Five Brown Kids

Cheryl, Courtney and I did our annual hiking trip just a few days after my parents went home. We met in Salt Lake and drove to the Grand Canyon with stops at the Sand Caves and Cathedral Wash in southern Utah. This was an easy 3.5 mile hike.  A bit of rock climbing/scrambling but nothing stressful. The Colorado river here was such a beautiful color. (While I was gone Tyrone had a crazy busy work schedule so the big boys each came home for a few days to take care of the girls.  I talked to Jaxon and Blythe via facetime sitting on this rock and when asked how his day was going Jaxon said, "I'm just a personal chauffer!  I've been driving all day!" Scotia had a track meet, swim meet, friends party and birthday party and Blythe had a soccer game) Super bloom flowers after all the winter moisture.  Checked out the Grand Canyon before heading to our overnight tent. It looks so lovely.  Look how peaceful we look before heading off to hike.  Still feeling good....

For the first time since 2017 Mom and Dad came to visit. We had perfect weather and had lots of fun doing all my favorite things.  When they showed up Monday eve first thing we did was take a tour through the whole house.  Commenting in each room how many pieces my parents had driven down from Nova Scotia each year or had helped build.  This side table, these nightstands, this loon, this art, this frame, this toy box, this stool, this treasure chest, this whole entire dining room table (that came down on the roof of a Corolla) this Barbie table, this doll bed, the basketball net, the framing in the basement, the storage room shelves, the hanging kayaks.  Every single room had been touched by them.  And over the three decades I have been gone an enormous amount of gifts have traveled my way...  Lunch at Sasool - my favorite! Home Depot of course for house projects.  Sushi at the top of the dump.  A favorite! A bluegrass concert across from my work....

Blythe and I picked up litter with The Great Raleigh Cleanup.  Scotia baked - from scratch lemon curd, pastry dough and meringue. Showing Taye her funny Tik Tok.  Some eggs had cash. Taye racked up! The Brown's came over for supper.  Such a fun day to have (almost) everyone home.         Scotia made this Tik Tok of preparing for their D1Athelte, 500lb squatting brother to come home. The nerf guns and chess move are perfection. Have to be prepared!  Such fun kids.  And also - everyone cheers when Taye walks in the door and then clamors for his attention.

Tyrone took the girls on a quick adventure to New York City! The Lion King on Broadway was the highlight! And I had 52 hours alone in my own house.  Didn't get in my car once.  Sat in the sun and listened to Trump get arraigned. Did some yard work. Went for a walk. Ate stir fry for breakfast and berry cobbler for supper.   Ahhhh...

A  camp with a dog and a cat! Soccer Saturdays Horse riding Sundays. Making animal toys you tube videos.