Sunday, June 26, 2011

HOuse of Love Dance performance! 6-26-11


Naomi and Heidi were a part of the first ever dance only show for CSDA (Center Stage Dance Academy in Monrovia.) Both girls were in the opening number and Naomi was in a hip hop and a tap number. Heidi was in a tap number. I'll highlight and explain them below.

Naomi in "EENIE MEENIE" by Justin Bieber. She was so exhausted cause we had been at the beach all day. She had a hard time paying attention and giving full energy, but the night of the show, she smiled and did much better.



Her tap dance was to "Hit the Road Jack." In this picture: Emily, Naomi and Heidi.
In this picture: Anjali Schultz, Emily, Heidi and Naomi.

Heidi's tap dance was to "L-O-V-E." There were two other girls in her class. So the costumes were made bright so they would be very vivid on a huge stage.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Brown Reunion May 2011!


Take a big breath cause there are a lot of pictures in this post. But I could only leave about 3 out. You wouldn't get the full feel for the events and fun we had at Zion Ponderosa Ranch just outside of Zion National Park, Utah.

I couldn't resist this picture of how picturesque the vast land was as we drove to the ranch.

The first day was overcast and very brisk so we were all bundled up as we met up with all the cousins we had and hadn't seen in a while. The kids just wanted to play at the play ground, so that's where we ended up with most other parents of young children.


Heidi, loves to swing, especially if it's a tire swing.


Audrey, 9 months, was happy even though unsure of feeling secure with her big sister holding her. She loves being outside. However, this hat kept being pulled off by her cute little hands.

So the 1st morning, Wendy and I decided to walk from our cabin to breakfast at the main lodge, ending up with all the kids and Chance. There were many new and interesting critters to distract them as we walked through mud on the dirt roads.
Here is a web we walked past. If you look close it has captured flies of all kind, caterpillars, and bumble bees, or wasps, which ever they were. We all stood there amazed at the creation one spider could make, and would survive in the cold, rainy weather we had just left the days before this day.
Chance, the favorite Uncle, with Heidi.

Once the weather, on Saturday, miraculously warmed up, the muddy roads dried, and the clouds all rolled away, everyone headed to the pool. Unprepared for the sun really since I guesstimate about 80% of those at the pool looked like lobsters later that evening. Here Heidi is gathering jacuzzi water to spit out at anyone near her. I kept asking her to stop, but happened to just catch her in action.


Naomi, in deep thought or listening to someone else talk. She loves her goggles.

Audrey was not so happy to be sitting by the pool. She wanted in on the action, but she nor I had a suit.
Eliza Burhley, Avery Smith, and Heidi.
Eliza, Naomi and Avery, all 7.

Kate Smith 2 1/2.
Goggle face. She begged to wear these, but they didn't quite fit.
The Bodell Family has this motorized train that they bring to all the Brown Reunions. A reunion wouldn't be the same if this little train wasn't there.
Naomi and Heidi on the caboos.
Philip Bandley, 3 and Avery.
One of the best parts of the whole reunion was the zip line at the entertainment barn. The girls went a few times, and I finally had a turn with them. I know they'll look back on this picture and be mad at how silly they look, but years later they'll laugh.
Heidi giggled so much. The two guys at the end of the ride that help you stop and climb down off the zip line told me that I have a beautiful daughter and asked for her to go again so they could see her big smile as she zoomed past. She must have heard them cause I went before her so I could see her myself, but she kept her lips sealed, trying not to smile. Silly little girl!

Sunday was the last day of the reunion. On the way home through Zion National Park, I was my mother and had to pull over to get the kids out to take a picture of the spot where we took a picture when we were young. Heidi is MIA cause she had fallen asleep and I wasn't about to wake her.

We caravanned with the Smiths to St George and decided to do a little hike we had done on the Thursday on the way to Cedar City. We climbed into a crevice and started a narrow hike. I had Audrey strapped to my back so I couldn't squeeze through the rocks or hike, but I took the pictures from below as everyone came down the outside.


She had pieces of glass in her pocket she had picked up off the sandy ground.
Of course these two wanted to pose.
And hold up the huge rock.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Easter 2011!


Almost every year, we are invited to attend the Arcadia Ward Easter breakfast and egg hunt. Once all the kids were called to start the egg hunt, it became a frenzy and it was tricky to get any decent pictures of my girls. These next three were about it.



Easter Sunday is one of the many times I'd like my girls to match at church. This year their dresses we an aqua green/ blue with creme ribbons. Getting pictures of them after church may just have been as tricky if not harder than the Easter egg hunt. Either the baby wasn't looking and Heidi was staring at her, Naomi was pushing Heidi away, or Heidi was making a crazy face, as seen below, so this is really the best I could get in the short time Naomi agreed to sit still.
Since Audrey had figured out how to sit up pretty long with out falling sideways or backwards, she was being so cute playing with the trinkets from Naomi's Easter basket which were left on the floor of Audrey's room. I had to capture her little face as she explored the toys and her dress... Enjoy!




How can you not want to smooch that face?

My Sad Nails!

Ever since I can remember I've had the terrible habit of biting my nails. Biting may be an understatement. Gnawing down till they are so sore and there is nothing left unattached to the skin on my finger is more like it. So when I was horrified at the sight of my own hand, I decided it was time for fake nails. What do you think? This way I can't bite them anymore, just maybe crack the nail when it grows out a little. Now my stress relief is clenching my jaw... any suggestions on that one?