10/28/12 AJ's coming home!!!!!

10/28/12

Holy Smokes! It's the last email on you mission from your momma! I can hardly believe that we get you back THIS WEEK!!!!  It just doesn't even seem real!

I hope you are enjoying the last little bit of your mission.  Pretty soon it will all be a memory.  (I hope you are writing in your journal...cause you really won't be able to remember a lot of things before long!)  Life is funny that way.

Katie and Holly did the story-telling festival this week.  They were in two different rooms (thank goodness...don't have to worry about one beating the other).  Katie took 3rd place in her room and Holly took 1st place in her room.  Holly goes on to district.  Probably sometime after you get home so you might get to see her story.  She tells the story of the three pigs (um, so did like 5 other kids in her room?!) but it has some interesting twists AND she totally shakes her booty and has some great actions as she tells the story.  She is pretty dang funny.  

Katie and Holly had their first volleyball game yesterday (with their mom as coach...my first time coaching anything ever) and they won against one team and lost against the other.  And the ones they lost were pretty close.  It was good.  I am just a coach in name only...they actually have people that run practices and I just help the kids rotate in and out and make sure they have treats after the game.  Katie was kind of the star in one of the games we won.  She got like 8 serves in a row.  Go Katie!  Holly is pretty good at volleyball too.  

Dallas worked a lot this week at Fiesta Fun.  His shifts there are long (6-8 hours) so I think he is feeling it this week.  He doesn't have any shifts next week (was scheduled to work Friday night but got off so he could see his bro come in!)

Bryce started at the city but has only worked one weekend getting trained.  

Dad has been keeping super busy with the website stgnews.com and the mag.  Unfortunately things are not looking good right now for the mag...they didn't get the Utah Co version printed (again) ... that is 2X on the same edition and dad doesn't think he can salvage the stories ... they are getting outdated.  Sigh.  That has been an unneeded stress in his life.  Everybody keeps calling asking when they will get paid and when the mag will be out etc and he just doesn't know.  It would be really nice if they could figure out finances because as you've seen the magazine is pretty awesome...but I'm afraid money management isn't the owner's best thing...so it may kill off the mag.

Things have gotten pretty out of control busy at my work too.  Seems that we are getting more and more tickets filed and I'm struggling to keep up with the work load.  The severity of the tickets has also increased and DUI, retail theft, domestic violence...all those type of cases take much longer to handle than a simple speeding or seatbelt ticket so I guess you'd say job security is high right now!

Well I think you will find everything different and everything the same when you get back.  We are in a different house but we are the same people...just older and most of us are bigger and taller!  It is exciting to have you back.  We looked at the weather report in Hong Kong and Manilla and California and it looks like it is going to be sunny and warm everywhere you go including here!  So that is good.  You shouldn't run into any trouble with the weather. The east coast is bracing for what they are calling the frankenstorm...they are saying it is the 100 year storm.  A hurricane and another storm and on track to collide and do some major damage to NJ area if the predictions are right.  They expect all air travel on the east coast to be shut down or delayed tonight and for a day or two.  We shall see if the predictions are right or if it fizzles and goes away.  

We are so excited to get you home and can't wait to see you!  Feel free to leave anything there that is worn out or could be used by another missionary.  We know we will have to do some shopping when you get home!  Probably not worth paying extra baggage fees if it's used up anyway!  I hope your credit card works...have you tried it?

Enjoy the last few days of your once in a life time experience and come home to us safely!  I am so grateful for the amazing example you've been.  You have no idea how many people you have touched on both sides of the world! Love you lots! Mom.

10/20/12 AJ accepted to BYU!!!!

10/20/12

Well this week has been super good and lots of great things are happening for you!

I guess by now you've got word that you were accepted to BYU.  Did the pres tell you?  I wrote to your mission mama and she said she was seeing you the next day.  So how did that go?

We have been working to get you a room put together and it finally came together this weekend.  We were going to get a bed and desk from Grandma but we just didn't feel right about it.  Then we talked to Diane and she said 2 of her kids and families were coming down for your homecoming and would be staying at G'mas.  Then we really didn't feel good about it.  We shopped around and beds (no end tables, just a bed) was running $370 to $550 for the cheap stuff.  We have been really sticker shocked as we look for furniture.  Anyway, we were like...wow, that is too much.  So we came home and got on craigslist and there was a bed for $90.  So we called the guy and he was like, we just put that up and have had several calls already, you better come quick.  

So we headed over there and the bed was a queen in like perfect condition.  It is really nice.  A sealy posturpedic.  I think it's the nicest mattress in the house now!  

The guy lived in Stonegate -- a REALLY nice gated community over by the summit club in a 5000 sq ft home.  He was moving to CA to a 2000 sq ft furnished home so they were basically selling everything they own.  

