Sometimes things get a ‘little hairy? around the Bryan/Witherspoon household, according to mom Lauri Bryan.
That’s because Lauri and her husband Howard Bryan, an electrician, have four children: Ian Witherspoon, age 17 and a student at Lake Orion High School; Kara Witherspoon, age 12 and a student at Oakview Middle School; Erin Witherspoon, age 10 and a student at Stadium Drive Elementary; and Kyle Bryan, age 6 and a student at Stadium Drive.
Lauri had Ian, Kara and Erin with her ex-husband, Mark, who lives in Metamora. Kyle is her and Howard’s son.
She moved to Lake Orion seven years ago after she and Howard got married, and the family attends the Lake Orion United Methodist Church.
‘I grew up in New Baltimore,? said Lauri. ‘Howard is from the east side.?
Lauri met Howard while she was still married to Mark, at a company Christmas party. She said a year later, as she was going through her divorce, she and Howard found each other again.
‘A friend of mine brought Howard to the Christmas party,? she said. ‘The three of us danced together.
‘When (she and Mark) were going through the divorce, (Howard) wanted my number.?
The couple married, and life immediately changed for Howard, who previously had no children.
‘When I met (Lauri), she was so good to these kids,? Howard said of Ian, Kara and Erin. ‘That really impressed me.
Asked why he thought Lauri was a special mom, he said ‘She reminds me a lot of my mom…She was very special to me.?
Howard said he has raised Ian, Kara and Erin like his own children, and that is constantly amazed at how much energy Lauri has.
‘She gets everything done and is somehow still standing,? he said.
Lauri said the family’s schedules weren’t that conflicted, until this year.
Now, Kara and Erin play softball; Erin is also in Girl Scouts; Kyle plays T-ball, and Ian runs track and plays bass guitar in a band, Marty Shafer and the Blue Suede Shoes, with friends Mikey and Alexander Friedman, and Marty Shafer.
‘Every morning, I look at the calendar and plot out the day,? Lauri said.
Lauri was surprised at how easily her new family pulled together after she and Howard got married.
‘Especially with Howard not having any children before,? she said. ‘He was really good with the kids.?
Lauri said Ian, Kara and Erin ‘fight like cats and dogs,? but are always good to Kyle.
‘They baby Kyle to death,? she added.
As a mom, Lauri likes getting all the ‘hugs,? and is amazed at how different her children’s personalities are.
‘The challenge is just trying to keep everything straight,? she said. ‘And making sure everyone is getting enough attention.?
The family always tries to eat dinner together, but Lauri said that is getting difficult as their schedules get more hectic.
‘I grew up with one younger brother, Bobby,? she added. ‘We didn’t do anything (like this). I was in Girl Scouts for a couple of years, but that was it.?
Ian, Kara and Erin said they get much of their taste in music (From The Rolling Stones to AC/DC) from their mom.
‘Even though I don’t like to admit it,? Ian said, adding that he also gets a lot of his taste in clothes and movies from Lauri.
‘They like to do crafts with me, like scrapbooking,? Lauri said. ‘We all also like to read.?
‘We all like Little House on the Prairie,? Erin said.
Kara said her favorite thing the family does together is go on vacation, and they also stay at a hotel with other families on New Year’s Eve.
‘They love New Year’s,? said Lauri. ‘Everyone has invited friends.?
To celebrate this Mother’s Day, the family will visit Lauri’s mom and grandmother.
‘My grandmother is almost 90,? she said.
Lauri said she treasures the Mother’s Day gifts her children have given her over the years.
‘I have a collection of stuff they’ve made for me,? she said.