True Jell-o

Real Mormons get excited over Jell-o-- Well we love our TRUeJillo's. It felt like Christmas when they arrived I thought I was going to cry happy tears I was so excited to see them. After Easter the Trujillo's were traveling home and were nice enough to make us their pit stop. I cannot adequately express how much this little family means to us.

It is a friendship story I really should record, so here goes. I don't think we had been in Rock Springs, WY for very long & we met them at a church function. Those Ward parties bring all kinds of people out ;) Anyway they invited Rianne to Kami's birthday party while Brant was traveling for work (I don't miss that travel schedule). I often ask in my prayers for help in doing what the Lord thinks is most important that day. So I went; I drove to this run down trailer, as I walked to the door I was so nervous. Kamille answered and was nice enough but I just couldn't leave my baby there with these people I didn't know, in such an unfamiliar environment. So Heath and I came in; I sat on the edge of the couch the whole time and was worried about leaving Heath on floor to play. I thought about all things I could be doing; anything to get me out of there. But the Lord wanted me there. Don't think I'm the most judgmental person in the world I was just WAY out of my element.
Here is the only picture I could find of thier old house (they have moved twice, but are still stuck in the Rock)  I think this was a daddy daughter date

We later had them over for a little March Madness action. We had a blast with all kinds of junk food. Little did I know Joey was craving a cigarette and well he was out of his element: payback! J There were no cigarettes at my house. When they went home Joey decided he "wanted his house to feel like the Browns'" if I have the story right that was the last day they smoked, Way to go guys!
Well that's how this friendship got started and somehow it turned into a very comfortable friendship! Kamille would always watch Heath for me (oh how he loved his "AMILL"). We shared pop in visits, backyard BBQ's and Kamille showed me how a Birthday should be celebrated all month! We had a lot of good times together

and their story gave me hope and strengthened my testimony so much. I watched a deep change happen. I have heard the stories of how low they had been but there is One who is mighty to save. I saw the atonement of Christ make a dramatic change in their lives. I like to think we were influences that helped foster that change but I know it was more than just us. What hope they gave me, how real the gospel in action became for me.
Since they ran away together they never had much of a wedding celebration. I threw them a Happily FOREVER after party when they made plans to be sealed in the temple.

Being there in the temple with them was an experience I will never forget. I can still picture Randy's huge grin, talk about a glow! Just picturing it brings tears to my eyes.

Well now their little stop brought more hope for me. They adopted and were able to return to the temple to have Bella sealed to them. Adoptions really happen, even if you already have kids.
This is their sweet addition with Ria.

Oh this sweet little girl brought so much hope to my heart!
I can't believe how they've grown. Cody and his "man voice" and Kam, kammers is as GORGEOUS as ever, with the longest legs. Even Randy was a real kid and his toothless grin is gone, he is still too hot to handle ;)

I am so impressed at how quick they are to acknowledge their blessings. I have always wanted my home to be inviting and comfortable. Thanks for stopping, hope you enjoyed lunch and the cream puffs! You guys are such an inspiration to us.

I hope Kamille brought back our love to the Wonderful people we love in Rock Springs.  Let me put out this plug we are the finest pit stop off Highway 89! If you come by and don't stop I'll be offended.

Egg Race

My mind has the ability to be everywhere all at once, unfortunately the rest of me is not so lucky but we had a fun RUN with Easter this year. We let the kids run in a fundraiser for the high school track team! They loved it! Rianne did the softball throw, standing board jump, 100 and 400 meter race. I saw her run the 100 she did great.

She thought she did the best in the jump but both Brant and I missed seeing her. I had to RUN over to the church to help with the fundraiser dinner for Young women's. Heath did the same events except the 400 was replaced by the 200. I did get to see him jump he did great!

Brant got to watch the races it is no surprise that Heath likes to run (Remember "killers" during basketball). Turns out he is pretty fast too. Here he is in the starting blocks or is it box?

In the 100 he ran right out of his shoe looked down but didn't stop running after he won, he said "dad my shoe" and he went back on the track to get it. 

