Gotta love being a parent

Don't you just all remember the things you do for your kids??? Here's an example....



Yes, that would be 84 cents worth of stamps that she found and are now her "stickers". The things we do for our kids...I didn't have the heart to take them away from her...and now she is so proud of having the world's most expensive stickers.

The Beach

So, I know it's a little later than originally intended, but better late than never! Our trip to Nags Head, NC (aka: the Outer Banks) over the fourth of July weekend (my favorite holiday!) was a fun trip. Though it does seem that Misha has hit her terrible twos on this trip (a tantrum every 5 minutes!), we had fun nonetheless and I hope my mom didn't have too big of a headache (no, the two 8-10 mile back ups do not figure into that) by the time we hit home.

So, here's our room. Okay, so by the time I took this it looked like a mess, but it really wasn't that bad!

I thought it was nice to be able to buy groceries and only eat one meal out. Though, groceries were expensive down there considering the only decent grocery store is Harris Teeter.

Jer brought along the hammock he got for Father's day so that we could relax....

While looking at this view....

No, it is not zoomed! It was an awesome view and so relaxing to swing in that and listen to the waves. The beach was not crowded (unlike Ocean City), and was nice and quiet. Only the last full day did we get one or two weirdos or smokers near us.

The pool was small, but clean. Misha still isn't too keen on water, and certainly doesn't want her head or face anywhere near it.

But, here's a rare moment when we're ALL smiling, and in the water.

We bought Misha a bucket in anticipation of her wanting to be more on the beach than in the water, and so we of course built a sand castle.

Nothing too fancy, I know, but honestly, it's the most elaborate one I've ever built, even if it was completely with artificial aids than my own "artistic" ability (of which I have none...)

Have I ever told you how much I love watching Jer and Misha together? They're just the best of buddies, and I love how much they love one another.

Aren't they simply too adorable for words?!?!

Friday afternoon and evening mom and I headed to the outlets! (We were only a mere block away!) And who doesn't love the beach AND shopping?! Mom scored and got herself about four bags on a Wilson's Leather clearance sale, and I bought myself a leather jacket. Alas, no pictures of us spending away all our hard earned money, but I promise, it happened.:)

Saturday was another day for lounging and waiting for my favorite part of this holiday. We went down to the beach to watch the fire works! Alas, this was as close as we could get...

Okay, so I realized that these seem really close, but those were just some small ones the people on the beach were setting off...the "real" ones were way past this.

But, we did bring along some sparklers of our own...here's Misha being fully thrilled for the prep....

But, as you can (barely) see in this photo (most likely the only one my mom won't kill me for posting), my mom is the one with the sparkler, not my kid....

And she really doesn't like the sound of fireworks (they scare her a wee bit), and so, common sensically, here she is covering her eyes in our family photo.:)

But Jer and I looked great in this one!

Though the fireworks were disappointing (they always are after going to DC's for so many years...), we had a great time....and I won't even mention those two 10 mile back ups we hit on our way back to mom and dad's, one of which was still going on at 10:00 at night when we were heading to WV!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe fourth with fantastic fireworks!

I had fun with ours anyway!

Happenings of Late

Yes, I still belong to the blogging world...you were worried, weren't you? So, a lot's been going on the last couple of months, so we'll just hit some of the major points.

In April, Jer and I took a quick few days trip to Williamsburg. It was a lot of fun to get away for a few days without Misha. We love her, but the break was nice.:) We had lunch outside one of the days (it was DELICIOUS).




And the blacksmith we saw later was pretty cool too.



Misha turned two in May! She's getting so big, and much more loquacios. I love it! I can't wait to have real conversations with her.

She got a lion pillow from us, that we only have video of, and I don't feel like posting a full out video. But she got a baby doll stroller from her other, better mom.:)



She finally got some cake (okay, she did have some here, but we don't have any pictures of it either, and it was little last minute...) in UT with my family (and some again with Jer's as well, but again, no pictures...I'm all of the sudden not feeling like I'm doing my job as a mom....)




We had a great time in UT for a couple of weeks (other than my bout with the swine flu the first four days we were there...) Here were two of Misha's favorite activities.




She's watching Dora by the way....and that's my grandpa who spent a majority of the time we were there, in bed not feeling well either. Surprisingly he never complained about Misha sitting in there with him watching Dora....

