Happen to be HAPPY

pRESENTING: sTUFF tHAT mAKES mE hAPPY

* qUOTING "fRIENDS" oN mORE tHAN a rEGULAR bASIS *

* sNEAKING wALMART bOUGHT cANDY iN mY gINORMOUS hANDBAG iNTO tHE mOVIES & fEELING aS iF i'VE jUST sAVED lOADS oF mULA & pULLED a fAST oNE oN tHE mOVIE bUSINESS aT tHE sAME tIME  *

* dAYS tHAT i lITERALLY dON'T cHANGE oUT oF mY jAMMIES aLL dAY *

* pLAYING cHUTES & lADDERS wITH mY kIDS, tURNS oUT i lOVE tHIS gAME aT 29 aS mUCH, iF nOT mORE aS i dID wHEN i wAS a kID mYSELF *

* bURNING aUTUMN sCENTED oILS & cANDLES, cAN i eVEN bEGIN tO tELL yOU hOW fABULOUS tHE "cARMEL aPPLE" oIL fROM bATH & bODY wORKS sMELLS?,

 i tHINK nOT, iT'S rAD! wEIRD sIDE nOTE, iT sMELLS wAAAYY

bETTER iN tHE oIL tHAN iN tHE cANDLE. *

* sNEAKING kISSES fROM mIKE aT rANDOM tIMES tHROUGHOUT tHE dAY *

* wATCHING "gLEE" sEASON 1 (bORROWED fROM bREE, tHANX bREE!), wITH z hUZZY, wE aRE jUMPING oN tHE gLEE bANDWAGON a lITTLE fAR bEHIND eVERYONE eLSE,

bUT bETTER lATE tHAN nEVER, aM i rIGHT, oR aM i rIGHT? *

* dECIDING tHAT "jEGGINGS" aRE mY mOST pREFERED tYPE oF jEAN tO eVER wEAR dUE tO tHE cOMFORT fACTOR aLONE *

* lOOKING iN mY kIDS bACKPACK'S tO sEE wHAT hOMEWORK tHEY hAVE & fINDING a cUTER tHAN cUTE cRAFT tHAT tHEY mADE aT sCHOOL tHAT dAY *

* fINDING tHE pERFECT lEOPARD pRINT sCARF tHAT i wILL rOCK aLL oVER tOWN tHIS wHOLE fALL/wINTER sEASON *

* gIVING oR rECIEVING a gENUINE cOMPLIMENT oUT oF tHE bLUE *

* pRETZEL m&M'S *

* sEEING hOW eXCITED mY dANCERS gET aT gETTING sTICKERS
 aT tHE eND oF dANCE cLASS *

* fRESHLY dONE lAUNDRY, dOING tHE lAUNDRY hOWEVER,
 dOES nOT pUT mE iN mY hAPPY pLACE,

bUT bASICALLY tHE eXACT oPPOSITE oF mY hAPPY pLACE *

* hAVING aLL oF mY mAKE-UP oRGANIZED, tOOK mE lITTERALLY 5 hOURS tO gET dONE, bUT sOOOO wORTH iT, & bONUS, iT'S bEEN aBOUT a mONTH sINCE i dID iT & iT rEMAINS jUST aS oRGANIZED aS tHE fIRST dAY tHAT i dID iT, i tHINK i fINALLY hAVE a gOOD sYSTEM gOING hERE! *

* pURPOSFULLY tYPING sTRANGELY, hELLO lOWER cASE aT tHE fRONT oF eVERY wORD wRITTEN *

Untitled...

