All about Lauren

So This post will be all about Lauren and the things she says and does.

She is the squeaky wheel. When she was in Kindergarten the teachers loved her little high voice. They always said how cute it was, I told them just come home and wait till she whines about something, then it's not so cute!! She may not tell you what she wants, but she does get her point across. She is my t.v. and movie watcher. She would rather stay home by herself than an outing to the mall. She loves her dog. Her is a picture of her from our family pictures.

Lauren and Bree in their matching dresses. I can still get these two to match. Taryn wanted nothing to do with it.

Some funny things that Lauren has said over the years:
*"The round part of my face hurts"
*"My hair hurts"
*On a walk we saw a fox, Taryn was scared, Tom said they are more scared of us than we should be of them. Lauren then said, like cops, they are more scared of us then we are of them.
*I asked Lauren what she wanted for Christmas, she replied she wanted a big box.
There are lots more. I will add to it later.
This is Laurens friend from Ca.
Lauren is such a sweet natured person. She has a great attitude most of the time. She is of coarse becoming a preteen. For her birthday last Feb. Tom and I got her a promise of a dog. I pushed off for as long as I could and we got her one in Sept. Dodger sleeps with her, waits by the door when the bus passes knowing she will be home any time. The dog loves her. She hates cleaning up the poop, and can talk her dad into doing it when he is home. Walks are not as much fun anymore now that it is cold or raining, or both.
This is about the age of the dog that I wanted to chock him. He still has potty issues.


Lauren also loves to be outdoors. This is at a park in Ashland. A huge climbing structure that is no longer there. I wonder how many kids fell. Lauren loves horse back riding with Grandpa Andersen and even went camping with a friend and her dad and Grandpa in the freezing cold in October. Better her than me.

Lauren is such a great kid and I have been told that more than once. She is very polite, and respectful. She is also very spiritual. She gets up most fast Sunday and bares her testimony.
She loves her family and we love her.

15 months (2 days late)

15 months seems like such a milestone. I know there is nothing special about this number.

Not like 18 months. If you go to our church you know they can go to nursery at that age.

She is pretty much a terror in church. My worst one by far.

Here she is at Kelsey's bridle shower.

Bree is a talker. And a screamer. She will not hesitate to fight back with her "words" when fighting with Jacob, or even the girls. They sometimes forget she is a baby.

Some of her favorite words are:
"no no stop it Dodger" (I yell at the dog sometimes)
"moam, moam, moam" (her version of mom)
"no"
"Grandpa" as she points to the phone
"no"
"thank you"
"bye, bye"
"no"
"baby"
She is a great communicator. She lets us know when she wants something, by pointing, or pulling on our neck.


Bree really tries to get us to feel sorry for her, never works though. She can hold a conversation with you with out saying any real words. She even sounds like she is asking questions.
I think She is going to give us a run for our money. We thought Taryn was high energy, you take Taryn, give her 3 energy drinks and you have Bree. She functions on little sleep. That does not go over very well with me.

Her stats at 15 months are:

18 pounds, 3rd %

24 in. 45th %

Still no hair, and eats everything in sight.

She is definitely the baby in the family, but we would not trade her for anything, well maybe a good nights sleep. I haven't seen one of those in a long time.

Time out out women

2 weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to Time out for women in Portland. We had a great time eating, shopping, and listening to the wonderful speakers. Life is really put into perspective after hearing what others go through and still hold onto their faith. I heard some stories of women who had to deal with more than I could ever deal with, I heard of a wonderful conversion story from a women from Sierra Leone who came to America to serve a mission after joining the church the year before with only the clothes on her back and a humanitarian kit in a zip lock bag the Relief Society sisters put together. She received that kit before she heard of the church. That sisters name is Mariama Kallon. She is such an inspiration to others.

Here are some of the women I went with. Bottom row, My sis-in-law Wendy, Lesley, Debbie, Charlene, Kathy, Celestia, and my sis-in-law Kym. We had such a great time with each other.

We went to a dessert bar called Pix in downtown. Lets just say it was an experience, and any upliftment we received on Friday was washed away going to this place. The dessert was good if not a little over priced.
All the selections for dessert. We were in awe.

Over all I can't wait to go again next year. Here I come Reno.

Child labor

I am working on personal progress with Taryn. I never finished the program when I was that age, so now is my chance.

An awards dinner is set for next week and our goal as a young womens presidency is to have each girl complete at least one experience. I have been slacking a bit lately on this. Taryn has a lot already done in the knowledge, so of course I thought she could accomplish the 10 hour project as well in a weeks worth of time since we have a 4 day weekend. Taryns project is planning a menu, shopping list and shopping then doing the cooking. I should have had a little more say in what goes on the menu, but I wanted her to have fun with this as well. Lets just say there is not too many healthy things on the menu. No chicken. I think this is the longest I will go with out eating chicken. Lots of ground beef, steak, and cheese. What else do you really need.

