Guess WHAT?

We have an announcement can you guess what it is?

The End :-)

"Dogs day out"

While we were gone, our Grandparents (Gaumi and Poppa) took our puppies all over Irving with their dog (his name is Bear) and had an a great time! (Click the link above to see the video they made)

TOO FUNNY!!!!

Okay, so anyway… we are back, just arrived in the heat from the Lake Bob Sandlin State Park and had a great time! I set up all the computers, printers, and other hardware and then had a GREAT dinner of Outback (YUM).

 

Gaumi and Poppa will come over later and bring some roast potatoes and carrots over! What a way to come off of a vacation!!

It was so nice to come home to a PERFECTLY clean home, freshly mowed lawn and a sparkling pool!   Our trip total was exactly one month and 22 days long! 

AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MARSHALL FAMILY AND OUR GRANDPARENTS (Gaumi and Poppa) FOR WATCHING OUR HOUSE AND TAKING CARE OF THE CHECKS FOR THE COOP!

Teamwork makes the dream work

The8Browns,

Jim, Monica, Weston, Joseph, Timothy, Christianna, Elaina and Victoria :-)

(We got back on the 18th but when I made this post, I accidently set the time delay post for today. It should have published the 18th)

Officially one month and 17 days on the road so far!

We have had a blast (mostly) ;)

We went from D.C. to Monticello and took a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s plantation (which was beautiful) and then walked around the grounds.  Afterwards we started our trip up to Michigan to see our family and to celebrate our Uncle and Aunts 50th wedding anniversary!  On the way we stayed a few days at a nice RV park and had to make one stop at a mechanics shop. Later that day I took the kids to the park and there was a fun train they played on, they had a blast!

   

Happy 50th Anniversary Uncle Dave and Aunt Patty!

103 years of marriage combined! 

Uncle Dave, Aunt Patty, Grandma & Grandpa Brown

We had an awesome time while we were in Michigan. We also went to our Uncle Steve’s island.  He is renovating the house and boat house.  It is really beautiful! (Uncle Steve even let Joseph and I drive the pontoon boat!) We stayed in Michigan for 3 days and had a lot of fun with our family. Afterwards started our trip south, I just now realized that we are 1,050 miles form home!

View Full Album

We stopped at a Target and a Kroger’s (to get some much needed fresh food) then Timothy, Joseph and Dad went to the National Air Force Museum for a few hours and I stayed with mom, put the food away and did some picture sorting/blogging while Elaina and Christianna napped. Later that evening we went to an RV park to spend the night.

June 11th:

We were going to go to the creation science museum but then decided that it would be better to just relax, rest, take showers and go tomorrow. I really cant wait to see the museum it should be a lot of fun! (for the people that know of the Duggars (click here to see their web site) this is the same museum that they went to)  Right before dinner Dad and I took the kids to the park and they had a lot of fun and then after that Dad and Joseph went fishing in the lake.

June 12th:

I am writing this while dad is driving and mom is answering a few emails and the little ones are asleep. We had such a great time today! if any of you are going to go to Ohio, you NEED to make sure that the Creation Museum is a full day stop for your family. (Here is their web site) We learned so much and were amazed at all they had to offer. It was a great experience!

June 13th:

Good Morning! This KOA was REALLY nice! They have this big jumping pillow, a park and most nights they play an outdoor movie, last nights was Open Season. Joseph and I rode our bikes all over the campground and through the nature trails. For dinner we made a fire and had steak and some hot dogs (all beef, naturally) chips, salsa, fire-cooked potatoes and onions, and then the best part, S'MORES! yum,yum!

June 14th:

Dad decided to stay here one more day, which I am very excited about. I rode my bike all around then we had lunch. Once Timmy, Elaina, Christianna and Victoria went for their naps Dad and Joseph went fishing. Mom just started beef stew, and it smells amazing! Keep checking back for updates! 

God Bless,

The 8 Browns,

Jim, Monica, Weston, Joseph, Timothy, Christianna, Elaina and Victoria :-)

Do you want to see the states that we have traveled through in our various RV travels? Click here to see!

Washington D.C.

This has been a very fun week…

Sunday May 24th:

(I think that after reading this post you will think it deserves to be a post in its self……)

We woke up early, dressed had a quick breakfast of oatmeal then headed out the door. We were prepared for the day with a stroller, two big bags of stuff, an umbrella and other important things.

