Spoons in the Garden

In between allergy attacks, I've been trying to do some gardening. Just clearing the flower beds and planning. Under the leaves and brush, I have found several spoons. Because I don't want the kids to use my garden trowel(I bought a good one!), I've let the them use old spoons. I smiled when I found them.

Can you guess who made this in school? Fill panty hose with potting soil and grass seed. Decorate with eyes and antennae and water. Kinda creepy, huh? It's going downhill. One of the eyes fell off. Adria is glad I put it outside.

Eva's First Art Show

One of Eva's drawings was chosen for the community art show. The school's art teacher chose artwork from two or three students in each grade. Our home is littered with Eva's drawings and paintings. She always lets me know when we are low on crayons or markers. Adria teases that Eva uses so much paper she's responsible for several trees.


So here we have in the cubist style, Portrait of a Crazy Dude by Eva Brown, pastels on paper

My Boy Colin



When we first decided to homeschool Colin, I was unsure about whether it was the right decision or not. But he hated school, and that is not an exaggeration. Whatever the outcome will be, it is great to have him home. He has the quirkiest, wittiest sense of humor. At least once a day I am laughing with him.
Colin is also a great big brother. As soon as Liam was born, I wasn't able to keep the two apart. They wrestle, build forts and climb trees together. About the only time they argue is if Liam tries to "help" Colin play his guitar.
The past year has been one of incredible growth for Colin. He is now taller than me and gaining on Andrew. But I love the way he has matured and mellowed. He is becoming a responsible, thoughtful young man. As a mom, I'm proud of who he is becoming, but a little sad to lose my boy.

Easter Sunday



Today was stake conference at church. We had a broadcast from Salt Lake instead of the usual meetings. The day wasn't as sunny as yesterday, but we took a family picture anyway. It was a bit chilly.

Egg Hunt

We took the kids to an Easter egg hunt at the Shepherd's home today. They are a family from church and all the kids from church were invited. There were over 1000 eggs for all the kids to find.

Liam in Action


Sweet Eva Grace


Noah decided he needed to share eggs with Liam who wasn't offering any resistance.

My Favorite Seven Year Old

As all moms know, you can't have favorites. My kids will ask me who my favorite is, and it's hard to explain, as a parent, you just don't have 'favorites'. I love each of my children for who they are and what they bring to the family. But they love it when I say, "Your my favorite baby boy" or "Your my favorite teenage girl". It helps because of the birth order and distance between the kids that I have pretty much two sets of kids. The older ones and the younger ones, and there is one of each gender in each set.

Eva was born with a joyful, happy spirit. She always has a smile on her face and a giggle in her voice. I love that she brings me dandelions and hate to tell her that they are really weeds and don't like them in my yard. As a baby we called her "Princess Angelbaby". I said it was because God just wrapped up one of His angels and sent her to me. She loves that and the story and now we just call her Princess.
She loves to read and always wants to take books we own to school. One day I watched her walking home from the bus stop reading the whole way. She looked so much like Andrew in that moment. She's my only child that will come to tell me it's time for bed. No kicking and screaming her way to bed like I did as a child. And she's asleep in five minutes.
Everyone is Eva's friend. In no time, she'll know all about you. She also has a deep sense of family and asks questions about extended family members. She's especially fascinated by those who have passed on like her Grandpa Charlie.

We love this dimply girl with the bright eyes and big smile!

Miscellaneous Happenings


The last few weeks have been a bit busy. Seasonal allergies seem to have us moving in slow motion even when life would dictate going at the speed of light. Thankfully, the school year is coming to an end and summer is on the horizon.

We traveled to Iowa City for cousin Jonathan's baptism. Eva and Liam enjoyed playing with cousin Yoroko and their new cousin Gabriel.


We were only missing three of the Brown cousins.




I'm so glad my kids are friends.


We've also had multiple guitar lessons(Colin), piano lessons(both girls), a trip to Florida(Andrew), replaced our stove, had the daffodils bloom one week and snow the next aside from all the daily events of life.