***HALLOWEEN***

I know there have been a lot of posts about loving fall and Halloween time, so I thought that I would add in my two cents. . . I too LOVE Halloween, I think it is even my favorite holiday (right behind Christmas). It has been my favorite since I was kid. The main reason why it is my favorite is probably because of the candy! I heart candy! But I also love the weather (why can't it just stay this way for the Winter???) And I love dressing up and seeing all of the little kids dressed up:

***Please note my "My Space face"*** Last Saturday I went to my parents house and the kids, Tracie and my mom were going through the Halloween stuff - it was so cute seeing them try on all of the different costumes. Then I headed over to Holli's for her baby shower and Sammy was so dang cute there too, so of course I had to get out my camera - like a grandma would - and take a bunch of pictures =).

We love all of our nieces and nephews, they are so much fun! It is so exciting to know that we have 2 more on the way too! Yippee - you guys keep up the great work of picking up mine and Michael's slack!!! (You guys are probably better at the kid game then we are anyway =)).

FoUR ThINgS

Another Tag - this time from Aunt Kat:

4 Places I go over and over:

*Home

*Work

*Gym

*Smith's

4 Places I like to eat:

*OG (Olive Garden Baby)

*Tsunami

*Zupas

*Wendy's

4 Places I would like to be right now:

*In my bed - asleep

*A haunted house! I want to go so bad, but Michael LOATHES them!

*At home

*On Vacation

TV shows I like:

*The Biggest Loser

*Desperate Housewifes

*Real World/ Road Rules

*Brothers and Sisters

4 Books I have enjoyed:

*Twilight #1 & #4

*The Counte of Monte Cristo

*The Memory Keepers Daughter

*Redeeming Love

Ummm. . . I really like to read - but I suck at remembering the names of them after I read them. I am always reading a book. Maybe when I go home tonight I can add more to my list =)

4 People I don't like - oops - I mean tag:

*Miranda

*Jenna

*Alicia

*Rachelle

CRAFT DAY

That's right, it isn't a typo - I, Laura Burtis, did a craft. Jenna decided that she wanted to do a craft for her desk at work so I invited myself to tag along.


They are magnet boards for pictures or little notes! Fun huh?!?

This is what the boys did during our craft time:



Are you impressed? I totally was! I am so not a crafty person at all. It is a dang good thing that Jenna is Martha so she could show me the ways of the craft world! Thanks woman!

Tag From Alicia!

* I am... addicted to sugar- Mainly candy

* I think... about sleep all of the time

* I know... a lot about Insurance

* I want... to stop going potty all of the freaking time! Seriously, last night was bad- I got up 4 times!!! On a normal night it is usually 2 times. At work I usually go about every half an hour, I can't drive somewhere with out having to go potty. I can't even imagine what it will be like when I get pregnant!

* I have... An amazing husband, and wonderful family and friends!

* I miss... Lucy. She is my parents dog- half Shitzo and half Toy Poodle. I want a puppy so bad!

* I fear... A lot of things, but mostly something happening to Michael or any of my family and friends

* I feel... Tired, it was such an off night last night, I got up because I had the worst heart burn, then having to go potty so freaking much!

* I hear... Miranda typing and country music

* I smell... Miranda's orange that she is eating, it smells yummy!

* I crave... Pizza! This has sounded SO GOOD lately, I really want Michael's home made pizza- hopefully he will make some this weekend!

* I cry... When I watch The Biggest Loser. LOVE IT! I am addicted to this show, and I cry every episode!.

* I search... Blogs. I am probably the biggest blog stalker ever! But that's okay, because I know that I have a few blog stalkers myself- so I don't feel bad =)

* I wonder... What Michael will decide to do after he graduates. He has so many awesome ideas- and his options are endless, We are still young, so I don't think he has to have his mind made up any time soon, but it will be exciting to see where we finally end up!

* I regret... Staying up to watch my DVR'd shows last night, lame. I totally could have got an extra hour of sleep!

* I wish... It was Friday and not Thursday. . . only 1 more day to go!!

