The Best Sunday Small Group

The Brawners' sure look forward to Sundays. We have been convicted lately to attempt to make Sunday different from other days in our week. We are trying to eat at home, fellowship more, no major errand running and just have more quality family time. Some Sundays we do better than others but some of our favorite Sundays are the couple of times a month we have been going over after church for a fabulous lunch and fellowship with our friends the Kilbournes (Kory, Natalie, Madie and Jenna). We got so lucky and this weekend our dearest friends the Flannery's from Oklahoma came in with their three kids Cade, Cooper and Caitlyn. We all had so much fun catching up and playing with the kids. It made us all remember the old times when we all got together and hung out before we had kids (minus baby Madie and Oppy & Barley the dogs). But it is even better now with eight and a half kids because there is way more action, a lot more drama which always leads to more laughter. Natalie whipped up a lovely lunch and we all just enjoyed each others company.
A few of the highlights of the day:
Cooper and his sweet stories in his two year old voice of "Woolie the Hippo" who lives in the OKC zoo with his wife Hope. We love it when Cooper uses his hands to tell the "Woolie" stories.
The boys playing their serious and severely nerdy 1980's game of Leverage.
Natalie's funny stories of their recent trip to London and South Africa.
Natalie "ripping on" the barn house kitchen.
Jackson marching upstairs multiple times throughout the day reporting who is not being nice to his very best friend in the whole world "Madie." The report is usually against Madie's sweet sister Jenna. Jackson loves Madie and is fiercely loyal towards Madie. We laugh so hard.
Mollie Jane trying to put all the bath toys in sweet Caitlyn's Pack n Play so she could have something to play with. That sweet baby just hung in her Pack n Play for forever and was so content.
Cade is his hunting outfit. We are convinced this outfit is only because they have been living in Oklahoma for way too many years.
Root Beer floats for the kids.
Shawna and her incredible patience in every situation she is in.
Cade telling very serious stories about his imaginary friend "guy."
All the kids playing in the basement together so well for hours at a time. We often times for moments all forget we have children when we are together.
Jackson once again getting "sweaty" and taking his shirt off.

Jason and I just feel blessed beyond belief with friends like these. Our kids truly love their kids and are all literally in tears when they have to leave each other. No one knows us better than these friends and we are so thankful for their constantly accountability to us, their Godly examples, and their constant prayers. Lord knows we need it all!!! Jason and I sometimes wish we were in a small group but were reminded this weekend that this is truly our small group. It has been sporadically going on for about ten years (as we all move around). Sometimes you forget that God has already given you what you wished for. Thank you Lord for these couples and their kids and I know no matter where we all end up they can still be our "Sunday Small Group."

Valentines Day- A family affair this year!

The Brawner's had another family filled Valentines Day weekend. Isn't Valentines Day supposed to be more romantic than family filled? Mollie Jane and Jackson both had Valentines parties at school. Mollie Jane was the first one in her class to "wolf" down her Valentine cookie and then begged for another one. Instead after her craft, we walked down to Jackson's party (they are both in the same building for school this year) and ate some more treats.
Jackson was all about passing out his "Webkins" valentines and Mollie Jane was all about her "Dora" valentines. We had great weather and went to the park to run off our sugar high after the party.
Valentines Day was spent opening up our much awaited Valentines Day gifts. Jackson made Jason and I a picture and wrapped it up (using a whole tube of wrapping paper). The kids both got webkins and much of the day was spent registering our new furry friends online. Jackson had a basketball game and finished up his season undefeated. He really loved it but still says that "the guys are all in his way so he can't ever make a basket." He really is an awesome defense player because he is so tall and gets right in the other players faces but obviously hasn't quite got the whole "shooting the ball" thing down. We then finished up our basketball season with an ice skating party. Luckily Jason got the honors of ice skating and I did took care of the yummy basketball cupcakes and lemonade afterwards.
Then the whole family attended a wedding that night. Once again, I am reminded that I have had many more romantic Valentines Days then basketball games, webkins and a wedding to attend but we sure had fun. One day when these precious guys are big Jason and I can have all the romantic Valentines Dates we want and then we might look back and wish again for a Valentines Day like this one.

Let the Monograming begin!

We have officially decided to name this baby boy Smith Allen Brawner. It is official and although I have yet to monogram anything the search is on for anything we could put his name on.

The kids are really getting excited about Smith. Mollie Jane has been so sweet and will just come up randomly and pat on my tummy and kiss it. She will then say, "It's Baby Smith Mommy, he's so little." Jackson is constantly drawing him pictures and thinking of gifts he can bring him in the hospital. Jackson said today that on Baby Smith's first night he wants our whole family to have a sleepover together in our bed with Baby Smith. I thought Oh Boy, he has definitely forgotten what is was like when Mollie Jane was born. I guess Jason and I have too or we probably might not be doing this again. HAHAHA!

We were at Sam's today and we were leaving and I was pushing both kids in the cart in the rain trying to hurry back to the car and not get soaked and Jackson says

Jackson- Mommy sometimes I worry about you.

Me- Really pal, what do you worry about?

Jackson- I just worry that you do so much Mommy and it is very hard on you because you have Baby Smith in your tummy.

Me- Thank you buddy, that is so nice for you to think about taking care of Mommy but Mommy is feeling great. What will I do when you are all grown up and you won't be here to help take care of me?

Jackson- Daddy will do it.

Me- You are so right. Daddy already does an awesome job of that.

He is such a lover and it was one of those sweet moments I hope to remember years from now when I might possibly feel like ringing his neck during his teenage years.

Whatever did we do on the weekend before we had kids?

