Erika @ PHS Prom

Here are the pictures from the day of Prom for Erika.  She went with her friend in her calculus class, Ryan Nielsen.  He came and picked her up at 9:30 am and all the group of guys made them all homemade breakfast at Ryan's house.  Then they went up the Provo Trail split up in two groups and played cops and robbers. She said it was alot of fun, trying to get to the location without getting caught.  The guys made them lunch and they played some games.  She returned home at 3 pm and she had a hair updo appointment at 4 pm.  Ryan then returned to pick her up at 7 pm all dressed up to go to dinner and dance.  They went to UCHI Japanese steak house for dinner, which she wasn't really excited about, but the entertainment was worth it.  They went to the dance and the Provo Library and the promenade was at 9:30 pm.  Brian and I went at 9:20 and waited and waited and waited until 10:30 pm, but no Erika & Ryan.  We apparently missed them, which I was not very happy about, but oh well.  After the dance they went to Ryan's house and had ice cream and she was home at 12:30 am.  She looked so beautiful, and she was so happy.  We can't believe that this is her last year of high school and she will be graduating in a month.  WE LOVE YOU ERIKA!!!

Riley last volleyball game

Riley played his last volleyball game for the season.  His team only lost two games.  He has a championship tournament coming up next Saturday, so they will play the teams again.  He has become quite a good volleyball player.  He really enjoys the sport and his team mates and coach.  Now he just needs to grow a little bit more in height, to be able to spike it and serve higher.  We are so proud of him.

Easter Party at Evans

We had our traditional family Easter Egg hunt and BBQ at the Evans family.  The grandkids are getting older, so the number of different groups to hunt for eggs are down to 3.  Brandon & Erika are getting too old to hunt for eggs, so they hid them instead. Taylor, Addie, Kaden, Riley and Easton were the ones that enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt and finding them. They each found a couple of dozen eggs. As usual, we had hamburgers and hotdogs for BBQ.

Elder Brown update

Hello again, another week has gone by. Well, here I am writing you and guess what I was just realizing. Mother's Day is coming up on the 8th of May. WOW that is so weird to think that 5 months have already gone by since I last talked to you. By the way, I was just looking at the pictures of mom, and I definitely don't think I will recognize her when I come home. I don't think I will recognize Colton either. He is just as tall as me! That is crazy!
Things are warming up around here. Today we are in the low 90's. AHHHHHH I do not like the heat sam I am. I do not like it at all! Get it away! Seriously, it is way too hot already. Yup, going to die. Just kill me now... jk.
Well...as in missionary work news...not much. We found a new investigator and we had a investigator get anti'ed by their family. Ugh...once again, Satan at work. Man he knows what he is doing. It just gets frustrating. Oh, and there is a girl in our ward that invited her friend to learn more about the church and he even came to church and love it. He wants to take the missionary lessons and so we will be going over to teach him. He is a way cool investigator. We also had a investigator named Donald come to church for the first time as well and he loved it. The work is picking up! I love it, cause I don't like being out the heat. It is just so miserable.

Anyways, yes I did receive your 2 packages. Thank you so much. I really needed those white shirts and I was definitely not expecting the Red Cream Soda. I drank it in 2 days. WOW it was so amazing to have that again. I loved it. Thank you! I also wanted to Thank everyone over the past 2 weeks for all your presents and things that you have sent to me. I loved it and I especially appreciate it. It made me so happy to get some mail. I love y'all!

Transfer day is on the 27th of April. So this Saturday we find out if we are being transferred or not. Wow, time seems to fly sometimes. 
Anyways, I love y'all so much and have a wonderful week
Love ya,

 

-Elder Brown

Visit from Atkinson's

Our good friends, the Atkinson's, came to visit us today.  We haven't seen them for 6 months, so it was time to catch up. We are always amazed at how tall Cole is when they come.  He is 6 weeks younger than Riley and a whole foot taller.  Riley is the same height as Jackson, who is 4 years younger than him.  The picture below is amazing.  Hopefully, some day, Riley will catch up and grow in height.

Buffalo & Zebra & Donkey oh my!!!

