We Ski . . .
What a great time we had on our first official family ski trip. I am still amazed at how well the kids did. They were amazing. They acted like they had been skiing all of their short little lives. They made "pizza slices" and "french fries" like nobodys business.
I love spending time with my family. I thank God every day for allowing me the privilege to be married to such an amazing man and have these three beautiful, healthy children. I love you guys!

It doesn't get
any better than this!

We had a really cool thing happen in the Brown household this past Saturday . . . Our kids have been asking great questions over the past several months about God and being friends with God and trusting Him no matter what! Sometimes I am really amazed at what they know and understand and at other times I have to turn my head while I snicker a bit.

Several weeks ago the girls were asking me about why and how God decided to make the first man. I explained the best I know how and said,"well, He just made all of the other stuff and decided he wanted people and just spoke and 'poof' there was the first man named Adam." Maddie got a really surprised look on her face and said' "Mr Adam was the first man???"
(Adam is our good friend and a staff member at Ridge Chruch.) I then had to back up a bit and explain that not "Mr. Adam," but a man named Adam.

Well, anyway, back to the story . . . The kids had been asking us questions alot of the day on Saturday about what it means to be a Christian and how you do that, etc. . . Chris had talked to them a lot that day. Well, that night as I put Maddie into bed she began asking more questions and by the time she had finished, she had decided to ask Jesus to come into her heart and stay forever!! I asked her if she knew that Jesus didn't like shrink down and crawl into her heart? She said, "Oh, yeah, I know. He just sends his spirit to live inside of you and help you make good decisions and stuff." i thought that was a pretty good anwer!!

She later told me that she thought she could even feel him in there already. I asked, "Is your heart beating fast and your really excited?" With tearful eyes and that huge smile on her face, she said, "Yeah!" I said' "well, there will be days when you don't feel quite as excited and your heart doesn't seem to beat as fast. But you know what? He's still there!!" Her reply . . . "And that's why we call Him One Awesome God!!!"

Terrific Kid

Let me just say that I already believe that I have Terrific Kids! (Don't we all, Moms?) But it is pretty darn cool when their teacher chooses them as the Terrific Kid. Here's how it works:

From the months of September thru May each teacher is to pick one child from their class for the Terrific Kid Program at Fairview Elementary School. This is a program that honors students for the following reasons:
* being a well-behaved student * improving academically * being respectful to adults * being kind to classmates * sharing * attending school on time * other virtues teachers notice & want to recognize Recognition -

A special breakfast is held to honor the Terrific Kids and their parents. At the breakfast the student is awarded a certificate & a packet of "goodies."

Okay, I know that was a lot of mumbo jumbo. But it's pretty cool to see your kid standing up there being honored by his/her teacher and the rest of the faculty, knowing that only 9 students out of their class will have an opportunity to be Terrific Kid during that year. I am very proud of him!

Do you notice anything different abut Maddie here?


What about Josie? The girls now have real pierced ears!!


They were so excited to get their ears pierced. They were very brave and didn't hardly flinch! Aren't they beautiful?
For the weekend we went out of town. We took our friend Susie with us. We had a great weekend! We got our ears pierced on Friday which was our birthday. That night we spent the night at a hotel in Greenville and opened our birthday gifts there. Look at all the great stuff!





. . . the next day we went to get our nails done, to Chuck E Cheeses and then to a wedding that daddy was in for one of his friends, Josh. At the wedding, we danced the night away . . . What a great birthday weekend.

Brayden is getting pretty good at that skateboard! He loves to try new tricks.

Wow, what an awesome time we had at Daytona Beach this summer. I had to bribe Brayden out of the water to get these pics. He stayed on that boogie board all day long. Josie and Maddie enjoyed all the aspects of the beach. They collected sea shells, built sand castles and played in the water too. We can't wait to go back!