The Brawner's had another fun filled weekend.
-Friday night , we kicked it off by driving to Branson for a get together with several of Jason's High School friends and their families. Jason sees those guys just a couple of times a year and I hadn't seen that group since I was pregnant with Mollie Jane.
-We were the first people there (which first of all is a little weird for us).
-The spread was beany weenies, chips & queso, brownies and beer which was sort of my first thought that maybe this was just a "guys night" that I am suddenly attending with my two kids.
-As the night continued to progress his other five friends showed up all without their wives and children and with more beer. I was suddenly feeling a little out of place being a pregnant female with my two kids and my Caesar Salad.
-My sweet husband had somehow missed the fact that it was not a family get together.
-All that to say, that group of guys is so great and they were all on their phones trying to call their wives to come out and rescue me but I was the only sucker!! I really enjoyed seeing all of them and catching up with what their wives and children were doing. I insisted that my kids and I definitely needed to be invited back to the next guys night because how else were they going to get a salad. They were all great and we had fun and stayed for a short while. The kids and I drove home and the guys did their guy thing and Jason hitched a ride back to Springfield with one of his pals.

Saturday consisted of
-Jason taking Mollie Jane on a date to the Builders Home Show at our Expo center and loosing a "woobie."
-Jackson and I had his basketball pictures and then he had a basketball game.
-The whole family then headed about an hour away to a wedding reception where my kids had a blast. It was our wonderful babysitter Blair's sister Kristen (who used to also babysit for us.) We enjoyed ourselves so much we were once again the last people to leave the reception. We stayed and helped clean up a bit.
-Mollie Jane and her wonderful potty trained self decided she needed to go to the bathroom. My two year old somehow stopped up the toilet and then the whole toilet overflowed and literally started flooding the bathroom and into the reception area. Thank goodness everyone had left besides the family but the lovely father of the bride had to mop it up.
-Just when I thought we would be banned from the town of Monett Missouri forever Jackson insisted we get to go to Blair and Kristen's house. So we hung out there with the brides family as they unwinded from a fun filled wedding day. They were so great and their next door neighbor brought the Wii over for Jackson and showed him the new game of Dance, Dance Revolution. My son looked like he had "Tourette's Syndrome" but thought he was Napoleon Dynamite and had a blast.

Sunday consisted of
-A great day at church where Jason taught the Kid's Big church and I taught Jackson's Kindergarten class. So Fun! Of Course everyone at church thinks my husband is the funniest thing ever. He really is but I reminded a few people when you live with it 24/7 sometimes it isn't as funny! HAHAHA!
-Lunch at the club which is always a bonus when I don't have to cook
-Jason and Jackson playing a few holes of golf on this lovely 60 degrees day
-A short bike ride
-Mollie Jane and Jackson making some Valentines and somehow my son always gets hot during crafts and insists on taking his shirt off???
-I vacuumed and the kids always squeal and scream with laughter and built forts all over the house and pretend to hide from the vacuum. It really is not even worth it to vacum because I spend more time picking up the fort remnants than I do vacuuming.
-My husband cooking this fabulous new recipe for dinner (I think he still feels bad about Friday night). I'll see how many meals and favors I can get out of his guilt.
-Jackson's new favorite book is this silly chapter book called "Captain Underpants" and tonight before bath He and Mollie Jane stripped down to their socks and undies and tied their blankets around their necks and run through the house like superheros singing "TRALALALALA."

We had a great fun filled family weekend but I am thinking to myself as I am winding down from this weekend getting ready for next week, Really, what did we do before we had kids? I have come to the conclusion- NOTHING!

We would like some more snow days!

Living in Missouri you get used to battling the snow & ice. The positive side of snow & ice is that you have this lovely thing called a "snow day." All of you Texans are not familiar with that term. Hopefully by the time you get finished reading this blog you will have an idea of what a snow day is.

Snow days in the Brawner house consist of:

-Sleeping in very late
-Staying in your PJ's most of the day (and yes there was one day at about 4:00 Jackson said "Mommy how cool would it be if we could stay in our jammies all day."
-Mac and Cheese for lunch. If we have a snow day we automatically get to have Mac & Cheese for lunch (even if it is not a Thursday). Jackson and I are all about Mac & Cheese day every day ("even if it is not good for your body.")
-Sledding and making snow ramps. Although this year, I unfortunately could not sled (but pregnant or not I was really tempted).
-Building a snowman family in our front yard. Jackson insisted we build a "brother" a "sissy" and a "baby" snowmen. I told him we didn't have enough snow in our yard to make a "Daddy" snowman or especially a pregnant "Mommy" snowman.
-Dessert every night. When it is cold and snowy outside it just call for baking.
-A very fun-filled sleepover with donuts and Planet Earth, especially when school gets called off the night before and you know you get to sleep in.
-Hot Chocolate with lots of Marshmellows when you are done sledding.
-Big breakfasts of eggs, pancakes or whatever you want. Forget the usual oatmeal and banana.
-An outing to our local mall to run out our energy at the play place.
-A couple of dinners at our house with our sweet single next door neighbor Tracy.
-Extra time to play our Wii.
-Making chocolate chip cookies in the middle of the day and testing the batter.
-Playing lots of "Go Fish," Board Games and "Old Maid."
-I loved that there were several home projects finished and lots of drawer sorting. My nesting habits are kicking in a little early this pregnancy.
-Late bedtimes
-We had lot of time with our favorite babysitter Blair who was down here for school and got stranded with us for about 5 days. I think my kids got really used to her being here and so did I. Could she please come back and do my lunch and dinner dishes tomorrow?
-Snow boots are way fun and especially Mollie Jane getting to wear her themed "Dora" snow boots. They are a real treat cauz we have very limited selection of themed apparel besides PJ's because Mommy is not a big fan of it.
-Jason not really laughing after pushing Blair's car after it got stuck in the snow for about an hour one day.
-I don't have to work on snow days because most of my clients are rural and can't get out. Yeah!! Or I guess it stops being a "Yeah" when I get this week's paycheck in mid-February.
-Jackson loved playing with all the neighborhood kids at our favorite sledding spot and him finally really "living life on the edge" and going down the hill backwards on his sled or on his tummy over the ramp. He is not our daredevil, but we're working on it.
-We had some late night deliveries to our next door neighbors of our plethora of baked goods so my stomach doesn't get any wider than it needs to be.

