A few highlights

So I haven't blogged in a LONG time and I've decided I'm not going to catch up, but just do the highlights.

We made our yearly trip to the Hogle Zoo in September. 

My parents and my sister Wendy joined us for the day.

We had so much fun.

We carved our first pumpkins this year.

Bailey kept playing in the pumpkin gutts and saying

"This is disgusting!"

Bailey was a ladybug for Halloween this year and Hinkley was a bee!

I don't have any picture from Thanksgiving, I guess I'm not really sure where November went! Hoping to do better at keeping up on my blog!

Valentines Day

The weekend before Valentines Day we had to get some new tires on Ben's pickup. So we needed to do that in Idaho. My niece went down on Friday and took the girls home with her, so Ben and I had a little time to ourselves! :) Ok Ben's in tax season so not really and I cleaned the house all day on Friday. P-A-R-T-Y. We did go out and have an amazing dinner at Texas Road House, which is in my top 10. On Saturday Ben when to work and I got ready to head to Idaho as soon as he got home. Thanks Lyndsie for taking them home with you!


On Monday we got Bailey a movie and Hinkley some toys, they each got a little toy from Todd and Brenda and a BOX full of goodies from my sister. Wendy likes to spoil the kids. She also sent a couple boxes to Idaho too! We had candy, pencils, hair bows and bands, towels, note bookes, toys, straws, candy, and I think some candy! Thanks Aunt Wendy for being so sweet and sending the package! Thanks Brenda for the braking talking puppies too. The girls are so lucky to have aunts, uncles and cousins who spoil and help take care of them!

Bailey also had a party at preschool and we went to the neighborhood Valentines party, so we have a ton of candy if any of you have a shortage we'd be more than happy to share!

Christmas '10

It was our year to be with Ben's family for Christmas this year, so we headed back to Idaho on the 23rd and was there until the 26th. We stayed with my brother Todd and his family because there just isn't enough room for all of us at Ben's mom's house.


Of course Ben had to get in a little sports with his family so on Christmas Eve he went and played basketball and than after the game we all went over for the Big Brown Party. We start out with a big amazing meal, we clean up and then the kids get ready to go. All the little kids get in about 10 cars because of all the car seats, than they sing carols, look at lights, and go see if they can find Santa. It was Bailey's first year going and she loved it. I stayed with Hinkley at the house to feed her face before the party really got going.


The kids are gone for about 20 to 30 minutes and when they come back Santa has magically come while they were gone! Its crazy but true and it happens every year. So we had a great time, Ben's little brother proposed to his girlfriend, everyone got spoiled, and its so awesome to just be together. Ben's mom got the girls the coolest bouncy horse. It holds about 300lbs so the uncles thought it would be fun to race them too, it was so funny.


We saved 3 gifts for the girls for Christmas morning just to have a little fun with them and my family the next day. Bailey had to play Santa and she was such a good helper, helping everyone open their presents! We had our traditional Christmas breakfast at Todd's, still amazaing after all these years! We were able to Skype with my parents, always good to talk to them. We had a great Chritmas holiday and it was great to be with family.

Thanksgiving '10

It was a Gerratt year for Thanksgiving and we still all got together. It was weird wtihout my parents there but the next time its a Gerratt year they will be back.

A lot of the work and stress went to Todd and Brenda. They offered to have dinner at their house! There was a lot of us, but it was so much fun and great to see my family. We stayed with them and the rest of the family stayed at my parents house.


Brenda went above and beyond, she had craft projects for the kids, turkey hats and snow man tree ornaments. She also had a snow man pinata for the kids. She and Lyndsie filled the pinata with candy and little numbered bouncy balls. Each kid got a ball and after they gave the ball to Brenda she gave them a prize. All the boys got remote control cars and the girls got little Fur Real animals. They all loved them!


Dinner was awesome! We had SO MUCH food it was comical. We had turkey, prime rib, salads, home made rolls, vegetables, and so many pies that we didn't have enough room on the table for them all! It was so much fun to watch the kids play, eat, watch football, eat, be together, and eat!

I also love that the girls were able to spend time with thier Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. Eric's kids are older but so amazing with their younger cousins. Hinkley and Slater are only a month apart and so cute together. Slater has always been longer than Hinkley. She, as you can see, is much chubbier! Thanks Todd and Brenda for hosting Thanksgiving. It was awesome to see everyone, it makes me wish that we could see everyone more often.

