Monday, November 28, 2011

11.28.09

Two years ago I married the most amazing guy, sorry girls, I have him. Actually, we were just talking about how lucky we are that we found each other. Who else could Chase have found to love the Brown's just because he does? Who else could I have found that loves to drive so I don't have to?

As for "peas in a pod" or "soul mates" I'm not sure if I believe they exist. At first, I thought that made love less romantic but as I'm finding out-love is maybe 20% fairytale romance. Again sorry girls!

However, Andrea did say in her maid of honor speech, that Chase is my prince charming! I don't think I could have drawn up anyone better suited for me, I just hope I can be the same for him. Well except the prince part...oh you know what mean!!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving

After 3 thanksgiving celebrations, I'm stuffed full. Stuffed full of delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and pizza! Like pink is the new black, pizza is the new turkey...totally hip.
I'm also stuffed full of great memories. Michigan rummy is now in my repertoire of card games. Walking to the creek on a 60 degree Thanksgiving will definitely stay a top memory. I won't forget the piggy back rides with Alie or "cute face" with Ethan. Buffalo Wild Wings always tastes best late at night with the fam. We never pass up pizza at Dick's with Grandma Wanda and the gang. You never know what cute little Hadlee will say. Today it was "Jeremy Ross you look like an old woman." Sharing all of this with Chase makes it extra special.
What I'm trying to say is I'm thankful for my family...for every encouragement, every prayer, every fun time, every bonding moment, and every part of them that has helped mold me.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Smith Edible Creations

Fruit Christmas Tree
My mother-in-law had the creative idea of making our fruit tray into a decoration. We used a styrofoam cone, green gift bags, toothpicks, twist and peel twizzlers, staples, and every kind of fruit we love.
We cut the bag so that it rolled out flat, wrapped it around the cone, and stapled it. Then we rolled the twizzlers around to look like garland and stapled them in place. Once the fruit was cut into bite size pieces we speared them with the toothpicks and decorated the tree.
My sister-in-law crafted the angel out of pineapple!! So creative and so delicious especially with the fruit dip.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Positive Attitude is...

Authentic

Tranquil

Tolerant

Imaginative

Transferrable

Upbeat

Dependable

Enthusiastic

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Girls Retreat

Last night was our guy/girl retreat with xalt. We danced the night away with Just Dance for the wii! Playing catch phrase got loud and heated but we had a blast. Before bed, (yes we did sleep) we made t-shirts to represent that we start out a blank canvas and throughout our lives God expresses His creativity in us...we are His workmanship according to Ephesians 2:10. All of the girls expressed their creativity by making their own shirt! They turned out BEAUTIFUL and quite creative!! Those Xalt girls are the best!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

RE: Proposals

This post is in response to a friend of mine with the blog Sew Dysfunctional.  Check her out.
In her post Proposals she asked for stories, so here's mine.

The year after I graduated from college, I went on a mission trip with my family and the church I grew up in.  We went to Cleveland, Oh for the second year in a row.  Chase went with us the previous year but this time he had planned a trip with his three best friends, the Homies. They all had just graduated too and were taking a trip to Florida to celebrate.  My birthday just happened to fall on the last weekend of our trips. Different things had always came up and Chase hadn't been in town for my birthday while we were dating so I was bummed that he'd be out of town again. 
Anyway, the mission trip went well.  We worked on some homes in the city, played with some sweet kids, and I got to spend time with my family.  Chase was having a good time with his friends at the beach even though he had to work on his online masters classes he just started.  The day we scheduled as a fun day, just happened to be my birthday and we went to Cedar Point.  We rode tons of rides and were having a great time.  While in line for the Mantis, I heard a familiar voice behind me.  Turning around I had to do a double take because how could someone in Florida be standing right beside me? It was a great Birthday Surprise!!  Chase flew in early from his trip and drove all the way up to Cedar Point just to show me he cared about my birthday! How sweet?!
After riding the Mantis, he asked if we could ride the Millennium Force in the front row.  Waiting in line, we told each other all about our fun times over the past week.  Finally, we made it to the front of the line and rode the roller coaster.  I kept my eyes closed most of the time, in fear.  We walked down to the end, where the pictures are and all I could think was "why does Chase have his shirt lifted up like some weirdo middle schooler?" Then I noticed there were words on his chest.  The words: Marry Me?
He proceeded to kneel on one knee.  He told me how he wanted to share his life with me and how even though our relationship had kind of felt like a roller coaster at times he wanted to be together for ever and ever.  Then he pulled a ring box from his pocket and I said "yes!"  Since all of my family were at the park we went to tell them.  My brother and sister, had already assumed this was happening, apparently they are more observant than I am.  They noticed his pocket looked fuller than just a phone would make it. What I thought was a GREAT Birthday Surprise ended up being much much better!!  

