Surviving the School Year

In a few days, one more school year will be over. Thank goodness for Summer! We are all exhausted by the demands this year has brought. Liam will be starting kindergarten in the fall and while his speech has improved, I will be grateful to send him on the bus and not make the trek to and from school each day. In regards to Eva, let's just say a good teacher makes all the difference, and we look forward to the requested one next year : ) Colin is more willing to work on homeschool and asked if we could continue with some this summer. In his words, "I don't want to be 40 and living in your basement." Neither do we, Colin, neither do we. Adria will be in her last year of high school. She is eager and anxious to strike out on her own, knowing she's not truly "on her own", but has her parents a phone call and tuition check away.

Let's hope for a pleasant, restful, peaceful summer!

**On a side note, I had an allergic reaction to the new medication I started. I was hoping for a decrease in inflammation throughout particularly my joints, but alas, I began to itch excessively. The skin around my left eye was already damaged from a chemical burn (always wash your hands while cleaning and before you touch your face!). My eye was on the mend, but became swollen, red, and claw off your skin itchy as did other areas of skin. So, I have stopped my meds and am on a three day course of prescription antihistamines and steroids. The itching has calmed down... Now. Peaceful summer.

Wild Ride

Our life is pretty crazy as a norm, but the past few weeks have been wild. The latest is that nasty bacteria called streptococcus pyogenes (I hope I got that right, Mom!). Liam has brought this critter home, and I hope he doesn't stay as long as others have. Colin and I were sick last week with what may have been a mild form. Let's hope we don't keep passing it around.

On a related note, I have decided to begin expecting the unexpected. I don't want to turn more pessimistic than I already am, but if I expect that plans may go awry maybe I can handle them better.

Cheese, anyone?

My sister, politely, informed me that I had not posted anything since January. Was my life so busy that I couldn't take ten minutes and blog a bit? The answer is yes and no. Yes, life is extremely busy. Liam's preschool schedule has my days broken into pieces of time. I spend so much time in the car shuttling children, and Andrew, from place to place. Andrew's work and church obligations have turned me into a single parent. (I do realize I'm stretching it a bit and know single mothers are far busier than I am, but let me exaggerate for a minute!) And no, I probably could take ten minutes to blog, but have been thinking life is much the same, what is there to write about. Hopefully, the end is in sight, the light is at the end of the tunnel and there is a snowball's chance that life will become more manageable. Liam will be in all day kindergarten next year cutting down on driving time, and I have started some new medication that with a little hope may give me some much needed energy.

Now about that cheese. Parmesan cheese is one of Liam's favorite food. Not the real, beautiful, tangy cheese freshly grated, but the from a plastic tube that's been sitting on the grocery shelf for who knows how long. We have to hide it from him, or we will find him in the fridge chugging it. Eeewwww!

Year Quiz Key

I realized we have several friends who we haven't seen in several years. Some are from grad school days and have never met Eva and Liam. I'm providing a key to further educate you in the disorganization bordering on chaos that is the Brown Family.

1. B, However, she does excel in the other three.
2. C, The chance to shoot a gun has raised Colin's willingness to attend Scouts.
3. D, Liam has been a monkey from the get-go. His climbing skills and balance are amazing. I never worry about him at the park. Of course, it does mean he tries to climb over the pews in church.
4. B, One of these days I'll get to go with him. For now, I am content with Parisian scarves, Belgian chocolates and Argentine jewelry brought back to me.
5. C, Liam's idea of being 'gentle' with the cat is to bury him under a pile of stuffed animals. Our 15 year old cat just can't take this kind of love.
6. B, The phrase "How rude!" has found its way into her vocabulary.
7. probably D, I love and highly recommend all of the books, but Fire is one I've read over and over.
8. D, Two teenagers in the house includes much sarcasm and wit.
9. B, A nice calm blue that goes well with the new floors
10. B, One of the other answers includes a show that is a guilty pleasure for us.
11. C, Although Andrew is constantly thinking the piano will fall through the floor, the house will crack in two pieces,and a sink whole will develop beneath the house. Oh, and he just bought a paisley tie to wear while Bishoping.
12. B, Eva loves to draw pictures, cut out snowflakes and basically cut, glue, tape any piece of paper she sees. We are not allowed to throw them away!
13. All, We have wondered for so long what that child is saying. Now we know and we can't stop smiling.
14. D, Andrew and I realized that the younger kids have not been to Utah, and Colin doesn't remember going. Of course, that means we'll have to visit Kirtland and Palmyra again in a few years so the younger kids can remember them.

