Our door is always open

It has to be.

It broke.

WELCOME!!!

So I'm private now ...

...and...

it feels exactly the same

except now I know I have

29 friends

who happen to care

to read the ...

...stuff...

I post on my blog.

So to welcome you

to this new phase of my personal blogging,

to make you feel special,

I've decided to offer you a particularly tasty tidbit of my daily life.



(over heard in the backseat of the truck on the way to grandma's house.)

Parker: "I'm not afraid of anything!"
Sydney: "Well what if a lion came running at you."
Parker: "I'd pick up a stick and throw it at him."
Sydney: "What if there weren't any sticks."
Parker: "Then I'd gas on him."





Your welcome.

How do you feel about that?

HAPPY or SAD?

Achievement Awards

Earlier this week for Family Home Evening, we decided to present the children with Achievement Awards for things they had accomplished this summer. Ster came up with the idea and handed the actual 'doing' of it over to me. So I put my creative juices to work and came up with certificates and a simple award that tied into their achievement.

Sydney's achievement: reading lots of books and meeting her reading goals. The book worm award, complete with gummy worms.

Parker's achievement: a great T-ball player with extraordinary sportsmanship. His award: baseball stickers

Camille's achievement: creating beautiful artistic pictures, with whatever medium she was given, including her award of a new set of paints.

Rachel's achievement: the loudest screech ever! She received a candy pacifier, or plug, if you will.

Karin: a beautiful front flower garden (flower barrett)
Ster: masterful work in the basement (more nails)

This was sooooo fun to do. We had them come up in front of everyone and stand on a chair. We clapped and whistled while they blushed. Then they were able to say a few words, if they wanted.

I think this may be a tradition to keep. The Annual Brown Achievement Awards Night/Dinner/Banquet/Gala. (Still working on a proper title).

What were your summer achievements?

Survivor show for Dads

I caught this talk by Elder Ballard on TV the other day, during lunch. Its titled "Here Am I, Send Me" and was given first, as a devotional at BYU and later, as a talk at Women's Conference in 2001.

I tuned in just as he was explaining his concept of a "Survivor" for Dads. It is so funny. I really, really enjoyed this talk. The whole thing. I couldn't turn it off.

So if you have 40 minutes, watch the whole thing. It really is great.

If you only have a couple of minutes, watch this segment.

5:30-7:50

Here's the link.

And here's the transcript of the funny part BUT it really is better when you listen to and watch it!

The plan is that "six men will be dropped on
an island with one van and four children, and they'll be on the island for six
weeks. Each child plays two sports and either takes music or dance lessons.
There is no access to fast food.

"Each man must take care of his four children, keep his assigned house
clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, etc.

"The men only have access to television when the children are asleep and
all chores are done; there is only one TV between them, and there is no remote.

"The men must put on makeup daily, applying it themselves either while
driving or while making four lunches. They must attend weekly PTA meetings;
clean up after their sick children at 3:00 a.m.; make an Indian hut model with
six toothpicks, a tortilla, and one marker; and get a four-year-old to eat a
serving of peas.

"The children vote them off the island based on performance. The winner is
the first one off who gets to go back to his work."

From one bishop's wife to another...

I really really enjoyed this newspaper column this morning.

Its kind of about being a bishop's wife.

But I think it really applies to all of us.

And simply I just think its a funny commentary on the LDS culture we live in.

ENJOY!

p.s. I'm still going private in a week or so, so contact me, will ya?
sk_brown (at) juno (dot) com

the time has come

I'm going private. Don't take it personally. I just think it is time.

But I don't want to lose any friends over this,

seriously.

So please-

pleeeeaaaase

send me your email address

family and friends alike

and we can still dig into each others lives

see cute pictures

enjoy mothering moments

gleen insights

and share ourselves with each other.

Email to me, your email address, to my email address, which is:

sk_brown (at) juno (dot) com

Please don't be shy

I'm not trying to exclude or be rude

I'm just trying to practice a little extra caution

That being said . . .