While we were in Park City for spring break, we went over to my Aunt Raette & Uncle Dave's house in Silver Summit.  They invited us to come and feed their Buffalo(Miss Billy), Zebra(Ace), Donkey(Chip) and 2 Goats (Salt & Pepper)  We took the Autrey family with us.  The kids were a little nervous, so just Brian and I went in the pen with my uncle.  The Zebra, Donkey and Goats were really friendly, but not the Buffalo, she was a little cranky.  She wouldn't let us feed her, so we just left her be.  It was really cold as well, so we didn't stay long, but how many times do you get to see a Buffalo, Zebra and Donkey is the same pen, especially in Utah.

Swimming at Park City

 The kids decided to go swimming today in our hotels pool.  It was an indoor/outdoor pool and it was heated, so the kids where able to play for a long time, inside and outside.  It even was snowing during some of the time.  They ended up swimming for a total for 3 hours.  They had a great time, but where so tired when they were done.

Spring Break - Park City

 We decided to go to Park City for a couple of days during our spring break from school.  We stayed at the Marriott Summit Watch hotel, as well as our neighbors, The Autrey's.  We arrived at 4 pm and then went dinner with the Autrey's to Main Street Pizza and Noodle restuarant.  The town was bare, not a soul in sight, which was nice, but it sure was cold, compared to Provo.  We had pizza, garlic knots, salads and pasta.  It was all so good, and we were stuffed.  Brian and I decided to stop at my aunt's shop on Main Street, called Southwest Indian Trading, but she wasn't there.  Then we went across the street to "The Family Tree Center" and talk to the sister missionaries about what they are do there.  It was a really great conversation with them and the Family Search that they show people when they walk in.  We went back to our room and played card games with the Autrey's until midnight.  We are all becoming great "Ripple" masters.

Elder Brown update

Well...first off let me start out with what happened last night. So, we heard there was a Tornado warning, but they told us they weren't exactly sure when the main part of the storm was going to hit, so they told us to just listen for the sirens and get in the bathtub if they go off. Well...all I can say is I cannot remember what happened last night. I went to bed and woke up to a nice sunny morning. My companion and my District Leader said they both woke up around 1-2a.m. and heard what sounded like a airplane flying over, then they opened the door and saw the rain coming down and it just flooded everything. There are fences down everywhere and it is just crazy what happened. Apparently a Tornado hit about 50 miles away from us, which I was grateful since it didn't hit us. Whew...made it!  

Well, as for missionary work, well things are starting to pick up. The ward is having what they call a Daily Missionary Fast, where a family signs up every day for 1 month and that family fasts for 24 hours for missionary work that day here in the ward. They just started yesterday. The Bishop said that whenever they do it, they have always had baptisms. I am so excited for their support!  

Well, on Saturday we spent the day inside because Elder Anthony was sick, and I think I am getting something too. Uh oh, start taking those meds...UGH! We did have a good week though. We found this lady while out tracting one day, and she was not interested at all, but we decided to offer some service to her and she said yes I need my lawn mowed and trimmed up. So, we went back and did some yard work, and now she has a BoM and is reading and praying. Amazing what the lord can do.  

Well, I hope y'all enjoy your week off.  One last thing, that is way cool that Elder L. Tom Perry was at our church building. Now when I come home I can say that, when I am standing at the pulpit, that I am standing in the place where a Apostle stood. It is so amazing to be in the presence of an Apostle of Jesus Christ. You just know that this gospel is true just to be in their presence.

 

I love y'all so much

 

-Elder Brown

Riley volleyball pictures

As you can see, it is a co-ed team.  There aren't enough boys to make many teams to play each other. Riley is doing very well with his over hand serve and bumps, but can't spike it yet, he is not taller than the net.  He is a cute kid anyways.

Riley's typing test

Riley brought this home today.  Apparently, he types really well and fast. He doesn't have to be in the keyboarding class and Provo High next year.  30 words per minutes is pretty good for his little fingers.  Good Job RILEY!!

Erika BYU Scholarship

Dear Erika:
Congratulations on your commitment, preparation, and citizenship.  Brigham Young University is pleased to award you the following:

Semester	Scholarship	Amount	Required Hours
Fall  2011	Brigham Young Grant	$1140.00	14
Winter 2012	Brigham Young Grant	$1140.00	14

Scholarships provide financial assistance, but they also represent a vote of confidence in you. We celebrate the gifts and talents you contribute to our student body.
Sincerely,
Financial Aid Office
Brigham Young University

Erika's last District Orchestra concert

Tonight was the last district concert for Erika.  We have been going for the last 8 years, since Erika was in 5th grade.  We had a little tear in our eye, because we will not be attending anymore District concerts. We might be able to go to BYU concerts, but no more Provo School District Orchestra concerts.  They were amazing, hearing the two pieces they played, including Pirates of the Caribbean.  We are so proud of Erika for the amazing violin player she has become.

