The Bi-Annual Brown reunion, in the middle of nowhere mountains of Arizona is officially heaven on earth for Carson and the above picture is about how he looked the whole week. In addition to dirt in all un-seen areas. The reunion, that has over 1000 people come, has been a highlight for Matt his whole life, and really I can see why after watching Carson in pure bliss for 3 days. After 2 very sleepless nights with Brynlee I'm still working on making it my heaven :) The reunion coordinators this year did an amazing job and re-created about 30 stations where the kids could learn about how times were for their ancestors. They had barborshops, beauty parlors, laundry stations, cow milking, quilting, a general store, ice cream parlor, writing with ink and feathers, a post office, roping cattle, museum, train rides, etc.
There's a mountain called "Sierra Trigo" that Matt used to hike up every year on the last night with his cousins, to sleep there. Since I need help with the kids, there were no sleepovers at the top this year, but we did hike up there with the kids one morning. It was a little harder than expected seeing that we both ended up having to each carry one kid the whole way, but so fun and a BEAUTIFUL view from the top.

I did tell Matt that I might not make it again with a kid under 2 though. Babies and camping just don't mix. Thank goodness for Karen and Floyd letting us crash most the time in their RV. Brynlee got sick the first night and maybe slept a couple hrs. Ugh! And then there was Carson's bout with Car/Altitude sickness on the way there. No need for details on that one! In hindsight the reunion really was good time for all, and soooo much fun to see family. I love spending time with Matt's family (although I am petitioning for a beach vacation next:) But really, I can't wait for my kids to look forward to this tradition every other year.

The Muffin Man

We left behind our tropical paradise of California to bake in the Arizona sun for a week and a half....yes, we must be crazy, but we had some fun and are super glad to be back! I have officially decided that a vacation cannot be called a vacation when traveling with a 1 and 3 year old. There has to be some other name for it, because vacation implies relaxing, and somehow that just doesn't quite fit. The original plan was to go for a long weekend with all the Browns for the most humongous reunion ever that happens every other year. But, my sister-in-law decided to plan a surprise b-day weekend for my old man brother turning 30 the weekend before, so instead of 2 road trips 2 weekends in a row, the kids and I stayed the whole week and mashed it all together....and hopefully we weren't too disruptive of Nathan and Janelle's otherwise peaceful life!
Now here at Nate's b-day dinner, you might think we're standing in front of a delicious restaurant since the b-day boy was able to have his choice
Or If you know Nathan it wouldn't surprise that instead it was a Casino, were the buffet feature of the night was crab legs. Apparantely a love for buffets runs in the family, but crab legs....Ewwww! On top of that there was an hour plus wait, & after a few minutes of more smoke inhalation than one should have in a few years time we moved on! Yeah!
Entertainment of Birthday dinner #2 at Red Robin peaked when Nate decided the almost whole stack of untouched onion rings left at the table next to us would not go to waste on his watch. He's one of a kind, and pretty darn funny! We also went to the lake one day which is always a family favorite. And Carson even liked "surfing" enough to do it twice. Matt was so proud! The family then left me, and the rest of the week was left to see cousins and a few old friends from college. I didn't get many pictures of that, but it was soooo fun to see you girls!!!

Party Month

Happy Birthday to some of our favorite July Birthdays and thanks for sharing your days with us!
First to the best Dad and Husband in the Universe! We LOVE you more than anything! And to the best mom and Grandma Belyn. You're amazing!
And lastly, our fun Uncle Muffin, who let us raid his house and share his "birthday week" with him! Our Arizona adventures coming in up next!