So we got the bed and a night stand and lamp and some plants.

We did a service project this morning.  There is an old man (83 and his wife) we painted their house.  They wanted lavender and glowing green.  It is...interesting.  The house really needed help.  It looks better although not so sure about the color scheme.  I thought it was just gonna be an hour or two but ended up staying 4 hours.  

We went to gma and pa's today because Bryce is the new YCL leader and has a meeting tomorrow.  Sunday's are getting tough with mission prep 2 weeks and YCL meetings the third.  Doesn't leave many Sundays.  I guess it's good because there are lots of projects to be done up at the house and we can help on Saturday.  I guess next weekend they are having a work party and doing rocks and stuff.  Not sure.  Today we got a desk for you and did a wee bit of putting stuff away.  Not much work really.  I told gma I would paint or whatever but she said she was tired and didn't want to do that.

Dallas got a job this week and started today working at Fiesta fun.  He worked an 8 hour shift and I guess he still has stuff to do because it's 9 now and he's still not home.  I think he told dad he had to do some paperwork or something.  Bryce finally got on with the City and started today.  Dallas trained him.  (Dallas should be really tired!!!)

The girls start volleyball next week and Dad agreed that I should be coach when they called...(thanks?!?)  So they said they actually handle practices and I just have to help the kids rotate in and out and assign treats.  So shouldn't be a big deal.  Their first 2 practices are this week and then a game on Saturday.  They are so excited you'll be home in time to see a couple of games!!!

Do you remember all the names you gave me before you left for you mission?  Well a week or two ago I got the last of them all done with endowments and now I need to go with Dad and get them all sealed and then they are done!  And you can do whatever comes next when you get back!  My goal is to have them done before you get here...time is quickly running out!

Well we are getting pretty anxious to have you back now.  It's starting to seem like a reality.  And now that we have your room all done up and ready it's getting kind of exciting!  We went and got you new sheets and bed spread.  Your room looks really nice. I hope you like it.  

Enjoy your last little while there.  Make sure and take lots of pictures and buy whatever things you think you might miss when you get back.  Leave whatever is worn out and not worth carting 1/2 way round the world!  I'm sure your comps will enjoy your leftovers!  

Have your tried your credit card yet...did you GET your credit card yet?!  I just put a little more money in the acct this week (grandpa L just sent you $50 for your birthday...I guess since we moved the week of your birthday he's been holding on to it so it didn't get lost in the mail.)  Anyway, I think there is $400 or $500 in there.  For sure at least $300.  So you can go shopping for some clothes and things when you get back.  

Love you lots! Mom.

10/14/12 Moulton Cake and Q4U

10/14/12

Sunday has quickly come upon me yet again!  And life is a blur.  I'm trying to remember what went on this week to make it go so quickly!

Let's see....Sunday Grama and pa were gone on their 10 day trip so we stayed home and made chocolate moulton cake (kind of pudding in the middle that comes out when you eat it.  Totally delicious) and we played games.  Monday was Columbus day so everyone went to work and school and I had the day off.  Dad worked some and then we had some time together.  We went to Chili's ... kind of an extension of our anniversary last week (24 years).  So that was nice.  In years past we have gone overnight somewhere but this year we got a house so we figured that was nicer than a night out, right?!  And next year we are going to Hawaii at some point during the year for our 25th Anniversary!!!  Don't know when or which island but we are going to really try to get there!

We had our biggest night ever on Tuesday handling 80 cases between 3-8 p.m.  (And we don't do anything from 4-5 so, yeah, really busy).  There was just one case after another all night long and no trials so I felt like a truck ran me over by the time we finished.  Good thing the computer cooperated and kept up with the Judge and me!

Wednesday I can't remember.  Huh.

Thursday the missionaries needed a ride to the temple so Bryce got dressed up and took them.  They had 2 baptisms on Saturday morning and were doing interviews or something.  While he was there our ward had a temple fireside with pies.  I had signed up to bring one so I made an extra for the kids here so the missionaries and the kids had pie at 9 p.m. when they came back.  Dad had a game in Hurricane that had 2 lightning delays so he was at a ball game from about 5:30 to midnight.  Crazy.  Got soaked and ooogy and stuff.  Then had to work until 3:30 a.m. to get all the stories up and posted.  Long day for him.  Next week he has to do games on Wednesday night cause it's the deer hunt days off for the kids.  Fall break.

Friday we got to go on a real date in the evening since Dad wasn't working.  We went to what used to be Q4U over by Ben and Laura's.  New name, same stuff.  Then we went and visited B&L for awhile.  Taylor looks great.  They have been in park city for a week so he hasn't found a job yet but he plans to hit it hard this week.  They didn't want him to get a job and then have to take a week off first thing so they weren't really trying hard before now.  The kids had 5 friends over with another TV and played 7 player halo or something.  They seemed pretty happy.  The girls had the Riley's over and did the girl thing.  So nobody missed us as we were gone all evening!