Halloween '10

Halloween was a party this year. Its so much fun to have Bailey getting old enough to understand, get excited, and enjoy the holidays. I'm a little sad that she is getting older and such a big girl!


We decided to take her to the Halloween ward party. The youth put on a party for the primary. Bailey had fun playing games, seeing her friends, she hung out with her friends Megan and Ellie pretty much the whole time, and loved winning the prizes. She was so excited. We didn't have her costume yet because I hired Ben's sister to make it for her this year. So we kind of had to improvise on her costume for this party because her real one was in Idaho. We borrowed the wings from Megan and Ellie, the skirt from my cousin Katie. We only half dressed up Hinkley she could have cared less!


For real Trick or Treating Bailey was an Indian and Hinkley was a Skunk. Bailey wore the skunk costume at 10 months and it was getting pretty tight on her. Hinkley wore it at 6 months and it was pretty baggy for her, but still way cute! Hinkley was really good she just kind of puts up with us. Bailey was way excited. We stopped at Uncle Todd's and Aunt Brenda's first and than headed to Ben's mom's ward party. Bailey was having to much fun to eat but had a ton of fun Trunk or treating with her cousins. We left Hinkley with Brenda she was all partied out. After the ward party we went back to hang out with Todd and his family. When ever the door bell would ring she would run and open the door the little kids on the other side would say "trick or treat" and Bailey would say it right back to them. Todd and Brenda would have to be close behind to hand out the candy. That fun come to a quick stop when she ran to open the door, the kids yelled trick or treat and Bailey took one at them and screamed and ran! By the time she got to me she was hysterical! One of the little boys had a skeleton mask on. It took me a few minutes to calm her down and she didn't want to play with the trick or treaters any more after that.


She still loves to play trick or treating and loves to dress up now. She kind of always did, I think she gets it from her Uncle Eric! I think Hinkley is just glad we aren't putting her back in the costume and is our sweet baby.

The Pumpkin Patch

So over the past few years it has been tradition for us to go home and go to a pumpkin patch in Idaho with my mom. Well since my parents bailed on us we had to find another one. Ben thought it was a little silly for us to go to Idaho just to get some pumpkins! Silly boy! I love our pumpkin patch in Idaho because its home, so I think its the best and I LOVE it!


After talking to our neighbors we found one here that worked for us pretty well. We took the girls and had a great time. It was the first time Ben had joined us, he is usually doing something really important, like watching football, and doesn't come with us. It was also a first for Hinkley. She of course was amazing! She did her usual thing and slept the entire time! I love her to pieces!


Bailey loved helping me pick and hold all of the pumpkins and gourdes, while Ben kept a running total in his head. Silly accountant! We took Bailey over to the big pumpkins and told her to pick whatever one she wanted. It only took her a few minutes to decide and than she was really bummed because it was to heavy for her to carry on her own! Bailey looks grumpy in her picture, but I promise she had fun.

The 4th

The week between my parents farewell and the 4th of July the girls and I stayed in Burley. We helped my parents get ready to go and just hung out. Then on Friday my brother Scott and his family came to Burley to hang out and see some of Sommers' family that was coming into town.

Bailey and Shaydon of course had a ton of fun together! They played, fought, wrestled, bathed, ate, went to the farm, saw baby cows, and kept Grandpa very busy! They are 4 months apart, but in this picture Shaydon insisted on holding Bailey. I found them in the hall and Shaydon was trying to pick her up, we decided it was safer if he held her on the couch!


On the 3rd my brother Todd got out his boat and offered to take the kids for a ride. Bailey has only ever been on Uncle Todd's boat and had a great time. She and Shaydon of course had a little issue over who got to help Uncle Todd drive so Todd got them both on his lap to help him. The babies slept most of time we were on our ride. It was kind of a cold day that's why we aren't in our swim suites.


Afterwards Todd and Brenda invited us all back to have a bbq and to watch some fireworks. Bailey had never really seen any fireworks, we always put her to bed before they started. She thought they were pretty and knew that they were hot so she tried to blow them out like a candle when she saw them in the sky. We had a great time, the food was great and I loved being with everyone. I especailly loved when Bailey got Uncle Todd to jump on the tramp with her.

