Visiting Santa

I could not believe it, but I actually found a place that would give you a picture, and let you take your own picture for free with Santa. There have been a few years where I didn't get any pictures of the kids with Santa because they were too expensive.

Last year when we went to see Santa London was the only one who would willingly go and sit on his lap. This year all four kids sat with Santa, and Jacob and London actually talked to him.

London said that she wanted more ponies to play with.

Jacob asked for cars and airplanes.
Joseph said nothing, but did steal a few glances at the big guy before getting off of his lap.

Guinevere stared at me the whole time. I don't think she even realized she was sitting on someones lap. As I put her down I assured Santa that she had a dry freshly changed diaper, he gave me a little laugh at that.

Guinevere's Birthday

We recently celebrated Guinevere's 1st Birthday. I can not believe how quickly this past year has gone by. Perhaps I will be saying this forever, but it feels like just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital. I am amazed at how quickly she is growing.

I love the dirty look she is giving the candle in this picture. She just stared at it for the longest time, and then right on cue for the end of the song she tried to grab it.

This is one of the only pictures that we got of her actually looking up at the camera.

She was not a big fan of the cake. She tried some of it, and sort of pushed it around on the tray, and then cried to get down.


My grandma is frequently out of town, so we were pretty excited that she was able to be here for Guinevere's first birthday. This is her with my Aunt Brenda.


It was a short, quite, simple party, but that was all right with me and the birthday girl.

Christmas Cookies

On Friday I decided to be brave and dareing by make sugar cookies with the kids all by myself. Some of you that don't know me that well probably think this is not really that big of a deal. For those of you who know me, you know that I can be quite annal about how my cookies turn out, and anything less then perfection in this area can put me in a bad mood for a few hours at least. Fearlessly I embraced the Christmas spirit and started making the cookie dough. Guinevere was the first to protest, and insisted on being able to see what was going on. Having a baby on the kitchen counter made this process much slower then I would have liked, but I pressed on.


Having plenty of open counter space and two new small rolling pins I put aprons on all the kids, let them flour there work area, and gave them each a ball of dough. My grand plan was that London and Jacob would do fairly well with minimal supervision while I worked on the other side of the counter with Joseph and the big rolling pin. The minimal supervision thing went right out the window, but with a lot of help they did manage to roll out there dough to varying thicknesses and then begin cutting out the cookies.


Joseph it turned out was not too happy that I would be helping him. He thought this was going to be more like playing playdough, where you roll it out cut out some shapes and then roll it out again. He was none too patient, and while I was on the other side of the counter he started to collect all the dough back into a ball before I was able to get the cut out shapes on to a pan to bake. After that I gave him a much smaller ball of dough and just let him have fun.


As I tried to help the kids with there dough I accidentally sat my cup of flour too close to Guinevere, who insisted on still sitting on the counter, and she promptly dumped it all over herself and the counter.

After each of the children had rolled the dough out a few times I felt that dough and my nerves could not take much more, so I sent them all to wash up while I cut out the remaining cookies.

That afternoon while Guinevere was asleep I allowed the kids to decorate the cookies how ever they wanted. I only intervened here or there when the frosting was so thick that it looked like it might break the cookie, or the sprinkles so thick that you could no longer see the cookie.

London was very proud of the cookie that she decorated to look like her. Can you all see the likeness? The huge eyes, and the two green dots in her hair as rubberbands.

Overall, everyone had a good time, and I survived with my sanity. Even though the cookies do not look perfect, and some are a little thicker then others, they still taste really good. Let this be a lesson to me that perfection is not necessary. Hopefully this posting has encouraged, not discouraged, others from making sugar cookies with there young children. Happy Baking!

Dance Recital

This is one of the clips from the dance recital that London and Jacob were in. They were showing off the basic tumbling moves they have been learning (rolling, somersaults, dog with a broken leg, and cartwheels). It is a little long, but I could not edit it.

Second Dance

This is the second clip from the dance recital.

