josh was 10...

...a month ago. With a few of the happenings here @ the Brown house, I had failed to upload pictures.  I cannot believe that Josh is 10! He and Jacob shared the puppy as their big present but he was also given $ from Bubbie and PopPop, along with Grammy and Papa!  He spent a few of his dollars on books from Ed McKays  and his elementary school's book fair. He is saving the rest for something good. (I don't think he knows what that good thing is yet, but when he does, he'll have the money for it.) We gave him a Sims DS game, which seems to be a big hit. Happy birthday (even though this was posted way late) buddy!!

deathly hallows

I first read Harry Potter when I was in labor with Jacob. I was hooked. I had waited, as I tend to do to, to read the series until I had the majority of the books in my hand. I like doing that so I can go from book, to book, to book without all the wait. That year for Christmas, Clyde gave me HP 3, 4 and 5. I had to wait like everybody else for 6 and 7. I really enjoyed the series, as did my family. We can't have a family get together without speaking of Harry Potter. I am thrilled to post the video below, simply because I am so excited to see the film. I am debating on re-reading HP and the Deathly Hallows, just to brush up. I have done this is the past and have been disappointed with the film because of the lack of detail. For example, I am today still very angry that in HP The Order of the Phoenix, that the film makers neglected to add the howler that Aunt Petunia receives from Dumbledore. So maybe I'll wait to reread the book.

cousins @ the race

My Dad wanted to treat all the boys in my family to a day @ the race track. Clyde and the boys left bright and early last Saturday to meet @ the Cecil farm. The men... my Dad, all my brothers and their boys, along with my 3 fellas headed to Rockingham for a double header. The little boys had fun, but not as much fun as the big boys. Thanks Dad for the special treat.

new headwrap

It is that time of year again to make some warm things for the Wardlings.  I love making these headwraps. We get loads of compliments on them.  Penny's pre-k teachers both made comments on this one the morning she wore it to school, again after school, and then again the following day.  I know what I am making them for Christmas! The headwraps are so handy to have, especially when you wear your hair in a ponytail. I like them because they keep my girls' ears warm.

scout carpentry

someone forgot to brush his hair

This picture says alot about our mornings this week. Josh put on a fleece hat that morning at breakfast and then took it off in the car on the way to school.  He looked hilarious.  There is a no hat wearing rule @ the school, and thus, once we arrived, I had him run into the bathroom to wet his hair down. He was a bit embarrassed about his hair, so he had both his arms covering his head when he walked, with haste, into the school's bathroom.
As of this week, getting dressed, fed, with teeth brushed, hair brushed/ styled, socks and shoes on, while making sure there is a snack in the backpack, along with the previous nights HW, and lunch packed in the mornings, is proving to take more and more time. I find myself losing patience with the goof balls that are under 5'5" who dwell in the brown house. Afterall, they have gotten ready for school now for several weeks and for a few of them, 5 days a week, for many, many years.  They should be in a routine by now.  When in reality, the opposite is actually happening.  The boys are wrestling instead of brushing teeth, Penny is pouting over hairstyles and which back pack to take to school, we can NEVER-eva seem to find one of the gazillion hair brushes that we own, and I am having to repeat myself 3+ times (sometimes loudly) to get their rears is gear. Why is it, that when you need your child(ren) to hurry, they slow down? and then when you need them to slow the crap down, they speed the crap up? I find myself getting onto them for not finishing the steps of completion...ie...once you are finished with your HW, put it in your folder, then put your folder in your backpack, and then hang your backpack up on the hook, the special hook that I placed on the wall JUST. FOR. YOUR. BACKPACKS!!!  This is not a new concept. However to them it is as if everyday is the first day they are seeing this routine.  Everyday I am making them return to 'finish' their steps.  Getting old wardlings...getting very, very old. I hope that next week will prove easier than this week.

eyes

Both Libby and Jacob have been complaining about their eyes lately. I called their opthamologist this morning to schedule eye appointments.  The earliest they can be seen is in January 2011, 4 months from now. Let's just say we will be keeping that appointment because who knows when they can be seen again.