Five Brown Kids

We have loved the unusually warm weather.  Sandals and shorts over Christmas break is perfect. Too bad tomorrow we head back down to the 50's. Just eight weeks til spring. I can make it. 

To my Mormon Rupublican friends - how do you make sense of the Donald? Could you vote for a Democrat if Trump is the Republican nominee? 

From all of us!

75 degrees today. Windows wide open and still sweating while I wrapped the rest of the presents. 

Me neighbor passed away over the weekend. She battled pancreatic cancer for three years. Last year when I realized she wasn't working anymore I knocked on the door and asked how I could help. She needed someone to go walking with just in case she needed help and that was easy for me to do. During our walks I learned that she could use some help with healthy lunches and I could make my lunch and leave half at her back door and that was easy too. I learned to love this woman over the past year.  I am so sad for a life gone too young. I am still tired. Seminary is too early, two year olds are too busy, swimmers need time consuming rides to never ending practices and meets, kids tease too much, there is so much mess, teenagers stay up too late. I can't shake a constant fog in my head.    But I'm not quitting. Because I have been given much I too must give. 

Jaxon turned 12. I love this kid. He is helpful and kind and smart and fast and cute. And I am awed by his humility. He will be friends with anyone and isn't at all concerned about hanging out with the right crowd. And when he scores touchdowns he just walks away and moves onto the next play. He knows he's good - he doesn't feel the need to prove anything.  So impressive! 

Big D has been gone for a few weeks.  I don't miss having an extra kid to feed and clothe and entertain but I sure miss him.  I wish I could post a picture - he has a winning smile! He is back with his Mom in a great little apartment and that is where he wants to be. My heart is definitely softer after this experience.  I will share just this one story. One Monday morning I got a call from his teacher.  She was ready to give him detention but called the number on his school account first to see if something was going on.  I was able to tell her about a heartbreaking situation that had happened over the weekend. You could hear her sigh on the other end of the line and her breathing change.  He was no longer a "disrespectful" teenager but a child with real feelings who was scared and sad and was trying his best to hold it all together.  A few weeks later at supper we were talking about D's teacher and he said to me, "You talked to her once, right?". ...

Can you believe she is two?! I love my little bunny. She is a great side kick. Blythe is 2! from jessica brown on Vimeo . About Blythe: She loves to be outside She loves to play with neighbor friends. I don't want to forget that at 18 months she was over at the neighbor's house playing and I went to peak in the front door and check on her.  She walked right over to the door and pushed it shut - with me still on the outside.  She was busy playing and didn't want me interfering. She loves animals.  She would walk right up to a raging pit bull to pet the sweet "doggy".  No fear She loves to jump - gymnastics class is her absolute favorite hour of the week She loves riding on the back of my bike She loves running and will hop out of the stroller and do her own fair share of running with me She eats - sliced apples, whole wheat bagels with peanut butter, scrambled eggs, spicy taco soup, spaghetti, quesadillas, raspberries and lots of oranges. She is new...

2nd in the 50 free and down in the 22's with a time of 22.99!  Good things happen in the 22's.  The AAAA time is 22.79,  a Y Nationals Cut is 22.09. Looking forward to a fun spring.  (Taye is brown kid in the middle lane with purple cap) Capital classic from jessica brown on Vimeo .

The food shuttle will hand them out from their mobile food truck that they park in different neighborhoods.  Note the subdivision across the street from a beautiful farm. That is Raleigh. 

Thanksgiving 2015 from jessica brown on Vimeo . All this plus Turkey Bowl Football, Men's movie night (Martian?), Moms' 6 mile run and Moms' dinner out.  I couldn't get pictures of everything :-)