The cousins circled around grandma Julie in their new Christmas pajamas for a good night reading of the Polar Express.

We celebrated Christmas with Mike and Julie Brown and Christy and Tim Tashjian early since we would not be seeing them on Christmas morning.

Aidan and Alex enjoyed taking the new Jeep out for a spin!! They hope to be saying that the Christmas when they turn 16!!

Brown Family 2007

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

Sitting With Santa Claus

Aidan had a letter that he just had to share with Santa Claus. He cut out pictures from all of the toy catalogs that came in the mail and glued them on paper. Santa Claus did a decent job reading what Aidan wrote on his list, he could make out walkie talkies anyway. Aidan was very excited! If you want to see something else that is funny, click on this link:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1145210496

and watch the boys as Elves dancing. It's quite hysterical and the boys have enjoyed watching themselves on the computer. :-)

Aidan wanted more proof for Santa that he loved his brother so he asked me to take pictures of he and Alex hugging. Aren't they adorable?!!

Thanksgiving in San Antonio

Cousins hugging at Grandma and Grandpa Lerma's over the Thanksgiving holiday! Aidan, Alex, Maura, and cousin James. Poor Cousin Mark wasn't feeling well. I think Brady was off taking a nap!

Aidan and Laurel

Aidan and Laurel on Laurel's 6th Birthday! They were poised to take a feather from one of Christy's turkeys on the Tashjian farm!!

Dallas Weekend- Brady's 2nd Birthday

The cousins piled on the couch together Saturday morning. Aidan 4, Brady 2, Maura 4, and Alex 2 1/2.

We went to Dallas to celebrate Brady's 2nd birthday. We had a great time at his party as well as a fun time at the Dallas Arboretum pumpkin patch!

October Houston Weekend

Our weekend in Houston was fun. Alex had a fun time playing Marbleworks with Poppy.

Aidan also enjoyed driving the tractor with Poppy. Was this Poppy's weekend or what?!

I also enjoyed catching up with the girls from college. Gig 'em!

Katie, Christa, Me, Cristina, Amy, and Cristine

Alex's Trip to the Austin Zoo

Alex's 2 year old preschool class took a field trip to the Austin Zoo. Here we are on the train with him!

Back to School!!

Here are Aidan and Alex on Meet the Teacher day getting ready for their 1st day of school at STM preschool. Alex LOVES it. He is not having any hesitations about school. Aidan is having fun and learning a lot too!

Gig' Em Aggies!!

The Brown household is geared up for the Fall 07 Aggie Football season! Gig 'em Aggies!!!

This was Aidan as our little Aggie yell leader in 04. WHOOP!!

Jeremy turns 30!

Jeremy celebrated his 30th birthday with family and friends last Saturday Aug 18th. He knew that we were having people over but not who and how many. It was a good crew of people here to wish him well, Elvis style. He was born the day that Elvis died 30 years ago, August 16th, so we really played into that! Here is a picture of he and his brother in law Tim Tashjian.

Everyone loved wearing sideburns!

On to Florida!

We left Houston early Sunday morning July 21st for another long day of travel, this time to Florida. We survived the trip and were in awe of the wonderful beach views when we got to Destin. OH MY GOSH doesn't begin to say it. It was absolutely gorgeous!! The beach was amazing and the Curlings Beach house was just the best accomodations stepping right out onto the beach with a hot tub off the bottom porch. We were spoiled rotten.

The week went by again too quickly. We spent our days swimming at the beach, then at the pool, then at the beach....Rough life I know. We also spent time taking in the breeze on the middle floor balcony reading and overlooking the beach. We saw a few sting rays in the water, that was neat. We also saw a big water spout out the balcony before a big storm, but just before we went out to take family beach photos that Lauren insisted we take that night before she left back home for Atlanta.

Aidan got to see his first movie at the theater on this trip, kind of. Gammy Carmen and Uncle Arthur took Lindsay, Maura and Aidan to see Ratatouille. Aidan loved the popcorn, candy and lemonade but fell asleep during the opening credits! Mommy and Daddy took in the latest Harry Potter movie, that was a nice date!

All in all, it was a fun trip and we were sad to see it come to an end. We woke early Saturday morning the 27th for our drive to Houston to pick up the dogs at Grandma Julie's and Poppy Mike's before returning home for a much calmer August!

IL Family trip to Texas

We drove home from IL making a brief stop for dinner and baths through Dallas at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Devon's house and then back home to Austin on July 15th. The next day Grandma Julie came for the night after having been at Aunt Christy and Uncle Tim's house since the previous Wednesday. Aidan reminded her that he was 4 now and that she had promised him to make a Build a Bear when he was 4, so, after swim lessons they all went to make Aidan's bear. He dressed his white bear in Buzz Lightyear clothing and named it White Bear, affectionately known now as Buzz White Bear.

The next morning we got in the car and went to the airport to pick up Poppy George, Aunt Mary, Aunt Doris, Uncle Tony, Aunt Randi Kay and Cousins Chase and Lincoln who came to Texas for the week. We visited all afternoon and went to the pool that evening. The next morning we were up bright and early for our trip to Sea World. RK has a friend who got all of our tickets comped for the day as well as a behind the scenes tour after the Belluga Show. The kids loved getting to pet the Bellugas and see them up close. It was really neat! It rained for a good portion of the day which meant that the crowds were few. I think it was the first time that I went to Sea World and saw all of the shows! After a fun day we went home and were home by 11PM.

