In First Grade I had Mrs. Ramsbottom as my teacher. She was one ornery woman! I remember only getting in trouble once in her class, and I was put in time out under her desk. She wasn't sitting at it when I was under it, but it was still a weird place to send students. I remember peaking my head out over the top of the desk a few times and seeing the teacher's answer book sitting on her desk. It was open to the math page we were working on that day and was hoping I could remember some answers to the problems I had seen.
School was only a quarter of a mile away, so I walked to school with Karen, her sister Elise, and Justin Brown (the browns lived on the corner of the street and had two brothers and a sister). We had fun walking and chatting as we went. Because we messed around so much it usually took us at least a half hour to get to school. Most of the time we would walk all the way around the block, but when we were feeling very brave we would sneak through two yards and cut through to our houses. It made the trip so much faster. When it would rain or snow our Moms would take turns picking us up or dropping us off at school.
At Hill Elementary School first graders had recess on the little kid playground (1-3 graders). We loved playing on the swings, digging in the sand box, playing 4 square on the black top, and messing around on the baseball diamond. We had morning and afternoon recess which was always fun! It was at recess in first grade recess that I encountered my first bully.
My friends and I were playing in the sand box when Sarah Moag came over and demanded we play with her. She was huge, at least as big as a fourth grader (even though she was in second). We were so terrified of this burly girl that we played with her. If she asked if she could play with us we probably would have let her, and maybe we would have become friends. But by threatening us we ran every time we saw her.
Karen and I became close friends at this time. We spent all our extra time together, and loved to make up games. We would imagine we were horses or unicorns and that the bushes behind our house were dragons or monsters out to get us. Sometimes we would play with Barbies; Karen had a fabulous collection of special addition ones with the most beautiful dresses. We also pulled out the My Little Ponies from time to time and made up stories of how the Pegasus mom had lost her babies and the other ponies had to help find them.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Kindergarten
Mrs. Sperley was my kindergarten teacher. She was such a sweet, kind woman; the kind of person that was just made for teaching kindergarten. Regardless of how nice my teacher was, kindergarten was a rough transition! I was in the afternoon class. The buss picked me up at my house and took me into school after lunch.
I was a little nervous for my first day of class, but with my favorite dress on I felt more confident. Some time in the 3 hours of class I had to use the bathroom. Since I remembered it being right down the hallway, I slid out of the room to go. When I got back to class Mrs. Sperley was frantic! She didn't know where I had gone and sternly told me I had to ask permission before I went to the bathroom. I was extremely upset, but got over it before I had to go home. Upon arriving home I was so exhausted I laid down on the couch and took a nap.
Mrs. Sperley was also Mike and Sheila's kindergarten teacher. By the time Mom was pregnant with Daniel, she was so close to our family she took us to a magic show, fed us pizza for dinner, and bought us Monopoly to play at her house after the show. She just wanted to give my parents a break! Talk about going on and beyond your duty as a teacher.
I loved painting time, playing house in the dress up corner, and learning my letters from the letter people videos Mrs. Sperley would show us. She would also hide a stuffed letter person somewhere in the house that one of my class mates would randomly find one day a week as we got to work. I had issues confusing my lower case d and b, but it wasn't something that hindered my advancing to first grade.
Show and Tell was an exciting part of the day! 2 or 3 students would be asked to bring in something to share with the class. People brought in their pets, their favorite toys, or a souvenir from a vacation they went on. The most exciting thing I brought in was my youngest sister Heather Lynn Brown. She was born on Thanksgiving day November 26th, 1986.
We had only moved into the ward a few months prior to Heather's birth, so my parents didn't know who they would get to watch Michael, Sheila and I while they went to the hospital to deliver Heather. Fortunately my Mom's visiting teacher, Farah Jensen, invited us to her house. This meant her family didn't get the quiet Thanksgiving holiday they were used to, but it also meant the world to my parents not to have to worry about us. In December Sister Jensen also gave us lime green Rice Krispy treats in the shape of a wreath with red hots embedded in the gooey treat. She continued this tradition until my parents moved away.
Heather was born with some health problems that kept her in the hospital longer than usual. They sent her to another hospital for testing, but eventually everything worked out fine. She came home a week or so later than usual, but was no worse for the ware. She moved into the bedroom with Mike, Sheila and I shared a room, and Dad had the last bedroom for his office to do his school work.
