A "C" party

A special someone was born on...

Which meant we had to celebrate her turning...

So what did we do?

We invited all of her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents over for a "C" party. We ate Chili with cheese and sour Cream, chips, carrots, cucumbers, celery and some Cake for dessert. Charlotte loved all the attention. She was completely spoiled by everyone. This girl is one lucky girl to be living close to so many who love her.

Guests had to take a quiz on Charlotte's first year of life to see how well they knew her. Charlotte's aunt Katherine came in on top with 8 out of 10 correct, the grandparents came in a close second with 7 out of 10. Want to know one of the questions that really stumped people? What is Charlotte's middle name? (I was shocked people couldn't remember!) Winners were award Candy of course.

With her birthday just 4 days after Christmas (I will always feel bad that her birthday is so close to Christmas! Sorry C) she had had plenty of practice ripping the paper apart on Christmas presents a few days earlier she was pretty good at opening gifts the night of her birthday.

Look at the focus and concentration on her face in the picture above.

She is a girl who knows what she wants.

Loving the attention, loving the paper, loving the books that were wrapped up.

We had a C shaped cake for the babus. One chocolate, one yellow. Being the good eater Charlotte is we knew she would dive into her C piece of cake. And she did.

Thank you to all the family who came to celebrate our Charlotte with us!

And THANK YOU for helping us celebrate by leaving your sweet comments in the post below. She is one loved baby.

I said it once, and I'll say it again and again, I can't believe she is ONE already.

What's your most memorable birthday party?

Have you ever used freezer paper as a stencil? * It's what I used to paint on the 1 and Charlotte's birthday on her onesie.

Love throwing a party or dread it?

Do you know Charlotte's middle name?

Please share!

Your not so ugly sweater party

UGLY SWEATER parties are SO LAST YEAR, and the year before that and the year before that. It seems as though EVERYBODY now throws an ugly sweater party.

Well our friends the Littles always throw a fabulous Christmas party with a

DIFFERENT fantastic theme every year.

Two years ago was the Ugly Sweater Year.

Last year, the Ugly Christmas Pajama Party.

This year....

A VERY MERRY JERSEY CHRISTMAS

Oh my gosh.

I love my friends.

I love that they are willing to dress up, be funny and have a good time.

Our night was filled with delicious food, awesome white elephants, tattoos, spray tans, fist bumps, puckered lips and the Snookie Pouf.

**To get the full Jersey effect click on any of the picture to enlarge.

A few of my favorite quotes from the night,

Lacey: "It really is a white elephant." In reference to a white elephant given at the party.

Adam to Ryan: "You look like a butch lesbian."

Liz to me: "Laura you fit the part well. Do you have some Italian in you?"

No my friends, I'm not one bit Italian. It's kinda scary how well I do fit the New Jersey part.

And if you are wondering if that pregnant belly is real, it is. My friend Amanda is due with her first baby boy any day now. She is one hot pregnant momma.

Our hosts Lindsey and Jon Little had the best embodied the Jersey looks the best.

We came home with the best white elephant gift, A book full of AWKWARD family photos. It now sits on our coffee table.

We missed all of our friends who are out of state!

Foulgers, the party just wasn't the same without you this year.

What themed parties did you go to this year?

Ever been to a Jersey themed party?

What's the best white elephant gift you received?

Have you seen the blog with awkward family photos? Hilarious.

Getting Old

Remember those really awkward pictures you took before going to high school dances?

Yeah, Mike and I took one of those in honor of my TEN YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION Saturday night.

Sadly not many people were there. And I will tell you those who didn't go seriously missed out. BOTH MIKE and I had so much fun. Yes, you read that correctly even Mike had a great time at my high school reunion, he's such a champ to go with me and have a fabulous time. People say they see everyone they want to see already so why go to the reunion? I can understand their point, however it was so fun to catch up with those people who I don't see or haven't seen in ten years, as well as those people who I do get to see often. It was totally normal to talk to everyone; it didn't feel as if it had been ten years, I picked up right where I left off with everyone who was there. I felt as if all the clicks that had been around in high school no longer existed. Everyone was friendly and outgoing. It was a blast. The only downfall was of course not taking as many pictures as I wish I would have.

