Christmas in Arizona

We have not traveled for Christmas in several years so this took a lot of planning on our part. Of course both Eric and I ended up sick the week before Christmas so this made things a little more difficult. I was starting to feel better but Eric burst an ear drum and was still going full force with work.
We left for Arizona on the 23rd and drove to Blanding and then drove the rest of the way on Christmas Eve. We made it to Grandma and Grandpa's house by lunch where Eric promptly fell asleep and slept for the rest of the day. I think he thought he was home and his mom could take care of him now so he was good. Cheri and Mark and their kids were already there so the boys were excited to play.
Grandpa told the kids the story of Christ's birth that night and then we tried to put all the kids to sleep so Santa could come. And come he did!!! The kids were up bright and early christmas morning and so excited to see what they got. I love to see the look in their eyes when they see all of their presents. It was so much fun to watch them open their presents.
Pam and Scott and Marc and Janet and their kids all came later that night so we had a full house. Then Kristi and Clayton came on Monday so all of the family was together for the first time in over a year minus Tommy who is on a mission and Janelle who had to work. It was so fun to be with everyone and enjoy the good times and the loudness that goes along with over 30 people in a house. The cousins had so much fun on the rock hill outside.

From 2011-02-01 Thanksgiving christmas10

From 2011-02-01 Thanksgiving christmas10

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

Andrew's Choir

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

This year Andrew sang in his school choir. He was so proud and did such an awesome job! He even got to sing at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake. It was a great experience for him and one that I hope he continues to pursue as he gets older. He has an awesome memory and a pretty good voice as well. We were very proud parents.

From 2011-02-01 dec2010

Thanksgiving

All of the Brown Family got together this year up here in Utah for Thanksgiving. We had a great time. It is always fun to be with family and enjoy the good times. The cousins love playing together and running around. We had our annual Family Jeopardy game and of course the girls won!!! We went to the Riverwoods and rode on the little horse drawn sled and some of the kids even got to talk to Santa as they rode on the sled. We exchanged gifts and all the big boys got their nerf guns. So of course we had to have a nerf gun war. Each year we also try and do a service project, this year we decided to make thank you cards and then we would drop them off at the hospital. The kids did a great job with making cards and had fun.I love being surrounded by family and making memories with them. It is always a good time and this year no one got sick.

From 2011-02-01 Thanksgiving christmas10

From 2011-02-01 Thanksgiving christmas10

From 2011-02-01 Thanksgiving christmas10

From 2011-02-01 Thanksgiving christmas10

YO Gabba Gabba!

From 2010-11-12 YoGabbaGabba10

We won tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live! I have never won anything so this was quite exciting! The boys have not watched this show in years but were excited to go and see it. Alex kept saying, "we are going to watch this for real not on TV?" It was cute. Andrew on the other hand wanted nothing to do with this baby show. So Eric and Andrew went and saw a movie while I took the younger two to the show.
They put on quite the show. There was a lot of singing and dancing. Josh and Alex really got into and had a blast.Thanks Canlas' for the opportunity to go to this show> The boys still talk about it and Josh said he was going to write all about it in his journal at school.

From 2010-11-12 YoGabbaGabba10

From 2010-11-12 YoGabbaGabba10

Halloween

Halloween was rainy this year but the boys still had fun. Alex was spiderman. I have loved that all 3 have been spiderman for at least 2 years. Of course Spiderman came out beginning of October and Alex and his little friend ran the neighborhood. It was very cute. The boys had their annual Halloween parade at school. It was fun to see all the kids dressed up.
Perry the playtpus.

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Joshy the pirate!!

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Alex at his school parade

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Alex and his buddy

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Every year for the last 3 I have been going to Witches night out with my sister, sister in laws and our moms. This year only one sister in law could come and a good friend. We had fun, good food, good friends what more can you ask for.

From 2010-11-08 halloween10

First Day of School

The first day of school has come and gone and yes I am behind but better late than never. Andrew is in 5th grade! 5th grade, I can't believe it! When did he get so old. He is definitely coming into his own and wanting more freedom than I am prepared to give and has definite ideas and opinions. I think we are in trouble when he is teenager. Overall, he is a great kid and still loves to come and cuddle with me. Just last night, he came and snuggled with me and I told him I hope he never gets to big for this. He is loving 5th grade and has a wonderful teacher who is helping to expand his mind and teach him many things.

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Joshy is now a big 1st grader and is so excited to be going to school all day long and of course told me the best part about it is that he gets to eat lunch at school. He is such a social boy and has many friends all around him constantly. He is loving school and has really begun to take off with his reading and writing. I am so proud of him and how hard he is working. He gets so excited when he can read a book without help. It is fun to see that excitement, I hope that he always keeps it. His teacher is really great and really helping him to learn and grow. He is such a sweet, loving boy who always tries his best.

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Our two oldest trying to be kind and let me get a quick picture but really they just wanted me to hurry up so they could get to the bus

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Alex also has started preschool at a big school this year. He of course would not let me take a picture of him on his first day so I do not have one. He is doing good once he finally gets there. The first two weeks were awesome. I would take him and drop him off without any problems and then one day he decided going was not going to be easy anymore. So every day since then we struggle to get to preschool but once there he has a blast. He is slowly getting better but it has been a long process. He is learning to write his name which he thinks is awesome. He wants to have homework like his brothers. It is fun to see.

Alex's Birthday Party

So I finally decided to have a friend birthday party. This is a first for me! Alex got to invite 5 friends and we had a Spiderman themed party. The kids had a great time and I was exhausted by the time it was done. Note to self, next time only plan 1 hour not 1.5!
We played Venom vs.Spidey! Attack with water balloons

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Pretend you are Spiderman and spin your webs!

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Of course a Burnside birthday is not complete without a pinata! I know it is not spiderman but hey, it was the best I could do and Alex was happy.

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

These took some work Grammie, Daddy and I all took part in this project

From 2010-11-08 summer_halloween10

Alex had a fun time and keeps talking about what he is going to do for his party next year. Not sure I am going to be ready for that. This may be an every other year thing.