. . . .

. . . the clock is ticking

and the time has come.

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy....

I received this DVD at a bridal shower. Was it a joke or a warning? (So I Married An Axe Murderer)

10 YEARS! We'll be spending it at girl's camp for testimony meeting. What could be more romantic than spending an evening with a bunch of hyped up teenage girls and their leaders? Coming home smelling like campfire. Talk about pheromones...

I really wanted to post some old pictures and take you on a trip through our early years. But alas, they are in storage in the garage whilst we finish the basement. And I would use the gift of words to recreate moments in time but I've a lot to do today, to get ready for girls camp. Maybe later.

But for now, happy happy happy happy happy anniversary to us! {love you, hon}

Produce

I've pulled some gorgeous things out of my garden this summer. Beets, lettuce, peas...

Gorgeous until July, that is, and then I got sick and left my garden unattended for about a month. Then everything went to pot and my motivation to do much with what is left is completely gone.

But the tomatoes and bell peppers are coming on and the future looks bright. I'm thinking fresh salsa!!!

Here's what's left of the corn, after the grasshoppers have made their home there. Every time I walk by the rows of corn, I hear grasshoppers hopping back and forth between the stalks, eating to their hearts content. None of my corn have tassels anymore. We try to harvest what looks the least touched but at this point...

...and don't get me started on the squash. I LOVE zucchini but the squash bugs get them every year! I'm so sad. And this is just the grossest picture EVER! A gajillion squash bugs carpeting the stem and fat grasshoppers ready to pig out!

GET THEE HENCE!!! LEAVE MY SQUASH ALONE. I will come for you, squash bugs. One day, I will find your weakness and I will exploit it and take advantage of it and drive you out of my garden. Be forewarned. I am after you...

...next year, that is. Next year - watch out!

And here are my green onions, which I love! and they've been mowed down by grasshoppers. Grrr. So sad.

So here's to saving the peppers and tomatoes and lots of salsa and guacamole! Mmmm!

BYOB (bring your own bag {of chips})

Tearing down walls

Construction has begun on our basement. Pipes have been moved, new concrete laid, walls are up, bathtub is in, pocket doors have been hung. Progress is being made. The latest is removing the wall and door around the stairwell.
Parker's first experience with power tools. He is removing the screws so Sterling can take the wall out.

Sterling - looking at his mess.

A job well done.

Carter Creek - beaver dams

BEAVER DAMS

There is a trail from camp that leads to beaver dams. It has always been a tradition to hike that trail, at least once, during our stay. This year we did it the morning we were checking out. I wasn't in a 'picture-taking' mood, because I knew as soon as the hike was over, I needed to get the cabin cleaned, top to bottom, before we could check out. But as soon as we were on our way, I was happy to be hiking.

The first dam we came to, the one we had always stopped to admire, had been drained. Natural or man-caused, we have no idea. But it was very interesting to see what it looks like underwater, with all the water drained. Can you see the entrances into the dam?


Sterling assured us that there was another dam, just a little further up the unkept trail. (This first dam is where the maintained trail turns and heads back to camp.) And we could see the hint of a dam in the distance. So we followed, through mud and more more, pushing branches aside, and we were not disappointed.

And this is the only picture I took of the dam. My husband dipping my son's head in the water. Nice. It was an extensive dam and very impressive. I hope this one lasts.
My mom is a trooper, making that hike, through the mud and more mud, climbing over fallen trunks. We're sure glad she came!

THE END

And that is the end of my Carter Creek 2009 report, unless I decide to do a video montage. I'm still looking for a good song. Any ideas?

I think this is the 4th or 5th year we've been to Carter Creek with mom and dad. As always, family members are always welcome next year. It is really beautiful and a lot of fun and it was just as hard to come home this year as it has been in years past. So consider it...next year...Carter Creek 2010...anyone?

