route! (Debbie!) I wish I could count this! (haha) I really have severe guilt over my bad visiting teaching.. sigh..

They Are the Dancing Queens..

Savannah and Adi had a dance recital 4 December 2008!

Adi, about to do her cartwheel, to "Cruella deVil"

Savannah, in "Too Cool"

All done! Madison, Baylie, Savannah, & Adi..

Adi & Cooper.. (and had just got done with a wrestling match)

Christmas Lights.. Or Lack Of..

I LOVE having Christmas lights up on my house.. This is something that is very important to me.. They make me happy every time I pull up to my house.. I have always put them up myself.. At our old home was able to climb from my deck to my rooftop pretty easily.. They were always up nice and early.. Well, last year was my first year attempting it in our new home.. We have a much taller house now, and much a steeper roof, so I can't just hop up there and put them up.. I used a very tall ladder and with Chelsea's help TRIED to put them on my upper roofline (I have a roofline on each floor) ..let's just say we really thought we would be calling an ambulance at one point (enough said on that topic.. very scary). So, I had to settle for lights on just the lower roofline.. It was okay, but I was always disappointed with how it looked.. (especially since we had so much snow, and they always look prettier with lots of snow).. So, after my dangerous experience, I decided to just pay one of those 'we'll put your lights up' companies to put up my lights up this year so I would be happy with my lights.. Well, being the procrastinator that I am, it took me a while to call (I really prefer to have my lights on by Thanksgiving) (quite jealous of Debbie's lights ON on Halloween!) Well, I called on Monday, December 1st.. The woman said she would have Nephi (gotta love Mormon names) call me to come give me a bid, and most likely put them up right then! Yay! December 1st! Still a good day to turn on lights! Well, I had to have a dental implant put in, (different story of procrastination) and was loopy on Lortab the rest of Monday (he did call, but I didn't return it, see loopy on Lortab).. Tuesday, busy day, but thought he'd at least try to call again.. (thought wrong) Wednesday, ditto.. Thursday, I called him about 2:00.. He had all my information, kind of quoted me over the phone, and said he'd have someone by late Friday morning.. Yay! I'll have my lights up the first week of December! Now, they had my cel phone number, and I was gone for less than an hour.. Sat around ALL DAY.. Did anyone come and put up my Christmas lights? Did anyone call to reschedule or tell me they weren't coming?(I think we all know the answer) So, here I am, wishing a) I HAD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UP and b) there was snow.. I love snow, and I know I'm not it the majority.. but LOVE it.. (that's another story, and something I don't procrastinate..)

So, all of you with your Chistmas lights up and shining.. I love them! Thank you! ..but know that I am green with envy..

Don't Forget.. New York Advice

I was just realizing as I put up my new posts, my New York Question was pushed down.. PLEASE help me out on this!

Please and Thank You..

YES!.. 7!

Here is a closer look at my parents' seven granddaughters..

There are no grandsons..

Just girls..

That's just the way we roll..

(bottom: Elle, Chelsea, Savannah

top: Clara, Adeline, Beatrice, Greta)

Girls 10 - Boys 3

For anyone keeping track (I'm sure there's many - ha!) That is the tally on my side of the family.. I guess its a good thing my mom, sister and I are married, or there would be NO boys in the Brown family..

This is all of us looking our best right after Thanksgiving dinner!

(Chelsea, Davy, Adeline, Marci, Marilyn, Mark, Beatrice, Meredith, Clara, Greta, Dave, Savannah, and Elle)

(And isn't it handy that my sister and I BOTH married a Dave?)

New York Question?

As kind of a last minute thing, I am joining Davy in NYC next Thursday the 11th, and we'll be there til the 14th.. I've never been, but keep hearing its a great time to go.. Does anyone have suggestions on what we should do? My 2 ideas are.. typically Marci.. Go to a show (a Disney one, most likely) and go to the big Disney store there.. I think I'm wired wrong.. :) (apparently I don't know how to travel other places) any ideas would be appreciated! Thanks!