12/27/10 Finding AJ at the airport as he leaves for the Phillippines

Patiently waiting...

12/27/10

Well we will see you at the airport.  No more disappearing acts for you!!!!  Hopefully there is only one lobby for Delta drop off because we aren't allowed to go back past the gates where you go once you've checked in and gone through security.

Holly found candy...Holly LOVES candy!

Love you lots!!! I'm so excited for you!!!  Keep your camera out and take lots of pictures!!!  (If you can)  Only about 3 hours till we see our cute little boy!!!

12/28/10

It was so good to talk to you and see you!  I thought about you all squished up on an airplane all night last night and hope you weren't too uncomfortable!  You are probably getting close to Hong Kong now...and still all squished!  

Cutie Katie

We made it home through all the fog and got to sleep in our own beds last night and that felt good!  I hope you can catch some zzzz's.  You gotta take care of yourself so you don't get sick.  Jet lag is kinda nasty.  You'll probably feel lougy for about 1 week.  Try not to push yourself too hard even though I know you'll want to.

Love you lots. Mom.

Here comes the bus!

There he is...the tall handsome guy!

AJ...we missed you!!!!

All of us missed you!!!

Sister Martinez and Sister Watkins...AJ's friends from the MTC

Elder Griffin

Elder Griffin and Sister Martinez, his traveling companion to Cauayan

12/26/10 Hunting temple grounds for our missionary, no luck!

12/26/10

i Aj!

    So we tried to be naughty and find you today but had no luck.  We were at the MTC temple parking lot and watched lots of missionaries go to the temple but you weren't any of them.  One kid was giving us the tisk tisk finger wag.  It was pouring down the rain and yucky so maybe you decided to stay in?  Anyway we are going to try again tomorrow to find you.

    How is your luggage?  Are you pretty fulled up?   Is there anything you want to take with you that you don't already have...peanut butter, toilet paper, anything?  This is your last chance.  We can stop at the store on the way to the air port if you can think of something.

    Well let us know.  We plan to be up at the airport about noon tomorrow and get one last look at you in person for awhile!  Take care and see ya soon . XOXO

11/21/10 Letter to Andy to AJ

11/21/10 LETTER FROM ANDY TO AJ

Hey man,

Haven't had a chance to write much lately. Just some quick hits for you:

* Mom had some minor surgery stuff, but all is well.

* Hurricane lost state on last play of game to Juan Diego again, This time it was a field goal.

* Highland won 4A in 2OT. They're the ones that barely beat Pine View.

* Neal and I road tripped  up to state games, then I did play by play and Devon did color.

* Show has been good, buit I miss my biggest fan!

* Remember Tyler Roberts. He has some kind of brain tumor and can't hardly talk. Not sure if it is cancerous or not.

* Dallas and Bryce both said they miss you a lot. We played football yesterday out back with Andrew and Byron. It was fun, but hurt my shoulder.

* Grandma said she sent you a package with some goodies and stuff. You get the stuff from Derek. How's he doing?

* His farewell was funny. He was really unprepared, but did OK anyway. Plenty of cute girls there. His Mom is a basketcase.

* Left on road trip with Neal at 5 a.m. and got home a little after 3 a.m. the next day. Slept til 1, just like you used to.

* BYU is 6-5 now and Utah is 9-2, but they barely beat SDSU, just like Cougars. Should be a pretty good game, though I think U will win. It is this Saturday.

* BYU hoops looks pretty good early. They beat Utah State, but Mikeli Wesley killed them inside. I think teams with good big man will be trouble this year. Jimmer and Emery look good.

* Cowboys gave won 2 straight since they fired Wade Phillips. Guess Jason Garrett is a wonderboy after all.

* Sick of the food yet? Any requests for Thanksgiving?

* Love you lots and we are praying for you everyday. Keep your chin up. U r da man!

