New Blog

So, Andy likes to get on our family blog and show his work friends our kiddos and what we've been up to lately. When he logs on, there are no kids, just a picture of Spock or comments on adult acne, which can be a little embarrassing. Anyway, I decided to start my own blog for all my odd comments, memories, and pictures. Hope you all visit it often, and be sure to continue to visit this one as well to keep up with the family. The new blog is InsideTheWorldOfJen.Blogspot.

Just a few more fun pictures.

They grow up sooooo fast.

Lia just like a real cousin thought she join in the fun and stay in the hospital and hang out with bilirubin.

Here is Lia Michelle Brannin. We are sooooo excited she is here. Another girl in the family.

"R"

Well, it was bound to happen. I have been tagged by my best bud, Tanya. I have to list ten things I love that start with the letter "R".

Here it goes...

1. Reading. I used to hate this, but I really do love to read now. I especially like history books. Weird, I know.

2. Religion, specifically mine. I am so grateful for the knowledge of my Savior.

3. Rice. Yum. My favorite is Basmati rice.

4. Romance movies. BBC versions of the classics are what I love.

5. Random. I love all things random. They keep me laughing.

6. Reason. Or logic. I tend to use too much of this in some areas and not enough in others.

7. Reminiscing. I love talking about the random things that have happened in the past.

8. Radio. It seems so old school now, but I love to listen to the radio while I cook or clean. NPR is my all time favorite.

9. Relaxing. Whatever that means, whenever I can.

10. Reaching the end of this post. (That is cheating, I know, but it is late and I am tired)

Now, I want to tag Brittany to do letter "M", Tasha to do letter "B", and Leslie to do letter "H".

question...

Foolish thought #1...Zits go away in your 20's.

Foolish thought #2...Zits go away in your 30's

Foolish thought #3...Everyone gets zits, not just me.

have you ever...

Have you ever had your hair done by your daughter?

Have you ever had four kids with the flu and one with strp throat?
Have you ever had all your laundry baskets emptied to be filled with blankets, pillows, and your youngest child, and pushed around by another child?

Have you ever found your kiddos sitting in their bilibos watching the TV? My kids love those Bilibos from their Gram. They use them for so many different things.

And the best for last...Have you ever gotten a birthday card of a velvet-backed Elvis in a gold frame? I didn't think so. But, I did. It is soooo cool!

( I know you are jealous)

Children's Hospital

Well, most of you probably heard our adventures the last couple of days. Ellie woke up early on Monday in a lot of pain on her right side. She developed a very high fever, and was throwing up anything she drank including any medicine. Andy took her to the Dr.'s (jelous ladies? Andy handles alot of the girls Dr.'s visits) The Dr. said it was textbook appendicitis. Off we went to the Children's Hospital. Then the tests started. She was in so much pain they dosed her with morphine. Her blood count was almost 3x the normal amount. The surgens started prepping us that the appendix was most likely ruptured. She got a blessing. She got a CT scan. The resident reading it said it was appendicitis, but when the attending took a look, he said that though the appendix was on the large end of normal, it was still normal. Blessing helped. No surgery. She was held in observation for 24 more hours becuase they worried about her blood count and other symptoms. Well, by the end of those 24 hours she was acting her normal wild self and we were sent home. She is feeling all better. It was a CRAZY 48 hours. I am so Thankful for Preisthood Blessings, and Friends and Family who made sure everything at home was taken care of. Thank you.

Who ate here?

After a meal of pizza and cut apples I looked down the table to see one of my girls left this in the wake of her meal. Can you guess who? This will be oh so easy for those of you who know my girls.

Life at the Lam's

Having four girls close in age makes for a very active and noisy home. There is always something going on. I thought I'd share a little of what it is like living with four girls who love to perform.

Singing and dancing happens on a daily basis. We have a set of 36"X36" silks. It is one of the best "toys" we've ever purchased. They use them evryday to create something. Here is Racehel doing a song and dance in one of her silk creations. (we are still working on the whole modesty thing)

The Cats are always present as well, and they love all the action. My girls love to laugh and love to make me laugh, which they are good at.

Coloring happens on a daily basis as well. I think we own every $1 princess coloring book ever made. I am always on the lookout for new coloring books for the girls, or paper, crayons, paint, playdough, ect.

Here is a pic that really captures what my house looks like. Messy to me, but to my girls it is their latest and greatest creation of a store or stage or just the setting for playing "Girls" which is their favorite game. For an explanation of what "Girls" is you will have to ask them, I have no idea, they just love to play it.

I am sure for most of you this entry is no surprise, but I thought it might be fun to see.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Getting old...

"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come." -Shakespeare

In a world where the opposite is true, this quote inspires me. I vow to welcome each new wrinkle and gray hair with mirth and laughter. I decided a couple of years ago to give up on trying to dye my hair. Cheap dye makes it brassy red and honestly, if I had $100+ and 2 hours by myself, there is no way I am spending it in a salon with stinky stuff gooped on my head only to need it all done again in a couple of months. No thank you. So, with mirth and laughter I say, "BRING IT ON!"

new camera

we finally got our new camera, and were able to use it this past week while Andy's Dad and Step Mom were visiting. Here is a sampling of the pics we took. We went to see the lights at Opryland Hotel.

Rachel in one of the many "shows" the girls put on for their Grandparents. Wonder were they get this from?

The whole crew (minus the photographer Andy) at Opryland.

In their new Sunday dresses from Grandma Paula.

Ready for Church, all fancied up.

Pucker up.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tahnksgiving. Sorry my blogs aren't get written works. My talent is definitely not in writing, but I love to read all of yours. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I love that too. I am so thankful for all of you, my family and friends.

Halloween

Rbekah found this costume at the thrift store and made it into the character Wendy from Peter Pan.

And this is our Rachel who is TigerLilly. The boots totally make the costume!

Hannah is a Princess, what else is new?

Here is my whole Halloween crew. We had so much fun that night, but they all missed Dad who was on call and had to go in to the hospital. Boo!!

Elisabeth was "Elizabeth Swan, Asian Princess" and that is exactly what she said when asked who she dressed up as.

We have been without a camera for a month now, so these were all taken by my sister Beth. Our new camera should be in this week.

Random shots of late summer

The girls Lola came to visit, and we went to the aquarium. It was good to spend time together.
Okay, this was actually early summer. The kids were in a drama camp and this was part of their performance. They were all so CUTE, if I do say so myself.
They had a TON of fun tubing with Megan...until the boat broke :(

Ellie, my water lover. She loves to be outside. She loves to get wet and swim.
My four girls.
As you can see from this, Hannah also loves the water and any chance to get wet. She screamed so loud when we got her out.
In the shark cage. I would NEVER get into one of these in the ocean. Too scary!

Oops! I accidently downloaded this one twice. Oh well, enjoy it again :)

A Sad Day

This is a picture for a bunny funeral we had not too long ago. One night we saw a little bunny in our garage, and tried for a very long time to get it out. The next morning when Andy pulled out of the garage it was there on the ground, barely breathing. The girls were DEVASTATED!! They would not let Andy put it out of its misery, because they were convinced it could be saved. Luckily for the baby bunny, it passed quickly. The girls spent the rest of the morning dealing with the tradegy of the situation.

Canoe on the Duck

Ethan and the girls after a fun ride down the Duck River.
My water babies.


These girls love to be outside despite being oh so girly. They had a wonderful day on the river with their dad and Jim and Ethan.