Artistic Animals

For Christmas, Connor received a paint set from Mike's brother's family. So, we opened it up yesterday and, as you can see, the kids had a BLAST!!!! They painted for over an hour and were so happy and content! The funny thing about these pictures is I have a picture of me, when I was around Rylie's age, where I painted my face with watercolors! Like Mother like daughter.

The Sound of Music

One thing I feel I have been very much blessed with is the gift of music. I don't say this to be overly confident. I say this because because I feel like we each have something in our life that we feel comfortable in, just made for that something. Music is that something for me. I was blessed to be part of a musically talented family. My Dad and Mom felt music was very important in our home and I'll be forever grateful for that. My Dad is also an excellent singer and my Mom is too, if she allows herself to realize that. For as long as I can remember, my Dad has been working with us, teaching how to sing, and giving up many opportunities to sing. One of my fondest memories is when we would go to rest homes, every Christmas, and sing for all the sweet Grandma's and Grandpa's there. They always seemed so happy and grateful to have us there. It really impacted my life. My parents also enrolled us in piano lessons at the age of 7. I remember hating to practice. My parents told us that we had to stay in until we were 14, then we could decide if we wanted to continue. Well, they knew best, again! I remember around the age of 10 or 11 having the strongest desire to play better. It became a goal of mine that I would be able to play whatever piece of music that was sat in front of me. So, when the age of 14 came along, I was LOVING piano lessons and didn't want to stop. I finally reached my goal. Now, I'm no Beethoven but, I can hold my own, ha ha! As the years have gone by, I have been given countless opportunities to use my talents and abilities. I loved being on a mission, being able to play the piano. I have loved accompanying people, whenever needed. I have also enjoyed singing. I'm grateful that I can read parts because it makes singing so much fun! I love singing with my Dad and my family! For my farewell my whole family (including in-laws) sang a Janice Kapp Perry arrangement of "Armies of Helaman". It was SO EXCITING! There were 5 women (me, my sister, my Mom, and 2 sister-in-laws) and 5 men (my Dad and 4 brothers) included and it gave me chills. My most recent challenge with music was receiving the call as a joint Ward Organist. I don't have much experience or training when it comes to the organ. It has always intimidated me. Plus, I LOVE to play the piano. Well, the experience of playing the organ has been awesome. I've still got a long ways to go but, I have loved learning what I have so far! I have loved being challenged and having to learn and grow. Anyway, I know this is a random post. I've just been thinking on this a lot lately and feel grateful! It seems like I have been participating in musical numbers a lot these last 2 weeks. I'm sure people are thinking, "Oh no! Laura's singing AGAIN!!!!" I cannot blame them. I'm just grateful for the opportunity. I feel very passionate about music and feel it's one area that I can truly express myself and also feel things deeply so, it brings me a lot of peace to sing or play the piano. In a couple weeks we will be going to a different ward, since we have moved into different boundaries. With that change comes the change of callings in my ward! I will really, really miss and am saddened to lose the chance to play the organ every other week! I have so enjoyed it! I'm sure that I'll have other opportunites but, I have loved being in this particular ward and sharing in music with others around me. There are so many talented people in our ward. Today we performed our Christmas cantata. It was BEAUTIFUL, I thought! Nothing makes me more happy than to see a large group of people coming together to sing parts. Especially the men. Something about men singing in harmony is just amazing! Ok, I'm done and am jumping down from my soap box. I just had to share some feelings I was having. THE END! :)

I'm Dreaming of a "BLUE" Christmas!

We decided to have a "blue" Christmas this year!

Rylie helping out with the Christmas ornaments!

Connor is so very excited for Christmas this year! He's been counting down since September! Every day he comes to me and says that Christmas is tomorrow! So, we finally got a tree and decorated it one night. It was so fun because we got the tree, the ornaments (we had to get new ones because all of our others were crushed in the move from MI), pizza, drinks, and blasted Christmas music. The kids had a BLAST!!!! Of course, it's never always that perfect. We had to rearrange the living room 5 different times, including moving our beast of a bookshelf. We finally got everything to fit just right and I love our tree!!!!! It's beautiful and fun! The kids did a lot of the decorating and it all ended up in one chunk of the tree. So funny and cute. However, being OCD, I waited until the kids went to bed, and then fixed the decorations. We also put lights on our entertainment center, around the bookshelf, and around the tops of the walls. I also decorated outside with lights! We are so excited about being able to be in our own place this year! I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!!

I'm Seeing Stars!