We wrote out the list, I showed her how to put foods in the categories. Now you may think why I haven't showed her how to do this yet. I hate shopping and I want to get it done as fast as possible. I know the things I need and most of the time don't even need a list. Then I had to show her to look at labels, check prices, and get the bread and chips last so they don't get crushed. We got home a I let her have the chance of splitting up the meat in to the portion sizes.



Something I hate even more than shopping is cooking. I always have. I have to tell you a little story. When I was 16 or 17 I was really in to playing sports and doing things that were not "girly". That scared my dad I think. One day my dad told me that if I don't learn to cook I would never find a man to marry me. Well my teenage rebellion in me, (I know I was wild)
I thought, well I'll show you, and I refused to learn to cook. I did get married, and my poor husband had to eat shake'n'bake chicken for a year. He lived. I have no patience when it comes to cooking. I love the crock pot and one dish meals. My girls are always asking if they can help, I never say yes. I don't want to take the extra time to tell and show my kids how to do it. Well, I'm getting a crash coarse now. Taryn has been doing all the cooking and getting the hang of it. She really likes it. I think I will be using her mad skills more. I am getting plenty of babysitting for free also in the name of personal progress. Lauren is only 16 months away from free labor also.

Primary Program

So the kids had their primary program this past Sunday. Taryn was overjoyed she no longer had to participate. Lauren is count down the years left. Just one more year Lauren. She did very well. She was the second speaker and I worked with her not to speak too fast. Even though my beautiful daughter was up there, Jacob stole the spotlight. I guess since it was his first program I wanted to watch him more. He didn't sing very much, and hen they were singing, he rested his head on the edge of the podium. Jacob did sing follow the Prophet like a champ. He also liked to talk to the new twin girls that just moved into our ward. They are in preschool together so they are fun to watch. It was Jacobs turn to get up for his speaking part and he nailed it! Jacob had to say the line "Jesus went about doing good, for God was with him". He may not have know what was going on for that 45 minuets, but he knew when he went up to the microphone what to do. Great job kids.

I just got done sewing Laurens Dorthy costume. I am not a seamstress, and this little project stressed me out so much. At one point I just pinned it on her instead of taking measurements. She wanted it a little shorter than I had sewed it so now she has to wear leggings with it. At least she will be warm, cause Toto, I don't think we are in California anymore. We will be lucky if it's 50 degrees for the trunk-or-treat on Saturday. Jacob is a construction worker. Big stretch I know. Taryn is a redneck, another big stretch I know. I really wanted Bree to be a pig, but my sewing days are done for now. We have a warn monkey costume. That will work for this year.

Jacob

So I am always thinking I do too many posts on Jacob. And I do. It's not that I

favor him, or that it's because he is my only boy....He just says the funniest things,

and acts as if the world revolves around him. Which it does. Here is Jacob at his cousin Kelsey's wedding reception dancing with two girls. There was three, but she left before I could get a picture. I don't even know who these girls are. Ladies man already. It's the hair.

While we were setting up for the reception, Jacob was taking two of his three boy cousins to look at the creek behind a building. They look so enthused. He told Jesse (in the grey) he was going to change his name to Bruce. Jesse just got off his mission, and there is already one Jesse, so this Jesse had to change his name. Sorry Jess.

Jacob and his grandma sitting outside the temple talking about where he might serve a mission.

Jacob is convinced he will serve up on the mountain where his grandma and grandpa live, or while driving on the ice road, AKA: ice road truckers. Then they were talking about who he might marry. All the girls in the family need to watch out!

Jacob with his Grandma and grandpa.

They spoil him rotten!

I need to write down all the things he says, I always forget till later.

Field trip

Jacob had his first Field trip today. He even got to ride on the bus all by

himself. Jacob was so excited for today. He picked out his own pumpkin, but the

rule was he had to carry it on his own.

Bree just completed the trip with her stubbornness.

once she gets on ground, there is no way you can put her back in the stroller.

The prefect pumpkin. He wanted a bigger one but could not pick it up himself.
On the hay ride, pulled by none other than a John Deere.

I wasn't able to stay the whole time due to Bree needing a nap, but

Jacob had a great time and is loving pre-school. Jacob tells me he wishes he could

go all the days. Hopefully that attitude stays around for the next 12-15 years.

Soccer

Lauren wanted to play soccer again. Oh, there goes my Saturdays mornings I thought.