 He also won the 200 by quite a bit but he didn't slow down. He was very excited about his first place ribbons  

Thursday after pack meeting on we were off and running for Kanab

On Friday's run was replaced by a hike to Saleratus.

Josh and Morgan helped us handle the rough terrain. Mikko and Kaleb provided entertainment and took some great photos (which I haven't seen yet ;).

Josh showed us how to run the "spider wall" and also redemption on the wall. Heath proved again he is FEARLESS. Brant actually held him over the "water fall" to wash his hands.

We saw a few lizards and had a few snacks it was a beautiful day. Kristi is the best not only were our guides for the hike her sons but she gave us haircuts dinner and got us started on the egg decorating. 

The Easter bunny came for Saturday morning,

I love that my kids searched for their empty egg and what color it was (we talked about what each color symbolized) Then we took Heath up to the park (can you believe Ria is too old L for an egg hunt. He took out a couple kids while running after eggs but was disappointed to only find 5.

After we got home he opened one and found that he had a slip of paper for a dollar, he is saving it because he knows grandpa was the one redeeming the dollars JWe decorated more eggs

So we can ROLL THEM! I love this tradition.

I got to ride out to the spot with Amanda, Jonathon, Jana (JC) and the kiddos (Sammie, Nellie, Daxton, and Grady) first time I got to meet Grady, super cute kid.

We got to run our tires in the sand a little bit more than everyone else J Can you believe I have been out there 9 times and still couldn't find it on my own (I have the worst sense of direction) I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else knowing there are tough guys to get us unstuck! I enjoyed the little extra time. Here are the eggs running down the tracks. 

Heath spent most of his time at the bottom "catching eggs"?

That is not an egg Heath

He loved hangin' out with the boys. Josh is so good with the little guys

I love this picture of Heath hanging on him. Ria spent most of her time with the beautiful Brooklyn not that we caught her in a picture, she is Ria in 6 years

Then it is all fun and games until we run out of eggs the remaining pieces get golfed off, then the beatings occur, I told you Heath is fearless

I promise no one really got hit with the shovel but one did get sand in the face. They had Peyton posed so cute on a little rock then he fell face first into the sand and with the Brown family you don't brush it off you get a camera, he didn't even cry but what little boy doesn't love dirt?

After we got home we had time to Run out to the rock house for the Johnson Easter celebration Grandma & Grandpa J have been married 70 years! Wish I had snagged a picture of them but at least I got to squeeze em' Rianne loves babies and enjoyed Isa.

Isa is getting so big; every time I see her I just smile she is the cutest little stinker. Heath talks tough but I think he is intimidated by Tyler's muscles.

It was a quick visit, we decided we should Run back for stake conference so Easter morning we left with the kids in tears. We tried to explain that we love our family so much and we would love to stay there, so this man

 must be pretty important for us to leave so early in the morning. We were running late so I didn't get pictures of the kids in their Easter Sunday clothes.  Elder Nelson asked all the primary kids to stand and sing I am a child of God, Ria said I got to sing to an apostle. After the meeting we all got to shake hands with an apostle too! For me it was also cool to shake the hand of the Dr. who preformed my grandmas heart surgery (cool story, she had a near death experience). It was awesome!  How fitting that the Easter story involves Jesus' apostles and we got to hear from one! I love the story of them running to that tomb, how grateful I am for that empty tomb because He lives! His invitation to "come unto me" I will come running to him and he will give me breath!

Spring Chickens

Snow and Sun Spring has Sprung! Last Saturday we were shoveling snow and this Saturday we were barbequing! Heath is no chicken whatever season shows up!  

We had some visitors who think they are Spring Chickens. My folks drove 12 hours Tuesday and left at 4 in the morning Saturday for another 12 hour trip home—I hope they recover. They aren't as young as they used to be, literally my mom shared her birthday with us.

Brant wore a happy birthday tie to work just for her and made her fish, her favorite. She shared with Heath who also loves fish.

