2007 - A Year in Review

January: Went bowling with the in-laws for New Years 2007. In bed before the ball dropped...haha. Finished crummy medical treatment - I can't believe it's been a year now! Thank you to everyone who helped me make it through.
February: Celebrated Deyna's Day February 15th :) Thank you Ry. Went looking at houses for the 1st time on Valentines Day.
March: Closed on our new house - Entered the world of mortgage payments and more bills than I had ever seen! Wow. But well worth it.

April: Celebrated our engagement anniversary April 19th...only a few months until the big day went down! Mal and Jared came down to visit for Mal's B-day.
May: I Moved out of Portland to Beaverton. Goodbye to Greenbriar Village after all of the years (happy, but sad moment). Thank you to everyone who helped us get things in order. Spent some time living alone listening to every noise the house made and singing my heart out in the shower :) Pookie's 1st birthday.
June: Had two awesome wedding showers...one in Portland and one in Colville. Interviewed for a promotion at work. The girlies turned 3! So grown up...July: Got a promotion at work. Got to spend a week in Colville - hadn't done that in a few years. Married my best friend in WA on 7.21.07. Had an awesome party :) Saw more people together in one place than in my entire life! I loved it. Went to Mexico for the 1st time - had an interesting (we won't go back), but great time! haha...4 days without a suitcase anyone?? Quite a few stories to tell.
August: Ryan and I moved in together! He started putting his shoes in front of the closet instead of IN the closet. Biggest pet peeve to date! hehe. Got to celebrate with Dad on his 50th Birthday!! September: Celebrated all of the Brown Family birthdays. Mal and Jackie surprised me with a visit for my birthday (Ryan helped)! I was SO surprised. Sang at the PSU Home opener...biggest crowd I had ever performed for. October: Got our first Trick or Treaters! Ryan got a new job/promotion at work on his way to becoming a PGE Lineman. Ryan worked his first 24+ hour shift...I don't know how he does it!
November: Ryan shot his first deer. "Uncle Ryan shot a deer with big horns". Spent Thanksgiving in Colville. Learned we were going to have another niece or nephew on the Tripp side in July (Tiff is due July 3rd).
December: Meg and Trev's wedding. Beautiful and Fun at The Old Church! Gayle's baby shower. We are all grown up :)Became future Godparents. Had an early holiday in Colville and my first Christmas away from my family in Tigard, OR. Christmas with the Browns. Found out we were going to have another new niece or nephew on the Brown side in August! Pookie #2 :)
To all those reading this: Thank you for sharing such a BUSY and wonderful year with Ry and I. This was a year of firsts for us and we wouldn't have made it through all of the major changes in our lives without all of your help and support. We LOVE you all very much. Looking forward to health and happiness in 2008.

things on my mind...

-My house is SUPER clean at the moment and I LOVE that feeling. I even made my bed this morning.
-I wish my husband didn't work so much - as I sit here all alone at 11:00pm :( - but I know he really loves what he is doing. I'm just a worrier...
-I miss my pregnant sister and her already growing tummy -Baby Fred :)
-Work is driving me crazy everyday, yet I still like what I'm doing - as weird as that is.
-When do I need to take down my Christmas tree? I want to keep Christmas around...
-My nieces are the funniest girls in the entire world. I wish I could see them right now. I wish they could tell me a bedtime story.
-Ryan and I are ROCKSTARS -we have a band called the BROWNIE$ on guitar hero. hehe...big kids.
-I need to remember to pay a few bills tomorrow. Sometimes I hate being an adult.
-I think I'm ready for warm weather again. Bring on the spring already...
-Tyra Banks is weird. Late night television is not impressive.
-We are going to Vegas in 3 weeks for Megan and Joes wedding!
-Baby Simone Sideris is almost here!
-What are we going to do for New Years?? I can't believe it is almost 2008...weird!
-I need to remember to take my vitamins everyday. Thanks for the Flinstones Mama.
-It seems like everyone is having babies....family, friends, celebrities..baby boom!
-I love music. I wouldn't make it without it. So many good songs out right now...
-Ryan still isn't home yet...still worried but have to sleep. About to call mom and chat :)

The New 12 Days of Christmas

Consider giving gifts to your significant other for the Twelve Days of Christmas, which I just learned begins on December 26th (today)!! I found a more economical (and more fun) version than the original...This version includes hugs, kisses, love songs, and other inexpensive tokens of your love for one another.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five chocolate gold coins , four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a seven minute massage, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight tasty cookies , a seven minute massage, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, nine hidden love notes, eight tasty cookies, a seven minute massage, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, ten love songs to play, nine hidden love notes, eight tasty cookies, a seven minute massage, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eleven passionate kisses, ten love songs to play, nine hidden love notes, eight tasty cookies, a seven minute massage, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, twelve no-chore coupons, eleven passionate kisses, ten love songs to play, nine hidden love notes, eight tasty cookies, a seven minute massage, six candy kisses, five chocolate gold coins, four telephone calls, three nice hugs, two blooming flowers, and a sweet kiss on my forehead.
Today, the true cost of the original Twelve Days gifts would probably be around $60,000.
However, this version costs just a fraction of that - less than $40.