This is going to be brutally honest, & maybe not in my best interest to even post this, but I kinda feel like putting it out there in the Universe somehow validates it, gets it off of my chest, gets people off of my back, however you want to put it, but here it is. Adoption. I am pro adoption. Mike & I started our papers back in January, our momentum & motivation was unstoppable, until it was, well... stopped. Everything felt like it was falling right into place, at the beginning. What happened? I don't know, it puzzles me. In some ways when I went in to have our first intake interview with the social worker (she's great, love her, NONE of this has anything to do with her), I felt judged, under a microscope & I wasn't good enough. Is that what has paused this process, my own insecurities? Or is it something more. The trusting, hopeful side of me says that it is just because whomever is supposed to come into our family still isn't ready yet, that everything has it's place & time. This is the side that I try to listen to & be in harmony with. The other part of me is still bitter that I couldn't get pregnant on my own again, I was able to get pregnant without even having to put any thought whatsoever into it with Jaden & Camren. Why has my body failed me this time? Why am I hung up on the fact that I am sooo sad that I don't get to proclaim to my family & friends that Surprise! I am preggers! Yay! Every one screams & starts crying out of pure happiness & everyone is hugging everyone. Why do I feel like I need to have this scene played out in real life like I have seen it played out in my head month after month for the past 5 years? I don't know, I wish I did.


I get nervous that my youngest is now SIX, what a large gap there is going to be now (and only getting bigger by the days) if we do have another child. So then I think, well we will just have to have two more close together now, but how will we have 2, when it seems impossible to even get one more into our family at this point. Hmmmm, I know it all boils down to faith. And I know mine is being tested. I DO have faith, I DO know that it eventually is all going to work out & fall into place exactly as it is supposed to. Sometimes it is just easier said than done. As are most things in life. There, I put it out there, don't judge me, please. This is just how I feel, for now.


Another way I feel when I put stuff like this on my blog, for all to read, Like I have said before, I feel like some songs can just put into words what I can't, so as cheeseballs as I realize this is, a song by 3 Doors Down fits perfectly...

"What happens to a man when

He spills his heart on a page and

He watches words flow away then

His feelings lie on the page alone

There waiting

For someone who cares to read them

To open their eyes to see them

To see if they can make his thoughts their own

To find out that maybe your life's not perfect

Maybe it's not worth what he gives away..."

"Pages" by 3 Doors Down

I made you a Mixtape to show you how far we are in this Relationship...

So, at this point, I KNOW you all know my obsession with music. Can't get enough of it, looove finding new music, love jamming in the car/shower/anywhere in general to it, can't live without it... and so on & so forth. I love it so much that I want to share my love for it, in some small way, by making CD's of it for those that I love & adore. I especially like making CD's for people who seem to appreciate the music that I "share" with them as much as I do. If they know it or not, I put a LOT of thought & time into making each & every CD I make. I literally think of the recipient, go through my music (CD by CD, yep, I have yet to store all of my music on to my computer, seems too daunting of a task at this point. So, I actually sit at my PC & load CD after CD, grabbing different songs off of each & adding it to a play list that I am personalizing for said recipient) & really try to choose songs that I think that they might possibly love. Some CD's can take me up to 2 hours to create. Sounds like I am crazy? Like at that point when I am making a CD, that I don't have any form of a life? Well, you're probably correct on both accounts, but I actually LOVE doing it! I get to listen to some of my favorite music & be creative in my own little way (what? I know I didn't actually create the songs themselves, but putting them together in my own little mix is fun & satisfying to mua). Each one is filled with sweet music (in my humble opinion) & a little Laura Love from me. If I were to make a custom CD right at this very second, here is what would be on it...

1. "Kandi" by One Eskimo

2. "Can you find me?" by The Summer Set

3. "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri

4. "Sea of Love" by Cat Power

5. "Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer cover)" by Florence & the Machine

6. "Dimestore Diamond" by Gossip

7. "Kid's" by Sleigh Bells

8. "Clementine" by Sarah Jaffe

9. "Twisted" by Katie Melua

10. "Love the way you Lie" by Eminem ft. Rihanna

11. "Soldier of Love" by Sade

12. "Send you on your way" by Eastmountainsouth

13. "Summer Rain" by Belinda Carlisle (that's right, from the 80's)

14. "Electric Twist" by A Fine Frenzy

15. "Anything but the Truth" by Jack Johnson

16. "This Conversation" by The Submarines

17. "Who am I to say" by Hope

18. "Always on my mind (Willie Nelson cover)" by Iron & Wine

19. "Closer" by Kings of Leon

20. "Friend" by Brandi Carlile

Most of these songs are at the bottom of this blog on my Playlist. Which is my own version of a Mixed CD for myself, I always pull it up to listen to on shuffle whenever I am on my computer. Chiggity check 'em out if ya want, I will be enjoying them either way. Cheer's to Music...

