Here we are, Jeremy Brown, Alyssa Brown, Aidan, and Alex. This picture was taken this December 2007. Aidan is 4 and Alex is 2. We are still enjoying life in Cedar Park and watching our 2 little boys become big, active boys!
Here is a copy of our Christmas Letter. Merry Christmas!
Dear Friends and Family, December 2007
Every year it’s another letter. Another update on a year in the life of 2 preschoolers, 2 pups, a wearing mom, an aging dad J, a few hermit crabs, some fish, and whatever other creepy crawlers make it into the Brown household. This year proves to be just as exciting.
2007 was the year that Alex learned to talk, run, and mimic all things Aidan. He also turned 2, started preschool and has found much fun in the art of play-doh, once he stopped eating it. Aidan embraced his role of big brother and his responsibility of teaching his little brother all things important in life including sitting on the edge of the bathroom sink, feet inside covered in soapy water- “we were washing our feet,” he said. But more of that later.
Jeremy joined the ranks of the 30-somethings, making sure to rub in the fact that for 2 days I was 31 and he was 29. We celebrated Elvis style. Why Elvis? Jeremy was born the exact day that Elvis past 30 years ago. In May Jeremy took an early birthday trip scuba diving with his father in Cozumel. Aidan went to Santa Fe with Jeremy and had some special one on one time with Grandma Julie for a few days. Alex and I had some special time here too!
After celebrating Aidan’s 4th birthday in June, we then spent a good portion of the summer time in our Blue Durango embracing the open road. Road trips are how families grow close, right? We took our annual trip to IL in July, then had a houseful of IL family members join us in Texas for a week before we ventured off for a week in beautiful Destin, FL, with the Lerma crew. Aidan and Alex put their swim lessons to good use! They were jumping off the diving board at Aunt Mary’s pool and spending most of their days in the water, despite the rainy summer in Austin. They had fun at Sea World. Our trip included a behind the scenes tour of the Beluga Whale show. They both enjoyed petting the whales. So did mommy! In Florida we spent our days on the beach or splashing in the pool and hot tub. Alex said goodbye to his pacifiers leaving them in the ocean with the fish. When he came home he was no longer interested in sleeping in his crib, he was on to a toddler bed.
This was the year that Aidan first created a NO BAD (keep out) sign on his door to keep his brother from wrecking his things. Aidan is pouring on the love these days. He tells me that he wants to do good things all the time. He is excelling in academics. His teacher Ms. Sue has been wonderful. The other day I found some paper where he had written his numbers out from 1-107. He knows over 10 different phone numbers and calls people on a regular basis. Be careful how you answer your phones friends! He wants to know how electricity works and how to play chess. He is curious about everything! Curious enough that he and Alex set the toaster oven on fire when trying to see what would happen when they put dry spaghetti inside! He is always making people laugh. The other morning he put googlie eyes on the back of his head and was off to school. He had everyone talking! Alex loves to sing and can recite the alphabet. He can toddle his little trike faster than anyone to the park. Alex is really coming into his own. He has developed some strong opinions. At night he usually makes tracks to our bed and sneaks his way in.
What about Jeremy and Alyssa? Jeremy left in September for a 9 day business trip to Limerick, Ireland, with a brief visit in London first. He celebrated 8 years with Dell Inc. in August and is still going strong! I’ve stayed busy with my Discovery Toys business, carpools, and my church Mom’s group. I even enjoyed a snowy January weekend trip to see my long time friend Nancy and her husband Glen in Denver. In July we were honored as godparents for Tom and Kylie Halls’ daughter Mara Kathryn for her baptism while they visited briefly from California.
We visited with my Grandma Lerma in San Antonio over Thanksgiving. Though she is struggling with her memory and other physical activity Aidan still managed to talk her ear off. As for December we have big plans. We look forward to a trip to Atlanta and then driving on to IL for Poppy George’s 80th birthday party. Well, that was a quick year in review! Have a Very Merry Christmas!
Love, Jeremy, Alyssa, Aidan and Alex Brown
The cousins circled around grandma Julie in their new Christmas pajamas for a good night reading of the Polar Express.