The next morning mom, RK, and Tony went to Schlitterbaun for the day in New Braunfels. Again, it rained in the morning and again, we were able to ride almost all of the rides. The sun came out by the afternoon and we had a great time.

The family all left on Friday for Houston to Julie and Mike's house. We went in early Saturday morning after I had a chance to buy the new Harry Potter book 6. It was edge of my seat reading. We were wall to wall people in their home. We slept on the floor in the dining room. It was a big slumber party.

Family Fun Summer- Trip to IL

After our weekend in Baton Rouge we left for IL on July 8th to visit Jeremy's family. We stopped in Memphis along the way and drove past Graceland, that was fun! We ate at the Rock and Roll Cafe and Jeremy got a 30 year anniversary Elvis T-shirt. Then it was on to IL. It was a long drive but not too long because when we got there the first thing the kids wanted to do was take a dip in Aunt Mary's pool!

We spent the week poolside and when we weren't at the pool we were relaxing. Alex really got into swimming this trip. The very first day he was a dare devil jumping off the diving board to Jeremy's arms! We spent one day at the St. Louis zoo. The day before our last was spent at the lake on Holiday Shores where Alex got out on a boat for the first time and went tubing. He and daddy rode along side Uncle Tony and cousin Chase. Aidan didn't feel like doing it this year but he would have had a lot of fun if he had!

Poppy George's house was nice with all of the updates. We enjoyed seeing Granny B and Aunt Pam too. Aunt Doris came down from Springfield and cousin Jeff spent a lot of time visiting. The kids loved playing on Chase and Lincoln's playscape at Aunt Randi Kay and Uncle Tony's house. We also loved playing with Madelyn and Gibson who are growing so quickly!

Our week was fun and too brief. We love spending time in IL.

Baton Rouge Wedding

One day after the 4th of July we hopped in the car and headed to Houston for the night before driving on to Baton Rouge for cousin Chris Troy's wedding and to visit with family. The boys had fun seeing Gammy and Grandpa Arthur and playing with Lindsay. I think they enjoyed being in a hotel! It was nice to see family members we don't see often at the wedding. It was a weekend for the books!

We're Godparents!

July 1st we had the great honor to be a part of Mara Kathryn Hall's baptismal ceremony at St. Thomas More as her godparents. It was such a special treat to get to see Tom and Kylie again who made the trip from California and to be asked to be Mara's godparents. She is so adorable and precious. What a blessing it will be to watch her grow in Christ.

June 30th in San Antonio

June 30th we went to San Antonio for the day. We spent the morning celebrating cousin Mark's 4th birthday.

We took the kids to cousin MJs wedding in the evening. Kathryn came in with Maura and Brady but Devon couldn't make it. Jeremy and I had Aidan and Alex. We were outnumbered. It was work but a lot of fun. At Grandma and Grandpa's house we visited with Uncle Johnny who came in for the weekend. We also got to spend time with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Gary, and cousin Aimee Boas, as well as Aunt Cora and Uncle Bud. It was so good to see everyone. I love how weddings bring everyone together. MJ Martinez is a second cousin on my grandma's side. It was a beautiful wedding.

Aidan is 4!!

Aidan loved his Mickey Mouse Birthday. We had such a ball. He loves all of the responsibility that comes with being 4 including carrying heavy things. How did 4 years go by so quickly?!! Thank you to all of you who have been with us every step of the way!

Alex is 2!!

Alex had a fun 2nd birthday party with a petting zoo, a pinata, and some of our good friends. Alex's first 2 years have flown by so fast! I wasn't eager for all of Alex's milestones to happen because that would mean that he is growing up! Alex keeps up with his brother a little too well. He started talking at about 22 months in full sentences and hasn't slowed down! He climbs on everything. He is sleeping in his toddler bed now most of the time. He LOVES to jump! Alex loves to give big wet kisses and lots of hugs. When he does something wrong he is eager to say he is sorry. Lately he has ended up in our bed at night too!

Aidan my sweet!

Aidan is my precious first. Aidan has kept me on my toes from day one! He loved being in mommy's arms and at 4 (in June!) he still does. He sneaks into bed at night almost daily and particularly loves cuddles from mom and dad.

You have to keep a constant eye on Aidan. He is a very curious little boy. He will experiment at every opportunity and is always making a mess of something. Of course he will tell you that he was cooking or that his brother Alex did it. He loves to play outside and his recent fascination is rolie polies. Aidan can be stubborn. He HATES it when things don't go as he has planned, but such is life!! He just finished up preschool for the year and next year he is off to the 4's class. He is very excited. He is going to be doing swim lessons at Emler this summer as well as a Mother's Day Out at Acrotex where he takes gymnastics. We'll see what is in store for him this year!

Oh, he is spending a few days at Grandma Julie's this summer. It will be his first time away at Grandma's. We'll see how we all do! :-)

Here we go!!!

Here is our very special family. This was taken at Easter at Jeremy's parent's home in Santa Fe.