Laura's Birthday Part 2

Seeing as though today is the actual day that we celebrate Laura's entrance into the world, I thought it only fitting to dedicate a blog to her. I won't say how old she is, but here are 26 words that describe her. Laura is:BEAUTIFUL, SMILEY, HUGGABLE, BRIGHT, INSPIRED
FASHIONABLE, HAPPY, LOVABLE, PASSIONATE, HARD-WORKING ACTIVE, ADVENTUROUS, SPONTANEOUS, SUNNY, ATHLETICSILLY, INTELLIGENT, CREATIVE, AMBITIOUS, KIND
GENTLE, LOYAL, OUTGOING, FRIENDLY, GRACIOUS
And, most of all, she is a GREAT Aunt, Sister, Daughter, and FRIEND. So Happy Birthday Sister! Hope you have a great day and I love you tons! Thanks for being born:)

Laura's Birthday Weekend Part 1

This past Memorial Day Weekend (aka in the Barlow family as Laura's Birthday Weekend, not to be confused with Laura's Birthday Month) we all got together in Cali for a great time. We got to:

Take this one to the A's game and Pyrospectacular:Sammie + Dancing Aunties = TWO appearances on the Jumbotron!

We got to have a huge dinner with these people:Eat some yummy white-trash-decorated snickerdoodle birthday cake:Make sure to have some Sammie time so that she knows her Utah relatives. Auntie Anne fed her ice and she loved it! She looked like this after-which is also coincidentally when we found out that she has a fear of hair dryers:All in all we had a great weekend in Cali and then on the way back I got to see one of my most favorite friends Janette and hang out with her family in Taylorsville (which is also, coincidentally when I realized that I never want to live in Taylorsville):It was a great, relaxing weekend filled with the 4 F's: Food, Family, Friends and Fun! So many thanks to Laura for being born on a holiday weekend...the white trash snickerdoodle cake may just have to become a tradition:)

Free Frisbee?!? Awesome!

I got to go to a seminar today with my office and although the seminar itself was pretty lame-we were supposed to be learning about balancing work and life, but instead learned about how the presenter balances her incredibly talented 4 children and all of their activities-but they had prizes! There were some cool planners and binders and gym bags, but what I really wanted was the consolation prize: a collapsible frisbee! It starts out in a pouch like this: Notice how big it is compared to the keyboard. But the coolest part is that it unfolds into this:A fully functional frisbee! What exactly is it that makes us get so excited about free stuff? Not once have I ever thought, "Wow, you know what this day needs? Some frisbee...too bad I don't have one with me." But the prospect of having one today made me literally clap my hands in excitement. It doesn't seem to matter what it is that is dangled in front of us, but if it is free, it magically transforms into the coolest thing ever.
Not that I am complaining. I will now have a frisbee to carry with me in my purse so that I can play anytime and anywhere the need arises. I will just keep it next to my free measuring tape and floss. Perfect.

Flashback Friday from the Mouths of Babes

The other week I was playing with Ellie, a 5-year-old daughter of a member of the Bishopric in our ward. We were racing down the hallways of the church and I would let Ellie win (of course because she is 5), but she decided that she needed to help me out a little with my racing skills:

Anne: Oh man! You beat me again-you are SO fast!
Ellie: I know, I usually beat everyone in my class. Can we race again?
Anne: Sure, but I bet you will beat me...again.
Ellie: You know, if you were skinnier, you could run faster.
Anne: Ha Ha-Awesome.

As we all know, kids only speak the truth. They mean no harm by what they say, bless their little souls. But what Ellie said really resonated with me and got me to thinking-there are probably a lot of things that I could do better if I were skinnier. Now that school is over and I have a few more minutes of time, I will be rededicating myself to being healthy and getting in shape again so that I can beat people when I race them. I will definitely keep everyone posted on my progress, because I am sure that we can all use a little motivation...and I am sure that Ellie will keep me in check. Thanks Ellie:)
Anyways, here is the flashback picture of the week and it will give you a little hint to where I will be next weekend:That's right, I am headed to Cali for the weekend with Laura to celebrate her birthday and of course go to some A's games. It will be a blast and a well needed break for both of us and we get to just hang out with our family. Ahh life is good!

Flashback Friday and Happy Mother's Day!

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought that I would post a good pic of me and my Mom from back in the day:This testifies of the love I have for my Mom because it is definitely a great picture of her, but for me, this documents the start of my Awkward Phase-I am pretty sure that I am 11 or 12 here and already taller than my 5'4" Mom. She even has heels on and I have flats! Anyways-my Mom has always been a great lady and a great example and has always loved all of us unconditionally. Even through our Awkward Phases(which I think that I might still be in...)so thanks for being a great Mom! Love you:)