* I love... My husband and our families. . . and Lucy

* I care... about every one's feelings. I felt so bad when we went to the U game and they guy didn't throw the ball so he got tackled and everyone booed him! Poor guy!

* I always... Plan on going to the gym. . . but more than half the time I end up accidentally not going.

* I worry... About EVERYTHING!!! Driving in the snow, something happening to Michael or my family, hurting people's feeling. . . etc, etc, etc

* I am not... Good and keeping secrets from Michael. I got his Graduation/ Christmas presents already, and I have almost given him 1 of them about 4 different times. Oh man, it is a good one- he is going to L-O-V-E me!!!

* I remember... Going to High School football games. They were my favorite! Last Friday we went to Tracie's football game (Hunter) because she was performing and this Friday we are going to Jesse's football game (Cyprus) because he is the Mascot, and secretly- I really do enjoy them! I just hate feeling like a "Super Senior"

* I believe... In being optimistic. If you are a generally happy person and surround yourself with positive people- then you will have a happy life!

* I sing... along to every song! I love rockin' out- my favorite rock out song of all time- Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar!

* I don't always... Eat right, I just love candy way too much! I try to eat well. . . but I accidentally cheat. . . a lot! Oops!

* I argue... Very little.

* I write... on our calendar every thing that is going on. It drives Michael nuts because he thinks I have to have everything planned. I do like to know what, when where and why.

* I loose... $20 dollars. Well, I lost a $20 dollar bill! So frustrating! I swear I had it in my purse- but nope - can't find it ANYWHERE. Oh well, I hope I made some little kid VERY happy!

* I listen... to the fan every night when I go to bed. Michael got me into the habit of having to have a fan running all through the night- even in the winter, it just helps block every other sound out.

* I don't understand... The way tennis is scored. Michael and I play tennis, he LOVES it. I have taken a tennis class and I enjoy playing it too. But I just don't understand why it is so dang long!

* I can usually be found... At home with Michael

* I need... To go to the bathroom. . . this is taking a really long time!

* I tag... Anyone who wants to do this!

Toria Bug

Beautiful little (not so little anymore) Toria turned 7 years old on Saturday.

She is my oldest niece and she is so much fun.

She has a spunky, vibrant and loving personality. Toria gives the best hugs and kisses - she is always there to give you loves.

We had her birthday party on Sunday - she got lots of fun things.
It was wonderful to get together with all the family and celebrate with Toria for her birthday!

We love you Toria!! Happy Birthday!

FAMILY - FRIENDS - U OF U FOOTBALL

We had a very busy week: First on Saturday I went with my mom's side of the family for our yearly outing to Mueller Park. It is an absolutely gorgeous canyon just up above Bountiful. I loved making the trip and seeing all of the beautiful Fall colors all around, and we couldn't have asked for better weather, it was perfect!

This picture is hilarious, we went for a "hike" and I told them to turn around so I could get a picture, and this is how they posed:



Michael couldn't come because he had to go to Moab for his Biology class, but that was okay- I had a great time with my family =)

On Tuesday afternoon Michael called me to see if we could go to lunch together on Wednesday. I got so excited because we very rarely have lunch dates. So I wrote it on my calendar and the next day I was telling everyone at work that I had a hot date with my husband for lunch that day. He told me that he would just call me when he got here (because I work on the third floor, and you have to get a security pass to get through to the offices). Well at about 12:15 I got a call from the gal up front telling me that my husband was here to pick me up. I was thinking, why didn't he just call me? Why did he come up? So, I walked to the front and I was looking for Michael- but all I could see was this little girl at the counter. She turned around and guess who it was?!?! LASHAE!!!! I was so excited that I screamed and ran right up to her and gave her a huge hug! This is my neighbor, and really good friend, that moved to North Carolina 2 months ago. She wasn't supposed to be here until December- but she was able to get a buddy pass and come for a visit! I was seriously SO surprised and excited- what a great surprise that her and Michael pulled off! We went to lunch and talked over each other, and talked each other's ears off- like we do. It was so great! I miss her so much and it was so wonderful to get all caught up.

