CREATING A LEGACY

Katia and Skylar were married on Saturday, January 22.  It was an extraordinary event!  These two "kids" are mature beyond their years, and I am soooo honored to be their mother.  The Meridian temple ceremony was beyond description.  The Spirit of the Lord was tangible and strong.  It was "perfect" for Katia and Skylar.  (I'll post even more pictures later - when I get them.)

Mrs. and Mr. Brown

Look at those smiles!

And the love!

Then we had a delicious luncheon catered by Casa Rio.  Yum!  Chance gave a beautiful toast to the happy couple.

Quick selfie with my brother-in-law and my new sister and my niece!

Kevin - Valerie - Brittany

Scott - Me - Kiara

Katia had a few truly amazing companions on her mission.

They are all girls we wish we could just call "ours!"  
So of course, I do call them MINE!

This is Scott's and my adopted daughter, Elizabeth Horton!

And another adopted mission daughter, Kambri Sifford!

Two of our non-biological daughters!

Horton and Sifford

I wish I had taken more pictures at the luncheon... but I was enjoying the moment.

I was glad I thought of taking a quick selfie with my daughter and my new son.

My talented sister-in-law hosted the reception.  It was... again... "perfect!"  So many people joined in our special day to make it wonderful.  Katia and Skylar felt so loved.  And I feel that a simple thank you to everyone is insignificant.  So many people, but especially Tara, participated, and I am truly grateful.  Another shout out needs to go to Skylar's sister, Kenzie.  She made three gorgeous bouquets, and did ALL the flowers.  She even taught Scott how to design and do flowers (which he loved).

Isn't Kenzie an artist?!

Traditional bouquet throw!

The whole family (minus Cody and Spencer since Spence had to take a nap!)

I couldn't be happier!

My eternal companion!

Not only am I happy for my daughters,

I am truly blessed with my own choice 26 (almost 27) years ago!

Another adopted daughter, Livi Clarko

(Clarko and I bond over Diet Coke and musicals!

She definitely should belong to me!)

Chris' appearance made my daughter feel soooo loved!

He is an uncle for sure!  Despite not being blood related, he's definitely family!

And speaking of family: OUR Bettenhausens!

All the way from Missouri!

And selfies with Skittles and Candy Bar!

My Grandson - My Daughter

Princess Katia with Candy Bar and Skittles

Yes, my sister and I are BESTIES!

How many people can claim that privilege?

I love this lady so dang much!

I couldn't be happier with the man Katia chose to marry.  Skylar will be and is an amazing son!  But more importantly, he makes my daughter happy.  He is a righteous man of God.  And this mama is feeling soooo blessed!

enLIGHTening WEDDING SHOWER

My mom is amaaaaazing!  She threw such a fun wedding shower for Katia, inviting family from both sides of the soon-to-be bride and her future husband.  Since many of us didn't know each other (or didn't know each other well) we all took turns telling our relationship to the happy couple and a funny story involving Katia or Skylar.  It was fun!  We laughed and we reminisced and we enjoyed one another.  I must admit, I KNEW my family was incredible, but I soon learned how totally terrific Skylar's family is too!  I really love them.  Katia hit the jackpot when it comes to inlaws... and I basically just invited myself to join their family too.  Why should Katia get all the joy?

So many new and old friends:
Katia - Jetta - Amy
GJ - Alicia - Mandy

Me - Skylar's aunt - Aunt Val

Beka - Jackie - MaryKaye

Aunt Alana - Yurae - Mil

Kristi - Skylar's Grandma - Emily

Mary - Haylee - Tara

Katia - Katia - Kiara

Me and Grandma - Katia - Katia

Somehow I missed a couple of pictures.... I don't know where they went.  Ooops.

The food was incredible!

And the mom's matched in polka-dots!

Katia is loved!  Katia is blessed!  Katia is happy!  And that makes this mama thrilled!

OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH THE FUTURE BROWNS

While Katia was here over the holidays, we had a wedding shower for her.  She won't be able to have a wedding reception here in Kentucky so we threw her a small party with friends.  It was so fun to share stories, and advice, delicious bundt cakes, and time with these women who have meant so much to my daughter.  We are truly blessed.

My beautiful Bride to Be

Celebrating with friends...

makes life happier...

and everyday more bearable!

Loving our friends!

Then when Skylar came, we decided to take him to the most Kentucky restauraunt we know: Claudia Saunders.  It was delicious!  He enjoyed his first hot brown, a Kentucky dish.

There's nothing better than an old southern mansion,

except maybe a delectable southern meal.

When the Bettenhausens came for the week, we immediately went over to visit.  Skittles and Starburst were SOOOOO excited to see eachother.  They are definitely besties!

