Part Four: New Years!!

I know, it's been a while a and I should be done with this trip since it was almost 5 months ago but I couldn't go on without posting the last of the pictures from this awesome Christmas vacation. And these aren't even the last of them. Some time next week I will have the fifth and final part: Christmas! Technically that should go before New Years but I don't care.

So I spent New years up in Logan with my friends. It was awesome, we had an amazing time. We stayed up until...? I can't remember sometime after 4 I think, having some crazy times. Watching mystery science theatre and chinese monster movies (creating our own dubbing of course)playing guitar and reinacting the 'shamwow' commercials. And the next day after a breakfast of Top Ramen, eaten sometime after noon, we all went to Angies and 'Cleaned the Sink'. The Sink is a giant banana spilt, that they serve to you in small kitchen sink. It is huge, It took five of us to finnish off one and we all felt sick. but it was worth it, just look at those bumper stickers!

Like I said I had a great time and I can't wait to see my friends again. I miss them very much!

Part Three: Here Comes the Bride.

I know it's taken me a while to continue the pictures from my last trip but I thought I better get some more up before I come back to Utah in a week!
So like I said I was Maid of Honor for one of my best friends, which was my third (but not final) reason for coming to Utah.
Kapri and I met in Highschool and we have been friends ever since. She is wild and crazy and we have so much fun just being insane together. We were roomates at USU for one year where we quickly learned that for the sake of our friendship we should never live together again. Well, that is not something we need to worry about any more now that she is a happily married woman. To celebrate, we had one last girls night out. Nothing too crazy. But I had so much fun with her and our friends especially, the other bridesmaid Tanya. We had fun shopping for Kapri's 'intimates' earlier that day! Thanks Tannie!

The day after the Girls Party Kapri hopped on a plane to get married the next week...in CALIFORNIA! We thought it was pretty funny that she was going to get married in the state I just left. So I missed the actual wedding but a few weeks later, after the honeymoon, she came back to Utah and they had another reception. It was rather small but so many of our friends showed up to it, it was great. Especially since that was last night in Utah. I got to say goodbye to everybody.
Kapri was beautiful and I got teary eyed a few times, like when her mom was helping her put on her dress and later when I gave my speech and was explaining to everyone how I thought of her as family. It was so great to see how happy Jake makes her. He seems like a great guy and they are both so cute together. It happened fast but it seems like it will last forever.

I wish them both the best of everything and I love them very much!

Part Two: Hunter and Jackson

There is no way I could not include the other two little kiddies that made my trip so special. While it wasn't my first time meeting either of my older nephews, Jackson and Hunter , I was still so excited to see how much they've grown.

Hunter is such a funny and michevious little boy. He was constantly making me smile. He's so observant and involved. He doesn't miss anything. "Aunt Lauren, why you say uh oh?"He has a stubborn side that sometimes I couldn't help but laugh at. He always wants to be in charge. And boy does he love his younger cousins! I felt bad sometimes because I would have to hold him back from Rustin or Maddison just cause he always wanted to hug them and sometimes he needed help being soft. He is so happy that Jackson is big enough to play with now.

Speaking of Jackson, oh my! I couldn't believe what a little boy he had become while I was gone. He was walking and talking and playing games and just being down right adorable. I only got to see him a few times but I was so happy when I did.

Seeing these boys was a definitely a huge highlight of my trip. And it made me realize how much growing up I am missing. I just hope I don't miss all of it.

Part One of my trip: Maddie and Rustin

As many of you know I went up to Utah for Dec. this year. It was great. There was Christmas with the family, Maid of Honor for my best friend, New years with friends. I had so much fun and there were so many pictures and stories that I knew I couldn't fit it all into one post. But I knew I had to get something up because my aunt says she doesn't even bother to read anymore 'cause I post so infrequently. So it looks like my trip will just have to be posted in sections.

There were many reasons for my jaunt to utah this winter. But one of the best reasons was to meet my new niece and nephew. Madison was born in Sept and Rustin In Nov and up until last month I had not seen either of them. The first time I met Rustin I was having a horrible day. My car broke down, I lost my phone and I had just driven into town at 5 that morning. But he really made it all better. He was so tiny and perfect and I loved him right away! For my first week there I stayed with him and his mommy. He's so adorable!

Aunt Courtney's trying to copy his "Oooo" face. Were he purses his tiny lips into a perfect 'O'.

Heath and I were talking while he slept in her lap. We looked down and he had his fooot in his face!