Seven

This weekend we took seven guys on a seven hour trip to Ohio on a college visit. Here are my top seven moments of the trip:
  1. Our tire blowing on the highway (at least there were 7 guys to help Chase fix it so he didn't have to rely on my little knowledge of tools and limited muscle power.)
  2. Arriving in Ohio so I could be out of the van and away from the boys and their stinky habits.
  3. The worship and drama team in chapel. It was exciting to see the drama team, which started my senior year has succeeded and grown.
  4. Entertaining everyone with a movie for $1.75 in Columbus. Although, Contagion wasn't everything it was cracked up to be.
  5. Both of our families got to meet the boys from Xalt and the boys got to meet our families. 
  6. Ethan's Birthday dinner...YUM! YUM!!
  7. James and John teaching Kaycee and I how to JERK.

Monday, November 7, 2011

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Several girls suggested for me to watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Searching for it at the library I found that the movie was first a book so I decided to read this young adult fiction story that had been recommended to me several times.  As I read, I thought the book showed a good contrast between a wealthy, powerful German family with a young son and a young Jewish boy. 

The Jewish boy tells how he used to live, that he enjoyed life and his family did well for themselves.  His story goes from living happily with his family, to living crowded in the ghettos, and finally to living with his father in a concentration camp.  The two boys, although traveling different paths and fate intending different lives for them, end up with much more in common than "The Fury" (as Bruno calls him) would have liked or even tolerated. 

The young German boy, Bruno, tells the story.  The author writes with the charm, enthusiasm, and cares of a child.  Sometimes Bruno is whiny, rude, and selfish but he also shows great compassion and loyalty in his innocence.  He follows adventure in the spirit of a young boy up to the last word. 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Halloween

So I'm a little behind on this post...I apologize.
For Halloween, Xalt has a costume party called Hallelujah-ween, complete with a scare trail through the woods. OOOWWWW SPOOKY!!

I have been waiting to cut my hair so that I could be Belle from Beauty and the Beast, my favorite Disney Princess!! While I've been planning my costume for a year, Chase figured his out the night before.

On one of our fave shows, Happy Endings, a character dressed in a pilot suit and a long beard. He was ZZ Top Gun.  LOL!!! We thought that was hilarious so we racked our brains trying to figure out two opposite things that shared a common word.  After 15 minutes of brainstorming we finally landed on Blue Jean Simmons or Blue Gene Simmons, either way, it was classic!!

Beauty and Blue Jean Simmons
Enchanted Mirror courtesy of Teresa Smith
Two pirates, Rachel Berry (Glee), and Raggedy Ann
Mobster, Indian, and Bat Girl

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Round and Round

We've all sang the childhood song "The wheels on the bus..." This morning on my first bus route ever I learned the often neglected verse which goes like this...
              
               The alarm on the bus sounds and sounds
               sounds and sounds
               sounds and sounds
               The alarm on the bus sounds and sounds
               for 10 minutes straight

And then...

                The driver on the bus doesn't know where she is
                know where she is
                      
You get the point...with it being the week before the time change it's crazy dark at 6:15 in the morning plus I'm not the greatest with directions in the daylight!!
Overall, the route went well. The kids were awesome and very helpful!