Happy Birthday Jared

Jared had his birthday this past Sunday. We didn't do much. What with a new baby and mom being here and all. Mom did make him a good dinner of pork roast and mashed potatoes and things and a pecan delight instead of cake. For some reason Jared's not a red cake fan either. So sad. Mom did buy him some new shorts and a T-shirt and i couldn't get him the new iphone or the new ipad... or a new Xbox 360 (i know i know i'm such a lame wife) I got him his very own chest freezer! lol does that make me more lame? He asked for it. Jared has been wanting to buy a box of costco pizza dough so we can make pizza and chicken bakes and other things with this dough. With us sharing an already pretty small freezer a box of dough wasn't going to fly. I'm sorry, to Jared for not making your birthday a huge party but i think you had fun anyway. Here are some pictures. 

Pecan Delight

Opening a card from mom 

Jared helped pick these out. he went to the store to try them on before we bought them. 

Jared let Ethan help. Ethan loved it!

What Jared is wearing was what was in the box Ethan was opening and that is our lovely new freezer. Thanks Geoff for shipping it on your truck to us!

Summer fun

Jared and I went on our first summer vacation! Thanks to Paul and Krista who were married in the Boise temple May 22nd. It rained tons so no one but the photographer got any pictures at the temple and it cleared up in time for the reception but Jared and i still didn't take any pictures... sorry. So Jared and I found rides up to Idaho May 21st. (Thank you everyone that helped) we stayed at Jared's brother's house along with Jared's parents, his granny, Jen and Ryan's family, and Paul and his friend. Anna had Maryanne's family at her house. After the wedding we all drove up to California to spend a week there. Mom's house was full of people and it was kinda crazy but it wouldn't be the McLaughlin's with out those things. At the end of the week we helped set up and have an open house for Paul and Krista. It was fun seeing everyone and it was a nice break from work and normal life.

 these are the pictures i took...

This is Jared in heaven. He's in his mom's BMW and playing his iPhone...

This is Jared driving the BMW. He drives it us much as possible.

Mom took all the kids to this pottery place. Where this lady runs it and she has all the materials and space and people pay to use her stuff like artists and people who just want to come. She also has classes and does parties too. So mom took all the little kids and they learned about making slabs and textures. They were able to make things and get them fired. I didn't get a chance to see them all done because Jared and I left. While they were doing that i was able to play on the wheel! I've taken classes but I've only done the wheel once or twice... I'm not very good but it's fun.

After an hour or two i ended up with a pretty crappy bowl. It was fun. Oh and i was wearing my father in laws pants lol! 

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So now we are back home and back to work. Jen is having her baby this month and the doctors keep telling her she's going to have this baby soon. So mom came up early because she didn't want to miss it. Now mom is here and we are waiting for a baby. Its finally getting hot here and i thought i was ready for it but i don't think i am. Mom is teaching us to make cute little baby quilts that I'll blog about later and we went to get pedicures so Jen has pretty toes for labor. Also while we were there a lady said a pedicure could send you into labor because of pressure points in your feet or something.... hey i believe it. Good excuse to get a pedicure when you're nine months prego. Anyway its hot and we had a fun morning with Ethan on Saturday here's some cute pictures.

Video to come i couldn't get it to work....

Happy Birthday Niece and Nephews

It's that time of year again when all my nieces and nephews (on my side) have a birthday with in a few days of each other. 

First it was Kate. She turned 4! She's so BIG! I love that little girl with all my heart and miss her like crazy! I'm sure glad i had a chance to spend time with her during spring break and hope to get to spend more time with her over Christmas... because thats the next time i'll see her. It's so far away! :( 

Some favorite moments with her.

-Once it was Christmas time and everyone got their matching PJs on and i came out and said "We match Kate!" and she got super excited and squealed!  

-One time Kate and i were hanging out on my bed when i was living at home still and i was playing Potential Break Up song by Aly and AJ. I started to dance all crazy and Kate copied me. It was an awesome dance party.

-Sun bathing in mexico with Kate by my side lol

Next comes Sawyer! I feel like i don't know this kid as well. Kate and i were together for a few years now they are a million miles away in Houston. But this past spring break we had some good bonding times and who couldn't fall in love with his blue eyes and curly blond hair! 

