A New Chapter

It's been ten years of unsteady paychecks, crazy work hours, last minute traveling, and work calls at all hours of the night and weekend. Today Todd started a new job. He wasn't looking, just trying to make things work with his businesses. The past few years have not been the best time to own your own business. The struggles seemed to be endless. This new job pretty much fell in his lap (only after meeting with executives and impressing the pants off them). We are grateful. He is now working for England as an account manager. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the concept that we will actually have insurance provided, and get paid CONSISTENTLY. Imagine that... working, and actually getting paid for it. Owning your own business can be great, but it can also be very trying. You work longer hours than employees, shoulder ALL the stress, and get paid last (IF there is money left over after paying everyone and overhead.) That being said, we've learned a lot and are eager and a little nervous to start this new chapter.

Haydyn Turns 2!

Haydyn and her new baby

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The best: celebrating Haydyn's 2nd birthday. The worst: other issues weighing heavily on our minds and hearts. As Haydyn has done from the second she entered this uncertain world, she lifted our spirits and brought smiles to our faces. Brigham and Mallory new things were tough for us at the time and came through like champions. To my surprise each had their own present to give to Haydyn. From Brigham; a beloved blanky. Anyone who knows Brigham very well knows about his infatuation with blankies. It started with one. One very special blanky lovingly known as "see." He now has a big bundle of blankies. It grows bigger every year. From Mallory; a well loved strawberry shortcake doll, and a little pony. All wrapped up in tissue paper and bags. I was so touched by their love for Haydyn and desire to make her birthday special.

Blanky from Brig

Doll from Mallory

Things we love about Haydyn: her dimple, the way she giggles and laughs (all the time), how she talks and the cute things she says (like dambain... or bandbaid to us), the way she almost yells "Hi Daday!" whenever she sees Todd, when she tries to mimic others facial expressions (she'll be a good imitator like her Dad.)

Things Haydyn loves: shoes, wearing her swimsuit, cheese & pickles for a bedtime snack, Barney, going to nursery, singing and dancing, wearing bracelets, toothpaste, and cereal. Just to name a few.

We Love You Haydyn! Happy #2!

Good Times

What do you get when you mix 7 people, all throwing-up, and carpet that was cleaned the week before? My family last weekend. Every one of us got sick at some point. Oh wait, I forgot about the dog that had diarrhea in the middle of the family room AND in the hall upstairs just two days after said carpet was cleaned for the first time in 4 (yep 4) years. OK so only 4 of the 7 people actually helped initiate our newly cleaned carpet. Needless to say I have had enough scrubbing, rinsing, wiping, and washing to last me for a while. The scheduled camping trip and Birthday party were sadly postponed and will be written about soon!

4 to 2

We were ALL thinking it was going to be a girl. A nice little Brady Bunch. Soon after we started the ultra-sound it was VERY clear we were having a BOY! I don't know why we were surprised, I mean there are only two choices here. But everything looked good (which was my main concern) and it's nice to know which names to start focusing on.

My Family has been going to the 4th of July Parade in Provo for over 30 years. We have all had our chance to "sleep" over to save our usual spot. This year Todd, Brigham, and Mallory had their turn. My Dad set out the stuff early on July 3rd and Todd and the kids came later that night. Everything went well, except for the 1:00am downpour. But of course they still had a great time. Can I just say how ANNOYING people are who think they can show up 1/2 hour AFTER the parade starts and lay a blanket out right in front of us? Seriously people. My cousin tried to explain that we had been saving this spot for 24 hours and they had the audacity to waltz in and sit down as if no one was there. Things got a little heated when they wouldn't move. They eventually saw the error of their ways and left. It was quite entertaining. So was the drunk guy across the street. Ahh the 4th of July, it brings out the best in us.

Long Days, Short Months

I have been hoping a camera would magically appear on my doorstep before I posted again. But it's been one month since my last post and... nothing. So I will have boring picture-less posts for a while.

Some highlights of the past month include our trip to my Brothers house in Scottsdale. I put my Sis-in-law in charge of taking pictures for me. So as soon as she sends them I'll post more about our trip. All in all we had a great time swimming, eating, and playing with family we don't get to spend much time with. The only downfall was our air conditioning going out in our car the day after we arrived. Not to mention, we had it fixed one week earlier. So we drove 12 hours home with NO AIR. Luckily the weather was unusually cool that day.

Fun Fridays are going strong. So far we've (me and all the kids) enjoyed miniature golfing at Mulligans and Discovery park with all the kids favorite, Icee's afterwards. Tomorrow we're going on a tour of the new Fire department. Can you tell that our theme this summer is FREE (or at least really cheap.) Everything starts to add up when you take 5 kids with you everywhere you go! My kids are great sports. It's easy to come up with activities that cost money. I've had to get creative with my kids. They don't always agree that going to the park can be just as fun as Liberty Land, but they are getting good at helping me come up with inexpensive things to do. They are stoked to go to the fire station. Who would have thought? Brigham made the comment yesterday, "The 'Browns' went to Lagoon today. Wow, they sure have been wasting a lot of money lately." How funny. Someday Brigham, someday.

Blogiversary

My cute kiddos one year ago.

One year ago today I started this blog. I am thrilled that up to this point I have somewhat kept up with it! I've never been great at keeping a journal. Let me rephrase that, I always KEPT a journal, but after a few months it was forgotten. Instead of starting up again I would use this as an excuse to get a newer, fancier, cuter, newer smelling journal to take it's place. I have a dozen of these unfinished journals. But blogging is for me. I can't go out and buy a new one when this one doesn't have that freshly printed smell anymore. AND most importantly I don't have to see MY ugly hand writing. I think that's the best part.

If I had my way I would celebrate this anniversary with a spankin' new camera. Mine died a few weeks ago. I haven't been able to let it go. Not that it was a good one, but it was the only one I had and times is tough. So no camera for me for a while. I hope this blog AND the summer activities can survive with out the luxury of taking pictures. I think I might cry a little.

Barefoot and...

PREGNANT! I can't think of a better way to finish off 2009 than with a new baby. It amazes me that I am this excited. I guess I never thought baby #6 would be as exciting as 1, 2, or 3 (or 4 or 5.) I feel so blessed to be having another baby. I LOVE witnessing the changes a new baby brings to our home and especially with my other kids. They learn things from this experience they wouldn't learn otherwise. So, here we go again!