"Christmas Time is Here, Happiness and Cheer"

Sending Christmas letters is not one of our strong points. Somehow the letters and cards never make them into the mail. We have always enjoyed receiving them from family and friends and thought we would give this a try.

The Brown's Year End Quiz

1. Adria received a 5 on her AP exam this year. Which subject do her parents now believe she is an expert in?

a) Advanced Jane Austen Piano Pieces
b) European History
c) Sarcasm in Modern Day America
d) Advanced Romantic Comedy Theory

2. Colin went to Scout Camp for the first time this year and had a blast. Which merit badge did he earn that gave him a new love for Scouts while terrifying his mother?

a) Wry Comedic Timing
b) British Comedies
c) Rifle Shooting
d) Sibling Torture Techniques

3. Liam most closely resembles which of the following animals? In fact, it is one of his nicknames.

a) anteater
b) dinosaur
c) tree sloth
d) monkey

4. Andrew has reached the point in his career at which he gives lectures and seminars away from St. Louis. Which of countries/universities did Andrew’s work send him to this year?

a) Kazakhstan, North Dakota, Argentina, Adams College, BYU
b) Argentina, Univ. of Florida, Cornell, France, BYU
c) Cornell, Galapagos, Faber College, Pacific Tech, Argentina
d) McGill, Argentina, UCLA, BYU, France

5. Which child does our 16 yr old cat, Midnight, flee from whenever said child enters a room?

a) Adria
b) Eva
c) Liam
d) Colin

6. Which older TV show has Eva discovered thanks to cable TV?

a) Hawaii 5-0
b) Full House
c) 21 Jump Street
d) Bonanza

7. What was Amy’s favorite book of the year?

a) The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
b) Nation by Terry Pratchett
c) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
d) Fire by Kristin Cashore

8. How many inches did Colin grow this year?

a) 6, the same number of Merit badges he has earned this year
b) 52, the same number of Red Dwarf episodes he's watched this month
c) a foot, which is making buying shoes difficult
d) 4, the same number of times he argues with Adria about nothing each day

9. What color did Amy paint the kitchen and dining room?

a) a pink called, well, Degas Pink
b) a blue called Gentle Sky
c) an orange called Volcanic Blast
d) a green called Barnyard Grass

10. Adria and Amy are obsessed with which two TV shows?

a) Charlie Rose and Cougar Town
b) NCIS and Criminal Minds
c) Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader and Deadliest Catch
d) Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Law & Order: Criminal Intent

11. Andrew’s second book will be coming out in July. What is its title?

a) Flowers and Unicorns in Latin American Literature
b) Homeowner Paranoia in Latin American Literature
c) Cyborgs in Latin America
d) The Art of Wearing Paisley in Latin America

12. Which household member’s prodigious, artistic production, in addition to beautifying the house, is single-handedly deforesting the trees in the Amazon?

a) Madison, the deceased goldfish
b) Eva
c) Midnight the cat
d) Muffles, the teddy bear

13. Liam’s speech has improved over the past year. (We can’t thank Miss Jen, his speech pathologist, enough). Which of the following phrases did he utter this year?

a) “I too wittle, I can’t cwean up.”
b) “I wuv you all the numbers, Mommy!”
c) “I need to exerswise, I’m old.”
d) “Me, four!” instead of “Me, too”

14. Where is our family vacationing next summer?

a) Timbuktu
b) Sudan
c) Mongolia
d) Utah

Best Wishes!!!

