Lauretta's Intro:
1. I hate the winter! If it's winter, my kids are sick. I hate sick kids! Therefore I hate winter.  Not to mention I don't like to be cold, I don't like to drive in the snow and I hate that my kids can't get outside and use up their over abundance of energy. If it weren't for family, I'm pretty sure I would live somewhere much warmer.
2. I'm a control freak.  I didn't know this about myself until my mission where I had to learn that there are just some things you can't control. It's a daily battle as we all know how completely predictable being a mother is (snarkasm).
3. I love, LOVE a clean house. But alas, the saying is true,  "Cleaning a house while children are growing is like shoveling the walk while it's still snowing". Some days it just makes no sense.
4. I was the third child of nine and loved being with my family and having so many siblings. To this day we are all great friends and never fight. I always thought I would have a large family, but feel so very lucky and blessed to have the kids I have.  7 years of infertility, followed by 7 years of child bearing have us our 4 beautiful children. They each really are a miracle.
5. Speaking of infertility, during those years (the hardest years of my life as of date), I was medically induced into menopause, had 2 surgeries, was on hormone replacement therapy,and fertility drugs.  So, I tend to give myself a break when my brain doesn't function because my body has been through the ringer. Especially considering that following all of that, I was pregnant 4 times in 3 1/2 years with one of those a miscarriage.  So, I'm a mess.
6. I'm rambling because my 18 month old has ran a high fever all day, sleeping through it, and it finally broke now at 10:30 pm and he is ready to play. Feeling tired but so grateful for a smiling baby after a long scary day.
7. I'm such a small town girl. I lived on a ranch 7 miles from town which populated 650 people.  I graduated with 36 in my class and my whole high school grades 9-12 had 190 students.  Having said that, I really never thought I would travel like I have.  I've been to DC, California, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Vegas, Oregon, Yellowstone, Carribean, Mexico (4 cruises), and Arizona. The majority of those have been with Mike, and I hope for many more.  K. Ramble over!