Zoo

Back before Thanksgiving, I made a trip to the zoo with all five kids. Luckily I went with another mom who only has one child, so I managed to keep my sanity, and all five of the children. I took only two pictures on our outing.

The first is of a goose standing on one leg. I guess she has been spending too much time with the flamingos that she shares her enclosure with. It was just too funny of a picture to pass up, and this was still early in our zoo adventure.


The second was of my two babies. When ever I take the two of them out I always have people stop and ask me if they are twins. Don't they just look so cute. They spent the majority of there awake time at the zoo fighting over each others pacifiers.


I wish that I had gotten a picture of them both asleep in the stroller, but by that time I was so frazzled that there was no way I was taking the camera out again. Jacob and Joseph were both complaining that they were tired and wanted to ride in the stroller. London had the bright idea that she could just hold one of the babies on her lap while she rode in the stroller. If they had not both been sleeping this might have been a viable solution. As it was I ended up trading off packing one boy while the other whined at my side about how tired he was. I told London that she was too heavy and would just have to walk. Needless to say I got a really good work out in at the zoo.

Our Honorable Ancestors

In observance of Veterans Day this week I wanted to remember our ancestors who served in the military. Some participated in historically notable wars while others fought in wars that are now often forgotten in history. These brave men chose to fight for their convictions, protecting their families and fellow countrymen so that we may enjoy our land and our freedom.

Our Honorable Ancestors:

