Thank you Liv

Two minutes ago Liv was looking at me and said "Are you chubby or fat?"

"I'm pregnant", I replied.

"Oh, I think your chubby".

Thank you Liv. Just what any pregnant lady wants to hear. Little stinker!

Happy Birthday Grandma Brown! from Jessica Brown on Vimeo.

Visit from a Leprechaun

Did I tell you that we had a visitor at our house on St. Patrick's Day? 

 Well, we did.

That silly leprechaun turned our pancakes green! And our milk green!

 Then, when we got back from our walk, we noticed that he also left us a picture of himself, along with a note that he needed some help finding his stolen pot of gold.

 In order to find his pot of gold, we had to find the shamrocks that he left all around the house.

On the back of every shamrock was a task that the leprechaun wanted us to complete before we followed the clue to find the next shamrock.

As it turns out, this little leprechaun REALLY loves the violin. So, many of his tasks were asking Olivia to play her little violin.

 She was happy to play, especially because she knows how to play a song that is called

Leprechaun song!

 And I took lots of pictures, because, well, because she looked stinkin cute.

 Liv had so much fun finding the shamrocks.

 (I love this picture of her doing "GGG song" with her hand in her pocket.

One of Warner's tasks was to build a train track, which he was more than happy to do.

Here are a bunch of pictures of the kids completing some of the Leprechaun's tasks and searching for more shamrocks.

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At last Liv finished her last task and it was time to search for the rainbow. For we all know that leprechauns sometimes leave their pots of gold at the end of rainbows.   

 

The kids were so excited when they found the pot of gold. And the leprechaun even told them in the note that he would share his gold with them.

 Unfortunately the leprechaun and the fairy had a little fight over his pot of gold, and although the fairy ended up winning the pot of gold, her legs got ripped off in the process.  Good thing she has wings?  (Yea apparently if you try to make these little fairy's sit a little too roughly their legs pop right off, oops!)  There were some major tears shed from a certain other fairy over the loss of her dear fairy sisters legs, and it took quite a few hugs to soothe her over that one.

 

In the end we were all very happy that a leprechaun visited our house and hope that he will come back to visit next year. 

"And please bless the kids in Pajan"

(Images from National Geographic)

   Feeling inspired from a recent Relief Society lesson, I decided to base our family home evening lesson this week on giving to others. With the current situation with Japan, I also decided it would be a good thing to talk to Liv about what happened there and teach her a little bit about the earthquake and the tsunami. 

    When we said it was time for family night, Olivia jumped to the occasion. Monday night is, hands down, Olivia’s favorite night of the week.  I know this will change some day, but for now I just love how excited she gets to have family night. In fact, she gets so excited that on most Monday mornings she says to me “What day is it?”, and when I reply that it is Monday, she always excitedly exclaims, “That means tonight is family night!!”.  I think she gets her enthusiasm for calendaring and anticipation of future events from her Aunt Jenny. 

    Warner, however, was not as enthusiastic to come to family night as his big sister, because he was very focused for that moment on messing with the kitchen blinds.  It only took a few seconds of the rest of us singing “If you chance to meet a frown, do not let it stay”, until he too came running. 

    We had our usual opening songs, which almost always include: Smiles, Once there was a Snowman, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Baby Boats. After a prayer we sang a reverent song, As I have Loved You.  Then we began the lesson. While Warner squirreled around, hopping up from couch to couch, Liv listened intently as we told her about the earthquake and tsunami that happened in Japan. After talking about it for awhile, we showed her and Warner some footage of the tsunami in action.  The kids watched intently, as we saw homes, cars, buildings, and local stores being swept away one by one with the powerful current.  Liv hardly blinked, her body sat perfectly still as she stared at the computer screen.

    She quietly asked questions: “But how will they know which house is which”, “Where are the kids toys?", "Where are their clothes going?" "Where is all the food going to go?”. 

    Then she wanted to know where Japan was, so we got on google earth and showed her the globe. Jaron drew a line from our house to Japan.  “Woa” she said, “That’s even farther away then Katelyn’s house!”. 