So, Saturday was a nice and steady day at work. Lots of people needing beautified for the holidays, I'm guessing. Towards the end of the day a couple brothers came in needing a haircut. So, I took one of them back to my chair. First he request a fohawk on top. Ok, no big deal, right? Next, he requested steps on both sides of his hair. Ok, haven't done that type of thing in YEARS but, no big deal AGAIN, right? Well, just when I thought I conquered this haircut and would be moving onto the next one, well, I thought wrong. He then asks me shave a star in the back of his head. I laughed and thought he was just being funny. However, he was completely serious. So, I decided to try and attempt it. So, we practiced first by drawing on the back of his head with a pen. I felt like I was a tatoo artist, preparing to give his first tatoo or something. So, after a few attempts of drawing the perfect star he approved. The time came to shave the star. So, with deep breaths from both he and I (and me trying to control my tremors, ha ha) I went for it. Well, you can see how it turned out. I have to say that it turned out better than expected, THANK HEAVENS!!!! My client loved it and left a great tip! Oh happy day!!!! Good times!

Take a Picture! It Lasts Longer!

Now that Rylie is older and cruising all over the place, she gets on Connor's nerves a lot. She likes to torment him too. So, it's pretty rare for the two of them to get along at all! Well, it was one such ocassion that I caught the two of them playing together quite well and it lasted longer than 30 seconds. Now if I ever have doubt I can look at these pictures and have proof that it is possible for them to play nicely!

Rylie's hair is slowly-but-surely growing and I can finally get her hair into tiny piggy tails! So fun!

Let the Countdown Begin!

That's right! Only 50 more days until Christmas!

Before and Afters

Halloween 2009

The Carving of the Pumpkins!

Connor gutting out his pumpkin
Rylie wasn't sure what to do with her pumpkin.

It took us about 10 min. to get Connor to touch the pumpkin guts.

Mike trying to hide from the camera.

The finished product!

When we went up north a couple weeks ago, my parents gave Rylie and Connor their own little pumpkins to take home. So, for FHE last week we carved pumpkins. They LOVED it! Connor told us what shapes to carve out and then Mike did the carving. He doesn't trust me with a knife, ha ha! Then, we all cleaned out the pumpkin guts. Connor DID NOT want to touch it forever. He said it was gross. We finally got him to do it. Rylie didn't want to mess with it so, she just watched. After we finished we took them outside, put candles in them, and lit them up. They turned out so cute. It's been a week now. They look like someone who hasn't put dentures in! So, we're off to go get more pumpkins to carve for Halloween!

It's Official!!!!

Mike & Craig posing for the camera

"I, Michael McGinnis,.................."

Even Michael McLean came to support us! Ha ha! Not really. He was there for his son-in-law!

Proof that our family survived Law School

I was telling Connor to keep his eyes opened while I took the picture.

Would I rather have the binky OUT of the picture? YES! Would I rather have a quiet child during a very important ceremony? YES!

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On October 20th, Mike was sworn in as an attorney in the state of Utah! It took place at the Salt Palace Convention Center. The ceremony was perfect! There was a couple short speakers, then they announced the names of all of those who were getting sworn in, then the attorney's repeated after the judge. It was VERY exciting and such a happy moment for all of us! My parents and Mike's parents were able to join us for the ceremony! What a great experience to see that and for the kids to see their Dad be part of this!

After the ceremony we headed over to PF Chang's for lunch! It was yummy, as usual!!!! What a feast and so fun to just sit and chill out! We had a great weekend/week! Once again, I'M SO PROUD OF MY HUBBY!!!!!!

'Till We Meet Again!

Today marks the day that Brenna was born into heaven, 6 years ago. I can't believe it's been that long already. It's hard to imagine us having a 6 year old. My Mom, bless her heart, put a bunch of pink carnations on her headstone for us. Then, Mike met the kids and I at the park where we let 6 pink balloons go and fly up into the sky. Connor said that we were sending balloons up to heaven for Brenna's birthday party. Fall is always a special time of year for me. Each year that the smell of Fall comes a flood of memories come rushing in. I can remember so many things about October of 2003. Heavenly Father really took care of us and comforted us during that time. While the experience itself was tragic, awful, scary, and so sad, we came away from that experience with so many more wonderful things. First, knowing that we have a daughter who is in Heaven is such an amazing feeling! Beyond that, it helped Mike and I to come together. We struggled a lot during that time. However, I can tell you that we became a stronger couple and really learned to rely on one another. We felt the love of everyone around us so strongly. People stepped forward to help in anyway they could. It was almost as if we were in our own little world for a few weeks. We felt the love of our Heavenly Father stronger than we had ever felt it! I wish I could see Brenna, hold her, play with her, and see what she looks like. However, I have a strong peace of mind and heart because I know she's where she should be and is ok. As Connor gets older he's starting to ask more and more questions. Lately, he's been talking about Brenna quite a bit and how he wants to see her, she's in Heaven, and he has a sweet sister born before him. I love my family and I hope I live in a way that we can ALL be together someday. Until then, I love you, Brenna, with all my heart!!!! I'm so grateful you came into our life, for the short time you were with us.