• John Bronson (born about 1600 in , , England - died before 28 Nov 1680 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut, New England). He served in the military during the Pequot War in 1637.
• James Polly Brown (born on 22 Apr 1803 in Taylorsville, Spencer, Kentucky, USA - died on 6 Nov 1871 in Rockville, Kane, Utah, USA). He served in the military during the Mexican War (Mormon Battalion) in 1846.
• Robert H. Brown (born on 11 May 1832 in Greenville, Floyd, Indiana, USA - died on 14 Mar 1877 in Orderville, Kane, Utah, USA). He served in the military during the Mexican War in 1846.
• John Campbell (born on 6 Feb 1761 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA - died on 14 May 1847 in Jackson, Preble, Ohio, USA). He served in the military Captain R. Adams' company, Colonel Lynch's Virginia regiment in Jun 1778 in , , Virginia, USA. Served 3 months as a private guarding lead mines in Virginia. He served in the military Captain James Dickson's company, Colonel Williams' Virginia regiment in Feb 1781 in , , Virginia, USA. Served as a private in the battle of Wetzell's Mills and battle of Quilford Court House. Served for 6 months. He served in the military Captain Beard's company, Colonel Trigg's Virginia regiment in Aug 1781 in , , Virginia, USA. Served two months. Marched to Yorktown, and was there until after the surrender of Cornwallis.
• Louis Albert Campbell (born on 20 May 1923 in Joycoy, Baca, Colorado, USA - died on 14 Nov 1991 in Layton, Davis, Utah, USA). He served in the military during the as a Sergeant in the US Army Air Corps on 20 Feb 1943.
• Ralph John Campbell (born on 11 Jan 1893 in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, USA - died on 6 Oct 1982 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA). He served in the military U. S. Army Private in 1918 in , , France.
• Balser Dishong (born in 1835 in , , Pennsylvania, USA - died on 15 Sep 1864 in Andersonville, Macon, Georgia, USA). He served in the military during the Civil War in 1863.
• Robert Henry Drake (born on 28 Apr 1836 in , Holmes, Ohio, USA - died on 2 Sep 1922 in Sharon, Woodward, Oklahoma, USA). He served in the military Cavalry during the Civil War – Confederate in , , Missouri, USA.
• Thomas Flinn (born about 1730 in , Prince George, Virginia, English Colony - died about 1783 in , Surry, North Carolina, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War from 1774 to 1782.
• Isaiah Curry Guymon (born on 27 May 1753 in , , North Carolina, English Colony - died after Oct 1819 in Dalton, Stokes, North Carolina, USA). He served in the military Revolutionary War.
• Ashbel Hopkins (born in Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, New England – died in 1793 in Pittsford, Ontario, New York, USA). He served in the military Revolutionary War.
• Nehemiah Hopkins (born on 14 Apr 1730 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, New England - died about 1814 in Crown Point, Essex, New York, USA). He served in the military during the Indian War. He also served in the military during the Revolutionary War.
• John Hulet (born on 16 Sep 1716 in Killingly, New London, Connecticut, New England – died after 1771). He served in the military during the French and Indian War.
• Sylvanus Hulet (born on 7 Nov 1758 in Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, New England - died on 10 Nov 1824 in Nelson, Portage, Ohio, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War in 1779.
• Jacob Hans Keller (born on 22 Jun 1837 in Schwellbrunn, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland - died on 5 Oct 1892 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah, USA). He served in the military Utah Indian Wars on 1 May 1867 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah, USA.
• Robert King (born on 15 Jan 1736 in Englishtown, Monmouth, New Jersey, New England - died on 6 Jan 1806 in , Sumner, Tennessee, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War.
• William Marion McGinty (born on 21 Sep 1837 in , Hancock, Georgia, USA - died on 27 Sep 1911 in Aspermont, Stonewall, Texas, USA). He served in the military Civil War - Confederate.
• John C. McManus (born on 12 Mar 1787 in , Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA - died on 29 Dec 1852, buried in , Preble, Ohio, USA). He served in the military during the War of 1812.
• Nicholas Olmstead (born in 1612 in , , England - died on 31 Aug 1684 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, New England). He served in the military during the Pequot war as a soldier in 1637. He also served in the military during King Philip's War.
• Simeon Parmelee (born on 3 Aug 1741 in Durham, New Haven, Connecticut, New England - died on 3 May 1820 in Westford, Chittenden, Vermont, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War in 1777.
• Peter Polley (born before 1748 in , , Virginia, English Colony - died before 13 Feb 1818 in , Shelby, Kentucky, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War in 1777.
• Seth Putnam (born on 9 Aug 1754 in Charlestown, New Hampshire, New England - died on 10 Feb 1848 in Middlesex, Washington, Vermont, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War in 1777.
• Frederick Reasor. He served in the military Revolutionary War.
• Michael Reasor Sr. (born about 1735 – died about 1824 in , Washington, Virginia, USA). He served in the military during the served in Lord Dunmore's War on 24 Oct 1774.
• Michael Reasor (born on 3 Feb 1760 in Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, USA - died on 11 Jul 1843 in Little Mount, Spencer, Kentucky, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War from 1 May 1777 to 1779.
• Ebenezer Sears (born in 1754). He served in the military Revolutionary War.
• John Seymour (born on 24 Nov 1726 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, New England - died on 5 Feb 1809 in West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA). He served in the military during the Served in the Revolutionary War in Sep 1777.
• Dr. Bertram Oliver Swinehart (born on 21 Jul 1881). He served in the military during World War I as First Lieutenant.
• George Swinehart (born on 4 May 1841 in , Richland, Ohio, USA - died on 20 Nov 1916). He served in the military during the American Civil War 7 Aug 1862 to 5 Aug 1865.
• George P. Swinehart Jr. (born on 7 Apr 1886 in , , Illinois, USA). He served in the military during World War I.
• Azariah Tutthill (born in 1724 in Oysterponds, Suffolk, New York, New England - died on 20 Dec 1804 in Rocky Point, Suffolk, New York, USA). He served in the military during the Revolutionary War.

If you would like to know more about these honorable men and how you are related to them I will gladly send you their known history. Each of these men is more then a name, more than a soldier, each is our father.