Love these two boys!

They kept hugging eachother.  They were so excited to see one another.

They also loved the fire.

Being Silly is "PERFECT!"

Of course, I must add a few more random pictures of my grandson:

Looking for knowledge....

Helping Grandpa rake leaves.
He was actually a good helper.

TOO MUCH FUN... WITH EVERYONE!

 Having Katia and Skylar with us for a week was a total blast!  We had so much fun sharing Kentucky with Skylar, family traditions together, and visiting.  We already miss them sooooo much!

It's impossible to highlight everything we did (including watching the new, cool Spiderman movie, No Way Home) but here are some fun things we managed to sneak into the action packed 5 days:

Scott always makes fun shirts to welcome in the new year, as we attempt to run/walk a 5K:

The gang!

My Boys
They actually ran... the rest of us walked.

We like to fondu at the beginning of every new year.  Even with our kitchen sink out of order, we still managed to fondu with our crew.  It was delicious!

Cooking the food....

Katia and Skylar

Kiara and Cody

Scott and me

Cody won first prize for trying to cook ALL the food at once.

Kiara Lea made EVERYONE blankets for Christmas.  They are warm and wonderful!  I'm rarely without mine since I got it:

We also took Skylar and Cody to walk the bridge to Indiana.  Yes, it was freezing cold.  Yes, the wind bit our nose and ears to the point of near frostbite.  Yes, it was worth it.

And this adorable grandson of mine loves getting blue tongue disease from his blueberry icees:

Happy New Year, y'all!  And hurry and come back to visit, Katia and Skylar!

NEW BEGINNINGS - WELCOME 2022

We celebrated New Year's Eve with friends and family.  We played games, ate lots of food, made predictions for the new year, documented our goals (per tradition) and visited the night away.  Even the 2-year-olds made it till midnight.  I love my crazy crew!  Here are our New Year Resolutions (youngest to oldest):

Starburst vows to have a verbal conversation this year.

Skittles wants to identify his alphabet.

He already knows S and A, P and Z!

Raisin's New Year's Resolution translation:
Read all the way through her "Learn to Read" textbook.

Jelly Bean is ambitious!  Earn/Save $100+

Apple Pie wants to do 60 pushups, finish unpacking his things, and fill his sketchbook.

And Jello makes the most amazing models out of cardboard.

Pure talent = making a Halo sniper from the stiff material.

He also wants to do 40 pullups.

Jam is one of my favorite kids.  He really makes me laugh!

He's got lots of goals.

My personal favorite, as his music teacher,

is that he wants to learn 15 new songs on the piano. 

He also hopes to survive 2022, go to an air soft arena,

and finish a 10 minute lego animation.

Marmalade takes after her mother and has LOTS of goals:

She wants to get her driver's permit, master pastels, write another book,

run a 5K and sort/unpack all of her things.

Nuts has planned a lot of dreams and aspirations for 2022:

Get his driver's license, get a real job, read the entire Bible, and apply for a mission.

This is my newest son, Skylar!  It was so fun to ring in the new year with him.

He hopes to become fluent in Italian this year.

Katia is planning on writing EVERYday!

Kiara's goal is to bike 60 miles.

Hammond is planning on attending the temple.... hopefully more than once!  :-)

And Chris wants to be a good steward of his home.

Amy limited herself to 4 goals:

1. Finish her book.

2.  Read 12 books.

3. Ride 50 miles in one day on her bike.

4.  Graduate one of her children.

Mark was anxious about his ability to make this goal... but we all know he can!

He wants to reach a 200 lb. or less goal weight.

Nicole is also ambitious with her resolutions:

1. Sell $500 or more in cookies.

2. Become a piano teacher (for beginners).

3. Make 2 quilts.

4. Study Come Follow Me daily

Scott wants to read McKonkie's Messiah book series.

And I'm planning on walking 400 miles (with Scott) this year.

I also took a LOT of random pictures, I tried to limit them....

Mother and Son

Starburst and Skittles
Skittles was sharing his pirates with his best friend.

Then... all the boys got in on the action.

Starburst, Jelly Bean, Apple Pie and Skittles

Jam was making these two giggle and squeal for over 20 minutes.

The sounds of their laughter were precious!

"Look, grandma!  I grew a mustache!"

Random photo shoot - I think Skittles and Raisin orchestrated it.

And more pictures set up by Raisin and Skittles.

Reviewing and making...

new preditions.

And Nicole said I had to be in a photo... hence the selfie.

I love my little family!

I only miss my eldest son who is visiting his father in Texas.

Please, come home quick, Cody!

Bringing in the new year overthinking.

Shirts courtesy of me.
Do I know these two or what?

HAPPY 2020!