Our weekend getaway!

One of Chad's old mission companions invited us to go with them to see the lighting of the tree in Prescott the first weekend in December. We stayed at a cabin just outside of Flagstaff and then on Saturday we drove to Prescott to see the lights. We had a much needed relaxing weekend. The kids had tons of fun playing with friends all weekend. Thanks Sean and Lynsee for the fun weekend.

Taylor is Home!

The weekend of Dec 13 Taylor's Doctors decided to let her have weekends off. She was able to leave Saturday after her therapy and be back by 9:00 that night and then she could leave Sunday morning and have all day Sunday off, but she would have to be back that night by 9:00. The first weekend she had off we went to see the temple lights on Saturday night and then on Sunday she was able to come with our family to church. After church Taylor stayed at our house for a little while and read to Brynli, who is her absolute favorite, and watch a movie with Cole and Carli. It was nice to see her out of the hospital even if it was just for a short time. The Doctors told my mom that they would let Taylor leave the Hospital on Christmas day so we planned on having Taylor and the rest of my family here with us for Christmas. About one week before Christmas, Taylor's Christmas wish came true when they told her they were going to release her from the hospital on Christmas Eve. Taylor was so excited to be able to go home to Eagar. We were a little sad that they wouldn't be here with us, but we were way excited to see her go home. Taylor and Mom will come live with us after the new year, so Taylor can start her outpatient rehab. Taylor isn't to excited about starting rehab again, but she is thrilled about coming and staying with Brynli.

This is Emery, Carli, and Saydie with Taylor in her hospital room.
My kids loved going and playing Uno and Guess Who with their aunt Taylor.
This was the cutest! Brynli loved to go to the hospital and hangout with Taylor on her bed. Brynli was sharing her chips with Taylor even though she wasn't yet able to have solids yet. Taylor really enjoyed the salt off of the chips.

Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving was a little different this year being that we had it at the hospital, but it was nice that we were able to be with family. My mom was able to reserve one of the hospitals conference rooms for our Thanksgiving dinner, and thanks Shelley for getting us all the food! The kids were finally able to go back to see their aunt Taylor, and was Taylor ever excited to see them. She is not able to show any expressions on her face yet but as soon as the kids came in she started to wave at them. She was even more excited to see Brynli. Every time Taylor would look at Brynli she would start waving, and then she put her hand up and gave her a high five. It made our day and I think Taylor's too. Taylor also got her drainage tube removed from her head which allowed her to be moved out of the PICU yesterday. We were happy that moving meant she is making progress, but sad that we will no longer have Sarah as her nurse. Taylor still has a long road ahead but we have faith that the outcome will be a good one. Taylor will start her rehab on Monday and we can hardly wait to see the changes it will bring. Thank you to all who have been praying for Taylor and our family!

Update on Taylor

Yesterday was a really good day for our family and Taylor. She was able to finally get her intubation tube removed. They also took her off of her sedation so she was actually able to open her eyes, and she waved at my dad, Shad, and Sydney. Today when I went to see her she waved and shook my hand. When we asked her if she would wave to Chad she shook her head no, but she did give him a thumbs up! She made my Dad's day by doing their little wave that they do to each other. Way to go Taylor!

Tay Tay we miss you!

A week ago last Saturday my two youngest sisters Sydney and Taylor and Taylors two friends were in a car accident. Taylor had to be flown to St. Joe's Hospital in Phoenix because of head trauma. She has been there for just over a week now and not much has changed, but she hasn't gone backwards which is good. We are hoping that this week we will start to see some good changes. We really miss you Tay Tay and hope that you will be able to wake up soon!

Halloween!

Brynli decided that she was going to ride in the trunk with all the candy. She was not about to let it out of her sight for a second.
By the end of the night Brynli had had enough of the bumble bee costume.

She was so cute walking up to the door with her bucket.

By the end of the night her bucket was pretty heavy, but she was not going to let anyone help her with it.

Last year Brynli didn't want anything to do with her costume, but this year she was so excited to put it on. Halloween was a little warm this year, but over all it was fun.

Trick-or-treat

This is a view of Brynli's costume from the side. I love the stinger!

Carli's favorite thing she received was her green vampire teeth. Pretty scary!!

Carli and Emery trick or treating. They had lots of fun together.

Here is our storm trooper. I have never met a kid that was so into star wars.

Carving the pumpkins!!

So I thought it would be fun to have the boys carve a pumpkin and the girls carve one. I also thought it would be fun to have everyone who reads our blog vote on their favorite pumpkin. I know the pictures aren't the best, but hopefully you can tell what they are.


Carli took this picture. I thought she did a pretty good job.



So for family home evening we carved our pumpkins and decorated cupcakes. The kids are funny because they beg to carve pumpkins but when it comes time to take the seeds out they don't want any part of it. Last year they helped but they had to plug their nose with one hand while scooping the seeds out with the other one. Once the seeds are out then they want to help again. We had a lot of fun, but I think I will leave the carving to
Chad next year!

