Sure

Sure deodorant

I don't normally go to church like this but I took a picture so my mom could see my object lesson. I am blogging it, for her because it was a little unconventional. I started the lesson asking the girls how I looked yesterday (we had a youth temple trip) then asked how I looked today? The girls were too nice and told me I still looked cute but admitted I looked better yesterday. I talked about how it is just the same thing every day and asked why it was important to do it. They said they just feel better when they have taken care of themselves. I asked what would happen if I only showered once a week or brushed my teeth occasionally. Then I shared the lesson about living the gospel every day, and although it doesn't save us from bad hair days we are able to get through it when we apply the principles we talked about Love, Service, Obedience, work, study, and Prayer. I talked about how we wouldn't think of leaving for school without brushing our hair, but do we sometimes leave without saying our prayers? I hope the girls understand that it may not be as noticeable on the outside but He knows and we should try to live the gospel daily in our lives. The quote I gave them was this: " The SURE way to peace and happiness in this life and life hereafter is to serve the Lord today and every day"  Marion G Romney

Who NEW



Heath & dad pulling up the old carpet

I don't know what 2011 will bring but so far we have been enjoying some new experiences. My brother, who, is very talented brought down his tools and some pad, and of course his awesome family all the way from Montana and installed new carpet for us! I knew we picked the right color when Heath told us "it looks like dirt". 

Ria & Dad prepping her room for carpet

It was great to have his family here whenever I am around my sister-in-law I am amazed by her she is so incredible! Chad and I both admit we married above ourselves! The cousins got along pretty good considering there wasn't much to play with because it was all boxed up for the carpet.

Cousins on the carpet

 We did enjoy despicable me a few times "It is so fluffy I'm going to die". Chad worked too hard and too fast, we celebrated Happy Noon Year with them. They took off New Years Eve! I wish they could have stayed longer and we could have done more things with them, they will just have to come back soon!

We had to ring in the New Year with our new carpet, Wii and good friends with little kids it is tricky. We had the Udall's over and we rang in the New Year with New York. Isaac (Spike) got his New Year's kiss!

We made fun drinks and the girls did Cheer's!

New Years day we enjoyed FOOTBALL, friends and food! Our New Years tradition is to measure the kids, to see how much they have grown. Ria is now 4'4" and Heath is now 3'8" Now that Brant and I are done growing up, we still like to see how much we've grown (not physically, that is just depressing). This year I feel like our gratitude and faith have grown the most. Personally resolutions occur for me throughout the year, some weeks are better than others but I'm so grateful to take the sacrament. Hopefully my kids will recognize their growth and strive to grow in other areas and all year as well.

Our New Church time is now at 8 am and we live about 25minutes from the church, Sunday naps are back! I also received a new Church calling, I am now serving in the Young Women's! I was very apprehensive about the time commitment, working with girls and women. I expressed my apprehensions, my lack of talent and all my concerns, why I was nervous, but willing with the Lord. I can say our bishop is truly inspired when I was set apart he addressed all my concerns, I felt so much peace and will be holding to those words of comfort. I'm still nervous but know this is where I'm supposed to be.

Christmas Cram

As a kid December was the longest month ever with the anticipation. I can't believe we crammed all this in and it went by so fast. I am always amazed at what we can accomplish in one month and wish I could keep that pace and be as giving all year.

We had a our Christmas breakfast dinner on Fast Sunday

Bruce & Ria with Christmas Tree Fench Toast

 Of course our festivities included visits with Santa he rode right in fire truck just down the street it was great and a personal little visit. Some recruiting may have been occurring for Heath to join the elves.

We also had the ward Christmas party, it was a great time and the theme was a cowboy Christmas, aren't we cute? (Thanks for the photo's Tera!)

We joined in on some traditions with friends here and did some Caroling at a Nursing home for our 2^nd year.

Singing Friends 

In December we read a Christmas story every night. We also did a little twist to the gift giving this year with Gifts of Gold (something they really want), Frankincense (something that is good for their mind, body or spirit) and Muir (something they need) after a few weeks of drilling this to Heath he asked "which wise man built the house? I was not sure what he was talking about but then I realized he was talking about the wise man and the foolish man song "the wise man built his house upon the rock". He really is a smart kid, I've been celebrating Christmas now for how long and never thought of that!