Riley's new duct tape project

 Riley has been playing on the City Recreation Volleyball team, so he has been practicing alot at home.  He decided that he needed a volleyball net for the back yard to practice on.  Of course, since he received a bunch a duct tape for his birthday, he decided that he would make a volleyball net with some of it.  It is perfectly measured out to exactly the same amount of one color and even the squares in between.  He hung it up with string between the basketball hoop and the swing set.  He had a bunch of friends come over and play with him after he finished the masterpiece.  He makes us all laugh

Elder Brown update & 21st Birthday

Well, I have had a good Birthday so far. I received your packages and I sincerely thank you for sending them to me. I really do appreciate all the love y'all have given me. Thanks so much and I love y'all too. Thank everyone for me that sent me a e-mail from DTI and the family. I received over 22 e-mails telling me happy birthday. Thank you so much!  Well, some missionaries decided to sing happy birthday to me during P-Day activity today. It was so cool and funny. I always love it. I really didn't do anything different for my Birthday. It just felt like a normal missionary day. I guess since I don't really have people to celebrate it with, it's just not as fun. I have gotten a lot of cake the past couple of days, hopefully that counts for everyone saying that I need to get some cake.  I loved General Conference! It really hit me when the prophet said "Don't wait around to get married, get going!" Not exact words. It really hit me that the prophet really doesn't want us to wait around to get married. WOW! I really liked Elder Holland's talk at the end as well, where he talked to people who watch conference but are not of our faith. That really hit home for me. I was just thinking, there is probably lots of people not of our faith who watch conference as well. I was able to watch all sessions of General Conference at our Stake Center. It was so good to watch it at our church building so I could feel the spirit more while we watched it.  Anyways, just a little update on what's going on around here in Denton. Well...the work is hard and struggling. We really don't have any investigators to teach, we are doing so much finding, and I just don't like it very much. I am pushing through it though. I hope that the lord will see our efforts and bless us with people for us to teach.  Anyways, thanks so much for everything!
Love ya so much!

-Elder Brown

The next doll cake!!

We decided to make a doll cake for Erika's friend, Heather, for her 18th birthday.  Heather loves the color green, and we found a doll that had green hair and wings.  Heather loves fairies as well.  At first, we didn't think it would turn out so great, but it actually turn out okay and Heather loved it.  I keep adding to my portfolio every time I make a doll cake and they are all different color and design.  Chalk it up to another one.

Spring SNOW - again!!!

It snowed again in Provo.  There was about 3" on the ground when we woke up.  Seriously, the winter season is over.  We are ready for spring, and then we get hit with SNOW.  Fortunately, it melted by the end of the day, but the whole week will be cold and rainy as well.  We want nice 70 degrees weather, today.

Sharri's new bike

 I received some cash for christmas to be able to buy a bike in the spring.  I finally found one that I liked and was comfortable as well.  Of course it is my favorite color and the price was right too.  The family will be going on my bike rides over the summer, so I needed a bike to go with them.

Answer to Prom to Levi

 Erika decided to answer Levi today.  She gave him a little present that said "I will go to Prom with you when Pigs fly."  He was so confused by it and she said she would explain later.  She wanted to find a large box to put balloons in.  We went to RC Willey and asked them if they had a large box we could have.  They gave us a recliner box, which was perfect, because that was all that would fit in the van.  We then went to Zurchers and bought a dozen pink balloons and a big PIG balloon.  She wrapped the box in pink paper and taped the balloons to the inside of the box, so when he opened it, the balloons would all come out and the PIG in the middle of them.  She wrote "April Fools!! Pigs do fly!!!"  And then a big YES in the bottom of the box.  She drove up to Salt Lake and left the box on his front door step while he was at the Jazz game with his uncle.  She drove the van for the first time with 3 of her friends.  She did just fine and got home after 10 pm.  This was quite the project, so hopefully the next answer won't be as elaborate.