View Full Album

We walked to the bus stop, boarded, rode 6 miles in 30 minutes then went to the Metrorail boarded the Greenline Metrorail then after 4 stops transferred to the Redline Metrorail for Union station once we arrived we went through the mall to a church that met in a theater. The message was really good but was short, about an hour long.  Afterwards we had a lunch of chicken wraps that was really good then headed home. Back to Union station to the redline, to the greenline, to the bus stop (which we missed so we took a cab!) then home, phew! our treck that day took 4 1/2 hours!      

Monday (Memorial Day) the 25th:

Mom, I and the little ones stayed at the RV while Dad and Joseph went to the Arlington Memorial. Then later we just enjoyed and rode bikes.

Tuesday May 26th:

Today we have a lot to do on our list; the Library of Congress, the Capitol, Chet Edwards office and last (but not least) the Smithsonian National Museum of Air and Space.

Back to the bus from our  RV, train, transfer to another train then arrive! They would not let us take ANY pictures in most buildings and no flash in others so there are not very many pictures of the insides of the buildings. The buildings in D.C. are huge and amazing! We took a tour of the Library of Congress and learned that they have a copy of every book ever copyrighted in America, that's a LOT of books.  The Capitol Dome weighs 9 million pounds and is actually iron painted to look like marble. The Smithsonian has the Sprit of St. Louis, Skylab, and some of the first rockets.  It is amazing all that goes on in D.C.! It is such a busy place!

All of our tickets and maps!

Wednesday May 27th:

We all went to the White House today! And saw the Presidential helicopter! The decorations were amazing and the rooms were so big! after the White House we went to the International Spy Museum! It was way cool!  They showed all the things that a spy might use and about secret codes, special forces, history about wars and how spies aided in them and about the spies that were not loyal to the United States.

George Washington’s Plantation

Thursday May 28th:

We now will head to Mt. Vernon, George Washington's plantation. It is the huge plantation where National Treasure was filmed. Its an amazing place. We were amazed by George and Martha Washington’s service to our country and also their lifestyle of hospitality.  Back in their day, people would stop by unannounced.  Often the people were strangers.   No matter who stopped, the Washington’s took them in and served them.  Afterwards we went to the Holocaust museum. I have read the Hiding Place and other books and have learned in my school about it but actually going there and seeing it was really, really sad.  God help us to never let that happen again.

Friday May 29th:

After all of the busyness just Dad Joseph and I went back into D.C. to see the monuments we saw the  Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, National Archives, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the  Vietnam Memorial. All were fantastic! Afterwards we headed for the Shenandoah Valley Campground.  I made a grave error in directions and sent us right through D.C. rush-hour traffic so that only delayed us about 2 1/2 hours……

Saturday May 30th:

We arrived! (a little sleep deprived though) and had a nice relaxing day with nothing on the list to do.  Joseph and I rode bikes and then later dad and Joseph went fishing.

Sunday May 31st:

Had a bible study and watched some of the teaching form ATI. Then Dad and Joseph and I went fishing again.

View Full Album

Monday June 1st:

This morning we had a pancake breakfast and then Mom, Dad and Joseph went out by the water while I watched the kids and blogged.

Williamsburg and Jamestowne & Birthdays

As you can see in the video above, I drove the RV (and yes that was the first time EVER for me to drive any  thing other than a bike) even though it was only 200 yards it was really fun!

We have been extra busy this week! We went to historic Williamsburg and also to historic Jamestowne.

In Williamsburg we participated in an interactive tour of what life would have been like back then. Dad even got to participate in a militia! He was the FIRST to sign up and was privileged to stand before George Washington! (in the far right of this picture).

^In the above picture George Washington is addressing his troops! ^

<TODAY IS WESTONS 15th BIRTHDAY>

We saw the governors palace, it was an amazing place with beautiful gardens, Kitchens, rooms, ponds and complete with a huge maze! We learned about the politics of the time and how you did not want to be the governors friend and not his enemy …

The day we went to Jamestown Mom needed a little extra rest, so Dad took the crew (except Tia) in for a great time!

We went aboard the replicas of the three English ships that first came to America and learned about the history of them. Then went into the Indian dwellings and saw animal skins and the way that food was prepared and the various things that the Indians would use for hunting and gardening (bones, rocks and clamshells). But I think the highlight of the day was the fort! We saw a real live musket shot and then talked to a man for about 30 minutes about the history of guns and ammunition. Then saw how bread was made (back then) and the living quarters of the soldiers. We learned that it took 6 years to build the fort and then after 6 months of living in it it burned to the ground in just a few hours…… 

 

It was a great day and we learned a lot!

