All About the Brown Girls

2011-08-23T09:58:00.001-07:00

A few days ago we went to the Brown Family Reunion up at the Homestead. We were all so excited to go until it got moved up to a few weeks later because of a forest fire that was near. We went and I was so glad to hear from my mom afterward that we took a lot of pictures. When we were on the road, however, my mom yelled at me, "Sky, grab the camera and take some pictures of that!" I turned around, and here was what we saw:

Breath-taking.

I love this pic. So glad that I caught it at that moment. Sometimes when there are things like this it makes me sick to my stomach when I don't have my or my mom's camera. But in the mean time, here are some pictures you might want to look at of us at the Homestead.

Phoenix, with a "Horny Toad" on her shoulder. She carried that thing with her wherever she went. Even on the rope swing :)

Running and holdin' hands at the race with I think Libby.

2011-08-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hi. It's Skylar again:)

Just wanted to share some pictures of the past few days and...weeks.

Here is my Aunt Lexi's baby, Guy Phillip Patterson . He is so adorable :)

Me taking a picture in the mirror. I thought this was a pretty cool shot :)

More coming soon. Going to upload my pictures of the girls/homestead. See ya!

2011-07-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Kennedy on her Baptism Day

Kennedy's Garden Flowers

BirdHouse

It's Skylar again...just wanted to show you some of the pictures I have been taking... :)

2011-07-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Skylar, and I am one out of the five brown girls...the others are Kennedy (8), Phoenix (5), Deveraux (turning 4), and my mom. I love taking pictures, reading books, playing volleyball, babysitting, and practically anything else I can get my hands on. You're probably wondering what I am doing on my mom's blog...well, it's All About the Brown Girls, right? I am a brown and am about to welcome blogging into my world. Here are a few pictures of me:

I guess that is all about me...I am a Brown girl... :)

2011-01-10T21:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the girls.

I have been editing pictures of my New Year's Eve Photo Shoot.

But in the time I was editing I came across these beauties,

I took them this summer when we headed up for our second trip to Utah.

Simply darling little girls.

Skylar 10

Kennedy 7

Phoenix 4

Deveraux 3

My favorite New Year's Eve photo shoot pictures to come....

But I just couldn't help myself. These might be on my wall soon.

Everyone is growing so fast.

2011-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

So what is your New Year's Resolution?

I spent the entire New Years Eve starting mine:

I love photography.

It's calming, fun, never boring,

artistic. I am not the best.

But I really enjoy it.

And it seems as though it is something I have always done.

I spent most of my younger years behind the eye of the lens.

I took a break, or hibernated as I put it and I am glad to be getting acquainted with my old friend.

I also started oil painting again.

Fun, creative, passionate.

I was sketching and thinking about how to get started.

Bring on the oils!

I will keep you posted on how this all turns out.

I also started a new and different blog for San Clemente.

Nothing much, just things that are going on here and there. Maybe a bit more political.

I do want to make it a bit controversial. What me stirring the pot? Never.

But what if Tim does want to run for President?

Then I would have to re-track all the crazy things that have been said. So for now I will keep it sort of tame.

I will try not to ruffle to many feathers.

Because I'm a giver. That's what I do.

Which leads me to my last NewYear's Resolution,

Trying to be a kinder, more giving and loving mother.

I think we need more of these type of women to surrond our children with.

Loving them more. Protecting them. Nurturing them. Teaching them skills.

Exemplifying the savior more. Giving more and taking less.

I am sure these are the basics to most of us,

but I just wanted to remind myself to be the best possible mother/woman that I can be.

I don't want to leave this life knowing that I could have done better.

So those are my 2011 Resolutions!

What are yours? I am dying to know!

2010-05-09T21:09:00.001-07:00

Divinity of Motherhood

There is a tree outside my window that has caught my particular attention – it is a beautiful flowering tree that transformed this spring. The passing of the seasons reminds me of the passing of the years. Some mornings I can’t believe I am in my late thirties, have 4 children and have been married for 8 years – and wonder where the time went.

I am reminded of a scripture in Ecclesiastes (the Preacher) Chapter 3:1

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven”

This flowering tree reminds me of the change of seasons – or as close as we get to the change of seasons in California. The seasons of my life have passed so quickly, and this season, the season of motherhood, is perhaps the most challenging and most rewarding of all. Today, I hope to talk about the divinity and importance of being a Mother.

