Terrible Twos

Lindsey is so cute and is a joy to have but she is now in the middle of the Terrible Twos. This is a stage in a toddlers life where they try to be more independant but cannot express their needs very good still. So Lindsey has not been a very good listener or obeying us very much and she has been getting into everything with more messes. She likes to write on the walls especially. Tanner went through the same thing when he was about three and I'm so grateful that he has been out for a while. A couple of things for advise to all others:

Spend more time watching out for what they do! Start using time-out and take away priviliges for bad actions. DO NOT GIVE IN because Tantrums will occur. Make sure you continually go over rules and set limits for things and even start giving them small choices of what they want with your guidance.

As we are doing these things it is a little easier to transition through. A good thing is that Lindsey is alot more helpful and is great at picking and cleaning up a few things.

Maren Kae Brown

The New Baby is Here!!!

Finally after a few days of continuous contractions and wondering, our new baby has finally been born. And what a cute girl she is! Everyone is healthy and strong. We are still going with MAREN as the first name but still undecided about middle yet. Born on Sunday 5/18/2008 at 2:29 am. Weighing 6 Lb, 4.6 oz and 18 inches long. Bigger than Tanner and Lindsey by 1 1/2 pounds almost. More pictures to come soon.

Mother's Day

I always get a nice gift for my mother on mother's day but the only thing Carie always wants is flowers and that is what I usually get. But this year I found a different gift that matches what she always wants. Fruit Flowers! She has been craving fruit alot this pregnancy. Oh, by the way, we think the new baby will be coming this week. Lots of contractions in the past few days.

Super Smash Brawl for Wii anyone?

Played this game a few times and am now pretty into it for the Wii. I still am not very good, but need some more practicing. Who is the strongest character so I can learn and destroy? Let me know when you want to play?

Anyone get Mario Cart yet and can let me know if it is worth getting and playing?

Interesting Results, what does America think on . .

Here are a few results of polls taken recently from Pollingpoint



How serious a problem do you think global warming is?

Do you think violent movies and video games inspire mentally unstable people to commit acts of violence like the shootings at Virginia Tech?









Would you be more or less likely to support a candidate for president who favors stricter gun control laws?

What do you think is the most important problem facing public education in the U.S. today?


In general, how well would you say things are going for the US in Iraq?


Do you think the stem cell debate is relevant or irrelevant to the debate on abortion?




Do you think embryonic stem cell research should be legal?

Digital Video vs Pictures

I have always liked doing Digital Videos better than Pictures. Carie is always taking and getting pictures ready, but I usually try to do the camcorder more. Much better than pictures because you get to hear and see people in action than just see how they look in a still picture. So here are a few more recent videos taken.

Ice Breakers

I am a leader at a Best Buy Electronics store and I have 1 day each week that I am in charge of leading the morning discussion for that day. My day has always been Saturday. We always have an Ice Breaker to start and go from there. My favorite Ice Breaker has always been the sit down volleyball game. You have 2 teams that sit down on the floor and use a large rubber ball as a volleyball with the checkout lanes as the net. It is pretty fun, but some people always don't want to participate so I have been trying to come up with a few more Ice Breakers. Today we did a fast scavenger hunt. Can you come up with all of these items found in a Best Buy store? Could be multiple different items for each.

Jeff's Scavenger Hunt
Find as many of these items as you can
1) Digital connection but no sound
2) makes Cars have 110-120 Volts
3) Call me without any phone
4) Has no value in the store but people spend lots of money for it
5) This week's new release DVD or CD
6) Filled or unfilled container of a gas

Anyway, but I'm trying to get other suggestions for other good Ice breakers. Do you have one?

Who are those people that Cause traffic at intersections?

