Ferris Bueller, You're My HERO!

Matthew, me, Jessica, Jason and Mitchell took a drive up to Lava Hot Springs this last weekend to celebrate my 27th birthday! We hung out in the Olympic size swimming pool, went down a couple of slides (man I hate being up so high!) and watched Jason & Matthew jump off the HIGH dive!

After some nachos and fries, we went and rented some tubes and walked several blocks up the river so that we could float down it! "let's go up higher so we can hit more waterfalls" says Jessica. "No, I'll just wait here for you guys to float by and THEN I'll join you" says I. "Um, I'm not leaving her with you by yourself" says husband. What did we do? Hiked up higher so we could hit more waterfalls. Lame. Whatever Jessica. I was not thrilled and, as my luck would have it, I got stuck in this huge swirling, twirling, vortex of death! My tube carried me to the wrong side of the waterfall (no, i couldn't swish my arms and legs strong enough to move me back) and I went down. I landed with my feet straight onto a huge rock. OUCH. Then it pushed me a little to the left and I got stuck. Literally. I. could. not. move. It was kind of scary! I was trying with all my might to push of the dumb rock with my feet but it didn't do anything. The waterfall was coming at me from this end and the rock at that end and more waves from that end. It totally sucked. I was afraid to jump out of my tube b/c the water was SO strong, and I didn't know how deep it was right there, that I didn't want to risk going under and not being able to come back out.

Once my hubby saw me struggling (ok-part of the time I was just sitting there like, hello! come get me, but the other part I was panicking), he jumped off his tube and DOVE into the water and started swimming UP stream. He had this look of sheer determination on his face like 'don't worry my wifa! I'm coming to save you'! His strong muscles got him up the current and over to the shrubbery where he was able to find a spot to climb onto and then got as close to me as he could and stretched out his foot so I could grab it. As soon as I caught hold of him he pulled with all his might and then grabbed my arm with his one outstretched hand and pulled me (with those big, huge, strong muscles of his) out of the swirling, whirling vortex of death. I was saved! He is my hero! I love you husband! I would have been stuck there forever if it wasn't for your bravery!

Matthew was so exhausted after that. Swimming up a strong, overpowering current can do that to ya! (Husband-did this suffice? Did I make you sound fabulous enough....cause you are!!!)

Anyways...after that, we went and had some pizza and then went and soaked in the hot pools, got some ice cream and then drove the 2 1/2 hours back home challenging each other with movie quotes.

I just love my family! Thanks for coming with us guys! We had a blast!!!

27

Happy Birthday to me! I've been looking forward to this day! 2 and 7 happen to be my favorite numbers so naturally, 27 is the best number one could imagine ;) I am looking forward to having the best year of my life! I am going to do whatever I can to ensure that it is exactly that!

Thank you to everyone that sent me happy wishes and to my family that was able to join me for dinner! It was a great start for a great year to come! Love you all!! XOXOXO

Life

It just been really hard lately. Lots of things are going on but we are doing our best to stay tight as a cute little family of 3. We just want to say that we appreciate the support and love from our family and friends!!!

At least I have this cute bug to snuggle everyday with!

Oh ya, did I mention that our lawnmower just broke? Thanks for letting us borrow yours, rell :)

A Little of This...

Check out my new crafting blog for a sneak peak of some of my creations!!!

A Little of This...

Island Park

Island Park....need I say more! Best place on earth! Well, that I've been to, anyways! hehe

Every year we get to spend some time (wish it was more often) up at the cabin in Island Park. There is so much to do there but everything is so low key and relaxing! We got up there Friday night so we didn't do much then but Saturday we went into West and visted the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. We got to see 2 bears and 3 wolfs but the kids were more interested in the playground! Grandma got Jase a wild life puzzle and he loves it (this kid is getting better and better with puzzles and this one has 48 pieces! Sorry...had to brag a bit there!). After that, we went and got some pizza for lunch and then headed in to Yellowstone. We saw all of 5 animals. Count 'em folks, 5! hehe The scenery was enough to make it all worth it! We did watch Old Faithful erupt but there was so much steam that we hardly saw any of the actual water. Oh well! Jase got a 'daddy's wolf' toy as well as a moose. Sunday we went and fed the fishies and then went to the tressle. It is a Browning tradition that you must jump off the tressle to become a worthy member of the family. Yes, I've done it and this year, Matthew was hoping that Jase would. I was not thrilled about this, he is only 3, but daddy insisted. Uncle Zak was dangling Jase off the tressle but then Jase, being the smart kid that he is, decided that he was not interrested in being dropped at least 15 feet into 4 feet of water at best. Good boy. Daddy was upset about it but we'll try again next year ;) Jax and Joss (who are 4 1/2 months younger than Jase) were all for it and both are now worthy! Way to go mongs! Daddy jumped several times while mommy snapped away with the camera and also got 12 squito bites on her feet! We drove home Sunday night, making a stop at Jack in the Box, as is tradition. We had such a great time and wish we could go up more often but only get the cabin once a year so we make the most of it! Just wish we could have stayed a little longer! Next year, we'll plan to stay at least 4 days! (mom-this is me scheduling time off!! haha)

