Name Game

HA!!! Robyn posted this and it is hilarious! I think her answers were a little better than mine, but none-the-less, it's a post-worthy tag. Just reading through it will make you want to try it.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Ginger Chrysler
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Chocolate Thong
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Cat
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Brenae Sacramento
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): Lowha
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Brown Water
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Paul Athel
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Celine Licorice
9. WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Thompson Toronto ( I had to use the 4th grade teacher because I can't remember 5th grade)
10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Fall Rose
11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now): Kiwi Comfy Pants
12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Banana Pine

Primary Program/New Calling

Today was our Primary program (for those who are saying ?PRIMARY? it is the organization in our church for all of the children). There are 100 kids in Primary including about 20 kids from the Deaf Branch. There were so many kids! The Sunbeams (3 yrs olds) were on risers in front of the podium and yep, you guessed it, a kid fell off during the program. Poor little guy. Anyway, Anna sang a solo today. A few older kids introduced the theme and then Anna sang "I am a Child of God" from the podium. She wore a pretty white dress and sang so beautifully. Even some of the men were crying. Both Anna and Ty had lines and they did a great job despite the fact that we didn't practice the lines at home- oops! Grandma Winslow and Aunt Krista came to watch. We were very proud of Tyson this year too. He has NEVER been able to get up on his own. I've either sat with him or he has just refused to go up. This year, he sat with his class, did his line, sang, and everything. GOOD JOB TY!

In other news, I was issued a new calling today. I was released as a Young Women teacher a few weeks ago. After the Young Women's was reorganized, the Young Men's and part of the Bishopric have also been changed. Today I was called in right before church and asked to be the Secretary in the Relief Society. It'll be a lot of work. I only know the first counselor. She reminds me of my sister Mandi and I really like her. The other women are older and today was the first time I have met them. When I was set apart today, I felt really good about it and I feel that the calling will help me a lot in the areas of my life where I struggle right now. I'm also excited to get to know the women in the ward.

Anyway, that was our Sunday. Hope your Sabbath is good.

Halloween

I'm not normal. You all know that. Christmas is not my favorite holiday. Yes, I'm coming out of the closet on this. I simply love Halloween. I can hear the gasps from some of you and the "But Halloween is of the devil" remarks, but none-the-less, I am a fan. If it is truly of the devil, then I'm just getting to know him a little better before I have to live an eternity with him (just kidding all of you who are still freaking out about the whole "Christmas not being my favorite" thing). We do the whole decorate for Halloween thing inside the house. One day we'll have some awesome outside stuff too, but until then, the dollar store door cover does the trick. Our kids, however, must be dressed well for the occasion. This year Tyson started the theme for us by picking to be Luke Skywalker. There was no Luke in the stores, so he's Anakin. Anna is Princess Leia (she calls her Aleia) but no, she's not wearing the bikini costume. We won't let our daughter dress like that until AT LEAST 8 years old (again, sarcasm people- lighten up) and Brayden is Yoda. We got his costume today and it's SO DANG CUTE! Thought I'd share some pictures.... "Yoda, Y-O-D-A, Yoda" (Weird Al)
Anna as Cinderella with a fat little bro.

Anna hit her head on the counter. We told her to be careful and two minutes later she did it again.

My hands were nasty with the dried pumpkin guts. We always bake the seeds, so I had Tyson pick the seeds out of the guts in the bowl. He started gagging. He has a very weak stomach.

A JAZZ ARTIST

Tyson brought us this picture, title and all, to us the other night. It's of the Jazz players on the court. You can see he drew the hoop, basketball, players, etc. We were so impressed. Thought I'd share it....