Numero One Hundred-O

This is officially my 100th post on this blog (as a hush falls over the crowd), so I better be making it special. Well, I haven't been on here in a while (for good reason, I've been a busy little bee) so I have like, 100 things to catch you up on. On your mark, get set...... GOOOOO!

1. I officially am working (part time) at the MAC counter, Loving it thus far!

2. At my tender age of 29 I finally took the leap & pierced my ears (I can hear all of my familia

letting out a shriek right about now).I am soo excited for my 6 weeks of wearing studs to be up,
so I can get to the 'fun stuff' in the earring world.

3. Cam's Birthday was yesterday...can't believe my BABY is 6!!!

4. Cam started Kindergarten last week. Can't believe my BABY is in Kindergarten!!!

5. Jaden is a BIG 3rd grader... when does time get away from me so quickly?

6. We got a kitten & he lasted all of one day at our house. He was super cute, white hair, blue eyes (just like my boys) & we named him Boston. But after both of Jaden's eyes swelling completely shut from just being in the same room as him, we sadly had to give him back.

7. Mike was in a mini triathlon & KILLED it! He finished like 26th or something out of like 350!

Go MJ! And now he has 'the bug'. I have a feeling that this will be the first of many for him.

I am so proud of my Mike & who knows, maybe someday I'll join him on some of his new adventures in physical fitness. That remains to be seen...

8. My mother & father in law left to the MTC yesterday. They are going to be serving a
 mission inthe New Hampshire, Massachusetts mission at a Joseph Smith historical site
 in Vermont. They are going to be amazing!!!
I love them both so much & am going to miss them terribly.
But I KNOW that is where the Lord has need for them now.

9. Bonus for me on where they are serving their mission: when Mike & I go & visit them, we will travel to Boston & go to a Celtics game at none other than 'The Garden'. Wishes being granted left & right.

10. I am starting dance up again next week. Super excited. Can't wait to see all of my cutie patutie dancers again. They have been missed.

11. Sorry, nothing to report on the 'baby' front. (Just in case you were wondering)

12. Went to 2 fantabulous concerts this summer (both at USANA) The first was Jack Johnson. Me & Bree went together & it was a blast!!!! Love Jack J! Love to say that I actually have sang along with him LIVE! Have too many funny 'drunk men' at the concert stories. I'll just leave it at Drunk Guys at Jack Johnson Concerts are Insane!!! The 2nd concert was Dave Matthews Band! Double date with Krista & Jesse (thanks again my loves), & lets just say I think that I smelled enough Pot that night, that I went home with the munchies.... Loved the company at both concerts, Loved the outdoorsyness, loved it all!

13. Went to "Eat Pray Love" twice! Loved it both times. Found it inspiring. Some of the peeps that I
 went with the 2nd time didn't love it like I did. As a matter of fact, I think they loathed it. Sorry in laws.

14. I got a new bedding set!! So cute, feel like I am in a Hotel every time I slip into bed at night. I had my other bedding for 8 years & have been wanting something new & fresh the last couple years. Found a bargain on something I LOVE at TJ Maxx & the rest is history.

15-100. I won't bore you to tears... leave 'em wanting more Laura..... always leave them wanting more.

Notice

'I want you to notice, when I'm not around'

I love those lyrics from Radioheads 'Creep', maybe I am just a bweirdo (me, weird?....) but, I mean really, don't we all kinda feel that way? Wouldn't it feel nice for people to notice when you're not around? Like, hey, where's (your name inserted here)? I don't think anyone likes to feel invisible, like it makes no difference to the people around them whether they are present in their life or not. For example, I totally notice it when someone- Anyone, is missing from a Sunday dinner at either sides of the Family. When Spence (my bro) & Tiffany (my sis in law) have their week to be with her side of the fam (which is obviously tot's understandable) I'm missing them & their funness that they bring to the Jackman abode. (Don't worry- rest of my family- I too very much notice when any of you are missing too, I was just giving an example) Or, on Mike's side of the familia, it's definitely pure insanity when everyone is there, but that is sooo much fun! I look forward to seeing everyone, I get a wee bit sad when I realize that it's Krista & Jesse's off week, or the Burges or what not. I just DEFINITELY NOTICE when peeps in my life aren't around. Am I making a dollop of daisy sense? And I would hope that my familia/friends maybe notice when I'm not around, just for the sake that maybe that means that I actually have somewhat of a positive influence over those around me & that I am not just a waste, where people go...'Oh, Laura wasn't here? I didn't even notice'.... Randomness, I know & I kinda feel like I am putting myself out there a bit by even proclaiming this little inside my headness thingamajigger. Some other random stuff I've noticed lately:

