A Attached or Single: Single


B Best Friend : Many- sisters, molly and Laura


C Cake or Pie : oooo depends...i love red velvet cake, and banana cream pie!


D Day: Monday, kirsten gets back from her dads and friday usually out and out doing something fun!


E Essential Item: lip gloss and a camera


F Favorite Color: turqoise


G Gummi Bears or Worms: not a fan of either..i like swedish fish


H Hometown: Sandy, UT


I Indulgences: Shopping/Clothes, yummy food with good atmosphere, and getting my hair done


J January or July: JULY!!LOVE THE SUMMER!


K Kids: Kirsten, I am the luckiest mom ever!


L Life is incomplete without: Without family and good friends....and someone special to love :)


M Marriage Date: TBD


N Number of Siblings: 5- kara, kim,piper, taylor and hayley

O Oranges or Apples: oranges


P Phobias or Fears: the dark, spiders and snakes


Q Quote : We may not have it together, but together we have it all


R Reason to Smile: A happy, healthy family and life:)


S Season: Spring into Summer


T Tag Ten People: marilee, tiffany, mariah, brittany, kara, kim, cami, lisa, Leanne, and Anjuli

U Unknown Fact About Me: I am afraid of the dark ;) sometimes its true!


V Vegetarian or Carnivore: not a huge meat eater but like it now and then. Mainly chicken, fish, etc.

W Worst Habit: being too emotional


X X-rays or Ultrasound: Ultrasound, usually much happier news!


Y Your favorite food: Italian, sushi


Z Zodiac Sign:Aquarius

GIRLS TRIP!! (May 23rd - 25th 2008)
I had a really fun quick 3 day trip to San Diego with some of my single girlfriends. We left thursday night, stayed at the Dana in beautiful Mission Beach. It was a great weekend full of lots of laughs, inside jokes, and overall fun! some of my fav moments were:
-The Jet Blue flight with just jamie and I. We checked out good looking "older" gentleman at the SLC airport and enjoyed watching tv with no sound!
-car rides, some of the things we came up with while riding through San Diego...I will never forget!
-breakfast at the wavehouse and the roller coaster ride at Mission Beach!
-Our 6 hours spent at the pool soakin up sun and enjoyin yummy food!
-Movie night at the hotel
- dancing in Pacific beach and yummy sushi
I haven't laughed this hard in ages....its been so good for me to have such wonderful, supportive and strong women in my life!


from left to right: Me, Tiffany, Jamie, Ashley, and Wendi

girls gotta love shoppin!

These are my friend Tiffany's REAL Jimmy choo shoes. Carrie Bradshaw would be proud.

Yummy sushi!

goofin off in La Jolla

The other day I had a moment where I knew I had arrived as a mother to a girl. Kirsten was having a particularly hard day, we had to skip backyard adventures with kara because she was overally awnry and tired. She said to me "I want a different mom, a nice mom who's not mean" I knew then I was officially a mother to a dramatic, but beautiful and spirited little girl!

Never finished our florida trip, but having troubles with my PC and can't get my photos online from there. We had a wonderful trip to Disneyworld with Sherrie, Mackay, and Easton! I will post pics when I can get them on my new laptop. and now to summer time! Hope everyone is enjoyin the weather!

And now....the beach!!!! We spent 4 days at the beach and we loved it! Our first trip was to Cocoa beach where we met Sarah, Grace, and Ruby! Piper also came with us and got so sunburnt ( as well did I a little) poor thing :) We had a great time, and loved cocoa but as said in the below pics the gulf beaches are WAY better! Our second time was at a beach right near robyns place, kirsten found some friends and we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon listening to the waves and enjoying the warm sun!
Our third trip was with my brother Taylor, his wife and boys to pensacola beach. It was chilly but Kirsten and Mackay still had lots of fun playin in the water. And we did enjoy a great walk on the beach peir doing a little shoping and enjoying a yummy lunch at a local place!
Our 4th was at my alltime most favorite beach ever! Clearwater beach near Tampa! It was so beautiful, white as snow kirsten said. It was a perfect day with just enough sunshine and ended at another great local place for yummy food and great atmosphere right on the beach! We were homesick just before going there and when I got there I felt I could stay forever!! Can you tell how much I love the beach? WE miss it and all our wonderful friends and family in Florida!


Future surfer girl?

Havin a blast on the beach with great friends, this girl LOVES the ocean!

Kirsten and Grace at the beach, she loved playin with the girls. If you don't notice the difference, this beach is on the atlantic coast as opposed to the other pics on the gulf, the gulf is sooo much more beautiful!

Kirsten and I at Pensacola beach

Here we are again....so its long coming but I haven't had time. The rest of our week was spent with a good friend of mine that I have known since I was 9. We went to the beach, spent too much money at a local board shop on Roxy clothes, and spent lots of time at the beach and enjoyin good food and fun with friends!

Every year I go to the beach I do this!!!

Out for Robyns birthday!

Piper and Kirsten at Ron Jon's surf shop

Out to lunch, Indiatlantic has such a great beach community feel. Lots of great eating places, local joints and just a fun atmosphere! Here we are at Longdoggers, Kirsten and I's dad ate here like 7 years previously!

