9 and just fine



 This kid got to celebrate her birthday all week! Before dad left we let her open her present from Heath (so she could wear it to sing in the primary program) Every time we went to the mall she would check on this dress, and then say it's still not on sale, then when she saw it was on sale she was so excited but it was still too much money, she was pretty disappointed. One day I was with Heath and it was so cute he went over to the sales rack and said "mom its Ria's dress" I checked and finally it was reasonably priced so, I asked Heath if he would like to get it for her for her birthday. He was so excited to give it to her and even asked a few times if I remembered where it was, & requested just to see it, then he would exclaim I'm so excited; she is going to love it!



When Brant left he had an 8 year old daughter and we he came home she was 9! She cracked me up that morning I made her breakfast with her favorite (sausage & bacon).



While she was having breakfast she said "So I've been tempted for a year now right?" It took me a while to get what she was asking then I answered yes, Satan has been able to tempt you. To which she responded "I'm doing a pretty good job" Yes, Ria you are doing just fine, but there are more years ahead and hopefully every year you can respond with that. How grateful I am for this girl and her reminders. For me there have been some good years and some not so good years but with the Lords help I too am just fine!

I also took her class doughnuts and chocolate milk for her birthday. She was excited that her birthday came on crazy hat day at school.



Then I took her and a friend to the mall (most of their time was spent at Claire's, they picked out magnetic earrings and a mood bracelet.

I let her open a few presents sent to us thanks grandma Mary and Sienna!  She wanted to save some for when dad got home!

After dad got home with his surprises he brought the kids Alaskan huskies (stuffed animals) the kids were thrilled and then too add to a late night she couldn't wait to open her Alaskan birthday present from dad (porcelain doll)!



She also had no idea she was getting a real cowgirl hat. (From the boot barn, she has wanted it for a very long time).

With the dress, cowgirl hat and boots crossed off her wish list, who knows what she'll want for Christmas. She was so sweet and expressed her gratitude.



She wanted a bubble gum cake;



we let her invite 4 friends over for cake and ice-cream.



Hailey, Ria, Ginger, Ashlee



They had a good time playing bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish!



She is officially 9! She is the most helpful kid I know. I don't know what I'd do without her, especially while Brant was gone. I love how she says "mom don't mop the floor let me do it when I get home". Or how she asks if she can make dinner all by herself. She is a great big sister; I can't tell you how many mornings I got up to find Heath had climbed in bed with her sometime in the night. I see where I rank in the comfort giver for that kid ;). Her faith amazes me. She is so smart and I love how she always takes care of her homework without any reminders. 

clapping out the candle's

She looks like her dad and reminds me so much of Grandma Brown (a genuine care taker). She is a kind and thoughtful kid. Her teacher told me that once a month they get a "happy day" they can go to lunch early and take one friend with them. On her happy day she chose to take a little girl with special needs that was in a wheel chair. The teacher said it made the little girl very, very happy. (I cried happy tears, I was so proud of her)



Brant’s Alaska trip

I was able to go to Alaska again for work this month and it signifies the end of my travel for work. I have accepted a new position within my office as Assistant Director for Transfer Credit Evaluation. It will be a lot different from the recruitment stuff I have been doing for the last 4 years but I think it will be a good change. If I am lucky they will ask me to go to Alaska again since I now know the ropes. It was a great trip even if it was very tiring. I was able to visit several different cities which was awesome.

Ketchikan…The Rain Capital of the United States

  



On the ferry with the airport behind me.



Ketchikan really does get more rain than anywhere else in the country and as you can tell I got the true experience. I was only there for a day but it rained the whole time. Still it is a beautiful place. I don't really like seafood much, but I promised Jana that I would at least try some Alaskan Halibut while I was on this trip so I got that out of the way on the first night as I went out to a local restaurant and ordered a halibut BLT. It was actually pretty good. I also had fish again the next day while in Ketchikan for lunch I had some yellow-eyed rock fish which is another white fish and it wasn't too bad either. I am still not a seafood lover, but I think Alaskan Halibut is not too bad. I did have some other seafood later in the trip and I can tell you that I still don't like shrimp.

