Go BYU!

I cringed the first few times my kids said "GOOOOO BYU!" Growing up, we always routed for a team that wasn't BYU...never thought I would live here.

But it's so fun to live so close to BYU and the kids love having a "home" team. 

My little BYU fans.  Love em! and growing to like BYU too! :)

Summer's almost here...we can feel it!

Porter graduates from Preschool

I can't believe I have a kindergartener!  Porter graduated from preschool and the program was so cute!  He knew all of the songs (so do we...we've been hearing them at home a lot) and he sang REALLY loud for the program!  He was so fun to watch.  Once he saw me in the crowd he kept looking over and singing right to me!!

oh my!  This is awesome to have!  Thanks so much to Miss Tiffany, his teacher, for putting this together!  Love to hear his answers.  At least he loves me....now my age and such I can live with!

P.S. The kid won't touch Broccoli...don't know what he is talking about :)

Baseball....baseball...and more baseball!

I am sure this will be the first of MANY baseball posts!  We have 7 games this week alone between the 2 older boys...

Quincy is BEYOND thrilled to start his coach pitch season.  He is a PIRATE this year.  Allen is helping coach which is super exciting too!  Quincy is quite the ball player.

This is Quincy with his classmate and his teacher Miss Ostler.  She totally made Q's day by coming to his game.  She went the extra mile and Quincy is so sad she won't be his teacher next year (yes, tears have been shed) She has been so good for Quincy.  He has loved her "clip chart" to help motivate the kids to be good.  We have a notebook, of course, collecting all of Quincy's notes from Miss Ostler.

Miles has been playing for awhile now.  He is still playing with the Utah County Warriors.  

I will get some better pictures soon, but we had to post this series.  They played a team a year older...actually 2 years older than Miles because he plays a year older division....

Check out that first baseman...Miles is No. 5 in Orange....

 Couldn't see the size difference...

there you go...

Bigger doesn't mean better Miles.  You are awesome!!!

And our constant Cheer baseball player.  You can't sign up for baseball till you are in Kindergarten.  This poor boy can't officially play Tball till nxt year...

when really he is ready for coach pitch NOW!!!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

wait a minute....Ball GAMES....

my bad!

Ella Videos

I hope these videos will work...

(i've tried condensing them etc...and always have a hard time getting videos to blogger...anyone have suggestions, please leave a comment!)

Videos of Ella for the grandparents...

I watch this video, and I don't know what Miles ever did without siblings to entertain him.  Miles doesn't usually bathe with Ella but was dying to get in the big tub with her...and there is a very short window where that seems possible so...

She loved it...

Ella's "uh oh" word!

Are we ready for summer?

May is such a crazy time of year.  There are so many end of the year happenings...

wanted to show a few of my favorites...

there might be a part 2 of this end of year excitement!

yeah, they are ready for summer!

Lest we forget what Quincy loves to wear to school in 1st grade:

(he is very concerned that no one in his class knows a lot about sports.  I tell him that it's still ok to like things even when others know nothing about it!  What 1st grader knows Ryan Howard's stats?  Quincy does!)

Miles ran in the Hershey track meet:

(He LOVED his mom's enthusiastic yelling cheering him on)

We have had lots of rain...Porter loved it!

probably because he is the only one in the family with rain boots!!

Ella continues to get bigger...darnit!

Moo Baa La La La is her favorite book!

Quincy had his end of the year program...

Love this boy!  Can't believe how big he is getting.

Got him Phillies colored flowers and baseball gum attached!

She sees Quincy!

He is getting so old! 

Miss Ostler and Quincy.  He came home crying a couple of days ago and said that Miss Ostler is moving schools...Miss Ostler, be ready...Q is going to ask you to be his pen pal!!

We took the kids to the Provo City Center Temple site to see the temple on "stilts".  It is such an amazing site to see.  To think Miles performed in the tabernacle a week before it burned.  and now it's going to be a temple....so awesome!

It was really hot that day...had to put in here the quote of the day (by Porter)  Not quite sure where he learned his exaggeration technique...haha

"I'm dying to death!!"

Happy HOT weather...

We hope none of you "dye to death" this summer from the heat!