                                  

              * Men, boyz, boyz II men, however you want to put it, think that fluffing (passing wind, farting, ahem) is like the funniest thing on the planet. I get it, it's natural, whatevs & a lot of times it makes a silly noise, but the joke is really just always on me, cause now I get the pleasure of smelling a smell that should only immediately be flushed down a toilet. PeeUUU!

              * That somehow, I've realized that some people think that I am 'quiet'. What? Me quiet? They just must not know me too well. I always am surprised when I am sitting around crackalackin some jokes with someone, you know, just fun this & that banter, & they say to me "Laura, I had NO idea that you were like this!" I guess I get it, around some people, some people (no, not you) intimidate me, so I probably am a bit quieterstererer around them. Or maybe you just mostly see/talk to me in Sacrament meeting or heck, z county Library for that matter, but those places I would just be a jackhole if I wasn't quiet. For the most part I am loud & obnoxious & not the least bit sorry about it. And if we aren't in a Chapel or Library setting & I still appear quiet, then Congrats, you probably are one of the people that intimidates me a bit. :)

              * No matter how old I get, I still get unnaturally excited when a teacher brings treats as 'part of their lesson' in church. So, of course, I will always be coming up with some sort of snack whenever it is my turn to teach the lesson in Young Women's. There is something about being in a place that doesn't have a pantry or fridge full of food, that makes food (of any kind) look like the most tastiest thing you've ever laid eyes on.

            * That this whole Blogosphere thing keeps dwindling & dwindling. Not as many comments come into the comment box as there used to, not as many people updating their blog as often as they used to, not as many people even blogging at all anymore. A tear rolls silently down my left cheek ;) But on the reals, yo, I still love this whole blogging thing & I miss a lot of you & miss reading your random thoughts on your own blogs & heck, I am just going to be selfish, & your random thoughts in my comment box....

           * That painting my own nails is both so relaxing & the most frustrating thing ever at the same time. Not too many things have that combo.

          * That I invest WAY to much of my personal emotions into reality stars (and I guess just famous people in general) lives. Why oh why do I give such a hoot when the couples from The Bachelor don't make it? I mean really, did I really think that it was going to last anyways? It's like they are my personal BFF's & I discuss them at length with my real life BFF's, strange. But still fun, none the less, so I will carry on in the tradition of being a sucker for these things. Gotta love it.

         * That if you lay down in a bed, lights off, eyes shut long enough, you really will eventually fall asleep... even if it is a few hours later & you feel like you have lost at least a thousand brain cells telling yourself over & over again to FALL ASLEEP!

         * That I waste so much milk every time I decide to actually have milk with my cereal (I normally just eat it dry). I take a spoonful, drain out the excess milk & then eat the bite of cereal, by the time the cereal is gone, there is basically a full bowl of milk & there is no way that I am going to drink it on it's own, so it goes down the drain, right before the bowl goes into the dishwasher.

         * That 'love at first sight' really is possible. I noticed this the other day. My older sister Stacy had her fourth baby & Jess (my younger sister) sent me a simple text with a picture of my new niece (they live in Cali & my Ma, Pa, & Jess went out there for when she had the baby) & I took one look at her & I haven't even had the chance to meet her, just seen the one picture, but I already felt such a strong love for her. And that proves the theory of 'love at first sight'.

POP ROX

It's that time!!!! Yay! I am having open registration for DANCE now!!! Call & sign up, it is going to be a blast & a half!!! I do classes from 3 years to Adult & charge $30 a month. I mostly focus on Hip Hop & Modern dance styles. So, please give me a call today if you are interested, classes beginning Sept 7th!!!