We had a great weekend and I loved spending time with family and having the girls spend time with Scott, Sommers and thier boys. This is all four of the babies from my family. Bailey wasn't to thrilled to sit and play nice while we took the pictures if you can't tell. Gotta love those terrible two's!

Holiday Recap

Now for the holidays!! We headed home to Idaho and had a family birthday party for Bailey. It just seemed to make sense, to wait a week, and move three people instead of 20! So my parents were awesome and let us all invade their house for the party. We ordered pizza and had a great time.


My niece Lyndsie decorated Bailey's birthday cake last year and for those of you who haven't spent 3 seconds with Bailey this winter - she LOVES Frosty the Snowman so when Lyndsie and Brenda found this cake it was perfect! They bought bowls to make the body and hand made this amazing frosting! Thanks Lou and Brenda for all of your work we love you!


We had my parents, Todd, Brenda, Jake, Kristi, Lou, Ben's Mom and Grandma, his little sister Kat, his sister Misti and her family, and of course Eric Todd Webb. We made another little cake to blow out candles and laughed, talked and played.

Thanks to both of our families for all of their love, support and for being a part of Bailey's life. She wouldn't be the amazing little girl with out all of you.


The day after Bailey's party was Christmas Eve and Ben's parents were both raised that Santa came to their houses first on Christmas Eve. So after a huge wonderful dinner the kids all go for a drive and look for Santa and when they get back he's already been to the house. So we open presents and play all night long. We have a great time being together, but we wore Bailey out!
She lasted till about 8:00pm and then kept saying "night, night!" So thanks to my amazing parents we took her back to their house and put her to bed and they kept an ear on the monitor and Ben and I went back to play. Also a huge thanks to Jacob for entertaining all of us while playing with Bailey, Corbyn, and Addison!


For Christmas Ben's Mom and Grandma got Bailey a little kitchen set and love them both to pieces they didn't make us take it home. We bought it in Layton and hid it from her until the day before we went to Idaho. She loves it, she is an excellent cook and cleaner! We get served lemons and pineapple in ice cream dishes usually with a knife or spoon. She knows that everything in the oven is "hot" and so the little hot pad gets some good use!


On Christmas morning we got Bailey some milk and then she wanted "bubbles!" She is a creature of habit, there were no presents to even be looked at until she had had her bath! So after her bath we got started with Christmas morning. She loved playing Santa and handing Papa, Grammy, and Daddy presents and of course she had to "help" them all open their gifts!


For her very last present at my parents she got her horse. My parents got one for Bailey and Shaydon and they both LOVE their horses. Bailey cried when we made her get off for breakfast. Our little horse had a little malfunction for a few days and didn't work and it was almost heart breaking she knew it wasn't working and there was nothing we didn't try to get it going. Thanks to our AMAZING neighbor Rick, who we knew if any one could or would fix it it would be Rick! I bought a BRAND NEW pack of batters and one of the batteries in the horse had a reverse voltage! Any way it was the first thing Rick checked and now horse is doing amazing!

After we finally got Bailey off of her horse it was off to Ben's Mom's for Christmas stockings and then off to my brother Todd's for our Traditional Christmas Breakfast. I think the only time I haven't had Christmas breakfast at Todd's was when I was on my mission. We have egg mcmuffins, fruit and chocolate milk, but it wouldn't be Christmas with out it. Of course there were more presents to open over there Bailey had to play Santa again and had to help everyone open their gifts!


And then it was off to Boise to see my other two brothers. Scott and his family met us at Eric's house and yep more food and presents! All the little kids drew names and exchanged gifts they were so cute about it. They were excited to see how their cousins would like their gifts and play with each others gifts and help everyone open their gifts! Eric's kids are so cute to play with their two younger cousins, Bailey and Shaydon. Bailey and Shaydon get along really well Shaydon is such a cutie, there are a few punches thrown and screaming but that's what makes it funny! We had a great time, we ate, played, went to bed late and the next morning Ben and I got up and went to buy a few things we need for Hinkley and then headed back to my parents house that night.

