Pictures by Bennett

Easter Air Ball

Even Bennett had school

We were so excited to go to Kanab for Easter but with no school off and other commitments our shot to announce the way we hoped was a total air ball.  We had to send our shocking news.   The kids made cards inside the egg cards to our parents. 

we had this little message Not EGGactly planned… Easter is a time of miracles though we didn’t think we could have anymore we are EGGspecting number 4.  –October 2016     

We had the pinewood derby see how grandpa’s work has held up after 30 years with the same design. 

Heath had a great time and was very excited to see Blake again even made him a trophy!  Heath’s car was voted most likely to be on the cover of motor trend! 

Bennett is so good to support his siblings he LOVED the race

Because our plans to Kanab didn’t work out We had to go with plan B.  Rianne ended up going to a sand tournament and they took 2^nd! 

She was very excited to get her medal!  And Bennett also enjoys playing in the sand! 

 Afterwards Brant and Ria went to the stake dance!  

We still colored eggs and this baby will be the 40^th grand child on Brown’s and I believe the 100^th family member! 

Somehow the bunny found us too and Bennett enjoyed the in house egg hunt

Our Easter weekend was still packed! 

Just to go along with my morning sickness I thought a lot about the Glory of that Easter morning!  I love the talk by Joseph B Wirthlin Sunday will come which he states “Each of us will have our own Fridays—Those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about in pieces those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again.  No matter our desperation no matter our grief Sunday will come!”  “In an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried the lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise”.  In the talk by Elder Bruce D. Porter Beautiful mornings… he gives reassurance I needed “We need not fear the future nor falter in hope and good cheer because God is with us”    I would not consider myself a morning person but oh that Sunday Morning means everything to me!

AND That Wraps up our MARCH MADNESS!

 

Fast (Spring) Break

 

To start our spring break Ria broke away to go to San Diego, CA with some friends. She loved the beach!!!!!!

We made a break for Kanab

 

Brant worked hard to put in the sprinkler system for Mary and Jeff. 

Grandpa and Heath made a pinewood derby car. It was patterned after Brant’s car from 30 years ago! 

They also enjoyed sharing musical talents with their ukuleles

At half time of spring break we pulled off the shocker on St. Patrick’s day! 

Breaking the news to the kids that we are going for a 4 point play!   

 
For the final seconds of spring break, we made a family trip to see the Mesa Easter pageant, it was awesome but we clearly do not have a selfie stick ;)!

The next day Rianne played in a volleyball tournament and her team took 1^st!     

Bracket Busted!

Heath played city league basketball and he put his heart into it!  I loved watching him balance his competitive nature but still being a good teammate.   I was so proud of him when he told the ref the ball went out on him (actually the Ref was pretty impressed too and after the game gave him a gift card to eat for being honest).  Got to hear a guy yell “doesn’t the middle school have a team #5 plays on”, so funny to me, he is in 4^th grade I promise!  It was hard to watch him hurt after he missed the last second shot for the win,(even when he had more than half of the teams points).  I wish I would have been able to snap a picture of his face when one game they were up 20-2 and Heath had a fast break and his coach called time out before he got to his lay-up Heath only has one speed and slowing up isn’t one of them but what a kind coach.  In fact his coach was awesome at coaching so a varied skill level.  He gave him dribbling homework (which he did faithfully) He loved getting basketball cards!  And at the end of the year party he gave them all little basketballs too.  He made a good friend Jordan on his team who has convinced him to try baseball. 

It was really fun to watch this group of boys play against each other too  Boys are getting busted up because Blake Heath’s very good friend is moving L 

He loves basketball and has really been following Golden State and Steph Curry (who he claims he'll be better than someday).  He is still a Michigan fan although we are not sure where that came from.  

Rianne also played middle school basketball but I was too busy chasing Bennett to snap any pictures of her.   

Sweet 16

 

We made it to the sweet 16!  We still Love to be with each other we kept our celebration sweet and simple I did make Brant a sucker bouquet with a little note about how we have taken our licks but we are Lucky Suckers to get to stick together forever!  I just love him! 

 

Loaves of Love

I loved having my parents here and celebrating Chinese New Year and Valentines with them.  It was great to have them on an especially busy week for Brant church, work and basketball.  We went to phoenix for a Dr. apt and my parents did the pick up and run around with the kids.  Attending Heath and Rianne’s basketball games and even got to watch Rianne in a sand volleyball tournament.  Bennett brought home loads of sand!   

My parents always ask what we need I usually tell them whatever is fine, well this year I gave them some ideas, they brought EVERYTHING I suggested and more!  I guess that is just like Heavenly Father we ask even after He has given us so much and then he blesses us with more than we deserve!   Loaves and fishes I suppose my meager offerings He thanks me for and makes it more. 

My mom taught Rianne how to make Bread they had too much fun!   

And we got homemade bread! 

 Dad stayed busy with projects too!  I am sure enjoying the fixed gate!   

Not sure how I would have survived the week without them and they even took us out for Pizza lunch with these super kids! 

 

Zoram into the Wilderness

We are reading the book of Mormon as a family this year and just finished 1Nephi so to celebrate…

 We let our kids choose a Zoram (friend) to take to the wilderness (Grand Canyon) and have a picnic 

Bennett was a good sport being a daughter of Ishmael  and although it was windy and cold we didn’t have too much murmuring!     

Four More

Today is his GOTCHA day! 

 

Bennett was born and Four days later he placed in our arms.  I think throughout the whole process I felt every emotion, he turned our world inside out and we love it!  He has really been into the movie inside out which has been great as he is getting better at expressing emotions verbally.   

We love having his birthday party in Kanab with family.  Kristi did an amazing job on his cake as usual!  Grandma & Grandpa always give the best personal touch cards too!    

Four more things He loves… being a sunbeam especially singing time, the wii, trains and still loves all girly things!    Four more things we love… his Laugh, the way he does jumping jacks, says orange and that he still loves tummy rubs.  Every year I kiss is belly button and remind him, that it is his love button, proof that his birth mom loved him very much she gave him life and he has blessing ours for 4 years and we look forward to more!  Every year I am even more grateful for his birthmother for the courage to go through even more emotions than I can imagine. I love her more every year too!            

New Stew

New year’s is always interesting usually so much anticipation.  This Year I anticipated getting to Ring in the new year in Kanab, much like New Years of my past they seem to be anticlimactic.  Brant ended up being a chaperone at the dance here in Flagstaff.  Ria had a blast with friends who new Brant would have fun too!  His favorite part about serving in the bishopric is working with the youth!  Heath even went to a little mini party and I went to bed. 

2016 started off right, on new year’s day the sounds of football filled the home and I made some New stew! The snowman must have thought we needed snow after one day of school after Christmas break then delayed start and gave us 3 new days of snow break!  New for us too we used the driveway for sledding!  

        

Only way to do Easter

For me Kanab is the only place to go on Easter I love all the family from sitting around laughing decorating eggs and of course the highlight is rolling them.   

The first time I really thought weird but now it is the only way!   

This year it was awesome having it coincide with LDS General Conference!  The kids loved staying at McKay's Condo the big eggs were a hit!  Now I will need to hunt for some more of them.   

 For Mary the only place to go was the tomb,

When we face that emptiness He is still the only place to turn He is way the truth and the light!  He is the Only way!