Kirsten's very best friend Brody, my friends New Foundland dog! We love him, he's the sweetest thing ever and him and kirsten became fast friends!

First trip to the beach, the first few days we were there it was cold so we just went to walk there. Kristen was dying to see the ocean! She definitly is a girl after my own heart, she loves the beach just like me!

THE SUNSHINE STATE!

We left Salt Lake City airport at 1pm on monday April 14th and arrived in Orlando at 11pm. Our luggage somehow got sent to chicago so we waited only about 45 minutes for it to arrive again. We stayed that night in the Marriot right by the airpot (which I got for SUPER cheap on priceline and now I believe I'm a bit of a hotel snob after staying there!) Heres some pics and I will explain our first week as we go. Don't get too jealous, it was humid there but hey I think its worth it!

Our first stop was seaworld. Kirsten loves animals so I knew this would be a perfect place for her. She loved watching the walrus/otter show, seeing the dolphins, and was a little frightened of the sharks and alligators but once she found out the sharks were behind glass she was fine. You pay for one day of addmission and get a full year free (too bad we live in Utah) so we only did half a day there and headed back the next week. We saw the Shamu show (where I cried twice! First it was the saluting our soldiers that got me, and then just the amazing experiece of shamu and spending such a wonderful time with my little girl) I know total baby!


Kirsten got her face painted like the girls in the whale/dolphin show. She's an exotic princess she says :)

Love Shamu!! Sooo amazing!

Watchin the Seal/walrus/otter show in moms glasses!

Kirsten and the seals!

Enjoyin lunch in the somewhat cold sunshine

We're back!!!!

After 2 weeks of no internet, KILL ME! hahahaha and a 16 day vacation in florida we are back! Miss us? I'm sure you were all just dyin without any posts from me. Well in the next few days believe me you will get your fill.
Heres a little update:
The move to Saratoga Springs AKA BFE went well. One moving truck, one oddessy minivan (thank you kevin) 2 trucks (thanks dad and ryan) and a honda pilot (love you ash!) later we were moved in! hahahaha kid you not!! I was reminded that I have ALOT of stuff...hard to know what to get rid of even though I did throw out quite a bit while packing hmmmm....but we are here. And we are happy to have such a beautiful place, large and spacious and at such a cheap price (even if it is in the mdidle of nowhere!) THat of course is an exageration but..I do fill up my car every 5 days since moving here and we aren't usually home til 8 at night cause everything we do is in Lehi, Orem or Salt Lake/Sandy area. I will post some pics once we get it all cutesy, and the floor in my flooded bedroom is back to normal :)
Kirsten and I were also lucky enough to take a 16 days trip to Florida to visit friens and family! I will post some pics and tell all about our trip in the next post. We are glad to be home but sure miss that florida sunshine!
Enjoy :)

Memories, boxes, tears, excitment!





We are moving!! Its been in the works for quite some time now but we finally found a great place to move to. We are moving to Saratoga Springs (I'm sure you are wondering where the great comes in, LOL) but its cheap and will give me the oppurtunity to hopefully in the fall start school! Yesterday I spent much of the day going through my bedroom, old papers, pictures, clothes (I found a pair of overalls in my closet! LOL they are in the DI pile but I am having a hard time giving them away) after 3 garbage bags full of garbage and 3 for the DI I got the majority of it done. Now onto the garage oh joy!
After 3 1/2 years of amazing memories we are leaving our home in Lehi. With it brings much saddness, but much more hope for our future ahead. We have made so many wonderful friends here who I know we will take with us for the rest of our lives. Thanks to all who have made this an incredible place to live!

Easter!
Heres our easter extravaganza! We had such a wonderful time celebrating Christ with friends and family and of course enjoyin easter candy and goodies!

Kirsten is such a poser!

Good friends and sisters!
I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing women in my life!! Thank you to all of you who have been there for me this past year and I couldn't have done it without you. We went to dinner to celebrate me, and help me through a hard time last month! Love you all!

The funniest videos I have seen! Enjoy :)
p.s. the first might somewhat be offensive to some? I mean it doesn't say anything bad, but leads to it? Hmm..just a thought for those who are extra sensitive ears ;)
The second is a classic to any marriage you will all love it!

More dating stories??

I"ve told most people in real life this story but thought I would share on here. This one is going to go down in the history books of dating, telling the kids and grandkids for years! LOL
Around my birthday life was really crazy hectic, I had gone to california for a last minute interview, was working for 5 days straight, lots of stuff going on. I had planned a date about a week and a half ahead because that was my next available time. Well between that time and the time of the date I totally forgot about the date first of all, and second that I was working. WE had planned to meet at Cafe Rio, my first standard date. The day came and my friend asked if I wanted to get cafe rio I said I would bring the girls for my bday and meet them there. I invited friends and my parents. We got there, it was hectic with the 4 girls, saw everyone had a nice time and left.
As I was driving home I get a call from the guy I made the date with, we will call him bob. And that instant I remembered I had set the date for that time, at that exact same cafe rio!!! As I answered the phone I said "hi bob, I was at cafe rio where were you?" now I know technically I was there but I should have told the truth so lets be gentle on Maren for playin this off, I had the best of intentions alrighty? he said "I was there but didn't see you, I saw someone who looked like you but they were with a group of people" I said "I brought the girls I nanny cause I forgot I was working but didn't see you". He told me he thought I looked at him at smiled. I remember seeing a guy, sitting in the corner at a table all by himself, I passed him thinking...are you ready for this??? "that poor guy must be waiting for someone" HE WAS WAITING FOR ME!!! I did smile at him, but it never clicked not once til he called me.
I did give him another date and it didn't work, but boy what a great story!