Love ya, Pops

10/30/10 AJ is off to the MTC

10/30/2010 LETTER TO AJ ON HIS MISSION

Not sure when your p-day is going to be so I thought I better send you a little something in your in-box.

Hope you are loving it and doing great.  We are anxious to hear from you and hope to hear great things!

Today has been a busy Saturday.  The morning started early scrubbing the kitchen floor and cleaning out the remainder of your bedroom.  I think we have gone through just about everything now and got your things neatly tucked away in the closet.  The border around your bedroom was pretty solidly stuck to the wall.  I tried and tried to remove it with no luck and then gave up and went to Nisson's and bought a product that helps remove borders.  It worked like magic.  The stuff just falls off after 15 minutes with this goop on it.   I am probably 10 minute away from completing this 2 hour project.  Maybe next week we'll paint.  We'll see how much time and energy we have!

Around lunch time the girls wanted to go and hang with the Riley's at their new house.  I went up to get a tour and Sis. Riley asked for some help with her garage.  I spent about an hour there helping put together some shelves and putting things up on the shelves.  Man they have a ton of stuff.  They have about filled their 2 car garage with "stuff".  

We tried to go to the community center last night to check out the Halloween festivities.  There was a line out into the parking lot.  We decided it wasn't worth it and instead the Turner's came and played games -- uno and charades.  We ate caramel popcorn and watched the girls act out silly things.  It was kinda fun.  The boys disappeared in the bedroom and played their game.  They didn't want to participate in "girl" stuff!

I'll have dad send you some pictures of our Halloween costumes.  

Well take care and know that we love you and are praying for you!!!  We are so proud of you.  Love you lots!

10/14/10 Letter to Taylor Squires on mission

Dear Taylor,

    Your mom and dad have been forwarding your letters on to everyone and it has been fun to hear how you are doing there.  It sounds like things are great so far.  Singing in the choir sounds like fun.  Glad you are enjoying your time and doing so well.  You must be coming along well with your language if you are starting to dream in Spanish (even if you don't understand it--- it's a good start!!!)

    AJ will be there 2 weeks from yesterday.  Crazy!  We are buying him the final things -- we have luggage and shirts, pants, shoes, sheets and towels.  He got a new VISA card yesterday from the bank and extended his driver license this morning.  His room is TRASHED (what else is new, right?!)  but once we pack everything up it should be MUCH better!  We got the stuff to treat his clothes with and will have to figure that out this weekend.    He is WAY excited to get this mission thing started!

    So do you need AJ to bring you anything from home?  I told your mom to get us some of her yummy cookies and we'd smuggle them in to you (it was for selfish reasons...I planned on sneaking some before I sent it on to you!!!)

    Aj's farewell is next Sunday, October 24 at 9 a.m.  This Sunday he is speaking in his student ward.  None of us will be able to go see him though because Andy is teaching Sunday school and I'm teaching in YW.  Oh well.  He said he is doing a different talk this week and next week.  

    This morning was Dude's and Donuts -- Andy and Aj both went up to the Elementary school and had breakfast with Katie and Holly.  A fun little tradition.  The girls were SO excited to have their "Dude's" come hang with them.  

    YW's is keeping me pretty busy these days.  Last night we played a super fun game of ULTIMATE FRISBEE.  First time I ever played.  We only had 6 girls so we played 2 laurels and me against 4 beehives and another leader.  My older girls were much better at this game than the younger ones but it was really fun.

    Work is staying busy with tickets coming in like crazy.  It is good -- job security!!  Seems like crime is always up!  

    High school football games are tonight because of Fall break this weekend.  I guess you heard about the boys at Snow Canyon that were struck by lightening last week?  Sounds like Dane Zdunich is doing good -- he got out of the hospital and made the front page of the paper this morning.  Alex Lambson is still in the hospital.  I guess his injuries were worse.  But he is expected to be fine.  Crazy!   And after the strike last week Snow Canyon football won their game.  