    After we finished watching the videos and looking at Japan, I asked Liv if there was anything that she thought we could do to help the people in Japan. Her answers were so sweet and sincere: “Maybe we could send a little girl some of my dresses”. . .“We could pray for them”. . . “Maybe we could send them some of our toys, would they like that”?  I could tell that she was really thinking about it. Then I said, “I don’t know how to send them toys, or clothes, but we could send them some money so that they could buy new clothes to wear, and new toys to play with”.  A panicked look ran across her face.  “But, wait! If we send them our money, then we will have no money left for us!!”.  I could tell that she was very concerned at the idea of giving away our money.  Jaron explained that it is a sacrifice to give, but that it is still very important and good to do. We told her we would still have money for us, and told her we weren’t giving all of our money away. 

    After a few minutes of talking with her, Olivia decided that she would contribute some of her own money. We got her little bank down for her and dumped out all of her hard earned money. At first she just looked at it.  Then she decided she didn't want to give anything.  After all, it this is hard earned money.  Money that she has earned from daily violin practice, chores, article of faith memorization, and kind acts of service to others.  Money that she counts and recounts often to make sure its still growing. She is saving up for a barby doll from target that costs $10.00, and ever penny in there counts.  She currently has about $3.45.  After awhile, she finally said “I’ll give them one of the small ones” and she grabbed a dime and put it in the envelope. I told her that, that was a very great choice, and I assured her that when we give some of what we have to those who need it, it makes Jesus very happy.

     We ended the lesson and began eating some chocolate chip cookies, which were fresh from the oven. After a few minutes, Jaron left with Warner to put him down for the night, and I sat alone with Liv who was quietly finishing up her last cookie.  We chewed in silence. And after a little while, I could tell that she was really thinking about something.  Normally Liv is so chatty, especially when eating chocolate chip cookies.  Finally, the silence broke, and she said softly, “Mom". . .  "I want to give some more of my money to the kids in Pajan. Can you get my bank for me again?”  I pulled it out and dumped out her money on the table in front of her.  She took one glance at the small pile of pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters, and picked up one of her beloved, many times counted, large, silver quarters and placed it in the envelope.  Then she looked at me and smiled. “Mom”. . .  “I feel happy inside”.  Words cannot express the warmth that filled my heart at that moment.  I tell you these are the moments we live for. A moment like this makes all the temper tantrums, all the poopy diapers, all the messy spills, all the frustrating days so, so worth it.

    I can only wonder what thoughts were going on inside of her little head as we sat there in silence before she came to the conclusion that she wanted to give a little more.  Perhaps she was feeling happy to have a warm cookie in her mouth, and wondering if little kids in Japan were able to do the same thing. Perhaps she was feeling grateful that our home was right here, over our heads, and not washed away, or left in crumbles. Perhaps she was feeling grateful to be in her warm clothes, with the knowledge that her warm bed awaited her upstairs. Perhaps. Maybe four year olds aren't capable of thinking such deep thoughts, but whatever she was thinking, however simple her thoughts may have been, or if she was thinking at all, something inside of her compelled her to want to give a little more of what she had to people in need. 

    Something hit Liv during FHE on that Monday night, and I mean something besides Warner. Something hit her heart.  I don’t know if it was the videos she watched of the houses being destroyed, or the thought of little girls like her out there with no dresses and no toys, but whatever it was, something really touched her, and it has stayed with her. Ever since that lesson on monday night, whether it be a prayer on her food, a personal prayer, or a family prayer for the night, she can't end her prayer without saying “And please bless the kids in Pajan”.

Spring is in the air. YAY!!

When the sun comes out, or it stops raining, no questions asked, we go outside (as much as possible) and play. Last week when we walked out to our long neglected back yard, I found these lovely little beauties smiling up at me. I have no idea what they are, but they sure are pretty, and they weren't there last year. What a happy surprise.

A Fun Way to Learn Nursery Rhimes

We acted the nursery rhyme out with the pink spider Liv made with Jaron. I tell you Liv has never memorized something so fast in all her life. It took only three or four times of acting it out before she had the rhyme down pat.


Untitled from Jessica Brown on Vimeo.

Silence in a house is never a good thing, when a four year old and a two year old are involved.

