Hard Way to Learn a Lesson

I learned a hard lesson when we went down to Surfside. I had David apply sunscreen to my back. Well, he thought it was sufficient to spray just one spray. And then one spray for each of my shoulders. I totally forgot to spray my front. I have learned that BullFrog sunblock does work. However, it only works where you apply it. Needless to say I have a very interesting sunburn.

PS: This sunblock also has bug spray with it and it works quite well.

Lab Rat

One of the members of our ward works downtown doing research for UT. He called me last week because he needed someone for a research study he was doing. I happened to fit the qualifications the research project is looking for so on Tuesday I went in for my first session of tests. The project I am helping with is a study on dyslexia. I am in the control group. On Tuesday, I took a lot of tests. Some of the tests were attention tests, patterns, math, reading, spelling, etc. Some of the math I had not seen in years but I was surprised how much I did remember. But I could not remember for the life of me how to do differentials. Yuck!! Next week I will be finish my testing and they will also do a MEG scan and an MRI of my brain. A MEG scan is where they will hook up metal things to my brain and record my brain activities. After they do the MEG scan they are going to put it with my MRI. What they are hoping to do is build a map of my brain. Sounds kind of neat. At least to me it does.

Welcome Little One

I would like to congratulate my baby sister Arielle and her husband Joel on their first baby. Emmalee Joy entered this world on June 23rd. She weighed 8.5lbs and is 21 inches long. Welcome to our clan little one!!!

At it again

I am at it again. I have signed up to participate in another apron swap. This one is an "I Love Lucy" theme. I can't wait to get started. Click on the picture up above or the picture on my side bar to visit the Flirty Apron Swap Blog to see what is all about.

Starting Early

There are twin boys in Kaylee's nursery class that she likes a lot. For Kaylee it is not nursery but Brock and Riley time. Yesterday, David was subbing in nursery and he witnessed an interesting thing. After puzzle time, Kaylee walked over and gave Brock a peck on the lips. Oh boy, am I in for trouble when she gets to be a teenager.

Happy Father's Day

I have an awesome Dad. He is my hero. Words can not express all that I love about my Dad. I can remember the Daddy/Daughter dates he brought me on when I was a kid. I always knew that my siblings and I came first. My dad loves the outdoors and he has shared that with all of us kids. I love to hear the story about him bringing my sister Jenny and I to a Daddy/Daughter camp-out when I was three and Jenny was 18 months. Whenever I call my dad, I know that he is always ready to talk to me (even if he is on the top of a smoke stack). I know that if I need my dad all I have to do is call and he will do whatever he can to get there to help. Even canceling a business trip after I wrecked my car in college to come take care of me. Thanks Dad for being an awesome Dad!! And a wonderful grandpa. My girls really love their Pop-pop. For Kaylee he is on the top of her list. My girls also have an awesome Dad. I love the fact that he spends time with them. He has shared his love of basketball with them. And even though it is girlie, he stills plays the girl stuff with them including playing with their mermaids and pet shop. I am thankful that I married a righteous husband who shares his love of the gospel with our children.

I would also like to thank my father-in-law for being an awesome father to my husband. My father-in-law is a hard worker and whenever he visits he always finds time to help with some of our projects around the house. David has had some struggles in his life and I am thankful for my father-in-law for all the support that he has given David during those times. My father-in-law is also a wonderful grandpa to our girls. I know my girls wish they could see him more often. We love you Grandpa Brown.

Visit Part 3

Yesterday, we headed back to Lake Jackson to make another attempt at visiting the Sea Center. This time it was open. And we really enjoyed ourselves. The Sea Center is a cooperative effort with Texas Parks and Wildlife and Dow Chemical. It is set up to educate people on the different saltwater/freshwater habitats of Texas. The building itself has different marine exhibits set up. Outside it has a wetland walkway and the fish hatcheries. You have to schedule an appointment to see the fish hatchery so we did not see that part but we saw everything else. It was definitely worth the drive down there and best of all it is free to the public. In fact, I would love to figure out how I can bring my Aquatic Science classes down there for a field trip. I already bring them to Galveston so I would have to figure out how to convince my principal to let me go on two.

