Family Pictures

Our Family 2011

I love that we're all looking at each other and Kaity is like "what am I doing here?"

hugs

 

Notice the veins in my dad's neck and hands?  He was having a very difficult time keeping Kaity on his lap!

Jennie, Brett & Sean

Adorable

This is Kaity's mischievous smile.  She wouldn't keep her shoes on and she wouldn't sit on that chair, I'm surprised we even got this one.

Taking pictures is a very serious thing

An absolutely sweet picture of my little girl.  Amazed that we got this one, too, since she was being far from sweet during the photo shoot.

Running - this was her favorite shot to take  We took Jared's wedding ring and threw it across the room for her to chase.

Momma & Kaity

We went to this great place last Friday called Fotofly in Draper.  It was awesome!  The photographers were great and (most important to me) they were patient with my two-year-old who was no longer patient with pictures.  Seriously, why would Kaity ever want to hold still?  There was so much stuff to climb on, look at and play with.  That said, we got some great shots of the family, and the few that we got of Kaity were perfect!  The best part?  We paid $80 (plus tip) for the one hour session and got a copy of the CD with photo rights.  Yes, that's right, the CD was included in the price of the sitting fee!

Family Reunion Day 2!

The Chopped Competitors

Grandma & Michael

Kaity and Thomas holding hands

playing in the fountains

Kaity and Weston

Grandpa bought snow cones

Waiting for dinner

Michael at the park

He wasn't afraid of the fountains

Drenched

Michael on slides

Michael at dinner

Potato Merangue with strawberries and candied jalopeno from Megan & John

Carisa & Weston - he was a bit shy of the fountains

Vanilla Potato Pudding with a jalopeno/strawberry salsa from Tyler & Carisa

Jalopeno spice cake napoleon with cinnamon potato fries and a strawberry jalopeno sauce from Jared and Sam

waiting for pizza

waiting for dinner

"JOOOS" at the park

Running around

Playing grandma's piano

Day two was a lot funner for us than day one.  Kaity was feeling better and therefore we had less crying.  We started the day by meeting at the park by Tyler & Carisa's house.  They have so many slides and playgrounds to run on - Kaity was in heaven.  At 11 they turned on the fountains and the kids had a blast.  Grandpa bought snowcones for us to share - my very favorite!  Kaity especially enjoyed playing with Thomas at the fountains, she liked splashing him and even tried to push him in once.  After lunch and naps we got back together to go to a flatbread pizza place.  They had gourmet pizzas and salads and it was so yummy!  Even though we had to wait for a little bit, they had a big grassy area outside of the restaurant for the kids to run around in, so they didn't get too bored.  We went back home after dinner and the little ones played outside while we all participated in a home version of Chopped.  Basically there is a mystery set of ingredients and you have a certain amount of time to complete a meal using all three ingredients.  John picked out jalopenos, strawberries, and potatoes.  It was lots of fun and we all made yummy deserts.  Poor Carisa hadn't ever seen the show so she was at a bit of a disadvantage, but she did a pretty good job overlooking the mess and tried to have fun.  All three desserts were much yummier than expected.

Family Reunion Day 1!

Here are some pictures from our first day.  We went to the Boise Zoo.  Kaity was grouchy about getting up early, but the zoo was a nice, cool temperature all day.  Kaity called every animal "Elroy."  Afterwards, we went to the Boise Fry Company, which is this great little restaurant that serves different types and cuts of fries and has lots of different sauces and salts.  It was very yummy.  After our naps we played in the pool outside, but Kaity thought it was too cold and wanted to slide instead.  After dinner brought playing in Grandma's car - I'm not sure what they were doing, but at least there were two adults supervising.  It was a fun, full day!

Thomas voting with the zoo coins

Kaity loves snuggling to Grandma, and eating goldfish

Snuggling delays bedtime

playing in the car

Michael, Kaity, and Thomas

Having fun with Michael

Thomas in charge

Swing

Slide into the pool

Weston is walking!

Happy Michael, he likes the penguins

Kaity isn't happy about the bonk on her head

Pith helmet and giraffe slide - what more do you need?

a picture that looks exactly like Momma did

Yes, that's a real giraffe

Feeding the goats - Thomas used to be scared of them!

The parable of the Wise Old Man and the Thief

For Cathy, Cindy, and Laurie: fellow servants of the Wise Old Man.

And it came to pass that a cry went out to all the world that they should be gathered to celebrate the virtuous accomplishments of a certain fair maid.  And so, the father of the maid, a lawyer, threw a feast to honor the maid where much exotic food was eaten, including yummy honey walnut shrimp from that most exotic of eastern foods, Panda.

Also attending this celebration was a wise and kind old man, with many faithful servants.  This old man was the master of the lawyer, and had traveled far on his horse to attend the feast in honor of the maid.  Being aged in years, but not in mind, the wise man tied his horse in front of the house where the feast was held and commenced with the celebration.

Now, as the man and his many faithful servants were feasting, a thief came, and set upon the wise man’s horse.  The lawyer, being of a quick temper but a good heart, rushed to save the horse.  When the thief refused to leave but offered to be persuaded by a small tax, the lawyer became angry.  There was also at this feast a young apprentice in chemical carpentry.  The apprentice went to the aid of the lawyer, and performed all tasks that were asked.  As it became clear that the lawyer and the apprentice were going to prevent the thief from his prey, the thief fetched a Pharisee.

