It all started when. . .

...I asked to put new carpet in the house.
Which I love.

But with that project came the tearing out of the carpet in our master bath.

Which led to a tile project because who wants carpet in their master bath??

So my "I'll do it myself and save us some $$$" husband rolled up his sleeves and embarked on a whole new understanding of manual labor.


He became a tile mason and













he also became a plumber during this project as the toilet had to be removed and reset once the tile was in place.













Then we decided why not redo the backyard and make it a more useful/family friendly space.

My awesome tile mason husband rolled up his sleeves again and decided to do it himself.

He then became a one man demolition/excavation show.


















Is is too much to say that I love a man that isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves and get to work!!


















Not only was he lifting huge chunks of cement with his pinkie finger,
















but he let the kids help, no matter how much it slowed him down.


















Then the work on building the bench and fire pit began.

He became a precise cement mason.

















And I saw this happen over and over...














...which really made my heart happy.

My handsome cement mason is still smiling!


















Then he became an expert brick layer

















and paver installer.













And also an electrician.













And the backyard overhaul is complete!


















With the exception of some patio furniture and some potted plants. But that's another day and another dollar!!













So what do you call a man that can do all of the above and still have a happy marriage to show for it??

I call him all mine!

I love you honey!
Thanks for your endless hours of hard work, repeated smashed fingers, and the list goes on.
I think I'll keep you around. : )


















Oh, and this beauty you ask?? The incredible pergola was built by our master craftsman Jeff Nicholls. I can give you his number. He is such a great man. Except, of course, when he wears this get up! : )

I can hardly wait for beautiful blooms and vivacious vines to be climbing this canopy!

Perfectly put

Having served as a primary chorister for almost three years I have been blessed to witness some great moments where you learn that a child's heart is just about the closest thing to heaven that you can find.

I'm no longer singing with the primary kids but Brent happens to be teaching them right now. He shared one of those moments with me today.

During singing time the children were working on the Hymn

"How Firm A Foundation".

Our excellent choirster stopped and asked the children,

"Why are we singing this song?"

Seven year old Jeremy raised his hand and said,

"So that Heavenly Father

can hear us!"

I couldn't have said it better than Jeremy

and Brent didn't think so either.

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart;

yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me,

and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

D&C 25:12

Welcome. . .

...to my heaven!

These are a scratch cupcake that come from my friend Mendy.

There is an OH SO YUMMY difference between a scratch cupcake and a box cupcake.

Hence, the reference to HEAVEN.

Enjoy!! and I know you will.

Lemon Cupcakes

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 eggs

2 (8-ounce) cartons dairy sour cream

2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel

I added a bit of the lemon juice from the lemon I just zested too!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line thirty 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and vanilla; beat until well mixed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and sour cream alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. (The batter will be thick.) Stir in lemon peel. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the batter into each prepared muffin cup *(See Tip Below). Bake in preheated oven about 18 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting and topping cupcakes with lemon or orange zest (optional). Makes 30 cupcakes.

Lemon Frosting

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Milk (2 to 3 teaspoons if necessary)

1 teaspoon shredded lemon peel

Garnish with grated lemon or orange zest (optional)

In a medium bowl, beat butter with 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. Gradually beat in lemon juice and vanilla. Gradually beat in additional 1-1/4 cups powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in enough additional milk (2 to 3 teaspoons) to make of spreading consistency. Stir in shredded lemon peel.

*Tip: If all of the cupcakes do not fit in the oven at one time, refrigerate the remaining cupcakes while the first ones bake.

Oh how lovely was the morning...

The First Vision

by Cooper Brown

age 5

Through my eyes, I don't think the actual scene was anymore beautiful than this.

Give 'em FITZ!

Pre-game pep rally

Pre-game huddle

That play to Fitzgerald near the end was so much fun to watch! We were running with him all the way to the endzone.
Let's get 'em next time Cards!!!

It's been awhile...