And now for the second-here she is with her all time favorite thing to do while we were there, and that's having my grandma push her in that swing. She couldn't get enough of it, and didn't really like it if anyone else was pushing her.:) I LOVE that she loves my grandma so much.



We went to a wedding-my best buddy Jeff finally tied the knot. Though, again-with the no pictures, the ceremony was beautiful, the bride ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, and of course, the groom handsome as ever. Congrats Jeff and Shasta!

The last full weekend of our trip was spent entirely with Jer's family. We had a blast staying with his sister KJ and her husband Rich, and their kids Jacqueline, Madeline, Charley, and Ryan. The girls were so cute with Misha, and we had such a good time hanging out with them. Here are all the Brown cousins together. Thankfully we got to see Angie, Marcus, and their kids, Ethan, Aubrey, Jason, and Jacob from Wyoming.

So, from left to right back row then front row we have Madeline, Ethan (with Aubrey standing in front of him), Ryan, Charley, Jacqueline (holding MaKayla), then Misha, Sophie, Jacob and Jason (though possibly not in that order, but I can't tell them apart...it doesn't help they're in the same outfits all the time, Ang!), and finally MaKenzie. WE MISS YOU ALL!!!

Now we're back and right back into the full swing of work and everything else. It was a wonderful trip, and we miss everyone there with an indescribable intensity.

We hope everyone out there is doing well! We are looking forward to spending the fourth of July with my mom on the beach in Nags Head, NC! We leave Wednesday, so I'll try to post some pictures the week after. We're so stoked!

Yes or No **Now updated!**

1. You can ONLY answer Yes or No.

2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks. --and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming nothing is exactly as it seems.

3. Tag some friends.


Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? Yes

Been arrested? No

Kissed someone you didn't like? Yes

Slept in until 5 PM? Yes

Fallen asleep at work/school? Yes

Held a snake? Yes

Ran a red light? Yes

Been suspended from school? No

Experienced love at first sight? No

Totaled your car in an accident? No

Been fired from a job? No

Fired somebody? No

Sang karaoke? No

Pointed a gun at someone? No

Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes

Kissed in the rain? Yes

Had a close brush with death (your own)? Yes

Seen someone die? YES

Played spin-the-bottle? No

Sang in the shower? Yes

Smoked a cigar? No

Sat on a rooftop? Yes

Smuggled something into another country? No

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? No

Broken a bone? Yes

Skipped school? Yes

Eaten a bug? No

Sleepwalked? No

Walked a moonlit beach? Yes

Rode a motorcycle? Yes

Dumped someone? Yes

Forgotten your anniversary? No

Lied to avoid a ticket? No

Ridden on a helicopter? No

Shaved your head? No

Played a prank on someone? Yes

Hit a home run? No

Felt like killing someone? Yes

Cross-dressed? No

Been falling-down drunk? No

Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? No (Though please correct me if I'm wrong....)

Eaten snake? No

Marched/Protested? No

Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? No

Puked on amusement ride? No

Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? No

Been in a band? No

Knitted? No

Been on TV? Yes

Shot a gun? Yes

Skinny-dipped? No

Caused someone to have stitches? No

Eaten a whole habenero pepper? No

Ridden a surfboard? No

Had surgery? Yes

Streaked? No

Taken by ambulance to hospital? Yes

Passed out when not drinking? No

Peed on a bush? No

Donated Blood? No

Grabbed electric fence? No

Eaten alligator meat? No

Eaten cheesecake? No

Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? No

Killed an animal when not hunting? No

Peed your pants in public? No

Snuck into a movie without paying? No

Written graffiti? No

Still love someone you shouldn't? Yes

Think about the future? Yes

Been in handcuffs? Yes

Believe in love? Yes

Sleep on a certain side of the bed? Yes



By the way-thank you to the 8 of you who read my blog. It means a lot.

Anyone?

Is anyone out there?!?! Does anyone care I haven't posted in over a month?? This was originally intended as a way for family to see pics of the kid and us, but I'm pretty sure the only family member who checks this thing is one who I see fairly often and only lives two hours away! (Thanks mom!) So, in order not to feel guilty, I'm thinkin' I may close up shop....