It's Been a Long Time

Yikes! We haven't posted anything in a long time. Think that means we were busy? Don't worry a Christmas letter is coming soon.

Burnt Crumbs

Can I tell you that my clothes smell like burnt bread crumbs? Eva decided to use the timer on the microwave not realizing quite how to use it. When I opened the door out came a little smoke which quickly found its way into my hair and clothes. There wasn't a lot of smoke just enough to make me smelly for the rest of the evening. Good times.

What Will They Say/Do Next?

Recently, I've been amused by children. They can sometimes be a source of frustration, but in the right light a good laugh is given.

*A friend from Virginia's daughter referred to her dad's Adam's apple as his "turkey place".

*One of my friends here has a rambunctious 5 year old boy. At the family Labor Day picnic he kicked his flip flop into a banana cream pie. Grandma was not amused.

*My 5 year old Indiana Jones obsessed nephew decided to use his toy whip to swing on the family room curtain rod. The same nephew called his mom "Mola Ram" (the evil guy in Temple of Doom) after she wouldn't let him get his way.

*Another nephew told his cousin that on Sunday you have to "keep the savage day holy".

*One kid referred to "goose bumps" as "duck spots".

*Liam ran around during a football game on TV yelling, "what happen, what happen?" every time Andrew or Colin groaned or cheered.

These are just in recent days. I'm there is more to come.

"So Much to Say..."

To say life runs at the speed of light may sound inflated and cliche, but in the Brown house it is close to the truth. These past few months have been a worldwind and I've neglected to keep up with our blog/family diary.

School for the kids in August. Adria has a love/hate relationship with some of her classes. AP Environmental Science seems to be the bane of her existence especially since our opinionated girl disagrees with the teachers views on subjects like overpopulation and how to deal with it. I love the head she has on those shoulders. Meanwhile, Eva is excited about 2nd grade. Apparently, raising chicks will be part of the curriculum. Liam is busy with pre-school and speech therapy. His teachers were impressed with the progress he made this summer. Colin and I are finding a nice balance with schoolwork. He's excited(or at least mildly interested which says a lot) about a dissection class he is taking from a friend of mine.

We've had lots of birthday cake lately. My birthday is in August as well as Colin's and Adria just turned 16 at the beginning of the month. It's been 16 years since I rushed to the hospital two weeks before my due date and said, "I think I'm in labor." One nurse in particular didn't believe me until another checked and said, "Yep, this baby's coming today." A few hours later, we had our little Adria Ruth. All 7lbs 11oz of her. Now she drives us to church on Sundays and is planning for college. Clearly, evidence that time runs at the speed of light.

Andrew is about to embark on several trips. His grandfather passed away and he will attend the funeral next weekend. The following week will take him to a conference at Cornell. Then he will be away in October teaching a weeklong seminar at BYU. He'll stay put for awhile until a symposium in Chile and a trip to Argentina next year.

I am trying to hold the fort down and keep it from falling down. I've been making plans for upkeep on the house like a new kitchen floor. Chauffeuring has recently been filed under my job description. During a recent trip to Home Depot with Andrew, I came outside and immediately, unconsciously headed to the driver's seat. I'm so used to driving everywhere and Andrew didn't mind at all. In the past, I preferred to have him drive. Like the song goes, I seem to be destined to tread trodden trails for long time to come.

