On Hiatus.... and Back Again

Well, I certainly apologize for the delay in postage.  I have had threats of discontinued subscriptions and calls for change in management.... my editor, Mr. Brown, has been encouraging, (aka bugging) me nightly to sit down and write.  I must admit, I needed a brain break during and after my spring finals.  I was happy to finish the quarter on a good note, but it did take it's toll as I developed quite the cold, that I am happy to be free of now.  I'm amazed we have made it through nine months of nursing school, and I do say WE because it is an all consuming undertaking.  It feels good to check goals off, and to be moving forward, but also to have a little break to be home and enjoy all that is around me.

Evening Hike in the Heat

Lake Time

Wow... where to start to catch up on two weeks of the Browns!  As you can imagine I probably

haven't been all that blog worthy with my stuffy nose stuck in a book for the last few weeks.  If you found alterations in cell functions or pharmacology noteworthy... well I'd say you're probably reading the wrong blog, or we can chat later :)!  The weather has really been heating up around here, pushing 100 degrees on more than a handful of days.  We seem to have become lake dwellers, whether it is up the driveway or up near the border, we can often be found on the banks enjoying the sun after a cool dip and watching the kids play.  Cam was able to travel home to attend Derrick and Anna's son's graduation a few weekends back.  He enjoyed his time there, slept out under the stars with his buddy, and represented our family at the special occasion.  Derrick also generously lent us his aluminum boat, which has become quite the centerpiece of life around here.  12 feet of pure lake born freedom.  Cam added some seats and away we have been exploring several local lakes.  The kids seem to enjoy the water, and Bear is trying his hand at driving.  It reminds me a bit of a treasure map when he drives, zig-zagging all over the place,  but with a big smile on his face.  The first night we took it out, it was so gorgeous.. the kids were turtle hunting, it was a picturesque night, and we saw tons of wildlife, including a beaver right at the boat launch that slapped his tail and made the kids jump a foot!  We've also been back up to Blue Lake, the alkaline lake with the baby turtles, and boated the length of the glass like water and went swimming at the far end. 

 A big highlight for the kids lately has been watching their caterpillars transform into butterflies.  Aunt Connie got them a little kit, and we immediately sent off for the caterpillars which soon arrived in a small jar.  Over the next couple weeks we watched them climb around, hang from the top of the jar and form their chrysalises,  complete metamorphosis into a butterfly, and hatch.  We read the book that came with and learned about the process, and the kids tried their best to say both "metamorphosis" and "chrysalis."  This study was culminated with the release of 5 beautiful butterflies.  I love seeing curiosity peaked, and there is nothing that can do that quite like nature.  It's amazing how fast they learn, just being a part of the world around them.  My parents always thought I

Morning Butterfly Release

would be a teacher, because I would come home, construct a seating chart and lesson plan and carry out a school day with my stuffed animals.... I guess there is part of me that loves to "teach," but as a parent I'm amazed at how much of a spark already exists, and how time, attention, and adventuring together are powerful ways to nurture their growing lives.  Pretty cool stuff to be a part of.

After my tests were over, we were able to celebrate with our friends Jeremy and Elisha and their daughter Madison.  We so enjoyed their company and being able to show them around our new neck of the woods.  We went to quite a few lakes (like I said... lake people!), did a lot of relaxing, a little fishing, and ate way too much good food!  The kids enjoyed playing together, and we even hit the

Pine Cone Bird Seed Feeders

waterslides in Chelan, which was quite the hit!  It was nice to sit around with real folks, and even have some moments of doing NOTHING.  While the weather had cooled off for the beginning of their trip, it warmed up, and we had some gorgeous evenings, and star filled nights.  We do of course miss our dinners together, but we are happy to share in a new chapter of our lives, and know that most understand the logic for our move, and we enjoy when people can see that first hand.   



Like all vacations though, time flies, and it seems reality comes around much too quickly to snap you out of the day dream.........  So after our guests departed today, we were back to work.  I had a couple of things to handle for school, and then we made a stop at the building supply store in town to talk to a gentleman about drawing our house plans!!  It seems my uncle has pulled off a less than 24 hour deal with the first person who placed an escalated offer on Rudy's house, and it has officially closed.  I'm not sure it could have gone more smoothly, once on the market.  We feel pretty lucky, and humbled.  But, in true Team Brown fashion, one door closing, means the construction of another.  Exciting, and overwhelming at the same time, when you are doing it yourself.  There is a zillion items running through our minds right now, but at the end of the day, I am certain nothing will stop us.