Julian

We played Hookie from school and headed on up to Julian to pick us some apples!!! Such a fun time. You can eat all you want while you pick and they have all sorts of different kinds. Kids loved it, I loved it, Saylor barely tolerated the whole thing, but we will be back next fall for sure!!!!

Saylor Grace

Saylor Grace made her grand entrance into the Brown Family June 15, 2010. She's been my naughtiest baby of the bunch, but I am seriously obsessed with her, and she is the cutest thing that you will ever meet. I think the loud babies have to be extra cute, and then it doesn't bother you when they yell endlessly...and it works! Here I am in all my pregnancy glory about a week before delivery!!!!
and one last look with the buddha belly and a little moment with Carson the morning we went in. I'm all about inducing and so is my Dr. so I consider us a pretty good team. Checked in the hospital around 8:30 am, they gave me my epidurral around 9:30- more appropriately referred to as heaven in a IV- and popped the little lady out just after 2:00. Sounds all so simple and smooth right- that's what Matt thinks, and can't figure out why I don't want a bunch more. Actually our naughty and adorable Saylor Grace has yelled enough that I think he's finally brought his numbers down to my level. Either way the delivery went well, except for right before delivering, I felt more pressure than I wanted to and begged for an epidurral booster. I want to be numb beyond any numbness, no inclination for a natural birth in this lifetime. So once that was all in place it was pretty smooth sailing.
She was such a little chunker too. 8 lbs. 2 oz. my biggest by Far!!!! So much for dreams of a 6 pounder.
and here's the first family of 5 in the hospital pic. Please excuse the fat face, it happens!!!

Around 1 week.
Saylor at 4 weeks
Here's Saylor at 5 weeks old with one of her future best buddies...Gordon. Little G is only 2 weeks older than Saylor and a true gentleman :)
Her chubby little smile is the BEST!!!! Saylor at 2 months.
And one of the most recent. The blue eyed beauty at 3 months old!!!!

Movin' on Up

Preschool was a good time for Carson. He made a couple new best buddies, loved his teacher Miss Debbie, and crafted his little heart out.
and crafted.....
and crafted. So many crafts, that I was left with only one option. Take a picture, so we can look back on them with fondness, and then sneak them into the trash when Carson isn't looking, cause there's no way in heck he would approve of the disposal of anything. Just look at his room.
Here's most the kids in his class, performing for Mothers day.

But with the end of preschool, it was time to move on up & begin the beginning of many many years in school. Kind of a scary concept. No tears were shed, almost. Maybe they're we're just a couple when he had to walk the last steps into his classroom and he turned and waved. He was SO SO nervous, and is such a cute little guy, but I think I might have even been more nervous for him. All I could think about was whether or not I raised him the best I could up to this point, since there's going to be so many new influences throughout his day, and not all good. Have I given him confidence, and a good base? And most importantly have I really enjoyed and soaked up the time i've had with him? Not sure that I have. It will forever be my goal to not have regrets when it comes to raising my kids and spending time with them.

We started the first big day of school with Carson's breakfast of choice- german pancakes.
And naturally, Carson looked like a stud.
And here we are, nearly 2 months into school and he's loving it. and so am I!!! He gets to ride the bus because we're being shipped to a school different than the one we're supposed to go to because of overcrowding. But he loves the bus, and I love the extra hr. I get. It's a win win.

Summer Joys

The summer kind of got away from us with the new baby. But, we did celebrate a few special days and spent a few more getting a tan. I turned 30...eek....and it may have been one of the most uneventful 30th b-days ever. I'll chalk that up to a 2 week old baby, and get a little extra crazy next year. Matt and Grandma Velyn celebrated their birthdays a day a part, so we joined forces for a little party. Carson & Brynlee dressed up for some Dancing to celebrate Matt & I's 8th anniversary on July 12th. That was pretty darn cute. To bad you can't feel the pictures, because Carson was wearing some pretty darn groovy velvet pants with his suspenders, that I believe were passed down from uncle Shane.

And the good ole' beach. The reason we pay those crazy bucks to live where we live, yet never quite seem to go. We only went to the beach a couple times this summer. A june baby doesn't go hand in hand with a sporting a swimsuit too often. Go figure! Not to mention June Gloom lasted through August! Anyhow, this was best beach day hands down of the summer. Perfect perfect weather! i'm pretty sure we didn't pack up the troops until 7pm. And we were especially grateful for "Mr. Koehle" who entertained all the kiddos.

And of course we were especially grateful for Grandma & Grandpa Anderson's pool this summer. One of our most favorite destinations!!!!

Blessing Day

Saylor Grace was blessed at home on Saturday, August 14th. We like to live on the edge and do things the unconventional way. Except that i'm not an edgy kind of gal at all, and fretted about this at least a couple weeks before, but it turned out fabulous. I was worried it wouldn't feel as special being on a Saturday, and worried about how on earth I was going to feed 60 people after. Turns out all the worrying was for nothing & I loved just having some of our closest friends and family there. I especially loved not having to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting, because for whatever reason i've always thought it was an unspoken rule to bear your testimony the Sunday that you bless your baby, and public speaking does not sit well with me.

Here's the circle of men that were involved in the blessing. Matt did an AMAZING job, just as he has with all 3 kids!!!! Great Grandmas, Grandmas, Mom & 2 beauty little babies :)
By doing the blessing Saturday we were able to have both sets of living great grandparents there, which was pretty darn special!

and here's a couple shots of some guests. The Koehle family, some of our favorites...and a few others below.

T + L = Love

We gained a new lady in the Anderson Family this Summer. Trevor married Lauren on August 13th, and she's adorable....or should I say tough. Both my brothers have married super tough, athletic girls and i'm pretty sure they're hoping to breed superheros, and even more sure that they will. So, if there's any other women with a genetic make-up similar to wonder women, Shane's available.
We love Lauren, and my kids do to, she's a fabulous addition!!!! And if you ever come across Trevor or Lauren, ask them about their courtship, it's pretty much a one of a kind story, but so cute.

And Uncle Thumbs finally got to spend some time with his newest and probably favorite niece, Saylor.
This is one of Laurens little sisters, Abigail. She's got 9 kids in her family, and my kids are pretty much obsessed with them all, but especially Abigail. The best part is, that they can all play together and they do it so well. Those are golden friendships.

Moving Day

We have loved our living and owning our first house in San Elijo for the last 5 1/2 years! But, it was time to sell it, and move on. Carson was totally bummed about the whole ordeal, not a big fan of change, but I think once he realized our new house was on a cul-de-sac a

nd our neighbors had some kids that thought he was pretty darn cute, he's adjusted. Nontheless, always sad to say goodbye to a home that has been such a big part of our family and holds so many memories!


The amount of "Stuff" we have accumulated over the last few years blows my mind. And sure makes for a fun time moving when you're 9 months pregnant. So far since kids, we've moved a week after Carson was born, and now 3 weeks before Saylor was born. So maybe timing isn't our strong suite. Thank goodness for helpful grandma's we got most the moving in completed before the baby!