The Millers and The Walkers

I'm so excited the Milers will be living in the SLC.

My hot friends. Still looking good ten years after HS.

The price of the reunion in some opinions was expensive but I think it was worth every penny. Mike and I got to dress up, go out without Charlotte, have a delicious dinner, and catch up with great friends. Overall cost of the evening...PRICELESS. You fools who didn't go, missed out, and you better start saving NOW so you will be at the 20 year reunion.

PS I don't really feel like I'm getting that old. I still feel really young, but when I told a couple, younger than me, who I go to church with that I was going to my ten year reunion that night, they both looked at me with big open mouths totally shocked I was "that old". Ha ha ha.

One more thing....thanks Carol for watching Charlotte so we could go. You're the best!

Have you gone to any of your HS reunions?

What stopped you if you didn't?

Have you gotten dressed up for any fun event lately?

Where were you ten years ago?

Please share.

Summer Tease

We got a little taste of summer this weekend. I wish it would be here to stay but don't worry in true, finicky, Utah fashion it supposed to be cold and rainy again by the weekend.

We took full advantage of this fine weather by doing the typical "summer" activities.

Mike finally had a day off and the sweet boy that he is, spent most of his day off working in the yard. He worked so hard while Charlotte and I enjoyed watching. Mike did a great job and our yard looks fantastic thanks to him.

My wonderful in laws, whom I love dearly, came by to join in the yard work fun. Steve and Carol even treated us to popsicles from the ice cream man; there's nothing that says it's summer than the ice cream man driving down your street.

We finished off the evening in true summer style by having a BBQ with our fabulous friends, the Stringhams.

The mommies.

Love my little bug. (Seeing Charlotte next to me in this picture makes me realize she doesn't look a thing like me!) Katie and her sweet boy Drew. He is just two months younger than Charlotte and is the cutest, most chill baby. We can't wait for Charlotte and Drew to be in love some day.

The daddies.

Such proud papas. I love it.

As you can see in the picture above, Charlotte is already making the moves on Drew.

*The Stringham's darling daughter was also in attendance, I neglected to get a picture of her. Bummer.

Ahhhh summer. I wish you would stay, we are all ready for you to be here!

What are your favorite summer activities?

What's your favorite treat from the ice cream man?

Do you love/loathe yard work?

Do your babies look more like you or your spouse?

A couple of weekends ago one of my most favorite people in the world came to visit us from Chicago! Lauren is one of my dearest friends. She's one of the reasons why I loved living in Chicago so much. We taught at the same school together and became running partners and great friends. We loved having her in town for a visit. Please come back soon. Charlotte misses you so much already!

Ugly PJs

This year my awesome friends, Jon and Lindsey Little went above and beyond to throw another fantastic Christmas party.

Last year was an UGLY SWEATER PARTY.

This year was an UGLY PJ PARTY.

I was completely lazy all night and didn't take our camera out once. So if you are dying to see more pics of this grand event, including some really ugly pajamas and tacky white elephants gifts, check out my friend Lauren's blog. You really should take a peak, you won't be sorry.

Thanks again to the Littles for throwing another SPECTACULAR Christmas party!

Feeling the love..

My baby has already been spoiled from dear friends near and FAR. I really feel so humbled and lucky to have so many generous, compassionate people in my life. Pregnancy is totally bringing out my sentimental side, so I once again apologize for a sappy post. But I really wanted to give a public thank you to my dear OUT OF STATE friends. I think these kind, thoughtful, wonderful people deserved a public SHOUT OUT for taking the time to think of us and to SEND something.

First my darling friend Allison who lives in California, started a fabulous sling company with her sister called Mod Mum. She sent me a sling about a month ago and I'm already in love. I can't wait to use this gem for baby.

