I've been thinking about you a lot lately, Laur. I miss you. It's funny how sometimes I still have this urge to call you about something out of the blue. Or I can't remember which movie this one line was from and I want to get on facebook to ask you. I don't know if I'll ever get over that.

We went to the temple for you while Mom and Dad were here. Of course Dustin and I got lost and there was tons of drama and we ended up making everyone have to stay for a later session. When everyone was trying so hard to make sure everyone else was calm I imagined you rolling your eyes and yelling, "Shut it, all of ye!" You always knew how to handle the Oviatt family functions. :)

I love you.

I miss you, Laur. Sometimes I get so mad when I think of you and what happened that I can hardly stand it, but then I remind myself that you must have thought there was no other way. It doesn't stop hurting, but then I'll remember something great, like calling you the night Dustin first told me he loved me and we screamed together on the phone. I wish I could talk to you about how scared I am to have another baby. We really drifted those last few months, didn't we? I missed you but I was angry, too. I think you must have felt the same way.

You really did a number on us, leaving the way you did. Sometimes it still doesn't seem real. I just miss you a lot. I want to tell you how much I love you, I hope you already know. I hope you're able to look in on us every once in a while. You're probably busy, but I think you'd get a kick out of Silas. He's a brat and you'd love him. Sometimes he gets this mischeivious grin on his face that completely reminds me of you.

I really love you, Tohrkey.

~Snotface

One year later

Laura, you left a hole in my heart that does not heal. I am surrounded with reminders of you, many pleasant and a few painful. As we sort through our flooded belongings I continue to find some of your things that I had forgotten or sometimes didn't know about. Each triggers a memory and, occasionally, a smile.

As recently as this week I had correspondence with some of your friends and former roommates, who I believe love and miss you nearly as much as I do. How I wish you could have realized the many ways in which you touched and influenced the lives of others.

Your Utah siblings met tonight for a dinner in your honor. They called us from the restaurant so we could be connected for a few minutes. Some people sent flowers to Mom and me today, others called, and some close friends visited ... all thinking of us and remembering you.

Mom and I bought chocolate to celebrate your biggest vice. I got the real stuff, the dark chocolate you liked so much. I ate some and placed the remainder next to your urn. If it turns up missing I'll know you figured out a way to make it disappear.

Love,
Poopa

Silas

I just wanted to let you know, Laur, that you would absolutely love Silas now. He's an obnoxious monster but he's so dang cute.

He really loves music. He'll "read" books, flipping through the pages and singing to himself. When he's really upset the only thing that calms him down is singing primary songs. Whenever any kind of music comes on the radio, TV, or from one of his toys he starts dancing. He'll purse his lips, bounce up and down and wave his arms around like he's doing the chicken dance. (And I do mean any kind of music. He dances the same way whether it's Angela's hip hop or Dustin's classical music.)

This morning as I was getting ready he found a hair tie on the floor in my room. He put it on his arm, spread his legs really wide, bent his knees and pointed at the mirror making "psh, wah, shhh" noises like he was fighting someone. Then he'd stop, look at himself, and laugh.

When Dusitn or I come home from work after a long day Silas comes running to the door. As soon as he hears the knob turn he's there. He opens his mouth really wide in a huge smile and puts his arms out for us to pick him up. Then he wraps himself around us like a monkey and hold on so tight. He also gives kisses right on the lips.

He's very opinionated. He'll walk right up to you and yell "NO!" whenever he feels like you need to be put in your place. He lies about having a poopy diaper and HATES naptime.

I think you'd love him. Sometimes I think about how you two would have been as thick as thieves. He would have loved you too, especially because you would have spoiled him rotten and let him get away with everything. Don't even deny it.

Laura,

I miss you so much. I wish I could call you up and hear your blast laugh. It's just not fair.

Love you

Lindey

Memories

I've been thinking about Laura because we're expecting another baby and it reminded me of when Silas was born. Laura drove up from Provo to help us for a few days. She slept on our couch and was always there to hold Silas when I needed to nap, change a diaper, give me a backrub. She went grocery shopping for us and brought me a plate of dinner. I still remember that we had rotissere (sp?) chicken and grapes and it was the best thing I've ever eaten. :) Laura was so taken with Silas. They bonded immediately and he was so comfortable with her. These are some of my favorite pictures.

It was so special for me that Laura was able to come up and see Silas and was so willing to help out. I'm so grateful for these memories!

I missed you today.

I miss you

Hey Laur,

I got on Facebook the other day and Travis had posted one of those movie quote challenges. I was reading through and couldn't figure out this one that bugging me. My first reaction was that I needed to call you because of course you would know (even though I officially and forever won the quote game with the Drop Dead Fred quote and you know it)! I miss you everyday.

Love,

Your Tohrkey

the microwave

Laura and Prairie, December 2006, at our old apartment

I was looking through some old pictures and we used to have our microwave on top of the refrigerator. I miss how Laura always was sheepish that she couldn't reach our microwave. I'm sad I won't get to tease her anymore and then help her put whatever she needed into the microwave.

Chuck Norris jokes

One of Laura's favorite things was Chuck Norris jokes, so I looked up a few and here are some of my favorites!

1. Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

2. There is no theory of evolution. There are only the creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

3. Chuck Norris doesn't sleep. He waits.

4. Chuck Norris is currently suing the NBC show Law and Order, claiming that those are the trademarked names for his right and left legs.

5. Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.