Yesterday we went to Gma and pas and had potato bar and then did some work for them.  Sweeping the porch, a little painting, moving some cushions in for the cooler weather. Planting.  Nothing too difficult or long.  The Riley twins got baptized yesterday so me and the girls went to that.  Got to see Nikki Stevens and Sis. Warby and Sis. Lang and the Bakers and Rhaldo Turner, etc.  Everyone was really nice and said they missed us.  Dad and I went for a late stroll about 9 p.m. and that was really nice too.  

It's nice that the kids are growing up and can be left alone for small periods of time and take care of themselves!  

Today we are staying home because there is mission prep tonight.  It is fast Sunday. Again.  (Oops...last Sunday I thought it was fast Sunday and made everybody fast and then it wasn't.  Uh oh.  So I don't know if they will fast again or not!!!)  I am working on making lime chicken and rice and stuff for dinner which I'll probably serve right after church.  

So I better go get everyone up and out of bed and get the meal done and my hair done asap!  Running out of time.  

Hope you really enjoy your last couple of weeks.  It seems like it's really coming at us quickly!  Did you get your package yet?  I think it should arrive this week...???  

No word from BYU.  (although I bet there will be a bunch of spots open up now!!! Ha ha!  Course your future wife was one of them...jk)

XOXO mom.

10/06/12 Mission age lowered

10/6/12

Holy Smokes.  President Monson just lowered the age of missionaries to go out to 18 effective immediately.  And YW can now go at 19.  That means Dallas could leave as early as the end of May (after he graduates) and Bryce would be just 1 year behind him.  That's pretty big news!  Dallas says he's scared.  Bryce seems kind of excited.  The girls couldn't be happier (they get their own room when they get rid of their next brother).  I'm gonna start saving my money cause that's gonna mean no time for the boys to save money for their missions.  And if they go out as planned we'd have 1 year of $800 per month.  Ouchy.  Oh well, not too worried...if you are willing to serve the Lord finds a way to make it possible, right?!

Conference has been really good.  Lots of talk about missionary work and "I'm a Mormon, live it, love it!" and other positive messages.  Look forward to tomorrow.

The weather here has been perfect today. The sun was shining and it wasn't too hot.  If I could order a day up it would be today (weather wise!)

Things have been super busy -- the cops seem to have a quota thing going or something.  They wrote over 300 tickets last month.  (I think 220 - 240 is usual, sometimes less).  My phone rings incessantly at work.  I took off Thursday for our Anniversary and Friday for a conference and Kathy stayed and kept the office in order.  It feels good to remove myself from the madness!!!!  Monday is Columbus Day so ... YEAH!!! Another day away.   I really feel like I could use a LONG break but this is really great too!

Dad's been working a way lot lately.  St George news.com is keeping him super busy and then of course the Mag.  The next couple of weeks I don't think I'll see much of him.  

Dallas went out with Elder Campbell last Monday night all evening.  Elder Campbell's comp was sick and I guess stayed in (they live with members so I guess that's ok???)  Anyway, they had a nice experience.  I hope to keep the Elder's close and working with Dallas.  The new Elder doesn't seem to click as well with everyone so hopefully Elder C sticks around awhile!

Well I'm writing at night instead of in the morning and I'm struggling!  Too tired to put thoughts together good.  Take care and love you lots! mom.

10/03/12 Letter to Grandpa Laurito

Our new home

10/03/2012 LETTER TO DAD (RAYMOND LAURITO)

Yes, un-packing is done.  Been busy helping the Griffin's with their burned property and canning apples and salsa and such.

Our new address is 587 S Ali Lane, Washington UT 84780.  We don't have a home # any more.

Andy's # 435-467-5842

Shelly's # 435-467-5843  Work 435-656-6350

Dallas's # 435-619-0390

House looks really good.  Have lots of stuff to do but nothing that's urgent.  For example...5 rooms didn't have ceiling fans.  We got one in, 4 to go.  None of the bathrooms have toilet paper/towel holders...a couple still need those installed.  AJ's room is empty...gotta buy him a bed and dresser and desk.

He'll be home in 31 days, WOW, huh?!  He'll appreciate the $ when he gets home...he has no clothes here. None.  The boys took it all!  I have to go get him some things but I'll probably wait and let him do most of the shopping when he gets back!

Things have been really busy here.  Like beyond crazy.

Pantry

Katie & Holly's room

Kitchen

Master bath (before we moved in)

stairway (before we moved in)