Don't you just love the Easter Pageant at the Mesa LDS Temple? It's amazing! This year Darren and I had the opportunity to be hosts there...meaning we basically walked around the grounds and talked with those visiting and answered any questions that they may have had. It was a great experience to meet so many people from all over the country. Until next year...
This year for Valentines Day, Darren surprised me with a weekend getaway to Sedona. He scheduled a massage at a spa and dinner out. It was a great weekend spent with the man I love.
And my gift to him:
Each card had one thing I love and respect about him
(his sense of humor, his adventurous spirit, etc.) It was easy to do since he is so loveable :)
LOVE IS GREAT!!
I am so grateful we have family so close. What a blessing it is to be able to get together for special occasions and holidays. I'm glad Tiff and Limhi were able to visit from Detroit. It wouldn't be the same without them. Without family we have nothing.
Darren and I started a tradition a year or two ago of putting gag gifts in the stockings. Here are some from this year:
Boogie Wipes and Butt Aid. You never know when those will come in handy. HaHa
And just a few gifts that everyone received:
Tiff bought Britt and I a DVD/book set of "Little Women". I love that story. Britt also got a bunch of clothes, etc for her mission.
Tiff made my mom a calendar with the family pictures we took last year at Freestone Park. It was super cute!
Isn't he handsome!? Wow! I love that hoodie that Tiff and Limhi bought him.
My mom and Britt getting things ready for Christmas dinner...vegetarian style. White bean tacos, Spanish rice, chips, salsa and guac. It doesn't get much better than that. Yum!!
I sure do love my family! You guys and gals are the greatest!! :o)
I think our first Ugly Sweater Party was a success. Here are some fun pics from the night:
Our party food for the night: roasted chickpeas, strawberry oat bars, chocolate peppermint cookies, cinnamon stix with peanut butter dip, crackers with salsa hummus, and veggies and hummus
punch glasses edged with crushed candy canes to go along with the tropical, peppermint nog/smoothie
Darren's ugly sweater
and my gorgeous, wreath covered turtleneck
Ryan and Emily Robbins with their awesome white elephant gifts. Ryan was excited about target practice. Poor Justin :(
Eric and Jessica Roberts
Derek and Emily Pratt. Soup and the Sounds of Blackness. Sounds like a fun date night :)
Chris and Nancy Dyson: Birds of a Feather certainly swing together :)
The funniest moment of the night was when Ryan sat down onto his plate of food. His comment was priceless ... "Well...this night just became a lot more interesting!" haha. It was even funnier when not 5 minutes later Ryan commented on Emily having something on her backside. She had apparently sat down on some food as well, although she couldn't remember when or how. So to memorialize this night in Christmas Party History, we took a picture:
It was hilarious! We all laughed so hard our cheeks hurt...haha...no pun intended!!
Ugly Sweater Contest Winners: Ryan won the "SO-HO-HO Ugliest" Ribbon
and took home the coveted trophy. Those are some awesome sweaters!
The Coveted Trophy in all it's glory. He might be missing some pants...but that Rudolph sweater rocks!!
A few weeks ago I saw a picture similar to this in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine:
...a faux fireplace!
And I thought...why couldn't Darren and I build something like that? And the answer is...WE CAN! So...WE DID!! :)
The before picture (just a blank wall)
The process and materials:
mantel shelf painted white and hung on the wall
foam board ($ store)
Crown molding (Home Depot) glued to the foam board with wood glue.
And the end result:
Darren drew the fire. He's quite the artist!
I think it turned out great! And all for about $10. I LOVE it in our living room!
It makes the room feel so quaint and cozy. If only I could justify leaving it up all year long. :)
Darren and I like to travel. That's no surprise. So this year Darren was able to save up his vacation time (nearly 4 weeks worth) so we planned a trip to....Thailand!! We were so excited. Everything was planned. Plane tickets bought. And then...we started to feel like something was amiss. We couldn't put our finger on it but after a lot of prayer and fasting, we decided to cancel our trip. We were SO bummed but we figured there had to be a purpose. We were able to get everything refunded, even including an inter-country flight which normally would not have been but they cancelled the flight a week before because of electrical issues so we were able to get a refund. What a miracle!! It just shows that when we listen to the spirit everything works out in the end, even if we don't understand it. So Thailand...postponed for now but not forever. :)
Where we will go someday:
Kanchanaburi
Chiang Mai
Krabi
Bangkok
Darren made this to go along with dinner tonight. He wouldn't let me see it until it was finished. Pretty clever eh? Very creative babe. Have you been looking on Pinterest? haha :)
We didn't have time to eat dinner before heading out to the festival, so once we arrived we bought two huge muffins at the country store bakery. Pumkin and apple. YUM!
My cousin Shana and her family
Cute little Kasen
Hay ride, corn maze, pig show and go-carts. It doesn't get more fun than that :)
It has been a Brown Family Tradition for some time to get all the kids together for fair weekend. We had a great time seeing all the nieces and nephews (and their parents too of course) :o)
For the 4th of July, Darren and I went to Heber for our annual family BBQ. We always have such a great time getting out of the heat and spending time with family. And of course eating the yummy food :)
we had fun decorating this year
My first attempt at Watermelon Cake.
Other than not being perfectly round, I think it turned out pretty well :)
Our cute "niece" Haylee
...and Devyn
I think the cutest kid in there is the big one :)
James...what a character :)
Uncle Darren playing baseball with the kids
Cute kids! We had so much fun being with everyone. I can't wait until next year :)