I was a little nervous for my first day of class, but with my favorite dress on I felt more confident. Some time in the 3 hours of class I had to use the bathroom. Since I remembered it being right down the hallway, I slid out of the room to go. When I got back to class Mrs. Sperley was frantic! She didn't know where I had gone and sternly told me I had to ask permission before I went to the bathroom. I was extremely upset, but got over it before I had to go home. Upon arriving home I was so exhausted I laid down on the couch and took a nap.
Mrs. Sperley was also Mike and Sheila's kindergarten teacher. By the time Mom was pregnant with Daniel, she was so close to our family she took us to a magic show, fed us pizza for dinner, and bought us Monopoly to play at her house after the show. She just wanted to give my parents a break! Talk about going on and beyond your duty as a teacher.
I loved painting time, playing house in the dress up corner, and learning my letters from the letter people videos Mrs. Sperley would show us. She would also hide a stuffed letter person somewhere in the house that one of my class mates would randomly find one day a week as we got to work. I had issues confusing my lower case d and b, but it wasn't something that hindered my advancing to first grade.
Show and Tell was an exciting part of the day! 2 or 3 students would be asked to bring in something to share with the class. People brought in their pets, their favorite toys, or a souvenir from a vacation they went on. The most exciting thing I brought in was my youngest sister Heather Lynn Brown. She was born on Thanksgiving day November 26th, 1986.
We had only moved into the ward a few months prior to Heather's birth, so my parents didn't know who they would get to watch Michael, Sheila and I while they went to the hospital to deliver Heather. Fortunately my Mom's visiting teacher, Farah Jensen, invited us to her house. This meant her family didn't get the quiet Thanksgiving holiday they were used to, but it also meant the world to my parents not to have to worry about us. In December Sister Jensen also gave us lime green Rice Krispy treats in the shape of a wreath with red hots embedded in the gooey treat. She continued this tradition until my parents moved away.
Heather was born with some health problems that kept her in the hospital longer than usual. They sent her to another hospital for testing, but eventually everything worked out fine. She came home a week or so later than usual, but was no worse for the ware. She moved into the bedroom with Mike, Sheila and I shared a room, and Dad had the last bedroom for his office to do his school work.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Move to Michigan
Moving to Michigan was a big change! We packed up everything we owned, and the bathroom garbage can was positioned under my feet as we got one last glance at our house. When we arrived at our new home in Troy, Michigan I remember thinking it was the biggest house in the world.
I'm sure for a 5 year old it was pretty impressive! We had a living room, a Dining room, a kitchen, a family room, 2.5 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms. The house was bright red, and I remember thinking it was such a friendly house. The back yard had a swing set with an attached fort and sandbox. It was the perfect house to grow up in.
Soon after we moved in I found out a girl named Karen lived 3 houses down. She loved unicorns and horses and just happened to be my age. We became fast friends, even if we weren't in the same kindergarden class. In fact, in all the years we were friends and went to the same schools we never had a class together (Kindergarden through 7th grade). Karen had an older sister named Elise, a dog, a cat, and two working parents.
I always thought Karen's parents were rich because they always went to Disney Land for Christmas and they had a swimming pool. Looking back the only reason they could afford that was because Karen's mom worked as well as her dad. Although we were tight on money from time to time, I'm extremely grateful my mom never worked outside of the home, even if it meant I've never been to Disney.
The beginning of my Michigan years were simple. Mom would make a list of jobs that needed to get done first thing in the morning, and we were each in charge of choosing one or two to get done that day. When we were finished we could go outside and play! We spent the majority of our time outside imagining up scenarios from adventure/rescue to fantacy and back to a basic game of house.
When we played inside we would bring out the Barbies, Legos, trolls, quints, stuffed animals, or whatever caught our fancy at the time. Sheila and I shared a room, and we probably spent as much time playing together as fighting with each other. The older we got the more we fought. I'm sure it didn't help that I would make up ridiculous lies that only a child would believe, or that she would do her best to copy my every move causing no end to my torment.
I'm sure for a 5 year old it was pretty impressive! We had a living room, a Dining room, a kitchen, a family room, 2.5 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms. The house was bright red, and I remember thinking it was such a friendly house. The back yard had a swing set with an attached fort and sandbox. It was the perfect house to grow up in.
Soon after we moved in I found out a girl named Karen lived 3 houses down. She loved unicorns and horses and just happened to be my age. We became fast friends, even if we weren't in the same kindergarden class. In fact, in all the years we were friends and went to the same schools we never had a class together (Kindergarden through 7th grade). Karen had an older sister named Elise, a dog, a cat, and two working parents.
