Happy Fathers Day

Six years ago in February I had the pleasure of meeting someone. I met this person some might say by fate others by divine intervention. They became someone I grew to love over time. I looked up to this person almost immediately when I met them. It was in a bit of a crisis and they handled it and became someone for me to look up to. I learned a lot about unconditional love from this person. I saw it in his eyes the first time he held our son. I saw his face when he found out he was going to be a dad he was so excited. I always loved Phil but seeing him with the boys and be a Dad has been the greatest gift. I love watching Rob and Logan and him play. I knew it was love when he would get up night after night with them when they were small and I would sleep. I see how when they are sick he sits up with them. The boys are blessed to have a dad that loves them and teaches them to love. They are blessed to have a Dad that teaches them to love God and others. I often hear Phil say it is your job to take care of Mom too. I love that Logan always says when I grow up and I am a Dad.... I love that he thinks that is part of growing up to be a Dad. I cant think of anyone I would rather raise kids with. I think we make a great team. I love that my boys have you as a role model. Happy Fathers Day Philip.

I finally figured it out.. The secret to friendship

What you say did I figure out.. I finally figured out why I am friends with all of you. Yes you if you are reading this.. why I like you. It simple really one reason. Because you wear a swimsuit. Simple isn't it.. I can not and will not be friends with women who do not wear swimsuits. I will never understand that. You know the ones that wear a size six and just don't like there bodies so they don't swim... that is it. . I am not saying you have to wear it to the grocery store but I cant remember any of you saying... Oh I don't swim... I don't even own a swimsuit. There it is so go ahead dig it out and wear it proud and when you put it on think of what I said no swimsuit=no frienship.

ITS SUMMER AGAIN!!!!!!!

What have I got to complain about?

Here is what was waiting for me when I got home. Rob had made me a card. My first "homemade" card. ( Ok I am not counting the ones Phil makes because he forgot our anniversary). I think this may be the best present I ever got. I included the picture he drew on the inside. It is him and I at a garage sale. I am the larger person you may recognize me from my smile. He is the smaller one don't our smiles look alike. He drew this because he is so happy to go garage sale with me. How can you not love the mind of a child. The back of the picture are the tables of clothes since I like to buy his clothes there. And the thing in red is a Scooby Doo game we bought at one this past Saturday. When your son is happy to go to garage sales and buy clothes do you really have anything to complain about?

If not NOW...WHEN?

Ok so here is the question of the day. What is it that you want to do and keep thinking I should do this... And what are you waiting for? I guess I am really trying to get out of the whole I will do it later mentality. Maybe this is midlife crisis. Do you have those at 30 something:) Maybe it is because I swear to you it seems like yesterday I was in college and its been 13 years since I was there. (So Karla that means we have been friends for 16 years :)) Maybe its becuase I had a wake up call earlier this year.
Whatever. What is it that you have always wanted to do but havent and why not or better yet when will you? I have been thinking about this A lot lately. I know what mine is .. I think.

An unlikely workout partner

I like to walk. It is free, it clears your head you can do it anywhere. I have always wanted a workout partner. You know someone to hold you accountable...make you go when you feel like taking a nap. I often walk with my girl friends. But I would of never thought I would find a workout buddy in Rob. He wanted to walk with me. I tried to think up every excuse no its too far. Just stay with dad and Logan but he was persistent " I can do it Mom" so we walk and walk and walk. Now we walk anywhere from 2.5 to 3 miles a day. We run into people who say I saw you guys walking you walk really far... anyway. He is the best workout partner I ever had. When I get home from work there he is...Get your shoes on Mom lets go walk.. Ok, And while we walk we talk and sometimes the conversation is quite well enlightening. " Mom, I think you should know I have a girlfriend now." Me oh ok. Well tell me about her. What would you say he is 6. She is in my class and she is so beautiful. Other times it is well touching. " Is this called quality time Mom, is that what adults say...quality time" It is so great. And dont think we walk slow, No this workout buddy pushes me "come on Mom speed up why dont we just run up this hill to knock it out." The other day Phil saw us walking and said he kicks your butt huh? But yesterday when we were walking he said I love when it is just me and you Mom walking.. and said I am going to say a prayer thanking God right now. And he did while he was walking. And I knew he was the BEST workout buddy I ever had.

Ask and you shall receive SPRING AT LAST!

Two things I have passed down to the boys my love of nice weather and being outside. It has rained here so much it was so nice outside 65 and SUNNY... the second thing is when we have a good day we say "It sure was a nice day today" we say it almost every day really but today as I was helping Rob after his bath he said " It sure was a good day today I will remember it for a long time just me,you, Logan and Dad hanging out. And it was such a nice day outside:) It was a really good day. What more can I say?

Showing some love to the Lou

Rob has been on spring break so we have been spending some time here we have great things to see here. Hint hint if anyone would like to visit. We are almost spoiled. When we left the zoo today Rob said we did so much this week it was like we were on vacation. Let me know if anyone needs a room at the Casa de Brown house.