In some ways, I can’t remember what I felt or even what I thought before my eldest daughter, Skylar, was born. When she entered my life, the entire world changed in an instant and my purpose became crystal clear – all I was before didn’t matter. I existed to care for and nurture this little soul and would give everything I had for her happiness. When she arrived, even with the scariness and the pain of delivery, it was the most spiritual moment of my life and I have never felt closer to my Father in Heaven than at the moment he made me a Mother.

Elder Foster of the quorum of the seventy once said:

“Perhaps the reason we respond so universally to our mothers love is because it typifies the love of our Savior”

Kennedy, Phoenix and Deveraux soon joined our little family – and each has been such a blessing and reminder of the gift of motherhood. When each of these babies was born, I felt in some very small way, what the Savior must feel for us, and my life has never been the same.

I thought I knew what being a mother meant before my girls arrived, but then reality hit. Sleepless nights, colic, nightmares, fevers, tears of pain, moments of panic – what I would call the “downside of being a parent”. The funny thing about being a mother is that most of the time – you don’t even know if you are very good at it!

However, now that I am raising you children, I start to realize more and more that this statement by David O’McKay is absolutely true:

“The most important thing you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home”

In this season of my life, I have learned to cherish the role of being a mother. But it is only when I embraced this role that I began to see how the world views the role of a mother and how different it is from ours.

My almost daily pilgrimage to Wal-Mart is always an interesting experience. Between losing children and losing my mind – I try to get out of there with the least amount of damage possible. One particular and frazzling day, I ran into a woman in line who looked over me and my girls and asked innocently “Are all of these children yours?” Of course, I couldn’t resist a little sarcasm – “No, I picked up a variety pack on the aisle next to the chips and cookies.” She looked puzzled - so I gave her comfort by admitting I did have all four girls. “You’re brave!” she responded and to that, I quipped “It is the best job I will ever have.” – and it is.

The world tends to undermine and undervalue the role of the mother. Children have become accessories and motherhood is outsourced. In our society, self fulfillment is more important that sacrifice – and it is common that everything, including the children’s well-being, is placed on the sacrificial altar in pursuit of comfort and success. This corrosive drift leads only to unhappiness. More and more, children feel no real attachment, are not taught righteous principles and become lost to the voices of the crowd.

As mothers in Zion, we must stay close to the Savior in all we do. His example sets the course for all mothers to follow: unconditional love, kindness, patience, teaching, nurturing. If we embrace His example and follow Him – we will lead our own children until eventually, they will lead themselves. Proverbs 22:6 reads:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Tom Perry once said about the roles of parents:

“Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home.”

Teaching gospel principles is essential, but we should be involved in all aspects of our child’s education. The recent teacher’s strike was a reminder of how important our role is as a teacher. When the word first came down of the potential strike, I was filled with dread – how in the world am I going to watch my own children all day long?

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed teaching and how much my girls enjoyed learning! It was an unforgettable memory and a reminder of how important it is that we, as mothers, are our children’s primary educator.

Even when they enter the stage when they know everything, and I mean everything, we should continue to teach and educate our children – for the Lord will call them when the time is right. Elder Ballard once remarked:

“The home is the most important place to prepare the youth of today to lead the families and the church of tomorrow.”

If I could be a young mother all over again, with new babies, I would make a very small, but very important change. I would make an extra effort to enjoy each moment as it comes. Sometimes, I spent far too much time worried about a clean house, an orderly life – when I could have savored the sweetness of those tiny babies learning their world. Author Anna Quidlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments:

“The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make…I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear not that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of my three children sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day. And I wish I could remember what we ate, what we talked about, and how they sounded and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been such a hurry to get to the next big thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”

Cherish those babies and those quiet moments now – because one day, they will be able to talk back!

My own mother is a wonderful example that I hope to emulate in my life. When I struggled with handwriting, she sat with me and taught me penmanship. When I broke my leg, she took care of me and nursed me to health. In all my activities, sports, violin, and school – she was there. She taught her daughters how to sew (thought none of us are artists like her), to cook, to work and most importantly, to laugh. Her personality was always positive and as good as a mother as she was – she is even a better grandmother. I will always be grateful for her example and love.

