Christmas Fun....

We've already enjoyed several of our holiday traditions. The kids decorated the tree - usually I have to admit that I am a bit controlling when it comes to decorating the tree - but this year - I was worn out & just let the kids have at it. They did a great job! Kenzie was a bit sleepy (aka - grouchy) so she decided to take a nap mid tree-decorating. We took a picture of her - which I'm sure she will love when she's older - but it was cute that she was using Cosmo as a pillow :)

We lit our first fire in the fireplace - so nice & cozy!

The kids built / decorated a gingerbread house. Unfortunately it doesn't quite look like this anymore - evidentially I don't feed my children enough - since now majority of the candy has "mysteriously" disappeared off the gingerbread house - buy they did have a great time putting it together (and eating the candy througout the week)!

We went on our first walk around Naples this season with Andy & Allison. It was such a pretty night - not too cold and it was so quiet! The homes weren't all decorated yet - but it was so nice to enjoy the walk. We of course brought the dogs - poor Cosmo didn't make the family picture.

Ok - I aplogize in advance - I am totally going to be one of those people who post about their animals - Morely's just so cute - I just can't resist!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope you & your family are enjoying your holiday traditions!

Dillons Beach

Over Thanksgiving break, we joined my sister and her family at Dillons Beach in Northern CA. My sister’s family has been going to this spot for years – it’s such a great location! The campground is on a grass field which backs up to sand dunes – climb over the dunes & you’re on the beach! The area was surrounded by quaint towns and rolling green hills. It was so pretty!

I’m not much of a camper – which worked out well since my sister and the other families we stayed with had campers :) Blake & Mackenzie loved running around the campground and exploring the beach. The kids walked down to a local dock to go crabbing – without success – but a ton of fun!

We drove through a town called Petaluma on the way home – the trees were absolutely gorgeous! It was so nice to be able enjoy the fall colors again. It looked like a pretty cool town – tons of old buildings - but with an artsy feel. I’d like to go spend a weekend taking pictures – especially since all of my pictures were literally taken out of a moving car on our way home!

For Thanksgiving the guys deep fried (2) turkeys. We ate so much on this trip that I think I’ll have to go on a diet until Christmas! Thank you Highbaugh family for a fun & relaxing time!

Above - view of our campsite from the dunes

Below - view from the dunes


My sister's neighbors also came along for the trip, they have (2) pugs. We already knew that Cosmo was "big boned" - but next to these pugs he looked ridiculous! Diet dog food for Cosmo!

I wish I could have taken a better picture - but this was with my phone while the car was moving - it was just so pretty!

Bodega Bay was about 10 minutes away from our site, so we drove over there to enjoy some delicious clam chowder & crab cakes. The kids were excited to see seals off of the pier. Both kids love the movie "The Birds" so they were excited to see where it was filmed.

Mackenzie really enjoyed hanging out with her cousin Megan.

Blake, Megan & Mackenzie at the dock

view from the crabbing dock

This is pretty much what Cosmo did all week long.

It was nice and chilly in the evening - which was a wonderful change from our warm weather! We all bundled up & enjoyed the campfire every evening.

The Brown & Highbaugh Families

another picture from our car - but I had to include a picture of the trees!

Goal!

I was so excited that this was caught on video. Since both kids have had multiple games at the same time, Jake & I often had to split our time and he would go to Blake's game & would go to Kenzie's game & vice versa. Well Blake has scored on multiple occassions - usually when I am not there (of course). So I was very excited to be there for this one! Hopefully it works!

This Weekend

We had a fun filled weekend!

On Friday, Joanne & Allison threw me a 30th birthday party. I had such a great time! Most of the pictures are on Joanne’s camera – but here are a few from the evening. Mark & Joanne printed out all of the pictures and gave me a photo album which everyone who came to the party signed. Such a great idea & a wonderful keepsake! Thanks girls!!

Mackenzie watched Olivia the entire evening - but as you can see they both were worn out by the end of the evening!

On Saturday we ran around to our various soccer games – only one more game left! Both Jake & I are bummed out – we’ve had so much fun watching the kids. We hope that they will both play soccer in the spring as well. We also had a fun evening with the LeMonniers - Blake & Mackenzie always have such a fun time with their kids!