Just for some clarification

So, there seems to be this growing trend at work that my "mentor" (and good friend!) Nicole and I look like sisters. Well, I was lucky enough to be able to spend last weekend with my sister and brother-in-law when they flew in for a quick trip to organize getting some of my brother-in-law's things out to Utah. And so, for clarification purposes, here's a picture of my beautiful sister and myself. (One of these days I'll probably have to post a picture of Nicole and I for comparison's sake...)
I had a blast with them, and I always deeply cherish the laughs that come so easily when my family is all together.

Movie!

And a picture. So, I think that most of you don't really care to hear my opinions. Most of you never comment on those blogs that don't involve a picture of my daughter, so I suppose I get the hint. I'm not Lindsey Patten-people don't care what I say. So, here's a picture of the kid, and a short clip of her saying some of her new words. Hope you enjoy!

I just love dressing my daughter for the summer! It was 75 degrees out last weekend! Just 4 short days after a foot of snow fell! Yeah for the warm, perfect, dry, pollen free days that come as a surprise at the beginning of March!



My favorite is her saying "'llo?"

Adorable Photo Ops

Props to Jer who shot these on a whim. (He even did her hair himself!!!)

This is such a classic almost 2 year old picture to me. She's just so happy with whatever!


Too adorable....my child is just too adorable.

I think my kid looks hilarious in timeout. I'm probably a bad mother for thinking this....

As Always...

...Things have been busy. Not that many of you have cared because I don't think this thing gets checked out as often as I wished it did. But, here's a few fun photos of the kid nonetheless.

"Oh, I'm so cute!"


"I am totally unhappy to be up at this hour just to go to the sitter's. You people suck."


"Wud up, Yo?!"

Enjoy-hope everyone is well.

A Little Inspiration

So, I just finished watching the Alumni celebration broadcast from last week that I recorded. Bronco Mendenhall (whose, for those of you I'm sure TRULY care, mentioned cousin, Buck, I worked for in the physical therapy clinic for the year before we moved back out here to the east coast). As most of you know-I'm a HUGE Cougar fan. True blue through and through, no matter where I may have graduated from. (The important point being that at least it WASN'T the U.;))
I've never been a fan of watching the NFL, but if my Cougars are on the field, (and I have the available network broadcasting it) you can bet I'm watching, or at least keeping score. I have been known to go hoarse from the yelling I do during a Cougar game. Now, unlike other students, I remained faithful despite Crowton's losing seasons. His first was a winning one, thanks to the fact he had some left overs of Edward's. But I backed him, and we have since moved on to Bronco. There are several reasons why my opinion of him is very high, and I thought I'd outline a few here today.

One of the things I know many people despise (okay, maybe just I do...) about NFL players is the fact they get paid a ridiculous sum of money to PLAY A GAME. And then they have the audacity to go off and live the way they do, despite being so many kids' heroes. My last couple of years I spent at the Y, I strongly disliked the fact that so many of the players were looked up to for their skills on the field, but were notorious for not living the standards and the honor code they signed. Kinda like a the-rules-aren't-that-strict-if-you-can-play-football attitude. Almost like you're allowed some pass just because you can play. Bronco has taken the players under him and almost gone old-school (like he did with the uniforms). Remember when football players were looked up to because not only could they play, but they were good students and courteous citizens as well?! Well, he's made the players be that again. At BYU, you can once again respect the players! I find it wonderful that he has embraced the ideals held by the school and made the gospel the most important aspect of the players lives, not just the game. Life isn't all about football-and he helped me remember the feeling that there really is something bigger out there.

My life is something I've complained a lot about lately. Mostly that I didn't know where it was going and I'm frustrated that I'm stuck in the spot that I am. I've viewed my job, wifery (yeah yeah, it's probably not a word that should be associated to humans, but I like the job description), motherhood, and household chores as duties. I should be viewing them as the chance to serve. I've been doing all I have because it's my duty-no wonder I don't find it very fulfilling! So today, thanks to an inspirational time with Bronco, I've matured a little. I have learned that I will find great satisfaction in the things I do if I begin doing them because I love the people I work with/for and I want to serve them and make their lives better.

So thanks Bronco, for making faith and the game work. Thanks for turning our boys back into heroes. Show some respect, people. RISE AND SHOUT THE COUGARS ARE OUT!!!!