    Well keep studying hard and learning -- you are doing such a great thing.  We are proud of you and your efforts.  Heavenly Father will bless you to learn all that you need to!!!

   Love you lots! Uncle Andy, Aunt Shelly, AJ, Dallas, Bryce, Katie and Holly

08/28/10 Aj turns 19!

08/28/10

AJ turned 19 today.  We had a fun get together at Gma and Gpa Laurito's house.  Eldon and Diane, Johnny, Marcus, Laura, Rachel, Seth, Miranda, Duncan and Drake and all of us were there. It was fun.  The boys played football at AJ's request.

The girls and I went to the pool Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week.  The Turner's pass ended yesterday and they wanted to get their $ worth!  We love to swim!

I have been working on losing weight for quite some time.  Took me over a year to lose 10 lbs (40 is tough!)  This week I made my second goal and hit 145.  I will try to maintain that for awhile.  (My weight likes to fluctuate)

Andy is doing great. He lost 60 lbs.  It has helped for us to both be trying.

I go to work out every day from 6-7 a.m.  I like spinning on M and F, walking on W, weights on T & H.  Then swim any chance I get. In addition I try to walk to the kids to school and me to work about 1 mile every day.  I don't usually walk home.  With the kids new schedule I've had to cut my workout 15-20 minutes every day.  Hopefully it won't make me gain weight again.

Tomorrow is Taylor Squires farewell.  He leaves on his mission next Wednesday.  Should be fun to see everyone at Ben and Laura's tomorrow. They are expecting a large crowd.

We are getting our counter tops replaced next Thursday.  We like to do one improvement each year to the house.  Should look really nice.  We got a new kitchen floor last year. So the kitchen should look really good. My stove is ugly but everything else is nice.  (I can't replace it because it keeps working so well!!!)

Time seems to fly by!  I have a hard time remembering when things happened and days just zoom by.  So much to do, so little time!  I guess that's good!

05/04/10 Quick update to Dad

5/4/2010 LETTER TO DAD LAURITO

Holly is having another dance Recital on May 15.

AJ is completing his Associate Degree this week. Graduation is Friday but he decided not to participate.  Says he's going to do it again once or twice and this one isn't important to him.

I got called to be assistant YW Camp Director.  So I get to go to camp next Month.

Katie is getting over a little bout of the flu.  She missed school today.

What's up in your world?  I keep thinking things will slow down but the summer seems to be filled with camps and things.

We'll start AJ's mission papers this week after graduation. 

8/21/10 Journal Entry - update on life

8/21/10

I haven't written in a journal for many years now.  I miss it.  Especially not bing able to look back at different times in my life.

I am 41 years old now.  Where did the time go? Andy and I have been married 21 years.

Aj has his mission call to Cauyan, Phillipines and is scheduled to leave October 27, 2010.  He will spend two months in the MTC in Provo and then fly out about December 31.   What a great way to start a new year/life for him.  Aj has grown so quickly.  He will turn 19 years old on August 28 - less than a week away.

We had planned to get his endowments out for his birthday but found out the temple will be closed for two weeks to include that day for cleaning.  So it wont be his birthday but it won't be too long after that either.

Aj has really made us proud.  He has always chosen good friends and activities.  He graduated with honors from Pine View High School in 2009 and then with his associate degree from Dixie College in 2010.  He has worked hard and saved his money for his mission.  He pays $125/month to us for use of the car, insurance and his cell phone.  In addition he set a goal to raise $10,000 in the bank.  I don't know if he'll make that (he still has two months, so maybe?!) but he has close to $6,000 saved.  He has stayed very active in his student ward and continues to really stay focused on his future.  All in all he is an excellent young man.