Come to find out all of Laurens games have been around noon. That was a great deal. Right between Bree's two naps. It has worked out great. The weather has even been pretty good.


Lauren really surprised Tom and I this year. The last time she played, she was more interested in who was bringing snack and what it was. This year she wants to play. Her first game she went out and gave it her all (unlike a few years ago when she raised her hand after 2 minutes to go out). She is fast. The soccer club didn't have enough teams for girls her age, so they put her on an under 12 team along with one of her friends from church. The girls she plays with and against go to school with her older sister. She may not play as much as she would like, she is still holding her own.

This is where the real fun was. Taryn brought suckers for her and Jacob, but not for Bree. She was not too happy. The end result was Bree pushing Jacob down for his sucker, then throwing a fit for Taryn's sucker till she got it from her.

First day of school 2010

This is the first time in 5 years that the girls have not gone to school together. Without them telling me how they felt, I think they were a little nervous, but a little excited to be on there own. Taryn did say that she was going to miss Lauren at lunch because lauren never drinks her capri sun and Taryn would get it from her.


This is Lauren on her first day of 5th grade. Her last year of elementary school. The girls will only be away from each other for this year, and will be together again next year. Her teacher is Mr. Defranco. She was so excited to finally have a boy teacher. So far so good. She really didn't want me to take her picture, she is too old for that now.

At the beginning of summer Taryn was nervous about middle school, but she loves it so much. She loves the lunches, even though I have only let her buy lunch once. She loves seeing all her friends that are a year older than her, she loves that school doesn't start till 8:50. What she doesn't like is PE and changing in front of everyone, and not having a cell phone.

These are some friends from church. They are so cute.

Introducing Dodger

I have not been an animal love for a long time....at least since I had kids. They are enough animal as it is. My kids did not prepare me for a puppy. Dodger cries all night, is a picky eater, and has already made us have vet payments.

By the third day Lauren was in tears. It's her job to clean up the crate every morning, to feed him, and play with him. She is tired. She hates the smell, and how much time Dodger takes. I told her it won't last forever, but only for the next few weeks. I have come into the living room and seen that she has fallen asleep next to the dog. Dodger is a keeper, but I can't wait till I don't have to take everything out of his mouth, and get nervous when he is in the house, and will forget to go outside to the bathroom.

My baby is 1

How did this happen??

This last year has gone by in a whirlwind!

I will never again have an infant to keep me awake at night.

This picture was taken on Monday after spending the day at the lake. It was 107 degrees outside, we were camping, so we improvised a bath for Bree. She was in heaven getting all dirty and eating watermelon.

Swinging at the park at play group in June.

This is Bree's Great-grandma Carley. They have a great bond...they share the same birthday
We are going to celebrate their birthdays together next week after the craziness of this week is over.
Picture taken at Thanksgiving 09. Bree was 5 months old


Family pictures in Oct. 09 She was and is still all eyes.

This is after she was born while I was in recovery. Was again not prepared for having a c-section early and had only a cell phone camera. Thank goodness we had that.
Born at 6 pounds even, and 19 inches long,

is now 16 pounds and 25 inches long.

Bree at 1:

1.She loves to eat and is my best eater I have ever had. Loves Bananas (fresh), mac and cheese, Ritz crackers, scrambled eggs, PB&J, and anything we are eating.

2. Playing anything. Peek-a-boo, cars with her brother, she even makes car noises, but she still loves her babies. When she is getting into something and I tell her no, she goes as fast as she can to finish the demolish before I get to her.

3. She thinks her name is "NO"

4.She is my first kid to walk before 1. That is with a lot of help from her sisters.

5. She is always happy, and everyone notices it, but I would gladly give her to you in the middle of the night when camping.

6. Still does not sleep through the night even though I quit nursing 3 weeks ago.

7.She loves her brother Jacob.
8. She hates sacrament meeting, not being able to move around is horrible to her.

9. Loves it when her sister takes her for walks.

10. Loves her brothers John Deere tractor almost as much as Jacob does.

11. We love Bree so much we can't imagine our life without her.

Happy anniversery tags

I'm doing this post a few days early, these next 2 weeks are going to be crazy. My niece is getting married, I'm so happy for her!
So here are some pictures from the past. There aren't too many of us together, cause I'm the one behind the camera 99% of the time. Here is to our 13th year.

Our engagement picture. Man those pants do not do any favors for me!!

Our family at the Portland Temple

He did have hair at one time.

Our 3rd anniversary. Wow, Bree does look like Lauren!