Assuming my happy, perfect children (yea right) were quietly playing upstairs while I was doing dinner prep the other day, I finally decided things were much to quiet in the house. Why don't I hear laughing? Why don't I hear banging? Why don't I hear fighting? Not a good sign. So I rushed upstairs only to find that the two little scalawags had unleashed an entire bottle of baby powder (which was brand new might I add) in Warner's room. I don't know how they were even breathing in there, as you can see from the picture it was a daze a baby powder fog in Warner's room. All of Warner's furniture, all of Warner's toys, carpet, and books, and all of Warner's little personage were completely dusted in baby powder. Hmmm. . . wonder who the culprit was? I would say the dust free one, but she wasn't, she even dusted her self, and she was way too proud of herself for me to try to hide my laughter and do any sort of disciplining.  

Dinner got put on hold to say the least, while I tried to air out, clean, and vacuum up Warner, Liv, and the room. Silly kids. 

Note to self: When there is a two year old and a four year old involved, never, I repeat, NEVER let it get too quiet, unless you are absolutely sure they are sleeping, and even then, its worth checking. 

Eagles Landing

Liv, the little trooper, walked up all two hundred and sixty eight of those steps. She said "Mom, my legs are kind of tingly". 

I don't know why we ever do pictures like these, but they are kind of funny to me so we did one. Thanks to Jaron's long arms, but unfortunately Liv's sweet face didn't make it.

Visit to Sister

Last September or October, Southwest had a great deal on plane tickets to one Hartford, Connecticut where sister-that-I-never-get-to-see lives. Sort of on an impulse and sort of out of desperation to visit a long lost sis, I called up my Mom, called a few friends to see if they could watch my kids, and everything was in place for a trip to visit Kelly. 

In the airport on the way there someone said to us "I hope you're going somewhere warm and sunny"! We laughed and said, "Actually, we've decided to go to the coldest place in the nation for vacation"! Ok maybe not as cold as Minnesota where brother lives, but it was dang cold! 

In spite of the weather, and the massive mazes of snow piled streets, we managed to have ourselves a great time, and I really fell in love with the little town Kel and Jared live in.

See for yourself. 

The little charming, colonial houses just a few blocks away from them. 

One night when I was talking on the phone to Liv I said "Liv! Guess what I saw! I saw a pink house." She said "Oh, can you bring it home to me?"

I really wished I could have somehow figured out a way to bring it home to her. 

The first night we were in Connecticut we had a surprise visit from Drew. It was so fun to see him, also another brother I don't see often. It was great to eat Kel's delicious home-ade dinner while visiting with long lost sibs. And did I mention Jen was there? And we all know she is one of my most favorite people on this planet.  

 

Little old covered bridge at the Whitney River

The Whitney River

Below: Picture of Dr. Henry Davis's second home at Yale where he does all of his crazy smart scientific research.

Cool little church near their home.

 

On the first night that we were there we got a surprise visit from Drew, who just happened to be in town for business. It was so fun to see him, and catch up on his life over a plate of delicious french dipped sandwiches, which Kel had made us. 

We got to steal away for a few days, and Kel played the role of tour guide around New York City. 

I was so impressed with her ability to navigate us around such an intimidatingly huge city!

Here we are bundled up as tight as we can.

Time Square

The morning before we headed back to Connecticut we had a chance to do a session at the Manhattan temple. The temple is gorgeous. It was such a surreal experience to walk in to the quiet temple from the loud and busy streets of New York. The art work in the temple was gorgeous and so fun to walk around and look at. I think it is one of my new favorite temples.

I love this picture of my Mom (below) Isn't she so beautiful?

 

Kel and I decided to buy our Hubbies a wonderful gift to let them know they were loved. And what better gift to know you are loved then a silly looking animal bini? Everyone was wearing these in New York. We saw frogs, elephants, birds, monkeys, and all sorts of crazy animals on peoples caps.

The night before we left the Davis kids spontaneously decided to dress up and put on a play for us. We were the audience of some very fine actors I tell you what.

And, very cute actors at that.

Did I mention yet, how fun it was to be with Jen. I love this girl.

A week was a long time to be away from the husband and kids. I had a great time, but I missed them dearly, so whenever I could steal a free moment, this is what I looked like: either texting or talking to the fam back home.

Farewell my sisters. Until we meet again.