Lets go see the monkeys

I got invited to go to the Zoo with some ladies from 3rd ward Madi had such a blast and we ended up buying a family pass for the entire year. So we will be spending a lot of time at the zoo this year. Madi has already been asking me to take her to see the monkeys again.

A park day.

The other day it was absolutely beautiful outside and I was determined to take advantage of it. I called up my friend Cassadee and said pack a picnic lunch you and your kiddo are going to the park with me and Madi. We had a great time talking and playing with the kiddos. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera so here is the only picture I have of the day I took it with my phone.

Babysitting

I started babysitting just once a week for some friends of mine. I watch 2 girls their names Are Kinzley and Alyvia they are cousins and it is really nice because Kinzley is 2 and Alyvia will be 2 in July so they are really close in age and Madi has a blast with her friends. It is super cute Madi calls them both by the same name and it Kissy (her attempt to say Kinzley). These pictures are just of Madi and Kinzley. Alyvia was sick that day so I don't have any of her yet.

Mommy Daughter trip to Arizona

Madi and I needed a vacation well mostly me. So we made plans and headed our way to Arizona. I am so grateful for my Grandmother who paid for my flight and almost everything while I was there. She is the best ever! It was January when we went and it was supposed to be warm but it ended up being in the 40's while we were there. I definitely don't mind though because in Missouri they were having a blizzard and was definitely a lot colder. We ate out played at the mall ate some more. I was great just to get to spend time with the family and relax.

  This is my Grandpa Rich I love him so much. Madi still to this day talks about him she loves her great papa rich.

 My cousin Stephanie and I got to spend some time together as well my sister kind of hogs her when the family is around so it was nice to get some one on one time. We went to this place that was filled with trampolines it was awesome and Madi had a blast.

 After jumping we went to lunch at Joe's Farm Grill it was featured on the food network and the tv show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

 This is the HUGE jacuzzi tub at my grandma's house and you better believe I spent an hour in there every night I was there!

 Grandma and I went to the mall a couple of times with Madi so she could play around and get some energy out of her she had a lot of fun!

It was a great little break from my sometimes very stressful life. It was great seeing the family and I wish I took more pictures while I was there because we also went and visited my Uncle Monte and Aunt Bree who lived about 3 hours away and I got to meet my cousin who are pretty much Madi's age. It was a blast.

If looks could kill

If looks could kill I am sure I would be dead. This is a look I get often from my Daughter. My husband says it is identical to one I give him. I guess like mother like daugher. LOL. Plus you got to love the bed head going on in this picture. She had just woke up from her nap in this picture. Look at those curls I love it!

Visitng the Beckers St Louis style

Once again we made a visit to the Beckers house. This time they are now living in St. Louis. We always have lots of fun when we visit. We got there Friday the 7th around 5:30pm and the kids immediately started playing while Cassie, Joe and I caught up. Paul got home around 7ish and we ordered Pizza hut for dinner YUM! Plus Cassie made us some really yummy oreo fudge delish! We mostly just visited all night and the boys played call of duty. These are pictures of the kids playing the the bed we were trying to set up for Joe and I.

The next day Paul had to work so Joe, Cassie and I went on an adventure for the day. We decided to go to the science center. It ended up not being very fun for the kids they are doing a lot of changes and construction there and most things were closed and a lot of the things they have now cost money and were definately not cheap! So we decided to leave. It was lunch time and we wanted to wear the kids out so they would nap so we headed to one of the many malls that are in St. Louis. We ate lunch then let the kiddos play (Joe went and looked at the sports store while we stayed with the kids.) This picture is of the kids right before we left the play place in the mall Jeffery is trying to pull Madi around she had one of those backpack/lease things on. I was pretty funny.

After the mall we headed back to the Beckers place to watch some football. Joe is a huge Seahawks fan and they were playing that afternoon. We watched the game then decided to go out for dinner we ate at a Tex-Mex place called Chevy's. Then we came home and put the kiddos to bed and chatted some more while the boys played more Call of Duty. Sunday Cassie made some yummy monkey bread for breakfast and then we had church at 11am which was fun. Then we came home and watched Dispicable Me then Cassie and I am made Chicken Tacos YUM again! Then unfortunately it was time to head home. We really wish the Beckers lived closer we have such a great time with them and it is so great that we have the kids at such a close age. Thanks for being such great hosts Cassie and Paul Becker we miss you guys! 

 

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!