We'll see how well I know Tom. My answers are first, his are in Blue

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Fishing and/or football, fishing, hunting, football

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch, Ranch

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Chicken, I made it way too much in the past. Chicken

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order? Diet Pepsi, Diet Pepsi

5. Where did he go to high school? south Medford, South Medford

6. What size shoe does he wear? 11, 11

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? guns, Money

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Roast beef from Stage Stop Store, pastrami from Stage Stop

9. What would this person eat every day if he could? Ribs, Steak

10. What is his favorite cereal? Does not eat cereal, don't eat

11. What would he never wear? pink, anything he thinks is too girly, skirt, bell bottoms

12. What is his favorite sports team? Seahawks, Seahawks

13. Who did he vote for? McCain, McCain

14. Who is his best friend? me of course! Now, me

15. What is something you do that HE wishes YOU wouldn't do? Spend money, when I ask when he is coming home.

16. What is his heritage? German and Indian, German

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? Just found out last year that he could care less for cake, so I would say Key Lime pie. Key lime pie

18. Did he play sports in high school? no, Football (freshman year does not count Tom!!!)

19. What could he spend hours doing? Spending time with me!~Hunting

20. What is one unique talent he has? Staying out in the cold for hours hunting. Humor

My Hubba Hubba Hubby Tag

1. What are your middle names? Cherie Lee, Thomas Eugene

2. How long have you been together? Married 13 years.

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating? 10 years or so. Our families were in the same ward. I was even at the airport when Tom came home from his mission. He had 2 girls there waiting for him. Opps!

4. Who asked who out? Tom asked me out at his sister Wendy's urging.

5. How old are each of you? Tom is 38, I'm 33.

6. Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Pretty equal for both, we all live close together, but maybe his just a little more.

7. Do you have any children together? four

8. What about pets? Not at the moment

9. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Tom working in the Bay Area. He is only home every other weekend, sometimes less, sometimes more.

10. Did you go to the same school? Nope, not at the same time.

11. Are you from the same home town? Tom moved to Medford when he was 11, so yes.

12. Who is the smartest? That's a tough one, We are better than one another in different ways. I'll give him wideness survival.

13. Who is the most sensitive? That's another toughie. I don't like my emotions to show, Tom will sometimes.

14. Where do you eat out most as a couple? In Medford, Roadhouse, or Mexican. Haven't found one we love yet.

15. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Cancun and Alaska.

16. Who has the worst temper? Me, with the kids, Tom while driving.

17. Who does the cooking? Me, but I would pass anytime!

18. Who is more social? Me.

19. Who is the neat Freak? Me.

20. Who is the most stubborn? Tom by far!

21. Who hogs the bed? Tom

22. Who wakes up earlier? Tom, but only by default. If hes not going to work then he will stay in till I get mad at him.

23. Where was your first date? Tom took me for Chinese, then a walk in the park, ice cream, the movie Twister, and when he drooped me off, he shook my hand good night.

24. Who has the bigger family? I do. 6 kids in mine. Tom has 4.

25. Do you get flowers often? No

26. How do you spend the holidays? One families house to the next. That's the fun about living so close to each other.

27. How long did it take to get serious? 4 Months, right before I went back to Ricks.

28. Who does the laundry?Me

29. Who’s better with the computer? I learn what I what to do, and need o do, but Tom uses it for work, so I would say him.

30. Who drives when you are together? Depends on which car. I will drive sometimes my van, but Tom will to. If I don't want to pick where we are going to dinner, I'll let him drive. He drives his truck.

Look what I made!

I saw this wreath on another blog, and knew I needed to make it. It has over a thousand balloons, and lots of floral pins but I love how it turned out. I have 3 summer birthdays and it will be perfect to hang for those. I need to keep an eye on the weather when Laurens birthday comes along.

Jacobs 4th birthday

My little boy! You sure know how to put a smile on every ones faces! You say and do the funniest things, I don't know where you come up with them. From making your own car wash after Grandma has watered her flowers, To asking how everyone laughs, just to hear it. He loves his Grandpas laugh the best, and copies it down to the swinging arm. I think you would have been just fine with all the gifts you got from everyone, but your dad insisted that you have this tractor as well. You were so happy when you saw this and have been riding it everyday since.

I love this picture of you. There was a little ash pile at our house in Livermore, and sure enough you found it. Everyday you were so dirty, just like a little boy should be. And always found with cars.

This picture was taken just a week or so after Jacob came home from the hospital. You weighed a mere 4 pounds. Even now you sleep the same way, with your arm under your head. Right before I took this picture, dads head was the same way as yours, I wasn't fast enough.

This picture really puts in perspective just how little you were. Born at 31 week 3 days and you weighed 3pounds 3 ounces. You were just a little peanut. Who knew you would grow into the huge personality you have now.