Back to School

Yesterday was the first day of school for Adria and Eva. Colin also started work on his homeschool studies. Liam will begin preschool next week.
Adria has developed an inadequate teacher radar. She's a junior this year so school is 'awful' and she 'can't wait' for college. Eva is navigating 2nd grade. They have given all of the students ID numbers that they are required and punch into a keypad at lunch. She was tickled to be one of the few to have it memorized. Colin is doesn't protest too much when it comes to schoolwork. He is excited about a dissection class he is taking. A friend, who also homeschools, has a medical degree and is teaching a group of homeschool students. Liam is anxious to get back to preschool. He can't wait to see his friends.
I am happy to have a routine again. Andrew is about to embark on several trips this Fall. It's nice to have the kids occupied while Andrew is away. Now we just need some cooler, less humid weather.

The Rage of Drivers

Two incidents have brought to mind the impatience of some drivers today. First, let me describe my philosophy of driving as learned from my step-dad. "All drivers and all police are out to get you; so, drive cautiously always watching the drivers around you and never make a cop mad". I'm sure the intent was to scare a sixteen year old as he was teaching her to drive on narrow, gravel roads and unmarked, paved ones. The lessons stuck and have shaped how I drive today.

Incident #1: I was pulling out of a gas station onto a busy, four-lane road in my minivan when the driver(with, I kid you not, a big cigar in his mouth) behind me became impatient and began honking his horn and waving his arms at me. Now I am not too much of a nervous Nelly and not sure how this guy thought I would pitchfork myself into 40mph traffic without hurting myself. He proceeded to swing out, around, and beside me still honking and yelling then threw himself into traffic thus cutting off and enraging other drivers as evidenced by their honking, yelling and squealing of brakes. I was somewhat satisfied as I pulled out a moment later to see that he had been halted in his progress by the fire station down the road. They had all lanes blocked while backing up their trucks into the firehouse.

Incident #2: My fifteen year-old, learning to drive daughter was driving home this morning. She was going a little bit above 30mph(speed limit) on a two lane, residential street. So the driver behind her decides to start honking HIS horn. She handled herself well continuing on and ignoring the jerk behind her.

What is wrong with these drivers? I try to keep myself from going no more that 5mph over whatever the speed limit more as a way to keep from getting a ticket than from wanting to be pokey. I have a friend(you know who you are) who when I told that became upset. She felt like I was trying to keep her and other drivers from driving faster and slowing them down. That wasn't my intent. I wanted to keep from paying more money to ticket happy municipalities and insurance companies. Speeding gives an adrenalin rush that falsely gives a sense of being on time to whatever your speeding to. Whenever I've risked life, limb or points on my driver's license to be somewhere faster, I only get there a few minutes more than if I had slowed down. Is that worth bending a car around a tree or cutting off a semi and causing a triple car pileup? Hmmm.....

Where Did the Summer Go?

I can hardly believe that school is about to start. We have had enough events to keep us busy and the time flying. We traveled to Oklahoma to visit relatives, and Andrew has been busy getting his second book ready for publication.
Liam kept up his speech therapy which was a welcome time for us. To hear how much his speech has progressed in the passed year is amazing. I know we all use that word too much, but a year ago I could barely understand two words in a long string of babble. Now, for the most part, I know what he wants or is trying to communicate with me. We still have a ways to go, but I am delighted with all he can do. And life is less frustrating for him.
Adria was kept busy with friends and Girls Camp and Youth Conference. She is starting Driver's Ed this week and it reminds me of the two short years we have before college beckons. I have to brag about her 5 in AP European History. She worked hard and it was great news in the middle of the summer.
Colin had Scout camp, yard work, campouts and the ever popular XBox 360 at his friend Sev's house. What more could a teenage boy wants expect maybe the yard. It did help him earn a video game he wanted so there was even a silver lining in that cloud.
Eva was my little shadow this summer. Constantly drawing pictures or writing stories to give to me, and, as always, endless questions. She has to know how everything and everyone works. Aside from those activities, we hung out together, danced together, played in the water together and, perhaps, the entire point of summer break, enjoyed each other's company.

Fun Times

I thought I would post a few more pics from our time in Oklahoma.


One of my favorites. The kids were at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Highly recommended for anyone visiting OKC.