In ending, I was particularly touched by this beautiful thought by President Gordon B. Hinckley on motherhood:

“Most of you are mothers, and very many of you are grandmothers and even great-grandmothers. You have walked the sometimes painful, sometimes joyous path of parenthood. You have walked hand in hand with God in the great process of bringing children into the world that they might experience this estate along the road of immortality and eternal life. It has not been easy rearing a family. Most of you have had to sacrifice and skimp and labor night and day. As I think of you and your circumstances, I think of the words of Anne Campbell, who wrote as she looked upon her children:

You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky.

(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)

You [mothers] are the real builders of the nation wherever you live, for you have created homes of strength and peace and security. These become the very sinew of any nation.”

2010-04-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

What. Has it really been another year. Here is what I am up too...

First- We have 3 Girls in school and I am up running them around to and from events and I am the room mom this year which was crazy to do because.. hello I have 4 kids! But I love having a party and sugar is the only thing that I live on, so I thought that this would be a no brainier for me. Right. That was after they decided to implement a no-sugar policy at school. What the?! I have been debating whether or not to fight the district on this one. Don't be surprised if this is my new "Ralph's Project". Seriously, what was I thinking? If I talk about doing this again next year, shoot me!

Second-We have been extremely busy with Phoenix's speech therapy"school". Which we go to twice a week. And I have been on time too, which even surprises me. Say with English dialect..."Can you spare some change for my ElecTric Shock TherApy?" Everytime I drop Phx off a her "school" I think of this statment. One of my favorite moments in Camden, England from a very long time ago. If you have any questions about that ask Hollie she was there. Probably my next favorite was a political discussion with a guy at a bus stop in which he ended up chucking produce at us. Two Ballard's together arguing politics= good times.

Third- I don't know if you missed it but I finally won my Tennis Wimbledon playoffs, I was pretty amazing. Didn't you see it....Wait...Are you laughing? I think that I can here you all the way over here. I think in my next life I want to come back as a tennis pro, can't I order that? Which religion is that by the way? Maybe just in case I should get baptized in that religion too. Hmm. So I have become an even bigger fan of tennis. I am passionate and if I were 10 all over again, I would tell me, "Love it and become the best at tennis and maybe one day you could be great." So in the mean time I play about 3 times a week and I torture Sky and Kiki with endless lessons too and live vicariously through them in their successes with playing.

Fourth- Friends, Family and Fun! I love having good friendships. Hanging out with family and having parties. So you might be interested to know that I have almost totally keep my New Year's Resolution, which was having a party free year. No way! Is probably what you are thinking...and yes, it has been hard. Especially with all those 40% off coupons at Micheal's. And I have been doing the girls birthday's pretty mellow so far this year with only family in attendance. I am trying not to go over board. It is hard to imagine I know. And even by world standards these were simple parties. But it can get very overwhelming at times doing every birthday, holiday, blessing, baptism, baby shower, wedding shower, anniversary, reunion, you name it, fart cross wise and I would put a party with it. I think I was putting on a party at least 2-3 times per month. And I could tell the look on Tim's face when he would walk through the door and I would be starting a new party idea, it look something like this $$$. So for now I am resting the habit, and I feel great... Relaxed actually.

Fifth- No new drama to report. It started off a bit rocky and then I decided to tighten up friendships and stay clear of trouble makers. There everywhere apparently. But it was tiring too. I decided to be more in tune with my inner voice and listen to it. Reading people has become easier and so now I just stay clear of dumb people. And no its not you if you are reading this, please don't leave me messages thinking its you. Because it probably is, but I am not going to ever tell you. Just stop being dumb is all I have to say about that.

So that is life in the past few month's since we have talked.
I have missed blogging and I would love to here from you all.
I know quite a few of you have discovered facebook,
and so that has taken time away from blogging.
But I think I am going to mix it up a bit and start posting again.
I know you are all thrilled.
I am back...

2009-08-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

Beautiful San Clemente...

Here are a few pictures that were taken early in the morning for our Concordia
Elementary School Calendar. It's a funny story actually...

My friend emailed and asked me if I could take some pictures around San Clemente.
I said sure and then proceeded to procrastinate as always. She had given me a couple of weeks to do this too. It wasn't like she was giving me a days notice.

Tim and I went to a local art fair to walk around with the girls
and there I gathered some ideas of what I would love to see in frames around my house.

Then I waited until the last minute as always.
Finished another Harry Potter book.

