Harper McLean Pardue is here!

Harper McLean made her big debut into the world on March 1, 2009. She was 7 pounds and 9 ounces and 20 inches long. I have been meaning to blog about my sweet niece for weeks but have waited until I came out to Washington DC to actually meet her before I wrote about her in our blog. It is worth the wait because she is more precious than I could ever imagine. It was love at first sight for me (although I am a little prejudice being her only Aunt). She is literally the best baby. She slept for seven hours last night. I keep telling my sister how lucky she is. Harper is four weeks today.
I flew out to Washington DC Saturday and left early in the morning in the pouring rain. and 38 degree weather. After leaving my car in the long term parking and walking in the pouring rain to check in for my 6 am flight. My wet chubby self got wanded in security and then I went to my Springfield gate to wait for my flight. The gate agent then proceeds to take every one's tickets and opens the door and everyone started filing outside. It was still pouring rain and I see a plane outside to the right. He then points not to the closest plane but the one next to which was like a football field away. I about died and I think out of my mouth came "are you kidding." My roll on bag and myself were totally soaked. Of course now there are no blankets on airlines so I froze my biscuits off and about lost my breakfast on the turbulent 45 minute flight but thankfully I hadn't eaten any so I made it okay. I took a little body rest in the St. Louis airport. I was then feeling refreshed and pumped to meet my niece. I noticed as we were boarding the plane an entire football team (the St. Louis Radars) were on our flight. No lie, the two biggest dudes on the whole team and my fat self shared a three seat row. Of course, my chubby eight month pregnant self sat in the middle of these two linebackers. The crazy flight was worth meeting my sweet niece.
We have been relaxing, going through her closet of adorable clothes, awing over her precious nursery, burping her, holding her, tummy time, etc.. It has been great and because she is such an amazing sleeper I think I got 11 hours of sleep last night. This is truly a vacation.

The Best Buds in the whole world!

Had to post some Awesome old photos.

Did I ever need a girls weekend or what? I went to Denton to visit my four pledge sisters Anna, Mandy, Christy and Kristen (Red) and had such a fun time. I got in Friday night and we relaxed and had a great dinner prepared by Anna. We slept in, relaxed and hit the big town of Denton for a great afternoon of shopping and the big Denton tour. Anna and Mandy whipped up an amazing steak dinner Saturday night and had some good laughs. We then slept in Sunday and ate some cinnamon roles and hit the road. I love that these are the friends that I see twice a year or so and even though we don't speak a ton during the year (cauz we all lead busy lives), we always pick back up right where we left off. Some of the highlights of the weekend were:
-Red gagging on the hot leftover Chinese food in the car
-Anna (the biggest non-shopper of our bunch)
shopping and making the biggest purchases of the weekend
-Some fun facebook time
-Red ordering a chocolate malt for the first time and not really enjoying it
-Anna's amazing new house
-Looking at Mandy's wedding pics
-Mandy bartering with the antique lady to try to get a deal on a table for Red.
-Hot tubbing it in Anna's awesome backyard and thank God I am not allowed in a hot tub and didn't have to be seen 7 months prego in a swimsuit like my other skinny friends.
-A little post shopping body rest
-Day gowns from Old Navy
-Brawner drama back at home in Springfield (Jason had a flat tire on the highway with the kids)
-The complete oil lamp collection
-Bringing up one of our favorite college stories about how we almost lost our mixers.
I laughed so hard all weekend I think I pulled a muscle in my big fat tummy. It was such a fun weekend and really just what the doctor ordered for Alison Brawner. A great get away with my best buds. Can't wait to see them all Labor Day weekend at the lake with our families and hopefully I'll be looking much thinner than this weekend!

I Can't Believe Jackson is 6

Jackson's Sixth Birthday, A "Webkins" bowling party.

Jackson's Fifth Birthday, A "Car's" Party

My fourth birthday, a "Bob the Builder" party.

My third birthday, an airplane party.

My second birthday. A "Maisy" party.

My chubby first birthday

The nurse measured him five times cauz she couldn't believe he was 23 inches long.

The day the big man was born, March 23, 2003


Where has the last six years gone? Seriously, I cannot believe Jackson is six. He is far from perfect but is such a joy to be around. He just cracks us up with his serious, all business about everything attitude. His teachers at school are always talking about how orderly and serious he is. Jason and I laugh because he has so many traits of both of us but then we look at each other and say "where did he get that from?" He is definitely a first born child for sure.
We celebrated the offical day by going to Jump Mania (an awesome place with lots of inflateables) with our best buds Madie and Jenna. We got crazy sweaty! Then for dinner Jackson got to go bowling at Incrediable Pizza. Big, Sue-Sue, Aunt Jill & Uncle David even made it up for the big celebration.

A Kilbourne weekend

We had another fun filled weekend. Our dear friends the Kilbournes kindly entrusted their two girls Madie and Jenna in our care for the weekend. Jackson and Mollie Jane counted down all week how many days until Friday when the official sleepover weekend began.
Friday night we had pizza and then got to have the ever famous powdered sugar donuts in bed with a movie. It was a big hit.
Saturday "Uncle Ja" or "Daddy" got up and fixed cinnamon toast and eggs and then we all headed out to the Home Depot for their kids building projects that they do free the first Saturday of every month. The kids had a blast and Jason thought for a moment his back was going to go out trying to build four racetracks. We did a little shopping and just trying to maneuver four bodies in a cart was a little funny. I told Jason I got so many looks in the store like this couple with four kids and there she is pregnant again. We just laughed and decided no matter how crazy we looked we'd claim all four of them any day. They all did so great and played outside all day Saturday. Jason talked them into doing yard work by picking up all the "pokey balls" that feel from our trees in the yard and then we had a big bonfire in the fire pit in the back yard.
Winston helped tuck us into bed on Saturday night and had to leave the sleepover a little sooner than expected because he had terrible gas and kept getting under the sheets!
Sunday, Jason had to teach so I got all the kids up and looking spiffy for late church and we were only five minutes late plus a time change!!! We then had a fabulous lunch in our playhouse and once again played all afternoon outside until it was too dark to see.
Madie and Jenna's Mom "Ms Natalie" missed her flight and so is coming late tonight to pick them up after they are asleep and take them home. I know it stressed Natalie out but we have enjoyed ever extra minute with Jenna and Madie and got to get one more movie and donut session in. Poor Mollie Jane really wanted to be included in the sleepover each night but did really good when she had to be whisked away to her crib. Jackson said tonight as he was going to bed "Are Madie and Jenna really going to be gone in the morning when I wake up?" I don't think we could love Madie and Jenna any more than we already do. We sure had a great weekend and want them to come back again soon so we can have an excuse for some more donuts and movies in bed.

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.