~25 Random Things About Me~

1. I am named after my Great Grandma, Anna Maria or "Maija" and my Grandma's middle name "Sofia".  They are both from Finland. ~MaijaSofia~

2. I am from a small country town in Connecticut called Killingworth.

3. I have 7 nephews, 2 nieces, and 3 great-nieces!!!

4. I LOVE to swim laps!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

5. Moved to Florida when I was 14. Graduated High School and moved to Utah vowing I'd never live in FL again. Here I am once again!

6. I love lakes and rivers anywhere BUT Florida! Tubing down the Battenkill River is a BLAST! (Upstate NY).

7. Served a mission for my church for 18 months.

8. Opened my mission call on Temple Square and read "you'll be serving in the Utah Ogden Mission!" You got to be kidding me right?! Loved the mission though and made some awesome friends while there!

9. Uncomfortable in large crowds.

10. Love all kinds of olives!

11. I miss how much I was outdoors in Utah and how much inside I've been since moving back to Florida.

12. Have had surgery on my head three times in the past 8 years. 

 (one brain tumor, two bone tumors of the skull)
And you wonder what's wrong with me? There ya go! lol!

13. Photography is an absolute hobby of mine... still practicing!

14. I have 5 siblings in my family... only one of them though is from my mom AND dad.

15. I have recently found my long lost family in Finland. Love keeping in touch with them.

16. One day soon I hope to travel to places outside of the U.S.A.... :)

17. If my Grandma and I were the same age... we would be identical twins. lol

18. The beach makes me happy.

19. I am a Cancer survivor! Proud of it!!! I had Leukemia when I was 18 months old.

20.  My wish is to have children.  Most of my life my dream was to have at least four children, but now I just want to be a Mom.  :)

21. I love flowers and beautiful landscapes!

22. I have a nephew who is a Navy Seal.

23. I am comfortable with a small group of close friends and/or family.

24. I love animals!

25. I am shy and reserved, but genuine and sincere.

~Nieces and Nephew~

~2006-2012~

I felt the need to share in their cuteness!!! :)

Grayce born November 17, 2006

~My Great-Niece~

2011 Hiking

2011 Soccer

Jess and Grayce in Estes Park 2012

2012 Mother's Day

more hiking!

Ready for Kindergarten 2012

A scrapbook page that my sister, Krista, made... too cute!!!

Grayce learning how to play the guitar

Christmas 2012.... Jess, Grayce, and Will

Christmas 2012.... posing like a rockstar! ;)

 Clara Jane was born October 27, 2010

~My Great-Niece~

Some of these pictures I've taken from Erin's blog

~The Mama Experience~

http://www.themamaexperience.com/

Clara at 2 months old

Clara at Krista's wedding July 2011
The cutest flower girl ever!

4 Generations: Clara, Ryan, Michael, Dad
July 2011

Ryan, Clara, and Erin

One year old!
October 2011

March 2012

Cooking dinner!
January 2013

Feeding chickens at her Grandpa's house
January 2013

   Adele Bethany was born April 18, 2012

~My Great-Niece~

Some of these pictures I've taken from Erin's blog

~The Mama Experience~

http://www.themamaexperience.com/

newborn picture
So adorable!

May 2012

July 2012

September 2012

October 2012

Working together
March 2013

Markus Weston was born April 24, 2012

~My Nephew~

Scrapbook pages are done by my sister, Krista, on 

http://www.picwallapp.com/

 

April 24, 2012

so sweet!

tough boy!
April-May 2012

May 2012

June 2012

Learning how to pray
June 2012

The many happy faces of Markus!
July 2012

Sitting up all by himself!
September 2012

"Auntie's Little Man"
Yes he is!  October 2012

Happy Halloween
October 2012

7 months!!!
November 2012

Learning how to clap
November 2012

Merry Christmas
December 2012

First steps at 8 months!!!
January 2013

 

I'm walking!!!
Outfit sent to me by Auntie Maija
February 2013

Crazy little man!!!

March 2013  

Hi!!!
March 2013

Baby Maslo (anticipated date of arrival) August 23, 2013

 

"We have eternity to know the children in our families as adults, 

but we only have a small moment of time to know them as children.  

Treasure every moment!" ~Hillary Weeks~

~2012~

(Blog 4 of 4)

February brought a friend from Connecticut to Orlando, Florida who I hadn't seen since I was 14 years old!  It was great to see Kris Lussier Landry!!!  We ate at Planet Hollywood at Downtown Disney and got caught up on 21 years! Hoping it won't be the last time we see each other!!!

Kris and me at Planet Hollywood

  
Time Out for Women came again to Orlando in March.  I never miss a chance to be inspired by wonderful church leaders!!!

Deborah, Kelly, and Stori

me, Deborah, and Stori

We had lunch here at Ming Court on International Drive!  GREAT food! :)

 In April of 2012 we had two babies born into the Lawrence family!!!  

On April 18th Adele Bethany Lawrence was born, daughter of Ryan and Erin.  

On April 24th Markus Weston Maslo was born, son of Krista and Oliver. 

"We have eternity to know the children in our families as adults, 
but we only have a small moment of time to know them as children.  
Treasure every moment!" ~Hillary Weeks~ 

Adele Bethany Lawrence

Markus Weston Maslo

 

Also in April, Heather Dupree and I went to Bok Tower Garden in Lake Wales, Florida.

I love photography.  I know I'm not the best, but I love to take pictures anyways. lol 

Warning: There are a lot of pictures!!! ;) 

Bok Tower

Gate into a garden of trees

 

 

"Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it."

The Secret Garden? ;)

Statue of Friendship

 

 

me at Bok Tower! :)

 I think I went to the beach more times than I ever have in one year!  Here are some pictures that I took over the summer months on the many beach trips.

 

 

 

  

Tom made us a lunch for a picnic on the beach.

Tom, (me), Stori, Rachel T., and Kelly H.

I finally got a picture of this little crab... he's really FAST! lol

me, Stori, Kelly H., and Deborah at Hightower Beach

Sailboat at Anna Marie Island~photo taken by Heather Dupree

Anna Marie Island~photo taken by Heather Dupree

Beautiful at Anna Marie Island~photo taken by Heather Dupree

 
This video was made accidentally.  I thought I was just taking a picture of the surf, but instead you get a beautiful sound of the ocean waves crashing and my random talking.  lol  

In September I went to Night of Joy at the Magic Kingdom, Disney World with Heather Dupree and Wendy Leverett.  I also met up with a friend from high school there, Kelly Sands Newman.  Some of the Christian singers that performed were Chris Tomlin, NeedtoBreathe, Francesca Battestelli, and Brandon Heath.  Amazing night!

Chris Tomlin

Francesca Battestelli

Brandon Heath

Chris Tomlin singing his unreleased song (at the time).... it is called "Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]"

Also in September I went with my Mom and Dad to Myakka State Park in Sarasota, Florida.  Oh, and we took Missy too. :)  We drove around the whole park, mostly because we got lost looking for the main building.  When we finally found the gift shop we were able to have a nice picnic lunch and Missy loved all the attention she got from the other people that were there.  In our long, scenic drive, we also finally saw an alligator.  It had decided to walk out into the road in front of our car.  Perfect picture opportunity!!! :)  It was a nice afternoon with my parents, which I hadn't had in a LONG time! 

 

Mr. Alligator

me, Missy, and Dad having lunch :)

I will be adding another blog of more pictures of my new nieces and nephew that have recently joined our family.  Because an Aunt needs to brag once in awhile! lol ;) 

~Stay tuned~