January Milestones

This month has had many milestones.  One of which is the fact that it has been the the most EXTREME winter EVER!  I am feeling like Michigan is trying to initiate us into an club or something.  A club where you have to show your strength and fortitude by enduring weeks of snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures.  A club where your kids have snow days multiple times a month, and you are trapped at home with your bored and anxious children with nowhere to go and nothing to do.  It's kicking my butt, people!  I have no memory of winters sucking this profoundly when I was growing up here.  This is above and beyond, for sure!  Am I the only one who feels this way?!?

Anyway, for this reason I am glad that January is officially on it's way out.  Phew!  Although, February is just around the corner...you know what that means, right?!?  February is the loooooongest, shortest month of the year!  If you can get through February, you can get through anything.  But I digress...oh wait, did I mention this is what our house looks like most of the time?!?  Anyhoo...just sayin'.

This month Parker reached an important milestone...she draws for the first time!!  At least she drew something that wasn't just scribbles on a page, and something that was recognizable!  I was so happy to see this.  I was actually getting concerned because Maryn and Avery both drew earlier than her, and more than she does.  She's just not as into the drawing and the arts and crafts and M and A were.  She may not be, and that's ok.  She is definitely her own little person.  Nevertheless I was glad when she busted this out one night.  It made me happy.  She is also getting much better with her ABC's.  She is recognizing letters, sounds, and order.  She can even write a few of them.  She is growing up!

Another important milestone of this month is the birthday of our own Mark Sheffield Brown!!  He turned the big 4-0!!  I wanted to make it a little extra special for him, so I asked a few close family and friends to write some reasons they love and appreciate Mark.  I compiled them into a book called "40 Reasons We All Love Mark".  He loved it!!  Thanks everyone for taking some time to write down your thoughts.  It meant a lot to me, as well as Mark!  We love you back!

Avery made a cute robot named the "Mark-Bot 40", and took pics of it staged around the house.  One of which she took next to Mark without him even knowing about it!  It was cute, so here are a few fun shots of the Mark-Bot 40.

The Mark-Bot 40

The Mark-Bot 40 loves to jam to classic hits of the 80's, 90's, and even some contemporary tunes.

The Mark-Bot 40 loves to spend time whipping up a little something something in the kitchen.

Avery thinks the Mark-Bot 40 is fun to take a selfie with.

Suzy thinks the Mark-Bot 40 is where it's at.

The Mark-Bot 40 manages the chaos that is the shoe rack by the back door.

The Mark-Bot 40 is on stand-by in the bathroom with mousse for any hair disaster that may come up.

The Mark-Bot 40 bows to his sensei.

The Mark-Bot 40 thinks this winter blows chunks.

Parker thinks the Mark-Bot 40 is fun to snuggle with.

Maryn likes taking the Mark-Bot 40 to the mall to hang out, and go to Claire's with.

We are all grateful for our Mark-Bot 40!!  Here's to a great fortieth year!!

New Year and New Looks

Maryn recently started PHASE 2 of her Orthodontia, which means sparkly braces on the top and bottom for 2 years!!!!  Whoa, Nelly! 

To go with her new braces, we decided she needed a new 'do.  She immediately begged for the "Jennifer Lawrence". 

(On a sidenote, do you remember when the "Jennifer Aniston" was popular?  You could walk into a salon anywhere in the US, and say "I want the 'Jennifer Aniston'," and they'd know exactly what you were talking about.  The reason I say "anywhere in the US is that this time period just so happened to coincide with my time as a missionary outside of the US, in the Czech Republic of all places!  In the best broken Czech I could muster at only the 5 month mark of my service, I asked for something that could loosely be translated as "bangs, with floppy layers all over".  Ummm, yeah...not the best decision I have made in my life.  Needless to say it didn't turn out as much like "Jennifer Aniston" as I was hoping.  On another sidenote, it took me the rest of my mission and even after I got home to correct that decision, but I digress.

