My Forty-Second

Another year...sigh.  Thanks to my loving family for making me feel special.  Mark sent me a video of Parker dancing to her favorite song by Megan Trainor on the way to school, which was a great way to start my day. This girl...she makes me laugh...a lot. 

Mark made me a fancy cake, and was in charge of orchestrating gifts and cards.  He's a keeper, that one.

Beauty and the Beast

This was Maryn's first experience with the Dow High "Speaking Society" which is Dow's drama program.  It was a learning and growing experience for her and all of us.  Lots of time was required for rehearsals and preparation, and it was challenging to say the least.  Here are a few shots Maryn took at the long practices...I think they were all going a little insane.  She said she had enough time to not only get all of her homework done, but she knit an entire scarf, read several books, and had plenty of time to take pictures of random stage props...

Maryn's view most afternoons/evenings/days off of school/etc.

The leads all got to wear wigs...notice her glasses on top.

Stage prop 1--random fish

stage prop 2--random baby

"When can we go home?!?"..."Home, home?  What is that?!?"

Of course, the pay-off always comes with the actual production, and the show was great!  The kids really pulled it off well, and the finished product was definitely a reflection of how hard they all worked!

The cast got their hair done for every performance (including dress rehearsals) by a hair stylist and I thought it looked really cute on her.  Actually reminded me of Shauna's hairstyle back in the 80's...haha!

We are so proud of "Villager #3"--there are no small roles, only small actors!!

Parker is obviously one of her biggest fans.

Other villager girls from our Ward--Beth Larsen (who is moving this summer...boo! and Ryan Wall who was so sweet to provide many of the rides to rehearsals...yay for having friends with drivers licenses!!)

I just had to get a shot of the dress!!  The girl who played Belle is also in our ward, a senior named Brinli who is super sweet.  Her Mom and I are serving in the RS Presidency together.

{If you ask Maryn or us if she will be doing another musical with the "Dow High Speaking Society", you may get an earful...just sayin'.}

Easter 2016

Happy Easter from the Brown family!!  We are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ and His infinite Atonement, His death, and Resurrection.  We are so blessed because of His sacrifice for each one of us.  #Hallelujah!!

Changes for Mark

Mark was called to be the second counselor in our Ward Bishopric.  We believe that these callings come from our Heavenly Father and are an honor to be asked as well as a sign of His trust and faith in our abilities and capacity to serve.  Any leadership in our congregation is done voluntarily and so the time required to assist in leading the congregation is something that requires a lot of planning and sacrifice.  However, at the same time there are so many blessings that come as a result of that service.  I'm glad that Mark gets to have this opportunity.  I know he will do great things in our Ward, and be a blessing to many people's lives.  I am proud of him.

To help ordain him to his new calling, his brother Dave visited from Idaho. (Dave is also serving as 2nd counselor in his Ward bishopric.) It was great to have him visit, and for he and Mark to get some quality brotherly bonding time in together.  The night before he left, I could hear Parker whimpering in her bedroom because she was going to miss him so much. He made a great impression on her, that's for sure.  

On Sunday, Grandpa, Jeff, Amy, Alec, Ian, Ben, and Braeden also came for the ordination.  It was so sweet to be able to have Dad ordain him as a High Priest.  One of the things I remember him saying right off the bat was that Dennis and Laurie were aware of this day and so proud of the good man and father that Mark was.  It was so special.  I felt of their presence the whole time.  

Afterwards, we had dinner at our place and had a chance to visit before everyone had to leave.  I wish I had gotten some pictures!! It was great to have our family's support and love.  It meant a lot to both of us.  Onto the next phase of our lives!

Bye, Bye Birdie!!

Avery played Mrs. Mae Peterson in her middle school's production of Bye, Bye Birdie this year!  It was a tough decision to make, as she had to forfeit playing volleyball to accomodate the rigorous rehearsal schedule.  It was definitely worth it in the end because she had a great experience.  She did a fabulous job as Mrs. Peterson...New York accent and all!  She even rocked the funky red Annie wig the director put her in (even though it added another 6 inches to her already 5.10" height!) She did great!  She also made some great friendships and proved to herself that she can be an actress!!

She got so many nice compliments after the show that did wonders for her self-esteem, which made me see the blessing and wisdom in choosing this over volleyball (her coach was so hard on the girls last year that it just didn't end up being very much fun, and actually more damaging than encouraging).

I am so proud of her for making a tough decision and seeing it through to the end.  Mrs. Peterson, er Avery, is one tough cookie!

Avery also participated in the Head-to-Head competition with some buddies from school/church.  They did a Studio C sketch that won and got them all the way to Regionals.  At Regionals, they placed 2nd which was great!  It was a lot of fun to see them doing well and getting a lot of laughs.

Spring has sprung, I HOPE!!

Even as I am typing this, I am regretting my words because I know that tomorrow it will probably snow again!!

Alas, I still have hope!!

We even went and visited the butterflies to make it official. 

The butterflies at Dow Gardens are our token symbol that spring has sprung!! 

And not a moment too soon!!

One of the Weirdest Winters of All-Time

Our winter this year has had a bit of bi-polarity.  It snows super heavy and then it gets super sunny and melts all of the mountains of insane snow and then it rains for days on end and the sun never shines and then it snows again super heavy and the cycle....continues...it has sucked my will to live...seriously. 

Here are some fun times from the winter of 2016.

Parker walking home from school with her buddy, Lucas.  So cute!

Who heard of a winter when the day after a snow storm it's so warm you can sit without coats in lawn chairs?