POP ROX

Dance Studio

801-792-2670

Hope to hear from you soon! :)

20 Dollar Bill

I was so touched by a talk President Uchtdorf gave at April's General Conference titled

"You Are My Hands", it has been on my mind a lot lately & so I thought I would share some of the parts that really stuck out to me in my mind. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from his talk:

"I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.

When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who “loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. …

“[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, … [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”

In truth, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We are all in need of mercy. In that last day when we are called to the judgment bar of God, do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? Do we not yearn to feel the Savior’s embrace?

It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves.

I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen. "

Here is my FAVE part...

One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.”

With this in mind, let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded “to mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”

In the book of Proverbs we read that “a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Let us love at all times. And let us especially be there for our brothers and sisters during times of adversity. "

So good, so inspirational! I am sure most of you have heard it, read it, etc... I just felt like re-sharing it here on my blog. And the part above that I said stuck out to me the most, the part about what the lady said about the $20 bill. I've always realized that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God & that we are all beloved children of our Heavenly Father. This just help give me a great visual example & REALLY made it CLICK in my head. We really are all worth sooo much & even though we go through life & have our personal struggles & can get stained from the world, we still are worth the same amount. I love it, I love to know through all of my sins & repenting & oops, there I go sinning again & coming back to ask for repentance. Through my weaknesses & struggles, I am still worth so much in the sight of the Lord. And you know what, so is every single person around me. And THAT is how they deserved to be treated. It doesn't matter how tattered & torn they are, they are still worth the same amount as a crisp hardly used $20 bill.

Hopefully this speaks to you as much as it does to me. Thanks for reading. :)

Little Miss Obsessive

Stuff I am obsessed with as of late....

*The show 'Double Exposure' on Bravo. It follows these

two photographers as they do major photo shoots with major stars. The guy is bonkers

& the girl is gorg (she's an ex model), & they used to date each other & they

fight mad crazy over stuff, but they are amazing at their craft.

Very Entertaining!!!*

*The chicken cesar salad at Kneaders. I am very picky

when it comes to Cesar Salad & they nailed this one.

Mmmmmmmmm!*

*The songs:

"My Delirium" by Ladyhawke

"Merry Happy" by Kate Nash

"Kandi" by One Eskimo

"Goodbye" by Greg Laswell

"Starstruck" by Santigold

"You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" by The Submarines

"Samson" by Regina Spektor

"The Kiss" by Pallers

"Everywhere I go" by Lissie

Look 'em up, you won't be disappointed, I promise

(well, unless u have sucky taste in music,

then I can't help you there:)!*

* Raspberries in milk with honey on top. This isn't a new

obsession, I've done this since I was a young one.

Learned it from my gramps, so yummy & good for you!*

*Two finger rings, that's right, rings that go over TWO fingers.

The first time my mom-in-law saw me

wearing one she asked,

"Are those things legal?"

She thought that it was brass knuckles. Awesome!

Made me like the ring & her even more.*

*The show "Bethenny Getting Married" also on Bravo.

If you are familiar with

'The Real Housewives of New York', then yes,

it is the same Bethenny.

She has her own spin off show & I laugh

uncontrollably every episode.

She has got to be THE wittiest lady on TV. *

*The Summer Vanillas home oil collection from

Bath & Body Works.The Berry one is my personal fave.

Just wish they weren't limited edition.*

*The word 'Amazeballs', not always graciously accepted amongst

many people, but I find it to be a crack up

when lightly peppered into any conversation.*

There you have it, my people, what are you obsessed with?

