End of the Year

Once again, we come to close of another year of Brown Family Adventures.  I will be using the blog at www.michaelandkari2013.blogspot.com for next year!  Happy New Year!

Last Minute Getaway: Destination Park City

Have I mentioned how awesome our extended family is for sharing their fun toys with us?  Michael’s brother sold his boat recently, but until he did, he would take us out on it in the summer.  His sister Maren and her husband Clarke, own a condo in Park City and called us up and offered it to us for a few days over  New Year’s.    We’ve never gone somewhere as a family before, without it serving an additional purpose of visiting some extended family!  We packed up the kiddos and head up there on the 30th and came back on New Year’s Day.  It was so fun!   It sleeps 12 and there was plenty of room for them to run around.  On the deck they have a hot tub.  Of course that’s one of the first things the boys noticed about the place and was the first thing they asked to go do!  But, as they were making that request, they were a bit distracted by the foosball table…..and Michael was too!  We really just enjoyed some quality family time; less distractions, less media, more interaction.  It was nice. 

Aside from just hanging out a lot, we managed to venture out and see the Olympic Park with the kids.  We took a tour of the museum over there.  The kids liked the hands on activities.  Favorites included the 3D skiing (especially Scott who went through a strange obsession with watching roller coasters on YouTube, and pretending he was really riding them….this was right up his alley), and a display that showed downhill skiing technique where they pulled a lever and watched these big balls run down a hill with a big mogul on it.  They also like the idea of Bobsledding.  Thanks to the babysitter, they were recently introduced to “Cool Runnings,” and bobsledding.  Ironically enough I had just told Michael I wanted to show them that show, thinking they would probably like that…..and they did :)  We also ventured down to an actual bobsledding course and walked onto it.  They have a zipline and obstacle course set up that you can try out, but honestly, it was WAY too cold to even attempt….not to mention Scott was a bit under the weather.  After that we rode around town a little and took the boys to Café Rio for lunch.  Going out to eat anywhere and sitting down is a big deal, so they thought that was pretty special!  They make me laugh (most of the time).  I have to say there was one experience that was a little sad.  Scott had hurt his hand and really was miserable with whatever this cold/flu is that he’s had and started screeching when he got hurt, at the restaurant.  This woman sitting next to me (obviously judging me….I could feel it, big time as she stared), starts chatting with her daughter about how this must be a screeching session we are having.  They both eyed me and I have to admit, at first I was  a little embarrassed, but that quickly turned into anger within minutes at how they would try to make me ashamed of my kids and having 4 of them.  Trust me, seriously, that much was conveyed in the expressions and stares……and comments.  How sad are they!?  We left and it was quickly forgotten, or  so I thought, until I started blogging this…..but you get the picture…..

When we got back, Michael took the boys sledding near the condo.  When that time rolled around, quite frankly, I was chilled and a bit tired of being cold, so I bowed out.  They still had fun, but it only lasted about 20 minutes before Michael decided he felt the same.  I think it was only 15 degrees midday! 

We did manage to make it to the hot tub too!  That was fun!  I was bummed I forgot my swimsuit, so I was able to don Michael’s shorts and T shirt instead.  I think it was a bit colder than it would have been, had I been in a swimsuit.  Sitting in a hot tub in the snow is awesome!  Sitting in one without kids would be even more awesome, but sitting in one with them was fun!

All in all, it was a really nice time and we are so grateful to the Hilbigs for sharing their fun toy :)

More Snow Fun

Through the break we kept getting snow and the kids kept longingly looking at all the neighbor kids being towed behind quads to sled.  It looked like fun but Michael and I were worried it might be dangerous.  All that went out the window with their glances this particular day.  It seemed harmless enough and yes, I’m sure if you aren’t careful, something horrible could happen, but it was Amy and I trusted her. :)  Amy is my best friend that lives in my neighborhood.  She’s such a great persona and lots of fun!  She took her boys out and stopped by to offer to take our boys too and they had a fun time!

After they rode the luge around the neighborhood, we took them all sledding.  There was a close by ampitheatre that our next door neighbor suggested to take them to.  When we got there, it was pretty busy, but not so busy that we couldn’t squeeze in too!  In some patches the snow had melted, and you can’t tell from the pictures but there were moguls all the way down.  I was worried Mason might be too small to ride, but he did great!  It was so fun to watch him sled down in Michael’s lap; puffy pink cheeks and pink little nose bobbing in the air while he smiled and giggled!  He’s such a fun baby!  I know, I know, not really a baby anymore, but I’m afraid, he probably will always be, to me.  Jared was funny – he wanted to sled with his Dad and it was hilarious that they pretty much were dragging their wagon down the hill.  Too much dead weight!  After that, Michael kept taking Mason!   It was fun to go sledding for the first time that everyone in our family could go and I didn’t have to worry about a newborn.  It was nice.