Quincy's Recital

Boy am I proud of Quincy.  He has been taking music/piano lessons this year and he is getting really good.  He will practice over and over again until it's perfect.  This year he made up his own song called "Batter Batter Up"!

which is appropriate because we hustled from practice to the recital...

here he is changing in the car!

Breathlessly awaiting his performance...

Ladies man....haha!  He was only nervous about introducing the piece.

 He got a nice copy of his song and a trophy...

he was thrilled of course.

And here it is...

Batter Batter Up!

Ella turns 1

Ella is 1!!! 

What a joy Ella has been to our family.  Everyone adores her and she loves attention from her brothers too!  Ella is starting to act more like a toddler...she grunts and points to let us know what she wants.  She'll sign a few things but not before she squaks pretty good :)  She loves to eat....you name it...she loves grilled cheese, fruit, hot dogs, yogurt, etc...She just got a 3rd tooth, but she must just gum everything to death!  She loves tubby time.  She hates loud noises: vacuum, blender, beaters, lawn mower.  She loves to be outside and we are getting her used to the grass.  She is starting to take steps along furniture.  

She is our wonder woman!!

Ella's favorite bday thing were these tissue pom poms I made....

We had to leave them up for a week!

I made homemade red velvet cupcakes and they sunk in and did something funky...that has never happened before so we had to make a hurry run to Walmart to get store bought cupcakes!

Yeah....ribbon....I mean presents!

Ella loves her WW invisible jet....it makes noise as it flies!

 Ribbon ribbon ribbon...oh yeah, and her presents! 

Spoiled girl.  Pink basketball from brothers, yellow sandals, beach towel, books, clothes, walker, etc...

cupcake SMASHING!!!

Birthday girl in her birthday suit!

 Can't believe little Miss is one!

We love you Ella.

What a Joy you are!!

My #1

I realize this blog is mostly for grandparents.  and boy do they let me know when I haven't updated it in awhile :)  They want to see the grandkids.

BUT, as much time as it takes to be a mommy, I am a wife first.  Sometimes it's hard to remember that, but Allen is my #1.

It all started here....well, long before here, but this is what I have photo-wise...

Grandpa and Grandma Brown

(looking FANTASTIC)

had a little girl...

who grew up and married Tom

and they had a baby boy...

ISN'T HE SO CUTE?  

(this is Allen, by the way!)

I am so lucky to have this man in my life...

I just realized I didn't scan any early engagement era pics.  Now that is too bad!

Maybe for our anniversary in a couple of weeks!

This man does so much for our family.

First, he teaches our family about the Priesthood.  He shows our sons what it means to be worthy to have the power of God with our family in our home.  So so thankful for this.

(Allen and Porter--blessing day)

(Allen and Miles--baptism day)

Second, I am so thankful that music is a big part of his life.  There are so many kinds of great music, that can uplift and inspire us.  He is teaching our family this.

(Allen on the side of a bus....cool!)

(directing Institute Choir in the Conference Center for General Conference)

(He subs at the MTC directing the choir.  So fun to see former students as missionaries)

(Allen with Ben Folds)

3rd....(these are not really in any order)

He is such a wonderful daddy, and he loves our babies!

(Dancing with Ella at EFY...she is 7 weeks old)

(with Q...he was 6 weeks old)

(Porter at 18 months...ish)

And as the kiddos get bigger...he is GREAT at reminding me to have FUN

because this is me a lot of the time...

I don't mean to be grumpy....life gets in the way of fun too easily for me...

look how much better I am when my hubby is there for me...

(When a new baby comes along...hikes are key!)

(Can you tell they love their daddy?)

 HE IS SUPER!!!

 (We take trips!  And have fun as a family!)

 Did I mention he was fun to play with?

(And helps us make wonderful memories!  Miles will never forget this trip to see the Rockies play...just Dad took him and he got 3 foul balls in 2 games!)

(He's willing to put a scarf on and go along with our Halloween themes...)

But most importantly, he is a wonderful teacher.  

He reminds us what it takes to be a forever family.  We have to hold to the Rod, together.

And get to the temple!

(Payson Temple site, 2012)

 Happy (late) Birthday to my wonderful hubby.  I love you more now than all those years ago when we were young...haha! I am still not sick of you.  You work so hard for our family.  So grateful.  Everyday.

Thank you...for being you.