Dealt with Church drama.
Watched my friend deal with my neighbor drama.
I have totally lost my spark to fight by the way.
This does not make me happy with myself.
I am Irish-German.
We usually look for reasons to fight.

Anyway,
The morning of the day that she wanted these pictures I woke up a 5:45am
Headed down to the beach...only to find out that my camera battery wasn't charged.
So, I drove home. Found my little point and shoot, Coolpix.
And these are a sample of what I came up with.
I have been all over the world and am happy to say that besides all the drama,
that tends to find me.
I love it here.
Breath taking.

2009-07-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Browns are growing up!

I can't believe how fast everyone seems to be growing up...
right before my eyes.
Recently I was talking to a friend of mine that has since gone back to work and she is telling me all the benefits of going back to work, she has 4 kids too.
Sometimes she has a point,
really I never seem to get two 15 minute breaks or a 1 hour lunch all to myself.
I never drive in silence or listening to talk radio.
You don't get a medal for hard work.
You hardly talk to adults about real life.
You make lots of money which allow for more freedoms.
She said she was.."Heather, I'm Living Dream."
She was selling me on it.

And then...
I looked at my life.

I get to have breakfast with the girls every morning.
We cook, clean, laugh, and read together.
We go to the beach and play.
They give sticky kisses for me.
They hold my hands.
They say the love me.
They help make dinner with me.
They cheer when daddy comes home.
We watch movies and play games.
We go to church and pray together.
We attend all school and sports functions together.

And I really love it...
sure it has days that are difficult.
Sure I am not going to get constant praise,
Or pats on the backs.
I not going to make millions of dollars,
to buy fancy cars, a huge house, or spectacular clothes.
These things may look important to the world.
This is how people may measure success.

She missed the big picture.
She missed what is really the dream.
Not one of these things will bring you joy, love or fulfillment.
I want to live my life not missing one thing with my girls.
No regrets.

I laughed a little to myself.
Like I had some secret that she didn't quite understand.

I am Living the Dream.

2009-07-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

If you can't beat them join them!

I have heard pretty good things about this series...
anybody heard of them?

Have you read them?

We read the first two books with the girls and then proceeded to watch all the movies within about a weeks time.
People can't believe that I haven't read them. And to be totally honest I haven't for a couple of reasons...
1st: I have never been a wizard/sorcery book type of girl.
2nd: I never been the type of girl to do everything everyone else is doing.
I do things on my own time.

But maybe now that everyone else is over the hype, I should read them, besides there is nothing I am really interested in reading right now.
I love to read though...and everything else suffers when I pick up a good book.
Tim thinks it will take me forever because he know that they are just not really my type of book.

But today I have decided to finish the series.
If you don't hear from me again, come looking for me.
I most likely will be holed up in my room...
unshowered, crazy hair, unbrushed teeth, eating red licorice with big wide eyes!
I am off to read.
See you in a few weeks...
alright I blog about it.
Just because you asked so nicely!

2009-07-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

Look out! We are all in for one wild ride!

Here is a awesome clip I got from Tim today...it puts Obama in a new light for me.

Read on:

This Professor is a Genius

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before,
but had once failed an entire class.

--------------------------------------------

That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK,
we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D!
No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering,
blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Crazy. I think we are all screwed.
Time to work on food/water storage and get our priorities in order, we are going to be hanging by a thread!

2009-07-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Summer Company!

We all get excited when company comes to town!
Don't we...
We especially get do, my girls are so excited to play with cousins,
I am excited to talk to a fabulous sister-in-law, and we do just about everything together!
So for the past 10 days we have been doing what everyone does on vacation:
Sleep-in,
eat donuts,
playing toys,
playing dress-up,
singing,
laughing,
4th of July festivities,
amazing fireworks,
wearing swimsuits all day,
going to the beach,
swimming in the ocean,
eating summer fruits,
going to the pool,
sunbathing,
building sand castles,
bbq'n,
watching late night movies,
eating Pedro's burritos,
eating Wahoo's,
eating lots junk food,
watching AVP Volleyball a million times over,
eating even more Pedro's,
riding bikes,
evening walks,
girls 7-11 runs,
more beach,
lots of sand,
late night talks,
great laughs,
lots of hugs and loves(Nix and Auburn),
and lots of goodbye tears!

We are so sad to see one of our favorite Utah families leave us today! They are a wonderful family and great company. I hope that they come back soon. If not we will have to go and see them.
We love you Likes Family! See you soon!

