Oh So Familiar...

We are dog-sitting this weekend...

...my kids are crazy in love with this dog! They wore him out completely by noon. He wasn't having anymore of their 

play time till he took a rest...

Hope we can give him back.

Boys Week.

When I went to Girls Camp, it was a little bit stressful for Will. He wasn't sure he could last one night, much less one week without his mom. He even asked if he could pray that it would be canceled (I was tempted...).

Anyways, thanks to his also abandoned Dad, and some very kind friends and neighbors, he did just fine. He had many adventures, some were top secret and I am just now finding out about them...

Good job Will! It wasn't so bad after all, right?

Flashback Wednesday.

These days just don't come back. 

Good times Beth, good times.

Some May Say Meghan has Celebrated OneToo Many Times...

But WE don't!

Though she had a rockin' celebration of her 17th birthday in Washington, we celebrated again Provo style...

We had not one but TWO cookie cakes (someone panicked and thought one wouldn't be enough... that someone was wrong).

Some Washingtonian's crashed the party...we accepted them HAPPILY.

 Kevin, and Jordo " I AM a C.O.W." Paynter

Thanks Janis, Joan, Kent and Kevin for making the party extra fun! Look Mom. your flowers are thriving!!!

Very Clever, Randy...

Once upon a time, my sister named her kids Cody and Cassidy, after Kathie Lee's...

Courage or something like it.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

For three years I have been the model patient. I went to my doctor and he told me how great I was doing on my small dose of methotrexate and we  both left happy. Lately, it's been another story. The pain in my right hand has gotten so bad, that I have started injecting the methotrexate into my stomach to see if that would help. I also was put back on a steroid that virtually eliminates all symptoms. That means as long as I am taking it, I feel completely normal. When I try and taper off, the pain comes back. 

So, today when I went to the doctor, he decided he needed to inject cortisone right into my wrist joint and my thumb joint. I seriously thought I was going to cry as he prepared the needle. I have had cortisone shots between my toes before and the pain was unbelievable! However, due to something called "Numbs-All" it was relatively painless. My hand came home a bandaged warrior. I am keeping my fingers crossed. If this doesn't help, he is pulling out the big guns--the awful medication that has a full page of side effects in the magazine advertisements. Not too excited about that. Should I mention it will cost my insurance company $2000 a month? I don't like the idea of being that kind of liability....grateful to have it but I sure don't want to do it if I can possibly get away without it. But, like my doctor said, it is the difference between having a functioning hand in 10 years or not. Thank goodness for medical advancement. Don't get me started on how all of that will go away if O-care is implemented. This is a good place to end.

(

(Ironically my wristband says "Restoring Courage"...I showed a little of that today I must say!)

You decide.

Who is more awesome? 
Me, downing raw egg, or Elijah licking up cherry pie?

I think the answer is obvious.

It's Over.

Girls Camp 2011 has officially been conquered. Despite rain, hail, sunburns and sickness, it was awesome. Now, back to Cub scouts...

Concerning Family Reunions...

We totally ripped off this pose from the Eyre family...

Just a quick moment to document the fun that happened this past week:
We had a triathlon, an Amazing Race, a 40th birthday party, food, volleyball, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, more food, lot's of reminiscing, laughing, and even some tears as we remembered Great Grandma Brown and shared her elephant collection with the cousins.
It was an awesome time but what I treasure most is just being complete. Having my my mom, dad, brothers and sisters all together doesn't happen very often so when it does, we just soak it all in. It feels so good and God willing, we'll do it again in two years.

The Amazing Race begins...it involved marshmallows, clue finding, pie eating, raw egg swallowing (you and me Jake!), LOT'S of walking/running, and even a little Justin Bieber.

Randy turned 40 with just about 40 nieces and nephews to celebrate with...

The SUPER triathlon team of Charles, Grandma, and Jake didn't quite come in first but they didn't come in last either, right Jordan?

The hand-off from swimming sensation Kyle, to walking  wonder Jay was flawless!

Ashley is just glad her swim is OVER.

This is just a small portion of Great Grandma Brown's elephant collection. Each grandchild got one to keep as reminder of her. Thanks Janis.

And if Girls Camp wasn't looming large over my head, I would be much more thorough in my coverage but alas- there is much to do.
Again- best reunion ever. Thanks to all.

Scenes from a family reunion....

Brown Family Reunion 2011 theme: "Got Heroes?"
My family are mine.

Beth sums it up nicely...