BEACH BASEBALL...

We aren't the only piece of the Brown family that loves this game!

The dads had fun getting in on the action too.

I love this shot of Cooper tagging Maddie out. He loved it!

Even little Peter got his hits in...

but Cooper didn't care much about the fact that Peter was only 3.

Cooper was playing for real. No surprise ~ right!!

And a play at the plate...Brent dives and throws it home to Tom while Sam slides in and sends the sand a flyin'!! They played until the fog rolled in.

The most unusual flower graced our campground...

It was much like a fluffy pompom set upon a crete paper plate. Not only was it beautiful but its fragrance was oh so sweet...

I love my new camera. Thanks so much honey!

We took a scenic hike one day...

The trail along the rocks was truly incredible.

The power and the beauty was awesome.

Goosebumps really.



And here's Grandpa with the grand kids.

I think Grandma Joyce was smiling down upon our family.
She loved our beach vacations.

The Master's Touch was evident today.

More beautiful sights along the trail.

These pictures are for Cooper...

He loved the little creatures that came across our path.

This little guy was just as interested in us as Cooper was in him.

Why is it that you can see a squirrel a million times at any vacation spot, but you still get excited and stop and take pictures?

We made a stop while driving back to the campground to check this out.

There were LOTS of them. And they were smelly.

But you can't resist taking a picture of a sea lion either. Sigh...

All the fun made for really great sleepers!!

Sorry boys!! I just had to include these.

Can't get enough of these three...

I could end this incredibly long post with the story of how we were blessed and kept safe from what could have been a very serious and scary incident involving a fire in our camp. But instead I'll just remind my children of the testimony I bore there. Heavenly Father cares for us and watches over us always. It was no coincidence that me and dad were woken by a barking dog that night. Heavenly Father kept us safe and out of harms way and all is well.

I've had quite a few people ask...

Yes. That is Brent and I in my new header picture on the beach in Santa Cruz.

I played around with the original (to the left) using a program called picnik. I don't have the upgraded version. I just use the free stuff. : )

Progress...

...is defined as:
positive development; usually of a gradual kind, toward achieving a goal or reaching a higher standard.

Yes.
That's our Davis.

I could love the stuffin' out of my brand new Webelo.

My niece is right...

Team Jacob is looking pretty good right now. You must click.

Nie Nie

If you aren't familiar with this story then I don't know where you've been. It's on my side bar too.

Yesterday she posted a picture of herself ~ a year, exactly, since the plane crash.

She and her family lived in Mesa, Arizona and since the accident, returned to live near her family in Provo, Utah.

It is a story you must become acquainted with.

It will make you look outside yourself and count your blessings.

And that is always a good thing.

It's that time of year...

This handsome young man headed off to 5th grade with a happy smile but not before he gave me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. I'm grateful he is not embarrassed by his mom. His cheerful wave good bye was full of confidence.

And here is my 1st grader...all rested up after a wonderful night's sleep under the sweet influence of magic confetti.

And we got to school and found his spot to line up long before anyone else showed up.

Cooper has been asking for about a month now, just what I'd do without him at home with me. He was happy to offer suggestions like: go visit your friends, go on your blog, and my personal fave ~ do a craft. He's funny.

But this was a tough day for me.

I didn't go visit a friend.

I didn't go on my blog.

And I didn't do a craft.

I just sat in my quiet house and did a lot of pondering and wishing I could make a phone call to a number I have memorized but knew the voice that I wanted to hear would not pick up.

Yeah...it was a tough day.

But at 2:50 in the afternoon I walked outside to this happy sight...

They both came home with lots of happy things to report.

It all got better from this point on.

Have I really reached this time in her life??

A Freshman in highschool.

When did I get old enough for this to happen??

But she is so excited to be on her way.

Off she goes!

...and here she comes.

With Jana making fun of the fact that I'm standing in the driveway, documenting the moment.

Okay, so it IS kinda silly. But really...

4 more years just isn't long enough.

Back to School Eve...

At our Meet the Teacher night, Ms. Liddy had two very magical gifts for her new class.

First was a ball of plain ol' playdough. Not very exciting, and not at all colorful. But there was a note attached, instructing the kids to play, mix, push and pull the playdough. The note continued and said that if their playdough magically changed colors while they played then that meant the child was going to have a very fun and exciting year in 1st grade.

Cooper was thrilled to see his playdough change from plain to red!

He was hooked!!

Next came an envelope sealed tight. The note attached read that it was not to be opened until the night before the first day of school.

Cooper asked for the next three days when it would be time to open the envelope. He even begged me during Sacrament meeting if it would be okay to open the envelope as soon as he got home from church - even though I had meetings to attend afterward.

He just couldn't wait!

So when I got home from meetings he about plowed me over with a handful of Magic Confetti!

Here are Ms. Liddy's instructions (in part) to unlock the magic:

But sometimes we all get the jitters down deep
And that makes it hard to fall fast asleep.

So I've made you some magic confetti, it really is cool.
It will help you be rested and ready for school.

Just place the confetti next to your bed
On the night before school starts, where you lay down your head.

The confetti will help you sleep through the night
And you will wake up in the morning fresh and bright.

Cooper went to bed like a champ and carefully placed his magic confetti in his pillowcase. And when I checked on him 15 minutes later...

He was OUT like a light!

Oh how I love smart teachers.

And to report, Cooper has continued to use the confetti for the past three nights with the same incredible results. He told me he knows why it keeps working. Because he said a prayer that it would.

And the sparkling stuff now has a special spot...

In a treasure box, above his head with the lid cracked

"so that the magic can come out".

Thank you Ms. Liddy! We are so excited to spend 1st grade with you!!