Mason & His Friends

Sweet Mason has an affinity for stuffed animals like we’ve never seen before at our house!  He has to have his friends surround him every night when he goes to bed!  At the top of the list;  Mickey Mouse and his “Bear.”   Then, of course there are 2 other bears, a dog, 2 puppies and most recently, he’s inherited Scott’s retired “Thumper” bunny (Scott lovingly referred to it as his bummy).  Mason will take inventory, so don’t ever try to pull a fast one and not give him all his animals!  :)

The other afternoon when we walked in after his nap, we had to take a picture of this before it is gone…..like all our other fun memories.  Things like this make me reflect, like I’ve mentioned many times before.  I heard someone once say, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” 

I will try.

Weeeeee!!

Inspired by our neighbors who usually build a grandiose slide out of snow because their Dad has access to some pretty cool materials to make tunnels, we decided to make our own version……and this is what we came up with!  First Michael and I started and then Colby and Natalie nextdoor came out and helped us too!  It was fun to build and watch the kiddos have some fun…..especially the BIG kiddo!

 

 

 

 

Oh and here’s one of my favorites: 

 

Jared BEFORE:

 

 

 

 

And Jared AFTER:

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! Every year I say it comes around fast and every year I swear it does…..faster than the year before!  Hard to believe it’s come and gone again!  Our Christmas morning started briefly at somewhere around 3am when Scott came running in; unable to sleep due to the combination of anticipation and coughing from whatever bug we’ve managed to pick up now.  He had been sleeping with his brothers downstairs, but it was easier to plop him in his own bed upstairs for the rest of the night.   We put the boys down the night before, telling them what we do every year, “Don’t wake us up until AT LEAST 7am.”  And….like every year so far…..they listened!  It seemed early, but really they were great to wait that long!  I know I never did when I was a kid! 

The morning started with the kids all in unison, storming our bedroom and pouncing on us while we were in bed.  I sleep with earplugs, so I was ready to jump through the roof with such a reception!  The boys all loved getting bows and arrows this year, and I LOVED Scott’s reaction to getting his “Bop It Smash.”  This has been his coveted toy for the last year and his reaction was priceless!  I love the reactions we get!  Gavin was thrilled to get a Nintendo 3DS and Jared as shocked to get a Kindle Fire (computer tablet with parental controls).  I also loved watching my honey’s reaction when he opened his gifts.  I bought him these funny looking headphones he’s been saying he would really like for work that are bluetooth.  I affectionately call them his “Princess Leah” headphones….he claims that they are soundproof.  I joke at how hot he looks with them on! ;)

After presents and breakfast, we spent the afternoon just hanging out and checking out all the new gear.  My favorite thing I got was a new robe; it’s so soft and warm!  Love it on snowy nights!  Late that day we went over to my parents’ house.  Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse with Kenna’s family and their health.  Now Melissa was coughing, Shawn had a big headache and was feeling horrible and Derek was now running a fever!  Such bad timing!  So, with Kelly being pregnant, me being a bit of a germaphobe, and Gee having heart problems, Kenna and her family celebrated Christmas on their own at their house and the rest of us  celebrated at Mom and Dad’s.  It was still a nice night.  We had a big dinner and after than played a charades game and opened presents.  So sad to see Christmas go! 

Christmas Eve 2012

This year we were able to spend with my side of the family.  As per tradition, we went out……this year, it was to Los Hermanos.Unfortunately we’ve had some of the family down with a bug that gives you a high fever, sore throat and a cough.  Kenna’s family was hit with it, so we were able to see the WHOLE family briefly at dinner.  Melissa was the one who was down this year on Christmas Eve, so she was able to come to Los Hermanos, but Brad took her home for the rest of the evening’s festivities (which were being held at my Mom and Dad’s house).  Gee is still really fragile from her heart procedure, so everyone is being extra cautious. 

When we got back to my parents’ house, we had all the kids dress up to reenact the Nativity story.  Kelly has a wide variety wardrobe that spans everything from shepherd to angel that she shares with us.  I laughed so hard at the livestock the shepherd boys had (Lincoln and Scott……I think Scott’s was a dog hand puppet)! This picture I have of Jared and Mason, I love!  Jared was a wiseman and Mason was another shepherd.  I love that in every picture I take of the boys, when I tell them to say, “cheese,” Mason puts both his hands up and reaches for me and yells, “cheese.”  You can see his little arm protruding out of his robe, with his pose.  My mom has this cute little 20 minute script she uses each Christmas Eve, where we take turns reading parts of the story and then sing songs in between, while the kids walk out in full garb, pretending to be at the birth of the Savior.  After we were able to do that, we made homemade donuts for everyone to snack on while the kids decorated a cookie for Santa.  It was a fun night and we left with the kids on a total sugar high!  They were so anxious to get home to get ready for Santa to come!  It was very cute :)  ( See other post on their letters for Santa )