So if that doesn't inspire all you Texans or warm weather people, I don't know what will. You just don't know what your are missing. Three Snow days in a row is pretty unusual for us here because we get used to functioning in the snow. It was lovely. No complaints from the Brawner household. The house was too quiet today when the kids went back to school.
We also got out and went to our first official "Doctor's Office Sonogram." Everything looked great and we are right on target for our June 2 due date. I am just glad it didn't get pushed back! The kids loved seeing the baby on the monitor. The ultrasound nurse printed a picture out for Jackson and Mollie Jane and told them the baby was waving at them. Jackson has been carrying it everywhere since Wednesday.

Jackson's First Basketball Game

Jackson had his first basketball game today and he was all business. Jackson sounded just like his Dad this morning (or me as we are trying to get out the door for school). "Mommy" he says, " we are getting in the car and we need to leave right now because Daddy and I have our basketball game." This was like at 11:35 and his game was at 12:30 and was literally down the street about 5 minutes. So I hurried myself up and we of course got to the game about 11:45. I am not that early anywhere!! He was all about the warm-up and informed me that I was trying to put my stuff and sit down with Mollie Jane on his team's bench. So I had to move across the courts and sit in my proper seat. Jason and I laugh because he has such a serious side to him. He tried so hard and you could just tell he loved being with all his friends and a part of the team. One of his closest friends from last year in preschool, Carson Wade, is on his team. His dribbling has greatly improved since last year. He still appears a little nervous when he gets the ball passed to him. I think he enjoys playing defense the best. Jason has taken on the role of assistant coach (which Jackson loves). During the game, Jackson was running up and down the court looking at me telling me how many points his team had. It was so cute and several times he was so busy trying to tell me what the score was and keeping the score himself that he missed what was going on with his game. Jackson was proud to report "The Wildcats" won! Especially since last year his team did not win a game. We are not really thinking a college scholarship in basketball (although he is the tallest on the team). I don't know if he'll be a Tim Duncan but he sure had some serious NBA facial expressions going on out there today. It was priceless.

Snacks

As many of you know I am the snack queen and wherever I go I have lots of snacks. I can't really blame it on having kids because long before I had kids I always had a steady supply of snacks with me. Eating is the key to my kids hearts and as long as we have a snack of some sort we can usually get through any Brawner crisis.
My old purse was falling apart so over the weekend I found a great purse on sale that could get me through the next several months until I could use my cute spring purse.

Jackson: Mommy, did you get a new purse? (Jason hates that he always takes note of my new handbags).

Alison: Yes, bud I did get a new purse. Do you like it?

Jackson: But Mommy, how could you buy a purse that doesn't have a pouch for snacks? Mommy, I think that was a bad choice.

Clearly my children spend way too much time with me sometimes because not only are they thinking like me but they talk like me too. When I bought the purse over the weekend, I was really debating not purchasing it because I specifically thought where are all my snacks going to go? Yet, it was such a good buy, I purchased it anyways. Way to be cheap Alison.

The best babysitter in the world.

We had such an unbelievable time at Blair and Ben's Wedding. They got married on January 10, 2009. It was such a beautiful ceremony at St. Paul's Methodist Church in downtown Springfield. We got there on Saturday and Mollie Jane and I had lunch with all the girls and got ready. Jackson and Jason hung out with all the boys and had lunch and got ready. Anytime, I walked upstairs to check on Jackson and what was going on he was very serious that this was the boys room. It was so cute and he loved hanging with Ben and all his friends. The wedding was at 4:00. Jackson walked down the isle as the ring bearer with a friend of his Channing Turner and Mollie Jane walked down the isle as a flower girl with Channing's sister Hollis. Jackson and Mollie Jane both did so great. They both took their roles so seriously. We were a little worried about Mollie Jane either running down the isle or blurting out random statements as she walked down. But she did neither. She called Blair and herself a princess . She loved being all dressed up and we made a big deal before the wedding about how princess's act. It must have worked. The other big part of Blair's wedding (besides walking down the isle) was the chocolate fountain at the reception. We had been gearing up for that chocolate fountain for days before and "Oh Baby" was it wonderful. We had lots of fun dancing and eating the night away. We were of course the last guests to leave besides the wedding party. We left about the time the chocolate fountain shut down. We were so honored to be a included in her special day.



At the rehersal dinner the night before Mollie Jane got some jewelry and a purse from Ben and Blair and Jackson got a "webkinz" camel complete with a tux outfit whom he proudly named "Ben" the camel. Jackson insisted"Ben" the camel come to the weddin, so he was there. The rehersal dinner at "Millies" was fabulous. Jackson loved seeing the video of Ben and Blair growing up and as he put it "how fat Blair was as a baby." It's a good thing she grew up and lost all her "baby fat" and her "bowl cut" because I can't imagine a fat girl with a "bowl cut" pulling off that stunning wedding dress as beautifully as Blair pulled it off. Mollie Jane kept saying on Saturday "Mommy she is so beutiful." She was.