Carter Creek - Lily Lake

LILY LAKE

The children were hesitant to go to Lily Lake because they heard that the road was bumpy. Lyman Lake was a 40-45 minutes BUMPY ride and we were all frazzled by the end of that. (Except Rachel, who slept through it). So we were not excited about another rock filled road. And the Lily Lake rocks promised to be even bigger! But we strong-armed the kids and packed them in the truck. We were going to go to Lily Lake, darn it!, and we were going to have a great time, so help me!

There was a little grumbling in the beginning, but soon enough we were having fun, talking about how pitifully small these rocks were and how it felt like we were driving on clouds. (insert sarcasm. We'll show those rocks we're not afraid of them!) And the drive only took about 8 1/2 minutes. We can handle that. (Especially Rachel, who slept through it).
See the lilies in the background? Soon enough the shoes came off and the pants got hiked up to the ... as far as they could go.

Hey! It feels like I'm missing something.
Bad hair day. (It was the bumpy road's fault).

Rachel didn't want to be left out of getting ready to go. She put her socks on all by herself, just like everyone else. She really holds her own with these older kids and is watching them all the time. Its amazing how much a 21 month old can glean from older siblings. A little scary but most times just adorable.

Environmental note: Did you know they estimate the Uintas are 60% dead? Much of it is from disease that spreads like crazy because of over-crowding, which makes the forrest extremely succeptible to more disease and forrest fires. As I gazed upon this magnificent forrest, I couldn't help but contemplate the purpose of being a steward on this planet and taking care of our natural resources. Do we wait for nature to start the forrest anew and rebuild itself after disease and forrest fire OR do we care for the forrest by thinning it out and using man-made resources to renew our natural resources? Hmmm....still thinking.

Carter Creek - Camp Park

SWINGING AT THE PARK

This is Camille swinging.

This is Camille swinging with her legs crossed.

This is Camille swinging a little too high.

This is Rachel eating breakfast like a big girl.

Carter Creek - Lyman Lake

Our first fishing stop was at Little Lyman Lake. And boy, were we productive. Well, the children were anyway.

Sydney caught the first fish. No surprise there, she usually is the first. But I wasn't fast enough with the camera, so I don't have a picture of it.

And my goodness, isn't she BEAUTIFUL!

Parker caught 2 fish.
Camille caught 1 fish. Her first fish. (hand over heart, wipe a tear)

Sterling caught a fish too, bless his little heart. It was too small so we released it but I don't think it made it. It tried to swim but kept head-planting into the dirt.

Combined with the 2 fish Dad caught earlier that morning, we had plenty for a very tasty dinner. Very tasty indeed.

WILDLIFE WATCH:

Sheep, grazing, in the meadow, lots of them

A deer, resting, in the shade, just one of them

Carter Creek - Puppy Love

Aunt Nancy and Uncle Paul camped with us for a few days. Much to my childrens' delight, they brought their dogs with them. The kids couldn't have been more excited. They would get the dogs on their leashes, with poop-baggies in hand, and we wouldn't see them for ... a while. And I have to admit, they are cute dogs.

May I introduce:

BUDDY

Buddy wants a kiss!

Rachel, leaning in for a big, wet, slobbery smooch.

The reaction:

And this is:

BUSTER

In a high pitched, sing-songy, baby voice, while hugging and smothering Buster, "Hey buster. Oooo you cute little thing. I'm gonna just love you and love you, yes I am. Cute little doggie, you. OOOoooo just love you." That would be me. He is such a cute dog. Rachel says, "gog, gog. gog, gog."

Sydney: "Don't I look good with a dog? Its just perfect. A perfect match. I need a dog. I belong with a dog. A dog belongs with me."
"Pleeeeeease? Puh...lease? Mom, seriously. Please, just think about it. Isn't he cute. Please."

Mom's response: "Let me potty-train one more child, finish our basement, and put a fence around the yard. Oh yeah, and finally paint the walls after 6 1/2 years. Then I might think about thinking about considering it. Love ya, Syd."

stomp stomp stomp, slam