Family Reunion

Last weekend we went to Utah for a family reunion on my mom's side of the family. It was such a fun, relaxing weekend. There is something special about reuniting with family. I loved sitting and talking with cousins, grandparents and other relatives about fun memories while making new ones. No phones, no computers, no outside stuff. Just family. It felt good.

We started out with a horse and carriage ride through the streets of Fillmore. The snow cone and cotton candy machines were fired up next and everyone made multiple visits throughout the day. We ate lunch, had a family auction, played games...and then finished out the day with a campfire complete with hot dogs, s'mores and homemade ice cream.

It was simple and it was sweet.

I love my family.

My cute, talented husband worked with a guy at work to design our family shirts. Every family was assigned a color to wear so that we could see how everyone is related. Jon took it to the next level.The shirts were amazing! The front is a picture of each of us as cartoon characters in super hero outfits and the back read "The Super Brown Family."
I think we are.

Every year we have a family auction. The money made from it goes to fund the reunion the next year. Everyone brings items to auction off...let's be honest...it's mostly stuff that people are wanting to get rid of so they figure they will bring it to sell to their family...one person's trash is another person's treasure, right??? My grandma was going to put this Christmas train in the auction, but as soon as Beckham saw it, he took it off of the auction block and onto the floor. He and my niece, Sadie, spent the afternoon totally entertained. See...they found their treasure!

Fishing with Nana

Jon working his volleyball skills. He was sore the next day. I think that his glory days are over. (tear)

Uncle Weston reading Beckham a bedtime story

Mr. Poort is asleep even before we leave Grandma and Grandpa's house

Pioneer Day

My parent's stake puts on a huge Pioneer celebration every year. This year they invited us to come and as soon as we found out that it was going to be at Warm Springs, we knew that the kids would love it. It was a day filled with swimming, snow cones and wagon races.

Daddy and Chloe stringing a necklace together

He wanted a hat, so daddy made it happen...

Beckham and I laughing it up...Chloe was too busy posing.

Mr. Beckham didn't really understand what the water gun was for...he kept refilling it and using it as a water bottle. Always thinking outside the box that kid...

4th of July

I love small towns. My grandparents just happen to live in a pretty cute one.

Fillmore, Utah.

Growing up, my brothers and sisters and I dreaded any type of stop my parents made when driving through this town. We thought it was boring. We thought it was old.

Now that I am older, I understand the character of it. There is something quaint and sweet about the people who live there. And as long as we have family there, I think I will force my kids to make stops there too. Maybe someday they will get it.

We spent our 4th of July morning walking to the parade on Main Street (of course). We lined up our lawn chairs and gave each of the kids a bag for their candy (yes, they still throw candy). My grandparents spent the duration of the parade waving to everyone and calling them by name. It's like the show Cheers... "Everybody knows your name."

We had such a fun time.

After the parade, we drove to Provo to attend the Stadium of Fire. It held up to its name. It was amazing. Very patriotic.

Beckham is our planes, trains and automobiles kid. I wish I had a video camera to video tape his reaction when the jets flew over the stadium. Total freak out.

I picked him up at one point and held him on my hip. Some military helicopters flew over the stadium and the freak out began again. He held his fist up in the air and yelled. And then I felt something warm on my hip. "Did he just...?"

Yep. Peed. The kid was excited. It leaked right through his diaper through his pants through my first layer of shirts, through the second layer...

We were both soaked.

I took him out to change his diaper and get us cleaned up. It was almost no use. I didn't bring an extra set of clothes for him, so he spent the rest of the celebration pant-less.

We also got to see the Jonas Brothers. Honestly, I knew who they were but had never heard any of their songs. My 10-year old sister on the other hand, thought that they were "awesome" in every sense of the word and knew everything about them. In the middle of their performance, I looked over at her and saw that she was crying. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "I am just so happy right now."

Oh boy.

It was an amazing show and an amazing day. I am so thankful for this country we live in and for all of the blessings and freedoms that come with it.

So Proud

For the past couple of weeks, my brother Weston has been hanging out with his guy friends at all hours of the night. Now we know why...
Weston is the groomsman on the far left, in the glasses. I think Chloe may get some of her dance skills from him. She has been watching this video ALL DAY. Every time "If you love her then you better put a ring on it" comes on, Chloe tells us that they are dancing to her song.
Weston makes us so proud...

Alice in Wonderland...

Last weekend Miss Chloe had her first dance recital. I was proud. Cried even. I can't believe that I have a daughter who is old enough to have a recital. I know...she's only 3. She's not getting married or anything, but she is getting older.

You see...I was a bunny too when I was 3...

...and now I am a mom of another 3-year old bunny. One day, Chloe will look at these photographs of herself as a bunny and wonder how time has gone by so quickly.

The theme for the recital was Alice in Wonderland and she and the little girls in her class were the white rabbits. Chloe was awesome. Seriously. I know I am biased, but I honestly didn't know how she would react. Her teacher warned us that every year there are criers and even wetters (meaning: urinating while on stage). She was a candidate for both. Thank goodness that when the lights came on and the curtains came up, she shined. She was totally in her element. When everyone came out for the finale, she freaked out. She looked really panicked and ran off of the stage crying. I was confused. She made it through the performance perfectly. Why cry now?

When I picked her up she said that she thought that they were going to dance again and she waited and waited for the music, but it never came on. She got scared because she didn't want to mess up. Okay...a little stressed aren't we???

Here are some of my favorites from the day...

Dad and Mom with our cute bunny

(I have no idea where her expression came from...She already thinks that she is a diva!)

Noah, Maxwell and Zion

Melissa and Maxwell

Uncle Kyle (Amber was in a wedding this day)

Oma and Opa Poort

Uncle Demetras and Aunt Tina and Aunt Tee

Nana Brown, Aunt Elizabeth, Grandpa Brown and Aunt Naomi

(***Aunt Meghan and Cousin Grace came too but weren't able to stay for pictures...)

Thank you to all of our family and friends who came to support our tiny dancer!

Our Mr. Poort

Mr. Poort turned 2 today. Just a few minutes ago, actually. The love that I have for him can't be explained in words and so I won't try. I am obsessed.

He is a planes, trains and automobiles-type kid. Every night, in fact, he lines up a series of random trucks next to him in his bed, counts them, and then curls up for the night. When we drive in the car, he yells (screams sometimes), "Mom! Mom! Big Kruck!" and then gets a huge smile on his face.

Almost on a daily basis, Mr. Poort will grab the keys to my car and come find me. He usually has a backpack or some type of bag with him. He waves right in my face and says, "Bye Mom! I go to work. Be safe!" I usually just say, "Okay, Beck! Have a fun day!" but the other day I said, "But Beck...I will miss you!" and then proceeded to put the saddest expression on my face. To this, he dropped his backpack, grabbed my face with both hands and looked me in the eyes and said, "Don't worry Mom. Beckham will be okay."

It was a perfect moment.

He is sweet, funny, full of life, a little bit naughty (the 2's are going to be rough)...but he is my little guy and we love him so much.

His birth announcement picture

Meeting Chloe for the 1st time

7 months old...almost sitting by himself...

Really, we should just call him Old Blue Eyes

His 1-year old picture

Mr. Poort L.O.V.E.S. his trains. These are his 2-year old shots...all boy!