i dehydrate

blueberry fruit roll-up
pear fruit roll-up
strawberry & pear fruit roll-up

My wonderful mother-in-law gave me a dehydrator for Christmas. I have so far dehydrated pear slices, apple slices, tomato slices, beef jerky, and am now waiting to try my fruit roll-ups. And yes you heard right, I make my own beef jerky. And let me tell you; it is the best beef jerky I have ever tried. Three of Kevin's friends told me that as well. My mom for Christmas gave me a jerky gun and jerky spices you use and it is so easy. I am forever hooked.

double the fun

Christmas was definitely different this year, but I really liked it and am now demanding that our future Christmas's are always like this years. Christmas eve we spent with my family. We had amazing food, played the candy bar game, showed off our good deed projects (ok maybe were not the most humble family), got new pajamas, and played a gift exchange game. We then had a sleep over with my little brother since he is now the only one left at home. Me, Kev and Ty slept in the basement on two blow-up mattresses. I was kind enough to give the best one to Kevin, and me and Ty took the bigger one. Worst. Night. Ever. That mattress would not stay blown up for two seconds. I mean, C'mon...isn't that your job? It was worse sleeping on that thing then on the flat, cold ground. It was even worse that we all fell asleep to a movie that got unreasonably loud during all the action parts, so it kept waking us up, but we were all too lazy to get up and turn off the projector. And don't forget that it was Christmas Eve. I get so excited for Christmas morning. I am still the same little girl that would wake-up my little brother at two in the morning and snuggle in his bed and make him stay up until morning with me. I woke up at 5:30 am and stared at the ceiling for a half hour not daring to wake up my husband with my excitement. I knew he might just kill me. So right when I hear a rustle in the sheets in Tylers direction I whisper (kind of loudly) "Are you awake tyler?" And my plan worked, he woke up. We then continued to try and wake up Kevin without any success. So I decided to let time pass until 7:00 am. I took a long hot shower and got ready. This is quite awesome if you know me (6:30 am!). When 7:00 am struck I demanded Kevin to wake up. Me and tyler then showed how we do Christmas Morning. We still do it like we did when we were little things. We wake up the parents, let them go check if Santa came, then we walk down the stairs one at a time. It was glorious.
We opened presents, then had the best breakfast ever. Breakfast casserole, homemade hot chocolate and apple strudel.
We then did something we both had never done before, We went skiing!!! We really liked it and I think this might have to be a tradition now.

Because Mitchell came home after Christmas, we decided to be nice and surprise him with Christmas morning the morning after he got home. So our Christmas Eve was the 29th and Christmas Day was the 30th with the Browers. Everyone had a very successful Christmas. We all got completely spoiled. Especially Alta and Ellie.


ellie got a box
mitchell got a snuggie


my awesome new bike helmet

I whip my hair back and forth

I found this on facebook. We had to watch it twice it was so funny. And then I thought it would be funny to impersonate the bird for Kevin..and it was! I crack myself up. After you watch it, impersonate it. It will cheer you right up.

Mitchell is home!

Elder Mitchell Brower got back from his mission in Korea Town L.A., California (korean speaking) December 29th. When Mitchell left he made it known that no one would be wearing his clothes while he was gone. So we all thought it would be hilarious to pick him up at the airport in all of his clothes. And let me tell you: It was. I was so excited about this. I think I was even more excited about this then Mitchell even coming home (oh.. Im kidding Mitchell). Boy were we a sight to be seen. We all kind of looked like bums. Even baby Ellie looked like a ski bum wearing one of Mitchells beanies. But the best part was seeing Mitchell come down the escalator just laughing at us. He loved it. He said we "looked real good." Its been so fun having him home. I love having another brother, especially when he is just like Kevin. Everyone really missed him and we are all so glad to have him back home!
Lorna wore a hat of his that she hated, hated, hated


Mitchell didn't even recognize Patrick when he got home. Patrick was just a little boy when he left, and now he could be a tad taller than Mitchell
i wore one of his huge funny smelling sweaters, ellie sported a beanie and kevin scored with some nice white pants
it takes Alta a long time to warm up to strangers...she has yet to say one word to Mitchell. When we even mention his name she goes silent. It took me and Kevin two years to over come this. Good luck Mitchell...
daniel looked the best in his skin-tight shorts
we are such an awesome family

yes a helicopter gets a post of its own

Because of the time involved with this toy, the boys got to open this christmas present early so they could get to work on it right away. For all of you who are familiar with remote control helicopters and are total nerds like my husband, its a T-REX 500!!! For all of you who are not familiar with helicopters, its pretty much the best helicopter you can get. If not properly put together or flown, it could seriously injure or kill someone (no joke). Its a big deal. You should have seen how excited all the Brower boys got. They had all died and gone to heaven (especially Kev). It took them a good 3 or 4 days to build it. Because of the seriousness of this toy, they also got a little helicopter and a flight simulator for practice. Like I said, this is a big deal. Me and Shalane lost many hours of husband time during this christmas break because of this machine. As of now, I don't think we either really like it. But it was fun to see all the boys working together on a project.
look how happy they are!
this was test flight number one! notice all the protection gear Daniel is wearing...
Kevin nerding out
look at the love in his eyes

don't worry this is just the baby helicopter that was used for practice. they would never let me touch the T-rex let alone fly it

They have yet to still fly it; they have only been able to hover it. Hopefully when everyone comes back out in the summer, they will have it up and running.

a christmas surprise!!

We had a baby! Isn't she such a chunk? I know it was fast...and you didn't know I was pregnant...but now the secret is out! I know, I know, I look fantastic after just having a baby! Notice how big she is; she took all my fat! Ok, ok I have taken it too far. This is not our baby, oh how I wish though. This is our niece. But...I am hoping our babies will look like this and we have a good chance. I guess this is what Kevin looked like. He was a pretty chunky baby. Oh I am so excited!

holy crappers this break has been awesome

Wow, this christmas has been so fun. I have had a month off from school. The whole Brower family has finally been reunited after a 2 year hiatus from Elder Mitchell. And we have all hung out for two weeks straight. Me and Kev had two Christmas's: My families Christmas day, then the Browers on the 30th when Mitchell came home. I think this is how we are going to want to do it for now on.

But first things first, what me and Kev did Christmas Eve:
Snowshoeing. Kevin picked the place. Which he never picks the usual trails or any trails for that matter. He wanted to walk through all the cabins up Big Cottonwood; so we did. And boy did we find some treasures. We found a bobsled track and a zip line. We took some videos for you viewing pleasures...



don't mock my laugh. when something is really funny I guess I turn into a donkey. notice how kevin looks like he should go over that hill the whole timeand that high screaching sound is the zipline...not me....