-Rob Brown

Halloween

I decided I would dress all four kids up as pirates this year, and I convinced Rob to help me make the costumes. London wanted to be a princess, so I had to do some convincing there as well. London and Jacob were the only two who would cooperate to take pictures. Guinevere would not sit still, and Joseph wanted nothing to do with the camera (he was not feeling well). I had hoped for better pictures after all the work we went through to make these outfits, but no such luck. Guinevere loved sitting in the stroller looking at all the pumpkins and decorations that were out. A few people even put candy in her stroller, like a baby can eat candy. I was worried that it was going to be cold out and that I should have bought long sleeve white shirts for the kids to wear, but the weather was perfect. It was a pretty good Halloween, but I am glad it is over. I am ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Camping in October

When we planed our October camp out we decided we would not go to the mountains, but stay down lower, where it would be warmer. Then we saw the forecast. It was suppose to be 101 degrees where we planed to camp, so we headed to the mountains once again. The temperature was perfect (if you are in the sun you can wear jeans and short sleeves, but in the shade you need long sleeves on), and there was hardly anyone up there. There was an almost constant breeze, so there were no bugs to speak of. The only down side was the cows. Yes, there were cows. I did not get any pictures of the cows, though we did see and hear them a few times. Mostly we just saw what they left behind, large cow patties (I didn't think anyone would want me to post pictures of that). The kids were really good at spotting the cow patties, and thus avoiding them. I may not have liked and cows being around (mostly because of what they left behind), but I think for the kids it was the highlight of the trip.

We had a great view from our campsite. Here are London and Joseph posing for the camera. Jacob did not want his picture taken. Every time I got out the camera he would hide his face and try and run away.

London wanted me to get a lot of pictures of her. Here is London and Rob

Here is a picture that Rob got of the great view we had from our campsite.

I think that this picture of my two boys walking along talking is just so cute. They don't get along most of the time because Jacob is into imaginative play like London, and Joseph doesn't understand what they are doing. I think once Joseph bridges that gap that they will be inseparable.

The kids have finally started to enjoy being able to just sit around the fire and watch it "dance".

London was kind enough to take this picture of Rob and I as the sun was setting.

I am kind of sad to see this camping season come to an end. The kids did so great on this camp out. They didn't fight very much, they were content to be outside and just play and enjoy the weather. Sure, Jacob still woke up around 3:30am and would not go back to bed, but that is better then the last few camp outs. I will enjoy having Guinevere with us next year, and I do love all the winter holidays. I think I can come up with plenty of other family activities for us to do till we start camping again in March or April.

Sleeping babies

It cracks me up how kids can just fall asleep any where, no matter what is going on around them, or what they are doing.

Here is Joseph sleeping on one of our road trips. This position would definitively make my neck sore.


Most babies sleep with there knees tucked up under them, but not mine. You might think this is uncomfortable, but this is how she always sleeps. I have decided that she is exceptionally flexible.

Guinevere 9m

Sundays seem to be particularly hard on babies sleep schedules. It is difficult to know whether they should just be put down for a nap, or if they need to eat something first. I guess on these two occasions sleep just could not wait.

Guinevere 9m

Joseph 11 months
(at least he finished the bottle before promptly rolling over and falling asleep)

This picture is of London when she was 2 1/2. She refused to go to bed, just wanted to sit there and eat her Chex, so I let her. Next thing I know she was fast asleep with some Chex actually sitting in her mouth uneaten.


Oddly enough I could not find any pictures of Jacob in really weird positions, but I do think where he puts his arms is kind of funny. They are either spread out wide like below, or he sleeps with both hands behind his head like he is relaxing on the beach or something.


So did this post make you laugh, or run for your bed to get some shut eye?

September

While others are out enjoying the fall colors and cooler weather we were swimming. Yes it was that hot. I don't think the kids minded, since they love to swim. All summer long when we would go swimming Joseph would refuse to get in the water. He was quite content to sit at the edge of the pool (flooties on just in case) with just his feet in the water. I figured this time would be no different, but to my pleasant surprise when I asked if he wanted to come in with me he said yes. As I figured, he loved the water. He was happiest when he was also inside a floating ring for the extra buoyancy.

Jacob


We knew that Guinevere loved the water, but this was the first time that we put her in her own floating thing. I was not sure if she would be big enough for it yet, but she was.