Trip to the Zoo!

While Cole was on fall break we decided to go to the zoo. I was trying to get everyone to sit still long enough that I could take a picture and I looked over at Carli and she had her finger up the orangutan's nose. So JoJo of course decided to join in the fun. I love that Joelle is always willing to come lend a hand when she has a day off of school.

This is Cole with his good friend Ryan who was moving away to Utah. Cole is really going to miss him! Their favorite part was that the zoo finally got a new jaguar!

The kids had more fun in this cave than looking at the animals.

Here they are going to look at the giraffeThis is Cole in nutshell!

Benefit Dinner

On October 11 I was able to attend a benefit dinner for my uncle Steven who was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 5weeks ago. I was so touched by the kindness and generosity of the people of Eagar. There were some many people who not only donated things for the auction, but donated there time to make it happen. Maybe moving back to a small town wouldn't be so bad!

Carli and Emery enjoying one of the many cupcakes they ate that night.Cole, Chesley, and Jackson with their cupcakes.

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins helping make the dinner.

This is my dad helping out.

The Happiest Place On Earth!

Carli was so excited when she finally was able to meet Snow White, Cinderella, and Princess Aurora.
I loved this picture of the kids with Stitch. Stitch was Coles favorite when he was little.


Here we are with Pluto!!


Carli was trying to get Tiger to sign her book but instead she got to take a walk with him. It was the cutest thing ever!

Here we are with Tawni, DeWy, Brock, and Britton. After we went to Sea World we headed to Disneyland for 3 days. We took the kids to Disney World when we lived in Florida and they have been asking to go back ever since. When they found out we were going to Disneyland they could hardly wait to get there. Cole loved the big rides at Disney World but for some reason we had a really hard time getting him back on those rides this time. I had fun because I wasn't prego this time so I was actually able to ride the fun rides. We had lots of fun and can hardly wait to go back!

Sea World/Newport Beach

Tuesday after Labor Day we packed our bags and met our friends Tawni and DeWy in Newport Beach, and then on Wednesday we drove to Sea World. Newport was beautiful, and the kids loved the beach. Cole and Carli have really missed the beach since we left Florida so they were in heaven. I was really excited about Sea World, because it was our first time taking the kids. Brynli loved having Britton there to play with.

Cole and Carli were excited to go see Shamu, but Cole was the only one who wanted to sit in the soak zone. He thought it would be so awesome to get splashed by Shamu. I told him that if he wanted to sit in the soak zone he had to sit by himself. I didn't think there was any way that he was going to sit there by himself but he did and he loved it. He was so cute sitting down there doing the Shamu splash sign. Being soaked by Shamu made his day!

This is Cole and Carli petting an alligator.

Cole loves to play in the ocean.



Cole, Carli, and Broc could hardly wait to get to the beach!!

It's reunion time again!

Labor Day weekend is our Brown family reunion every year. This year Danny and Fonda were in charge and they decided to make it a pirate theme. Fonda planned out lots of activities for the kids. Everyone got a pirate name, but of course I can't remember all my kids names. Our crew was the Kealhaul Kristen Crew. The kids loved being pirates, and spending lots of time with their cousins. Thanks Fonda for planning such a fun reunion. Brynli made such a cute pirate!
Here is Carli and Emery in the three legged race.Cole and Carli all dressed up and ready for the pretty pirate contest!
The best part was watching my dad and his brothers and sisters doing there skit they put together. Yes Steven was the best part of it all. I have tried to put a video on here, but for some reason I can't get it to post.
Here is my mom and dad, Joelle, and Sydney dressed up for the pretty pirate contest also.

10 reasons we love Brynli!

1. She is the best baby!

2. She thinks she is funny/which makes her even more funny!

3. She is so cute when she scrunches her nose.

4. When you ask her a question she moves her mouth like she is answering but nothing comes out.

5. If there is music she is dancing.

6. If her dad has food she has to sit on his lap and eat with him, even if she just got done eating.

7. She loves to bring me books to read to her.

8. Her daddy's water bottle is her favorite thing to drink from.

9. She wont talk, but she looks dang cute doing her sign language.

10. Her blanky and bed are her two favorite things when she is tired.

11. Last but not least she gives the sweetest hugs and kisses.

Thanks Cole, Carli, and TayTay for helping decorate for Brynli's party! They all got to make a bee to hang up.

Brynli's 1st Birthday!

On July 27th Brynli turned 1, and because her nickname is bumble bee I decided to make her a bumble bee cake. She was not to interested in eating the cake, which is funny, because she is my kid who will eat anything! After she got done nicely picking the flowers off she decided to eat the black frosting. She looked so cute by the time she was done with her cake. Ashley this scrunch face picture is for you!!!