12 days of Christmas

I will keep it simple.

(and this post is more for my blogging journal)

The 12 Days of Christmas.

A new service the kids wanted to try this year.

WE picked an anonymous child who we knew

"needed" the extra sunshine in his life.

We were excited knowing this person would be so happy every night to get a gift and

to maybe know someone thought just about him.

No need to say who we "picked" but have to say

this child definitely has tough circumstances in many areas life.

A great kid, we were excited for our adventure.
This was new to us, so we took it day by day, deciding on what "gifts" to leave.

I won't go in to detail of all the gifts,

because that's not what really matters in the end,

but what matters is what my kids learned from this service.

I wanted them to feel the rewards of helping

someone in need and brightening "their day!"

WE just picked gifts that he would enjoy.

And it was so fun to let the kids help out in all the decisions:

what to buy, wrapping it, and definitely delivering it.

We didn't want the person to find out who we were....

so the kids loved ringing the doorbell and running FAST!

The house was deep into a dark field,

so I would pull my car up and the kids would venture off into the night.

The first night they were a little spooked going off into the dark and not seeing their feet in the snow, but by the 3rd and 4th night, they couldn't wait to go.

And yes it was hard to juggle it between Christmas parties, kids parties, swim practice, homework, etc.. but we just made it a priority to get there every night by a certain time.

You know, one of the most rewarding parts,

is when Jakers came home from school

and he was soooo excited to tell me something..

He said,

"Mom, mom, he was wearing the gloves we got him!"

"I was so excited to see the gloves on his hands mom. I didn't say anything to him, I just smiled at him."
"
Sweet. Perfect.

I thought it was so great.

I loved that we were helping a child in need but in turn

he was helping my kids by teaching them a great lesson.

It was a "mama moment" for sure.

A great lesson and a great service.

WE decided to do it every year. WE had so much fun.

The rewards were great for both ends.

And on Christmas Eve, the kids were sad to be done.

They didn't want it to end.

(It was so fun to bundle up and go...! Mace man walking with the kids.)



We loved the Christmas season this year.

We were so busy full of parties, performances, Christmas gatherings, concerts, class parties, Christmas teas, cousin parties...etc.

BUT we loved it.

Hopefully the "true meaning" of Christmas hit my kids hearts somewhere!

As parents we try and we try.

WE may not know if we are ever doing everything right or teaching our kids all they need to survive in this world.

We just hope we are doing our best.
Families are what keeps this world going and we must protect it!

What a great Merry Christmas season!

On to the new year!

Welcome 2010~

Cheers to the adventures ahead!!

my christmas card I never sent! ha ha!

Dusk.

Every day

I sit in my office.

Every day I love

the light that shines through this window...

It's bright, it's cheery, it's warm.

Throughout the day, the lighting changes.

So this is one of my favorite rooms

to come and sit.

Every day I need sunlight in my life.

Every day I feel lucky to see the sun rise. (even if it's a blizzard!)

Every day I feel lucky to live a life. (that can be so hard and stressful! yes)

Every day I feel lucky to stay at home and raise 4 great kids. (even when they are fighting and driving me crazy!)

Every day I know that I am blessed. (even amongst all the many trials!)

It sounds cheesy I know, but life can change in an instant.

My friend Laura did a great post on enjoying all the "simple treasures" in life...

boy is she right.

We've got to enjoy those sweet little moments and not take them for granted.

Because you know, in one instant, it could all be gone or altered.

So today I will look at things in a new light.

And yes, I try to already do that, but there are some days I don't.

Today is a little different:

It's going to be a new year, new changes, new experiences.

Today I will enjoy it all. Big and little, simple and complicated.

Life's a sweet gift.


Now today the sun is setting

and I love the lighting.

Today I am grateful for something as simple as this room.

Yup, sounds crazy, but this room makes my heart happy.

Especially when the sun. is. almost. down.

Look at this beautiful lighting:

So today, today I am grateful for something as simple as

dusk.

light that comes in and out of my life every day.
thank you.

~ And thanks to Laura for the great reminder.

And I really love my song: Nickel Creek, 'Sweet Afton'...great words.

Christmas Break.

Christmas Break.

The kids are hyper and happy.

We need to get OUT of the house.

Favorite pass time:

sledding, movies, going to lunch!


Today we hit the slopes at Willowcreek park.

It was freezing...the burb said 11 degrees,

BUT in Utah we are used to cold!

(I went running in it today! lovely. yes)

So we bundled up and headed out.

The kids loved loved sliding down the hills...

they were not afraid at all.

Even Mace wanted to hit all the "bumps" and fly high!

After he flew down the hill he would say, " this is totally wicked."

huh? something he picked up from the older kids of course...

