Wednesday, January 1, 2014

December 2013

The first weekend in December Madelyn had her FIRST Lego state meet.  As I mentioned previously, they come in second overall, and second in the robot competition.  These kids are great!


The girls had another piano recital.  Both of them sound better each year!


On December 15, we welcomed this guy into our hearts and our home.  Charlie is a chocolate lab who may look tiny now, but is actually quite large for his age.  He is adorable and loved by all of us, which is a good thing since crate training over night continues to be a challenge.  He is really going to miss the kids when they go off to school tomorrow.




A few days later, we went to the Zajaczek Christmas party.  Alyssa was a king this year.  The group was being progressive :)



The kids told Santa what they wanted and he delivered...




Another Christmas season tradition is the decorating of the Christmas cookies at grandmas house.  It involves a huge mess and a lot of sugar.  Here are the bakers ready to go in their aprons.



Madelyn graduated to an adult job this year.  Making the frosting and icing the cookies.


Logan and Mason decorating



Amber takes her job very seriously


Alyssa was having a blue Christmas


Pretty sure Bentley only decorated his own cookie, and his mouth


Maybe Morgan too





Because we just didn't have enough cookies, we made peanut butter blossoms at home.  They didn't last long!


And just like that, Christmas was here.  






The kids declared this "best Christmas ever"





We spent time with the family at Uncle Mikey's house on Christmas day.  These cousins love to play together - especially old school nintendo!



This Christmas we get to officially welcome Michelle to the family.  She and David got engaged on December, 20th - exactly 15 years after Shane and I got engaged :)


Amber and I sorting rainbow loom rubber bands



And just like that, it was over.

This past year has been full - full of greats ups, and downs too.  I am looking forward to what 2014 has to offer.   I'm sure of this - the Browns will definitely continue to be busy!

September, October, November

On September 11, 2013, my grandparents celebrated 65 years of marriage.  They are both such an inspiration.  I hope that I am as blessed in marriage as they are.

We went to mass where they had their marriage blessed


 
All of Busia and Papa's great-grandchildren


I started making this quilt for them 12 years ago.  I became pregnant with Madelyn and was never able to get back to it to finish it.  A neighbor of my mom and dad's that I used to babysit for graciously finished it for me.  I was so thrilled to give it to them as a completed gift - finally!


In September, Madelyn and I ran the Zoo run


...Cameron started Hockey again


...and Alyssa finished her first session of gymnastics.


I finally took this August birthday girl to the park for some pictures.


Halloween was wet and miserable, but that didn't stop the kids from getting an obscene amount of candy.
Madelyn as an Eskimo girl


Cameron as Thor


Alyssa as Spectra, a Monster High personality




Their fan club came to see them dressed up


One of the great opportunities Madelyn has had this year was to participate in the school's FIRST Lego Robotics team.  They do research on an agreed upon topic, brainstorm solutions to a problem, and program a robot to complete tasks on an "obstacle type course".  She has absolutely loved this team and has learned so much.  Their team won first place in the regional competition an second place in the State competition.  We are so proud of this team!