Merry Christmas from THE BROWNS!

Merry Christmas to Everyone in Blog World! We wish you a Present filled Christmas Morning with GREAT Anticipation of the "Best presents Ever!!" & a few "What is it?"s!!!

Chad, Darby, Braden & Baryn

More Photos of the Kids!

Well we survived another week! We had Braden's Preschool Program on Thursday, and a Wedding on Friday! Braden left on Saturday with Dan & Sylvia to go to Beaumont to take Christmas Gifts to the Cousins!! I wish I could say it has been a quiet weekend, but we have been so busy, and Baryn has been even busier!!

This is Bee Dub & cousin Janie cleaning up after the wedding!
Quick photos before the wedding!

Cute photos of the kids playing in the bathtub! Look at the skin tone difference!?

Preschool Program Family Photo!

Bah Humbug!

Well, I am writing to update everyone that is "concerned" about me since I haven't updated in quite a while! It has been totally crazy around here since we returned from Colorado!

While I was writing the last update from Colorado, I was bragging on how much money we saved by me not skiing, and we did.....until Chad's expensive rental skis got stolen and we owed them all the money I was saving us!! This put a damper on Thanksgiving, but in perspective, it could of been worse, ie kids, cars or our wallets.

We got back in time to spend a day and a half with Bart, Jeannine and the kiddos! Baryn and Bee Dub had a blast with all the attention! Braden is anxious to go see them with Sylvia & Dan next weekend to take our gifts!

Then, Monday started crazyness (which is totally normal) with preparations for Chad's company party in Midland. Since Chad IS the Midland office, he got to do all the prep work, with MY help! The party was a success and his bosses were quite impressed! We each had lots of appointments that week as well with personal stuff, a party on Friday night, Breakfast with Santa at the Doss' and then a dinner party at our house Saturday night. We needed this party after the week our friends had. We had 3 people lose their grandmother/ great aunt that week and 2 of them that were at our party had the funeral that day. So the party was a necessity!

The next week, we awoke to our neighbor coming over at 7:30, to say that their car had been ransacked and robbed. I went to go look at mine, and YEP, robbed, but only of cash is what it looks like so far. I can't beleive it! Tuesday, one of my customers said her car had been robbed as well.

Monday, I had an MRI where I have never been so still for 30 minutes! whooo! I am looking at having surgery before Christmas on my wrist. I go to schedule it this week.

Wednesday, I received 3 calls back to back while getting my hair shampooed and unable to get to the phone. I called the last person, which was Vickie. She said that there was a house either on Haynes or on Dawn that was engulfed in flames. Since our WHOLE family lives on this block, I was a wreck until I could get ahold of my mom, who didn't answer the phone (which made it WORSE) I called her cell, and she immediately said it was my lifelong neighbor caddy corner to mom & dad and 3 doors down from Sylvia & us. So scary when mom said that the whole house was already in flames and the fire trucks were getting there! OMG, I have never seen anything like this! It took 3 cops for me to get past to get into the neighborhood. Mom & Dad had their granddaughter and so she & Baryn played played played! Baryn had a blast! The air outside was awful and I wreeked of smoke. I tried to do what I could, but it was just devastating.

This makes us so appreciative of everyday with our kids and our items that we cherish!

Thursday we flew to Houston. Chad at 5am, me at 5pm! we had dinner with the kiddos' Godparents and their kids and then called it a night! Chad had meetings all day Friday & I had lunch and shopping time with one of my old work buddies! Then off to the KR Houston Christmas Party (the whole reason for going!) Saturday, we shopped a little, ate at PF Chang's, flew home, picked up the kids at each granparents house and then off to a family Christmas Party where Santa made an appearance. Baryn took one look and backed it up, to another room! I made sure to get the screaming photo, which is a must!!

Today, after church, the country club, and a nap, we went to a fellow classmate of Braden's Christmas Party, a quick trip to Sam's and then to Hannah's 1st birthday party!

WHEW! now do you understand why it is so hard to update?

We have a bad taste in our mouths with all the negative things going on around us, to us, and to our friends, so it is really hard to get into the Christmas spirit. We are trying so hard, but there is something in the air. I think that this might be our last Christmas to experience since next year, the president is making it mandatory that we celebrate Kwanza! (just checking to see if you were really reading all the way to the end!!

Hopefully I will get out of this Bah Humbug attitude!

Where's the Snow?

Hello from Colorado! While Chad & Braden are out skiing, and Baryn & I are here at the condo, I thought I would avoid the work I brought with me to do & catch everyone up on our trip! We left on Saturday & headed into Colorado & stayed the night in Pueblo. We continued on to Breckenridge and took a side trip to the Royal Gorge in Canon City. This is a really neat place to view the river and the mountains!

We started out by taking the incline elevator down the mountain. We stood in the blue compartments and it took us down the mountain. I have never seen such a thing! It was neat!

It took us down to the river, and then we went back up!

Where we went shopping for some souvenirs, but we found some funny hats!

Then we took the Gondola from one side to the other & then back again! The kids weren't even scared!

We then made it to the Condo, and went to go check out the mountain which is across the way from the Condo. The spout behind the kids is the man made snow shooting out! We don't arrive to much snow! (nor has there been any snow all week!)

This is the boys playing on our patio when we arrived!

Then we crashed for the evening in front of the light switched fire place.

The kids cuddled and wound down before being put in their own quarters!

Monday, we went on the Gondola to the top of the mountain to enroll in ski school & Snow Angels Daycare!

