Sandy Pond 2009

We had a great time in NY this year!!! The boys are all growing quickly and it was so nice to spend time together in such a relaxed atmoshere. Ty's AllStar team had a tourny, and we all got to go. Dev brought the boat so we played on the water. The boys and I held on to a raft/tube for our lives while wither Dev or Damien played captain. Michelle skied (impressively well, I might add)and Dev and Damien wake-boarded. Devin catfished (yummy), and Miles learned to ride a bike with training wheels. One night, the skies were big and active, and I saw my very first shooting stars!! And of course we spent a lot of time eating, drinking, beach-bumming, and gambling (Yatzee is the standard for the ladies)!!!

This is my new fave picture of us. Devin is a wonderful husband and father, and we had a lot of fun on the trip!

Life has gotten busy again since we've been home...but that's how we like it! Grandma has moved in (that is going unexpectedly well), I began my second (and final) year of graduate school, and we just put our house on the market. Wow!

I could not resist sharing these vacation pics of Miles and his summer fling, Sabrina. He tortured her (as these pics demonstrate) but she loved him. They were just too cute together. I really hope this works out...her parents are great too.

Hunting season has begun so Devin is very very excited. Ill be sure to post pics of the big buck he's been dreaming about. We also are starting to miss my brother, sister-in-law, and neices; who recently moved to Charlotte. Cant wait to visit...thier new house is beautiful!

Busy Busy Summer

Although Ive no current pics to post, there certainly has been a lot going on here in Charleston, TN. Grandma has moved into our house, and we hope to begin building a bigger house soon. Our current arrangement is working out much better than expected I must admit. Grandma is enjoying our bustling household, and has been a great help and motivation to us all. We continue to spend days at her house sorting and packing her belongings. This has been a wonderful opportunity to hear stories and family history. I will always treasure this uninterupted time we've spent together.
Miles has suddenly become extremely naughty, as this favorite early picture does not suggest. He's been pitching fits, trying to boss us all around, and even acting agressively. But the naughtiest of all have been his late-night escapades. One night we caught him up at 2AM chewing my gum, wearing my lip gloss, and counting my change...he'd raided my purse. Another night he was up at 4AM coloring in a coloring book. He had also peeled (but not eaten) our bananas....go figure! We've all been working hard to be consistant and articulate clear behavioral expectations, and frankly to not beat him!
We leave later this week for our trip to New York to vacation with the other Brownlows. This will be a wonderful and relaxing break from our recently chaotic (in a good way!) home life. This picture was taken last year (almost exactly one year ago) while in New York...Lake Ontario I do believe. Grandma is staying here with her care-giver, and probably looking forward to the quiet!

Devin has been fishing with friends and family lately, and let me tell you, we have had some fabulous fish frys lately. Ill post a pic of his biggest catch soon!!!!

I thought I'd take the opportunity of a few spare minutes to share a couple of our favorite photos:

This is Savannah Grace, my brother Andy's very naughty daughter. For almost two years thier family has lived just a few houses down, which we have loved. Very cool to be able to get the cousins together so often (she's barely one year older). Andy has taken a job in Charlotte so they will be moving soon which is very sad for us! We also have a 7-month old niece Sarah Cate, Savannah's sister, aka "the happiest baby ever", who will be missed just as much.

And here are Ty and Julien, our wonderful nephews, sons of Dev's bro Damien, whom we will soon be visiting. Hooray for vacation!!! This was actually last summer during our visit to "camp" in Sandy Pond, NY. We are all looking forward to the trip in August!

This is one of my favorite early pictures of Miles. He was just a few days old and so very sweet! This was one of our favorite blankets, which is packed up for baby #2 (who, by the way, we have been talking about!!!!!)

Miles' Inaugural Boat Trip

So after much ado (and months of tweaking) Dev and I were ready to take Miles out on the boat. It has a new engine (painted to match the boat, I might add) and has been on the water at least a dozen times for "test rides" with friends, neighbors, and even me. Sometimes the rides would be short, as an oil leak or some other problem would be discovered, but her most recent runs had been, well, uneventful. So The time was right...or so we thought!!