2009-07-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!
God Bless America!

2009-07-05T10:29:00.001-07:00

Tim read this to me on the 4th of July morning, it was a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail on Independence Day
and it brought tears to our eyes,
I wanted to share it with you:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding
Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.
It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to
God Almighty.
It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.
Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.
I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means.
And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should
rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

2009-07-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Gypsies!
When Tim and I recently went to Europe I started to research Irish Gypsies.
White Travelers or Irish Tinkers.
Fascinating really.
They caravan all their belongings in wagons or carts, travel and camp in the countryside, cook, clean and have children just about anywhere the wind takes them.
I am totally serious, it still happens today. I am not to sure to what degree, but they do this still.
The fact of the matter is, they don't like to melt into society.
They do there own thing.
Nobody dictates to them what kind of work they should do,what they should become in society.
In America, a lot of Irish Gypsies came over on boats during the potato famine.
Interesting stuff.
I am not trying to teach you a history lesson. I'm really not.
I am simply trying to give you a look at my family, our life and explain our drama.
Here goes...
For those of you that don't know me well,
my parents are modern day Irish Gypsies.
No, I am not kidding.
This is the only way I can classify them and not make them look crazy.
I think, when people ask me what my parents are doing now I will simply say,
"They are Irish Gypsies." Let me explain...
My Dad and Mom have always, all my life moved. Traveled. Lived in different houses.
Started new jobs. Tried to melt into society, and get angered by it. Quit jobs. Move again.
Traveled and started over.
We sometimes had everything, then we were the poorest of the poor.
It has been a never ending cycle. And just recently I have become tired of it.
I joke when people ask me questions.
Sometimes it is hard not to get upset about their circumstances.
But it is also hard too, because they really are wonderful people.
But I hated it growing up.
We moved from house to house and even some places I wish to forget.
For example I have lived in this very house, as a kid, that I am living right now.No joke.
My dad had tons of work and then none.
We have moved across the country and back.
Lost everything. Moved in to borrowed homes. Used borrowed cars,etc.
People have tried to help them.
I am not looking for a pity party.
I'm not.
I am just simply letting you in on some of the drama currently in my life.
And now that I am an adult I really feel for them and try to help them as much as possible. The problem is...get this....they don't want to be helped.
So, I thought that I would write it down just to get it off my chest, really.
It is really hard for me to re-train my brain, so that when things get hard I just want to up and leave. Start over. Go somewhere with a fresh start. Be a gypsy too.
And you may be wondering how Tim does with all this madness.
He is awesome.
He doesn't say anything about it except in a rational way. He understands when I have the impulse to leave. He doesn't get crazy when I hold on to stuff for years, because I need security. It has to be hard for him to watch me agonize over my parents and their situation.
This is my family drama.
So for now we wait and see what happens.
Let me answer the questions you probably will ask me next....

You: Have I talked to them?
Me: No.
You: Where are they now?
Me: I don't know.
You: What will they do next?
Me: I don't know.
You: Doesn't it make you nervous, I mean they are old...with no retirement...not security...no insurance...no future...where will they live...what do they do for money?!
All I have to say to that is,
Me: They are Irish Gypsies.
This is their life.

2009-06-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

I never thought that I had to be a great house cleaner!