When we lived in Chicago, my work friends became my second family. They embraced me and always made me feel loved. I don't know what I would have done without them. I do know I would have hated my three years in Chicago if it hadn't been for the people I worked with.

Kathy had the job I someday I want, she was the school librarian and the coolest librarian at that! I just got a huge package from her. Some of the things included in the package were...

a bunch of clothes for the babus. All of them darling.

Kathy also took the time to sew this adorable rabbit. Seriously, is this not the cutest thing ever? You really need to check out her blog and see all the crafty things she does. She is so talented. I'm so in love with this rabbit.

I started receiving these parenting magazines in the mail and just figured I got on some mailing list and was getting them for free. Little did I know my thoughtful friend Jen, from Chicago, got me a subscription to this wonderful magazine. What a cool gift right? I've already read it front to back and can't wait for the next issue to come out.

Then my very good friend, running buddy, and confidant Lauren from Chicago got all the people I use to work with to pitch in and get a few things for baby. They got us, a hamper for dirty clothes, bath towel, some of the baby bedding and then this....

A CAR SEAT!!!! She's a real beauty.

I have no doubt Baby Walker will be completely safe in this baby. Everyone was so generous to pitch in and get us these things.

Thank you friends near and far for already making Baby Walker feel so loved!!

PIe Night

While living in Chicago Mike and I went to a PIE NIGHT the week of Thanksgiving.

***Definition of PIE NIGHT: Getting together with friends the night before Thanksgiving and eating lots and lots of pie due to the fact that you are usually to full to really enjoy PIE on Thanksgiving.

It was one of the most memorable nights we had while living in Chicago, so this year we decided to host our own PIE NIGHT. It was a blast.

We ate a ton and all the different pies tasted so good.

We played games and laughed a lot.

We loved being with so many fun friends. It was great to see everyone.

Thanks for coming friends. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Most Thankful for....

Thanksgiving has crept up on me this year; I can't believe it's tomorrow. I was looking at my sister's blog and was inspired to do a Thanksgiving post myself. This is one of those sappy, sentimental posts that normally make me cringe. But for some reason today, I'm feelin the sappiness and wanting to put my cheesiness out there.

Here are a few things that make me especially grateful this year...

My darling husband. He works so hard to provide for our family and comes home, happy and pleasant regardless of how tired and overworked he is.

Good health, which allows me to run, be active and enjoy life. Having Mike work in the medical field, makes me realize how good health really is a gift and something to be treasured.

Family of course. I talk to all of my sisters almost daily. I love them dearly. My parents would do anything for me and love my unconditionally. I'm also grateful to have married into such a loving, fun family. Mike's parents are some of the most generous people I know. They have always made me feel as if I was their own daughter. I adore his siblings and love hanging out with them. I also have the most wonderful extended family. I love my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. I'm lucky to know them well and have close relationships with them.

Temples and the promise they give of eternal families.

Dear friends, near and far.

Living in a place that has all four seasons. I'm also so grateful for the mountains. I think I live in one of the most beautiful places on the earth.

Our sweet, baby girl soon to arrive. Being pregnant has made me realize how precious life is, and how having a healthy baby truly is a miracle. Being pregnant has also made my relationship with Mike stronger than ever. Just love him.

The knowledge that there is more after this life. That there is a greater being who knows me and has a plan for me. That I can be forgiven for the mistakes I make DAILY.

(Want to know more about this knowledge and gift? Read here.)

I realize these are simple, basic answers, but with all that is going on in the world around us, these things really ARE gifts and not something everyone has.

A couple of other random things I'm grateful for:

**Airplanes. I'm glad that we have the ability to visit those we love, who are far away, in a short amount of time.

**Internet. Much of the time the Internet sucks up way too much of my time, but I love being able to be connected to people through email and blogs.

**Good people. My mom had her purse stolen a couple of weeks ago. Some man found her purse on the side of the road while riding his bike home. He very easily could have left it there and kept going but he took the time to pick it up, call my mom, and give it back to her. Love when people go above and beyond to help others.

Your turn. What are you grateful for?