Yes...I stole some of these pics from Rella's blog ;)

Kiddos snuggling to watch a movie...this lasted all of 45 seconds.

Checkin out the bears!

Playing in the wolf cave.

So Big!

Me and Care! Love her!

Jase & Jax. Say Cheese!

Man this kids good looking!

Daddy's wolf! This is what Jase calls daddy (i'm mommy sheep, then there's Jase monkey and Harley cow-this kid has some imagination!)

The Browning clan at Yellowstone!

Mommy and Jasers at the beginning of the snake river, feeding the fishies...well, the ducks!

Jasers and daddy!

Mitch, Zak & Matthew jumping off the tressel at the same time!

Independence Weekend

I think I will go on record and say that this is the funnest 4th of July weekend that I have had for as long as I can remember! We started out the weekend by seeing The Last Airbender on Friday with some friends. Saturday we went to West Fest and let Jase run around and ride all the rides! He loved the cars, motorcycles and ferris wheel (which mommy refuses to join in on). He even got to play with some cute little goats and piggies! I am also surprised to say that Jase got his face painted! He wasn't interested at first but after mommy got hers and he saw that he could get a spider man he let the girl do it! I think he liked that it tickled!

Ferris wheel fun! Mommy is just not brave enough! I think the funnest part of it for Jase was being at the very top when an airplane flew by!

Cool face painting!

Petting the goats!

Sitting in some horrible spinny ride before it started spinning. I did not want to do this but we had 1 ticket left and I didn't want it to be wasted. I had to shut my eyes the entire time but still felt like I was going to vomit. Spinning....is not really my thing.

After that, we went home to relax and then went to my niece Mollie's 2nd Bday party! We had cake, set off some fireworks and enjoyed some s'mores!

The kids loved the sparklers!

Papa and Jake just chillin!

Birthday girl! I just love all of the silly faces this little sassy girl pulls!

Then on Sunday, we had Rella, Jason, Jax & Joss over for a BBQ with pasta, steaks, grilled pineapple and carrot cake, num!! We lit some fireworks and sprinklers for the kiddos but I think we were more interested in them than they were. They just wanted to play!

Running down the driveway!

Monday, we joined Jess, Jason and the kids again and went to the Zoo! The kids were pretty good, up until the end when Jax decided to clobber Joss in the face with a sippy cup....that's brothers for ya!

I love this kid. It's that simple. Despite the fact that he and Jase enjoy beating each other up, I just plain old love him. Can't get enough of him ;)

Joss mong! You can see it in her face-this little girl is up to something! Man she's cute! And she's got uncle Matt wrapped around her finger!

Jasers! If only he had his own big kitty to play with! hehe

Such a fun weekend! Thanks to everyone that helped make it so fabulous!! We love you!

Red Fish Lake

Dad and Carolyn invited us to go camping with them at Red Fish Lake in Idaho! We left on Wednesday night and came home on Saturday. It was so much fun! Jase has been camping before (he was about 2 months old) but we stayed in our friends trailer so sleeping in a tent was a whole new experience for him and even though it was cold, he seemed to really like it! We played in the lake and uncle Mitch even rented a little motor boat and took us for a ride which Jase loved! He kept saying 'Go meeshol go!' (Telling Mitch to go faster). It was warm throughout the day with only a couple hours of rain on our last day. I love relaxing up in the mountains!! Can't wait to go again!

Relaxing in the hammock with daddy (while chewin on some grass) and driving the car with mommy through the campground!