Are you a great house cleaner?
I am a great straighten upper. I usually straighten up when I have company coming, or a party to through. But, I have never been a great house cleaner or seen the need to be a great house cleaner,until we moved here.
We just moved about 3 weeks ago and I immediately feel in love.
It has a great floor plan with lots of storage, big rooms, single story and a laundry inside.
This is new for me, because the laundry has always been in the garage.
Anyway, here is where I am going with this. This house is kind of a through far to all other little streets and the beach.So it won't come as a surprise to know that people stop by all the time.
And I seems like I have this big sign out side the front door that says,
"Yes, Heather is here and she will listen too all and solve most of your problems. Anytime. Free."
Now I am not saying this so all my friends say,
"Hey Heather hates it when people stop and tell her drama."
Not true. I really like it when people come by and hang out.
But this leads me back to my first point, which is I am not a great house cleaner,
not late at night on a Saturday or early in the morning on a Sundays.
So if you come on by and are going to bring your drama, or somebody else's drama,
don't judge me on the cleanliness of my house. It is hard keeping it clean with all these kids. And since it is summertime it seems even harder to keep it clean, minute to minute. Right?!
But I love hearing all the sagas of peoples lives. And I think most people single me out. Like I have a this thing on my head that says, "Tell me everything!"
It happens all the time...at church, at the girls school, at the beach, even at the grocery stores.
It is a strange thing for those that it doesn't happen too.
If I am hanging out with a friend at a store, someone always comes up and starts talking.
When they are finished and sort of walk away, my friend will say,
"Do you know that person?"
"No." I just smile.
Interestingly enough, my sisters have the same thing happen to them too. I am convinced that I should have been a therapist, or started a web site that says,
"Tell me all your crap!" Hum. Great idea.
So yesterday a friend decided to stop by early Sunday morning. I was still in pjs.
I also woke up with one of those terrible headaches and she decided today was the day to tell all.
I tried to give out the best possible answers that I had in my non functioning brain. And we were standing in the kitchen and the dishes were stacked high in the sink. She didn't comment, but the look was everything! Maybe it was all in my head. But she has a house cleaner. I had a house cleaner come to my house once and for the first hour I stood there and heard and helped her with all her problems. I am not joking. I'll never do that again!
So come one, come all. Tell me everything.
Just don't hate me for being a bad house cleaner.
Dr. Heather the therapist is in!

2009-06-26T10:24:00.001-07:00

My new Award.
Eat your hearts out!!

2009-06-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Okay... Okay... Okay...
I will post a new blog entry.
Really I didn't think that I was that popular.
I guess that I am an I really didn't know it,
until I won an AWARD!!
And that is even after I had nothing important to say for the last few months.
So really things are busy, as all of you know and I actually got a little sensitive when my "New" friend,Bonnie, courtesy of Summer and Jess, called me a Molly Mormon.(To many commas,,,)
Now at first I was in absolute shock and kind of proud.
I, haven't in all my life been called a Molly Mormon.
I think that after that comment I called Summer and she reassured me that I am not a Molly and we continued to talk of our "New BFF's!"
Our New BFF's are funny, sometimes offensive and deeply insecure.
But hey we all need someone right?
This is new to me because these two seem to be really into blogging. And they have since commented, when really nobody else gave a crap to comment. Except you Summer, thx for that!
So I have since been harassed, I am sure out of sisterly love to post a new blog entry.
So here it goes my life....
I am an award winning blogger and will start blogging everyday.
I can't wait to tell you the new drama that has been unfolding in San Clemente.
Desperate Housewives of the OC has nothing on the drama that is happening in this town.
Stay tuned.

2009-04-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard I am current with BIG project in trying to minimize a huge 70,000 Sq.Ft. Ralph's Village Courtyard that they are trying to build in Downtown SW San Clemente,CA
I recently wrote a letter proposing it stop. Also I am doing petitions and picketing this weekend.
You are all welcome to join me in our efforts to stop it from being built.
here is a link to a petition to sign:

http://www.petitiononline.com/hlb3007/petition.html

Let's try and keep San Clemente a cute little beach town!

2009-04-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Village Courtyard "Dear Mayor. I am a long time resident in San Clemente. I am so saddened by its over growth, particularly the structure that is in proposal in being built, The Ralph's Shopping center in our cute, quiet simple part of town. With so many oversize buildings being approved and so many built and not being filled, I often wonder if the greed of certain business men are turning our Village by the Sea into some thing unrecognizable?! Or course I like many others would love a new Ralph's to shop at. But at what cost? Are we going to turn around in ten years time and wonder why we would build such a huge monster that is completely empty. There are examples of this all around town. I have been in this town in the recession of the early 1980's and in 1992. And I understand that change must happen for growth, I don't believe however that building this monster is going to help bring new business. Please help us keep our Village by the Sea beautiful and historical. I am sure that Ole Hansen himself would not approve such a monster. Thank you so much for listening." -Heather

"Hi Heather. The proposed update of the existing Ralph's grocery store on Camino Real is part of a larger project called The Village Courtyards. The project was recently approved by the Planning Commission and is scheduled to appear on the City Council Agenda April 21. The city website offers background on the project Click Here. Thanks for writing." -Lori

2009-04-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday To you!
Cha Cha Cha!
Happy Birthday To Phoenix!

Phoenix loves HSM. She listens to it everyday on the CD player!

Phoenix with her two proud older sisters.

Tim and I are still so in love with this little girl.

Waiting her arrival.