I have been annoyed at people that are in the middle of 4 way stop sign intersections asking for donations. Instead of being on the side of intersections like this picture, they are really right in the middle of the road inbetween the 2 lanes. Today they were at 2 different intersections, one in Loganville and one in Winder. What is annoying to me was that these people cause a longer backup in traffic at those intersections. Also it has to be pretty dangerous to be in the middle of the road. I asked my mom today who she thinks these people are and she thinks that they are Shriners. I looked them up today at http://www.shrinershq.org/Shrine/Default.asp. Interesting enough they are Master Masons. It sounds like they are trying to get donations for Shriners Hospital. Shriners Hospital sounds like a great Hospital that helps children get medical help without the family paying anything. I am a little curious if they take all the money people donate and give it to the Hospital or if they use it for other things like the Temples they have, or their social activities, etc, or if they might take some of the donations for themselves. Overall it sounds like a good thing to donate to.

New Pollingpoint Quiz, How would you answer?

I received a new link to participate in this week's Pollingpoint survey and it was quite interesting but vague. It was actually so vague that some answers were very hard to give due to no specifics behind it. So the way that I took it was to ask "in general". Some are about Government and some are about Society if you can separate the two of those. So I took it and then I asked Kevin, Derek, Scott, and Carie some of the questions too and this is some responses to each. I would say if you comment, and have not participated in the survey, then I would like you to answer the questions as well. Again, the answers that were given might change if you put any specific examples into any question.

The answers for the first questions were in the range of:

Strongly Agree

Moderately Agree

Mildly Agree

Mildly Disagree

Moderately Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Q) Sometimes government needs to make laws that keep people from hurting themselves.
A) Kevin Strongly Disagree, Jeff Mildly Agree, Scott Moderately Agree, Derek Moderately Disagree, Carie Mildly agree

Q) It's society's responsibility to make sure everyone's basic needs are met.
A) Jeff Mildly Agree, Scott Disagree, Kevin Agree, Derek Moderately Agree, Carie Moderately Agree

Q) People should be able to rely on the government for help when they need it.
A) Scott Agree, Kevin Strongly Disagree, Jeff Mildly Agree, Carie Moderately Agree, Derek Mildly Disagree

Q) People who are successful in business have a right to enjoy their wealth as they see fit.
A) Kevin Strongly Agree, Scott Agree, Jeff Moderately Agree, Derek Strongly Agree, Carie Mildly Disagree

Q) Government regulations are almost always a waste of everyone's time and money.
A) Kevin Strongly Agree, Jeff Mildly Disagree, Scott Disagree, Derek Moderately Agree, Carie Moderately Agree

Q) We have gone too far in pushing equal rights in this country.
A) Kevin Moderately Agree, Scott Agree, Jeff Mildly Agree, Derek Strongly Agree, Carie Moderately Disagree

Q) Parents should encourage young boys to be more sensitive and less rough and tough.
A) Scott disagree, Kevin Moderately Disagree, Jeff Mildly Disagree, Derek Moderately Agree, Carie Mildly Agree

The next Questions asked were about if the following things that might contain a certain amount of Risk to our Society. So answers needed to be:

Almost no Risk

Slight Risk

Moderate Risk

High Risk

Q) Gay Marriage

A) Derek = Moderate Risk, Jeff, Kevin, Scott, and Carie = High Risk

Q) Legal Restrictions on Abortion

A) Derek, Jeff, and Carie = Almost no Risk, Scott and Kevin = Slight Risk

Q) Spread of Nuclear Weapons

A) Kevin = Moderate Risk, Scott, Jeff, Derek, and Carie = High Risk

Q) The Internet

A) Derek = Almost no Risk, Kevin = Slight Risk, Jeff and Carie = Moderate Risk, Scott = High Risk

Q) Nuclear Power

A) Derek = Almost No Risk, Jeff = Slight Risk, Kevin = Moderate Risk, Scott = High Risk

Q) Mad Cow Disease

A) Derek = Almost no Risk, Carie and Jeff = Slight Risk, Scott and Kevin = Moderate Risk

Q) Pornography

A) All Answered High Risk