Some favorite moments with him.

-Whenever he would come sit in my lap

-The conversations we had.

-Putting make up on

-Sitting in the back of Grammy's van with him

Last but not least Ethan. I get to live with Ethan these days so i see his cuteness all the time and i also see his crazy evil side too. Just kidding he's never evil but he is sometimes a little trouble maker. I love him and I love that he says my name and I love that i get to be his favorite aunt too. 

Some favorite moments with him.

-How about everyday! He is a joy to see in the morning before i go to work. He sees me off sometimes. Says "see you later" and "Bye!" with a big wave and sometimes kisses. It always starts the day off right.

-We have pretty awesome dance parties too. I'll be cleaning my room and turn on some music and he'll dance like a crazy person. 

-One time i was baby sitting him and i needed to do laundry and clean my room and he sat on the bed and ate popcorn and watched a movie on my bed.... I don't think i got much done that day because eating popcorn and watching a movie is my favorite thing too.

I have such sweet niece and nephews and one more on the way. Can't wait to be his favorite aunt too!

Ritz+ Peanut Butter +Chocolate=Love

Fun Stuff

So once upon a time I was over at Jen's house and we made doughnuts out of biscuits. When we were looking up a recipe for homemade doughnuts I had come across a recipe that used all the stuff that i usually have in my house. So it was Sunday night and we were talking about doughnuts and how we wanted some. So i made some! After several trial and errors i got it down. 

Also i was at Michael's today and found this! I thought they didn't make these anymore. They were my favorite when i was little. 

 

It Was Fate

I saw this shirt in Tucson one night when we were looking for clothes for Jen's birthday. Kristen and I ran into Charlotte Russe to look at sandals. I didn't even have my wallet! i talked myself out of it and left. On the way home i just kept thinking about and told myself i'll go back and get it. No worries there was like 10 of them and they were all mediums. Then a few days later  i went back to get it and they were ALL GONE! none. nothing that even looked like them. i was so sad. So for a few weeks now whenever i was at the mall i always went to look to see if they had some. They did have others that looked similar but they were more expensive. Yesterday i went to look and was just looking around and there it was squeezed into other things right next to an extra large there was a small. I tried it on hoping it would look good and it did! Its one of those flowy kinds of things that you could go a size down on. I HAD to get it! and i love it.

Also! Remember our sprouts?? they've bloomed!

Tucson

Once upon a time

I went to Tucson with my sister Jen and nephew Ethan.

I didn't bring a camera because i really didn't have anything to take pictures of and both my sisters that were in town with me had their cameras.

And thats that. 

I went to Tucson and had so much fun! I had spring break off of work and thats why i got to go. Holy cow i don't even know where to begin on what we did. We celebrated Easter. We went to the mall and bought Jen clothes for her birthday. We got the kids pictures taken. I got sick. We went swimming. We hung out. I got to hang out with the two coolest single ladies ever Kendle and Nicole (love you guys!) We went up sabino canyon which i had never done before which is weird because i lived there for 6 years. Dad lost his cell phone. I also painted Kate's finger and toe nails and Ethan who fallowed Kate everywhere wanted his done too then Sawyer wanted to join in on the fun. For the sake of their dads i only painted one toe of the boys.

I did get some pictures on my phone but i don't know how or even if i can get them on the computer because i don't have a card in my phone. So i wish i could share those with you guys but maybe some other time. Here's some pictures i stole from my sisters.

Easter morning

Papa playing with the grand kids

Riding the tram up sabino canyon

It is pretty silly that this is the only picture of us sisters we got.

What the water in Tucson?

compare those bellies and try not to laugh! lol i love them

Bubbles

Painting nails

Oh my gosh i love this boy!

Best Buds! I'm sure glad kate still loves me after all this time being apart she still remembers us putting make up on together when she was just little... ok maybe she doesn't remember but the bond is still there

And i'm sure glad this boy warmed up to me and loves me too!

I just can't even say how much i love these kids and how much i love Kristen's candid shots

All in all i still think of Tucson as home. Maybe because mom and dad are still there or maybe because i have so many good memories but i will always love Tucson even though my husband and some other people may think its ugly.