I always thought Karen's parents were rich because they always went to Disney Land for Christmas and they had a swimming pool. Looking back the only reason they could afford that was because Karen's mom worked as well as her dad. Although we were tight on money from time to time, I'm extremely grateful my mom never worked outside of the home, even if it meant I've never been to Disney.
The beginning of my Michigan years were simple. Mom would make a list of jobs that needed to get done first thing in the morning, and we were each in charge of choosing one or two to get done that day. When we were finished we could go outside and play! We spent the majority of our time outside imagining up scenarios from adventure/rescue to fantacy and back to a basic game of house.
When we played inside we would bring out the Barbies, Legos, trolls, quints, stuffed animals, or whatever caught our fancy at the time. Sheila and I shared a room, and we probably spent as much time playing together as fighting with each other. The older we got the more we fought. I'm sure it didn't help that I would make up ridiculous lies that only a child would believe, or that she would do her best to copy my every move causing no end to my torment.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Woods in New Hampshire
We moved out of our apartment into my parents first home together in New Hampshire. It was the coolest house because it had an unfinished basement with a swing set in it! I remember playing with blocks for hours in the living room, watching cartoons with Dad on Saturday (which was a special treat because he let us eat breakfast on the couch)!
I had a dream in this house of being caught up for the Second Coming. As I was being lifted in the air, I grabbed my brother in one hand, and my rocking horse in the other. As weird as it may sound I'm shocked that my parents were able to convey enough of the Second Coming to me to have that kind of an understanding to produce that kind of a dream.
One day I was out bouncing a ball on our balcony, when two bees just stung me out of nowhere! I was confided to the couch while my Mom slathered a mixture of baking soda and water on the infected area. I was so upset that I had to sit and watch TV while Mike got to be playing outside. It just wasn't fair.
Some of my first memories were of the woods behind our house in New Hampshire. I remember playing with Jeffry and Nate, the neighbors. We would make up games and play for hours at a time. I was always embarrassed because they would pee outside right in front of me and mom had taught us that wasn't ok. But we were still friends. Kids are so easy going, sometimes I wish all of life was that way.
One time in particular Jeffrey, Nate, Mike and I were out in the woods and we found a huge green snake. Huge for a 4 year old that is. We used a stick to trap it, and got a brown paper grocery bag to keep it in. We played with it in that bag for hours, but eventually Mike and I had to go home. We also caught frogs and bright orange newts and putting them in Tupperware containers for safe keeping. We never could figure out why they kept dyeing, but it was always fun to catch them and keep them around for a little while.
One Saturday I built a huge bonfire with my mom and dad. We gathered dead branches, and leaves for burning. In the process I came across a snake with black diamonds on it's back. Mom was concerned because it was poisonous, so she called my dad to take care of it.
There was a big rock in the back yard of our house, and I just loved to sit in the warm sun with my shoes off and just let it all soak in. With nothing more on my mind than what game we were going to play next, if the raspberries in the woods were ripe or not, and what Saturday morning cartoons would be new, life was pretty great!
With all the playing, animal animal capturing, and raspberry picking we did get into a bit of trouble from time to time. The most traumatic experience was when I lost Mike in the woods. We were out exploring as always and some how Mike fell into a HUGE (for a 4 and 2 year old) pit. I couldn't figure out how to get him out, so I ran home to get help from Mom and Dad.
By the time I figured out how to get home I had forgotten how to get back to Mike. Unfortunately lack of direction is a fault that has plagued me for my whole life. I tried to figure out where Mike had been lost, but it was really beyond my skills. Dad wondered around in the woods until he stumbled upon Mike's hole, while Mom made me some hot chocolate.
Fortunately Mike was fine, and everything worked out. Mike remembers begrudging walking back into the house to find me drinking hot chocolate out of his favorite mug, but no physical damage was caused.
January 11th 1986 Sheila Toy Brown was born to our family. Dad had wanted to name me Sheila, and again before they knew Mike was a boy wanted to name him Sheila, and finally with their third child Mom gave in and let her take on her name. My parents were extremely shocked to find out they were pregnant 9 months after Mike was born (making Mike and Sheila 18 months apart)! Mom has said the only way she was able to handle 3 kids that close was because Sheila was such a great baby. She loved taking naps and didn't cry much.