Braden got all fitted up! He was so excited!

Then after a 7 hour class, he showed us what he could do! We were so excited for him & he was so proud!

He did collapse, but still with a smile!

Posing with Baby Sister!

Ready to do it again!

Baryn was wiped out on Tuesday while we waited for Daddy & Bubba from a day on the slopes!

She loved the taste of the snow!

Then we were back down again to get back to the Condo! (notice the ground has NO snow)

Then we went out for Sushi, and came home again to a warm fireplace & a little time in the jacuzzi!

Just wanted to share our trip so far! We are having a blast and hope for snow tomorrow! We leave on Friday for our long trip all the way home!

And for those of you who noticed that I wasn't on skis in any of these photos, My husband took me on a Blue on Monday & ruined me, since I haven't skied in 4 years, so I gave up! It saves us quite a bit of money, as I turned in my skis, got a refund on my prepaid lift ticket, & cancelled Baryn's Daycare reservations for Tuesday & Wednesday! I think I should go shopping instead! I am to sore to even think about that! We all four have spent every night in the hot tub that is on our back patio! It is so nice to sit in there every night, but I am still so very sore!!

Pink! Pink! Pink! & a couple of non-compliers!

Well, Today was the big day for Baryn! Her 2nd Birthday party was fabulous!! We had all of our great friends & their great kids!! We had a pink poodle theme, which was less about the poodle, but more about the PINK!!!! Mostly everyone wore pink, and some improvised, & some just flat out, don't like pink!! take a look at all of the happenings!

I made a pink cupcake tower with mom & dad's help! They turned out adorable!

Baryn is a munchin' on some Chick fil A! It is a Brown Party staple!

Some of the party goers, Baby June, Hudson, Brody & Owen with Baryn!


These 2 get the #1 & #2 fan award of Baryn! Brody & Owen wore these cute shirts that Janai made, since she didn't have pink in the boys' closet! They say, "I love Baryn" & "I love Baryn too"! It brought a tear to my eye, as I was so touched!



Here is the crowd sitting watching Greenie the Clown! Everyone loved her and her skit!

Baryn got to be front & center with Greenie! Daddy stood close for comfort!

My decor in the kitchen before the food got there!

And the dining room with the cupcakes!

Family Photo!

She did really good trying to blow out the candles! It was fun!

Num, Num! A pretty cupcake!

Baryn & Greenie the Clown!

Janai & the boys!

Implosion!

This morning, while I was decorating cupcakes, Chad woke Bee Dub up real early & went to watcha 7:30 implosion of this old bank building in downtown Midland. There was a large explosion that scared Bee Dub! It was monumental with this old building going down & apparantly the place to be at 7:30am!

My son is a Saint!

The title is a little misleading! My son tries so hard to be a saint, but at School you get an opportunity to be in the Saints of God Program which is really special for every kindergartner! This year, Braden was chosen to be St. Nicklaus, and he had to memorize a line and then speak into a microphone for all of Chapel to hear! He did great, & I was busy balling!! He never ceases to amaze me! I love the little booger, even when he is not a saint!

I love my friends!

I love my friends, especially when it is girls night out!

These are some of my closest friends & they all mean so much to me! In order of the photo & not the amount of love I feel for them, is Jennifer Yeager- who I bonded with after she had her Baby girl, Hannah who is just too, too cute! Janai Rogers- she used to work with me, and decided having twins was more fun. I love to check in with her daily & get my daily laugh!! Next is Laura Locker! Laura, Laura, Laura!!! What am I to do with you? I love the fact that I knew of you in high school and that we have had our time to bond in the past 3 years! You sure do make me laugh through your mommysodes of having 3 miracle babies under 3! whoo! Mauri Scharbauer- You are just too sweet, and I love your candidness! I am so glad that you came up with the idea of Wall Street for our girls night out, since I was the one making all the plans for you for Party Club With No Name, while you were busy having a baby! Vicki Doss- OMG, where do I start? I love how our friendship is all connected, through Betsy, League & Jennifer & high school! I love that your daughter & son have helped me relive my kids through clothes, & I love what an awesome friend you are! I will always have a place for you in my heart! Katherine Johnson, my long lost friend in Denver! I miss you dearly but love the time we had to get to know each other, even though I felt like I knew you from when Hunter & I were an item! I love our history, but I want more! I am so excited that baby Jack is on his way & I can't wait to meet him! I am glad you were in town to get to have time with us!!

My girls are special, not only because of who they are, but because they can handle me & my tirades & my challenges! thanks for everything!

Count Down to Christmas Begins!

Halloween has come and gone, and now we are ready for the bigger holidays!!!

Our festivities started with Baryn walking the Catwalk at her school Pumpkin Parade!

Friday we got our night started while Chad was in flight from Houston! Somebody has to work to pay for these cute costumes!!!

This is the pumpkin that Chad & Bee Dub made on Wednesday!


We got a picture in with Braxton's tree, which is growing so fast!


We made a quick stop over at Wyatt & June's, per Braden's request, and Baryn felt a little threatened by June eyeing the candy filled Elmo!!

Group photo minus little Wyatt!

Then we tried to go to Truunk or Treat, but the rest of Midland was there, so we ended up at the mall where we all walked the mall for candy hand outs! Daddy caught up with us at this point, so now we were a group of 6!

We took a train ride at the mall!

Did some more trick or treating in the neighborhood and then called it a night! What an evening! I was so pooped, I couldn't even think about my blog! Sorry Nai & Vickie!