Laura is 20

The title from a 70's sitcom just fits Laura...she just has that "something extra" thing about her!

love and caring of siblings

...love of wildlife!

...more love of wildlife!

... caring for the elderly!

...willing to go on adventures to other countries

up for different hair do's

love of friend's through thick and thin...

love of food...

love of glitz...

That's our girl! The girl with SOMETHING EXTRA! she just seems to know how to go out there and be herself, people feel comfortable with her when they're doing the right things (and uncomfortable when they're not!), her honesty is refreshing, you gotta love her laugh!, she is always up for adventure-different countries and communities excite her, she has a sincere compassion and desire to make other's lives better, she's matter of fact and down to earth, she sometimes lacks tact-but when she realizes it she says something charming, she's optimistic but not irrational, she tends to be laid back, but offend her and she spits fire!, she's a freedom lover, but attached to family, just ask her to do something-don't try and order her around!, she is enthusiastic about life and trusts easily, her tastes and dreams are extravagant-but she is practical with her money.

That's Laura! she is loveable, kind and generous..and those qualities will serve her well as she enters a more gown up decade in her life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY my 20 year old baby...

America

I love the summer! and the best day to celebrate summer? 4th of JULY!!! We got the special treat of having

Lauras car

one of the moments Laura has always looked forward to having a car! So thanks to the San Bernardino Mission Office, she purchased a great car that she can call her own!!!

Bridal Shower-Provo

roomates and sister

After returning from a semester in Amman Jordan, Karen's roomates threw a shower in Provo for our bride-to-be before she headed back to California to work on her preparations. Why didn't I get any pictures of the nice spread they had for her courtesy of Heather and Laura?! Well at least the memory of a good time is preserved!

Lauras work

Laura finished her dental assistant classes in January and got a job in Orem! I can't believe my baby is working so professionally. Keep it up Lolly~

Girls and Valentines

What a nice winter time surprise...the girls got to drive down from Utah to visit and take in some much needed sunshine. We spent the afternoon together at one of our favorite eating spots( isn't Ken lucky to be surrounded by all his women?)...and then before the girls left we had our traditional "red stew" with a wonderful brownie, mascarpone dessert for Valentines!

Other things in Sedona

Most of Sedona is about the natural beauty... Ken and Linda enjoying the view from the top at Airport road

...but there are definitely some strange phenomenon in Sedona, and my kids thought it was only fitting to do as the "natives" do!

The BIG day

...and finally the day of celebration! Lunch at the diner in town, and THEN the DINNER at the Silver Saddle where we were treated to a "compliments of the chef" hors d'oeuver of bison meat on a prickly pear cactus salsa. Next we enjoyed appetizers that were bison meat, prickly pear cactus fries and python!!! YES! Python battered and fried and called "snake bites". We then proceeded to have our palates cleansed with a lemon icee, and had our main entrees. Nana had duckling and I can't remember what pop had, although I do recollect a cactus margarita or two. They finished up with a wonderful melted chocolate dessert made especially for them! yummmm, a meal NOT to be forgotten any time soon!

Christmas 2008

Here we are after church on Sunday the 21st. We celebrated "Christmas" with the grandbabies that day since they will be taking their turn with Grandma Sue this year. It was so fun!

You're not the Boss of Me!

She started out as such a good baby, progressed to "hell on wheels", terrorized her brother and sisters, gave gray hairs to mom and dad, was a true "wild child"; and then she hit her teens...where she became this wonderful model of love, affection, independence, balance. The girl who endured tribulation with faith and unwavering strength. The glue of the family, who keeps alive family traditons, stays in contact with her siblings and their lives, touches us all with her sincere concern for us. Is that the role of the baby of the family? to hold us all together as our lives go in different directions? We know our lives (Ken and I) dimmed when she moved out for school and now work. The spark that lit our days is definitely banked, waiting for when she visits or calls. Because when she's with us there is light and warmth and energy. LUCKY for us we celebrate 19 precious years today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA-lolly, la-la, winged pegasus!