...since I've been tagged. Here we go ~

Six names you go by:
1- Andrea
2- Sis (I love that my brothers still call me this)
3- Sweetheart (still makes my heart go pitter-patter when Brent call me this)
4- Andie (but only allowed by my childhood dentist - mom was very adamant about this)
5- Sister Brown (by my 20 Beehives)
6- Mom or MOM!!! (depending on the need)

Three things you are wearing right now:
1- earrings that Carrie gave me
2- My wedding rings
3- my toe ring

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1- a get-a-way with my husband
2- to loose 20 pounds

Three of your favorite things that you did last night:
1- went out for a treat with just my boyfriend
2- Played Wii with my THREE boys
3- went to bed early and fell fast asleep

Four things you ate today:
1- chips and homemade salsa
2- lemon melt a way cookies
3- pringles
4- axiously awaiting dinner with the Slade family

Two people you last talked to on the phone:
1- Mom Slade
2- Maddison

Six things you are going to do tomorrow:
1- work on YW in Excellence stuff
2- go to a YW presidency meeting
3- walk Cooper to school
4- read
5- make a new recipe for dinner
6- hug my kids and kiss my sweetheat

Three Favorite Beverages:
1- ice cold water
2- cherry coke zero (but it is a rare treat now)
3- Goofy's Kitchen hot chocolate

Five things you are grateful for today:
1- My family
2- Our home
3- My testimony
4- My friends
5- The talk that Brother Woolsey gave in Sacrament meeting today

I tag: Rachel and Hannah

Collette: If I added a question about Top 3 favorite U2 songs, would you participate?? If so, consider it added. : )

It's HOT in here!

Standing in the kitchen moments ago, Brent and I were locked in a warm and passionate embrace. The kiss was. . . well. . .
spectacular!

Maddie and Cooper come around the corner and happen upon the scene.

Maddie shouts "Come on children!"

In chorus they exclaim (with much drama and peril)

"My eyes! They burn!"





Life is good!

She's like that...

I have a friend. Her name is Cathy.

I have been blessed by her thoughtfulness many times. The first Mother's Day that my mom spent at a nursing home, Cathy brought me flowers and a note that was not only kind but insightful and wise.

She is like that. Insightful and wise.

When I was with her the other day she said to me,

"It is always better to act more gracious than you feel."

Hmmm.

"You will have to apologize much less in your lifetime."

Oh, she's smart!

I'm sure I should apologize more than I do and I don't want to have to apologize as much as I should. So I'm going to try and save myself some guilt (I've got plenty. I could use a break) and try my hand at gracious living.

Cathy is a master teacher, much like my mother.

I think Cathy and my Mom would be great friends.

Ask. . .

. . . and ye shall receive.

Now my counter is overflowing with lemon lusciousness.

Thank you kind world!

You know who you are : )

To celebrate I am sharing two new recipes with you.

I haven't tried either but both will make an appearance on the menu soon!

Lemon Linguine
By Jeanne Dunbar

2 pound uncooked linguini noodles (fresh noodles if you can find them are the best)

1 Whole Chicken Breast

1 cup Olive Oil (the kind good enough to eat lots of)

Zest from 2 large lemons

Juice from 5 large lemons

1 cup chopped green onion

1 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste about 2/3 cup

Boil linguini until al dente; drain well. (But make sure the olive oil mixture is ready for the pasta to be mixed in so your noodles don’t cool and stick together)

Pan Saute the chicken breast with some (1Tbsp) olive oil until it is a little brown on the outside and cooked through.

Meanwhile, in bowl, combine olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, green onion and parsley.

Add pasta and chicken; toss well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Toss in Parmesan cheese to taste.

Serve warm or chilled. I think chilled makes a great summer time meal.I like to pour the whole mix into another serving bowl as the good stuff likes to settle at the bottom even when you have tossed it.

Serves…well depends on how much your guests like it…I would say it serves 10-12 with some leftovers.

Lemon Meltaways
These lemon-flavored cookies are so tender that they seem to melt in your mouth.

Cookies:

1 1/4 c flour

1/2 c cornstarch

1/3 c powdered sugar

3/4 c butter, softened

1 T lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1 t grated lemon peel

Frosting:

3/4 c powdered sugar

1/4 c butter, softened

1 t lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1 t grated lemon peel

For cookies: in large mixer bowl combine all ingredients. Beat 2-3 min. on low speed until well mixed. Shape dough into two 8 x 1 inch logs. Wrap in saran wrap. Refrigerate 1-2 hours until firm. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut logs into 1/4 inch slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-12 minutes or until set. Cookies will not brown. Remove immediately. Cool completely.

For frosting: in small mixer bowl combine all frosting ingredients. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Spread on cooled cookies

Pucker up and enjoy!!

