The things in Life

My little sister reminded me on her blog, that Life is
so short and we have to always cherish what we have.
On Saturday I was privileged to attend the funeral of
an amazing example of Christ. She is my new sister in-
laws sister in law- did you follow!! her name is Brittney
Drakulich and I only had the privilege of meeting her
a few times, but every time was honestly inspiration,
and a feeling of Heaven close by. I remember the first
time I met her she was extremely tired, and had a scarf
over her bald little head. She was so frail, and I could have
broke her arm just by squeezing. When I started talking to
her about her lifes' experience I was so taken back by
her countenance. She just radiated Christ and despite
all the pain and suffering she had been enduring and had
endured over 5 years, she was so amazingly at peace.
I walked away from her so appreciative of Christs plan
for all of us, and for his love for us. I immediately thought
about how I would feel knowing with a great assurity that
I would not get to raise my children. That they would live
the majority of their lives without me to hug and cuddle them.
That they would not ever know how much I loved them, and
wanted so badly to be with them all the time. Brittney left
behind a husband who adored her, and three beautful kids.
When she passed away the little girls asked if their mom
would finally get her hair back.
It is little things in life, and people that you are privileged to
know that makes you realize how blessed you are. I can't even
count my blessings, and I can't ever complain about any circumstance
i encounter, because truly the time I have had , has been a
huge blessing I couldn't ask for more.
I am so grateful for my knowledge of Christ,
and even more grateful that he is there waiting to embrace
us into his arms as one of his faithful children.
Thanks Brittney for all the inspiration, for the amazing
example of what life is really all about!!

Canada!

The newest tradititon in our family is Fros annual
CANADA trip!!
He went last year with two of his friends to ride
Whistler in B.C Canada and
since then it is all he talks about.
He Loves CANADA, BIKING, and it is now
a yearly tradition. This year he went with his
buddies, Kade, and Dave,
and they had a GREAT time riding!!
It was a little wet, but nothing stopped
these three from riding, having fun,
and making memories!!
Some of the fun was seeing 4 bears,
riding in the FOAM pit,
and forgetting a passport.
They had a great time, rode a ton, and had a
16 hour drive straight home!!

First Grade

I am a little behind, and ali started First grade a few weeks ago.

I don't know if it was harder for me or her, but I seriously

am having a hard time with her gone ALL DAY!

I thought it might be a nice break, but in reality, I just

Miss her ALL Day!! The worst part of it all is that

she has already had one sick day, and a whole bunch

of "can't I just stay home today" days!! It is hard

because up until school started she was still taking a

TWO hour nap. So school seriously wipes her out.

I confess I have already gone to lunch with her, and

I also showed up at recess to make sure she had her

inahaler, and pretty much just wanted to say hi. I

am a totall sucker when it comes to my ALI!!

The story behind the bangs, is I hadn't slept in a week because

my awesome back, and she asked if she could have bangs,

and I wasn't in the mood to disagree with this plea, so she

grabbed the scissors, and I cut away!! I couldn't believe my

eyes when i realized what i did. I have never liked bangs, and

here I just gave my daughter a whole bunch!! I was TIRED!!

Luckily she loves them, and I can pull them back, most of the time.

she was first in line, waiting "reverently" to go into class.

She is a later gator, which means she goes to school later,

but has to stay longer at school. I am Not a huge fan!

what ever happened to kids going to school at the
same time. She hates when the early kids get to go home!-

And Cam says OWEEE all day- meaning ALI

it is a long day for him without his sister!

What happened to ME!

I know there has been some concern because it is unlike me to post anything for a couple of days, let alone weeks, so I am going to put your minds at ease. We had a " everything break all at once week". Our dishwasher broke, our computer crashed, our portable DVD player died, our car died- that turned out to be a good thing- and i was still trying to walk normally! Lets just say it hasn't been to awesome!!
But now we have a new computer, A new car (fro got a 4 door tacoma for his birthday!!), my fix it guy fixed our washer, with a little bit of love and a new part! and I am walking after completing 2 weeks of physical therapy! YEAH!!! So I will be back in the world of emails, blogging, and washing dishes in 2 minutes flat-oh how i love dishwashers!!!

He is Married!

Last Tuesday August 11, My little brother got Married!

He married Camille Drakulich- I know awesome name.

It was a great day, and they were so happy and cute.

They are both so fun and we are so excited to add her

to our family! Did I mention she is a CHEF!!

Our cute little flower girl cousins!

They weren't official flower girls, but they

were cute non the less. Uncle Bud

told them they could be flower girls and they kept

thinking they were going to walk down and aisle

dropping flowers. Ali said she was so nervous and I

had to explain that they don't really do that at

a lot of weddings. I think she was a little relieved and

dissappointed. They did manage to catch the boquet

though, and that made up for it!!

The ever growing Brown family!

Congrats Bud and Camille

The never ending FRUSTRATION!!

I haven't even posted a blog yet because I have been enduring the never ending frustration of a herniated disc in my back now. It has been a month officially that I have been walking crooked, getting in and out of cars wierd, and constantly trying something new to help. Well after three weeks, and no progress, only numbness down my legs, and my feet going numb, I have decided to list all my attempts at progress- just so i know I am trying to get better.
First- After working for a chiropractor and PT for over 2 years I figured it is a nerve causing the sciatic pain, and the numbness!! So i go to a chiropractor who also does acupuncture- Sweet, kill two birds right there!! However this particular chiropractor seemed to have one thing in mind- other alternatives- and after visiting him for 3X a week at like $100, I would be feeling awesome!!
And he would have all my "meridians" which are out of wack re-aligned!! Lucky me
Well after two adjustments, and acupuncture, I decided things were not better, and may have felt worse. Not to mention he was YOUNGER than me- something is wrong with that, my doctor should not be younger than me-yet!!!