I had a dream in this house of being caught up for the Second Coming. As I was being lifted in the air, I grabbed my brother in one hand, and my rocking horse in the other. As weird as it may sound I'm shocked that my parents were able to convey enough of the Second Coming to me to have that kind of an understanding to produce that kind of a dream.
One day I was out bouncing a ball on our balcony, when two bees just stung me out of nowhere! I was confided to the couch while my Mom slathered a mixture of baking soda and water on the infected area. I was so upset that I had to sit and watch TV while Mike got to be playing outside. It just wasn't fair.
Some of my first memories were of the woods behind our house in New Hampshire. I remember playing with Jeffry and Nate, the neighbors. We would make up games and play for hours at a time. I was always embarrassed because they would pee outside right in front of me and mom had taught us that wasn't ok. But we were still friends. Kids are so easy going, sometimes I wish all of life was that way.
One time in particular Jeffrey, Nate, Mike and I were out in the woods and we found a huge green snake. Huge for a 4 year old that is. We used a stick to trap it, and got a brown paper grocery bag to keep it in. We played with it in that bag for hours, but eventually Mike and I had to go home. We also caught frogs and bright orange newts and putting them in Tupperware containers for safe keeping. We never could figure out why they kept dyeing, but it was always fun to catch them and keep them around for a little while.
One Saturday I built a huge bonfire with my mom and dad. We gathered dead branches, and leaves for burning. In the process I came across a snake with black diamonds on it's back. Mom was concerned because it was poisonous, so she called my dad to take care of it.
There was a big rock in the back yard of our house, and I just loved to sit in the warm sun with my shoes off and just let it all soak in. With nothing more on my mind than what game we were going to play next, if the raspberries in the woods were ripe or not, and what Saturday morning cartoons would be new, life was pretty great!
With all the playing, animal animal capturing, and raspberry picking we did get into a bit of trouble from time to time. The most traumatic experience was when I lost Mike in the woods. We were out exploring as always and some how Mike fell into a HUGE (for a 4 and 2 year old) pit. I couldn't figure out how to get him out, so I ran home to get help from Mom and Dad.
By the time I figured out how to get home I had forgotten how to get back to Mike. Unfortunately lack of direction is a fault that has plagued me for my whole life. I tried to figure out where Mike had been lost, but it was really beyond my skills. Dad wondered around in the woods until he stumbled upon Mike's hole, while Mom made me some hot chocolate.
Fortunately Mike was fine, and everything worked out. Mike remembers begrudging walking back into the house to find me drinking hot chocolate out of his favorite mug, but no physical damage was caused.
January 11th 1986 Sheila Toy Brown was born to our family. Dad had wanted to name me Sheila, and again before they knew Mike was a boy wanted to name him Sheila, and finally with their third child Mom gave in and let her take on her name. My parents were extremely shocked to find out they were pregnant 9 months after Mike was born (making Mike and Sheila 18 months apart)! Mom has said the only way she was able to handle 3 kids that close was because Sheila was such a great baby. She loved taking naps and didn't cry much.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Apartment in New Hampshire
We moved to New Hampshire for my Dad's job, and on August 5th, 1984 my birth my brother Michael Glenn Brown Jr. was born. Unlike myself his pregnancy was planned, and less of a surprise/stress. It was great to have a sibling so close in age to me. Throughout our lives we remained constant friends, even if we did fight from time to time when we were young. We lived in a little apartment of which I have only two memories.
Mike and I shared a bedroom. One time in particular I really wanted to go play in my room but Mike was napping. So I started banging on the door to get him to wake up so I could go back in my room. Mom wasn't too happy, but at such a young age I didn't really think of the concept of waking the baby up.
A set of twins lived across the hallway, Hannah and Charles. They were around my age, so sometimes we played together. My second memory of the apartment is one of my being at their house and their mom giving me juice to drink. It was apple juice. I thought we were so lucky to get juice; it was just so tasty!
Mike and I shared a bedroom. One time in particular I really wanted to go play in my room but Mike was napping. So I started banging on the door to get him to wake up so I could go back in my room. Mom wasn't too happy, but at such a young age I didn't really think of the concept of waking the baby up.
A set of twins lived across the hallway, Hannah and Charles. They were around my age, so sometimes we played together. My second memory of the apartment is one of my being at their house and their mom giving me juice to drink. It was apple juice. I thought we were so lucky to get juice; it was just so tasty!
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