Optimism

Church Leaders to Attend Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama
LDS.org Newsroom01/17/2009 07:52 PM MST

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be represented at inaugural events for President-elect Barack Obama by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The two leaders, who have been asked to represent the Church by Church President Thomas S. Monson, are scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony on January 20 and the National Prayer Service at Washington’s National Cathedral on January 21.
“It is always an honor for the Church to be represented at the inauguration of a new president,” said President Monson. “We send our best wishes to President-elect Obama and pray for the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven to be upon him and his administration.”

This article was accompanied by a FHE lesson on Optimism.

Which is really "what the world needs now"

(please burst into song along with me)

and of course

love sweet love!

We will be having this lesson tonight.
http://ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/1847

Hello, my name is Andrea

and I'm a paperaholic.

I just purchased 115 sheets of scrapbook paper.

Mind you, my scrapbooks are five years behind.

I can't resist the stuff.

But hey, I'm using a good portion of it for a YW's activity and it was on sale - 7 sheets for $1.00

Now what addict can pass that up!

And please don't try an intervention.

I'm really happy this way.

It's all about the hair and nails!

I was shuffling around some papers on my computer desk and ran across these.

Too good not to post.

I'm not sure why I had these photo sessions.

Maybe I won a drawing or something.

But I remember clearly they were right before I left on my mission.

And to document our 22 years of friendship

I did a session with my BFF, Carrie.

And a session with my baby brother, Dave.

All I'm saying is that my hair and nails were a very important part of my life twenty years ago.

If you click and enlarge these, you'll get the idea.

The bolo ties are classic!!

And how come I was always the one with my hand under my chin??

Yeah, I'm letting you all have a good laugh at my expense.

Learn and apply

I know the Lord is aware of each of us.

I know He is aware of me.

I know He sends love, encouragement and understanding in many ways.

I know He wants me to be better,

to love more,

and to try and understand more fully the nearly incomprehensible greatness of the Atonement.

I have so much to learn.

Today I am grateful for this gem and the burning confirmation that accompanies TRUTH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4WUsr689Y4

Timing is everything.

The Lord knows that too.

D is for "don't know what I'd do without him"

Davis was in charge of giving the lesson last night for FHE. He is working on his Faith in God requirements and in doing so taught the lesson on the Sacrament. He did a fantastic job and best of all he was given a powerful personal experience with the Holy Ghost. As a mother, I can't think of anything so rich and heartwarming as to be a witness of something such as that.

It was a moment I'll never forget.

I feel blessed today.

'Tis the season. . .

Citrus season that is!!

Thanks to my wonderful neighbor and my incredible home teacher

these delicious beauties grace my counter each year at this time.

Now, do I dare be so bold as to ask you other

wonderful,

incredible

families

to share your lemons???

Yeah,

I dare be so bold!

Livin' On a Prayer performed by J.C.

For some reason my pictures won't show up.
I think Jana sabotaged this post!

















Jana celebrates her 40th in style.


















She told us she was holding back.


















She is pretty confident she could do this for a living.


















and Simon agrees with her!

We love you Jana.

Brown family theme for 2009

As I was pondering on the message I wanted to share with my family for our first Family Home Evening of the new year last week, I knew I wanted to focus on our home. Like all of us, I want our home to be a haven of unconditional love, safety, refuge, lots of smiles and happiness and where the Spirit abides. Certainly this is something we always strive for but I wanted to bring the family together on this and recommit. Brent and I had talked about new family goals and resolutions that we wanted to discuss with the kids but I just wanted to find something that would help me express my feelings and desires. My FHE assignment that night was "scripture" and sadly I was scrambling at the last minute to find one to share. But of course my loving Savior whispered peace and I suddenly knew the scripture I wanted to share. When we gathered together and I took my turn, I read this scripture to my family:

Doctrine & Covenants 88: 119
Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

I expressed to my family that I knew if we were focusing on these things then our home would be a place of love, safety, refuge and happiness and most importantly, a home for the Spirit to dwell. I am grateful for a new year and all that it brings. I'm grateful for my husband and his knowledge of the gospel and the teaching moments he makes happen for our children. Our FHE was a great start to our new year and I must say with one week behind us, we are off to a great start! Another 51 weeks to go. Go Brown family!!