What you need to actually purchase or do on the 12 Days of Christmas:
12 kisses on forehead (1 for 12 days)
22 blooming flowers (2 for 11 days)
30 hugs (3 for 10 days)
36 phone calls (4 for 9 days)
40 chocolate gold coins (5 for 8 days)
42 candy kisses (6 for 7 days)
6 7-minutes massages (1 for 6 days)
40 cookies (8 for 5 days)
36 love notes to hide around the house (9 for 4 days)
30 love songs to play (10 for 3 days)
22 passionate kisses (11 for 2 days)
12 coupons for not having to do a chore around the house (12 for 1 day)

HAVE FUN!

Do It Anyway - by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

i LOVE my husband

Hold up there you go again

Puttin on that smile again

Even though I know you’ve had a bad day

Doin this and doin that

Always puttin’ yourself last

A whole lotta give and not enough take

But you can only be strong, so long before you break…

So fall, go on and fall apart

Fall into these arms of mine

Ill catch you every time you fall

Go on and lose it all

Every doubt, every fear, every worry, every tear

Im right here

Baby fall

Forget about the world tonight

All that’s wrong and all that’s right

Lay your head on my shoulder let it fade away

And if you wanna let go, baby its okay

Fall, go on and fall apart

Fall into these arms of mine

Ill catch you every time you fall

Go on and lose it all

Every doubt, every fear, every worry, every tear

Im right here

Baby fall

Hold on hold on hold on to me...

Fall go on and fall apart

Fall into these arms of mine

Ill catch you every time you fall

Go on and lose it all

Every doubt, every fear, every worry, every tear

Im right here

Baby fall

Ry- Thank you for being you and the best husband I could ask for. Thank you for putting up with me through the good days and the "not so good". :) I love you.

Find the Pickle!

Apparently we have all been missing out on this tradition - I'm hoping to add this to our family Christmas tree someday...

"The glass pickle ornaments are the oddest German ornaments of all. For those who know the pickle story and for those who participate in hanging the pickle, it has become a welcomed addition to the present unwrapping dilemma of who is first. The glass pickle ornament is always the last one to be hung on the tree. The parents would carefully hide the pickle in the tree among the other decorations. When the children were allowed to view the Christmas tree decorated, they would begin gleefully searching the tree for the Pickle ornament. The children knew that whoever found the pickle first would receive an extra little gift and would begin the unwrapping of the Christmas gifts. The pickle and other German glass ornaments have become keepsakes that will be handed down to future generations."

Much to be thankful for...

My sister recently spread the news that she is having another baby! My nieces couldn't be happier to be expecting a new baby sister or brother. They are very into their "babies" right now (any and all dolls and stuffed animals that they can dress up) and we spent many hours throughout the weekend watching them play "mommy" to all of them. Needless to say, they are going to be a big help when the newest member of the Darnold family comes along this summer...maybe even TOO much help sometimes!
The boys had plenty of "manly" time over the break, including watching and trying to help my brother shoot a deer in the field on Friday (it was like play by play between a cell phone and 3 sets of binoculars in the living room) and going pheasant hunting on Saturday. They brought home 7 birds and we cooked them into a stir fry that night. I have to admit that I didn't eat any, but I have to give props to Lorie for trying a bite! I am very lucky to have found a husband that fits in SO well with my dad and brothers. They are like the 4 amigos - you'll find the same goofy sense of humor and love of camouflage in all of them :)
My parents celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary last Saturday! They were married on November 24, 1979 in Colville, Washigton at the Free Methodist Church. Their wedding colors were brown, orange and yellow (true fall wedding) and their wedding song was "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters. I wish I had a wedding picture of them to share, but I think they will be thankful enough that I shared this photo with you all :) Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. Thank you for being such a wonderful example for us. I love you. PS- We were a pretty good lookin' bunch if I do say so myself!

the girlies

My nieces, Adysen & Bayleigh, are 3 years old and are the funniest, craziest, smartest, silliest, most loving little girls I could ever imagine to have in my life. They keep my sister very busy and tend to test her patience :) but she is the most amazing mother and they are extremely lucky to have her and her husband as their parents. Ryan and I have learned so much from them and are thank ful that we are surrounded by so many good examples of what it means to be a great parent. We are going to be in good shape when it comes time for us to start a family!