Girls Camp Rocked the Hiz House

Girls camp was even more funnier, awesomier, coolier, bettier, sweetier, spiritualier & dopeier than I could ever imagined. It seriously was a blast and a half! Loved it! We stayed in The Sorensen's sweet cabin (we were roughing it fo sho). So many fun times, and oh how I truly LOVE every single person that shared in on the girls camp experience 2010! Some highlights:

***The ride to and from camp... talk about a partay in the Montero my loves!***

***Doing all of the girls make-up (a wee bit foreign lugging a bunch o make-up to CAMP, but whatev's) & seeing just how beautimus every single one of them really are!***

***Seeing a baby Moose right outside the cabin & naming him "Moosey"***

***Crying my eyes out, later that night after applying make-up to the girls, telling them that

inner beauty is SO much more important than outer beauty, that they are all beautiful daughters of God & that THAT is what REALLY matters!!!***

***Singing awesome silly songs with the girls***

***Having a very spiritual Testimony Meeting Friday night out on the porch surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery***

***Going 'Snipe Hunting' with the Beehives....Priceless***

***Laughing till I nearly peed myself with all of the leaders (basically every second we were there, but in particular the last night, after all the girls had gone to bed) My vision for being a leader myself at camp realized!!!***

***Getting to know everyone sooo much better & literally loving every second of being with all of them, Long Live Girls Camp 2010!!!***

Let's get to some Pix, shant we.....

So, this is the last day when we were packing up & Katie was about to snap a fabu pic of mua & instead got this (which is even MORE fabu if you ask me). For some reason Steph decided to scare me half ta def at this very instant & Katie captured it. Loves!

Here is 'Moosey', inside joke:

"I tried to stop him, I said 'Moose Stop!', but he didn't listen..."

Here is me, Katie & Katee doing our Miley pouty lips face right after the makeovers.

Work it Girlz!!!

Stretching out atop z ladies



Right before 'Snipe Hunting', notice the Beehives have Toothpaste plastered on their faces. The Laurels told them it "lured" in the snipes. Good stuff!

Great times, great times! Thanks Jake for allowing us unlimited back stage access to your sweet cabin, you are the ONLY reason I would ever claim to be TEAM JACOB! :) Thanks to all of the other leaders, not only did you make me feel like a kid again, but you truly made me feel like a true Stand Up Comedian (which, let's all be honest, I so am not! Only at midnight, in the dark, when I am literally Standing Up, whilst you were all laying down)! And especially Thanks to the 'girls', thanks for accepting me into the YW clan with open arms... I love, love, love you ALL!!!

BEAUTY BLOG

I decided to start a 'Beauty Blog' called Glow. Check it out if you are interested, or don't, whatever floats ya boat.

http://glowbeautifully.blogspot.com/

Gracias, carry on.

Untakeable

Things I cannot photograph....

-the laughter of my kids-

-my crazy tangled emotions of wanting another child-

-how great it feels to jump into a lake on a hot day-

-my love for the people that surround me-

-the respect i have for the life my grandpa lived-

-the refreshing feeling i get after giggling really hard-

-my gratitude towards my parents-

-the way i feel about music-

-sheer joy of a yummy home cooked meal-

-my passion for dancing-

-the feel of raindrops on my skin on a warm evening-

-how nice it feels to feel loved-

Happiness is...

* Lying in bed listening to the Rain outside * * Going to a Bee's Game with good Friends (thanks Steph!) * * Getting an unexpected Note in the mail * * Finding an old favorite

Sweatshirt, ALL the way in the very back of your closet * * Watching your 8 year old

son play Guitar Hero as his "talent" in the scout Talent Show * * Hearing a favorite

song while strolling through a store *

* Celtics making it to the Finals, we WILL beat LA * * Playing the game Ripple with family & seeing how happy my Mom gets when she gets a ripple/card she wants * * Bubble Baths * * Laughing so hard that you feel like you just did 314 sit ups * * Looking out my back window & seeing Mike & Camren doing their new favorite thing together: Gardening * * Having those yummy Powdered Doughnuts every once in a while for breakfast *

*Hula Hooping with a BFF in my living room watching So You Think You Can Dance, hoping that it really is burning the 600 calories in 60 minutes, like a magazine told you * * Going to late night girlie movies with Sis in

laws * * Watching Brian Regan DVDs that Jess lent to mua * * Smiling at a total stranger & they actually smile back * * Reading the sequel to 'The Hourglass Door': 'The Golden Spiral' * * Realizing that no matter your circumstances, you really can choose to be happy, everyday *

The Story of US...