Addendum to previous post

So the rest of the story unfolds this morning when Cooper and I enjoy our wake up snuggle. After cuddling for a bit:

Mom: So Cooper, I'd really like to talk about what happened yesterday at school.

Cooper (he puts his fists to his eyes and buries his head into my shoulder): Mom, I really don't want to talk about it.

Mom: I'd like to find out if something was going on that I should know about. Were you talking too much or were you not doing your work?

Cooper (he removes his fists from the deep sockets of his eyes which I can tell now were being used to hold back some tears): Well, all I did was ask Trey for a black crayon because I didn't have one.

Mom: Okay, that doesn't sound too bad. Maybe next time you could raise your hand and ask if you could please ask your friend for a crayon. How does that sound?

He is good with that and so am I so the morning carries on.

I walk him to school and when he disappears to the end of line and out of ear shot I ask his OH SO INCREDIBLE teacher what had happened and if I needed to take care of anything. She looked at me so confused and said she didn't take 5 minutes from Cooper's recess. Maybe it was Mrs. D, the teacher's aid. Mrs. D turns to me and said no, what actually happened was that when she came out to recess that Cooper, much to her surprise, was standing against the wall (which is the timeout spot for any given offense) and she asked why he was on the wall and if he was feeling okay. Cooper just looked at her and said, "Mrs. Monsegur said I had five minutes on the wall." So the three of us put it together. Right before recess the class was rather chatty and Mrs. Monsegur and to ring her bell often to quite things down. She then said that the next person to talk will have to get 5 minutes off of their recess. So the miscommunication was that Cooper thought she was speaking directly at him when he asked his friend for the crayon. He gave himself the timeout and took his place on the wall at recess.

Well he gets kudos for his quick thinking last night to try to escape any possible mom given punishment.

Today when he gets home from school he gets a huge lovey squeeze for his honesty with his teachers and for that 5 minute period of five year old self mastery.

He can even have ice cream if he wants it.

Mark your calendars!

Cooper informed me last night while tucking him in bed that he got 5 minutes taken from his recess play time at school:

Mom: Oh really? Was there a problem you need to tell me about?

A thoughtful pause and then Cooper: Um, no. It was actually "Annual Take 5 Minutes From Recess Day" and Mrs. Monsegur didn't want us getting too tired out there.

Mom: Hmmm. Usually when something like that happens it's because you were doing something you shouldn't have been doing.

Quickly this time Cooper says: No. Just "Annual Take 5 Minutes From Recess Day".

Then he pulls the covers over his head and says sweetly: Good night mommy. I love you.

I hope all your children were able to enjoy this great event (although unbeknownst to me) as well!

Cooper vs. the computer

Cooper has become quite confident in his ability to play tennis. Wii tennis, that is. As you can see from the picture, he covers the "court" like a little Agassi. (okay, so that just dated me but it's the only tennis player name I know.) I allowed him one game before school today. He is playing against the computer and when the faces of his opponents come on the screen he states with a bit too much arrogance "So who are these geeks?!?!" After I tell him not to use unkind words like that I'm thinking. . .

Look out Wimbledon and hello cushy retirement!

Wii can produce champions can't it?

Maybe this is money well spent after all. ; )

Wishes

A birthday wish for mom - made with love from my Easy Bake Oven!
















Jan. 1, 1998 - Maddie is 2 1/2


















August 1999 - Davis is 8 months

July 2003 - Cooper is 5 months

Today my mom turns 72.

I love these pictures.
Moments with my children in her arms.

She was so good at being a Grandma.

I have thought about her all day and what birthday wishes I would send her way.

Wishes. . .

Upon a star.

Upon a four leaf clover.

Upon a dandelion.

Upon a birthday cake.

Wishes take us to many places.

but for this birthday, my wish for you is that

for every star you've ever gazed upon,

Heaven whispers peace to your heart.

for every lucky clover you have clutched,

Heaven showers you with cool shade and rainbows.

for every fluffy dandelion you've blown into the wind,

Heaven sends the soothing scent of lilacs in the breeze.

and for every candle you've seen glimmer,

Heaven fills your soul with light.

She was so good at being a mother.

Happy Birthday Mom.

I love you 17.