Sitka

They say that all of southeast Alaska gets a lot of rain, but the day I spent in Alaska the clouds parted and I was able to enjoy a beautiful crisp fall day in Sitka. I really enjoyed Sitka a lot. Sitka is where they held the ceremony when the U.S. officially bought Alaska from Russia. It was interesting also to see the Russian influence that is still there. Sitka actually has a Russian Orthodox Church right in the center of town. I enjoyed learning a little more of the history there and of course having some time to walk down to Totem Park where they have 11 standing totems in the woods and just enjoy the beauty of the area.

Juneau

This was the best stop because I had an extra day to enjoy the area. Thank you so much Natalie Shumway for putting me in touch with your relatives there. They were awesome to show me around. Rick took me for a hike near Mendenhall Glacier along with his friend Bud who is pictured with me near the waterfall. This waterfall is actually just a small one. There is a much larger waterfall near the base of the glacier but we decided to hike around the top of the big waterfall and see the glacier from a different perspective. It was so much fun. Of course, a trip to Alaska isn't complete unless you see a bear so lucky for me just at the head of the trail we hiked there was a black bear cub sitting right there just off the path digging for grubs in the foliage.

Anchorage

I didn't have as much time to explore in Anchorage but I was able to go down and find the temple. When I went back in March I had more time in Anchorage and got this picture of me in front of the Cook Inlet.

Fairbanks

While I was in Fairbanks I was able to go to Chena Hot Springs which is about 1 hour northeast of Fairbanks. I did get in but I will spare you the pictures of me in the water! It was pretty fun though especially because as you can see there was snow on the ground there and I was sitting in a hot pool even if it did smell like sulfur. It was pretty cold in Fairbanks, 12 degrees the morning I left.

My arrival home

I was very excited to get home after being gone for a week and a half and the kids and Jana were very excited to get me back home. Next time I get the chance to go to Alaska I am definitely going to take Jana with me although not to Fairbanks in October (she would freeze for sure). Hopefully it will be on a real vacation where we get to truly enjoy the trip and each other. I was very surprised to see a welcome home sign when I got off the plane. Isn't my family the cutest thing you have ever seen!

Man I miss...

This Big Guy

Brant has been traveling a lot with work, which will come to an end next week as he settles into his new position. Then maybe we can settle into our new home!


Maybe there is some security in having some big guy lying next to me, snoring loudly. I just sleep better when he is home. I’m a better mom and as Ria pointed out I’m happier too! I like me better when he’s home too. Maybe it is good to be reminded of the things I take for granted.
I never see him as a detail man but with this Big guy gone I realize it is the little things I miss.


I miss how loads of laundry magically gets switched and end up folded. Children bathe and go to bed effortlessly. Even family scripture study just happens. There has been no small pile of books for me to pick up in the morning. I miss hearing his deep voice reading stories to the kids. I’ll even in admit I miss falling asleep as he reads to me too! I miss waking up with an extra blanket on me. I even slightly miss those nights when he takes my covers or tries to cuddle with me when I’m a sleep. I miss talking about nothing or anything I am still so grateful for cell phones! (it is just better in person). I miss watching football together.


We went down to watch Brandon a few weeks ago! 

 I miss how the bills get paid and the checkbook balanced. Rianne’s hair is easier to do when he’s home too, it must be that it gets combed out better :). I miss how Heath’s shoes get tied, and breakfast & lunch just happen. I even miss packing his lunch. I miss squidgy marks on the shower doors and the smell of old spice body wash:).

I miss sleeping through the night; he is the upset tummy, nightmare relief, doors locked etc. night watch guy. Look what I find when Brant isn’t here to put the kids to bed, he's in Rianne's room 


Yes, that is a flosser hanging out of Heaths's mouth

I miss cleaning up dinner and doing the dishes together. I miss loading that one dish in the sink with the slightest bit of ice cream remains. I miss the way he comes up behind me when I’m working on something. I miss him coming home from work and instantly engaging in our family, from wrestling with Heath, helping me with dinner. He has even been known to help with homework (usually mine). I miss his expressions of gratitude for the few things I do, especially dinner. I miss that he takes care of the leftovers.


Brant taking care of the weeds

I miss someone asking me what I want done and the easy compliance to my time schedule. I miss “my time” and “our time”. I miss having extra help on my to do list. I miss that when I bite off more than I can chew, he is right there to chew with me (even if he warned that I was taking on too much). I miss how he sometimes has to make me take care of myself, although I am still getting the “are you taking care of yourself” questions. He is the most selfless man I know! 

