Why 8?

Madeline tagged me so here goes.

Here are the 8s:
Rules:
1) Post Rules on your blog
2) Answer the six "8" items
3) Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment

8 favorite TV shows:
So You Think You Can Dance
Lidia's Italy
Divine Design
American Idol
Design on a Dime
Seinfeld
I can't think of anything else......


8 things I did yesterday:
exercised
cleaned house
made a tuna fish sandwich that Judd wouldn't eat and I loved
read Northanger Abby
was a little sicky
went to Claim Jumper for dinner
played playdough with Judd
watched Muppet's Treasure Island


8 things I look forward to:
Having Judd really talk so I know what he's thinking about
spending my $25 dollar gift certificate to JoAnn's
going to Disneyland again
Having Gen and Heber visit sometime soon
having a real yard/garden with a real house in Oregon (even if its not really mine:))
finding another really good book to get into (any suggestions anyone???)
visiting San Diego before I head out of Southern California
having Steve be done with the boards!


8 favorite restaurants:
Aruffo's in Claremont, CA
Maggie Moo's (technically not a restaurant, I know, but I LOVE their ice cream)
Jamba Juice
Seigfried's Deli in Salt Lake--best bratwurst ever
Cafe Rio
The little Sushi place in La Verne, CA by Maggie Moo's.....what is that place called?
The Something Elephant Something Thai food place in San Dimas, CA....I'm terrible with names.
And even though it no longer exists.....Netty's for the memory of their beautifully thick cookie dough shakes.


8 things on my wish list:
a trip to Ireland, Italy, Germany, and hiking in Switzerland
More children
A Volvo
My own house with a yard and garden--daffodils are a must
awesome, cheap health and dental insurance
a huge library full of all my favorite books
a Co-op in Oregon
to always live near good friends and a temple


8 people to tag:
Gentri
Taylor (hey can I get an invite to your blog?)
Heather (also....can I get an invite to your blog?)
Chelsea
Whitney
Rachel
Amy
Andrea

Hello......Is there anybody out there....Just nod if you can hear me....

SO, I know, i know, its been over a month since my last post and so many things have happened. Some happy, some hard.

Thanksgiving was great. Jill, Matt and Brian (Steve's sister and family) came to visit and we had possibly the best dinner ever. Thank you Matt, turkey guru. Christmas was so fun though we thought we'd never thaw out after over two weeks in the Utah cold (so we're now California wimps. Its true.) Judd got a tent/teepee/tunnel set from Santa/Costco and thinks its great. Stevo got a Best of John Denver CD and now sings Wild Montana Skies all over the house. Loni got beautiful handmade dishes and a veggie cookbook. We're now eating healthily in style. New Years eve was wild with Mom and Dad Lawrence, Stevo, I, Judd and Matt, Jill and Brian having a Karaoke marathon. Brian and Judd ate the microphones while they danced to the vocal stylings of Matthew Odle.

New Years Eve was a somber day. Grandpa George passed away quietly in the morning and the rest of the day we spent with our family around us. We miss him but are so thankful he's not suffering any longer. Families are forever.

We're back in California and just plugging along. We did get a new camera so hopefully there will be more posts on here with some fun pictures.....just keep checkin' back! :)

Boy after mom's own heart

So, FACT: Steve does not like popcorn. Won't eat it. Not even Carmel Corn. Period.

Another FACT: Loni LOVES popcorn. Kettle Corn, Carmel Corn, White Chedder Corn, or just plain-jane butter and salt corn....she'll eat it. All of it.

Okay, so, CONFESSION: I still can't believe Steve doesn't like popcorn. Anyone who knows my family knows we're big popcorn people. My dad makes the BEST carmel popcorn ever! Gentri is the guru when it comes to the perfect amount of butter balanced with salt. And we don't just make great popcorn we eat it like champs. A movie is not a movie, theater or not, without popcorn. And I can't remember a trip home when dad didn't make a special batch of carmel corn.

I didn't find out that Steve didn't like popcorn until after we were engaged. That's right, he pretty much already had me locked in...but it was still a close one after learning that information. To this day, every time I make a bowl I try to get him to taste a little, hoping that someday he'll have an epiphany and realize, like I do, that popcorn is the perfect satisfying-but-not-too-much snack. I'm still hoping....

