2008 Scavenger Hunt

We did something different this year on Christmas day. After dinner we had our first annual Brown Scavenger Hunt. It was boys against the girls and each team had a list of items that had to be photographed and things that had to be collected. For example we had to take pictures of an out-of-state license plate, a local monument, a police officer, of the group sharing a soda, etc... Things that had to be collected included a pine cone, french fry container (which the guys dug out of the trash - YUCK!), Chinese restaurant menu, etc... So, we all set out, the guys in my Honda and Savanna and me in her car. There were a few times when I thought we were going to get a really good picture of a police officer (if you get my drift) :-) ANYWAY, we had a great time! The guys did get a good picture of a cop and it wasn't because he pulled them over, at least that is what they told us, hmmmmmm. We had two hours to accomplish the task and then we met at the bowling alley and added up the points - GIRLS WON!! And we didn't have to dig through anyone else's garbage either! We then bowled a couple games and went home and had ham biscuits and pie - YUMMM!

Christmas 08

Christmas Eve 08

We had a great Christmas eve! Savanna and Matt both had to work on Christmas Eve during the day. Matt got off at 3 and Savanna got off at 6. So we didn't get started until after 6:30. John Austin came over and spent the evening with us. Brad made his incredible clam chowder and we had our annual cheese ball. Savanna made the cheese ball this year and it was excellent. Then the kids all hid upstairs wrapping their presents while Brad and I got their presents out of the car. Since bringing Brad home for Christmas was costly for us the kids only got one present each so it didn't take long to get through the Christmas tree. Matthew got a Guitar Hero game for his Xbox 360 - we all had a great time with that! Savanna got a little digital camera (purple!) and we got Ryan a little tv for his bedroom. After opening presents we watched a movie and then I headed to bed. Aaron came over and everyone else stayed up late playing Guitar Hero. Ryan spent the night over here the 23rd and the 24th with Ripley so that added a bit of excitement to the time together.

More Preps - Cookies

Yes, we are just now baking cookies here at the Browns. John and Aaron were over last night and they helped us with the cookies. The sugar cookie dough was pretty rock solid so we needed the muscle to roll it. John had never baked/decorated cookies before but he did a great job rolling it out with Savanna's supervision. I think he wound up using his hands rather than the rolling pin but I have learned not to ask. Aaron helped me with the walnut crescents and helped Savanna with cooking the bacon for her broccoli salad that she is taking to work today. It made the chore of baking more fun to have more people in the kitchen. Then after they left Brad finished up helping Savanna with the sugar cookies.

Christmas Preps

We are finally getting ready for Christmas. We were supposed to go and get our "real" Christmas tree on Saturday but with everyone's schedule there just wasn't going to be a time when we could all go. Since this was becoming a yearly issue we decided that we would just go get an artificial one. Dave and Lee had gotten a gorgeous one at Michaels really cheap so after our breakfast with them on Saturday we went to Michaels and got a great deal on an artificial tree. It was regularly priced $349 and after all the discounts and getting the floor display which was the only one they had left we wound up paying $84.50. It is pre-lit and it is awesome! Unfortunately the daughter doesn't share our enthusiasm. She wanted the whole family to go get the real one. Well, the only time we would have been able to do that would be Christmas day since that is the only day we all have time. So, here are a few pictures from the decorating of the tree. Brad put the tree up and Savanna decorated while I took pictures.

More homecoming

Merry Christmas to US!! Daddy's home!

Brad arrived on Tuesday night (well actually Wednesday morning). He had an incredibly long day leaving Tokyo Tuesday morning around 3 am our time and arriving here after 12:30 am on Wednesday morning. He was supposed to be in at 8:20 but when that flight out of Newark was canceled he wound up on a later flight that we thought was getting in at 10:45 so the kids and I got to the airport about 10:30 and due to weather in Newark they left another 2 hours late. He was so tired he practically slept all day on Wednesday. He's home though and we are ecstatic. Christmas can begin now!

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

My first born is 23! Good grief! When I was his age I was pregnant with him. That is hard to imagine. We aren't really celebrating until next Saturday when Brad will be here but since he was working on his birthday I did take him some balloons. Luckily when I went they were really slow. The big balloon is a "Tow-mater" (from the Disney movie "Cars"), I thought that was appropriate considering how many problems his car has been giving him lately :-)

Patriotic Pooches

I have been doing several Oplove sittings the past few weeks and I had one "in studio" the other day. I set up my backdrops and my lighting and I had no one to do my test shots with so I rounded up the dogs. I was only going to use Lexie but when I put her up on the ottoman, Roxie jumped up and plopped herself down right beside Lexie and looked at the camera - priceless! This would have been a better blog for July but they are just too darn cute to wait that long and by then I would probably have forgotten. Aren't they awesome?

Paintballin'

While we were in Tennessee the kids spent a day paintballing at a field near Shelbyville. It was a really nice and well-equipped field. The played for 6 hours and had a great time.

Thanksgiving 2008

Ryan, Matt, Savanna and I went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving this year. We had a great time and I took lots of pictures. I am putting some here on the blog and the rest in an on line album. Mom made an outstanding meal, some of the side dishes were contributed by others. It was great being together, I really missed Debbie and Reid and Stephanie. Danny came in from the Knoxville area, it was good to see him and he did his cousinly duty and teased Savanna along with Larry and her brothers. They were trying to get her cell phone away from her to get Lance's phone number but I don't think they succeeded - at least I hope not. Uncle Doug and Aunt Char came over as well as the usuals - Jennifer and Larry and their crew, Jeannetta and Jay and their crew, Jess and John, Dale and Linda and Marianna, my crew and of course Granny who makes it all possible.