Our Little Girl

Anna had her eye surgery today. She's had these growths that seem like sty's that have grown on both the upper and lower eyelids on her left eye. The lower one has been there for 8 months and the upper for about 6 months. They have taken over and despite many treatments and efforts to get rid of them, nothing has worked. SO, a specialist from Portland, OR looked at her and decided surgery was the only way to handle it. They did a biopsy to see for sure what in the world these things are and then removed the growths this morning. She was a little champ. She's been scared to death for today, but when she got up this morning, she was ready to go. I brought some presents with us to keep her busy. She got her VERY LITTLE gown on and sat on the bed a colored. The doctor and nurses talked to us and made her laugh. When it was time to go, I had to stay behind. She was too excited about the ride on the bed to get sad, so she gave me a kiss and off she went. I was a mess of course. I hate when my kids have to do this stuff. Mostly, I hate being separated from them knowing someone is cutting into them, BUT the surgeon is wonderful and did a great job. Anna woke up very sad and confused. I wrestled her pj's back on her and they let us go after only 20 min. She calmed down after about an hour, ate some food, and has watched cartoons all day. Her best friend, Ade, brought her a present. It was adorable. What sweet little girls. She has a swollen, black eye with stitches on the upper and lower lids, but she hasn't touched it and doesn't complain a bit. Anyway, just thought I'd let you all know that she's doing well.

TAG, I'm it

Marolyn tagged me, so here goes....

TAG...YOU'RE IT!
1. Where is your cell phone? Right next to me
2. Where is your significant other? On the couch with the baby
3. Your hair color? Dark brown
4. Your mother? At Disneyland
5. Your father? At Disneyland
6. Your favorite thing? Mike
7. Your dream last night? It was strangely about me playing the French horn for John McCain
8. Your dream/goal? Eternal Salvation
9. The room you're in? Kitchen
10. Your hobby? I used to have hobbies, but then I had kids
11. Your fear? One of my kids or my husband passing away
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Um....teaching again
13. Where were you last night? At the ward Halloween Party
14. What you're not? Girly
15. One of your wish-list items? A new pair of sandals
16. Where you grew up? Sacramento, California
17. The last thing you ate? A cookie
18. What are you wearing? An Old navy t-shirt
19. Your TV? 4 years old, but not a plasma, so Mike hates it.
20. Your pet? None.....but I want a kitty
21. Your computer? A Gateway Laptop....I like it
22. Your mood? Sleepy
23. Missing someone? Nope.
24. Your car? A 2002 Town and Country with 2 built in carseats! Yeah!
25. Something you're not wearing? Clothes...JK....um I have no earrings on.
26. Favorite store? Roberts
27. Your summer? Had a baby and galbladder surgery. Can't say it was in the top ten.
28. Love someone? My kids and my husband and our families (though I'm not sure how they all feel about me.....)
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When is the last time you laughed? My conversations with Mike today. Love talking to him.
31. Last time you cried? All week as we said goodbye to my sisters little baby boy.

I award the following people with the "I love your blog award" and in so doing tag them to complete the above questions: Mandi, Cami, Devi, Krista, and Jeff.

Sweet Experience

Wow, it's been quite a sad time for our family, mainly my sister's family, but we have felt the feeling of loss as little Ian passed away. Ian was 15 weeks premature and had a complicated birth. He was born weighing only a pound or so. He was doing amazingly well considering all that he had been through. He was just a few days from his due date and had grown to around 5 pounds. He was doing very well. No one, not even the doctors or nurses had a clue that he wouldn't live. We were all just waiting for him to be developed enough to come home. His passing was very sudden and shocking to everyone, especially his mom and dad.

I was very impressed by how strong Mandi, Ryan, and Alex were throughout the week and through the viewing and funeral. Both Mandi and Ryan spoke at the service. They had just family and the closest friends come. Alex, Anna, and Tyson sung "I am a Child of God" at the end of the service. It was so fitting and beautiful. It was hard to watch and hear the sobs of both the women and men that attended. Even the men that "don't cry" shed tears for this little baby and his family. I had never seen such a tiny casket. It was covered in flowers and the little giraffe that had been with Ian since his adoption sat among the flowers. It was really a sweet experience that I will never forget. Ryan said something at the end of his remarks that I will always remember. He said, "Two months ago Ian was alone. Now he'll never be alone again." I know Ian is in the greatest place surrounded by people who love him. I hope I can be worthy enough to see him again.