Family Reunion

If anyone still reads this blog - I'd like to get some ideas for the reunion rolling. I think we'll mainly just want to hike, 4-wheel, etc. But I do have a few other ideas floating around. Please comment if you like or hate them. Add ideas if you like. I'd love for the cousins and in-laws to hear some Brown family stories - so any ideas for sharing them would be great. Here are my first few ideas: 1. Have a playlist of songs with memories, sentimental value. Humorous included. My end of the list is sure to be different than Betsy's - and we'll need ideas in between. I'm thinking Dad's Grand Canyon Suite, Styx for me & Steve, some John favorites, Heartbreak Hotel for Mom, etc. etc. (Smurf song for Steve & Sara?) We are the champions for Dave?? Please send ideas - or suffer with mine! 2. "Newly"wed game - Answer questions about your spouse. Dad came up with a few great questions, like "What's your favorite game meat" and gun/truck related questions. I'll take suggestions for that - the funnier the better. 3. Bring your tech to swap songs, since we always end up doing that anyway. 4. Nature scavenger hunt for kids. (Nath/Cara - any other ideas for kids?) Can't wait to see everyone! Love, Lea

NEW & IMPROVED BETSY!

Family Reunion

As requested by Mom, here are the dates for The Big 50th Anniversary Family Reunion.

July 15-17, 2011

at Eagle's Nest Ranch on Grand Mesa.

Reservations have been made - we have the whole thing. There are something like 6 cabins plus a dormitory style room in the main lodge. See pictures below.

Mark your calendars! Attendance is mandatory (per Mom)! More details to come.

Boy in a Box

Visit our blog for the latest and greatest AJ photos. (Yes, I feel like I'm advertising our blog.)

Big Day for Drama Queen

Katie was Amelia Earhart for the 3rd Grade Living History Museum. She memorized a speech which she gave several times. Recognize the boots, Grandma and Grandpa?

A Sign of Spring!

Angela goes "dancing"

Here is Angela all dolled-up for her high school's semi-formal dance. She went with a bunch of friends and had a great time - but no dancing, she says. She's loving high school and is getting lots of As. We're proud of her.

Merry Christmas!

While enjoying the Christmas season, try to remember the true meaning of Christmas - that our Father in Heaven provided a Savior for us who suffered and died for our sins, ensuring that we could return to live with Him again. What greater gift could He have given us?

Merry Christmas, my wonderful family! I wish we could all be together. I love you!

BeBop

How Swine Flu Spreads

Thought this totally fit the Brown sense of humor. If you don't like this picture, Sara's new blog post is much cuter.

AJ is an internet star!

Ok, family.  Since we are now a family of three, we can be like all the other families we know and set up our own family blog!

Visit us at www.20andstatus.blogspot.com

Betsy - could you take off my old blog and add this new one instead? Thanks.

Love,

AJ's mom

AJ's photo shoot - 1 week old

Christmas

Hi Family!



Here's the list for Christmas. One of those weird years where everyone give to the person giving to them.



P.S. - Dad says we need to blog more. He was rather vehement.

Lea - Sam

Steve - Sara

Dave - Betsy

Sam - Lea

Sara - Steve

Betsy - Dave

Andre John Andrews

Who's Fault?

This belly......

(33 weeks)

Is this man's fault.

But I love him anyway!

(36 weeks)

28 week baby bump

This is for Betsy, who asked for it. I don't really like the shirt I'm wearing in this photo. I'll have to take another picture in a cuter outfit. That way you can compare the belly, because it's bigger now.

Granada

I have 300+ photos I've been sorting through, bit by bit. Here are some of Granada.

Sam and Family in Boise

On Uncle Gary's back porch.

Searcy Doings

While writing a note to Nath, I gave her a family update. Decided to post for everyone - since I'm too lazy to blog! Here goes:

We are doing well, but crazy busy. We finally finshed the addition to the house - it turned out great. A couple weeks ago Mike had us hauling brick across our SOAKING wet lawn (HARD work)! Then we pulled the liner out of the pool, power-washed and painted with epoxy ship paint. We used mortar to patch the pool concrete - twice because it rained once. I was so exhausted that week that I was relieved when he left the country for a week. Then I tended the pool liner guys (careless) and the brick layers (true artistic craftsmen) while he was gone. This week we cleaned up after all of them, mowed, put in landscaping around the addition and planted the garden and annuals - WHEW!

The kids are doing well. Angela is wrapping up homeschool a little early except for American History - we'll be doing the civil war over the summer. She's all registered for High School next year - and we're both a little nervous about that, I think. We're forever trying to manage her head of hair! We found her an excellent piano teacher and she is really progressing. Piano is great for a teenage girl. Angela takes care of her horse and our 15 chickens.

Keith is getting ready to start Jr. High. We went to band night there (he chose the trombone) and it was all I could do not to yank him out of the building for good! I think he'll hold his own, though. I'm hoping he will be in the honors program. He's running cross country with the elementary team for a few weeks. It's non-competitive (yea, right, with Keith) and has optional practices - just my style. I'm hoping to put everyone in tennis lessons this summer. Keith will have piano lessons from Angie's teacher this summer to see if we can get him motivated. He is loving Boy Scouts - going camping overnight this weekend. He's also going on an overnight field trip to Chicago this month. Mike's going with him.

Katie is a very bubbly 2nd grader. She does extremely well in school. Wish I knew her teacher's trick for getting her to hold still and pay attention. She's bouncing with joy over warm weather - she loves the outdoors and is a great garden helper. I am still teaching her piano and she is doing very well. Katie handles all the eggs. Sometimes she gets to sell them and she labels all the cartons "Searcy Fresh" (her brand creation) and decorates and delivers them.

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Forty!!!

Taken at Nath's birthday party.

The results are in....

It's a BOY!