 We decided to have Christmas in Kanab and miss the night of Bethlehem this year but look forward to it next year, heard the costumes were amazing!

Rianne is very patient with Heath, but after 2 hours she was done with his repetitive and obnoxious behavior, she said "Heath will you please be quiet I have a headache, well I don't actually have a headache but your sounds are annoying me".
We made it in town to take a few family pictures for the Johnson's and spend a little time at the Johnson party. Then we went to Brant's brother Matt's home to put on the nativity read by Grandpa one of my absolute favorite traditions! My camera was still broken so although I tried awkwardly to take some pictures the family was kind enough to share thanks!
I don't know how about wise men more like wise guys!

How about the cutest stable animals ever!

The whole cast (Heath is a shepherd but is trying to herd the horse) He spent most of our time at Christmas being Ironman's dog. Kaleb was of course ironman.

Brant was holding baby Peyton and did volunteer to be Mary I think Ria was a better choice and she did a beautiful job wearing great grandmas shawl, and holding that sweet baby.

After all that who isn't ready to leave out milk and cookies and go to bed! Santa did come and shared his milk with Rudolph, turned it red. The kids were up early as you can tell the sun isn't up yet and we started on the presents I got a new camera and this is my first picture I'm not sure how Heath feels about it J

Have you ever seen a kid get so excited for Nasaline? She asked for her own I think she got more excited for it than the wii, actually I think she was more surprised by the wii Santa brought, excitement came later!

Everybody was happy with their gifts, I was too but had the camera!  



To Brant from Ria 



We went up to open presents with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Jeff! Mary is such a great gift giver. She really knew just what we needed this year, Thank you so much!

Ria got a bedazzler and things to bedazzle and Heath got the batman car he has been begging for since before his birthday! Tayla loved her little purse we gave her. Aren't these the cutest little cousins ever I love Isa's face.

  I think this is so cute Uncle D (Scooby Doo) on the way to Kanab Heath said he hoped he saw Santa again because he wanted to change what he wanted to an ipad (We purposely avoided any contact with the man in red).

He enjoyed using Derek's.

Ria got what she really wanted for Christmas riding horses is her favorite thing in the world (Thanks Wenda & Brittney)

Heath said it best "this has got to be the best day of my entire life" Christmas crammed with all the goodness was a success! Love the gentle reminders we received all month of our Heavenly Father's love for us in the gift of His Son.

Tis’ Bowl Season

We started it out like we do every year, our debate about how many bowl games there are and of course our picks. This Bowl season kick off happened for us in Albuquerque at the New Mexico Bowl. We took the car's odometer to over 200,000 miles and enjoyed watching our nephews who play for BYU. We are glad we made the trip, with BYU going independent I don't know how many games will be close enough to travel to. When picked Ria up from school she had made this for the game, and was sure T would love it.

These are our nephews and their super cute wives Kori and Sara.  I have to admit I was a little nervous to be in the cold with these two girls who always look so cute, they still looked cute but they were still pretty nice to me! 

Kori and Rhen



T and Sara



Brant got Heath a hotdog and put relish on it Heath was complaining, When Brant tried it out he realized it wasn't relish but Jalapenos, (crazy New Mexicans)! It was so hot Heath decided to strip out of his clothes J.

I was very glad I got to watch T snap the ball. (He just started doing that this season). I really like how he adds to the dog pile near the end of the play. It is always a pleasure to watch the Brown boys show emotion and I liked T getting excited with touchdowns picking up little guys and carrying them in celebration.

That Big O line!

It is always great to watch a win! Especially a big one, so Rhen could get in a few more series, which completed the experience for me as he received a random head butt from a UTEP player, kind of funny.

This is us as a group



Heath, Brant, Jana, Rianne, Sara, T, Sara's Mom, (can't remember her name sorry) Kori, Rhen, Robert (Brant's brother) and Nina (the mom) 

This is the BYU group getting their trophy I like that you can see both T #60 and Rhen # 87.

 My bowl picks started out strong but have fizzled hopefully I can pull it out this week, I usually do at least better than Brant with my picks!  Tis the season we love at our house!