They call it Puppy Love!

Uncle Tyler and Aunt Camille's dog Sugar had puppies a few weeks ago. The kids have been obsessed about wanting to go and see them. They keep asking if we can keep one. We told them when we get into our own house then maybe we can get one.



Lafer couldn't keep his hands off of them. He would pick one up and snuggle with it until another one came along and then he would push the one on his lap away and pick up another.

I know if looks like he is strangling this one but the pup was actually just snuggling and fell asleep.

The Birthday Bash!

Avery got to invite a bunch of her friends and cousins to home over for a birthday party. We rented a bounce house and had pizza and snow cones. It was so fun to have all the kids over and celebrate Avery's birthday!

Memorial Day (Month)

We were so glad to be back in Utah this year so that we could visit some of the graves of our loved ones.


This is where Great Grandma and Grandpa Bartholomew are buried in Fillmore, Utah. They are Chad's grandma and grandpa on his mom's side. They were such giving and generous people.

Great Grandma Shumway is also buried in the Fillmore, Utah cemetary. We got to stop here on our way back from Chad's race in St George. Grandma Shumway was an amazingly strong woman and died while we were living in Oregon.

This is Grandpa Mills grave. He is my dad and he is buried close by in the Alpine Cemetary. We were able to take a walk from my mom's house to the cemetary on Memorial Day. Isaac was a baby when he died and so none of the kids have any memories of my dad. He was a great man and I miss him so much.

I had to throw this picture in from Christmas Eve of this last year. I just thought it was too funny! My mom dragged us all out to the cemetary in the middle of a blizzard so that we could put luminares on my dad's grave. (It's a tradition she has been doing forever.) I don't think the candles stay lit for more than 5 seconds but we did it and we have the picture to prove it. You can't really tell who anyone is. My younger brothers and sis in law Andrea are standing behind me and mom is the bundled up one in the red coat in back. The kids even toughed it out. Aren't we glad that memorial day isn't in December?

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!!

I love this time of year! I always look forward to the weather getting warmer (or not) and the spring sports beginning. We have had three kids in sports this spring. It has been fun to watch the kids and see how they have improved. Avery has been playing her second year of soccer. She has improved quite a bit since last year. She does get distracted by the grass, the sky, the boys, and everything else around her. But once the ball rolls past her she takes off after it and often goes all the way to the goal.
Shina is playing her 5th year of soccer. She rocks! She is so determined and works really hard. She enjoys playing forward and goalie. She has enjoyed playing on an all girl team for the first time.
Isaac was one of the few boys in his grade to be drafted to the majors in baseball this year. It is his 8th year playing ball. It has been a growing experience as they take baseball in Utah a lot more seriously than they did in Oregon. Isaac didn't know much about stealing bases and sliding. He is learning so much and improves every game.
As much as I do love the spring sports, with three kids playing it gets pretty busy and I will look forward to the end of the season when we can have a break from it all.

Dance like there's no tomorrow!

It's that time of year. When all the girls are practicing for the spring dance recital. My girls were so excited! Neither Avery or Sage has ever been in a dance recital and Shina hadn't danced in one for two years while we were living in Oregon. They were so cute! Shina is getting to be such a good dancer and Avery did so good as well. Sage was just fun to watch. Not only was she dancing the best that she could be she was also singing her heart out as well. They can't wait until fall when they can start dance again.

Tuesday (or Wednesday) Tell All

Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Amy Murphy told me about this and I thought it sounded like fun. I'll give it a try.
The website is http://tuesdaytellall.blogspot.com/

TTA- Answer the following with only one word!
1. Where is your cell phone? charging...................
2. Your significant other? Amazing.......................
3. Your hair? easy....................................
4. Your mother? dedicated.................................
5. Your father? memories..................................
6. Your favorite thing? Family..........................
7. Your dream last night? School........................
8. Your favorite drink? Root Beer...........................
9. Your dream/goal? Nurse
10. The room you're in? Office..........................
11. Your children?Enjoyable..............................
12. Your fear? spiders.........................
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? debt free...........
14. Where were you last night? Amy Murphy's.............
15. What you're not? Organized....................
16. Muffins? Banana..........................
17. One of your wish list items? a house.........
18. Where you grew up? Alpine.................
20. What are you wearing? T-shirt........................
21. Your TV? addicting..................
22. Your pets? a pain....................
23. Your computer? useful......................
24. Your life? busy.........................
25. Your mood? mellow...................
26. Missing someone? my dad.................
27. Your car? dirty....................
28. Something you're not wearing? Shoes................
29. Favorite Store? Bath and Body Works...................
30. Your summer? School........................
31. Like someone? Chad.....................
32. Your favorite color? Red......................
33. Last time you laughed? This morning..................
34. Last time you cried? This morning.........................

2/3's of a Triathalon!

So, Chad and Robert have been training since probably October for the St. George Triathalon. They have been going swimming at 5:00 in the morning 3 days a week and on the other 3 days they run. I have been pretty impressed with their determination and their consistancy in training. The night before the race we all went over to the lake so that they could practice getting their wet suits on and off and take a little swim to see how the water temperature was. They said is was "FREEZING!" They decided that on race day they would get into the water early enough that they could get used to the water and not struggle so much with the cold. Saturday morning morning it was very cold and windy, they got in the water and very coldly waited for their turn to start the race. The other heats started and they watched from the freezing water as multiple swimmers got pulled out of the water because the wind was so bad and they were struggling. By the time it was time for their race to start the race officials decided that it was not safe enough for the swimmers and decided to cancel the swim part of the race. Chad and Rob were both very disappointed! But at least they were able to run 2/3's of a triathalon.

The kids were so proud of their dad! It was very fun to watch him cross the finish line and cheer him along!

The Brown Fans!

These guys have signed up for 3 more triathalons this summer. They will be doing the Olympic length for those ones which is twice as long as the sprint that they did in St George!