I was going to do a post of our gooey love story & wait & post it on our Anniversary, or V-day, or something semi-lame like that, & then thought to myself, why not just do it now? On a ordinary, out of the blue, non-special event day Monday in May? I love our "Love Story" & I am just going to highlight a little bit of it here. Gooeyness and all!

* On our first date, as he was driving me home, he asked me out on a second date.

No waiting around by the phone wondering, 'Is he going to call?'

A boy that doesn't play mind games, knows what he wants and goes after it. Now that's what I'm talking about!!! *

* On our second date, dropping me off & saying goodnight on the porch, he leans in for

a sweet little kiss. Smiles at me and starts going down the porch stairs, turns around

and says "Um, I think that I am seeing stars right about now." *

* After a week of dating, driving me home in his sweet Land Cruiser that he had fixed up himself, reaches over and grabs my hand & sorta yells over the wind blowing through our hair "I want to date you, and only you, so what I am basically asking is Will you go out with me?" Yes, he was a return missionary, & he was asking me with this cutest boyish smile, very aware that he sounded like he was still in middle school, but just as sincere as Mike always is.

I laughed a little bit, looked at him to see if he was really being serious &

said "Yes, I will 'Go Out' with you" *

* Mike, leaving to go to college up at USU just a month after we had started dating, rearranged his whole schedule so that he only had Tue/Thur classes, so that he could come home

from Thursday night to Monday night to be with me. Let's just say he spent a lot more time

in So Jo than in Logan that semester.

My apologies to his roommates, who never got to see him. *

* Sept. 30, 2000 (just a short couple of months after we had began dating), taking me to USU's Homecoming Dance and afterwords going back to the Alumni house & back in the beautiful gardens in the backyard. Just me & him, he drops to one knee, tells me some very beautiful things & asks 'Will you marry me Laura? I promise I will ALWAYS treat you right & take good care of you?' And he still continues to make good on his promise. *

* December 28, 2000 , we are sealed for eternity in the SLC Temple! What an awesome day (other than the fact that the high of the day was 17 Degrees). We even had dancing at our reception, which is something I always wanted. Our first dance as huzzy & wifey was to

"Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse. *

* February 12, 2002, laying on an operating bed with Mike right up by my head, lovingly playing with my hair to comfort me, and after 3 hours of pushing & then being rushed in for an emergency c-section, Mike looking in my eyes & saying "I want us to see him for the first time together", then hearing the first cries of our baby boy Jaden. Both of us shedding tears of joy/relief as they bundled him up and placed him in Mikes arms. *

* Aug. 23, 2003 Moving into our first HOME together, looking at each other feeling like "We Made It!!!" *

* August 30, 2004, sitting in a hospital room with Mike, knowing that for sure this time, that our next baby boy is coming via c-section, just waiting for the doc to be ready. Scared & with tears in my eyes, Mike gives me a big hug & tells me that it's going to be Okay & that he will be there with me the entire time. Again, he waits by my head, so that we can see Camren for the first time together. And then a couple hours later, holding Cam in my arms, Jaden walks in the room wearing a "I'm the BIG Brother" t-shirt. Mike picks him up & brings him over to see his lil' brother & there we were, the four of us together as a family. *

* Dec. 21, 2007, packing up & moving out of our first house & I felt devastated, I loved that house, how could we leave it, we had made that house our HOME. But then, as we were driving away, me & the boys in my car & Mike following behind in his car. I looked in my rear view mirror to look at the house once more, but had an Oprah "Aha" moment. I didn't see the house, I just saw my two boys in the back seat & Mike in his car & realized that everything that was special & meaningful about that house was right there, leaving with me. And as long as I had that, then I had MY Home. *

* Dec '07- Feb '08 Living with Mike's parents in their basement. Learning more & more about where Mike comes from & what makes him, well Mike! Seeing the daily interaction of him with his parents made me love & respect him even that much more. *

* Feb '08- Oct '08 Living with Mike's sister Krista & her fam, thinking that we were going to be building a home over by Daybreak, plans all in place. Heavenly Father had a different plan for us & it brought us to where we live now. This was a real trial for Mike & I, having this plan for our family & then doing a 180 & realizing that the Lord wants us somewhere else. It brought us closer & was a testimony builder that the Lord sees over everything in our lives &

his plans/ways are always better than our own, we just need to put faith in him. *