Fearing for their lives, the lawyer and the apprentice fled with the horse, but the thief had witnesses who had quickly painted a portrait of the scene.  The Pharisee arrived, already having consulted with the leader of the thieves den.  He then contested with the wise old man.  You see, in the town where the wise old man lived, only a Pharisee could take a horse, and a thief taken to prison for taking another man’s property.  However, in the town of the maid’s feast, the thieves had begun to make their living by taxing others for leaving their horses unattended.  The wise old man was both kind and reasonable, and persuaded the Pharisee to leave him his horse.  The lawyer and the apprentice were able to return to the feast and the thief went away unrewarded.

Now, those who have ears to hear, let them hear:  It is not always a bad thing to be faithful servants of a wise, old man who looks like Santa Claus :)

A few random thoughts

March has been a different month for us.  After the marathon virus that we all shared in February, I was looking forward to cleaning my house and working on some projects.  However, that almost never happens.  (Although I did reach my goal of less Phineas and Ferb for Kaity).
We did buy a super pass to Trafalga.  It's been a lot of fun so far and Kaity especially loves the carousel in Lehi.  Jared and I enjoy getting out somewhere for an hour or two and not having to worry about going over budget.
We found out earlier this month that my sister is having a boy.  She has decided to name him after our brother, Brett, who passed away shortly after birth.  They're still working on a middle name, I vote for Darrell. 
I was very excited this last weekend to go to the temple with my family.  It is so great to be reminded of the eternal nature of families, and I am so excited that we were able to find and do the work for some of our Lebanese/Syrian ancestors.  My cousin Tammy did such an awesome job finding all the important dates.  While we were packing to head up to my parents house, we got a text from my mom saying that my grandpa fell and was in the hospital.
I've been avoiding this subject lately because I really don't want to think about it.  When my Grandma Webb started forgetting things and falling, I was kind of expecting it: she had been sick for a very long time.  Grandpa Z, however, was always the "healthy one."  He would take me on rollercoasters and 4-wheeling and shooting.  I'll never forget when he showed up the day before my senior prom with a gun...turned out it was just a coincidence - he was cleaning out his storage and wanted me to have it because I was the only one who shot it.  Granted, I don't shoot very often, only once a year...but I love that he thought of me.
I went to see Grandpa in the hospital this weekend, and he was really out of it.  He did, however, know that the golf Masters are in a few weeks - he loves any kind of sport!  I also loved seeing that he was wearing the necklace I gave him when I was little.  Because my Grandpa's parents were Catholic, he always wore a St. Christopher's medal.  When I was little, we gave him a new silver chain to wear it.  It was a bit too long, so we had the chain shortened and a matching bracelet made for me.  Of course it doesn't fit anymore, but it'll be good for Kaity in a year or so.  Anyway, when my grandpa became active in the LDS church, he stopped wearing the medal but kept the necklace.
I was Grandpa's little girl.  There was nothing I couldn't get if I just asked - this includes making my cousins stop their pick-up basketball game to let 5 year old me play basketball with them.  I remember Easter egg hunts using his ballcap as a basket to collect my spoils.  I also remember dressing up in every scrap of orange I could find during deer-hunting season just so I could be like Grandpa.  Of course, I've never been hunting - it doesn't even remotely appeal to me.
Grandpa is back at home now, but he has fallen again.  They are having a nurse, aide, and physical therapist come out a few times a week to help him get better, but I don't think that there's going to be a lot of improvement.
Every time I see my grandfather now, I am grateful for eternal families and that day, 14ish years ago, when my grandparents were sealed to each other and their sons for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

August is a very busy month for us!

Jared and Kaity at the reception

Dad and his siblings

Great Aunt Cyndi

The entire Heber Brown crew (minus missionary Chris)

The Kevin Brown crew (minus missionary Chris)

The newlyweds and Grandparents Brown

August is normally pretty busy in our family.   We have 4 birthdays, 2 anniversaries, and then there's back to school preparations.  Well, this year was double-time.  At the beginning of August we drove to Boise for Chris' farewell.  It was so much fun to see our family and Chris did a great job!  On the 18th Chris flew into Salt Lake, we picked him up, had lunch, and dropped him off at the MTC.  Can I just say I LOVE the new drive through drop off?  Before there was so much crying and people herding.  This is so much quicker, like a band-aid.  Anyway, that night we drove up to my parent's house for Kaitlyn's real birthday.  She even had a princess cake (which I made).  She loved it!  The next morning, my parents dropped us off at the airport and we flew to Sacramento, California.  I hate flying.  It makes me motion sick.  Having a 1 year old bouncing around does not help, either.  Anyway, we arrived in Sacramento and Grandpa picked us up.  We became part of the wedding-decorating party and ensuing festivities. When the Browns do a wedding, it's big.  When Cyndi does anything, it's big.  When both are combined: monumental.  When we got back it was time for Jared's birthday.  We went out to dinner and had a fun time with family.  Jared especially likes his new board game, Small World.  Finally, Jared started his last (hopefully) first day of Fall Semester; and Kaitlyn cut 4 new teeth (bringing the total to 9).  Here's to a wonderful, but less hectic, September.