A Long, but Quick Trip!

We had a full and confusing weekend with so many families involved and lots of parties happening, and we had to attend them all....regardless of where they were! We started out at the Hyatt Hill Country for Summer Visit #4. We also called this our Guilt Free Trip, as this way, we won't feel guilty when we are in Jamaica, and the kids aren't! I had cousins in from California and Lake Jackson,that are on my mother's side, so my brother and parents, and us met up in San Antonio to see our long lost cousins, that we only get to see once every 2 years or so!

Braden hooked up with some ladies, and showed them his moves of playing "toss the ball!" Total strangers that were so nice to play the boring game of toss the ball in a triangle of people! Oh Boy!

We had a blast in the pool, which was a little cold the day after remnents of Dolly came through!

Grandma & Grandpa let us play in the hottub to warm us up!

Then we ran into a friend from school, and no trip is complete if Mommy didn't run into someone she knew, and I did! Again, another Trinity family!

Waiting on Valet on the Rockers, just relaxin'.... and taking off shoes!

We had fun with the Beach area! Baryn has never felt sand on her toes! Braden didn't much care for his hands sandy!

Day two in the COLD pool!

We made a call to our friends Devin & Mare and they brought their kiddos over to play with us for a little while! It was so good to see them and to get the kids together, since we only see them once or twice a year! Maia is one month younger than Baryn, and Sawyer is 2 years behind Bee Dub!

After Partying in San Antonio for a day and a half, and seeing about 50 cousins over at my godparent's house, my parents brought Baryn back to Midland and then the 3 of us went on to Port Neches to surprise Bart (Chad's old Brother) for his Surprise 40th Birthday! This was a lot of fun, but a long 5 hour drive from San Antone to be there for 15 hours! It was nice though! We left Little Man there to stay with Sassy, his 5 cousins and his Aunt Jeannine and Uncle Bart for the week. Sylvia and Bee Dub will return at the end of the week to Grandpa David's farm and then home in time for our arrival on August 6th!

The Older Brown Brother bought a ranch recently, and then added some horses! Before the long 10 hour drive back to Midland, we made a side trip to the ranch to see Bee Dub ride a horse for the 1st time! It was great, though he was a little timid! Uncle Bart led him around for quite a while! They will be spending time there this week, no doubt with 3 horses! We brought back Poppy in place of Braden staying there, so we all got back tired yesterday!

We sure did have a lot of fun, in such a short period of Friday - Sunday. Alot of miles on my car! I am pooped, and now I have to get ready for Jamaica on Wednesday! I sure am missing Bee Dub already, and I still have 10 more days til we see him! Baby Sister will be with Mom & Dad, across the way!

I can't wait to write about that trip! Have a great week and a half!

Swimming Lessons!

This Summer we took parent-tot swimming lessons with some of our friends! Here is Owen & Brody with their Grandma Stephanie & there momma, Janai!

Here is our friend Tyler, who is exactly 8 weeks younger than Baryn! He's a keeper!

Baryn has learned to hold her breath under water!

Braden is quite the fish! We are very proud of what he has accomplished! He was on the other side of the pool, taking his private lessons!

Stylish pigtails on Baby Sister! Very Fashion Forward, though Classic!

Open Book of Darby Brown!

Wanted to copy this from Janai & Jennifer Yeagers' sites! Have fun to all you Blog Stalkers!


1. Where is your cell phone? Kithchen
2. Significant other? Asleep
3. Your hair? messy
4. Your mother? short
5. Your father? retired
6. Your favorite thing? massages
7. Your dream last night? strange
8. Your favorite drink? Colorado Bulldog
9. Your dream/goal? happiness
10. Room you're in? Office
11. Your hobby? When?
12. Your fear? Death
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Midland
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you're not? shy
16. Muffins? Blueberry
17. One of your wish list items? Car
18. Where you grew up? Midland
19. What are you wearing? Nightie
20. Your pets? Puppins
21. Your computer? obsession
22. Your life? CRAZY
23. Your mood? Spirited
24. Missing someone? Braxton
25. Your car? Big
26. Something you're not wearing? glasses
27. Favorite store? White House Black Market
28. Your summer? busy
29. Your favorite color? Fuschia
30. Last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Saturday

These answers are all supposed to be answered with only one word, so try it now!

the Browns can Boogie!

I just thought I would give you a laugh on a Monday Morning! This is from a cousins wedding last month! The kids have a blast, even though it was way past their bedtime! Have a great week!

A Long Road Ahead!

