Lauren's 11th Birthday, April 1, 2009

On March 31, 1998, my water broke at work and I drove myself home where Trav, Garrett and I headed to Grandma Betty's to drop Garrett off. We then checked into St. Mark's hospital where I was only at 3 centimeters. We were headed in for a long night. I progressed slowly through the evening. Lauren was to be a V-Back. Finally about 3 or 4 in the morning I got my epidural and while feeding the catheter up my back, Travis passed out. I was told to not move a muscle while they picked Travis up off the floor and brought him a bag of m&ms and orange juice. What? Who were we at the hospital for? Trav sat down in the glider while the epidural began to work. I rested for a couple of hours and at 6:30 am the contractions began to be intense. They checked me and I was at a 10. They called the doctor and she was born 2 pushes later. It was a breeze (seriously, the epidural was wonderful!). Lauren was the best April Fools I could ever imagine.

A couple of weeks ago we had Lauren complete an "all about me" paper. Here are some of her answers:

1..Diamonds or pearls BOTH, THEY ARE BOTH PRETTY
2. Last Movie ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN W/G'MA JACKI
3. Favorite TV Show SPONGE BOB & MYTH BUSTERS
4. Usual breakfast SMOOTHIES OR BOWL OF CEREAL
5. Middle Name TAYLOR
6. Food she can't stand SPAGHETTI
7. What car do you want to drive when 16 HONDA ODYSSEY
8. Fav. Name ALAINA
9. What trait don't you like ANGER ISSUES
10. Fav. clothes AEROPOSTLE, OLD NAVY - LOVES CAPRIS
11. Habits BITES NAILS
12. Airplane anywhere HAWAII
13. Where to retire ITALY
14. Fav. b-day 8th - WENT TO A CERAMICS PLACE WITH FRIENDS
15. Choc. or Vanilla CHOCOLATE
16. Last person on phone ERIN ASTILL
17. Sweet or Savory SWEET
18. Fav. musician TAYLOR SWIFT, KILLER
19. Fav. song LOVE STORY, HUMAN
20. Fav. scripture JESUS BIRTH & ATONEMENT IN LUKE

Funniest thing Lauren has said in a while:

We were registering Garrett for Seminary next year and she asked what that was. I explained it is kind of like Sunday School everyday that replaces at class at school. She shook her head and said, "Don't sign me up!" I laughed so hard, and said when she is in 9th grade, it will probably be one of her favorite classes.

Hope you learned a little more about our sweet Lauren. She is a peach! She is loyal, loving, responsible, creative, well-rounded and a wonderful daughter. Happy Birthday Lauren!

For Lauren's birthday, Grandma Jacki took Lauren to Build a Bear, Trav is checking Lauren out for lunch and then I'm taking her for her first pedicure! (It is a surprise - no party this year). We are then heading to Leatherby's for a nutritious meal of ice cream for dinner. I hope she has a wonderful day!

My 25 "Randoms" - March 24, 2009

# 1 I’ve colored my hair the same color (Color Charm # 647 – tan blond) for 14 years.

# 2 I never waxed or plucked my eyebrows until 2005. Now I’m addicted. Every 4 weeks or else!

# 3 I love to travel. I've been on two cruises, but loved the one with friends the most. I've been to Hawaii three times. My dream vacation is a trip across Europe or a trip to Tahiti.

# 4 I am a sports talk radio junkie. I am a clone -that means I listen to the Jim Rome show. I’ve been one for nearly 11 years. I went to the “tour stop” back when the Jazz were in the playoffs in 1998. I’ve never called in to the show, but am always close to texting or emailing in. Around our house we quote different Rome sayings all the time. “Phat!, Give me back my son!, Do you know who the %$#@ I am?, Now I’m done, and Blocked. I love the annual Smackoff!

# 5 I get a high from shopping, well, bargain shopping!

# 6 I hate to read directions, and love someone to give me the "Reader's Digest" version.

# 7 I dislike chocolate covered fruit & chocolate covered fruit flavored candies

# 8 I notice people’s registration dates on their vehicles, and realize I should have been a cop to so I could pull them over and ask for their license and registration.

# 9 I type all the time. Sometimes when I’m talking or listening to other people talk I find myself typing our conversation on my lap, desk, someone’s back -weird! Some people air guitar – I air type.

# 10 I have a brother who is 6 months older than me and a brother 3 years younger than me and a sister 7 years younger than me.