We had so much fun in the snow!

After the cold,

We hit one of our favorite spots for lunch:

Cafe Rio.

Yummy pork salad.

WE had to stop at (grossy) McD's for Mason's nuggets.

He ate 10 nuggets! All his little self.

woswers.

The kids loved the salads.

It was a hit.

(and it was healthy and cheap)

a fun day it was.

I will end with a pic

of yesterday's movie:

Alvin and the Chipmunks.

All the kids made chipmunk faces...cute.

I love Christmas break...

it's so fun to relax, play with cousins, go to movies, sled, eat-out..

do whatever we like..

a much N E E D E D break..

after running around like crazy the entire month of December.

L O V E

this

week

O F F.

T H A N K Y O U.

I think I may be off to a movie with

the girlies while the boys (my boys of course)

watch the vikings/bears game!

ta ta!

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas break as well!

Christmas magic, kids happy hearts, Merry Christmas

The big day had arrived!

The Stott children had whispered into Santa's ear

all their little wishes...

It was Christmas Morning!

What a joyous moment.

After all our Christmas Eve traditions...

(dinner, gifts of love, Christmas toast by candlelight, I believe in Santa Clause book)
Kids went to bed at 11:00 ish...

and then Aus woke the rest up at 4:38!

(Jake was pooped)

Oh Man!

us parents were tired!

It took Santa a long time to arrive!

But the morning soon came....and the kids were so happy.

6:00 on the dot, our cell phone rang,

the kids were awake up in the boys room...

(they all sleep together every Christmas Eve)

time to let the fun begin.

Ohhh they were happy.

Ashlyn fainted when she saw her stocking and gifts from Santa.

they just stared at all the Santa gifts, before they tore in...



After they open their stocking gifts and played with their Santa's gifts,

we open the rest one by one.

It was so fun as parents to see the joy in their little eyes.

That's all the really matters.

Ry and I didn't even notice our own gifts to each other...

satisfactions is enough watching your children and their happiness

It was a beautiful, happy, Santa, kid morning!

And for me, at this moment, all my work had paid off:

Shopping, finding the deals, running all over the valley, errands, chores,

ALL the stress over making Christmas a little sweeter for the the kids.

All our Christmas Family Home Evenings, our 12 days, our manger gifts to each other...finally it all had come to fruition.

What a day!

What a moment.

I love it.

I felt so happy.

It. was. a. good. day.

And the best part, with the gifts A L L opened:

watching the kids enjoy.

Riding scooters through the house, playing music on the i touch,

eating candy out of their stockings,

their little hearts so happy that the day had come.

And Mace didn't get off his scoot all day.

He zoomed away all afternoon..

2 miles an hour! perfect

I love it..Black Friday special $49 Wallmart!

yay for a good deal!

With all the presents gone and cleaned up,

it was time for Christmas Breakfast!

And I was lovin' a clean mantle again!

(Remember I decorated before Thanksgiving?!)

I didn't set the table, I had to much on it.

Instead we ate at the bar.

It was delicious.

Warm cinnamon rolls, eggs, sausage, bacon, orange julius....




And I was about to crash....

I had gotten no sleep (probably like you all)

But it was all good.

So worth it.

I love Santa.

Oh what a lovely day.

We went to the Mountain House at noon with all the cousins.

Grandma fed us more delicious food and we opened more gifts.

My mom got the perfect gifts for each kid..they were happy!

(she made Ashlyn a beautiful quilt...I will need to post it!)

Then we were off to Ry's house for a couple of hours...

more gifts, more fun.

What a day.

Cheers to Christmas 2009!

What a year what a year.

On to new adventures and new journeys for 2010, oh what will it bring!?
I will leave with a few of my favorite colors of 2009.
yes color.
I love the colors of Christmas.
I will miss the oranges of fall and the reds, golds, and greens of winter.
Off to white snow. boring.
Hmmm. When is spring again?

Merry Christmas everyone.
Love you all!

Eve of the Eve.

Wow,

it has been snowing the last 48 hours on these Rocky Mountains....

We have one more night left for the 12 days of Christmas.

Last night, we decided to get out in the open night air and walk to our secret house.

The kids get soooo excited to leave a secret gift on the door each night for our 8 year old boy!

It is so fun for them to sneak up to the house,

knock and R U N fast.

On the way home,

the kids were loving the falling snowflakes,

the sky was lit from the falling snow.

It was a beautiful night....

Just the way we like them in Utah.

It is the perfect setting for Christmas.

WE ended up in a big snowball fight...we were lovin' the snow.

And man oh man. So glad today is over with.

Phewy. I am. exhausted.