Nobody would've known what hairstyle I had, as each day I hid it under my raspberry wool beret anyway shielding my poor, delicate head from the harsh, winter elements of the great white north.  LOL!  Seriously, the old Babichkas of the CZ were CONVINCED that if you didn't cover your head in the winter, you would automatically shrivel up and DIE!  They would cluck and point, and fuss until you covered your head if you were out in public.  Makes me laugh remembering that!!  Wow, long SIDENOTE!!)

Anyhoo, I shot down Maryn's request to get the "Jennifer Lawrence".  I think the hairstyle is darling, but not for a growing (and somewhat awkward) 13 year old.  It's just not the right time.  All I could imagine was super short hair, big black glasses, 2 rows of silver braces, etc....you get the picture.  I love her too much to let her do that to herself, or have her ask me 10 years from now, "WHY did you let me do THAT!?!" while sifting through pictures of THAT period of her life.  Haha!

So anyway, she got her hair did, and it turned out great!  I think it's enough of a change for her to feel sassy and fresh.  (Not like she needs a whole lot of help in the sassy department...she IS 13 years old after all!!)

Watching her locks fall to the floor inspired me to look inward and do some soul searching...haha!!  I was ready for a change as well.  I needed some highlights, but I also figured I'd trim up the ends a bit.  I seriously did not go into the salon asking for her to make it short.  It just happened.  I was a trooper about it, but when I got home I panicked.  It's fine now.  I've had this style before, so I can adapt.  It's sure refreshing though!  I can barely squeak out a ponytail now, which is forcing me to actually make an effort in the morning.  I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.

Anyway, here's to a NEW YEAR, A NEW PLACE, and a NEW 'DO!!!!

Happy New Year!!

Some new friends invited us over for a New Year's Eve party, and it was super fun.  Their home was decorated so cute, and even had a photo booth for party-goers.  Unfortunately Mark missed out on the fun, because he was drafted to go help another party-goer out of a snow bank they had accidentally backed out into.  No, there was no alcohol at this party!  Haha!

We spent the evening eating yummy snacks, and playing games.  In years past, we've always gone to the Ottawa Ward party at the church, and we usually leave around 9 or 10.  This year we actually stayed until the ball dropped!!  I couldn't believe Parker was still functioning.  By the time we got her in the car, it was probably around 12:30, and she finally hit the wall.  She dissolved into a ball of tears, but at the party she did great!  We were all asleep by 1 am.  Shwew-ee!!

Luckily everyone slept in, so the next day wasn't a drama fest.  We actually stayed home and did nothing.  We played some wii, watched some movies, wrote some resolutions, and reflected on 2013.  It was kinda awesome.  I made a new twist on our traditional Hoppin' John dish.  This year instead of the half pound of bacon, I added yummy baked meatballs in bbq sauce to go over the rice and black-eye peas.  It was a hit!

Here's some of our highlights of 2013:

Mark's greatest lesson learned:  It is important to enjoy the moment I am in and be present in it.
Mark wants to get better at teaching in 2014.

Parker's favorites from 2013:  Chippa-wuh, Despicable Me 2, the Midland library, Tag books, and vegetables (she said her favorite food was vegetables and salad).
Parker wants to get better at sitting still and listening in 2014.

Maryn's favorite memory from 2013 was her first year at girl's camp!  She is amazed at all the changes and new things that took place this year.
Maryn wants to get an A in science in 2014.

Suzy's greatest lesson learned:  When it's meant to be, it will be.  I can't believe that a year later, we are in another state with a whole new life!  I still can't believe we sold our house in 48 hours!
Suzy wants to get better at making bread and friends in 2014.

Avery's hardest challenge from 2013 was moving, but one of her favorite things was also meeting new people!
Avery wants to make the Northeast 7th grade girl's basketball team in the Fall, and meet even more people!

Hope you have all had a wonderful start to 2014!!