Cousin Lydia with her favorite blanket that no one was allowed to touch and caused much anguish when she left it at Grandma's one night.

Aunt Joellen and Eva rockin' out to Livin' on a Prayer.

Eva preaching to the masses at the museum's country chapel.

Colin helping Liam through the museum's Ghost Town. Taking a page from Scooby Doo, Liam believed there were ghosts around every corner.

All were taking a leisurely horse ride, except Eva. I think she was training to be a bronco rider.

Granny Diann's Oasis

Eva insisted on taking posing and taking pictures in Granny Diann's backyard. She had specific thoughts on the photo shoot and recruited Adria to pose with her.

Vacation: Oklahoma Style

We have had a good time visiting family in Oklahoma. The kids have enjoyed cousins, swimming and the all important sno-cones. Everyone was enjoying the sno-cones too much to have time to take a pic. Maybe later.

Currently, Andrew and Colin are at Scout camp. I have to admit that I've always been a little skeptical of a group of boys running around in the woods in paramilitary uniforms, setting fires and sharpening knives. And this was before I knew about the rifle or the shotgun shooting merit badges which I will get to in a minute. Apparently, my son has taken to Scouting like a mosquito on the back of my ankle. He is thriving at camp, has a good attitude and does whatever is asked of him. Where did this kid come from? Just a year ago, we were worried about him enough to pull him from public school and homeschool him. Gone is the sullen, moody kid. What has arrived is a tall, respectful, responsible and dare I say happy young man. An interest in Scouting is just one of the changes in Colin. Playing the guitar has given him an artistic outlet. He has always had a good ear and can quickly pick up rhythms and notes. Having something that he is really good at has given him confidence. So about that merit badge. One of the badges Colin is working on is the rifle shooting one and he's loving it. A year previous I would have been wary, today I'm thoughtful and optimistic about where he is headed in life.

Fourth Fireworks

Last year, we spent the Fourth at outhouse races in Vermont. This year we trekked down to Kirkwood (neighboring town) for their annual fireworks display. I have to say we were more inclined to lounge around the house and watch the PBS display. But some good friends called and asked/begged us to come down. I'm glad we went. They had an amazing display with our favorite being one that looked like a waterfall which continued to "flow" for a while. The kids also liked the one that looked like a Happy Face.

Summertime

Last year we had our great Vermont adventure. This summer is a lot more laid back and slow paced. We have a couple of summer camps, speech therapy for Liam and music lessons for the rest, but for the most part the kids and I are hanging out. I did buy a big plastic pool for the kids. It has provided hours of fun and quiet time for mom. The only thing missing is a good sno-cone stand like we have back home or a Creamee stand like those in Vermont.

A Need For Caller ID

Phone Call

Adria: Hello?
Caller: Can I speak to Andy?
Adria: (handing me the phone since no one calls Andrew "Andy", at least if they know him well) Mom, I think it is a telemarketer for Dad.
Me: Hello?
Caller: Hi, is this Amy?
Me: Yes
Caller: Hi, this is Andy's ex-wife Crystal. (Pause) Do I have the right Andy and Amy Brown?
Me:(Trying not to laugh) Nope. Sorry, but my husband was never married before me.
Caller/Crystal: Oh, I'm sorry.
Me: That's okay there are millions of Amy Browns in the world.

There are lots of people with my and Andrew's names. Even at the doctor's office I have to give additional info for them to find me in the computer. We won't even discuss Andrew's first name. We have tried to give the kids more unusual names so they won't have this problem. Adria has no problem, Eva does fairly well, Colin will only have real trouble if he ever lives or travel in Britain and Liam? Well, Liam has the most common name. After his birth, Liam's popped up everywhere. But I know my Liam (and all my children) is one of a kind.

Monsoon Season

Of course, my son(that's the 12 year old not the 4 year old one) decided the back yard made the best slip-n-slide. My new camera picks up the rain well enough to create a blur across the pics.