Could I be more lucky???

Heres some pics of kirsten and I my friend took. Thanks Laura you did such an amazing job!!!

My beautiful Kirsten!! None of those pics I posted had my beautiful little girl in them. so here are some of her own!! She keeps me laughin all the time! Some of the things she says, are beyond her years. Aunt Hayley always is saying "kirsten said this in her 14 year old fashion" She is 4 going on 14 for sure. I sure do love her!! My baby girl, its me and you babe ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I turned 27 2 weeks ago! It has been a week or so of celebration. Friday was the official celebration went out with some friends to Takashi and to see the Dueling pianos! What a great way to celebrate my bday, thanks friends!

My amazing friend Ash made that cake!!

The group!
Tiffany and Me!

All of us at the Tavernacle watching the crazies enjoy the dueling pianos!

Me, Mark (friend from college) and Ryan!

K, blogger wouldn't let me post these on the other one so here ya go, only a few pics cause I didnt' know the people too well but you gotta love this one!!!

Flipflops in January and you all wonder why I want to move there?!?!

Well.....my sisters have been pestering for weeks now, threatening lets say ;) hehehe to make another post. I apologize to my many many blogger fans that are missing out on my amazing posts! I know I know, millions of you check everyday and I have failed you. for that I am sorry, hehehe but...I will make it up to you I promise here goes.

WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO:

I went for yet ANOTHER job interview in California on the 15th of january. To no avail I didn't love the job but I still had fun in the sun!! Got a trip to Disney out of it, how bad can that be? for those wondering am I moving to the sunshine state? At this time, no, with everything else in my life I am throwing the dice and seeing where it lands. So far it hasn't landed there ;) If anyone has seen those dice please let me know!

Here's some pics from good old Disneyland, it was fun cause I was able to ride all the adult rides. I rode Soarin over California atleast 5 times!! I love that ride, AMAZING!

Time to reflect...
sorry to post all at once, been meaning to catch up. It has been quite the last month for us, with our travles, christmas, new years and the passing of my grandfather there has been so much to reflect on. As I sat in church today, trying not to get too caught up in "Whoa is me" mode, I couldn't help but think of all the wonderful blessings my Heavenly Father has bestowed upon me. My life most definilty hasn't ended up the way I imagined and I feel a little lost in the single mom, dating world. I feel I've lost my sense of direction because before this I was a mom and a wife and it was what I love doing most. But I'm grateful everyday for the lessons the Lord teaches me, those that are difficult, those that I feel I can hardly bare and even better those that are down right funny. I do have so much to be thankful for and I want that to be my focus this year.
I have a wonderful family and group of friends that has carried me through this difficult time and I am soooo eternally grateful for them. To listen to me non stop, somtimes the same things. But mostly to laugh with me and share wonderful memories together.
I'm grateful for my beautiful daughter and for the love that she brings into my life. All she knows is unconditional love, and she showers it upon me everyday despite my short comings as a mother.
My Savior....this one is a HUGE one for me especially at this time in my life. He has shown me his incredible mercy and love and has truly carried me through. I know without Him I am nothing, and I am grateful that He atoned for my sins so I can be clean and be with my family and Heaven Father eternally.
Today in Relief Society they played the song "Thankful" by Josh Groban. I have heard this song a million times and never realized what is was about. A beautiful song I will put on my player and post the words here. It touched me.
I am not through the woods yet, I have so much learning and healing to be done but I am grateful for what I do have in this wonderful year.

Somedays we forget
To look around us Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Look beyond ourselves There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to sayI'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth It's so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for What we know can be
And every day we hope for What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Even with our differences There is a place we're all connected '
Each of us can find each other's light
So for tonight we pray for What we know can be
And on this day we hope for What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

Merry Christmas!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Christmas Eve we spent with my family, doing the nativity, eating food and enjoying eachothers company. Kirsten spent Christmas day with her dad while I went to the Ohlsons(thanks for putting me up for the night was sure fun to see you all christmas morning!). She got lots of great stuff but mostly we are just glad to have spent this special time of year with our friends and family who we love so much! Thank you all for making this Christmas so special.

Christmas nigt spent at Nana's

Opening gifts with grandpa
Spencer helped grandma read the nativity story

Everyone as you can tell took their rolls very seriously during the nativity story

Especially Uncle Kevin!!

Kirsten and Addison were Joseph and Mary, they both are going to be in acting i'm almost certain they were so serious the whole time. Sweet children gotta love em!