Blair has been babysitting for my kids since Jackson was one and before Blair came along her sister Kristen babysat for Jackson when he was a tiny baby. We have so many funny Blair and Kristen stories about them babysitting our kids. Blair always babysits for us us while I work which is one or two days a week and then when we need her otherwise. I think we had some really bad timing having a baby in June and our favorite babysitter is leaving. Clearly, we were not thinking. Jackson and Mollie Jane's favorite day of the week is Thursday because it is Mac & Cheese day (for lunch) and when Blair comes. I asked Jackson what he most likes about Blair. His responses: I like Blair when she plays Wii with me, she colors with me, we play games, we wrestle and dance, we get on the computer, she doesn't really make me take body rest anymore, we read books, her phone is cool, we like riding in her car going places, I like Oscar her cat, and we do my homework together. He then asks since Blair is moving to Kansas City if Sherry (Blair's Mom who he adores) could watch him. When you ask Mollie Jane about Blair the first thing that comes out of her mouth is "Ben." Which just about sums it up for Mollie Jane. She loves Blair but Ben is "It" for Mollie Jane. We have been fortunate that often times when Blair comes and watches our kids Ben comes over too. They have been so great to call several times and just take our kids out for the evening. Seriously, what kind of a babysitter does that? I think babysitter's don't do that, just family. That is what Ben and Blair are to Jason and I and our kids, family. We seriously couldn't love them any more. We are so proud of both of them and so excited for them and this new chapter in their life called marriage. Jackson knows she is moving to Kansas City in May but said during the reception can Blair still come on Thursdays even after she moves to Kansas City? Poor guy, he just doesn't get it. Thursdays will be a sad day come May. At least it is still Mac & Cheese day. We are hoping this semester while Blair is in KC on the weekends with Ben in her new apartment and here in Springfield midweek finishing up nursing school that she will come and stay at the "Brawner Hotel."

The wonderful things my kids teach me about God

I had a story for Jackson and Mollie Jane that really hit me this week. Bible Study Fellowship is a wonderful, extremely disciplined, scriptural study that the kids and I have been involved in the last four year. It has taught me so much but probably the main thing is how much I can stand to learn about my relationship with Christ. My children have loved it as well and I seriously cannot wrap my brain around all the concepts and scripture they are learning. They both take it so seriously. They have a little class they go to every week and they learn and study the same lesson that I do. One of my favorite things is how disciplined the kids teachers are to pray for my children and my leader and group are to pray for me. I welcome all the prayers I can get for my kids in this crazy world in which we live to help them grow up to have a deep relationship with their Saviour. My favorite story to explain this point is from last year. Jackson was in the four year class and his teacher had a spiral notebook where she wrote all the prayers for the children in her class all year. She had written a prayer down for Jackson when she got her class list before she had ever met him. Every week she continued praying for him. Last year my Mom gave Jackson a Bible for his birthday. It was such a special present to him and he truly loved it. I would and still catch him in the morning just flipping through his Bible trying to pick out words he can read and checking out the pictures. He insists on bringing it with him every week to BSF and to church. He always says in his most serious voice "this is God's true word" to almost anyone who asks him about his Bible. His BSF teachers had noticed this specialness with Jackson and his Bible. His teacher pulled me aside a few weeks after his birthday last May and said I just have to show you this. She showed me that first entry in her prayer journal (which I didn't read the other entries for the other kids but noticed that each of the dozen of kid's listed had different prayers). I read what she wrote down on that first entry for Jackson. Her prayer was that "Jackson would hide God's true word upon his heart." She looked at me and said "God hears our prayers and he answers them, doesn't He?"
How thankful I am to my kids teachers for praying for them and when will I quit underestimating the importance of prayer for myself and those around me. Thank you God for hearing our prayers and answering them.

Mollie Jane's story was a few days ago coming home from Bible Study Fellowship. Our lesson that week was on Moses seeing God's image and Moses talking to God on the mountain for 40 days. It had not been a particularly great week for me with stress and just lots of things going on. I had been thinking about how much I wanted to go on a mountain and talk to God face to face and see him. I just felt like if I could do that like Moses my problems wouldn't seem so heavy. God why can't you make yourself accessible to me in the same way you did to Moses? It seems so much easier sometimes.
In the car, I was asking Mollie Jane about her lesson and what she learned. She told me about Moses on the Mountain and then she said "I talked to My God on my pillowcase." They have a little quiet/prayer time where the children lay down on their pillowcases and pray to God. She then proceeded to talk about John and Sally and how they don't like to talk to God on their pillowcases and they cried. (I assume they don't love the lay down quiet part of the day). I asked her what she said to God and she responded "I just wave to him and he waves back to me Mommy." I can just picture Mollie Jane on her Dora pillowcase at quiet time waving her chubby little hand up towards God. From that precious response, I realized from my two year old that God was reminding me while I can't always see Him the exact way that I want to see him if I would take may own agenda out of it I could be reminded that I can actually see him.

2009 Jackson Brawner Style

Our usual and favorite couple and their kids to spend New Years Eve with were in Arkansas this year. So this year we decided rather than twist our babysitters arms to babysit our kiddo on New Years Eve that we would make it a fun filled family night. So Jackson planned his perfect night and we got out some paper and wrote down our agenda for the night.

1)Going to dinner at Chick Fill A and playing in the play place after we eat.

2)Wii Tournament complete with official paperwork of the various rounds of the tournament. He insisted on inviting our single neighbor next door to participate. "Don't you think she would love to be in our tournament Mommy?" I didn't have the heart to tell him she is single and dating and I am sure she will not be hanging out by herself next door. Before I knew it, he had sounded out the cutest flyer complete with a picture telling Ms Tracy that there was a Wii tournament at the Brawner House and taped it to her door.

