Five Brown Kids

I'm surviving summer "vacation". Jaxon had basketball camp last week and a friend came into town and stayed the whole week to go to camp too. They had a fun week swimming, rock climbing, ping ponging, x-boxing, ice cream eating and balling of course. Taye has two a day swim practices to get ready for a big meet in Florida this summer. He swims, eats, swims, eats, eat, eats and sleeps.  Scotia had a week at art camp and loved it of course. She is doing great at swim team practice.  Rock climbing at the Y Painting on left is from Scotia's art camp, I painted the dresser, her luggage bags are out and ready to be packed for a trip! Hiking at the lake Sandling Beach with best friends.  Six hours later I lugged my water logged children home.  Blythe had on her floaty and hung out with the big kids out at the rope.  She has no fear. 

Over the winter big D and I talked about finding a job. He needs his own money and some work experience (and I wanted him to not spend the whole summer staring at his phone) We talked about different options and agreed that fast food wasn't ideal but would be okay if it was all we could find. Then one day I was searching online and found out about our city's youth employment program. It was perfect! (30 hours a week with regular day time hours and work locations close to his house) We applied quick and a friend from church took him the next day to get a state ID card in time for the interview. And now he is working for the whole summer with a city gardening crew- they are wonderful people (I met the 4 supervisors) and he is having a great time. Getting up really early and getting himself to work on his bike and making his own money. It's better than I could have hoped for. So, since he knocked on my door last summer he has finished another year of school and is that much ...

Our new neighborhood has a sweet little pool but no summer swim team, so we joined the pool of a big subdivision next door.  Taye insisted on summer swim! Scotia was pretty hesitant for the first practice but is now "enjoying?" it.  Jaxon is refusing to swim.  If my big brother was the golden hercules of summer swim I'd probably refuse too. Taye broke this team's record for every event he swam  - fly, free and back, medley relay and free relay.  He's going to have a fun summer! At the meet Jaxon played with Blythe in the smaller pool.  They went down the slide at least 20 times! First summer swim meet from jessica brown on Vimeo .

Brown Family House - first floor from jessica brown on Vimeo .

Long day...

It's summer. Come visit! 

Taye is 15! Can't believe he is so old. He is loving his new carpool ride to swim everyday with four really cool kids. He took donuts to swim practice to celebrate after.  #yotaslaughterhouse And then came home for yummy supper and blowing out candles on a cake on the new ping pong table. (Thanks Nana!)

I texted all our old customers and they were all delighted that Taye was coming back to mow! 5 lawns, 3 hours, $130! Making his sisters laugh. 

Saturday Taye did an open water swim near Pinehurst. He swam the 5000yard - or about 3 miles. Go Taye!   I was so happy to sit under a shade tent with the lovely lake breeze and watch him.  Open water swim from jessica brown on Vimeo .

We have a stream in our back yard - it's not quite as dreamy as the greenway but it's a good substitute.  Taye's working on a dam with his sidekick. 

Blythe 2.5 years Dirty face but so cute!