My dad said when he told her they WOULD be visiting us for her birthday it was like the Bosch Christmas—side story: my mom is easy going so sometimes it is hard to get a reaction out of her but the year my dad surprised her with a Bosch mixer and her OH Oh Oh reaction is renowned throughout family, it's how we gauge someone's excitement! It made me feel pretty good that a visit with us would even make that list. Dad said she almost jumped as high!

What is a birthday without cake, even if you have diabetes. I think she was impressed with Heath's b-day gift a porky pooper (such a thoughtful kid). Ria was a little more stumped because she knew grandma collects pigs then inspiration hit and she said "I like pigs too I'll give her pigs the way I like them" (bacon) it was pretty funny!

The rest of the time we put them to work Dad fixed our fence and gate, Mom spoiled us with good food and a special treat (her deviled eggs are the best). I love Heath's devilish face in this one!

We drug them all over and they put up with my busy schedule. They brought us some camping stuff, which we will need for the Trek. They also brought us pork & (lots of it) It was Quick but we will take what we can get! It was great to have them here. Hope they will hop back soon!

Saturday at the Easter Egg Hunt



Weird Ri the Science guy?

Rianne entered her science project. The buoyancy of bowls all her idea (even if Brant & I wanted her to try some other cool stuff). She was pretty excited to take 3^rd place!

 There will be other years for our crazy ideas. Brant had a good time with it and has been checking out science experiments on the web! Look out Myth Busters Ria and Dad are quite the team and I think they enjoyed the daddy daughter time too!

You ain’t Foolin’ Anyone

Who are these fools?

I want to celebrate everything. I love holidays and know that despite my parenting flaws, my children will have some happy childhood memories. Rianne actually has April Fool's in her top three for favorites. We had our April fools family home evening about the Wiseman and the foolish man. We had visitors and Heath was so excited to have one of his Primary teachers come. Instead of blocks I thought it would be fun to do jell-o jigglers but I foolishly made regular jell-o ;). We stacked Marshmallows instead I think we still got the point about building on a strong not shaky foundation and having a testimony of Christ and His words, which goes with the history of April Fools.

(here it is in a nut shell if you don't know) 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the New Year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1. Communications being what they were in the days many people did not receive the news or couldn't read the announcement; they continued to celebrate the New Year on April First. They received the label of "fools" by the general public. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fool's errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes. It is always good to remember that I can know for myself the truthfulness of the gospel and how grateful I am to Read His words. I'm also slow to conform J

Then came the day of foolishness; We had "eggs" for breakfast, I'm so glad Pam gave us some eggs from her chickens because it played into the size of the yolk. We had inside out sandwiches for lunch. Rianne was stocked up with pranks for school.

You can see her inside out sandwich and of course the apple cider vinegar (apple juice). She wrapped her ankle and hopped into circle time with all the "what happened?" she yelled "April Fools". I think that one was her favorite. She took a shock pen and got a few laughs from that, and of course the ol' spring in a can joke got the lunch duty lady with that one. I also made sure she had some worms and rocks for lunch she loved the little surprise treat. She came home so excited about the day I couldn't help but smile. She gets so excited to pull a prank that she almost gives it away. 

  Heath on the other hand is very sneaky, in March he got caught watching basketball, instead of cleaning his room, I couldn't really get too upset with that he did let me know the score J I made some foolish picks on my bracket and Brant killed me this is not good for my record he beat me in bowl picks too. Sorry, foolishly distracted.  

On April 1^st Heath put his breakfast plate in the pantry to trick me and never said anything until I found it just after lunch! He loved being a sneaky prankster April first or not.

I made "milk shakes" for dinner really I just blended soup but when Brant went to add salt Ria tricked him by switching it to sugar. She was the only one that got Dad!

Then we got treats ready, got into our disguises (that could fool anyoneJ) and set out on our Fool's errand. I hope the unsuspecting fools enjoyed their treats!

How fitting that General conference falls right after April Fools, How great the wisdom and the love! What a wonderful weekend filled with a little foolishness and a lot of Wisdom!