3) No bath. It is a treat for my kids when their "germ a fobe" Mom lets them skip a bath. Even in the winter.

4)A sleepover for the whole family in Mommy and Daddy's bed complete with donuts (chocolate and powdered sugar). He insisted since it was New Years Eve that Mollie Jane participate in the sleepover too. Mollie Jane really didn't know what a sleepover was but couldn't have been mor excited about it.

Chick Fill A was fabulous dinner. Besides the police officers who were on duty eating there, the Brawners just about had the restaurant to ourselves. Jackson and Mollie Jane loved having the run of the play place.
We then came home and started the Wii tournament. Daddy kicked everyone's "biscuits" in bowling. Jackson kicked everyone's "biscuits" in Golf and the running portion on the Wii Fit. Jackson was deemed the winner of the tournament and proudly placed his name in the winner's brackets. Mollie Jane actually did some of the running portion of the Wii fit with a real remote. Usually we just hand her a numb chuck and let her think she's playing.
We then got in bed with our Donuts and watched our favorite sleepover show "Planet Earth." Mollie Jane did excellent for the donut portion of the sleepover but then kept getting on and off the bed during "Planet Earth" saying "I be right back." Mommy quickly decided a New Years Eve hangover would have been better than a sleepover with a two year old. So poor Mollie Jane got booted to her crib but had a lovely nights sleep and so did the three of us in our big bed.
Jackson woke me up in the morning saying "Mommy you have been sleeping a long time." I then open my eyes with his nose literally pressed to my nose and a giant smile Jackson says "Wasn't that the best sleepover?"

All that to say. Jason and I have had some really great New Years Eve parties and rang in the New Year in some fun places. We have been with wonderful friends in lovely atmospheres with awesome food. We have even gotten all "fancied up" and one year I remember busting out my "millennium skirt." Yes, I actually bought a silver one!!! It was lovely (ask Anne E. and my sister).
But this one will definitely go down at the top of my list. Once again, I am reminded by my five year old that it is not always about what you are doing, where you are or how much money your spend, but only who you are with.
I think this is the first year I can recall ringing in the new year in my PJ's and retainer but it was sure lovely.

A Chilly SDC Christmas

We had a fun filled Brawner family Christmas on the 27th. We went down to Branson to Big and SueSue's for a fun day with out cousins Jameson (5) and Owen (2). Jackson and Jameson were watching a movie in a back bedroom so Uncle Travis decided to set up the Wii that they had gotten for Christmas in the family room. Jackson with his radar ears for the Wii comes out of the bedroom with his mouth wide open. He could not have been more excited that Jameson had a Wii too. So needless to say Mary Poppins and body rest was over and the boys and their Daddies were all about the Wii the rest of the afternoon.
We then opened some presents and decided we would get out of the house and have a fun family adventure at Silver Dollar City. It was so fun but it was crazy cold. We managed to get our yummy skillet bowls for dinner and about freeze eating them outside without gloves. But David got his most favorite skillet bowl. We saw the parade, took the train, and played a round of the "Shoot em up game." Besides a few crabby adults who shall remain nameless the kids had a blast seeing their cousins and being at their most favorite place in the world with them (or is it really Mommy's favorite place in the world?). Either way it was way chilly but Mollie Jane talked about seeing Frosty at the parade at Silver Dollar City for Days after that. She kept asking in her two year old voice "Did Owen see Frosty too Mommy? Does Owen love Frosty?" It was cold but it was fun.

Our 2008 Christmas Countdown favorites

What a wonderful Christmas we had this 2008. Seriously, every year I think this is the best Christmas we have ever had and every year it gets better. Five and two are such divine ages. I do wish I could freeze my kids sometimes and yesterday was one of those days. So here are my most favorite memories from Christmas this year.

