Tagged

Here are the rules:
1. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end, the player tags 5 others and posts their names. Then goes to their blog and posts them a comment to let them know they've been tagged and asks them to read your blog to find out the details.

Let’s Begin:
1. What was I doing 10 years ago:
I was just finishing my sophomore year. I'm pretty sure I had some sort of drama going on--- who liked who, who didn't like who, who wasn't friends anymore. I feel a little guilty, but I don't remember it too well. Junior year I remember, but sophomore, not so much. I do remember that we had a French exchange student come stay with us that summer. She was supposed to stay for like 6 weeks, but hated it the moment she got there. I think she left two weeks later. Too bad, as I had been hoping for a lifelong friendship....

2. Five things on my to-do list today:
I wish I were organized enough to have a to-do list. I wanted to go to Walmart to buy a big outdoor push broom, but the kids were being kind of difficult, so I decided that we needed to stay here and play princesses instead. Then I swept my filthy garage with my kitchen broom, which probably means I can never use it again.
Maybe if I'm lucky I'll find something that sounds good for dinner. I feel pretty bad that my life has no structure. I'll work on that.

3. If I were a billionaire I would:
Have a professional install our yard. That would probably take half the money right there....
Other boring things like pay off the house, buy 2 new cars, redecorate my house and buy a sectional and flat screen TV for the loft, pay tithing, etc.
Also on the list would be a road bike for Travis. He's decided he'll take the girls out every morning for a bike ride (have I mentioned how they LOVE our bike trailer?), but would like a road bike to do it. They are like $2000 new.
Go to Machu Pichu, Ireland, New Zealand, China.
I'm probably out of money now.

4. Bad Habits:
No to-do list!
Reading or cleaning while my kids are in the bath. I hope I would notice if something happened to one of them....
Putting off scripture reading till 11 pm each night.
Unhealthy eating. As I type I have a bag of Doritos sitting next to me.

5. Five places I have lived:
1. West Valley City, Utah
1b. Oakcrest ? Does that count?
2. Salt Lake City(Sugarhouse), Utah
3. Provo, Utah
4. Spanish Fork, Utah

I just want you all to know that only one week ago T and I were discussing whether we should move our family to Paris for a year. It was a serious discussion, because as you can see, I need to get out more!!!

6. Jobs I have had:
SnoShack snocone maker
Various high school gigs like Old Navy, All a Dollar, Winder Dairy
Receptionist at Remember When Videos
Student Ambassador Coordinator at Westminster College
Social Worker for people with disabilities

I tag: Jen L, Kira, Annie, Lanae, Shanna

Rainy days

I woke up this morning to gray skies and raindrops splashing on the window. "Oh, great," I thought, "we can't go outside at all today and Trav won't be home till after the kids are in bed. We're in for a rough day."
While in the shower I tried to think of fun inside things for us to do. The tent did not even cross my mind, but when Anna asked for it, I agreed that it is just what we needed. We had so much fun inside our little tent eating Oreos and fish crackers. The girls pretended that Bambi was outside the tent and kept giving him treats to eat. Then Anna decided she would be a bear and attack our tent, which led to a major tickle fight. I'm glad I took pictures because I want to remember fun things we do together. They won't be my little girls forever, and I treasure theses special times. Rainy days can be good days too!

The yard

We started putting our sprinklers in on March 22. That night it snowed, and the weather has been a continual problem since. Putting in a yard takes a lot of work, and when the only time you have to work on it is Saturdays, it is too bad when Saturdays are full of yucky weather. Luckily, the sprinklers are in, the trees are planted, the topsoil is spread, and as of yesterday, our hydroseed is sprayed! In 6 short weeks we should have beautiful lush grass!
I didn't take as many pictures as I should have to chronicle this event, but here are a few.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lntlarsen/WorkingOnTheYard

It's okay to feel sad

Sometimes I feel sad. So sad that in the middle of talking to perfect strangers, tears start swelling in my eyes until I rapidly blink them away.
About 2 months ago I had a miscarriage. It was not a planned pregnancy, but once we learned we were pregnant, we were so happy. And when I miscarried, I was so sad. I only knew I was pregnant for about a week before the miscarriage happened, but that was a good week of expecting a new little baby into our family. It's amazing how much you can miss someone you've never even met.
My emotions have been a roller coaster ever since. On one hand, I am grateful for the two healthy little girls that I do have and for the fun memories we have together. I am also grateful that I wasn't further into the pregnancy when I lost the baby. I am grateful for promises of eternal families and the comfort of answered prayers.
And yet, I am still sad. Not all the time, not even most of the time, but just sometimes, when it hits me once again and I feel that loss. I know that there are many women who lose babies to miscarriage or other complications; and so, if that is you and you are reading this, please know that it's okay to feel sad. I think it's okay to feel sad for weeks, months, or years afterward. The loss is real and the pain is real. There's a secret sisterhood between all of us, mothers or not, who can understand that. Even if the tears aren't visible, our hearts weep together.