Brianna and Her Soccer Woes

Brianna actually had her first soccer game back in August, the weekend before school started! She had an awesome game, scoring two goals and her team won 4-0! However, since then it has been all downhill. Her team has played four more games since and haven't won any. They haven't even been able to score a goal! Needless to say, their "morale" is a little down and now all they look forward to is the end of the season. There are two games left... hopefully we can score at least one goal and boost their spirits!!

Football Days (Nights, actually!) Are Here Again!!

Zach is playing football once again! He is on the Freshman Football team for East High, playing as an offensive lineman. He also plays defense quite a bit, so he doesn't spend much time on the sidelines! Their first game was Thursday, Sept. 4th against West High, a local high school rival team. Zach's game are in the afternoon right after school, so it is hard for CJ and I to get to see the whole game, however Zach's team did win, 39-0! Zach took quite a few hits from the looks of the bruises on his body!!

First Day of School

Thursday, August 21st was the first day of school here in Sioux City. Brianna started 3rd grade and Zach is a freshman (9th grade) in high school! I think both of them were pretty excited to be going back... mostly to see all their friends again! Brianna kept waking me up throughout the night -- three times to be exact! First time, she wanted to let me know that she was just going to the bathroom... second time she needed a drink because she was hot, and the third time she woke me up at 4:15AM wanting to know if I should have been up getting ready for work yet!! She said she couldn't sleep because she was excited about starting school that day!! Her first day of school went well -- she really likes her teacher, Mrs. Bliven, and almost all of her friends are in her class, so she is happy. Zach's first day went well, also. Freshman only went for a 1/2 day in the morning so they could have the whole high school to themselves and get used to their surroundings and find their classes, etc. The only complaint Zach had was that he wished all his classes were on the same floor!! I have posted a picture of Brianna on the first day of school, but I didn't get a picture of Zach... I had to leave for work before he was ready for school and then he had football practice after school and didn't get back home until after 6PM -- all sweaty and "stinky" too, so we didn't get a picture then either! (I will post a picture of him in his football uniform at a later date!)

Most Recent Brown Family Member...

Welcome A'Layshia Tianna Dunn!! A'Layshia is the daughter of our niece, Ashley! What a cute baby!!! Just look at those cheeks!!! A'Layshia was born on May 2, 2008, which is actually the same birthday as CJ's Mom. She weighed 8lbs. 9 oz. when she entered into this world -- and seems to just keep on gaining!! Ashley lives in CJ's dad's house with her mom, Belinda, who is CJ's sister. Since this is where we stayed while we were visiting, we had a lot of fun playing with A'Layshia! Brianna wanted to carry her everywhere and do everything for her -- feed her, change her, walk her, etc. Even Zach got into it and held her and played with her! Can't wait to see her again next summer!!!

Here's........... Kelsey!!!!

This is our great-niece, Kelsey! Kelsey was born in October of 2007 to Reggie and Missy Bass. Reggie is the son of CJ's sister, Brenda. Reggie and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas, but were down to Wilmot visiting for the weekend when we arrived down there, so I was fortunate to get a picture! Kelsey is a very happy little girl and her favorite pastime is "blowing raspberries" at everyone! I really think she could do it all day long -- if the Olympics gave out medals for this, she would have the Gold!!!!

Kelsey also has a cousin that we had never met, even though he is over a year old. Reggie's sister, Shameka, was also in town for the weekend, so we got to see her son, Channon, who was born in April of 2007. They also live in Little Rock. Channon has a big brother, DeQuayveon, whom we call "Dee". I am also including a picture of Meka with the two boys!

Our Annual Trip to Arkansas

We recently made our annual trip to Arkansas to visit CJ's dad and other family members that live down there. Of course it was the hottest week of the whole year - 103-104 degrees (119 degrees with humidity!) I would really love to go at a cooler time of year, but it seems like August was the only time we could find an "empty" week in our schedules. Zach played baseball all summer and detasseled corn up to August 1st. Brianna played softball until July 31st. Football practice started up August 11th and soccer started August 7th. So we took this week in between everything and made the trip down south!


Even though it was hot, it was still nice to see everyone! CJ's dad is doing fine, Aunt Thelma (actually she is a great aunt!) is doing much better this year. We went to visit her in the nursing home last summer and she seemed confused and disoriented and not really knowing who we were. This summer, she remembers our names and was more of her "talkative" self!! Aunt Lucille is also doing great -- not traveling as much, but still keeping up with the rest of them!!


We also saw a host of cousins, nieces, nephews... too many to count! There are a few new additions to the Brown clan since we were down last summer, but I will be doing individual posts for them, with pictures.


After staying in Wilmot for the week, we headed back home and stopped in Kansas City to see CJ's sister, Jean, and her family. We spent the night with them and had a wonderful visit -- too short, though. After Kansas City, we stopped in Omaha and took the kids to the Henry Doorly Zoo, since we hadn't been there for a few years. This zoo never fails to amaze me -- there is so much to see there! And they are always remodeling or adding a new exhibit!! It was a nice "cap" to the end of the vacation...

Happy 1st Birthday!

I know that this post is just a little late (actual birthdate is July 13!) but I was waiting until I got some pictures to post with this! Just a quick "shout-out" to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" to Nolan and Lana Edkin -- twins belonging to my cousin, Melissa. My mom got to go visit and stay for their birthday party -- check out the pics! Aren't they cute??!!!