Ice Sledding!

We had the BEST day today. We spent the entire day in our pjs, relaxing, watching movies, playing Wii, Mike and I playing Scrabble (he beat me). We eventually made our way outside (during Griffin's insanely long nap - sorry big guy!) and had SO MUCH FUN sledding in our cul-de-sac until it was dark. Can't wait to repeat tomorrow morning (would you believe church is already canceled?).









Here's a little video of some sledding in our neighbor's driveway. (Note: after watching myself wearing my pj pants, my boots from HS, Mike's over-sized coat, and my silly hat, flailing around like a crazy person, I've decided that the time is sooner rather than later that the boys are completely embarrassed to be anywhere near me. :).

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SNOW!

Hard to believe, but it started snowing at this afternoon in Charlotte! The oldest and youngest Brown boys sped out to enjoy the first few flakes. We're all hoping that there will be enough of an accumulation tomorrow to do some sledding. Wouldn't that be fun?!

Night-Night

I love checking on the boys after they've fallen asleep.  Griffin looked so sweet last night, I just had to take a picture (crazy hair = forgot to brush it after bath = Mike must be in Boston, haha).  He's been in a double bed for 6 months now and is doing great.  It was the easiest transition.  I love that he still sleeps on top of the quilt, covered up only by his favorite blue "star blanket" (which was also Noah's favorite blanket when he was that age - love that too). 

I love that he still hangs on to his trusted "doggy". He has two others that look just like it. A white one called "peppers", and an identical brown one called "snippers".  He named them all.  He loves them all.

I love how much he loves to read. After we've all read books/when its time for bed, he grabs a few more, climbs into bed using his little step-stool, and settles in with his reading. He "goes to bed" with the lights fully on, and when he's good and tired, he puts his books down, covers himself up with his blanket, and goes to sleep.  I love it.  (And I love these little piggies.)

Daydreaming about the Wedding

Each day, Miles has to write in his 1st grade journal. He's allowed to write about anything. Check out yesterday's entry about Aunt Dana and Brad (he's in the spelling-by-sounding-it-out phase of learning and you'll notice that he flips his letters some).  "One day my aunt and uncle are going to get married and my cousin is going to be the flower girl she is going to walk down the aisle and give the ring to aunt dana."

I LOVE that he drew himself and Noah dressed in suits with bow ties! For boys that detest wearing any pants other than sweats, this is a HUGE sign of their excitement for the wedding. Crossing my fingers that all three boys will walk down the aisle with Mason.

The wedding is exactly ONE MONTH from TODAY! I'm tearing up just thinking about it. Can't wait for Dana B (for Dana Biscuit, another story...) to become Dana B-H!

I ♥ Faces: Texture

This week's I ♥ Faces theme is Texture. I have never used texture before, but I'm so drawn to it in others' photos. I fumbled around with some textures in elements so that I could enter a photo this week (love this one of my 6-year-old devo and his silly 4-year-old bro). I'm definitely still learning -- but I'm determined to enter as many challenges as I can this year. I just love how I ♥ Faces encourages novices to try new things.

Come check out more cool textured photos at I ♥ Faces.

Home Sweet Home

This picture cracks me up. Miles was being silly, giving me a serious face. I was cracking up. It all read so "devo" (the band) to me. haha

Miles and Noah have been asking a lot of questions about marriage lately. Last week, Noah asked me if he would live in a different house with his wife, when he gets married someday. I said, "yes!" He said, "mom...I'd really like it if my wife and I could live here with you and dad." :)

Over the weekend, Miles asked Mike the same question. When he said "yes, you'll live in your own house with your wife", Miles said, "I hope that we can live right next door to you, so that our kids can come over and play with you and mom whenever they want." So sweet!

Mike - maybe we should go ahead and buy the lot on the corner and hold on to it until the boys are ready to build a duplex (or a triplex)? :)

My Guys

After a super fun girls weekend in the mountains, it was extra special to be back home with my guys. The mild weather has been perfect for outside bike rides, chalk art, and t-ball (a new interest of the boys -- much fun!). So blessed to share my life with these four guys.

Happy Birthday, Pop!

Miles, Griffin and Noah drew special cards just for you. We LOVE you!! Thanks for being an awesome father, father-in-law, and pop. Happy Birthday!

Heading Out

Heading out in an hour to celebrate this curly-haired cutie! So excited for Dana's bachelorette party weekend. Will be much fun to celebrate with my sisters, my bonus sister-in-law, and 9 of Dana's fun friends in Blowing Rock. Can't wait!!

iheartfaces: Faces

This week's iheartfaces theme is a recent 'best face' photo. I love Griffin in this photo. He is so still, yet his sweet eyes seem to have a zillion things to say.

Come see the other amazing faces at www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com.

Sports Connection

We came back from Summerville and went straight to Sports Connection as Miles was invited to a party there. After the party, our family stayed to play some games and bowl.

In the words of Tim Gunn, this kid is making it work!

Griffin and Miles bowled on their own, and Mike bowled with Noah.

I think its so cute watching the kids watch their ball to see how many pins get knocked down.

And seriously, isn't it just human nature to twist a little, in hopes that your ball will twist a little too?

The Park

We spent the last weekend of our holiday in Summerville so Mike and I could go to a couples shower for Dana and Brad. While we were there, we brought the kids to one of their favorite playgrounds to work off some energy.

This picture cracks me up. The boys were pretending that they were running away (screaming) from a dinosaur.

Mike and I were f-r-e-e-z-i-ng (despite running around ourselves!), so every time the boys peeled off a layer, we made use of it.

Here's a perfect picture of me and my big-ole scar between my eyes. I totally forget about it until I see a picture of myself. Man I hate it. I'm sure I'll look back when I'm 70 and recognize that I should have embraced it. Until then, I'll wrestle with bangs to cover it, lather it with oils to soften it. And photoshop. Photohop will be my friend. :)

Happy New Year!

We spent a fun night ringing in the New Year's with the Williams and the Hulls (thanks for hosting us Jon & Trish!). The kids (ages, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 2) had so much fun together and I was so proud of Griffin for hanging with the rest of the pack (and go Ella for hanging with six boys!) . Our families are heading to the mountains in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to see all these kids giggling in the snow together.

We spent our New Year's morning with some neighborhood families. It was fun and so relaxed.  I'm taking it as a sign that 2010 is going to be super laid-back.  Its possible, right? :) 

Cold Hard Cash (almost)

Mike's aunt and uncle sent the boys Walmart gift cards for Christmas. They were so excited to each have their own "money" and couldn't wait to get to the store to spend it.

"cold hard cash, baby"



"wait....what is this again?"


"oh, right...money!"


"Let's go shopping!"