This is right before we left for the hospital.

I can't even express how nervous I was and excited to see her.
I think like all moms to be there is a bit of worry before you give birth
but then you are so ready to meet this new little member of family. We left in the middle of the afternoon. We had an amazing mid wife Lisa.
People ask me,"A midwife, what were you thinking?"
I do tell them that besides getting an epidural for every birth, Lisa my midwife was so calm and easy going. She made such a difference in giving birth, from the first two deliveries.
Tim and I watched the sunset in Laguna Beach and enjoyed talking before I went into the actual final stages of delivery.
Like all the births of my girls I have had wonderful spiritual experiences. I am lucky that way. I have heard horror stories of people giving birth, I was not one of those people.
And with every girl I feel the pure love of Christ. Overwhelmingly. When I delivered Phoenix, my midwife Lisa at the very end said,"Heather, deliver your baby." She was so calm. It was the most natural and most beautiful experience of my life. I am crying now just recalling that moment. As I pulled her into my arms,it was like she had always been with me, forever. I am so blessed to have this baby Phoenix in my life. My hope for her is that she will fulfill everything dream and be a shining light of Christ to those around her. Thank you Heavenly Father for this happy, joyful, intelligent and kind Phoenix. We love her so.

2009-03-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

In the leafy tree tops the birds sing good morning!
Here is Phoenix doing what she does best, adventure!
She loves to climb this tree on our block.
I love this little baby of mine!
She is so full of life:
Running, jumping, singing, laughing, smiling, climbing.
Anything that the big girls are doing she is doing right along side of them. And holding her own I might add. The other day when she just got to high on the tree for Skylar's liking, so Sky did what big sisters do she attempted to bring her down.
She was crying and wailing. Saying "I do it! I do it!"
Finally when Sky let go, Phoenix proceeded to climb up again, even a little high than I was comfortable and then climbed right back down and said, "See, I do it! YEAH!"
She is full of adventure and I so enjoy watching her grow.
In 2 weeks she will be 3 years old.
April 6.
She is a great joy in our family and I am so blessed to be her momma!

2009-03-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Irish Day!!
What a fun day we had.
Playing Celtic music,
making green cupcakes with all the
girls(neighbors too!)
talking about Ireland and its beauty!
Corned Beef and Cabbage for dinner!
Which is funny they hardly eat it there, but I just couldn't bring myself to make Guinness Beef Stew.It is very complicated to make. And to be honest, I think I would go to all that work and the girls would eat one bite and be done.
Oh, I loved visiting Ireland this past fall!
It was even prettier than I had imagined. People were funny and chatty.
Rolling green hills and sheep everywhere. Breath taking.
I can't wait to go there again and take all my Irish girls.
They will love seeing the place that their ancestors came from,
and wonder why they left in the first place.

2009-03-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

Tooth Fairy Where are you?

Just recently Kiki had two wiggly bottom teeth. We were all really excited! We all took our turns wiggling them, she was really very nervous too. Then I realized that we had to get the two bottom teeth out because the other ones were growing in. Then finally one came out and she received a glitter one dollar bill under her pillow.
This one whole glittery dollar alone was incentive enough to wiggle out the next tooth.
So on one of our adventures to Disneyland...by the way, any time our Family comes from Utah we torture ourselves with endless hours, sticky hands, tired feet and crying kids walking around The Happiest Place on Earth!
Sidebar, anyways, so Kiki wiggles that cute baby tooth right before Tower of Terror.
We really didn't have to see Kiki long with out teeth, the new ones are already half way in.
So here is where I am going with this story. I remember with Skylar I was on top of everything. I remember her firsts. And with Kiki I do too!
Only, I think with all moms sometimes we forget little things, like for instance in Kiki's case, I seemed to forget that the Tooth Fairy wasn't real. For three nights in a row, I forgot to be the Tooth Fairy! She was so bummed! I felt awful, every morning exhausted that I had again forgot to be the Tooth Fairy.
So on the third night Tim remembered to help be the Tooth Fairy, I mean after all it never really says that the Tooth Fairy is a girl, right?! But on that night before she went to sleep all Tim and I heard from her bedroom before she went to bed was...
"Tooth Fairy Where are You?"
"Tooth Fairy Where are You?"
The next morning, she was so thrilled to have her two glittery dollars and said that she knew the Tooth Fairy heard her. I love my little Kiki.