"HI BABY"

You have to listen very closely, but she does say it.

PJ's TOO BIG

When Jolie woke up the other day, this is how I found her. 

One arm out of her PJ's and one leg almost out.  

I thought this was too funny to pass up, and had to take a picture.  

I guess these PJ's are a little too big still.

1ST SWIMMING DAY OF 2009

Yup, it's hot enough.  The girls were invited to go swimming last week at their friends' house.  They love swimming, especially when they have friends to do it with.

I'm still trying to figure out my camera.  I'm not sure how I took the first two pictures.  

HEE HEE.

FOR SALE

The other day, Avery came home from school and said to me, "Mom, if any one wants to buy me, I'm one dollar and ninety cents."

I said, "OK, What?"

They had done some measuring with a string around the head and then lined up some coins or something and it turned out she was a dollar ninety.  

What - ever.

FEILD DAY

Last Thursday Lainey had a “field day” at her school for all the kinder-gardeners.  I went to watch the excitement.  I forgot my camera, these are just a few my sister-in-law took.

They had about 6 different stations set up for them to go to in a rotation.  They had things like the rock climbing wall, parachute, water cup relay, other fun races and bowling.  I think Lainey never stopped smiling.  Anytime she can be physically active she is in heaven.  She just loves things like that.  It was so fun to see her having such a blast.

When does it change?  I know some adults still have this love of physical activity, but I think for the most part, adults are like, “Um .. no, well I guess I better go to the gym today”, or just don’t do anything at all instead.  

Maybe we should try to remember when we were kids when running and jumping and playing were fun and we loved doing them.

Sometimes I feel like that, especially after seeing all the kinder-gardeners having so much fun.  It makes me want to go run around the neighborhood or go swing at the park.  

Here's Jolie and I watching the fun.

I'M TIRED

Yesterday was a crazy, busy, tiring day.  I helped with Avery's school carnival.

Rewind just a little to the beginning of the school year...  I thought I would join Avery's PTO, so I could help the school get defibrillator.  (It is a machine that shocks the heart if it stops, which she and Lainey might need, but hopefully not need, since they both have my heart condition. I've blogged about it before.)  Back to the story... So at the first PTO meeting of the year, they needed some volunteers to be on the board, like VP, secretary, treasurer and so on.  I kept my mouth shut, cause I didn't want any of those jobs. At the end of the meeting, I raised my hand and opened my big mouth and said, "are there every refreshments at these meetings?" At which point the principal of the school said, "no, that's the Hospitality person, and that's you". And wrote my name down. So, I was put on the board as the hospitality person.  I thought, OK, I can bring cookies to the meetings, no problem.  And I learned to not open my big mouth anymore, even if it is for treats.

Little did I know then that the schools big fundraiser is basically run and planned by the PTO Board.  

By now in the school year, the secretary has quit, the treasurer never comes and so it is just the awesome, hardworking president, VP and the lady in charge of handouts (another random board member) and me.  

For the carnival, I was assigned of being in charge of all the rides.  A company brought 7 giant bouncy things. I had to make signs of the rules for each ride, make sure all the parent and HS student volunteers knew where to go, and most importantly, make sure I had enough volunteers all night long.  I walked and walked, probably I will estimate about 15 miles last night.

The carnival lasted 4 hours, I was there 2 hours early and left a half hour after it was over. I am very sore today, but it was all worth it to see all the kids having an absolute blast.  And hopefully the school earned tons of $ for the PTO.  The PTO is planning on buying more of those "Smart Boards" for the school.  They are super cool. So hopefully we will be able to get those. 

AVERY'S POEM

I found this in our church bag one day.  I Love It!!

1st SENTENCE

Today Jolie said her first sentence.  She said "Hi baby."  It was so cute. 

A little while later she said "Hi daddy."  

THE HUNT

We had a fun egg hunt on Easter at Grandma Woolf's  house.  I don't know why we call it grandma Woolfs, and not grandpa Woolfs, they both live there, Oh well :)  

Thanks Easter Bunny for the Easter cash.  I think the girls will get a new outfit with their $.