Grandma & Grandpa Brown (watch out there is a shark behind you)

David and I with the girls

Grandpa Brown and the girls


Naomi doing a rubbing of a sea horse



The touch tank

Story of the Forgotten Flip-Flops

At the beach today, we took off our flip-flops and placed them in front of the van so we would not lose them in the surf. After we left, we had driven about a mile down the road when I realized that we had forgotten the flip-flops on the beach. So we turned around and went back to get them. Luckily they were still there. We all thought it was a cute picture seeing our three sets of flip-flops sitting forgotten on the sand.

Visit Part 2

Today we decided to go down to Lake Jackson to visit the Sea Center. However, once we got there we found out that it was closed because their air conditioner was broke and would not be open until tomorrow. We did not want to have a wasted trip so we decided to continue on to Surfside and then take the Bluewater Highway to Galveston. On our way through Surfside we found a public access beach that was really nice. So we stopped and played in the surf and on the beach for awhile before continuing on our journey. The girls fell asleep after playing on the beach so we did not stop in Galveston. But we enjoyed our scenic drive on the Bluewater Highway.

Grandma and Grandpa Brown in the surf

Kaylee enjoying the water

Naomi enjoying the waves

A visit with Grandma and Grandpa Brown Pt 1

After 3 year of begging, we finally got Grandma and Grandpa Brown to come back to Texas and visit. They got into town 1 o'clock Wednesday morning. Wednesday we stayed around the house for most of the day. Yesterday Pop-pop (Braithwaite) acted as our chauffer and he brought us down to Kemah. We thought the girls would love to run in the fountain there at Kemah. But for some reason the fountain was not working at its best so we loaded back up and headed to Galveston for a ferry ride. There is a ferry that goes across to the Bolivar penisula. The girls love going on the ferry. They like to stand on the bow. Especially on the way back when the water splashes up on the bow and they get soaking wet.

Playing in the fountain at Kemah

Grandma, Grandpa Brown and the girls on the ferry

Pop-pop, Grandpa Brown and the girls

Doggie Dress-up

Naomi decided she wanted to have a pretend circus. Her star perfomer was Ginger. Ginger is so patient to allow the girls to dress her up like this. I did not get a picture of the dog with her necklaces and tiara.

Just not herself

Kaylee was sick pretty much all last week. She woke up last Monday morning throwing up and she never moved from the couch, refuse to eat, and did not want to drink. The poor thing slept all that day. Tuesday she had a little more life but she had a bad case of diarrhea. We thought she was doing better on Wednesday because she actually was playing a little but she still did not want to eat and still had diarrhea. Then thursday she woke up again throwing up. She was still very lethargic so we brought her to the pediatrician. The Dr. thought it was viral and said if she got even more lethargic or some other things to bring her to Texas Children's ER. To me Kaylee was very lethargic so I was trying to figure out how much more lethargic the Dr. wanted her to be. She is doing much better but she lost 1.5 lbs according to the Dr. I really think she lost more than that.

So sick she fell asleep on the foot stool

Sisterly concern

Another Creative Masterpiece

Here is another card that I made this week. When I first started scrapbooking, I was not much of a card person. But I am starting to really like making cards too!!

Cupcake Birthday Cards

I am enjoying my time off already. I finally have time to scrapbook and make cards. I made two of these today for two of David's nieces that turn 3 this year. I think they turned out pretty cute. Naomi told me that they look great. If you click on the picture, you can see the detail a little better.

Free at Last

I know most parent's right now are dreading the beginning of summer but I am looking forward to it. Summer is my time to spend with my girls and make memories. Even though, I have to work I am glad that I have a job that I can have two full months off during the summer to enjoy with my family. And let me tell you I earn my two months. Whoever said teaching is an easy job has never actually taught. In fact, during the school year it was not uncommon for me to show up to work at 6 in the morning and then leave school at 5 or 6 at night. Make dinner at home, take care of my girls and then stay up till midnight grading papers or planning activities for the next day at school. So I will spend my next week recuperating from my long school year and then plan to spend the rest of my summer making memories with my family and scrapbooking them.

My latest creative masterpiece

NO, I am not announcing a baby for myself!!! My baby sister, Arielle, is having a baby at the end of this month. I was in charge of making baby shower invites. But after some discussion we will be using these instead for her baby announcements. What do you think? I think they turned out pretty stinking cute if I do say so myself!!