Merry Christmas!

We had a good night last night. It is tradition in our family to open gifts on Christmas Eve. We normally first have some of Brad's delicious clam chowder and cheese ball and crackers and then open gifts. However, we were invited over to the Lowmans so we did things a little differently this year. We opened gifts and then took the chowder and other goodies over to the Lowmans. We had a good time with Lee and Dave's family. The kids were pleased with their gifts. Ryan especially liked his leg lamp and Savanna her Ugg boots. Matt got an ipod which he was also happy with. Today, we will have our big meal and then we may head over to the Lowmans for some fun and games.

Ryan's birthday

Ryan's birthday was actually Thursday but Brad was out to sea so we decided to wait and celebrate it after Brad got home. Ryan had plans with his friends for all of Saturday so it was decided we would celebrate on Sunday. Then Brad thought he had to work on Sunday but thankfully they called and he didn't have to go in. So, after Matt got off work we all went to a place called American Indoor Karting. It is like go carts only they go really fast (unless you are Savanna) LOL Just kidding - love you Savanna!! After everyone got a briefing (which consisted of a bored worker reading a sign to us) we headed out to the pit. Now, again, when I say "we" I'm not including myself. I was just along to take the pictures! They all had a good time, I think the first heat was a little intense for Savanna but by the second heat she had a really good time. I was glad that I had once again wimped out of something, I would have been a real basket case out there! They only ran two races and then we went to Lynnhaven Fish House for dinner. Ryan loves seafood and one of my clients graciously gave me a generous gift certificate so I was able to treat which really makes me happy. They put us in a quiet (until we got there of course) little alcove by ourselves and we wondered if they knew about us before we got there. Our family tends to get a little loud when we are together, we didn't get too bad though. Dinner was absolutely delicious, I don't think I've ever seen Ryan eat so much! We still haven't had birthday cake, that will be later this week when Brad gets home again. I think Ryan had a great birthday!

Christmas has arrived at the Browns!

Brad came home from his latest "at sea" period on Friday (14th) so it was time to get the tree and pull out the decorations. We had planned on waiting for Savanna to get out of dance on Saturday but the weather was looking bleak (it was supposed to start raining at any time) and we didn't want to wait another day due to the fact that Brad was probably going to have to work on Sunday and then he was going back out to sea until Tuesday evening. I have a portrait sitting here on Wednesday so Brad and I wound up getting our tree all by ourselves - all the kids were either working or dancing. It did start raining right as we chose the tree and I wimped out and got into the car while Brad handled the rest. Since we sold the truck we wound up taking Matt's little SUV to get it. We tied it to the top (yeah, I say "we" like I was actually involved in that!) and went very slow all the way home. Luckily we weren't far from home so we didn't make too many people mad!

When Savanna got home she and Brad decorated the tree and I did what I do best - tell them how to do it and take pictures! Roxie was so much fun, she thought the ornaments were balls and we let her play with one and she loved batting it around until it shattered. It's okay, no one was hurt! She was then fascinated with the balls on the tree and the lights. It was almost as much fun as having a little kid join us! It is tradition that Matthew put the star on - after all he can reach it better than anyone else! Here's a few pics, the one of Roxie in her sweater was a hoot, trying to get the sweater on her was quite an adventure. What is Christmas without a little bit of torturing the dog with silly outfits?

The Babies

I couldn't get anyone else to play with me as I practiced with my new lighting equipment. Lexie is always a poser and loves to have her picture taken (not kidding!) but I just happened to get Roxie in an agreeable mood. Aren't they adorable?

Happy Birthday Roxie!

This is about a week late, but maybe she won't mind :-) Roxie turned a year old on November 28. She has turned into a nice little dog. She still has her moments - grabbing unmentionables and running - snooping in every trash can that is at her level - tormenting Lexie - barking at trash bags - the list goes on and on... But, she is an absolute joy and we think she is the best Schnoodle in the world!!

Thanksgiving 2007 #2

For some reason my last post wouldn't let me add one more image. I wanted to add the image of the dogs laying on me so here it is - don't look at me - I look gross!!

Thanksgiving 2007

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog friends! We had an interesting Thanksgiving this year. I wound up in the hospital on Monday having my gall bladder taken out. I was feeling great right up until Sunday night about 8:00 when I thought I was having indigestion. About 4 in the morning I decided it wasn't indigestion and it was time to go to the hospital. Brad got up and took me in. After two ultrasounds it was determined that my gall bladder needed to come out. So, by 11:30 in the morning I was in surgery. Everyone at Portsmouth Naval Hospital was awesome - they were great! I was released mid morning on Tuesday. Needless to say, cooking Thanksgiving dinner was out of the question for me but Savanna stepped up to the challenge. She and her daddy decided they could do the dinner. What a good job they did too! It was a great dinner, they did an outstanding job! Here's a few pictures that I took with the little digital camera. The flowers were from Jennifer and my mom - they are beautiful the picture does not do them justice. The picture of the dogs is typical of what they have been doing since I have been laid up on the couch. They want to be on me so one (Roxie) lays on my chest and Lexie lays on my lap, thereby avoiding the sore middle part of my abdomen. They are sweeties!

