VanAmen Family

Playhouse project

2010-07-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

Erica is doing some PR work for fancy builers. They do such amazing work and we needed some pics for parade of home flyers. Good thing I have 2 of the cutest girls in the whole world at my disposal!

Haloween

2008-11-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

I have a really good idea...let's carve out a slimy, cold pumpkin and stuff our cute baby into it. That will be GREAT!!!

El not on board with the idea and certainly not doing her part to capture that "Ann Getty" moment.

Resignation....it's so hard to be the child of creative parents.

FOOTBALL!!!!

2008-09-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Boo is having a great year in football. He's such a speedy kid that he's our best running back and he's surprised us all at how well he's playing defensively. I think he's the best safety in the league (no bias)! I can't believe how hard they hit this year and he's always the guy streaking in to make the tackle.
Last night at his b-day party, he was messing around and pretending to tackle me..caught me (mom) of guard and landed me right on my butt! He was way more scared of me than those big lineman. (that was random :) ) Good thing he's such a charmer or he might be dead, I do love that boy.

His biggest fan is Kenna. She's made it to all his games since she was 2 days old. She stands and screams "Boo, GO, GO" She is so darling.

Marty and Kenna giving the team their coaching wrap up talk after a game.

I don't think El has a chance to not be a fan, she's been coming to games since her first week! Boo is so lucky to have such a great support system. His sisters (and rest of the family) have always been so supportive. Thanks everybody, we love you for it!

The Big Island!

2008-09-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

We stayed at the "Fairmont Orchid"...wow, we should live like this all the time. The weather was gorgeous, the "big island" Hawaii is not touristy so there aren't millions of people and our hotels beach is rated as one of the top 5 beaches in the world! We could walk right out of our room and snorkel. We had a fabulous time. I usually am ready to come home within 5 days but I would have been happy with another couple weeks on this beach.

Garrett and his buddy had a surf lesson...they both got up so easily you'd think they didn't live in a desert.

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We went deep sea fishing and Garrett caught an Ono (Hawaiian for delicious). He had to have it taxadermied and it should be with us for Christmas (sshhh)

Baby Sassy Brown Arrives!!!

2008-08-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

Erica and Joel got a surprise when Eloise Ranae Brown decided to end her unpredictable and vexing pregnancy with an early arrival! After trying to convince her mom she should be an only child she was delivered (c-section) Aug. 18th, 2008.

Joel (the nurses are all calling him "steady Eddy") had everything under control though and supervised everything from the ground while trying to recover from a faint. To bad the anesthesiologist had another emergency and left Erica vomiting, crying and feeling way to much of the surgery.

El had a few little issues to work out (wet lungs, blood sugar issues, oxygenation) and spent a night in NICU but they sent her to the well baby nursery next day and declared her Perfect!

I'm just about sure I have the cutest 2 Granddaughters in the world

She seems happy about the accomodations.

We feel so blessed to have such a beautiful addition to our family. Its funny how such a little ball of mewling, wrinkled, pooing angel brings so much joy and brings a family so close.

Kenzie and Nik Wedding

2008-07-30T11:11:00.001-07:00

There was a "little glitch" with the "pickle" girl, but Uncle Boo saved the moment.

It's hard giving away your daughter.

The first test of trust in a marriage....It's a good thing she loves him so much!

The Family Dance

They Both were "glowing" all day

There families must love them a lot to make such a mess of their car!

Making their get away

The Sassy Brown Baby Shower

2008-07-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Joel got his first nursing bra and as you can tell, he was quite thrilled with it..

The Big Dawgs on the porch

Keri the Hottie

Party Poopers :)

And lots of cute babies!

EEWWW!!!!!

My tummy's bigger than yours

Katie and cute Ella

Kylie and Trent (with his head owie)

Is Sassy "breakin" out???

Poor Byron

Erica and Joel's baby shower was such a good time! It was so fun to have the "Kelley" clan here with us (wish you lived closer, I can't say that to many times). Trying to kill each other seems to be the boy's favorite thing to do. I think the "oldies" won the volleyball tourney (again). Lucky for the "youngies", there's no cruise planned (check out the speedo booby prize)

We're soooo excited for baby Sassy!!