Comments to Brady's Post (below)

I was going to post this as comments but as I was typing it, it got too long so I copy and pasted it into a post. So… if you haven’t read Brady’s post yet, STOP reading right now and go down below and read…then come back up and read my comments:

Brady, what a sweet post you made! I have been having these same feelings lately so it’s sort of coincidental that you posted your post when you did. It has been the greatest blessing for Nick and I to live so close to Mom & Dad's house. I have felt like I have built stronger relationships with ALL of you since we moved there. I agree with Emily and Brady that you guys really are my best friends. I honestly wouldn't rather hang out with anyone more than my own brothers and sisters (and their spouses and significant others too!) I think we have the best family ever and I love you guys all so much and I know I could count on any of you if I ever needed anything! I hope you don't mind that I tell each of you how I'm feeling...

Em, I miss you more than ever and I hope one day you will be able to move back closer to home! I miss your babies (and Johnny of course) so much too. What lucky kids you have to get to have you as their mom! Thanks for being such a good example to me all of the time. You have been an awesome role model. Remember when you went to BYU and I would write you letters all the time? I always wanted to be exactly like you and do everything that you did because in my eyes you were perfect and you still are. Thank you for being who you are because I wouldn’t be the same as I am right now if it weren’t for you! I love you so much, Em!

Brady, I don't see you as much as I see the other Utahn family members but I love that you are so fun to be around. I don't know how you manage to have the energy of a 5 year old all the time (and trust me...I deal with 5 year olds all day every day!) You’re such a fun person and I really look up to you a lot. Thanks for being so nice to Nick all the time and for making him feel like one of the brothers. I really like Shawnee and I’m so glad you married her! I love you a lot Brade, thanks for all you do!

Cory, I don't know if you'll even read this but I truly am glad that you are living at mom and dad's right now. I know it's probably not a prime situation for you, but I have loved getting to hang out with you lately. I missed you while you were living in Salt Lake. The other day when we were playing in the snow together it was so fun and I miss the days when we were little. You probably don't remember but I remember one time when we were little we were playing downstairs and I told you (before we understood the concept) that we said we would get married when we grow up. You have always been a good friend to me. I love you!

Nat, wow I don't know what to say but that you have been my best friend since the day you were born. We have of course had our moments but even to this day I feel like we are still best friends. Remember when we were little and we would purposely dress the same so we could be "twins"? Now we just wear the same clothes on accident... I love you so much and I love your little family. Casey is so awesome and so perfect for you. Thanks for letting me fall in love with your baby Benson. I love him! You guys rock!

Andy, even though Brady is shocked that you are grown up, I am so glad I have been able to hang out with you and watch you grow up. It's weird because I feel like we are more friends than family sometimes. We get along so well and I love it when you call me to see what we're doing. It's great to have a brother who likes to hang out with me as much as you guys do. Thanks for sharing McKenzie with us too…I’m glad that McKenzie and I can be close friends too! I love you, Chunk!

Dano, I know you probably won't read this but I have to tell you how much I have been missing you. I feel like a baby most days. I sort of feel like you are my own son that I sent on a mission in a weird way. I really have missed you so much and it's weird to have you gone. Everything I do I think of you and I will be happy when you are home to be my bud again around here. Nick and I both miss you very much! I miss Shanna a lot too, which is probably weird, but I feel like when Danny left on his mission, I lost two friends instead of just one brother. I am so glad that we have organized craft night so that we can hang out with Shanna too. I love you kiddo!

Mom, it’s hard to put to words how I feel about you. I am constantly amazed with all that you do for me! I think one of the best things I ever did was got a job working side by side with you every day. I learned so much about you (most of it I already knew) but working with you showed me how truly patient you are. You are such an example to me and I’m proud to say that you are my mother. So many people constantly tell me how much they love you and how wonderful you are, but they only know half of all the wonderful things you do!!! You’re such a good mother and wife. I hope that I can be half of you! You amaze me with how you can just keep going and going and never stop! I really look up to you so much! I love you so much, Mom, and I hope you know how much I really appreciate all you do for me. (Thanks for always feeding Nick and I when we just stop by randomly.)

