Snow fun

So, yesterday it snowed.  A lot.  Well, technically it snowed the night before, but yesterday we were left with a lot of snow.  That was begging to be played in.

So, that's what we did.

The kids had a snow day from school, so I took a vacation day from work.  And we played.

Until we got cold.

Then we came in to have some hot chocolate with extra marshmallows (except for me.... I had hot choffee - hot chocolate/coffee mix - also with extra marshmallows).  And boy was it good!

Here are some shots from our adventures in the snow.

Sis and me

Bub and Sis

Bub and Sis

Eating the snow

Making the snow fly in the air

Throwing snow at me because I wouldn't stop taking her photo

Falling into a snow angel

The snow is flying... well, when we throw it.

We are Family

C'mon... sing it with me!

No, just kidding.  Please don't.

So, as I've mentioned PLENTY of times before, my family (my parents, my siblings and their families) take one weekend and, for the most part, keep it a sacred pajama party/eat too much/just hang out together kind of weekend.  Mostly, we just act like we're out of town together, even though we're still at my parents' house.

And it mostly works that way.  Although not everyone was available Friday night.  And my brother had to work a lot of the weekend (missed you, B!), we were together when we could make it work.  Oh, and my youngest sister is having her first baby in the next few weeks (yay!), so we also had a baby shower/brunch for her on Saturday morning.  So, yeah, we had to get dressed AND wear makeup AND do a little work.

But as soon as that (fun!) was over, we all came back "home" and put on our comfy clothes and vegged the rest of the weekend.

Here are some shots from the shower and the weekend (these are from my sister's camera - which I hijacked during the shower - and my iPhone):

My aunt and me... genetics run strong, don't they?  :)

Here's my mama and me.

Sis brushing my nephew's teeth...  they both thought it was pretty funny.  Note the label on my nephew's forehead.  Bub taught the other kids how to use Papa's label maker. Gah!

We worked on a puzzle all weekend.  And played lots of games.  And Just Dance 2 on the Wii.  Speaking of...

Hilarious!  (even blurry!)

I love this one, because everyone else is in focus, except for my nephew.  Who doesn't believe in standing/sitting still.

My niece and her "Brown Lamby," whom she loves so much that she insisted he get his own photo:

Brown Lamby

And finally, the kids all having a great time!

I {heart} my family.

Showstopper

So, part of Bub's Christmas gift (see here) was 3 tickets to a Colts game for Don, Bub's best friend, and Bub.  Ever since we went to his first NFL game last year (see here), he's been a HUGE fan of the Colts.

They went a week and a half ago, and with my VERY amateur skills, I made a video from their trip.  I'm a little frustrated because it looks so amateur-ish, but it IS my first time making a video, so I guess I'll cut myself a little slack (no I won't... I just don't want to whine any more about it).

The boys' favorite singer is TobyMac, so I used a little of his music to accompany the photos.

Enjoy!

90 days... whatever

So, on the morning of October 6th, 2010, I looked like this:

Then, by the afternoon/evening, I looked like this:

'Cause I went and got my "hair did."  Although, I did more than get my hair fixed... I got the Brazilian Silk treatment done on my hair.  It's a blah, blah, blah (that's scientific talk right there) that straightens your hair from the roots.  Or something.

Regardless, this procedure was perfect for me.  It gave me a change (which I am constantly in the mood for) without chopping my hair off (which is what I usually do whenever I'm ready for a change), thus helping me with my goal of letting my hair grow out.  For now.  :)

So, this procedure, as compared with a straightening procedure I did a few years back, kept my hair healthy and NOT dried out, and it's supposed to last for 90 days.

Whatever.

It's now been 90 days plus a week or so, and let's look at me today:

This look is au natural...  no hair fixin' at all (and no face-fixin' either, for that matter).  And look... still straight.  Well, mostly...

If you look REALLY REALLY close, you can see where it's coming in curly right by my temple.  See??

It's not that I'm sorry I did the straightening treatment to my hair.  I'm not at all.  It's just that I thought that 90 days was a perfect amount of time to have a change while my hair was growing out.  Then I'd be ready for my "old" hair again.

But let's be real here... it's been 90 days and about 1 week...  maybe I'm impatient?

Maybe I should just relax a little (like my hair.  ha!), and just enjoy the straightness while I've got it.

Or maybe I should just go find "real" blogging material.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

I'm having quite a lazy Sunday afternoon.  See?



This is my #9 photo of my Photo of the Day challenge I'm doing for 2011.

If you want to see all my photos, you can find them on Flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlabrown/sets/72157625722702460/

Hope your Sunday is restful and rejuvenating.

Final Christmas wrap-up

Warning:  This post is heavy on photos.  The cuteness may be a little overwhelming, so please prepare yourself.

Once we were finished on Christmas morning at our house, we headed to my mom and dad's house.  My nieces and nephew got a Wii.  They weren't even sure whether or not to be excited!

Although Little Buddy was pretty sure he was excited about Mr. Potato Head!

Bub got a homemade belt from my niece... made out of wrapping paper.  He was so sweet and gracious about it.  He told Little Sissy that it was a little big right now, but he was sure he'd grow into it.

Sis got her gift from my sister in a Pull-Ups box, which was funny and embarrassing all at the same time.

When we headed to my aunt's and uncle's house, my grandma handed out flashing rings to everyone.  Big Sissy and Little Sissy decided it would be funny to be like Rudolph.

Oh, and did I mention the Snuggies?  The kids each got one.  Camo and peace signs... it doesn't get much better (or warmer) than that!

I really have to work on my self-portrait skills.  My nieces and me.

Where you find my mom, you usually find my niece close by.  She is a NANA'S GIRL, for sure!  My mom posed with all her gifts... her snuggie (last year's model, according to the box), her new necklace, her new HGTV book.  And Little Sissy, of course.

Christmas can be exhausting!  Just ask my brother...

My dad is telling a tall tale, I'm guessing, to Big Sissy and her mama.

Once Christmas is over, we make it our mission over the rest of Christmas break to spend as much of our gift cards as possible.  Sis had a gift card to Claire's, so she bought some non-prescription glasses.  As someone who had to wear glasses growing up, I don't really understand her fascination with them, but she does look cute in them!

Along with our shopping trip, we always make time for a hot chocolate/latte break as well.  Yes, Bub's shirt does say:  I'm pretty much one of the best people I know.  He's pretty modest, isn't he?  :)

I hope your holidays were swell and filled with memories, too!

What did Santa bring?

I'm not gonna lie... my 11 year old (Sis) knows the truth about Santa now, and it kinda breaks my heart.  But she played along beautifully for the sake of her 9 year old brother.  So we had a visit from Santa, just like always.  :)  Then we opened our gifts from each other before we headed over to my parents' house.

Whoa!!!  It's like I'm in a comic book!

Opened his three tickets to the Colts game in Indianapolis for Bub, Don and Bub's best friend.  He was so excited! 

We had a beautiful white Christmas! 

And I got my iMac.  So exciting!!!

Christmas Eve

I forgot to finish Christmas Eve.  And Christmas.  And New Year's Eve.  Oh, I crack myself up.

Here are some shots from Christmas Eve (because it's easier to just include pictures than write):

In this one, Don and I were trying to embarrass our children.  Based on Sis's expression, I'd say we did it!