For New Years all five of us came to my parents. Actually Ben left me there and went home to work for a few days. Todd lives about 10 minutes away from my parents and so Eric, Scott, and Wendy came home to play with us. We all had a great time, thanks Todd and Brenda for letting us crash at your house and to Ann for letting me borrow my old car so I wouldn't be stranded!

From the Brown famiy to all of you - We hope that you all had a wonderful safe holiday and wish you a wonderful, amazing new year! Also sorry for the minute by minute recap we just had such a wonderful time I couldn't leave anything out!!

Catching Up!

Ok- all I know is that it has been a long time since I have blogged so I am just going to do a catch up on the things that I can remember!

I went to the JJ Coles sale and spent a ton of money! Luckily most of it was for other people! Had fun and I got a lot of cute stuff.

My brother Todd came up with his wife, my nephew and his wife, and with Lyndsie we all went to the BSU/USU game. We had a lot of fun, didn't freeze and stayed up way too late.

The day after the game we all headed to Idaho. My dad has been in the Stake Presidency for 18 years, not kidding. He was called as the first counselor and when his 9 years were over they called him to be the Stake President. Any way his 9 years as Stake President were up and all five of my brothers and sisters and their families went home to be there. Well we were all there except for one of my nephews, we missed you Brandon! Elder Dallin H. Oaks came to Idaho to release my dad and call the new Stake President. He and his wife stayed at my parents house for the weekend. We all stayed at my brother Todds. Thanks for putting up with all of us Todd and Brenda. Dad did a great job on his talk on Sunday and it has been a real change for him. After 18 years of meetings it would be a change for anyone! We were all able to meet Elder Oaks and his wife on Sunday after lunch. They were very nice to take the time to meet all of us. Elder Oaks is a very powerful speaker but very warm and loving.

Thanksgiving was great. After Dad's release Bailey and I stayed in Idaho instead of coming home for two days and heading right back. We spent time with the Browns and Gerratts ate a ton of food and enjoyed spending time with one another!

As a first Ben and I hit the Day after Thanksgiving sales! He had me awake way to early! We got to Wal-Mart before 5:00am, but they had opened their doors before 5 so no crazy maddness getting it, but getting out was hard. We were in the check out line for over 30 minutes! We got a new computer, my Christmas, and picked up toys for Bailey. Ben wanted to go for the computer and for the experience, I'll probably never do it again.

After Thanksgiving Todd and Brenda wanted to keep Bailey for two nights and three days! Yes, I let them and it was hard, but I was able to get Christmas up, the laundry done, and most of the house clean while she was gone.

I also went to the Nutcracker with Lyndsie, she had to go for a class. It was fun to spend time with her, but very different from the Nutcracker we danced in when we were younger.

And NO pictures. I took my camera, but it just didn't ever make it out of its case! So sorry for the very boring blog. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Fall!

Ok, so I know that I'm back to two weeks again. Sorry. I love this time of year! I love the weather, the colors and the activities that come with fall.

So two weeks ago my brother Todd and his wife Brenda came to Logan. They are Lyndsie's parents and they came down to go to a play with her. They went to Sweeny Todd and brought some neighbors with them whose son was in the play. So we all met for dinner. Whenever dinner, Logan, and my brother Todd are involved we can plan on eating at Iggy's. He loves that place. So we all went to Iggy's, there were about 12 of us. We had a great dinner and talked for awhile after dinner. After that we left and headed to Chili's for dessert. Yep we hit two different restaurants in one night right after the other. After that Ben and I took Bailey home and the rest all went to the play. Lyndsie said it was a good play, but it started at 7:30 and didn't end until 11:30!

On Friday of that week we went to the Pumpkin Walk. I love going and seeing how creative other people can be. Lyndsie was doing laundry here so she and Eric (photo guy) came with us. We all had a great time and the weather wasn't too cold.

On Saturday our neighbor had a Halloween carnival for the kids in the neighborhood. She had games, food, and coloring. It was really cute and of course Bailey just kind of did her own thing! But it was fun, I dressed up like an oven and had a bun in the oven window and we bought Ben a chiefs hat and he wore his cooking apron. A lot of people whispered and were wondering if I was really pregnant.