Dad, I got so lucky to have you for a dad but even luckier because I have you as a dad and as a friend. Thanks for always putting up with me when we just drop in at your house and when I have no volume control. I love being at your house and I love just hanging out with you. I have always felt so close to you and I really appreciate all that you have taught me as I’ve grown up. Thanks for always supporting me in everything I do and for always loving me. You’re such an awesome dad and I got so lucky to have you as mine! I love you!

I love you all so much! WE HAVE THE BEST FAMILY EVER!!!

P.S. Em, it would be fun to go camping whilst you are here. I’m sure your kids would love it!

The Coolest Fam Damily Ever!!

So I am sitting here at Mom and Dad's all alone. You may ask yourself, "Why is Brady at the Haws home by himself during the middle of the day on Tuesday?" I have classes in the morning and then a class at night at good ol' WSU and it's not very practical to go to work for such a short time to turn around and drive back to school. Anyway I came here so that I could change my clothes and go ride my bike.
When I got back, I was looking at the pictures at the top of the stairs and on Dad's screensaver, and throughout the house and I was just thinking about our family. I decided I needed to write something to all y'all so you could know what I am feeling.
We have a pretty good thing going here. Our family is awesome. I mean growing up, I would have been surprised if you would have told me that all of us would be such good friends. Heck some of us are lucky we are alive. Most people hear that there are seven kids in our family and say something to the effect of, "WOW that's alot" or "Was that hard having a family that big?" I used to really be embarrassed of our family when we would go to the grocery store or Disneyland or anywhere for that matter and see people counting us all. Or when people would ask, "are those all yours?" The fact is though I never had to worry about having someone to play with. I had a guaranteed friend in Cory (when we weren't fighting). I had a big sister to give me advice (even when I didn't always want it). I had two little sisters to tease and protect and to help me fulfill my older-brother duties ;). And then Andy and Danny (I know I miss Danny too) were the cutest and funniest little guys around. I love the picture of all of us standing by the basketball hoop by the chimney... everyone with their own ball. I can't think what it would be like if Mom and Dad had stopped with Tami, or Emily, or Andy. It just wouldn't have been complete.
I think about how hard it must have been for Mom and Dad to put up with, and provide for, all of us. How many women that you know could raise a group like us and only suffer slightly from insanity?;) Even when we were mouthy and rude to her, Mom was always kind and compassionate. And Dad has worked so hard to teach all of us how to work and be responsible. I remember all the times I got to go help Dad as a kid, whether it was pulling wire in the crawl-space in Yellowstone for E.L. Fudge Cookies or wiring houses around here. I wouldn't be who I am without both Mom and Dad's influences and examples.
I guess the real reason I wanted to post this was to tell all of you how happy I am that we are all friends and to thank all of you; Wayne, Jan, Emily, Cory, Tami, Natalie , Andy and Danny for letting me be apart of it all. Now that we're all grown up (yes even Andy is grown up) I hope we continue to do all the fun things we used to do. It might be a little hard for us to all take a road trip to Canada in the same vehicle, but I'd love to still do family vacations along with all the usual family fun.
I love you guys,
#2

"Blessed Thanksgiving" (or should we say "The tin man escaped?")

Hi all! I thought I'd share the pics I took of our Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to all who made it possible! It was yummy! But we did all miss our Boston crew! :) (And FYI for those who missed it, we played the telephone game...it started with "Blessed Thanksgiving" and ended with "The tin man escaped!" It was hilarious to play this with Grandma Marie and Ronola.)

Danny with Shanna's "saved" seat

Jan showing off her new Christmas Tree skirt that Tami made her!

Benson's first Thanksgiving dinner! (And check out the yummy mashed potatoes that Natalie made! They were so good, but we had a lot left over!)

Cory showing off his new "waist pack" he won in a clay pigeon shooting contest with his friends.