1) Mollie Jane trying to unwrap every present under the tree because she loves unwrapping presents. She really is not into getting presents but just unwrapping.
2) Jackson's random hugs all day long at the most unexpected times with the hugest smile on his face because he was having so much fun.
3) The best breakfast in the world that was in no way lo-fat.
4) That we had a house-full of people.
5) Jackson was especially thrilled that his great Aunt Jo and Arlo came in from Little Rock. Since they are about in their 80's I had told him that sometimes older peoples bodies get sick a little easier and they might not be able to drive. When we told him they were coming, he said "are their bodies okay?'
6) That besides my Dad, we were all in our pajamas until 4:45 (that was definitely my favorite).
7) We had brie for lunch (yum) and horderves and sweets and just ate all day for our lunch.
8) Jackson and Great Uncle Arlo playing the Wii.
9) Mollie Jane did not really eat her dinner because she was too busy "hamming it up" for the whole table but instead had three cookies from Aunt Jo for dinner.
10) Aunt Jo sharing with my father about her seizure problem and Glen being at a loss for words.
11) Mollie Jane as we are opening our presents going and getting all my random garage sale junky toys and games that we pick up throughout the year and dumping them all over the room. Why do I even bother buying her presents? She love the junk.
12) My husband who was not supposed to buy me a gift this year buying me a Wii fit because I feel he is secretly worried I will become a "porker" with this third pregnancy.
13) The two pack of dream catchers from our brother-in-law Joel the native Oklahoman!! HAHAHAHAHA. At least we gave you a "fart pen"
14) Alison thanking Aunt Jo for a pearl ring she had given to Mollie Jane a few months ago and her telling me that the reason she gave it to her was really only because she thought she was going to die so she wanted to start giving some things away. So should I offer it back to her????
15) Asking Jackson last night what his favorite gifts were this year and he said "his Wii and his slinky." Excuse, me a slinky??? Seriously, I think it was a quarter. Really besides a Wii the best gifts are definitely not the most expensive.
16) Aunt Jill brought a great red velvet cake for dinner and when we set it on the table Mollie Jane was looking all over the house for "Baby Jesus" from our nativity set to put on our cake. I couldn't figure it out and then she reminded my Mom in her two year old language that Christmas Eve we had a birthday cake and she is now thinking that every cake is a birthday cake for Jesus.
17) Of all the people in our house with that need to be playing Wii and Wii fitness it is not my five year old skinny son with a six pack yet he played it nonstop yesterday and got so hot he had to take his shirt off even though it was like 30 degrees outside!
18) That Jason did Wii fitness in the morning and weighed himself and then did it late again last night and he had gained 4.7 pounds and the Wii figure on the screen literally got fatter in front of our eyes on the screen. I almost peed my pants.
19) Jackson got his own plate last night and got in the serving line and said "I am going to get all my own food, okay Mommy." It is Christmas so of course anything goes. He did (Natalie are you surprised) get turkey, green beans, and sweet potatoes. He "wolfed it down" like the rest of this and with a huge smile on his face said "Mommy, I had three white rolls and they were so good."
20) My sweet husband who said several times yesterday what a great day we were having.
21) Jason's grandpa telling my Mom and Dad about all the laxatives he has taken and his bowel issues.
22) That Great Aunt Jo did not bring her stuffing this year which looks like brownies.
23) That Jason, Mollie Jane and Jill went to our awesome neighbors Franny and Bob's house last night at about 9:15 to take them some Christmas wine we had been meaning to take all week but hadn't gotten around to it. He literally got them out of bed watching a movie and when Dr. Bob came to the door in his boxers and saw Jason's pretty sister Jill at the door and not Mollie Jane or Jason he sort of did a startled jump. Then they both got up and were thrilled for visitors (as they always are) and visited with them in their P.J's.
24) That Jason has decided I don't really need a double oven cauz I can just walk next door whenever we entertain and use our sweet single next door neighbor Tracy's oven who is usually never there. Thanks Tracy, you saved me.
25) Winston passing gas so bad that my Dad and Mom could not stop laughing and Dad kept his nose in his sweater.
26) That my Dad came up to me and said how much he missed my sister and I being little and what fun memories he has of all our Christmas's and how I realize that in the blink of eye those will be my thoughts exactly.
27) My Mom feeding the pets all day so Jason or I didn't have to mess with the beasts. But wait she does that the whole time she is here!! She needs to come back because they feel truly neglected when she leaves.
28) My Mom cleaning and doing laundry. Entertaining is so much more fun when you have an extra set of hands.
29) Leftovers for several days after Christmas.
30) When you are a little sad after opening up all the presents cauz you think it is all over, I smile because the best meal of the whole year (except for Thanksgiving) is still waiting for me to eat and then I am pumped.
31) Watching Great Aunt Jo, Arlo, and Paw-Paw open up their gifts and just start opening them without reading the tags and seeing who gave them what.
32) Alison spelling Arlo's name on the Christmas tag on his present with a "w." I have been spelling his name "Arlow" wrong for like 12 years but not because I don't know how to spell it but because somehow I always forget his name does not have a "w." Seriously, what is my problem.
33) Mollie Jane randomly asking me several times yesterday (and she has not been doing this until yesterday) "Mommy do you have a baby in your tummy? A boy baby?" Then giving me a big pat.
34) Jackson (No, Pops it was not your fault) locking the keys in the car with it running on Christmas Eve and the "Pop a lock guys" came out for $27.00. So we were late to church but lets face it we were going to be late anyways!!
35) That I actually wrote these memories down. I have been trying to do this every year for my scrapbook and just to remember from one year to the next and I never do.
36) That my parents drove from Tulsa, rented a car, flew from San Antonio just to spend Christmas here with us. It is an awful lot of money and effort to see us but they do it so often and it means the world to my us and my kids.
37) Jackson made all the Wii people yesterday. Sue-sue, Jason, Mollie Jane, Arlo, Aunt Nedda, Big, Jill, Uncle Davie, etc... He was so pumped because on the Wii profile they had a hairstyle just like the way Pops has his hair. He also gave himself 80's glasses, a bun, facial hair and brown skin. Several other people had random features like that. What is up with that???
38) Realizing I had successfully potty trained Mollie Jane. What the heck was I thinking potty training the week of Christmas??? Nevertheless, it is done. Still need to work on the #2 thing a bit. Dry big girl pants and pull ups for 5 days.
39) When Jackson opened his OU T-shirt from "Uncle Poel & Aunt Buzy" as we refer to them the first thing he said was, "Mammy, Pops, you are not really going to like this."
40) Probably the best memory I have of Christmas 2008 is having the thought several times yesterday throughout the day that regardless of how crazy of a year it has been financially with this crazy economy that I have everything I really need. My family, my health, my Saviour. I am so blessed and every year does get better somehow. I give the glory to God. Only he can make that possible.