So after that fiasco, I try some stretches, and hot and cold, and to no avail. Things seemed pretty good while I am moving, but it wasn't improving only spreading numbness down my leg.

Fro decided that if I was having BACK problems I should see a back doctor. He is a genius!!! So I make an appointment with a Back specialist out at Jordan Valley hospital who is supposed to be pretty good. They X-ray me and decide my spine is curved due to tight muscles pulling on my hips and pelvis-- I could have told them that!!! So now what I ask-- He tells me I am young and it should heal on it's own over time!! He offers me sleeping pills, pain pills, muscle relaxants and I was in totall disbelief. I am a mom of two who doesn't have time to sit around any longer and wait to walk normal!!! At this point I am at URGH!!!!

So my brother has his wedding on Tuesday and I am hunched over, with totall numbness in my left leg. I am in so much pain now, I am ticked off. I haven't slept in a few days, and I am seriously trying to keep my leg muscles from locking up. So I decide to go get a massage to help relax my muscles. I have a hour and a half massage from HELL- seriously- she didn't want me to relax which was good, because she couldn't believe how bad my muscles were knotted up all over the place. So after an hour and a half of DEEP bruising torture, I left in pain, with high hopes!! No one should endure that if it doesn't show results.

The next day I could move a little, I was very sore, and had many, many, bruises all over my back, butt and legs-- Awesome!! And I got to spend the day at my brothers wedding!! AWESOME!!

After No progress and many failed attempts to get in to get physical therapy I was talked into going to a Iridologist! (what is that you ask- she specializes in herbs, reading your muscles as to what you need in your body, and does it all by looking at your eyes-that is the shortened version!) It was actually Very interesting, and i was suprised at all she informed me that my body had going on. She could see all the problems with my back as well as Liver issues I have do to my emotions.. Yeah add something else to the list of to do items!!
If I am sounding negative, it is because then i spent close to $200 on herbs that would take me out of pain, and here I am still in quite a bit of pain- and doing all I can to entertain and take care of my two little chillins'!
So If anyone has any good insight into low back herniation that doesn't involve dopeing me up on medicine until it is all gone, please let me know- I have no feeling in my foot, and I am really missing it!!!

I'm 30

I have officially turned 30!

I knew it was going to happen, and I

knew it wouldn't be easy, but i am 30!!

I remember walking down the road with my

friends growing up and walking along the hot tar

in our bare feet and talking about what age was old,

and we all agreed that 30 seemed so far away, and

that 30 was OLD!!

Now that I am here, Not BAD!!!

30 is a GREAT AGE!!

I kicked off the Big weekend with a little get together with

some of my bestest buds, since elementary! My friend

Jen has a house in Holliday and a pool, and so we had

some fun in the sun. Jen also had some cake to help celebrate!

Thanks Jen, it was a lot of fun and I LOVE your house.

Then my only request for my birthday was to go

CAMPING!!

I wanted nothing more than to camp on my day.

But due to my CRAPPY back, and leg issues I am having

we had to settle for the next best thing- pretend camping

as my little sis calls it. We get to enjoy the mountains,

enjoy the fire, but enjoy our beds when it is all said and done.

I have to admit, it was WONDERFUL!!

My whole family came up and we played by the river,

had some delicious food (thanks britto-especially for the

oreo cookies that everyone LOVED!!!

you know what I am talking about!!)

Two of my favorite sisters!!

(Heather as always, we miss you!)

All the other pictures are on my sisters camera

so this is all I could post for now!

My dad took all the kids on a little mountain

adventure, and he made them all camoflauge.

they loved it and they love pappa!

To kick off the actual day I got to start the day off with

one of my favorite people in the world- My DAD!!

It is my favorite tradition to play tennis the morning

of my birthday. This year I was so worried it wasn't

going to happen because I haven't had feeling in my

legs and I was so sad I started crying that I wouldn't

get to play tennis with my dad. I made my sisters

cry too, it was great. But with some luck, I made it!!

We tied by the way- of course!! I wasn't about to let my

65 year old dad beat me on my birthday!!

Thanks Dad- You made my birthday.

Then after that we headed to lunch with my sister

and her family to TUCANOS. It was delicious

we only shattered one plate, and ended up FULL!

Then For my birthday Fro gave me a bizzillion

gift cards (well almost 30!) So i could go have some

shopping fun!! So that is what I did, all by myself.

Shopping without kids is HEAVENLY!!

Then to top off the night, I went with Fro to see

the movie, THe Proposal.

It was a lot of fun, and was a fun way to top

off the night.

I had mentioned to a few people one of my favorite desserts

are these special cupcakes that my old boyfriends Mom

makes. I thought, wouldn't that be so wonderful if I

could have those for my 30th birthday. They are that good!!

Well my best friend LINDSAY came through!!

I couldn't call up my old boyfriend, so of course she

did all the dirty work-- just kidding!! She made it all

happen and suprised me with them- I have the best

friends in the world- not just because they give me

food, but they bend over backwards for me!!

These are the most delicious cupcakes in the world.

I tried to make them once, but it wasn't the same.

They are only good if Judy Beck makes them,

and boy were they worth all the calories. I had them

gone in two days, and I only shared a couple!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Thanks everyone for all the fun, presents,

and memories- It was Great!!!