London

We also started giving Guinevere finger foods in September. I tried for a couple of weeks to get her to eat Cheerios, but she could not figure out how to get them out of her hand. She would get so frustrated that she would just sit in her high chair and scream till one of the kids would put Cheerios in her mouth. I finally broke down and gave her sticks of graham crackers. She was in heaven. As soon as all she had left was the part she was holding on to she would drop it and pick up a new stick. She made a big mess, but I am glad that she was enjoying them.

That is September in a nut shell. Hopefully since I am caught up I can stay on top of my blogging entries.

August

In August we celebrated my birthday. I will leave everyone to guess how old I am now. We did not have enough candles, so I got one candle for each child. London was very excited that I was four just like her.
The main attractions at my birthday celebration were these two. The other kids always give Guinevere baby dolls to play with, and I am sure that she thought Jalynn was the most real looking baby doll she had ever seen. She kept grabbing at her face. I chose this picture because I love the look Jalynn is giving Guinevere.

We also picked up some new pajamas for the boys in August. I think kids look so cute in feety pajamas. I just love the ones that Rob got for Joseph. Little monsters, and they even have faces on the feet. I think these pajamas truly exemplify Joseph's personality, a cute little monster.

Jacobs have a cute monkey on them, but he would not stay still enough to get a picture of it. I made the mistake of leaving and empty laundry basket downstairs, and the kids quickly made use of it. Sometimes they would all pile in, and others they would have one person in while the other two pulled/pushed them around the living room. They put a nice crack in the bottom of the basket, and I had to take it away.

Hopefully I will have a quick overview of September up soon. Have a great day!

July Birthdays

I know I am really behind on my posts, it is almost September, and I am doing July birthdays. How does life get so busy?

My Aunt Brenda celebrated her 50th birthday this year. We wanted to do something really special, so we had a big family get together. The theme was disco. I even found some neon die for the cake frosting.


I spent a lot of time gathering, sorting, and scanning pictures for this wonderful photo album that I was going to make for her. My siblings and my mom helped a lot, watching the kids so I could work, and going through all the pictures with me, but still I only got 8 years done, when I had originally planned to do like 30. I know, that was a pretty novel ambition, but I am still working on it, so hopefully by next year at her birthday I will be able to present her with some more pages. All in all it was a really fun party, and I was really happy that so many family members could drive into town for the occasion.


We had Joseph's birthday party the following weekend. I can't believe he is already 2. I did not have much time to work on a cake or any of that stuff but I got a dog on there (he loves to point at dogs and say the word, but he is not a big fan of dogs getting to close to him). He was not very happy at the beginning of the party. I think he was a little confused since we had to wake him up from a late nap after church. Here he is looking less then thrilled about everything.




He did warm up as he started to open the gifts, and he was really happy when he got to eat cake and ice cream. He insisted on playing with his new toys while eating. Not something I usually go for, but since it was his birthday, I let him.



I think his favorite toy was to large bag of blocks he got. Or at least they are the toy that is the most fought over. Here he is building a large tower. He loves to make a tower run over to me and say "big tower." After I look at it and smile he promptly kicks it and takes all the pieces apart and then builds a different tower.

Today

We got a really good thunderstorm and plenty of rain last night, so I had late night visitor to my bed. Jacob hates thunder, lightning, and rain if it is dark outside. Rob and Jacob spent the night taking turns hitting me in the face as they both fought for more space on the bed in there sleep. Needless to say, I did not sleep very well. I am not a fan of children sleeping in the bed with us, but for those rare middle of the night thunderstorms I make an exception for Jacob. Once the sun was up I could not keep the boys at the table to eat there breakfast because they wanted to go outside and play in the puddles. It was drizzling off and on, but it was warm outside, and the boys were ok getting wet, so I conceded to let them go and splash in the puddles. London went out for a little while, but she didn't like the boys getting her wet so she came back in.


Inside Guinevere was very proud of herself for learning how to sit up. Isn't she just so cute.


After all that sitting she thought she would wage war with another baby over a toy. She lost, and then spit up in protest. Apparently she is a sore loser.

That's my morning so far. It should prove to be an eventful day.