This for some reason does not surprise me...

You Are Ernie

Playful and childlike, you are everyone's favorite friend - even if your goofy antics get annoying at times. You are usually feeling: Amused - you are very easily entertained You are famous for: Always making people smile. From your silly songs to your wild pranks, you keep things fun. How you life your life: With ease. Life is only difficult when your friends won't play with you!

http://www.blogthings.com/thesesamestreetpersonalityquiz/">The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Here comes Peter Cottantail.

We have never colored eggs before at my house it is too messy. Tonight we lived on the wild side.

And yet again....with breaking the rules ( I never was one to follow them anyway)

"For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle - as we did in the OJ trial - or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
We can do that.
But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.
That is one option.
Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, "Not this time." This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn; that those kids who don't look like us are somebody else's problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time."
Barack Obama March 18.2008

Seems like just yesterday they were learning to scoot....

And today how to ride SCOOTERS!!! Where does time go? They have been wanting them so we finally found some on craigslist they were so happy. It amazing how quickly things change..how big they get.
This last picture is for you T. Rob said Wow Mom you can rollerblade you are cool... I couldnt help but laugh who knew this skill would one day impress my kids. And I was a bit surprised too, It has been a long time.. In this picture we are doing tricks..( they have there legs on there handelbars this is the only trick I can do)

Hello Spring Are you coming or what?

As some of you know and make fun of I have lived in Missouri my whole life other than those four wonderful years at G.C. so I am used to the weather..I am used to the humidity that feels like no other. I am used to the tornadoes.. but I have never seen such crazy weather as this year. On Sunday the boys and I had a picnic at the park. It was 76 degrees. And yesterday snow enough to sled again. Enough I am perplexed. My brother says if it wasn't 76 I wouldn't of minded or noticed the snow. I don't believe that I would of minded. I am a four seasons kind of person and by March I am ready for Spring. I am ready for jacket weather and the park. So global warming, El Nino or whatever ....goodbye winter and hello Spring.

** the little guy is my nephew not Logan**

If only we all had a Lloyd...

Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!

Breaking my own rule here.

I have a few rules I try to live by. One of those rules are DO NOT DISCUSS POLITICS WITH FRIENDs. I often tell Philip before dinner parties I mean it dont discuss it people are entitled to there personal views. I am breaking that rule. I went to go see Barack when he was in town last Saturday night. Phil and I went with a few people from work. We stood there on a hard concrete floor actually the football field with 20,000 strangers for four hours. The thing that amazed me was the diversity that was there.. young, college kids, old white ladies, black men, african american families, middle class white families. It was amazing. I have been an Obama supporter for awhile. I read a lot about him, his issues. I converted Philip. I truly believe he is who/ what we need right now in our country. I know we are entitled to our own views but at least read up on him with an open mind. Ok enough politicking.

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Snow day 2008

Yeah a true snow day!! YEAH! thank you God for the snow! thank you for a snow day!

Things I have been thinking about today.

Sorry to dissapoint you that are looking for a deep entry. This truly is what I have been thinking about today at one point or another. What exactly is grace and is Gods enough for me, as the song says? How does one spell hoo ya? You know in the movie scent of a women....hoo ya is that right? Who will be the first to offer John Edwards a cabinet seat/ attorney general/vice president position Clinton/Obama. Why do you have to write a note to the school when your kid is out sick after you already called? Will my Mom and Dad ever be in the same room/location at one time again? How can you be married to someone for 35 years and see eachother every day and then not see each other at all? When did they stop loving eachother? Should I call people to encourage them to vote for my candidate of choice for the election Tuesday? When should we begin work on Robs science project that is due in three weeks? Is the world truly ready for a black president? And as a side note as a Mom of two African American little boys I hope the answer to at least that question is yes.

Watch out Olympics here we come

Its cold outside, the month is dragging on, its Monday....what is one to do well if you are in this family...you learn the hip new sport taking all houses by a storm...CARPET BOWLING. Yes folks it is a game in which the parent needs no skill and usually wins. Ok in my case my kids are four and five but they have to learn to loose sometime right? And as you can see by the pictures I have great form...( I am team Nemo that explains the hat on my head) anyway the kids loved it heck I loved it to.

Proof that I am a MOM....

We play a game at dinner where I write a sentence on the aquadoodle mat ( http://www.aquadoodletoys.com/) and Rob tries to read it before it dissapears. Tonight he wrote his first sentence....for me to guess. That kid makes me laugh. The next picture is his first book report. I know I am a dork. I dont care. Its cute to me. And as a side note he has no artistic ability whatsoever again me.......

Learn my fate in 2008...

Ok there it is there is my motto.. My wise old friend once told me to make a motto to live by every year...So here is mine for the year. In this next year I will have a new job, and this whole thing will all be over.. FOR GOOD.. Here's to a good year.

***I love in this picture how all you can see is Logans smile on his face****

Ever wonder what goes on at my house.