* Feb '06- Present Time: Realizing that there is another little one out there that is meant to be added to our family, but after many infertility treatments, prayers, blessings & still in the process of trying to adopt, & no such luck..... yet. I KNOW that it WILL happen, just don't know how or when quite yet. But I do know that I couldn't ask for a better partner to go through all of this with. Mike has been there to hold me as I cried every single month when I would realize that, No, I am not pregnant....still. When I was on all of this medicine that would literally make me crazy and Mike would call on his way home from work and would ask what kind of take-out he could bring home for me so we could have some yummy food to munch on while we watched whatever movie I was in the mood for. When Mike would be sooo strong for me, even though I knew that it was something that was so hard for him to handle as well. He wants another baby just as much as me. One day Mike, we will be holding our baby that we have prayed so hard for & you will have said to me "I want us to both see her/him for the first time together" & the waiting will have been worth it. *

* And then of course all of the little details, that really make our love story special. The way that we squeeze each others hands 3 times, to secretly tell the other one "I Love You". The songs that have become the soundtrack of our journey together: "Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse, "I will Love You" by Fisher, "Everything" by Lifehouse, "Tangled up in You" by Staind, "Everything I do" by Bryan Adams, "Fix You" by Coldplay, "All I want is You" by U2, just to name a few. The way that he still gives me that boyish grin & it melts my heart every time. The way that we laugh together, and the way he can make me laugh harder than anyone I've ever met. The little inside jokes we share that no one else would probably even care to understand. The way he still opens doors for me, lets me control the remote, writes me cute little love notes & shows up with flowers "Just Because" & the way that when we went on a date the other week to see the flick "Date Night" & at the end of the movie Steve C.'s character says to Tina F.'s character "I would choose you every time" & Mike leans over and whispers in my ear "I would choose you every time TOO Laura, I love you!" Well Mike, I would choose you too, every time, & any situation. I love you with all of my Laura Johnston Heart!!! *

To be continued, and never to end.....

Summer Essentials

I love Summer time! The warmer weather, the trips to Powell, the icy cold refreshing treats, the NOT having to bundle everybody up just to go outside, the BBQ's, the sound of ice cream trucks driving around the neighborhood, the summer blockbuster movies that come out, all of the yummy fruit that is in season, watching the kids play in the sprinklers, the overall laid back feeling that IS Summer. Well, with all of this cold weather lasting a little bit too long for my liking, & warmer weather finally on the horizon, I give to you my list of Summer Essentials....

Okay, so nothing is more refreshing than taking a summer shower lathered up in

Raspberry Sorbet Shower Gel, smells like summer in a bottle!

I actually use "Faux Tan" by Bare Escentuals year round,

but I really up the ante when summer rolls around, more skin = more Faux Tan.

And then when I go in the ACTUAL sun I lather on some SPF 50, no joke.

The Perfume "Miss Marisa" by Ebba, I wish you could all take

a big wiffarooski through your monitor, you'd smell delightful notes of cassis & cooling mint. Amazing.

A ginormous Straw Hat. Mine is a tiny bit different than this, possibly larger,

if you can possibly deal. I worried at first about wearing it with my pixie haircut, but I'm over it. Love my BIG hat.

Flip Flops galore! I always think that I am going to sport really cute sandals,

& I have a few pair that work their way into rotation, but for the better part of summer, it's a trusty old pair of Flip Flops.

A big fluffy Beach Towel, to wrap up in after taking a dip in the pool,

or knee boarding/wake boarding off the back of the boat.

For some reason I have been obsessed with Aviator Sunglasses lately.

Love their sleek, can't go wrong classic shape.

And no, I actually don't at all feel like

I belong in the movie

"Top Gun" when I am wearing them.

Essie Nail Polish

These are three of my personal top 3 picks for summer, looks great with a tan (faux tan, ahem). And with names like

Lollipop, Shop Till I Drop, and Pink Parka

how can you really go wrong?

Now, c'mon Summer...

please arrive SOON, with lots of Sunshine!