 

On the way to the RV park we took the ferry (just for kicks).It was so funny because mom did not even notice that we were on it until we were on the boat moving, it was really fun!

At most KOA’s they have these awesome bike things to rent so Joseph, Dad and I took the little ones on a ride for their birthday! We had a real RV party! Christianna and Elaina were delighted to get big pool noodles, bubble toys, and some new doodle pro’s, but best of all was the chocolate cheese cake, it was really delicious! (but not as good as Mrs. Petri’s ;)    

  HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY CHRISTIANNA AND ELAINA!

View Full Album

Now in the next couple of days we will head for Cherry Hill Park to see Washington D.C.!

Blessings,

The8browns

Jim, Monica, Weston, Joseph, Timothy, Christianna, Elaina & Victoria

Crying and Laughing… (Hurry up and slow down)

 

Ok, now I know that you are interested ;) this has been a very interesting week……

We were on our way to Hilton Head Island.  Spent the night in Jacksonville at a rest. stop. bad. idea. It was PACKED and we filled the very last spot. Then THREE truckers pulled in and parked illegally around us ( in front, back and side, we were in the last row at the very end) and all three left their engines on. ( oh, I forgot to mention that this was all at 1:07 am) so we had to go to an actual RV park. But that's ok, a small adventure. <|:-)

Mom and Dad on a date night!

 

 

Anyway, the next morning we drove to Hilton Head Island the drive was absolutely gorgeous! The RV park Motorcoach Resort was VERY nice, huge pool, recreation center, even the laundry room was fabulous:) the only part I did not like was the 2009 Prevost that parked next to us pulling a beamer ( painted to match) and a hummer. It was the nicest Motorcoach I have EVER seen… ( that was an RV envy moment) :)

That night Dad, Joseph and I went in search of a Publix (grocery store) and a Starbucks via bike. Both were 1 mile away from where we were staying, but it took us 6 miles to get there. We were a tad confused directionally…

May Friday the 15th:

After a few days of R&R we headed for the Young family’s house  in Mt. Pleasant, SC! (The Young's have a blog click here to see it ) we experienced true southern hospitality here, they were so sweet and we enjoyed every moment of our stay! THANK YOU YOUNG FAMILY FOR HAVING US! Mom and Dad enjoyed excellent conversation with the Young’s and the Ezzo’s on the back porch and enjoyed Mrs.Young’s DELiCOUS chocolate chip cookies!

May Saturday the 16th

The Young’s and the Ezzo’s (the Ezzo’s are the leaders of Growing Families International click here to see their blog) took us on a tour of Charleston in a horse drawn carriage. There is so much history there it was very interesting!  For lunch we had fish and chips.  It was really good! Mr. Ezzo said they weren't as good as the ones in Australia though (the Young’s and the Ezzo’s just came back from Australia one week ago). Charleston is absolutely beautiful and so relaxed… in a word, wonderful.

 

Mr. Ezzo took us on a boat ride. It was really fun, Thank you Mr.Ezzo! 

 

May Sunday the 17th: 

We left the Young's to head for Williamsburg, the whole drive there was heavy rain and at about 6:30 Dad decided to find an RV park and call it a night. On the way there we watched a video about NASA history (it was a documentary) and this episode was about the Challenger tragedy, just EXACTLY when the challenger exploded on the TV screen BOTH of our rear tires fell off… Dad was thankfully able to grind (literally)  to a halt on the shoulder.  We praise the Lord for our safety.

When the 911 personnel arrived they were amazed that NO ONE WAS HURT and that the vehicle did not topple over and crush in the back.

But just before the 911 people arrived two ladies arrived to help and make sure that we were safe and everything was all right. Mom and Dad were able to bless and pray with them.

The officers had to transport us in 3 cruisers to a hotel where we are at now, we don’t really know the damage yet but we do know that God is in control and HE orders our steps.

View Full Album

Please do pray for us!

Psalms 112 Praise the lord for all who fear God and trust in him are blessed beyond expression, YES happy is the man who delights in his command his children shall be honored every where for good men’s sons have a special inheritance. 

Psalms 34:7 The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him who revere and worship Him with awe and each of them He delivers.

Psalms 91:12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

 

You will hear from us soon! thank you for your prayers!