Well, we just finished Chad's 4th MS150 Bike Ride from Midland to Post, and boy is this draining! You know every year that Chad does this ride, it is more of challenge, not only on Chad because he is getting older, but on me....just because!! The first year Chad did the ride, back in 2004 from Houston to Austin, Braden was 18 months old, and juggling a kiddo in mass chaos with families and support groups to more that 13000 riders in a small town, halfway between the two cities was interesting! The 2nd year, I was barely pregnant with Braxton....just enough to be nautious as hell, and still juggling a then 2 1/2 year old. The 3rd time was in 2006 in the middle of July! This time, since we are Midland by this point, it is from Midland to Big Spring on day 1 and Big Spring to Post on day 2, but not as many riders (about 133)! I was pregnant with Baryn at this point and hot & miserable, juggling an almost 4 year old! Jump ahead to this weekend, now I have 2 kiddos, and it is hot as hell. Mom & Dad travelled behind me and then Chad's Aunt Kim met us there since she lives in Big Spring.


We are so proud of you daddy!!! Way to go!


Having to pack up the kids and ALL of their accoutrements is quite the chore, but after dropping Boo Boo off at 6:45 and watching the group leave at 7, it is then, just a tiring chore! We caravan to Big Spring, and then play the waiting game for Chad to come in, so that we can cheer him in!! He always in in the front of 80% of the pack! Repeat all of that on day 2 (today) but from Kim's house to Post (and no caravan this time)! I thought he might beat us there since I had a longer drive today to Post but about 10 miles outside of town, on the hardest hill I took in my car, this is who I found:

We are so proud of Chad, as this is all in the name of raising money for Multiple Sclerosis! We want to thank, Bart & Jeannine, Mom & Dad, Dan & Sylvia, Adnan & Tor, Sohail & Holly, & Devin & Mare for their donation to Multiple Sclerosis 150 - Cactus & Crude! Each rider is required to have over 300$ in donations, and Chad was in the top 10 as of Race time! He couldn't of done it without you!

Almost 3 years

Well, as I am up in the middle of the night, I thought I would write a little something to fill in a somewhat boring week.
We are in countdown mode to several big things! First is Braxton's Birthday! He would be 3 this year on August 1st and everytime that I get on my blog, I hear his song and am reminded of everything, as if I don't already think about him constantly! Alot has happened since that day in 2005 and Chad and I have had our ups and downs, emotionally! The down side is that our Anniversary for the past 3 years has been shared with this tragic event, and it makes it hard to celebrate. But, last year, my dear sweet Boo Boo got down on one knee and proposed....again! He had a beautiful Lagos ring with a beautiful quartz in it and said that he had booked the church so that we could get remarried on a different day, and have the happy anniversary that we deserve! (enter an "ahhhhh, how sweet!", here)
Now, as many of you know, Darby doesn't need ANY reason to throw a party, so you are probably wondering where your invite is, and why haven't you heard of the drama surrounding this over the top extravaganza? Um, well.... Darby turned him down....and let me tell you why! As much as I love throwing parties, especially one that involves me, I just didn't feel like this was the right thing to do. I feel like God intended for us to lose Braxton on our anniversary to be reminded of our vows, in good times and in BAD! It was a testiment to our relationship, and has been ever since! Secondly, for those of you that were at our wedding in 1998, we had a DAMN good time and it was still, by far, our best day ever! Sorry Braden & Baryn, but I am not gonna be one of those moms who lies through their teeth, saying that the birth of their children was their best day ever! Who likes to be confined to a hospital, poked and proded every 15 minutes, losing your pride, no cute gowns, bad food, no sleep, and not to talk about the long term affects of having a child!! Hello? Beatiful gown, all your friends, good food, fairy dream come true, Prince Charming & great vacation sounds soooo much better for this realist!
So needless to say, we did not have our May 10th wedding that Chad had booked (which was a bad weekend anyways with Mother's Day & Birthday, and lots of other things going on!) But what we are gonna do is get the heck out of dodge for our BIG 10th! It has been 10 years and we are going to try real hard to be happy on August 1st, hopefully this will be aided by a pina colada in our hand in Jamaica! We leave in about 10 days, and as sad as I am to not be here to go see Braxton on his birthday, I feel it is real important for Chad & I to be able to celebrate for the first time in 3 years!
I will post nice sentiments about our past 10 years, later, so get ready for that free entertainment!

Life with only one child!

Whew! What a week with Chad being gone and me hosting a party here at the house on Thursday night! (thanks to all who came to see my Just Ducky Originals clothes!) The kiddos got to spend the night with Grandma & Grandpa, which they just thought was a big treat, and I got to sleep in on Friday all the way til 8am!!! I then had to get up to go to a doctor's appointment for my fractured wrist, which is stilllllll fractured!

Friday afternoon, Poppy came to pick up Bee Dub, his 4 wheeler, & his bike, to goto the farm at Chad's Grandpa Davids! He was so excited to ride in the pick up with Poppy! He probably asked him a thousand questions! Dan said that he got some beef jerky & a slurpee, and later complained of his stomach hurting! (that will do it to a kid everytime!)

He had a great time, but sooooo did we! We love having Bee Dub around, but boy is there a difference with only having one kid, that we hadn't had time to appreciate when we did, only have one kid! Here is how our QUICK weekend went with one child!......