Happy doing yard work

 I miss our inside jokes and how we can look at each other and easily interpret the look. I miss his smile and those reassuring blue eyes! I miss how forgiving and patient he is, when I ask him the same question or repeat the same story. He is patient with my weird quirks and secretly enjoys a few of them. I miss his easy laugh.


Brant's trip to Alaska back in March

I miss not getting to share this adventure—someday we will see Alaska together right? He will be here for other primary programs and birthdays. I’m sure I missed some other little things too! I really miss my very best friend, which I am lucky enough to be married to!


I miss how he always puts our needs first. The night he was packing to leave he was working in the garage moving boxes and stacking things, (I got slightly annoyed). Only to find out, he was clearing the way, so if it got cold I could park in the garage. Thanks for taking such good care of me.


It is amazing how the little things add up.  How do you do it all Brant? I don’t tell you thank you enough, I miss you and love you very, very much!

Is he growing up?

 I got Heath's 5 year old pictures. Why?
Here is the 4 year old picture

Now 5 doesn't he look the same?

And his 3 year old ones don't seem too far off either.

He is growing up, I promise, well at least growing out of clothes. I guess I'll just keep on loving his baby face as long as it stays that way J

 

High 5

Life has been crazy busy through the move, travel with work (Brant), etc.

Here is what we found Heath doing while I was packing.

Even with everything that is going on I still managed to lose my little boy and have an official 5 year old KID. I knew life was moving so fast but this is just crazy how can my baby be 5?

 Sunday, Heath turned 5 we let him open a present from Grandma and Grandpa Brown before church on Sunday, (we thought it would be safe) they gave him a sling-shot!

brant will agree to almost anything that early :)

This completes his title of Dennis the Menace. J
For his Birthday dinner Heath chose Fish sticks and potato salad, that is definitely a Heath/Brown combination!

That night we let him open another gift.

he was very excited

 We celebrated his birthday with a 5-finger-food party.

Here he is with the boys


Lto R Jared, Cooper, HEATH, Paden, Porter,Ethan (blocked by) Dillan 

  More kids enjoying finger foods

Autumn & Tyson

More presents


Lto R Autumn, Heath, Dayton

 And of course cake and ice cream.

He looks so cute about to make a wish

Heath is our little secret agent and he loves Perry the platypus from Phineas and Ferb. Here is my attempt at a platypus cake.

 There are 5 letters in his name; here are 5 things we love about HEATH!

Hilarious

He says or does something every day that makes us laugh

Energetic

This kid is always in hyper-drive; he runs everywhere, does everything at full speed. He won't even admit to sleeping J

Affectionate
he is so physical loves to wrestle & cuddle

Thinker

This kid is so smart and asks great questions, he is a very creative problem solver.

Hands

He loves them and has since he was very tiny, he is very selective when it comes to holding hands

This picture fits my little man

Happy Birthday, Big, little Guy thank you so much for joining our family!

+ This to my list

I was leaving to pick up Rianne from school, only to have a strange delay, the garage door didn't shut, so I pushed the button again, it shut. Turned the key to the car and it didn't start, I turned the key again it started right up. This may have only delayed me
5 seconds
but that is just what I needed. As I approached the intersection to enter the highway, a truck was fading fast, I thought he is going to hit me, I reached to reverse but didn't have time the driver of the truck just missed me and the stop sign by about 5 seconds. The truck continued taking out a fence and drifting through the field, kicking up so much dust. Then it crashed into the garage of a home. That is when I made my first 911 call and hopefully my last. This picture isn't great but, if you look close you can see the tire tracks where the driver comes off the road. So close to where I was!

I feel so protected and I have no question that the Lord is aware of me and loves me. Here is what the newspaper had about the accident; I was hoping they would have pictures.

The driver of a truck crashed through the garage of a Timberline home Monday afternoon.

According to information from the Summit Fire District, firefighters were called to a home off North Highway 89 at about 3:30 p.m. on a report of a vehicle crash. The report included information that the vehicle crashed into a garage.

When crews arrived, they found a large, full-sized truck that had been traveling south on the highway had gone off road for about a quarter-mile before slamming through a fence, a shed and a garage. The crash damaged three other vehicles inside the garage and caused significant damage to the garage and home. The homeowner, who told rescuers that the crash "felt like an earthquake," evacuated the home.