Dallas is 15 and attending Pine View HS in the 10th grade.  He has chosen to play baritone saxophone in the band.  He also gets up early 3X per week to play in the jazz band.  He has talked about joining the choir which would practice during lunch.  He has completed his Eagle Scout badge and is president of the teachers quorum at church.  He is the most helpful of my children -- always willing to babysit, make a meal, clean a mess or make cookies.  He has spent countless hours mowing our lawn and the lawns of several widows in our ward.  They love him.  He is anxiously awaiting his 16th birthday so he can get his driver license.  I enjoy helping him learn to drive.

On his 15th birthday we went at 7 a.m. to get his permit.  He drives most mornings to school to get his practice time in.  He is also always anxious to take me on errands now.  I love my chauffer!  He has recently taken a greater interest in school work and he says he would like to follow in AJ's footsteps academically.

Bryce is the biggest 14 year old I ever met.  He is 6' or more and close to 200 lbs. He also is enjoying early morning jazz band playing the trumpet.  He also received his Eagle Scout this year so I now have three Eagle Sons.  Bryce is in the 9th grade at Pine View Middle School and also excels at school.  He has had honor roll - straight A's several times.  I am so thankful they enjoy school.  Bryce spends much of this time in his brother's shadow but I continue to hear from teachers and leaders what a great kid he is and how much they enjoy him.  He is funny and fun to be around.  He also mows lawns and has started showing more interest in helping around the house. I couldn't ask for better boys.

Katie is 8 years old and started the year by getting baptized. She was so excited.  It was a very special day for her.  Her birthday was December 21 and it was hard to wait for the first Saturday in January.  Katie enjoys piano lessons, achievement days and girl scouts.  She wants to join the choir this year. She should start in a week or two.

Katie and I got to go to tipi camp this summer with her troop.  It was so fun to get out with just her and her troop.  Katie loves school and does very well.  We are working on routines this year.  Katie has a hard time getting up in the morning.  So we have a chart and she has been doing excellent at getting up since started trying.  Has made our mornings so much better!

Holly - our sweet little caboose! She is so busy and happy and LOUD!  She is 6 and just started 1st grade.  She is a brownie girl scout and taking piano this year.  So much excitement for her.  She is infectious with her toothless grin and unending energy.  She is also opinionated and will tell you what for when she is upset.  She loves school and has excelled.

I am so thankful for my children.  It is constant work to keep everyone healthy and happy but so far so good!

Andy is enjoying the one year anniversary of his morning show - "A.G. in the A.M."  He turned his whole life upside down and instead of being up late into the night he has to be to work from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. for his show.  He continues to develop utahpreps.net and broadcast high school sports every weekend.  He has been such a great influence in all of our lives.  He is home with the kids and has helped develop their love of life and school.  He is always supportive and complimentary and loving to me.  I know I often take him or granted. I just don't know how good I have it - but I am truly grateful for him and the life we have together.  There has not been a time in our almost 22 years that I haven't felt blessed to be married to my best friend. We are fortunate to have one another.

I am getting ready to embark on a new chapter in my life.  I will be called to YW President probably next Sunday.  I feel that I am balancing so many things and I worry about adding another one but I know that if I stay close to the Lord I can do it. We don't have very many active girls in our ward and we have four non-members in our boundaries that are super girls.  I think I have my work cut out for me.

I went to girls camp with some of these girls and I really feel a strong love and pull to be their leader.  I just hope I can be a good mom and leader and work too!

I love the saying, "I'll rest when I'm dead!"  I think more than ever that is my new motto.

I'm trying to keep a good balance in my life.  My day typically starts about 5:30 a.m.  I try to read my scriptures then exercise at 6 a.m.  The boys now need rides about 6:40 or 7 a.m.  Get dressed.  Close to 8 a.m. the girls and I walk about 1/2 mile to school and then I walk another 1/2 mile to work.  Work all day, get dinner, do homework, activities and then bed.  Falling asleep is not usually a problem!

The girls and I love to go to the pol.  We try to go up at least 2X per week.  I sleep so good on the nights I swim.

I sure hope I can do all that I need to do!  I'm sure going to try!