BUT! Judders apparently took after me. While Gen and I were at Disneyland we, of course, had to buy some popcorn (*for those who haven't had Disney popcorn, I don't know what they do to it but it is unbelievably good). While we were eating it and waiting in line, I gave Judders a little taste. Suddenly a little hand was sneaking its way into the bucket on its own! It was so cute we had to take a picture. Judd is trying to look completely innocent but notice that his arm is in the bucket almost up to his armpit!

Rain, rain don't go away

The weather in California has been deliciously rainy and overcast the past few days. And Judders, had his first experience (that he can remember) with rain drops falling on his little head. He was so funny. He just stared and pointed at the raindrops. The second picture is his version of pointing. Its a both-full-arms, having-nothing-to-do-with-fingers type of a deal.

I tried to get a picture of his face but he wouldn't stand still long enough for me to even push the button on the camera. He didn't want to go inside, either. When I finally just picked him up and carried him in, he was all wet. I had to towel him off and change his clothes.

You know, without Judd it would have just been another little rainstorm but showing him the drops and watching him be amazed made it such a fun little moment. He makes everything better.

Get in to Disneyland FREE!

ARRRRRG, ye mateys, in 2009 Disneyland will be letting people in for free ON THEIR BIRTHDAY! All you have to do is sign up on their website disneyland.com and, of course, go to Disneyland on your birthday. I can't think of anything pirate-y to end this on so just do it.

Blog Tagging

Madeline tagged me. So here you have it.

1. Do you like blue cheese? yes, in moderation
2. Do you own a gun? Steve does. Does that count?
3. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Sonic is really gross. So I won't answer that Q.
4. Do you get nervous before doctor Appointments? Always.
5. What do you think of hot dogs? i like some of them.
6. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas (nothing beats the Binger singing Christmas music)
7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk or an orange/strawberry/banana smoothie
8. Can you do push-ups? Not very well. I think I'm a cheater.
9. Age? 26
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? the pearl necklace my parents gave me when I graduated from BYU.
11. Favorite hobby? reading
12. Favorite Actor? I don't think I have one.
13. Do you have A.D.D.? Nope
14. What's one trait you hate about yourself? my nose
15. Middle name? Brooke
16. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: 1-I like Disney land, 2-I can't believe I admitted that about my nose, and 3-I don't like watching sports.
17. Name 3 things you bought yesterday/today? lunch in Pasadena, Teddy Grahams.....and I think thats really it.
18. 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, milk, grape or orange juice
19. 3 Current worries? Ants! (I hate them), safety, politics
20. Favorite place to be? With my Steve and Judd
21. How did you bring in the New Year? I went to a party with my in-laws.
22.Where would you like to go? Germany
23. Tag three to six people... Gentri, Andrea, and Amanda
24. Do you own slippers? yes but I NEVER wear them
25. What shirt are you wearing? a grey/purple peasant kinda thing
26. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? i never have before but I think they'd be sweaty.
27. Can you whistle? yes. I'm almost professional actually.
28. favorite color? depends on my mood.
29. Would you be a pirate? no. I don't like the idea of sailing on the ocean.
30. What songs do you sing in the shower? Primary songs (I'm the primary chorister) and O Christmas Tree (yep, all year long)
31. Favorite girl's name? Jane boy's name? Judd
32. What is in your pocket? they're not really big enough to hold anything
33. Last thing that made you laugh? something Steve said to me in the car a few hours ago
34. Best bed sheets as a child? Disney sheets
35. Worst injury you've ever had? probably a broken toe.
36. How many TVs do you own? 1
37. Who is your loudest friend? Heather B
38. How many dogs do you have? none
39. Does someone have a crush on you? Steven Lee Platt, so I hear
40. What is your favorite book(S)? Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis), The Book of Mormon
41. Where were you born? Salt Lake City, UT
42. What is your favorite candy? m&ms
43. Favorite Sports Teams? i don't like sports
44. What songs do you want played at your funeral? Be Still My Soul and Abide With Me
45.What are you doing at 12 A.M.? Sleeping
46. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? where's steve?
47. Do you live away from your home town? Where are you currently? Yep, California
48. Do you like to celebrate the holidays? I love, love them What is your favorite? Thanksgiving
49. Do you own/use excessive equipment, if so what kind? I have an eliptical. Best purchase I ever made.
50. What do you think of this long list of questions? Its long.

a little boy

This is a post just to declare that I don't have a baby anymore. He walks, he says mamamamama (I interpret that as 'mom'), and his little face is all grown up. We took this picture today at California Adventures. He thought the candy corn patch was pretty neat.