New Year's Eve 2012

We kept with tradition and ate at Golden Gate Chinese Restaurant

to close out 2012!

The kids had a great time being with cousins

 before they all scattered to their various parties and activities.

 We loved having Eric and Lori (Robin's sister) and Brig join us!

Christmas Celebration

We had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner at ET and Kristin's home.

It was great to have the Glenn's join us, as well as having Brett and Tia,

Kimberly and Katie all there, too!

Great food...ham, potatoes, salad, veggies, rolls and cheesecake for dessert!

 Landon was a big hit and we all loved having a chance to snuggle with him.

 Katie and Cassidy

 The Dads...ET, Curt and Sean

The cute little family and Landon's first Christmas!

Grandma and Grandpa

ET organized a wonderful program of scriptures, songs, and testimony.

We re-enacted the Nativity...

 Haley was a very convincing King Herod

 Clark was cast as the donkey

 Mary, the babe and Joseph

 The beautiful angels

 The shepherds and sheep

 Anna and Kristin were our narrators

Bennett was a wise man

 And the evening ended with the very successful gift exchange game!

More mellow than in year's past, but fun for all!

Merry Christmas!

A Bunch of Birthdays!

 'Tis the season that we celebrate birthdays at the Brown house.

Clark (in August) and Cassidy (mid November) each got their own birthday posts 

because they were lucky enough to not get caught in the family birthday crunch!

 Curt turned 49 and requested spice cake

 Bennett was well taken care of by the freshman girls!

A Heart attack and TP'd were the night's adventures.

 Bennett's request for his 15th birthday was banana cream pie

 He loved collecting all his free birthday food!

 Bennett and his "money tree"

 Haley worked on her 20th birthday and was spoiled by the office staff.

 She came home to vanilla frosted white cupcakes and a camera for her mission

Her happy birthday hug from this crazy huge dog!

 Cassidy and I joined Tia for her 23rd birthday celebration at Liberty Market

Landon got in on the fun and was such a good baby!

And to top it all off...I turned 48 and was gifted these yummy cupcakes!

We are all another year older, and hopefully wiser, too!

Happy Birthday to Us!

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas 

from our family to yours!

May this season bring love, laughter, joy

and most importantly a remembrance of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

.

December Happenings

 Just a few random activities...

some definitely more memorable than others!

Sneaky photo credit to Curt...

 I had to have a tooth extracted.  Long story, ugly picture.

I am officially old!

 Brett, Tia and Landon visited Great Grandpa Breinholt

and took him his favorite treat...a Sonic chocolate shake.

(He is Landon's Great-Great Grandpa!  So glad they got a picture!)

 Had fun with my 8-9 year old Activity Day girls 

seeing the Christmas displays at the Temple

 Cassidy and friends attended an ugly sweater party

 Each of my children, except Bennett,
 had Mrs. Claypool for a 1st or 2nd grade teacher at Hawthorne.

Katie, Cassidy, Maddi, Lauren, Parker and Carie were able to attend her retirement party.

Mrs. Lopez is a wonderful aide and all the kids know and love her, too!

Mrs. Claypool and Mrs Lopez even attended Tia's wedding reception last year!

We love them and are so grateful for their influence in each of our children's lives!

 Haley was happily reunited with her high school girlfriends!

Four of the above have their mission calls:

Peru, Dominican Republic, Richmond Virginia Spanish speaking 

and Washington DC Visitor's Center.

All are reporting early this spring and there might even be more calls coming!

 Haley's Christmas work outfit

Landon found his thumb!

Curt found this jeep!

(We are not keeping it!)

 The kids are all having fun learning to drive a stick shift.

Curt and I even took it for a spin last night, all bundled up with hot chocolate in hand,

 looking at Christmas lights!

Finals are over and life is good!

Three days until Christmas and I think we might be ready!

One of Our Favorite Christmas Traditions

We have been Christmas Caroling with the Brown Family for more years than I can count!

It is one of the most anticipated activities of the season!

This year Grandma Charlene and Mel hosted the dinner at their home.

Ally and Courtney

 Cassidy keeping warm by the fire pit.

It was raining all day and wet and misty most of the evening,

but during our caroling it was clear and not too cold!

Hallelujah!

 So many cute cousins!

Braden, Madison, Ally

 Naaman enjoying the homemade Chalupa

 Curt, Chuck and Mel

 Part of the gang on the flat bed semi trailer.

We had over 80 people there...the more the merrier!

Chuck and JuDene do an awesome job of decking out the trailer

 with lights, tinsel and bales of hay.

Jalee, Cassidy and Alison

Hannah and Grammie JuDene

Clark, Emily and Caleb

 Baby Clarity

 David and Haley

 Santa even caroled with us and had some sweet moves as we sang!

 Carson and Jen with Jace, Isaac and Austin

 Thanks, Uncle Chuck and Aunt JuDene for the awesome ride!

Thanks, Grandma and Mel for the delicious dinner!

Hope this tradition lasts for many more years!