Kim and I were in charge of the twins Christmas Class party today.

(We are actually the room mom's for the 5th grade and we have had the "honor" (ha ha) of doing all the class parties..soooo much work, boy oh boy.)

( Leg kicks...don't ask...we were waiting for our room to open up.)

(Last weeks reading reward party)

Anyways back to the Christmas Party:

3 games with prizes and an Ice cream sundae bar.

Just me and her...all the other mom's were "busy with Christmas errands..."hmmm.really?

So I enlisted the help of my sis Amber (thank you!!)

Yesterday I helped with Jake's class party for 2 hours!

It is so fun to be able to be in all the kids classrooms...

I am lucky that way and I love it and they do to.

And I have absolutely loved this Christmas season..we have DONE so much!!

BUT, BUT, I am tired. I am done.

I am ready for Santa's sleigh to hit my roof.

I can't run one more Christmas errand, shop for one more gift, buy one more neighbor gift or friend gift, attend one more party, organize one more Christmas dinner, go to one more church function, teach one more lesson.

My energy is G O N E.

(and for me, that means it's really gone. cuz I thrive off my energy...)

cheers to the Eve of the Eve.

Here on out..

Christmas movies, hot cocoa, warm fires blazing,

and snowy days.. Yay!!!

Merry Christmas everybody!

The presents are piling up...!

Santa is filling his sleigh!

love it.

~xo~

A snowy night, Mountain House, Adult Brown Christmas Party

Dec.20, 2009
Adult Brown Christmas Party!
Mountain House


What a night we had.

No kids, just adults.

The gathering of all the Brown family adults.

An excuse to get dressed up, eat a fancy meal,

laugh at white elephants,

share Christmas memories, exchange Christmas gifts, and have a good time.

Ry and I...

We all arrived at the Mountain House.
Some of the family:

It was great to be back in the Mountain House.

The setting was perfect:

a cold's winter night set against the snow filled East Mountains,

the mountain house was all aglow.

My mom did a great job to "create" a beautiful Christmas atmosphere

for all of us to enjoy.

Her house was warm and inviting, the food was great, the company even better...

it was a night to remember.


I feel like I could say so much about the night.

But I will keep it simple:

It was wonderful....the food was delicious, the Christmas stories were sweet, the childhood memories were happy and senitmental, the jokes were, well a little out of hand, and the white elephants were, well, umm even worse..you will see.

But the night was definitely full of laughter and some tears.

First we all sat down for a Christmas meal.

It was divine:

Prime Rib, honey Ham, pasta salad, shrimp cocktail, cheesy potatoes, warm breadsticks, green salad, cooked carrots and fresh asparagus!

It was so delicious!

Then we had white elephants,

Christmas testimonies/memories,

and gift exchange...

We started the white elephants and my cute Aunt Moana

got hit hard:

"Troy's Big Boys....."

Seriously they were huuuuuuge.

I got Brie's clipped, yes clipped (ewww so gross, so disgusting, yellow) toe nails....which now I think were Brandon's..they were L A R G E! :)

Carole Ann got a Christmas wreath wrapped with pictures of women who made

history this year:

Be prepared for the next pic of Sarah Palin.

There ya go:

Sarah Palin, Nancy Pelosi, Paula Abdul, the ladies on the View, and Hilary Clinton....(It was a good one Troy...maybe the best of the night.)

(and no no no that is N O T Misty's body!)

But in the end, my mom's theme this year was "Christmas Memories...."

I think we all had something special to say, some of it sentimental, some of it funny...but in the end, the underlying theme: Grateful for memories created by the bonds of family.

We are so grateful for great parents and siblings. Though we are all F A R from perfect, we have each other and we know it.

It was a great night, I could go on and on, but there is no need.

Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful evening!

Like Troy said in his email to Bear....

We had a fab dinner, heard some great stories, exchanged some grossy white elephants, sang some off-key notes, and enjoyed each other's company so much.

Thanks Mom and Dad for all your work put into such a fun night for us...

and thanks to all the Brown's for a great night!

Cheers to another Brown Family party...till next year.

(and ohhh I can't wait for the revenge of the white elephants next year....:)

and

quickly

want to thank my pops for having lunch with me last Friday.

I got to spend two lovely hours alone with him...

chatting about life, our day to day events, and about a Grandpa I NEVER met.

What a special guy my Grandpa Brown was...I loved the stories my dad told me about growing up on the farm with his family in Hoystville, Utah.

What a honorable man my Grandpa was and still is...

He was strong, so loyal to his God and his family, and he taught through example.

(sounds just like my own Dad, doesn't it!)

I can't WAIT to meet my Grandpa Brown.

Love you Dad!