The driver of the truck was the only person injured and transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment. A prior medical condition might have contributed to the crash. The crash is being investigated by officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

This experience reminded me of one I had as kid, I won't go into too much detail but a bull charged and I slid under a fence. I have thought the Lord could have stopped the bull, changed the course of events. But would I then recognize the miracle of His protecting hand? Evidence of His love.

Feels good to be Home

This is a bit of a deep post because I am overwhelmed with gratitude and the inability to truly express it. President Henry B Eyring gave a talk in 2007 O Remember, Remember. --"Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today? As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done. More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that came because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."
I have been writing things down, not as faithfully as President Eyring but over the course of the year I too, have seen the hand of God, and felt what president Eyring articulated so much better than I could. These moments have become very special to me and I don't share too many of them.
I want to humbly try to express what I feel is another miracle and we've been blessed with so many this year. Early in July we had made an offer on another home, it had been accepted, but when we looked through it again, it just wasn't right. I was again disappointed. We asked about the house we had looked at months before. Our realtor said, she would check but would be surprised if it was still available. Blessings amid disaster; in June the Shultz fire burned 15,000 acres in the flagstaff area, this fire limited access to the home listed.

We made an offer knowing it was a long shot, but convincing ourselves that the worst they could say was no, our realtor told us she would put it in, but reminded us that even in this economy homes were not going for 20% less than their appraised value. Even though our offer was significantly lower than the listing price we got an approved offer, we couldn't believe it. 1700 square foot home, four-bed, 2 bath on an acre, we were so excited; it was perfect. Then the thunder, a big rain storm on July 20^th, the day after the accepted offer. Monsoon Season hit with flooding and for a while I felt like we were living in Water Ward. The mud slides and floods were devastating. We drove to our would-be home, only to see the home across the street and the neighbor to the left with mud to their doors. I looked at the slope of our driveway leading to the garage, the mud that lined our would-be shed and I was sure that this house too, would enter our list of ones that just didn't work out. To my amazement the mud stopped 3 feet from our garage and the next closest spot was mud right to the flower bed at the corner of the house.
 

took this after it had dried and we drove on it

The flood had missed our home, I still can't explain how. Setting out to protect our investment, we borrowed a neighbor's truck and started clearing out the ditch and sandbagging, I was full of questions; what is this going to do to the property value?, Is it really going to work out?, How can we even afford these house payments? I still don't know the answers to these questions but I feel a great deal of peace. We looked up to see a double rainbow stretching across the sky and ending at our home. Not some YouTube video but true confirmation. Our Father in Heaven knows us, we know he wants us in Flagstaff and we are trying our best to stay in alignment with Him and he is truly opening the windows of heaven! God does keep His promises.

You can see Brant in the ditch

I still don't know how we can afford to live here in flagstaff, but I know it is where we are suppose to be and miraculously we have been making ends meet. We officially closed on our house September 10^th. The rains grew some amazingly tall weeds that will take some work but it feels so good to be home!

Brant left for Tucson for work on the 12^th, I set out to put the house in some sort of order while he was gone. Rianne got the flu; I had homework with my master's classes, and all the boxes! It was a stressful week but I have recognized His hand through the kindness of others, loading and unloading boxes, meals, encouragement etc. Two people who live to Go and Do! They are the ONLY way I survived the week. I don't know what I would have done without them. Annette came over, and got rid of my maroon wall! She taped, primed and painted.

Tera brought me boxes even when I thought I had enough but didn't and then after I emptied them took them to someone else. When I thought there is no way I would have done everything I wanted to before Brant came home, they came to my rescue again. Tera showed up with pitas for dinner and they moved furniture, got the house in the order just the way I wanted for Brant. Annette and Tera make my gratitude journal on a regular basis.

We are still not completely moved in, but Brant came home to a home cooked meal, a kitchen, pantry and bathroom in order and other things underway. He was extremely surprised and pleased with the newly painted wall; I was so excited his reaction was better than expected. I still had plenty of projects for him when he returned and the list will continue to grow. The blessings keep coming we have renters so we can get out of our rental agreement and Brant will be the assistant director of admissions over transfer credit, which will bring a nice raise and less travel (starting in November). It will still be tight, but I am incredibly grateful and humbled that He continues to bless us!