Let the blogging fun begin

I am taking a stab at blogging. The other day our sweet, favorite babysitter (who has been with us practically since Jackson was born) reminded me of this funny saying Jackson used to say when we would hold him up to the mirror when he was a toddler. At that moment I realized I had totally forgotten that memory and it was only a couple of years ago. I think it was at that moment when I felt like I needed to write down some of those cute fun things that occur daily in our house. I have always said "I need to write that down and keep of book of all those special little memories," and of course I never do. I feel with a third child coming life will only get crazier and my memory is only going to fail me more. So it is my hope that I can write down some memories and events from the Brawner's day to day life so that one day I can look back and remember them. Maybe one day my kids can have some written memories of themselves and our crazy but fun life. I think I also got a little pressure from all my blogger friends Shawna, Christy, Penny, my sister, etc.. (most especially Natalie my blogging idol who helped me get my blog up and running) who all are master bloggers. I do not feel totally in touch with the cyber community out there so this is really a big deal for me. Let me just say if Alison Brawner can figure out how to blog anyone can do it. So here is to my crazy new years resolution.

Guess What....

Every year the Brawner's do a birthday party for Jesus. It is one of the highlights of our holiday season. This year will always be remembered as a very special Birthday Party for Jesus because we found out that we are having another boy!!!! We had an ultrasound on the 23rd of December and got to see the baby. It was really great to just watch this baby for about half and hour and see all the tiny delicate features. God is so good and when you see ultrasounds you really are in awe of his handiwork. Our ultrasound tech had us close our eyes and she printed out the sex of our baby and sealed it in an envelope. After the ultrasound, we took the sealed envelope to a bakery. The bakery lady was probably more excited than we were. She was to open the envelope, read the sex of Brawner Baby #3, and then she was going to do pink icing if it was a girl and blue if it was a boy on the inside of the cake. The whole cake was iced white and so we could only tell when you cut the cake. We let Mollie Jane and Jackson cut the cake. At first we didn't really believe them and had to actually physically place a piece of cake on a plate. Alison's Mom and Dad were here along with Jason's sister Jill and her husband David and Jason' Mom, Dad and Grandpa. I am a little unsure about being outnumbered by boys in our family. I know God knows exactly what we need. We feel blessed beyond belief and thrilled.

Christmas 2008

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thes. 5:16-18
Jason is managing his software company in California and working on some custom home building and developments. God has been faithful by showing us through 2008 that despite a difficult economy "he has the plans for us" (Jer 29:11)
Alison is still working as a licensed professional counselor about two days a week with children and families.
Jackson is in half-day kindergarten this year and loving it. He is reading and is "all business" when it comes to school and homework. He plays baseball, golf, soccer, basketball and swim team. His favorite is usually whatever he is doing that season. He has a very sweet, compassionate personality and is so patient with Mollie Jane.
Mollie Jane is all girl and may be trying to steal her father's role as the comedian of the family. She has never met a stranger. Her favorite people in the world are her Dad and brother so we are convinced she is becoming boy crazy. She enjoys preschool, Kindermusik, and Bible Study Fellowship .
The biggest news to report is that Baby Brawner #3 will arrive June 2. We are very excited and will find out the sex of the baby on Christmas Eve. My New Years Resolution is to join all the bloggers of the world and start blogging so you can share in our joy and check out our news after Christmas at www.thebrawners.com.
Alison's sister is having a girl the end of February and it was wonderful seeing her over Thanksgiving. Alison assured her it is most likely the one and only time they will be pregnant together so they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
We took several trips this year. We went to Washington D.C. for Spring Break, a Bermuda cruise with Alison's whole family in August, and the adults in Jason's family took a trip to London, Rome and Capri this past October
. We also took multiple trips back to Texas to see family and friends.
Have a wonderful Christmas and may you be thankful for all Christ has done in 2008.
Jason, Alison, Jackson, Mollie Jane and Baby Brawner (June 2008)
1355 South Fairway, Springfield, MO 65804 *417-429-3674 (our new phone number)

Christmas 2007

Thanks Be Unto God for His Unspeakable Gift. 1 Cor 9:15

That verse just about sums up the year for the Brawners. We have much to be thankful for but our best gift is truly our Savior. How fortunate we are to know Him.

Jackson is four-and-a-half years old and is our loving, sensitive, talkative, busy big guy. This year he played soccer, basketball, and golf. He does swimming lessons at the same Drury pool where Jason grew up swimming. He wants to play every sport his Daddy played and so far his favorite is golf because he gets to play with Jason. He attends preschool four mornings a week and Bible Study Fellowship.

We occasionally think about our life before Mollie Jane and we just can’t imagine it. She is our laid back, outgoing, yet determined family comedian. She, of course, wants to do anything and everything her older brother does. Yet, she is all girl. She loves shoes, accessories, babies, dresses, and hair bows. She is constantly nurturing all her babies, stuffed animals and everyone she comes in contact with. She goes to Parents Day Out one morning a week and a baby music class another morning a week.

I am working one day a week counseling children and families. I am also volunteering a couple of times a month counseling at a local children’s shelter. I feel challenged and still find my job very rewarding. I did training for a week in Chicago last spring and a week in California this fall. I manage to stay busy but if free time ever exists we love to go for a run, entertain, spend time with friends (and usually their kids too), or head down to Branson and relax.

Jason still owns TrialPoint, a Trial Services company, with our brother-in-law in California. He is still flying but more for pleasure. He is building several housing developments in the Springfield/Branson area. He has started an excavation company and an Amish framing company to help him with his developments. While his work schedule has been busy, he is really enjoying this new challenge. Jason and I are both doing a Bible Study on the book of Matthew this year and are enjoying it.