8 Years and Counting!!!!

Once upon a time there were two people (Elder McGinnis and Sister Jeppesen) who happened to go to the same mission and end up in the same Zone, where they became quite good friends!

Not too long after Elder McGinnis came home, he and Sister Jeppesen kept in close contact. They became inseperable, except for the fact that Mike lived in Vegas and Laura lived in Wellsville. The time apart was tough and was not something we enjoyed so......

On July 20, 2001, Mike proposed to Laura on a beach in California. It was then that they decided they wanted to be together with each other forever.

On October 4th, 2001, Mike and Laura were married in the Logan LDS Temple for time and all eternity!!!! The greatest, happiest day in our lives! Since that day we have:

1. Moved 9 times
2. Had a combined of 15 different jobs.
3. Have 3 kids
4. Had 11 different cars
5. Had 5 surgeries
6. Lived in 2 states and 4 cities.
7. Completed Undergrad and Law School
8. Been married 8 years.....

We've been through a lot together but, the key word is that we did it TOGETHER!!!!! Has it been easy? No. Are there times we wanted to give up? Who hasn't? However, I know that whatever we have been through has made us stronger and better. I'm grateful for Mike and the rock that he is in our marriage. He has worked SO HARD to provide for our family and to accomplish what he has! I love him so very much and am so proud of him and love him very much. He truly is my best friend and stands by me, no matter what. One thing that he has done for me is never given up on me or our marriage. He knows that we can make it through anything if we do it together. I look forward to all the things we'll get to experience together in the years to come. I know that it'll keep getting better and better. HAPPY ANNIVERSAY MIKE!!!!!

And The Verdict Is......

This hot babe of mine has, once again, made me the proudest/happiest woman EVER! We received notice today that he PASSED THE BAR!!!! The results came faster than we expected. While at work I received a text from a friend, letting me know that results were posted, and asking how Mike did. My heart started pounding, I became nautious, and started shaking like CRAZY!!!! So, I called Mike to ask his Exam ID#. He said, "Why are you asking?" I informed him that the results were in. He became very anxious. He said, "Oh no, I can't deal with this today!" See, my kids decided to make the carpet in our house a map. Connor took a crayon and drew lines and X's (marking the spot) all over our house. So, Mike had already had quite the day and was fearing that he had failed. So, I looked up the number and saw the word "PASS" next to his ID#!!! I walked outside and did the biggest happy dance ever and just cheered and screamed! I couldn't contain myself. I was shaking even more and my eyes filled up with tears! Mike is still in shock and keeps thinking that it was read wrong, or something. He won't even look at the results, for fear that he'll jinx himself! Ha ha! I am so, so proud of Mike! He has worked so extremely hard for this moment and I couldn't be more proud and happy for Mike! All the hard work, tears, sleepless nights, endless studying, etc. has paid off! The next step is when Mike will be sworn in, which is next month! I'm so grateful for Mike and all that he has sacrificed for our family! LOVE YOU MIKE!!!!

Labor Day Weekend Part 2

Connor at the bottom of the blow-up slide
Connor riding the barrel train with Rylie

"Where's all the candy, Mom?"

Waiting for the parade to start!

She's so happy!

Even I get into parades!

Rylie was CONSTANTLY trying to escape from us!

She loves her Grandpa!

Isn't he handsome?

Hanging out with Grandpa!

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One of the highlights of Labor Day is the parade in my hometown, of Wellsville! Which includes cowboys, indians, floats with Dairy Princesses, fire engine trucks, bands, floats from different wards, pooper scoopers, etc. It's a great time and the kids LOVE the candy! Anyone who knows our family knows that we are very competitive so, when the candy came around it was like a zoo! So funny! Connor is not the most competitive child ever. He's more like Mike. I made the comment to my Dad that it's hard having a child who is not as competitive as me, 'cause I have to learn to sit back, not push him to be something he's not, and just be happy with it. Inside I was going nuts though. I wanted to get the candy before anyone else could, no matter what the cost. Of course, I realize the end result would not be pretty nor very nice. So, I refrained! Ha ha! After the parade we usually go wander around the town square. I always have to get a scone or else a navajo taco. Then I wander around the different booths. Afterwards we all meet up at my parents house for a fun-filled afternoon. We blow up the swimming pools, BBQ, and just hang out! What a blast! Hopefully Mike will be with us next year.