A proposal I couldn't refuse!

A proposal I couldn't refuse happened 4 years ago tonight...

Every year we spend New Years Eve as a family and make a dish called Bana Calda it's an italian dish sort of fondueish style and it is fabulous (just ask Caty and Gabe Aricu they have indulged in this lovely treat!). So new years eve 2006 my boyfriend at the time Joe came over to spend new years with the family. I was at an age where it was kind of feeling lame to spend new years with my parents. So after we had eaten I knew there was a party at some friends house and tried to convince Joe for us to go over there. He said he didn't want to go which I thought was so weird and through out the rest of the night I was trying to still convince him. Okay so now I need to back track and tell some back story here. We were those type that we knew we were getting married we were as we called it engaged to be engaged lol. I knew that he was buying a ring and he told me that he couldn't afford it yet so it would be a couple of paychecks and I had accepted that and moved on. Now the whole week leading up to new year's he would jokingly in random spots like in the middle of walmart drop to one knee and then say just kidding. Which I told him several times was not funny and by the end of the week was getting very irritated... Okay so back to new years so I am trying to convince Joe to go to a party and I was not giving up on it so the poor guy had to act like he wasn't feeling good just so I would give up on it. All night my family is asking so when do you think he will propose (me not knowing they are all in on it and they know when) I was telling them oh it will be a month or so he can't afford the ring yet. Well at midnight we all had our sparkling grape juice and count down to midnight and Joe drops to one knee (and me knowing that he has been jokingly proposing all week) says what are you doing get up. Then from behind his back he pulls out a ring. And says Will you Marry me. I was in complete shock of course because he had me convinced it would be a while but of course I said yes. We were married 3 months later in the St. Louis temple on April 6th, 2007.  It was definately a proposal I couldn't refuse and I have not regretted it since. I have the best husband in the whole world I LOVE YOU Joseph Brown!

Madi's Shoe obssession and more.

These are Madi's Christmas PJ's that I got her on black friday for $4!

Most of these next pictures are Madi walking around in someones shoes. She just absolutely LOVES shoes it doesn't matter whose they if you take your shoes off and my place Madi will snatch them up and start walking around in them.

We got this couch for Christmas from Joe's parents we really like it and love having a lot more space to deal with. Our old couch was a huge sectional and it just took up some much room and was really old hand me down. Its kind of fun this is the 1st brand new couch we have ever owned. 

Its so crazy to think Christmas is right around the corner. We can't wait! We have Christmas with Joe's side on Sunday the 19th. Then a lot of my family from my side on my Mom's side are flying in from Arizona and we will get to spend a week with them! Lots of stories and pics to come!

My Constant Companion

This lately has been pretty much all you see. Madi is my little shadow and constant companion. It used to be that she would go to Dad when he got home and follow him around and it was great because I could get things done. Now she will hug Dad when he gets home and then continue to follow me around like an eager puppy. I haven't really decided if I love it or not. It really depends on the day. Some days it is super cute and helpful and other days it makes it absolutely impossible to get things done. I guess I should enjoy it while I can because this will pass and I will most likely miss it when she likes Daddy again. I guess it's all part of being a mom.

Primary Program and my class.

I don't know what it is about primary children but they just have such a place in my heart. Yesterday we had  our wards primary program and I of course was up there since Joe and I are teaching the CTR 7 class. I think I cried threw the entire program their sweet little testimonies just touched my heart. I love/hate being in primary it is a tough but rewarding job especially when you are spending 2 hours with 14-7 to 8 year olds. But honestly I love my class funny enough as it is I taught this class when they were 4 turning 5. Then after that I was in the primary presidency. Then we moved away for a year and a half and now that we are back we got assigned the same kiddos just older. It is amazing to me to see how much they have grown and matured (not by much but some more then others lol). Some who have come out of their shell and are no longer shy. Now they answer questions in class and most of then have been baptized. I just think these kids in this particular class with just always hold a special place in my heart and are teaching me soooo much I love you guys.

Madi's 18 month check up

Madi just had her 18 month check up on Wednesday. Here are all her stats

Weight
28 lbs 4 ounces
95th percentile

Height
31 inches
25th percentile

Head Circumference
18 3/4 inches
90th percentile

They said she is doing really well and was really impressed on how much she is talking already because she is connecting a lot of words together and even a few sentences. She is definately at the age where she really doesn't like the doctors office. She cried most of the time we were there. I can't believe how big she is getting.

Madi is a big girl now.