My mother, sister and the girls were able to come visit us last weekend and it was SO nice to see them. The girls have such amazing imaginations and they care so much about each other. It is incredible to see how much they are alike, but so different at the same time. They have developed their own personalities and I love watching them grow and learn about life. They are very into playing with their "babies" and name every stuffed animal they own. You should hear some of the names they come up with. They even like to name each other sometimes and ask us to call them by thoses names...Bayleigh was "Larry" for one afternoon :) Here are a few pictures of what they have been up to!

Best friends! Helping clean up the day after our wedding. They look so grown up!

Hello Kitty for Halloween this year. Their costumes were so cute - they trick or treated at our house when they came down last weekend so we could see their outfits.
My sister's little "mini-me". It's amazing how much Adysen looks like her. Look at that amazing smile!
Bayleigh Louise - trying her long underwear on her head. I love her goofiness...I think she might get that from her Auntie :)

Happy Birthday Lorie

I want to dedicate this post to my friend Lorie. Today is her birthday and I have been missing her and thinking about her a lot lately. Lorie came into my family’s life more than ten years ago and her and her children are a special part of our family.

One of my favorite things about Lorie is that she always encourages her kids to do exactly what they want to do and to be who they are. I have always appreciated this about my parents and know that Tannar, Chase, Ty and Mia will appreciate their individualities as they grow older.

One of my favorite things about Lorie is that she is always learning - even though she is one of the most intelligent people I know. No matter the situation, she finds a way to learn from it and share her thoughts and feelings with others. I always look forward to reading her blog. She has taken what is usually a negative experience and allowed it to affect her life in many positive ways. I know their are good days and bad and I am proud of her for focusing on the good days.

One of my favorite things about Lorie is her determination. I think that this is one of the strongest traits that she shares with my mother and I am very proud of her for everything she has overcome in the last few years.

Lorie - I wish I could be there for your birthday dinner tomorrow, but you know I am always there for you anytime you need me. I Love you. Happy birthday

Where's My Toast

I found this story and I thought it was so cute...
A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember. Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair.
"Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asks.
"Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?"
"Sure."
"Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks.
"No, I can remember it."
"Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget it?"
He says, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."
"I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?" she asks.
Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!"
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment.
"Where's my toast ?"

3rd Times a Charm

So I have decided once again that blogging is something I want to keep up with! This is the 3rd time I have started a new blog over the past 3 years - and to those family members and friends who used to read and check up on me…I promise to keep up with it this time! Life got so incredibly busy and I didn’t have time to put my thoughts into this. So, I have created a whole new page and I plan on making sure I give myself time to do it! It will be simple for now, but give me a few more days and I will have pictures and stories to share. In the mean time, here are a few updates:

Name: Deyna Raechel Brown – Still getting used to it!
Age: 24
Marital Status: Happily married July 21, 2007 to Mr. Ryan Brown
Current Employer & Job: PSU Athletics – Director of Donor Relations
& Special Events
Rent or own: Own – bought a home in May in Beaverton, OR
Height: 5'1 and 3/4
The Shoes You Wore Today: Black High Heels
Your Weakness: Ice Cream
Your Perfect Pizza: Chicken, Bacon Ranch – Garlic Jims
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Good Health
Your Bedtime: These days about 9:00pm
Favorite Season/s: Summer and winter, but love the fall in OR
McDonalds or Burger King: Jack in the Box – Chicken Fajita Pita
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Hot tea – Orange Spice
Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla with Strawberries
Do you Sing: It’s my favorite thing to do – especially in the car
Do you believe in yourself: Most of the time, always working on it
Do you get Motion Sickness: Yes, too easily
Looking forward to: Holidays and family time
Are you a Health Freak: Only with certain things, I like fat free
Do you get along with your Parents: The best
Do you play an Instrument: Piano and still trying to learn guitar – little by little
What country would you most like to Visit: Australia and Italy
Number of CDs I own: Hundreds
Number of people I miss right now: Too many to count – they know who they are
Number of siblings: 2 officially, but one who I also count unofficially :)
Current Mood: Loved and Thankful