Friday night, Chad got in late, so us girls just enjoyed some time with Daddy before bedtime. Saturday am, Chad & Baryn slept in and then we went to IHOP! We were able to try a booster seat out instead of a high chair, since big brother wasn't wround to disturb her or teach her how not to sit properly (which he is real good at). Oh, then we went to the Bike store, to get ready for Chad's MS 150 bike ride next Saturday & Sunday. Then we went to get Chad some beach clothes & a swimsuit for our big trip in 3 weeks. Then we came home, and it was nap time! No complaining or whining from Baby Sister, what a relief! Chad rode his bike, and I went to work! Later, we cooked dinner and then took it easy! That went by too quick!

Sunday, we decided to goto church! Real enjoyable with only one squirmy wormy! We went to eat lunch, a trip to PetSmart & Wal-Mart which took us til almost 2pm. Nap time again, which we all enjoyed, and then back to reality when BeeDub arrived!

Although we missed him dearly, we realized how different life is with just one. How easily you forget after only 20 months!!! We didn't really have alot of time, as we were just as busy as usual, but it was just quieter time! Boy, are girls different...just so pleasant & not jumping off the walls! We were glad to have our Bee Dub home, though! And now, our week starts alllll over again! Enjoys yours as our is just as busy as the last!

A "10 minute" walk and Empty Promises!

Well, everyone has been telling me that it is time to update the blog! I hate to let you guys down without your weekly dose of entertainment from The Browns, so here goes....

Last week, we travelled to Plano to see Braden's 2 girlfriends.... Leila who is Chad's Baylor buddy's daughter (6 months younger than Bee Dub) and Ashley, my long time friend's daughter (10 months behind Braden). They each have a brother Holden & Landen who is in between Baryn & Braden. Braden hadn't seen them since our Big Labor Day Weekend events last year with Bee Dub's 5th birthday extravaganza and Baryn's Baptism (not so big of an ordeal)! Poor Baby Sister always get the shaft!

Well, we arrive to the Galleria to meet up with Ashley & Landen. We got to go to the American Girl Store (just adorable) and to Tommy Bahama for Chad to prepare for our upcoming trip! We then got to go play at the kiddie play area! We then headed to Plano to stay at Hotel Patel. The kids were all excited to see each other after 10 months. (we used to see them about twice a month when we lived in Houston) It was an interesting weekend of lots of loose terms being used and some empty promises, at no fault of the parents!

Friday, we got the kids all hyped up about going to Uncle So So & Holly's for Dinner, followed by a neighborhood "fair" or "carnival"? After dinner, we decided to take the "about a 10 minute" walk to the "fair" or "carnival" in "the neighborhood." Hmmm.... Well 40 minutes into the walk with 4 kids and 6 adults, one of which was in her, oh so stylish Brighton pumps, we saw a sea of people.... in lawn chairs....waiting for the apparant fireworks that would be set off 2 hours later. We kept walking and found a musical group playing a butchered version of the National Anthem, but NO STINKIN' FAIR! The kids were parched and tired and so were we. We couldn't even sit, because it was just grass & dirt, as we had our fashionable 4th of July clothes on (mine was WHITE). Chad walked another 10 minutes to get some water and when he returned, it was.....Let's go home! So, again.... a 40 minute walk, except this time, the kids are TIRED and want to be carried, so all the guys had a kiddo & Holly was so kind & carried Baby Sister! The poor kids were still asking "where is the fair?" We won't let Sohail live this one down for a while! Sohail is one of Chad's buddies, and one of our groomsmen. As you may recall, we went to their wedding last March in Hawaii so he has no kids, and apparantly no concept of distance or time! We still love him though!

Fast forward to Saturday! We set the schedule for the day with entertaining the kids. Except for the kids thinking that we were going to the water park (neighborhood water park) that we just couldn't fit into the schedule, everything else goes as planned, even the naptime (which was taken by all, and for a long 3 hours to recover from our "10 minute walk.") We told the kids that after nap time, we would get ready for our boat trip!! They were so excited! We had to drive for 50 minutes to Lake Ray Hubbard East of Dallas. We had to go in 3 cars, due to all the car seats! (Sohail & Holly came from their house, so took their own car, plus we are still holding a grudge at this point!) So, we get there and eat dinnerbefore our 7pm boat reservation, and then go to the dock about 3 minutes late..... and see the boat sailing off with a huge wedding party aboard! We are all a little confused? Adnan made reservations by email with the owner, the week prior, and got confirmation back & so he calls the owner, who is sailing the boat away! The guy said that he had a charter and wouldn't of made the reservation with Adnan. Bull! Adnan immediately emailed the guy the email from his new Handy Dandy Sprint iPhone wannabe!

So, needless to say, the kids were not happy & let down.....again! Hello? 3rd time in 24 hours. The Carnival, the water park and now this! So we took them for ice cream to try to heal all wounds! It truly, was only a 10 minute walk away!

We headed home, again with hopes demolished and at no fault of the parents. (except maybe the water park?) hmmmm.

Please take a look at the pictures & realize that the kids were not forced to put the smiles on, they were just happy to be together!