On Sunday we caught up on some much needed rest and then took the family to Mary Poppins on Broadway!!! This was Blake & Mackenzie’s first Broadway experience. Mackenzie LOVED it – Blake enjoyed it – but it didn’t quite keep his attention throughout the entire play. Jake & I had such a wonderful time. It’s always a sign of a good play – when it brings tears to my eyes during the final curtain applause. Yes I am nerd – but I love it! Great play – highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it. One special treat that we weren’t expected is that Dick Van Dyke was there! It was neat to see him walk in on the red carpet & then he said a few words after the completion of the play. One funny thing – from watching his movies – he always looked tall & gangly – he wasn’t tall at all! Anyways – it was a wonderful weekend spent with our friends & family!

Kendyl

Just wanted to post a prayer request for friends of ours. Their precious 2 year old daughter, Kendyl, was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. She begins her treatment today. Please lift up her parents, Kevin & Renee - pray for strength, relief of anxieties and peace of mind. Please also pray for healing and comfort for Kendyl. Every prayer matters, so please pray for their family.

For updates check their site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kendylprice

Romans 12:10-12
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;

give preference to one another in honor;
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer"

It's On!!

Yes I know - it is only November and yes I am one of those annoying people who hums Christmas carols down the aisles in Target while looking at all of the glorious decorations. I have to admit - the Brown house is decorated and ready and has been since November 1st! Bring it on! We are so excited for Christmas! November 1st is a very special day at the Browns - Halloween is over & it's time to start Christmas! Normally I don't enjoy waking up to Blake & Mackenzie arguing - but this was an exception - I heard Blake say "We are watching Elf first" and Mackenzie argue back "No we are watching Meet Me in Saint Louis". I LOVE IT! It puts a smile on my face - no not that my children are arguing - but Christmas time is here! It's not that Jake & I don't enjoy Thanksgiving - but we just enjoy Christmas so much that one month simply is not enough time to celebrate properly! So in Brown tradition - we had Ryan, Andy & Allison over on the 1st to watch Home Alone & eat pizza. Wonderful! We have probably watched about 5 other Christmas movies since and I must admit that I had some Christmas music playing last night - and I honestly could not have been happier!!

I've included some pictures of the house so far - as well as my lovely Christmas Advent Calendar. Last year I had the brilliant idea (yes I have used a bit of sarcasm) to get crafty and create my own advent calendar. Do I normally sew? No. Do I own a pair of fabric scissors? No. But why should that stop me! I started the project in November - sorry to say 2008. I got a little overwhelmed and realized that I could not possibly finish before Christmas, so I packed my half finished project away. I must admit, I have been dreading breaking out the advent calendar, all of the fun creative work of making each square pocket is done - now all that is left is the tedious work - but I MUST finish it by December 1st! So I have been working away - hoping to finish before Thanksgiving! I'll post more pictures once I've finished. Now just a LOT of sewing BY HAND to go - wish me luck!

If you're wondering what flip flops & flamingos could possibly have to do with Christmas - I decided to make this calendar very much a Brown family calendar - the flip flops represent our time in California & the flamingos the time we spent in Florida. We also have a snowflake square for our Maryland memories :)

Had to have a Cosmo square

The Dickens' Christmas village........for those of you who never visited my parent's house at Christmas - well you really missed out. My dad was crazy about Christmas. He would decorate the house to the point that every surface was covered with Christmas decorations. I honestly have never come across anyone who had so many decorations. This year my mom passed along the Dickens' village to us and we are thrilled to carry on my dad's decorating traditions - fake snow & all!

homemade Christmas pillows - this is why I LOVE our white couch- easy to change up the feel of the room - just by switching out the pillows!

I hesitated even putting this picture up - if you notice the picture in the center of the mantle - yes that is Jake & I - in Christmas pajamas. I think we both around 17 years old. Have I mentioned that my dad was a Christmas nut - well one of our family traditions was to take pictures every year in our Christmas PJs - Jake joined in on this one with our family.

The Leg Lamp - in all it's glory!


I hope to have many more Christmas posts.....but until then......

Merry Christmas!!

Beach Picture

Our friend Melissa took another great picture of our kids. (click on the picture to see it more clearly). Check out her website at http://www.brandmanphoto.com/. Thanks again Melissa!!