 

The8browns,

Jim, Monica, Weston, Joseph, Timothy, Christianna, Elaina & Victoria

Our Trip pt. 2

 

Hey everyone! this week/weekend has been really great!

We arrived at the Saratoga Resort Villas (http://www.saratogaresortvillas.com) for a few days to swim and relax. One night dad and Joseph went putt-putt golfing and won a free round so the next day Joseph, Timothy and I went, it was great! We cant wait to go back! Our Uncle Brian owns this resort and offered for us to stay there a couple of days for a change of scenery. Thank you for letting us stay! 

View Full Album

We had an awesome time at our Aunt Jenny's and Uncle Brian's house, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US! Uncle Brian was gracious enough to take Dad, Joseph and I boating!! 

We had a really, really super time, we didn't catch very much, but did get to go to an island beach for a while and all found sand dollars! (and a lot of small sea urchins) Uncle Brian let Joseph and I drive the boat, weeeeeee! ( he is really brave) Later that evening Mom, Dad Uncle Brian and Aunt Jenny went to dinner for Mothers day. And I stayed with the kids in the RV. We have been so blessed by the hospitality at our Uncle and Aunts house, they have been really fun and we cant wait to see them again!   

May 10th Sunday:

Happy 1st Birthday Victoria! We had a great day, went to church and then back to Aunt Jenny's and Uncle Brian's house to swim and celebrate Mothers day and Victoria's birthday.  Tia was given a really cute outfit from Aunt Kristin (THANK YOU AUNT KRISTIN!) and a pink teddy bear. Aunt Jenny gave a big pink balloon and a delicious cake. We all gave her a few more stuffed animals, what a day! But, today is the day to leave and go to Titusville to see a shuttle launch!

May 11th Monday:

This RV resort was really nice and we had great weather. About 10 miles away was the shuttle. We watched the shuttle launch from a pier that was 300 yards away from the RV. Early that morning Dad reserved a spot for us and at 1:30 all of us went down and had a picnic. At 2:01 pm we saw the shuttle take off.  It was really amazing!

(Click on the pictures to view larger)

We had an awesome day and tomorrow will head for Jacksonville and then onto Hilton Head Island

The8Browns,

Jim, Monica, Weston, Joseph, Timothy, Christianna, Elaina & Victoria

Where are we going next? Keep checking back for updates!

Our Trip!

Click here to view the places that we are going to. (the trip back is not yet planned, that is in progress!)

(CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW THEM LARGER)

HI EVERYONE! We have had such a great time!

April 25th:

In preparation for our upcoming trip there are many things to do, I (Weston) had to clean the inside and outside of the RV while dad did some last minute maintenance; replace the headlights (so we can see more that 15’ ahead of us:) add a little fluid here, check the levels of this and that, ect. While dad and I are outside, mom has the hardest part, PACKING, but even though this is the longest trip we have taken everything went off very smoothly and relatively stress-free. (someone must have been praying for us:) Toward the end of the day our neighbor Mr. Marshall came over (he is an attorney, Christian father of 8 click here to see his web-site) anyway he came over and offered us a bike rack for four bikes! we had looked far and wide for one! what a blessing! THANK YOU MR. MARSHALL! we have REALLY enjoyed having bikes!

April 26th Sunday:

We leave tomorrow, yay! can you guess what we did today? Yes you got it, one arm load to the RV, put it away, go back for more and repeat.

View Full Album

April 27th Monday :

last minute preparations, baths, breakfast, and two errands, and then to leave!! at about 4:00 pm we arrived at the ATI national conference click here for their web-site. The campground we stayed at for the meetings was very nice with big trees and a lot of space to ride bikes and a picnic table. Its was very humid but it was a great time!

April 28th Tuesday:

A very relaxed day, slight drizzle at 1:00 mom and dad had a 3 hour meeting and I stayed in the RV with the kids and cleaned while Joseph played with Justin Duggar. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the Duggar family stayed two RV’s away from us!! www.duggarfamily.com. Dad and I helped them set up their tent, they were really nice! Tomorrow Joseph and I will go to Alert Cadets! we are excited!

April 29th Wednesday:

Up at 7:00 to leave by 8:00 all day in Alert Cadets for Jojo and I and meetings for mom dad and the babies. by the end of the day we were tired!! But learned a lot!