It has been a while since I have posted anything on here so here we go.
My baby is growing up she is now 17 months old and definately in the terrible twos already. First of all she is already in 24 month size clothes. She has her 4 front and bottom teeth and is cutting 4 mollars right now. She is saying so many words now (dog, cat, bat, ball, juice, this, that, milk, mom, dad, papa, up, ya, more,bye bye, hi) I am sure there is more I just can't think of them at the moment. Its is nice that she know some words but a lot of the time she still has a hard time communicating what she wants which is frustrating for me as well. She has learned how to climb up on the couch. She can now reach things that are close to the edge of the table or counter (not fun!) Such as the bowl of popcorn I just had popped and it went all over the floor. She is so full of energy all day she LOVES to dance. She really is at a fun age we play peek-a-boo. She tries to tickle you back when you tickle her. She gets time out A LOT because she likes to hit if you tell her no. Needless to say when we put her in the corner she stays there now if we walk away. She loves books but also loves to rip them apart so we are working on that as well. She will be going to nursery in church in 2 weeks and I am SOOOOOOO excited. She is so ready to be in there and I am so ready for her to be in there as well. Joe and I just received a calling in our "new" ward we are going to be teaching the CTR 7 in primary. Joe just started his last semester at OTC he will have his associates and will be transfering to MSU. It will definately be exciting he is really looking forward to taking mostly classes that have to do with his major. He wants to be a High school History teacher and hopefully coach football or something like that. Of course football season has started so needles to say between school, work, and football I don't see him much. I am still doing hair out of my home and being a stay at home mommy. We are actually ready to have another little one around so we are trying for another one. So far it hasn't happened yer but we hope we will be pregnant soon. I am really looking forward to the fall and all the fun holidays that come along with it. Check out my photos below.

Madi trying to get a teeth smile

Madi's cute new little pj's

We went to the park and Madi loved the swing

As always we got to spend a little time with the Beckers and had to give the kiddos a bath together and of course take pictures

Madi all dressed up for church her hair is even long enough now to put in lower piggy tails!

Our trip to Arkansas to see the Beckers

As we always do we went to go visit our best friends the Beckers over Memorial Day weekend we had so much fun like we always do. Our kids were as the usually are so cute together except Jeffery kept beating up on poor Madi he was pushing her over and pulling her hair but it was cute! They both learned how to give kisses so they were kissing everyone goodnight and well that even included each other so of course we had to get a picture!

It is always a definate must to give them baths together they are so going to hate us when they get older and see these pictures.

As girls went to the Rock Fest in Little Rock it was fun we ate philly cheese steak sandwhiches and got samples and after we went to the mall as well here are some pics

My Nieces are growing up

I just can't believe my nieces are growing up this last week I went to Izzy's preschool graduations and Arielle's Kindergarden graduation. They are getting so big and so smart it seems like just yesterday when they were barely walking talking etc. Man time flies by so fast!

Jeffery's 1st Birthday party

Madi got invited to her very first birthday party of a friend. Jeffery was so cute and wasn't very much into the cake but it sure was a lot of fun. Plus it is always so good to get to see our friends the Beckers!

All us girls that had babies around the same time

Easter 2010

This year for the first time in a long time I had my grandma and grandpa here. Plus she was so nice to make all of her great grandkids all cute matching Easter outfits. I was so fun! We did a little Easter egg hunt as well and honestly Madi wasn't into it but she did just turn one so I guess I can't blame her. Maybe next year. Any way here are some pics from that day.

Julie and Julia

I just finished watching Julie and Julia and felt inspired to blog. That was such a fun movie, it made me go through a lot of emotions. After watching this movie I want to learn to cook and blog more. I wish I had something more to blog about other then my day to day normal rarely changing routine that I have with me and my daughter.
Sometimes I wish I had something amazing and exciting to talk about. Some sort of adventure or journey. Wouldn't that be amazing? What would my journey be? Do you ever wonder what people will say when they look back on your life? What would the book of my life be like? Is it going to be boring and repetitive? Will people love it and feel inspired? Will people love me or hate me? Did I ever make a difference? Was I a good mother? Was I a good wife? Will people remember me or will am I just a the person they met once upon a time that they barely remeber what my name was?Did I do something great? Was I good at my job?
Well this was just me being me and blabbing so ya there it is.

The Brown/Duree/Gainer birthday party

All of our babies were all born within a month of each other so we decided to have a cute little combined birthday party. Amy was awesome to plan it here are some cute pictures. Amy also bought some cute matching shirts too

My little Diva

I just can't believe how much of a diva my little girl is. Isn't she cute in her little robe.

Turkey Party/First turkey I have made

So I know that this was a long time ago but in January we decided to have a big Turkey Dinner and invite a ton of people over. It was great we had the biggest turn out ever. It was a lot of fun and we could barely move in our small living room. It was also a new experience for me because I made my first turkey ever. It turned out great and I was so proud of myself.