Vistors from Hawaii!!!

Sam was born on a Friday and by Monday I was so overwhelmed... I didn't think I'd survive. That's when our visitors arrived. Normally I'd want to avoid seeing people at such an emotionally volatile time... but these guys are different. Kaelene walked in the door and asked me how I was and I started to cry. I couldn't have asked for a better person to sit there and tell me everything I needed to hear. Like how it's hard for everyone and it gets better and it's okay if your house is messy and you forgo making dinner for a year. Thank you so much. The kids were so happy to play together for a few hours. So.... could you guys strongly consider Texas for your residency. I'm serious. Please?!?

Kiara, Lizzy, Maka, Andrew.

Firsts

Around here we've celebrated a few "firsts" lately. It's been a whirlwind and only now as I sit down to type am I starting to feel emotional about my kids growing up too fast. It just reminds me more and more that I need to take the time to enjoy them when they are little.... like this little guy. Because it seems to be gone oh so fast.First day of preschool. I thought he'd be more nervous since he is kind of a "momma's boy". But he didn't hesitate. He ran right in and knew exactly what he wanted to play with. I think he'd been eyeing some of those toys each time we came to drop off Lizzy last year. Now it was HIS chance. He was so adorable and told me that he "loves preschool SOOOOOOO much."

First day of Kindergarten.

Lizzy wasn't really nervous either. We got up early and walked to school the first day. I did notice her steps getting slower and slower as we got closer, but upon seeing her friends she was gone and didn't look back. She loves it. Last week was cowboy week and she confided to me that at recess, she and her friend played cowgirl instead of princesses, which is a big concession for Lizzy. She even wore jeans to school on cowboy day. It seems that Kindergarten is working wonders in our lives.

I also need to say what a sweetheart Lizzy has been these last two weeks. She's been willing to run any errand, grab a diaper, wipe up spit-up... whatever. She has just been so great and absolutely adores Sam. She is such a good big sister and I'm so proud of her. She seems to have grown up a lot in the last few weeks. I'm proud and sad at the same time.
First bath. Of course... Lizzy was there ready and willing to help.

And here is a first for me. It was back in August... but since I took August off... I'm blogging about it now. My first piano recital. And the first piano recital of my 6 students. They were awesome and I was so proud of all of them for working so hard. Lizzy performed as well. She did a rousing rendition of "Row, Row Row you Boat" and then "When the Saints Go Marching In." I don't know when I'm going to be able to pick up teaching again after Sam... but I sure have enjoyed the last year and watching kids gain confidence as they learn something new. That's a good feeling.

Jaime, Jessica, Lizzy, Grayson, Madeline and Jane.

Funny How I Forget

It's funny how after already doing it twice I still forgot how demanding a newborn is.

I somehow forgot about that way my back is in one big knot for the first 2 months of the child's life, because they cry for reasons that I don't understand (and yes... he cries a lot!)

I somehow forgot how painful it is to feed my baby.

I forgot about that sinking feeling I get when I finally crawl into bed after getting the baby down only to hear a shriek 5 minutes later.

I forgot that my emotions are so out of control that I cry all the time. (I cry everytime I think about how Aaron is returning to his 80+ hour work week tomorrow!)


But then.....

I also didn't quite remember that rush of love that I feel the first time I hold my baby.

I forgot about how everything else becomes unimportant as I set the world aside and focus on nothing but my family.

I forgot the way the atmosphere in our home is changed by the addition of a new little spirit.

I forgot about that phenomenon of staring into my babies eyes and feeling that he understands things about God that I have forgotten.

I forgot that there is nothing sweeter than having a new baby join our family.

Welcome Sam

Samuel Gene Brown

Born September 4, 2009

7 lbs. 11 oz and 20 inches

Welcome to our family!!

Home Sweet.... Logan

Aaron and I both went to school in Logan and it is where we lived when we were first married. Lizzy was born there. We have become quite attached to the place. There are a lot of good memories for us there. We took a little trip down memory lane and visited our first 2 homes, the Logan temple and of course our favorite restaurants. The trip would not have been complete without the chance to enjoy the beautiful Logan canyon. Unfortunately the only picture I got were the ones in the canyon. It was wonderful nevertheless and even though we got entirely rained out. Thank goodness that Brett let us use his place to get cleaned up.

Day at Wheeler Farm

Last week Wheeler Farm sponsored a big carnival day. What a blast. Between waiting in line, jumping in the giant bouncers and walking everywhere... we were exhausted... but happy.

I'd say... it looks just how summer should look.

Lasts for Lizzy

In some ways this year has absolutely flown by. It was extremely evident as we watched Lizzy play in her last soccer game of the season. She began way back last September. She liked getting in her uniform and running around but was definitely more interested in picking flowers and talking to her buddy Lydia. It has been fun to watch her get a little more interested in the game and see just how fast she can run. She even finished up the season with a goal during the last game. She's worked hard and we are very proud of her. Thanks for coming Grandma! Team photo September 2008 Team photo June 2009We also had the chance to attend Lizzy's preschool graduation at the end of May. Preschool has been so much fun this year and both Mom and Lizzy have LOVED it. Lizzy grew very attached to her teacher, Miss Linda. As we were all milling around after the graduation, talking to friends, I found Lizzy in a corner by herself sobbing her eyes out. She confessed that she doesn't want to say goodbye to her teacher because she is "the best teacher EVER in the world." I blame pregnancy hormones on the fact that I also cried at Lizzy's preschool graduation. It is hard to have a heart-broken kid even if it's something that seems silly like moving on from preschool. She has a tender little heart and I am learning to appreciate that more and more.

Lizzy with her preschool buddies: Noah, Sierra, Lydia, Olivia

Lizzy and Miss Linda

What a cutie!

Saying her memorized lines during the program.