Michael and I LUCKILY got tickets to the U of U Vs. Oregon State game last night. We didn't find out that we got them until about 4 in the afternoon, and the game started at 7. Michael had looked for Student tickets but this game was sold out! (For security purposes, I can not say how we got the tickets- but it was nothing dishonest, I promise =)). Jenna and Kevin have season tickets to the games already so we were able to go to the game together. The game was so freaking good. It got pretty frustrating there in the middle, but the last three minutes of the game were INCREDIBLE!! GO UTES!!!!

THe HiSTorY of US

WARNING: Super long post, stop now if you don't have at least 5 minutes =) I have told this story many of times, but it never gets old. I thought that it would be really important to put it down in writing . . .
Michael and I met when I worked at the Zions Bank in Magna, UT. He would come into the bank every other week to deposit his pay check- and every single time, my 50 year old co-worker, the 60 year old co-worker and I would watch him walk out and get in his sexy Mustang or on his motorcycle. And we all were thinking the same thing "What a freaking hottie!" So of course I didn't think that I had a chance. But one day when I was at a training, his mom came in and talked to the Virginia (my co-worker) and was asking if the dark haired girl still worked here because his son "fancies her". She said yes and as soon as Julie walked out the door Virginia called me to tell me the whole story. I was so excited. So the next Friday when he came in to deposit his check, even though I was on the drive thru window, I rushed over to the counter so that I could help him. We made lame conversation like "Any big plans for this weekend?" "Nope, you?" "Nope". Then he just left! I was so frustrated thinking that he just left with out asking for my number! But then, here came his Mustang through the first window of the drive- thru. He put his charm on hard core "Well if your not doing anything and I'm not doing anything, maybe we should do nothing together." lol. So I wrote my number on a bank receipt and passed it through the drawer- like a true pro.
That Saturday he called me to see if I could hang out that night, but I was nervous so I told him I had plans (which I didn't). So we decided to go walk around Jordan Parkway on Sunday afternoon. He picked me up and stopped at the gas station to fuel up and buy us some Gatorade, (It was the middle of June, so it was super hot). I thought that he was such a punk for stopping at the gas station on a Sunday, what a rebel! We walked around and had such awkward conversation- I seriously talked the ENTIRE time and he gave me 1 word answers. So he thought that I was annoying and talked to much- and I thought he was rude and cocky for not talking at all. Luckily his buddy convinced him to go out with me again, and I am a sucker for a free meal (that sounds so rude, but really, he is some definite eye candy- so not only was it a free meal, but I also got to stare at a hottie too)

So we started to date, "nothing serious, just hanging out" but eventually it got serious- and we were the only ones that we were seeing. We started to use the "L" word, talked every single day; saw each other pretty much everyday. So we started to plan a trip to visit his dad in Hawaii. One day we were talking and one of us said "Wouldn't it be funny if we got married while we were in Hawaii". We started to look around at websites, and found one- A Hawaii Wedding.com. We got to pick the location, if we wanted a photographer, a cake and even what preacher we wanted to marry us. Michael went and looked at rings and then about a week later he took me. Told me how much I could spend and to pick out what I wanted.
Can you believe that we kept it all a secret for over 2 months?!?! We went to Hawaii, and on Wednesday, May 10Th, 2005. We got married at about 6:00pm on the beach. The sun was setting, the waves were crashing and it was absolutely gorgeous. We only got 2 pictures, with a disposable camera, that we had the preacher take. On the way to the BEAUTIFUL hotel that we stayed at, I called my family and told them, most of them were pretty frustrated. (Michael chose not to call his family until after- I left that decision up to him). But by the time we got back to the main land, both of our families were supportive of our decision that we made. Both of our lovely mothers decided that we needed to have an "Open House" to celebrate our marriage. We invited close friends and family and had a really good time.

So that is the story. I love our story. Who else can say that they eloped in Hawaii?! We are still so in love; more so now than ever. We are also SO happy that we did get married.