Family Portrait

I think he looks gansta' in that cap.

When he smiled, half of his face smiled first.

Looking so cute in the outfit Aunt Patty(?) bought him.

That first weekend all the sisters and Marc and mom were together. So we had "Family Christmas" on Monday at Heather's house. And earlier Monday evening Dad, Ann, Kirsten and Shelly came over to see Court because she was leaving the next day. The best part was, Shelly brought Madison! She is such a beautiful girl and so alert. Her eyes were always wide open. SO cute! I just LOVE her. Over the next two weeks I was at my dad's house and I got to see Maddie quite a bit. She was so much fun.

She really seemed to like this chair.

Sometimes her eyes were open so wide she looked mesmerized.

Me and cute little Maddie. I made her that hat.

Isn't she cute in her new Christmas jammies?

I know she's yawning but doesn't she looked Shocked and appalled by something?

For a few minutes she found her hands fascinating.

I just love Rustin and Maddie. They are two wonderful additions to our family. They are both so beautiful and such a joy to be around. I know they will grow up to be adorable little toddlers (just like their older cousins). And, may I say, they are two very lucky babies to have two such amazing mommies that love them so very much. Not to mention their daddies, who are so proud (I can already tell Maddie's got Tom wrapped around her tiny finger). And on top of that, they've got some pretty wonderful grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins who love them unconditionally. Yep, these are two lucky kids. And we are one lucky family.

So happy I cried a little!

My nephew was born yesterday!!!

Rustin Ricks Nov. 12, 2008

6lbs. 2oz. 19in.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that is all.

It's that time of year...

and I love it because it means halloween and then Thanksgiving which leads to Christmas! I can't wait for christmas this year, I get to go back to Utah for a whole month and spend christmas with most of my family, except for Court and my mom :(. But I am driving there with Courtney which will be tons of fun. There are also other exciting things. I get to be maid of honor for my best friend Kapri, yay! I will also get to meet my new niece Madison. I am so excited, I have gotten a few pictures of her via pix messages (thanks kirst) she seems little a sweetie. I am also SO excited for my sister Heather to have her baby Rustin soon (maybe today!) and even more excited that I will get to see him in Dec. and spend a lot of time with him and Heather and Marc when I stay at their new house.

Enough about future plans let's talk about what's been happening. (it's been a while since I posted) As you can tell I made it back from England safely. I had such a wonderful time there I was really sad to leave. One day I will go back, I am sure. So right when i got back I left for Utah (boy do I spend a lot of time there) and it was great. I got to say goodbye to my step brother Matt before he left on his mission. And the same day he left for the MTC, Matt (Allred) came home from his mission in SC. It was great to have everybody together agian. We had a really fun BBQ at Ben's house. Then I came back here to start school. That seems like that is all that has been going on since then. I've just been busy with school. I am doing pretty well, maybe not as well as last semester (my first 4.0!) but still pretty good. I am really ready for it be over though.

Halloween last weekend was fun. After I had one majore exam, a research paper, a presentation, and another paper all due in one week, halloween was a nice break. I got to spend the whole day with my friend Rachel and her kids. I went to her daughter's school and helped her carve pumpkins. We won the prize for most unique. Later Courtney joined us for some trick-or-treating. It was funny, I dressed up as a new mom (diaper bag, bags under my eyes, general frazzled apperance and carying a doll) and courtney showed up dressed as a baby. XD

Then there was the election on tuesday. It my first time voting and that was exciting especially since it was in a presidential election (yes I am older than 18 but I just haven't voted before this). And yesterday Gibby left for the MTC and then she will be off to Romania. I know she'll be a great missionary but I was sad to say goodbye. I cried when I talked to her Tuesday night.
So that catches you up on the main points that have happend: school, holidays,elections and missionaries; and what I am looking forward to: nephews and niece, weddings, parties and Christmas with family.

This will technically be the first time I remember spending all of christmas with my Dad (eve and morning) and I am glad that I will be able to share this special time of year with him. I love him very much and miss all of my family in Utah tremendously. Sometimes I forget how very blessed I am to have all these people i love so much, in my life. As Thanksgiving rolls around I realize how very thankful I am for my family. I love them very much and I am so grateful for their support and the light and joy they add to my life. So to any of them who read this; thank you, I love you.

I am almost home! :(

I know I haven't said a word about my experince in England, but I just haven't had time. So much to do, so little time.