Now the cute pictures do not in any small way depict the tragedy that was unfolding on the Hiwassee River yesterday. Those with young children would attest to the fact that it does take some time and coordination to prepare a toddler for a boat ride. We had decided it was best to go between breakfast and lunch (which is followed by nap). I packed a few snacks, drinks, sunscreen, towels, and the camara. We arrived to the boat ramp, backed the trailor into the water....and the battery was dead.
So we headed back home so Dev could charge the battery. Small debate ensues as I think that it is already pushing into lunchtime, but Dev wins. Battery charged, we head back to the river.
Boat back into the water...starts right up. After some difficultly (on my part) parking the truck and trailor, the Brownlows were on the Hiwassee River in our 1979 red, white, and black SkiTique.

We go fast, get splashed, and Miles loves it. It is a hot and sunny day, and things are looking perfect. Dev hears something funny, opens the engine compartment, and realizes that "we have water". The cover for the impeller (?) had completely come off. As the bilge pump removed the water, Devin searched for the four skrews needed to put it back on. We waved another boat down to use thier skrewdriver, and all ended well 1.5 hours later!!!!!


We stop to fish and talk (boats are LOUD!), take some pictures, and decide to head home. But the battery is dead, AGAIN! Another hour later we coordinated our kind neighbor Bill to bring jumper cables to the dock to meet the police boat who was willing to rescue up but had no cables.

The positives of the 4-hour boat trip: we had plenty of sunscreen, Miles had a lot of fun, great photos, and something to blog about!!!!!

County Road 3

So we officially own 5 beautifully wooded acres. Despite the fact that there is no house there yet, Devin has moved in. He brought his skidsteer, chainsaw, and lighter for company. They are clearing the driveway and building sites for Devin's building and our house. So Miles and I have been visiting (mostly to make sure he has food and water!). Devin required that one of us help him work (you know, earn our keep) and well, I was busy. So...

Really the land is pretty and we are excited. Its a nice secluded spot close to the interstate, and convenient for grandma's needs and our own. Its got a perfect building spot for the house we have picked out. Theres a nice creek and an awesome camping spot. We already made s'mores!!!!

Miles has been having fun. He really does work...loves to help his Dad. Devin cuts the trees into small logs and Miles stacks them. He can also pick up roots, put wood on the fire, and loves to ride in the skidsteer!!!

Welcome!!!!!!!

We are the Brownlows: Devin, Kelly, and Miles. Sister Christine inspired us because we love to visit her blogspot. OK I need to stop right there and stop using the word we...Dev and Miles could care less about a family blog (they do look at your pics though, sis!). It'll be me, Kelly (aka Mom), who'll be posting my version of our life together. So enjoy! I'll post a family pic as soon as I have a fabulous one.

Dev likes to hunt, and to collect big-boy toys. He has a pretty successful (gaging by consistant ability to buy toys and still keep wife happy) construction business, but would love to become a professional hunter for a living. Devin is undeniably a wonderful father, and a pretty great husband as well. He really is a family man, but dont tell him I said that.

Miles is 2 yrs, 2 mos, and loves life. (Except when he has to come inside, eat, clean himself, sleep, etc...). He likes to "work" with his dad, cook and clean with mom, read books, pick up sticks, drink juice, throw toys, and eat pickles and candy. Miles is also affectionate, polite, and extremely cute. He has just started daycare (parttime) and is struggling with not being the center of attention at all times.

And this all works out really nice because it means Ive got a great family! I really am at my best when I am with them. Although my home and fam are my 'secure base', I am also really invigorated by my career. I will graduate from UTK in May 2010 with my master's degree in Social Work. My interests are non-profit management, grant writing, policy/program analysis, evidenced-based practice...all in the name of helping the disadvantaged. I also like to read, cook, craft, garden, shop, socialize, etc.

So currently, we are in the process of buying land and beginning to build a home so that my grandmother can live with us. It is all going to happen pretty quick, and we hope to be moving in over Christmas break. So that will be a recurring theme, I am sure, in future blogs. I am working part-time for the summer at a small agency that assists indivs. with HIV/AIDS. I interned with them this past school year. Devin has been playing with his 1977 Ski Tique skiboat lately. He's put a V8 engine in it, and we are looking forward to having a lot of fun on the river this summer. I am sure that this "fun" will look like Kelly drinking a LOT of water and Devin thinking this is hilarious! Miles is planning on spending a lot of time outside this summer, and asserting his independance as much as possible. I'll keep you posted!