This last week our friend Eric Webb broke his leg and had to have surgery. We all went up to the ER to see him. Bailey couldn't go in the ER so Ben and I took turns staying with her. We got her a little mask to play with and she loved the hand sanitizer. Eric can't put any pressure on his leg for 6 months and has had to go to the hospital everyday and Lyndsie has been giving him blood thinner shots every night. She is such a trooper and really loves medical stuff.

For Halloween we went home to Idaho. My parents were watching Shaydon while Scott and Sommers had an amazing week in Hawaii! So we went down as soon as we could so the two of them could spend some time together. They are really cute and got along really well. Every time Bailey got out of Shaydon's eyesight he would run around yelling her name until he found her. He is so cute!

On Saturday Ben and I went to Pocatello to help Jacob with his computer. Ok Ben helped while Breawna and I went shopping and hung out. We had a great time. We left and went to be with Bailey who spent the day with my sister-in-law Brenda. We got Bailey dressed up and headed back to Brenda's for Trick or Treating. Bailey decided she needed one of every kind of candy she had! We went to see both of Bailey's great Grandmas and some of my parents neighbors. She knew what to do, but has only had a little candy! I just can't bring my self to let her eat a lot of candy yet.

Catching Up... again!

This blog will probably be a jumble of pictures and words, but here goes.

Maid for Hire: Very portable, cute, and fun, but usually causes more of mess! Bailey loves to wipe anything down with her rag and sweeps every surface she can reach even me!


Easter-A religious moment- I am so grateful for the whole purpose of Easter and all that the Savior did for me. Now a spoiled child moment-with the end of tax season I get more and more stir crazy so Bailey and I did a lot of shopping the week before Easter which means her Easter surprises where a bit much, but she's so dang cute I couldn't help myself. I DON'T know why the hat had to be on, when she woke up Ben went to get her and she spotted the hat and had it on ALL morning. She got her own broom from the Easter Bunny and sweeps 3-4 times a day!


Ben was awesome that morning, took care of Bailey when she woke up (fed and changed diaper) let me sleep a little longer, made breakfast for us, and I found an IPOD Nano in my Easter Basket. My old MP3 player died, but I am still trying to figure out how to work the new one, any help would be nice! This picture is on our way out the door to church.


On Thursday Ben's sister called and said that they were on their way through Logan and would be at my house in about 20 minutes. We went for some ice cream before they headed on to Ben's brother's house. This is Bailey and Corbyn, he is a cutie.


On Saturday the USU Football team was having a spring game and of course anything sports related Ben had to go. It was a nice day and great to be together even at a USU football game. Bailey loves having Ben home more often. I thought the picture was so cute, she looks so little.


Ben also attacked his list of "Honey Do's" on Saturday! After 5 months of not having a husband he had a lot of things to do. Some he ignored, others took little time and some he hated! Bailey has been getting into drawers and cupboards since February and Ben said that HE would put on clips to stop her from emptying every cupboard I have so that was the one he hated. I stayed by his side for moral support and tried not to giggle to much!

Home Again

Well last week, the week before Easter, my sister and brothers all had plans to go to my parents for Easter, like we did. But with Tax Season being what it is Ben didn't know if he would be able to get off work in time on Saturday to make the trip even worth it. So when my Mom called asking that Bailey and I come down a little early to help her we decided to go. We headed down on Thursday morning and Bailey slept all the way until Obi sneezed and scared her. When we got there my Dad decided to take Bailey and I on a little ride on the Gator.

We were able to spend time with a lot of family which is always fun and Bailey was able to see most of her cousins. I stayed at my brother's house which is nice because Brenda (my sister-in-law) is always willing to watch and help with Bailey. Thanks for letting us stay. Poor Brandon, my oldest nephew is under the four youngest grandkids, it's so cute to see them altogether.


Bailey and I left on Saturday afternoon so that we could spend Easter with Ben. But before we left my wonderful family gave Bailey her Easter surprises. My sister-in-law Sommers gave Bailey a bag of candy, toys, headbands and she MADE Bailey the cutest denim skirt, she's so crafty! Yvonne gave Bailey the cutest Tea Set which Bailey loves and we get fed spoon fulls of food constantly. My sister gave Bailey this amazing picture of Jesus holding hands with the cutest little girl holding her doll I love it but since it's for Bailey it's in her room.


I love being with family and the support and love that they have for me and my little family always amazes me. Thank you to my amazing family.