So it's been great. Just last weekend I was in Paris and went up the eiffel tower for the first time in my life. It was all light up and beautiful. I got to practice my french and my mother was there to share it with me.

These past few weeks have been good and bad, mostly good. I love england. I would have to say York is my favortie place I have been. It was amazing, so ancient, so much history. But, every place is like that here. there is just so much to see and experience I am sad I can't do it all. I wish I had more time.

At the begining six weeks seemed like forever long but now I have to go home in 2 weeks and I don't wanna. the time went fast.

The bad part of the trip has been the class. I am studying creative wrting and I have never hated it so much. There is so much work. A LOT of reading and very little writing, and even that is not fun anymore. Now I have to analyze everything to death until it sucks all the joy out of it. I suppose analysis is supposed to make you enjoy it more, but when you are doing it for the benefit of someone else (teacher) and not out of genuine curiosity, it just becomes a whole lot of work. So that was me complaining, but I am done now.

England blows my mind! I just wish I could some how absord it into myself just to become one half as amazing as it is. I didn't think it would be hard ot leave but now I know it is going to. I just need to stop thinking about it I guess.

this weekend my roomate, Heidi (who is awesome), and I are going to Bath for four days! that is home to the jane austin museum. it should be really fun. we've decided to have one last relaxing weekend in the middle of the rush of the last two weeks. And it is a rush. There is more work than ever in class. Everyone is trying to fit in those last few trips and experiences. Trying to buy those last minute gifts. Getting unbelievably drunk before one becomes underage again (not me of course, I don't need ot drink to have a good time ;) ) And doing all of this on the last leg of your ever shrinking pocket book.

Over the next few weeks I will try to write more, to do some back stories, but with how busy I will be it will probably be a last priority considering how many people do not read this. :) Cheers!

Best three weeks..and now England? WooHoo!

So I am nervous...very.Why? you may ask, maybe becuase i leave for a a foreign country in less than two weeks and I still have what feels like a mega load of stuff to do. But by next sunday I will be in England and there is nothing I can do about it. So get excited Lauren, get excited! I am, I guess....no, no I AM! I started my class this week and it is going to be harder than I thought but no worries I will rock it because that is what i do in life, I rock!

I am not stressed because I got to have three awesome weeks before I got all nervous and weirded out.

First I was in Utah for a week and got to spend every single minute with people that I love more than anything else in this world.
Friends.

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And Family.

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And then I had the most awesome roadtrip with my sister and my step sister. Which is where I got the best nickname ever.

Oh, Juggernauts!

Kirsten stayed a few days. It was awesome, see...

To top it all off darling Kylee ----->

came and stayed with me for the week after that:

And we definately had the most fun ever!!!

There was Disneyland and Beaches and poolside everyday. It just doesn't get any better than that. Soooo, good!

I am glad I got that time because itwill have to carry me through 6 weeks of stangers (who will become friends)in a strange place (that will start to feel like home) ;) oh man. I am so lucky..Barbie.

Iya finneeshed meza papurrrz!!!!!!

That is "I finnished my papers" in Lauren's-mind-is-melting-speak. So yes, next week is Finals and I today I finnished my last out-of-class paper and I am lucky to still have most of my wits about me. I thought I was going crazy and since Monday have been suffering from some type of emotional/mental breakdown, which included a mini panick attack (yes, 'panick')in the school parking lot on Wednesday. But now i am fine because I have NO MORE PAPERS TO WRITE (except my english in-class final, grrr) I did not realize I would be so happy! I am done here and ready to be back in Utah just chilling with my lovely friends whom I have not seen in months (and in some cases years: Ben).

Unfortunately I cannot check out yet I still have one more week. That is my Mantra: "One more week, one more week". But for the most part I am unconcerned with my finals. I feel prepared, I think. Actually I think I am not really prepared, I am just in a post traumatic-stress state that has taken me past caring whether I am prepared or not. But at least I feel good.

Next week will be interesting. here is what it will consist of:
-One Math Final: intervals, graphs, exponents, matrices and the like; broken into two days.
-One Theatre Final: A full two hours of being a pregnant woman with an attitude problem.
-One English Final: Comparing a faboulous selection of books to one monstrosity of a movie.
-Two French Finals: Oral and written; both on the same day. Quoi?

Woohoo for finals! The sooner they're over the sooner I am back in Utah! and then.....ENGLAND! In your face, your face!

Official Stamp

Wow! so more than 2 years after I created this lovely blog I finally remebered i had it and here is my first official post. there probably will not be many