Firecracker Flashback

It seemed only fitting that today's flashback celebrated Independence Day. And since we're looking at July 4, I chose 2004. This was the first year we got to celebrate with two little cuties. I remember this day so well. We had so much fun just taking pictures and being together.
Looking at these pictures only makes me realize how fast the time goes. Over a few years these girlies have changed and grown so much! It only goes to show that we should never wish away the present. Cherish every moment because before you know it that moment will be a memory. So, with that, go out and enjoy this holiday with your loved ones. Celebrate our freedom and this great country that we have all been blessed with. Happy Independence Day!

Let's Get This Party Started

Following in the footsteps of Flashback Friday, I'm going to start 2 x Tuesday. That means, my lucky readers, that when I post on a Tuesday, you're going to get a double dose. I can hear the shouts of excitement! And I know what you all are thinking. You're thinking "but that's such a great idea, I want to do 2 x Tuesday, too!". Well, my friends, you can. Just copy the logo and use it on your own blogs on Tuesdays. And you don't even have to tell me that I'm awesome, because I already know!

Miley Makes us Smiley

While we were in Las Vegas, my sister called to tell us that my dad, {yeah, that great ol' daddy of mine} had pulled another trick out of his hat and scored us all some Stadium of Fire tickets. Miley Cyrus, a.k.a. Hannah Montana, is a star around here. I had my brother in law in New Jersey and my sister in Colorado helping me in my quest for tickets the minute they went on sale a few months ago. None of us got any. I was so disappointed and mad for like a month. And then Dad surprised us. Again. He always comes through and now we are on Miley countdown. My mom has brought several new Hannah Montana t-shirts over so the girls "have their pick" of which to wear on Friday. We can't wait! What is everybody else doing to celebrate the 4th?

Birthday Reunion

Shane's Grandma Brown turned 90 this year. So everybody decided to meet in the desert and have a party. It was hot, and it was a very long drive, but it was worth it to see how excited she was. I'm fairly certain that we'll be doing it again in 10 years to celebrate 100. Grandma hasn't slowed down a bit.

No event in the Brown family would be complete without schedules and pictures. So we got plenty of both. There was even a schedule for the taking of the pictures. And a copy of the schedule for each and every person. Grandma should have plenty of photos of grandkids and great-grandkids. The cousin picture was one of the first taken, so everybody is still smiling.

At the close of the event, Shane decided that Grandma had been spoiled with the spotlight enough for one day. He wanted a turn. So he decided to make an appearance as the fun-loving, attention-seeking grandson that he is and surprise Grandma with a dance. And he got all the
looks and laughs that he was after. Oh, and it made Grandma quite happy, too.

Las Vegas, Baby

We made our way down to Arizona for a family reunion a few weeks ago. Since we were driving the dreadful distance, we decided to stop in Vegas for a little family time. The girls were so excited to go to Las Vegas, as we had told them of the many fun things we could do while there. We wanted to stay at the Golden Nugget because Mitch and Tavi had taken us there a while back to show us the fun pool. There is a big shark tank right in the middle so you can swim right up to them and take a peek. There is also a waterslide that goes right through the tank. We ended up spending all of our time at the pool because the girls couldn't get enough. They even got me into the pool to see the sharks.

Ashlyn has turned into a fabulous little swimmer. She loves to play in the water. She stayed in the pool long after the rest of us were finished. I think she was the last person in the pool when they finally came and told us we had to leave. Good times, good times.

One Year Older and Wiser, Too

Okay, one more tribute to Ashlyn and her first grade year--from the first day to the last day.

**Disclaimer** The above video may be extremely boring to anybody who is not a grandma, grandpa, or auntie of this cute girl...

You've Got Talent

Ashlyn's class did a talent show the day before school got out. When we asked Ashlyn what she wanted to do for her talent she said "I'm really good at tennis". So we thought it would be so unique and cute for her to "serve" wiffle balls into the crowd. She thought this sounded great and was really excited. She went outside that morning while waiting for the bus and practiced, which I loved because I got to take some pictures of her--which has been a tough task lately.
I was a little nervous when I found out that the talent show was in the library. I was sure that we were going to break something but it was great! She did such a good job! She stood up when it was her turn and said "For my talent I'm going to show tennis skills. If you catch it, you keep it!". This was a hit as all the kids thought it was so fun to try and catch the balls. It was fun to see something unique and she hit her serves perfectly. The first two serves hit the same little old ladies right in the head, but everybody got a good laugh and Ashlyn made sure to move it around after that.

I was once again the proud mommy who was sad to see the year coming to an end. But as I watched all the kids do their talents and sing their songs, I couldn't help but notice how far they have all come during the school year. They were looking like "big kids" and feeling so confident in what they can do. Ashlyn's teacher has done such a great job and Ashlyn has really grown so much. {And, just in case you're wondering, I cried--a little bit}.

It's a Hard Knock Life

Life has been so crazy the last month or so! I have missed posting several things that I want to be remembered, so we're jumping back a couple of weeks.

A few days before school got out for the summer, Highland Elementary put on a "Broadway" show. Each grade performed a couple of songs and it was so cute. {They opted to do this instead of the dance festival, which we were all so grateful for because the weather was so crappy}.

The first graders did awesome. In fact {and by fact I mean my professional opinion}, they were the best. They were so enthusiastic and had practiced so hard. They did songs from "Annie" and were supposed to dress up like orphans. Ashlyn was very excited and we tried our best to make her look like "Little Orphan Ashlyn".

I, of course, was the beaming proud mommy. The minute they walked in, before the program even started, I was crying. Crying because my oldest baby, the one that seems like she came to me just yesterday, is so big. So independant. She goes to school everyday and does her thing. And I'm not really a part of it. But that's a good thing. And, really, that's how I want it to be. But even though I realize that I wouldn't want it any other way, I will probably get teary-eyed every year when school ends. Because it's another year gone. And another year closer to the day when she leaves. And it's all just going a little too fast...

Daddy-O

Here's to a very happy Father's Day for all the dad's I know and love.

Especially, this one.

The perfect daddy to my own little girls. {And sometimes Sugar Daddy to me}.

And this one.

One of my bestest buddies. For 29 years I've been lucky enough to call him Dad{dy}.

Today's Memo

Note to self: Figure out what you've done to p*** off karma, because it's kicking your butt.

Note to self: Call Jeff and Di and tell them that while it's super exciting that they have signed papers to build a home, you actually are really sad for them because being a homeowner isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Note to self: Never think that things can't get worse. They can. And they will. And at this particular house, it comes in the form of water.

Note to self: Husbands {especially yours} don't like getting their picture taken for "the blog". Actually, they hate "the blog". And they hate that you spend so much time on "the blog". And all of these things are escalated when they are already p***ed off about yet another flood in the basement that is taking the entire evening to clean up.

Note to self: Don't bore all your BFF {blogging friends forever} with all the details of the flood. Or the 10 previous floods over the last several months. Just post pictures that will never truly depict how much water the basement can hold. Or how mad a husband can be. Or how much stuff had to be moved out of watered down closets and storage areas. Or...