April 30th Thursday:

same as yesterday. Joseph and I got to do repelling from a 64’ tower! very fun! Joseph and I have done rock climbing, repelling, knots, human stratedgeo, learned about navigation, racing, canoeing, scavenger hunt and learned about marching along with a game to see how well we learned.

Very fun/tired/hottttttt…:)

May 1st Friday:

Hopefully mom and dad will put some notes in about the conference soon. Jojo and I had a really, really, really hard obstacle coarse today and are wiped out!

May 2nd Saturday:

woke up at 9:17am (that's actually late for us;) had Bible study and packed up for the next stop: Baton Rouge Louisiana, and spent the night there, nothing fancy just a Wal-Mart parking lot;) then we occupied our selves with nothing!! (was very nice, actually)

May 3rd Sunday:

Had a great Bible study, and headed to Miramar Beach, Fl. The drive was beautiful and so was the beach. Dad was really blessed to find a really nice RV resort that was 300 yards from the water! we have been really blessed with great weather and smooth roads. Dad and I parked the RV hooked up to the necessary utilities and and then we all headed for the beach! we saw jelly fish and sea shells and the sand was so white, like sugar. Another beautiful day!

May 4th Monday:

About a mile away from our RV slot was a huge outlet mall, Mom and I went there on our bikes with the pull behind buggy with Victoria. We spent about 3 hours shopping and when we decided to come back it started POURING RAIN but thankfully there was a protective cover so Tia ( our nickname for Victoria) stayed dry. so since it was raining we just rested and watched a movie.

May 5th Tuesday:

We woke up and headed for the beach again for about 1 1/2 hours then packed up to go to a repair shop. you see our hydraulic leveling system in the front jack got some dirt in the seal making it leak hydraulic fluid in the pad so when we drove it blew onto the brake making the brake pad contaminated so there goes $$ oh well we fixed that…………

May 6th Wednesday:

Drove to Kissimmee, FL unloaded RV stuff into the condo and went swimming then bike riding had dinner and went to bed!

May 7th Thursday:

Today we had the privilege of going to the Holyland Experience click here to view their website. We had a wonderful time there we saw plays of the life of Jesus, it was a very meaningful experience, we enjoyed it thoroughly! but now only mom and I are up, I am blogging and mom is getting some work done. talk to you shortly!

We stopped for lunch and a table full of ladies started talking with us and before we knew it, they prayed for each of us (individually) and we felt so happy and blessed. When they prayed for Victoria, she became very quiet as though she knew what was happening – she’s one on May 11th!

Well phew, that was a lot of typing and if you read it all you are very kind!

More updates soon!!

Christmas 2008 – Why it’s wonderful

 

This is a wonderful time we share each year.  We love to read as a family and to spend time with each other. 

What we typically do is gather in the living room with a fire in the fire place and mom and dad take turns reading from the scriptures and the prophecies about Jesus’ birth. We have a series of Advent books we love to read at Christmastime. We shared Christmas Eve with our grand parents; Grandma and Grandpa Brown, and Gaumi and Poppa Larry Randall. Our family opened presents and these are the things we gave to each other: A kitchen set for the little ones, a red coat for mom from Gaumi and Poppa, A telescope, and the biggest most fluffy slippers you have ever seen from dad to mom (mom bought herself some slippers also because she thought that dad might have forgotten to get her something;)  One more highlight of this year is that our Great Grandmother Dino got to stay with us through Christmas! she's so fun!

A week or two before the 25th we had a Happy Birthday Jesus party with all of our friends!

 

Happy Birthday Jesus Party—Singing carols

Time slows down and that's what we love the most!

View Full Album

 

 

By Weston Brown

Homestead Heritage Craft Fair

In November our family went to Homestead Heritage with our grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Brown. So fun! We really had a great time doing all the crafts like pretzel making, woodcrafts, jump rope making, soap, candles, and barn raising. They also have the best food! They teach about many different things like beekeeping, basic homestead skills, gardening, cheese making, gristmill, woodworking, blacksmithing skills, pottery, ect.  The fair is around Thanksgiving. It beats the Texas State Fair!  It was a great time and we can’t wait to go next year!

Click here to visit their site.

View Full Album

To Arkansas!

In early November our family went to Little Rock, AR. to visit our new baby cousin, Evan Cole, we had a great time!  

View Full Album

 

Afterwards Uncle Lelan recommended that we go to Daisy Lake State Park, we were the only ones there, it was so fun!    

Watch for updates on our trip to Homestead heritage and A preview into our next trip!