# 11 Travis and I attended my Jr. Prom together @ Brighton High in 1989. (See photo above!)

# 12 I love card games. I’ve watched 21 and secretly wish I was that smart and could count cards and try it at Vegas!

# 13 I like to juggle many things in life, yet hate to watch jugglers and most “magic acts.”

# 14 I am the queen of mixed metaphors….

# 15 I am timely!

# 16 I love to have things on my calendar, but love a phone call to do something more fun and drop everything.

# 17 I love to lay in bed every morning and watch the Today Show for the first 22 minutes (commercial free!) and then get on with my day.

# 18 I love to shoot clay pigeons with a 12 gauge shot gun, and did it the first time a year ago.

#19 I love all the “Pink” items that aren’t normally pink except during October for Breast Cancer Awareness month; however, I’m not really into the Pink Ribbon. My favorite “pinks” have been: M&Ms, Tic Tac’s, Campbell’s soups, Sun Chips, all my Kitchen Aid appliances, and kitchen gadgets.

# 20 I use all my cell phone minutes, but rarely text

# 21 You’d think I lived through the Great Depression, because it is hard for me to part with things. I always say to Travis, “I might need or want it someday.” I basically live in organized clutter.

# 22 I love to plant the garden, mow the lawn, edge the grass and prune the bushes, but hate to weed, and refuse to learn how to operate the sprinklers.

# 23 I love to BBQ and always get my own tanks filled. I even keep spares filled because I hate to run out of propane.

# 24 I’ve built up my food storage by my mom’s method of “use one, buy two”

# 25 I have always wanted a motorcycle or scooter; however, Travis was brainwashed as a child and told that everyone who rides one dies. I am still working on this, and am always on KSL classified and Craigslist scoping out bikes. Travis did concede to a dirt bike, but I’m not sure that is what I want.

St. Patricks Day @ preschool, March 16, 2009

As I was picking up Ashton from preschool today I saw the class all gathered around the mailbox across the street. They looked like little leprechauns. Miss Shannon walked them back to her house and they each had gold coins that the leprechaun had left behind. Ashton was so eager to show me the leprechaun footprints that were left behind. They even went up the street sign. Super fun day!

I'm Registered! 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk AZ Nov. 13-15 2009

I'm registered! I am walking 60 miles over 3 day in Scottsdale, AZ - Nov. 13-15, 2009 to help raise funds to find a cure for breast cancer. I will be joined by my sister, Shari and my sister-in-law Tracie. I am so happy that they will be with me on this amazing and awesome journey. We are all overwhelmed by the amount we each have to fund raise ($2,300.00) and the amount of miles we are going to have to walk to gear up for 60 miles in 3 days, but we are determined and full of hope!

Please help me raise $ 2,300 for the cause! I've attached the link to my fund raising page. Any donation would be awesome!

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/ArizonaEvent?px=3197204&pg=personal&fr_id=1290&s_tafId=84771

Snow & Sun all in one day - March 5, 2009

We woke up to the best packing snow ever! I knew we had to go sledding. Ashton invited Mitchel and Bailey to go sledding. Braydon then called and we invited them to the park too. Emily was babysitting Braydon and Branson so we had quite a few of us at the park. We made a jump for the sleds to go off, but every time I tried to go over them, I'd plow right through it and it was bug the kids. Mitchel got the most air. After sledding we went up by the playground equipment and made snow forts so we could have a boys vs. girls all out snow ball fight. I've truly never seen snow like this. It was incredible. We made HUGE snow balls that we turned into awesome forts. We then took our waterbottles and had a snowball fight/game. The team that knocked the other's water bottle over won. You also could hit anyone in the face or you had to sit out. Both Em and I had to take turns sitting out. Em hit Ash and I hit Mitchel. It was super fun. We then headed home and had hot chocolate and tacos.

Last night after all the snow on the ground melted, our snow forts still stood.

My 37th Birthday - Feb. 27, 2009

Happy Birthday to me! My fun weekend began with a Zometa treatment followed by lunch with good friends at Al's house. We had Rubios - super nummy! I ran some errand in the afternoon and was happily surprised by my friend Barb and her husband Chris stopping by with my favorite birthday cake from Mrs. Backer's Bakery (pictured above). It truly was as tasty as it looked. Friday night I went out to Epic with my friend Nanc and we tried to go see Marley and me, but it was sold out! We then went to see Taken. Yikes- it was intense and scary. It made me want to not let my kids out of my sight. Saturday morning we ate breakfast with Tracie's family at Kneaders and cleaned the house - yuck. Saturday night Trav and I went to the Jazz game. They played Sacramento and beat them. It was a great time! Sunday night we had family over for dinner, cake and games. Monday was lunch with Booth. Can you believe how much food I ate. I better start walking soon!