A very busy Saturday!

What Happens when you have three birthdays, a bridal shower, and a baby shower all in one day? You have Saturday, May 16, 2009! Yesterday Celestra and I had a blast spending almost the entire day with our family, the Browns. In the morning we had a joint birthday party for my nephews Daniel and Jacob (they're brothers). Daniel just turned 7 and Jacob just turned 2. Both boys got loaded with presents and had a blast ripping into their new stuff. For us adults though, the fun was to be had in getting to see everyone again and visiting. It had been a while since we had all been together in one place. With Mom and Dad back in the valley, it sure made that goal a lot more attainable. Unfortunately we were still missing one brother, Scott was not able to join us.

{Melissa with baby Byron}

{Alisha and Dad/Grandpa}

{Alisha and Kellison}

{The kids playing: Jacob trying to pull the wagon with his cousins, brothers Alex (older) and Byron (younger) inside as Aunt Melissa helps them. Celestra in the background with the puppy Traxton}

{Jacob (left) and Daniel (right) the birthday boys}

{Ethan with Daniel's new sword}

{Byron with Jacobs new barn}

{The newest member of the family: Jordan Nicholas Brown. Isn't he adorable!}

{Proud Daddy Nicholas with baby Jordan}

{Aunt Melissa and Grandma with Jordan}

{Proud Mommy Amanda, Aunt Alisha and Jordan}

In the middle of the day I had to leave the family to host a bridal shower for my friend Laura Hansen. While that was going on, the family was hosting a baby shower for the newest addition to our ever expanding family, Nicholas and Amanda's little boy Jordan. Celestra stayed with the family for that. She decided it would be funner to stay with Grandma, Grandpa, her cousins, and, of course, her Aunt and Uncle's new puppy, than spending time at, and I quote, "some boring old bridal shower". Laura's shower was fun and, though it had low attendance, I think everyone had a good time.

{Laura opening presents}

{Laura with her friend Amy's 10 week old baby, Benson}

{The ever amusing Cat. Don't ask, the answers might scare you
but we love her anyways}

{From left to right: Laura's mom Linda, Genevieve Spaulding,
and Amy with her son Benson}

{Laura with our friend Jessica Hobson}

Then it was back with the family for a birthday party for another nephew, Ethan, who also just turned two. He and his cousin Jacob were born really close together. Ethan also got loaded with presents but was more interested in playing at the park than staying with his presents. Everyone had a good time and, as I said before, it was great to see the family again.

{Birthday boy # 3, Ethan with Mommy and Daddy, Alisha and Kellison}

{Celestra with her Uncle Kyle, Aunt Melissa, and their puppy, Traxton}

{My sister Desiree and her husband Zane}

{Melissa with her 'baby' Traxton}

{Celestra acting goofy as usual}

{Ethan opening his present from us. Hope he likes it}

{Kyle with a very tired Traxton. Me thinks someone played awful hard today}

{Celestra playing on the park equipment}

{My sister Tonya pushing one of the kids in the stroller. I think it was her son Alex}

{Celestra and some of the other kids from the party playing with Aunt Desiree on the playground}

{Nathan and Jacob pushing their cousin in the stroller. This time I think it was Byron}

Now for a little bit of a rundown on this side of my family if your lost:

Mom and Dad Brown
They have 6 kids with me as the adopted/extra daughter.

In age order, including me, we go like this

Desiree Married to Zane
4 Children
Nathan (age 9)
Daniel (age 7)
Andrew (age about 4)
Jacob (age 2)

Me
1 Child
Celestra (age 11)

Nicholas married to Amanda
1 Child
Jordan (age 7 weeks)

Scott
1 Child
Connor (baby: not sure on months)

Tonya Married to Byron
2 Children
Alex (age 3)
Byron (baby: not sure on months)

Alisha married to Kellison
1 Child
Ethan (age 2)

Melissa married to Kyle
1 puppy: Traxton

You can find pictures of most of these people in the ones above or in previous blogs. Hope that helps.