The kids had fun playing with all  their cousins.

Jolie didn't help much with the hunt, but she had fun on her little slide.

PRETTY EGGS

Avery and Lainey got to take a super fun cooking class the day before Easter.  Here are some of the eggs they made pretty.  I don't want to say they dyed the eggs cause they didn't do that the usual way you dye eggs.  They wrapped patterned silk fabric around uncooked eggs and then boiled them.  This is how they turned out.  Super cool.  The bright orange one they cooked with onion peels only.  

HAPPY EASTER FROM THE BROWNS

ON EASTER, I TRY TO TAKE A GOOD FAMILY PICTURE. I THINK THIS TURNED OUT OK FOR BEING ON THE CAMERA TIMER.  JOLIE IS EVEN LOOKING  AHEAD AT THE CAMERA.

EASTER IS A GREAT HOLIDAY.  NOT FOR JUST THE TREATS FROM THE EASTER BUNNY, AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY.  IT IS ALSO A TIME TO REMEMBER THE ATONEMENT AND THE RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  I KNOW THAT HE DIED FOR ALL OF US, SO THAT WE MIGHT BE RESURRECTED ALSO AND RETURN TO LIVE WITH HIM AGAIN. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THIS KNOWLEDGE AND THAT I GET TO TEACH IT TO MY CHILDREN. 

HERE IS QUOTE FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH.  "Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend."

LAINEY'S EASTER MORNING

MY SWEET LITTLE GIRLS ALL DRESSED UP IN THEIR EASTER DRESSES AND READY FOR CHURCH.  

AVERY'S EASTER MORNING

THE EASTER BUNNY ALWAYS HIDES THE GIRL'S EASTER BASKETS.  THEN THEY HAVE TO FIND THEM.  

I LOVE THEIR MORNING HAIR.

JOLIE'S EASTER MORNING

JOLIE LOVES EASTER TOO.

Is there a doctor in the house?

In one month Morgan will graduate from NAU with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  

Yeah!!!!! 

I'm so excited.  And also so proud of him. 

He is very ready to start getting paid for working so hard.

I finally figured out how to download my videos off my phone.  

I took this one of Jolie on Christmas Eve last year.  So she is 13 months old.

She really love this Elmo song.  She does this everytime the CD starts.  It is funny.

PIG-TAILS AGAIN

I know I've already blogged about Jolie's pig tails, but they are so cute.  I don't do them often, cause she can't steep with them in. (She likes to play with her hair when she is going to sleep.)

But she looked so cute for church, I just have to share.  

This is one reason why I haven't cut her hair. 

ORANGE

The theme for our stake girls camp is Treasure Island.  Our ward was assigned the jewel of the "fire opal".  So we are orange for choice and accountability.  At first I thought, orange? But them I was OK with it.  Last night all the young women and leaders came over to tie dye shirts, make their own dog tag, and make their own name tags.  

A sea of orange. I think they all turned out soo cute.  All unique just like the girls.

Here are our dog tags.  I stamped "Treasure Island" and let the girls stamp their own names.

These are the stamps you hammer in the letters on the dog tags.

Here are all the name tags.  I had each girl make two, one for their name badge they wear at camp and one for their luggage tag. 

It was a super fun night. 

Time to clean up.

ANIMAL LOVERS

I think you might be born with the love of animals.  

My kids are.  When Lainey sees a dog she is drawn to it like a bug to light.  She just loves them. When she was very little, I had to teach her not to go up to all doggies, cause some weren't nice.  

Jolie, I have found, is the same way.  Whenever she sees one on TV or out and about she squeals and giggles.

This is my sister-in-law’s puppy.  All the kids were all over her. 

This is my brother’s turtle he adopted.  His name is Frank-Duke. He lives at my parents house and just came out of hibernation.  The kids like to watch him eat.  He walks pretty fast for a turtle.  My kids love him too.

NEW NEICES

My sister Audrey had beautiful twin girls this January.  They were quite tiny when they were born.  She is very busy with them and her two older boys.

Here are some pictures my good friend Kathy took.  I have her website on my list of blogs.  She is very good.