A day long celebration

We spent New Year's Eve Day just hanging out with each other. Grandpa came along as well and it made for happy family times. It was a beautiful day for a stop at the zoo. Sting Ray Bay is always a must for my kids, although the only one who really likes to get down and dirty (or should I say wet) would be Cooper. Like that came as a shock to anyone. While the older kids were content to just feeling the silky soft swimmers, Cooper wanted to feed 'em! So with a little help from Dad he got the hang of it...

And then he was all about doing it on his own!

The sun was out and warming up the flamingos. The colors looked so vibrant and pretty today.

After the zoo we headed off to **Pro Bass to check out that massive store and do some shootin' at the gun gallery. I so wish I would have remembered to take my camera in. We went through about twenty dollars in quarters in no time flat. Cooper was a mad man on the trigger! Both Davis and Maddie do a great job handling a gun and then of course the heated competition between Brent and I. He came in with a score of 540 and then I put the pressure on when I got 535. He couldn't live with the fact that I just about had him so he shot one more time and scored 610. But I did get a compliment from a little old lady that was watching me shoot. After I was done she smiled at me with a nod of approval and said, "You are quite a woman!" I, of course, just tipped my hat and said, "Why thank you ma'am."

**Sorry about the typo. I've been informed by Mauri the Sharpshooter that the store is actually called Bass Pro. My bad people.

Paul and his friend then took Brent and I to dinner which was wonderful. I can't remember the last time we actually went out on New Year's Year. I think it probably was when Maddie was just a tiny toddler and Uncle Tom and Aunt Becky babysat for us. Anyway, we dined at Kona Grill and I must say that anyone who wants a heavenly meal must order the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken. Oh my!!

After dinner we came home and the party began.

Party hats were adorned and a rousing game of Flippin' Frogs ensued.

Here we are getting our bubblegum primed for the bubble blowing contest...

I think Dad was the winner!

Next came an extreme nail biting game of Jenga. Maddie was the one to finally topple the 32 story structure. After which we divided into teams and the battle of Catch Phrase was on. Maddie was a phenomenal accurate guesser and Davis was clue giver extraordinaire. We laughed and laughed and I felt so lucky to be a part of such greatness. I was spending my New Year's in the perfect place.

Soon it was time for the official countdown.

5-4-3-2-1

Happy New Year 2009!!!

We took the noise outside and filled the air with blaring horns, sputtering sparklers, confetti filled poppers, and leftover July ground bloom fireworks.

Thanks for ringing in the New Year with us Grandpa!

Here's to another year with my boyfriend. I love him completely.

So if you had to choose only three highlights from 2008,

what would they be??

I think mine would be...

~ experiencing the California Redwoods

~ having our oldest reach the official age of teenagedom

~ having my youngest begin Kindergarten

Happy New Year to my family and friends. May 2009 hold much love and happiness for each of you.

Good times

It was great to have Grandpa Brown join us for Christmas

this year. Seeing the temple lights together was a

highlight for me.

And our annual Christmas fondue and fun with the

Slade family is a tradition that makes the holiday complete.

I really don't think I laugh so much as when I'm with this

amazing family. We have known them since our newlywed days in

Eugene, Oregon. Kristi and Megan have been our exclusive

nannies for 8 and half years now and I love them

with as much (((SQUEEZE))) as if they were mine.

Family + Friends = holiday happiness!!

Christmas '08

Growing up I LOVED the Christmas lights

at Temple Square. Living here in Arizona I've come

to love the lights at the Mesa Temple as well.

This. . .

and this. . .

make me think of this.

and Christmas in all its glory fills me to overflowing.


Our Christmas has been a happy one.
And blessed.
Christmas Eve is simple and always a favorite for me.
Maddison and Davis playing carols on the piano.
Cooper sharing a Christmas story.
The opening of one gift.
Brent reading from the scriptures.
And tucking the kids in.

And then comes Christmas morning!
Hold your hats on 'cuz it's over in just moments!
Torn ribbons, shredded paper, empty boxes and
WHEW!! Christmas 2009 will be here before we know it.

But I love it all.

ALL ABOOOOOARD!! (chooo chooo)

Driving up to Williams to take a trip on the Polar Express was beautiful. First came the snow on just the ground. . .
and then came the snow covered trees. These are just shots out my window but they turned out kinda fun, even the fuzzy ones. The sun was so bright, the sky so blue and the kids were singing carols to totally set the mood.