Our family went to Washington DC for spring break and was able to go to the White House Easter Egg Hunt and use my sister Melissa’s connections in the White House to do some special activities. We took several trips to San Antonio to see family and friends. We spent a lot of time in Branson at our lake condo this spring and summer when it was not rented. We vacationed with Jason’s family in Branson for a week this summer and had fun on the lake. We spent a week in Kiawah Island with Alison’s family. Jason and I celebrated our 11^th anniversary this summer and took a much needed getaway to the Bahamas for a week. Our pets are still alive and kicking (the cat barely).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jason, Alison, Jackson, & Mollie Jane Brawner alisonbrawner@yahoo.com jasonbrawner@gmail.com

Merry Christmas 2006

It has been a great year for the Brawner family. By far the biggest highlight would be the arrival of our baby girl Mollie Jane. She is already four months old and is the sweetest, happiest, best-sleeping baby. She is becoming aware of her brother and interacting with others. She is such a joy and a blessing to our family.
Jackson, who is now 3 1/2, has adjusted well to his new sister. He seems to be growing up so fast. He really has his father’s sweet laid back personality and his mother’s talkative mouth! This year he played on a soccer team, baseball team, and has taken up golf. He still enjoys going to Kindermusik, preschool, and Bible Study Fellowship.
Jason is still flying but it seems to be mainly for pleasure these days. He is still working for his own company with our brother-in-law in California. He also enjoys speculating on real estate investments in the Springfield/Branson area.
Alison is still working as a licensed professional therapist and has gone from two days to one half day a week because of the arrival of Mollie Jane. She is still doing Bible Study Fellowship, Junior League, bunko groups, church small group, play groups, etc…
Pet update: Woody (the black lab), Winston (the bulldog), and Buckwheat (the feisty cat) are doing great. However, 2006 will mark the passing of Brutus (the mastiff). After 12 long years with Brutus (that, according to the average lifespan of Mastiff, is 4 years too long) he will be sorely missed. However, in typical Brutus fashion, his death was nothing by typical. If you have ever seen the movie, “Weekend at Bernie’s” you know most of the story (but you can read the actual saga on the blog).
We took several family trips to Texas for some relaxing “getaways” and were able to take a couples trip to St. Thomas last February. We also bought a condo down on the lake in Branson which has served as a fun mini vacation spot.
Jason ran the San Antonio marathon last month and, while running is still our favorite hobby, Alison was not up to running major distances just yet and instead just cheered him into the Alamodome!
Alison’s grandmother, GeGe, passed away this September at the age of 93. While she was hard to loose, her health had deteriorated rapidly this year. We will definitely miss her creativity and love of life.

“He will be a joy and a delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth.”
Luke 1:14
We have so much joy in our household this year and we know that this joy is made possible because of the birth of our Savior some 2000 years ago.

Jason, Alison, Jackson, & Mollie Jane Brawner
1355 South Fairway Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
(417)889-6506 home
(417)848-8689 Jason’s cell
*(417)429-3672 Alison’s new cell
jasonbrawner@gmail.com
alisonbrawner@yahoo.com
brawners.blogspot.com

Winston Rico McClean Brawner

 

Brawner's Christmas Letter 2004

Merry Christmas from the Brawner household. Once again it has been another fun filled year for the Brawner's. We had just finished remodeling our entire kitchen in April when we came across another house in our neighborhood that we fell in love with. We moved five blocks south of our old house in July. We love our new house and are enjoying lots more space for all the plastic toys we have so recently acquired. After this last move we have realized that we do not enjoy moving nor do we want to do it again anytime soon. Jackson is now 20 months old and at such a fun age. He talks all day, every day in complete and very antimated sentences (just like his mother). He is all boy but has a very sweet, loving personality (just like his father). He does a Parents Day Out program at a local church once a week and loves it He is the youngest in the class but he's a big boy and towers above the other toddlers in his class and therefore refers to his classmates as "babies." Jason is still flying for a local software company and now is also their director of marketing. His job has been pretty busy this year as he typically flies one or two days a week and then fits five days of marketing in on the days he isn't flying. Luckily Jason's office is close to our house so Jackson and I are so fortunate to have him drop in frequently for lunch. Jason has been working with the youth group at our church and really enjoys the challenge of trying to speak to junior high students. I am still working as a licensed counselor at a private clinic. I am really finding my job challenging and very rewarding and am now working two full days a week. This year, I also am doing lots of volunteering through Junior League, enjoying a Bunko group, a ladies group at church, play groups with jackson and a toddler music class. Jackson enjoys being spoiled as he has gone to San Antonio for several trips to stay with my parents and he loves his frequent sitings of Jason's parents from Branson. Jason and I were able to get away for a week and take a Caribbean cruise with some great friends in May and then went to Texas and spent a great weekend at the lake in August. Our families are all doing great My sister and her husband just bought a townhouse in Washington D.C., Jason's sister and her husband just bought a house in Los Angeles, and Jason's brother and his wife just bought a house in Oklahoma City. We wish they were all closer but we think everyone will be far away for a while. We are thankful for all Christ's wonderful blessings during this crazy Brawner year but most of all we are thankful for Christ himself who sometimes seem to get forgotten during this busy holiday season. Merry Christmas! Our New Address Jason, Alison & Brawner alisonbrawner@yahoo.com 1355 S. Fairway jasonwbrawner@sbcglobal.net Springfield, MO 65804 #417-889-6506

The Brawners Christmas 2004 

Jackson's blowout pants. Today I went to pick Jackson up from school as I every Wednesday. When i got there I found him in this outfit. I thought it pretty funny since Alison had him dressed in his monogramed sweater vest. Aparently he exceeded his diaper capasity.

Jackson's Second Halloween. Here is another picture of the Brawner Boy. Again his mother has dressed him.

Sweaty Brawners after the Sunshine Run 10k. Sure we weren't lookin our best but hey, we'd just got done running 6.2 miles. Cut us a little slack. Actually we had a good time. We are planning on running the Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving. We are always up for a run.