Matthew's first car

Matt has been saving his money waiting for that perfect car and his patience has paid off in a big way! This is a long story but one that must be told! Matt has been driving Brad's truck and it was eating him up in gas, even though his work is not very far it still set him back a lot in gas. So, we figured out he had about $950 to spend. Well, we looked around and really couldn't find anything that looked reliable for that price. He had wanted a Jeep and used Jeeps are just too expensive. When Ryan got his Samurai, Matt loved it and started talking about getting one. One of Ryan's friends had one that he would sell for $1500, so we thought that we would loan him the money he didn't have. Well, a couple of weeks ago, this fella comes into Ryan's Texaco and asks whose Samurai is in the parking lot. One of the techs tells him that it is Ryan's. Well, this guy has been coming to the Texaco for quite a while and knew Ryan. So, he told him that he has one the same year as Ryan's and he bought it new and that he has decided to sell it but not to just anyone and did Ryan know of someone who might want it that he knew would take good care of it. Ryan told him that his brother is looking for one. So, Michael (the guy selling the car) tells Ryan that the blue book is $1400 but he would sell it to the right person for $950. WOW! Okay, so we set up a time to go look at the car. The first two times we set up he couldn't make it so Brad had to go out to sea so it was up to the boys and me to make this decision. Matt had class the night we went to look at it so Josh went with us. Josh also owns a Samurai. We get there and this little truck is in immaculate condition. The top needs to be replaced but there is no rust on the body and the tires only have about 5000 miles on them. It is a true gem. So, as we talk to him it is obvious he is a Christian man and he tells us that he talked to his dad and brother and a friend and they all told him he was crazy for selling it at that price - I have to admit at this point I thought he was going to say he had decided to raise the price - but no, he says to us "but the Lord laid on my heart to sell it for $950 and that is how much I am selling it for". I about cried, can you believe that? I told Matt this car was a gift from God before we even looked at it, and he agreed and then after we brought it home I told him the story and I think he was quite amazed. We all were! So, that is the story of Matt's first car - it is a testament to the fact that God cares about even the small things in our lives. Although Matt's car is not a small thing in his life, it seems that with all the other needs in the world it would seem to be a small thing to God, but it shows that if it is big to us, it is big to God! WOW!!

Onboard the GW

Brad had to go in yesterday and get some helicopters on board for their deployment and asked Savanna and me if we wanted to go and watch. (the boys were both working) OF COURSE we did!! Savanna had never been on a carrier before so she really loved it. It was nice to see where Brad works and where he lives when he is onboard. We saw his stateroom, which is quite small, but he has his own bathroom (rank does have its privileges!), we then went to the tower and watched him work a bit and then when it was time for the helicopters to come aboard Savanna and I went out to the "vulture's row" to watch. It was awesome! Afterwards, Brad showed Savanna the "bridge" and the galley. And then we went out to the flight deck and the helicopter crews let Savanna sit in the helicopter. She had a very good day!

New vehicle and homecoming

Wow! I can't believe I haven't updated in so long! There hasn't been a whole lot going on. I'll catch up a little bit. Ryan sold his 1995 Eclipse about a month ago and bought a 1988 Suzuki Samurai (I really don't know how that is spelled!) It is a lot different vehicle than what he was driving but he is having a great time mudding with Josh and Heather and is looking forward to doing some beach riding as well. This picture was AFTER he washed it!

Savanna went to homecoming last weekend (at Norfolk Christian Academy) with a group of friends. Unfortunately I was shooting a wedding and Brad was out to sea for the day so neither of us were able to see her all dressed up. But she took pictures and I am posting one here. She looked beautiful! From left to right is Morgan (who was her "date", he asked her to be his guest since he is a student there), Savanna, David, Natalie, and Diana. David, Natalie, Diana, and Savanna are the youth group seniors this year.

Trey's Promotion

Brad had the privilege of swearing in Trey Hayden for his Commander promotion. Trey and his family are very special to us. We met them when Brad checked in as XO at VRC 40 and we became fast friends. They have been in Fredricksburg, Virginia for the last couple of years and have just moved back to Chesapeake. Trey is the PXO (prospective XO - he joins the squadron in December or January) of VRC 40. Trey and Brandie asked Brad if he would swear him in and since they were coming over for dinner so we decided to have the ceremony that evening. Their kids, Chad and Brittany are really great, the dogs really loved having them here - lots of belly rubs and playing!

Josh and Heather tie the knot

Our family had the privilege of attending Josh and Heather McAfee's wedding this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding with a Japanese theme. There were a lot of fun elements to the wedding and we all had a great time. Ryan was a groomsman and looked quite handsome in his tuxedo.