Today !

Today is the day...
I am excited and have been looking forward for today for awhile!
It feels good.
I am excited for the 'New Year' and for the opportunity that it holds.
I love the power of new beginnings.
I know it sounds very random, but to me it makes perfect sense.

With that being said...

I say" HAPPY NEW YEAR"

I have a good feeling about this one!

someoneHELPme !!!

I start messing around with my blog and I can't stop....

(Stupid thing is addicting!)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Lynzie got what she always wanted....a new puppy!

Spencer got tired of his toys so he went to his best friends house next door who happens to be an only child and played with all his toys....he got a few more than Spencer did!

Caitlyn loves each and every gift she gets and everyone else's....bless.her.heart !

Candice didn't do so bad either....she even got a special 24 hour Christmas stomach flu bug!

Kurt got a charcoal/bargeque grill.

And me.....a brand new shiny red camera ! I was a good girl this year!

Our big family Christmas gift will be going to Disneyland in April!!!(thanks Craig and Liz!)

I hope yours was merry and bright this year too!

Merry Christmas to all.....

and to all a good night....

(blog ya in the morning !)

Stloha...

Four years ago today, we said our final "goodbye" to my big brother Steve.

He was only 43 years old and passed away unexpectedly...

He had just left my home, and drove home to Utah....we had a really nice memorable visit!

We (I) were very lucky to be able to spend so much time together with him for the past 8 years. I will always thank him for his generosity.

I learned a lot from him and loved his positive outlook on life...

He amazed me!

It's always hard to say "good-bye" to such great people, even though ya know you'll see them again.....

So today, I will keep my chin up (maybe) and remember and honor Steve for his greatness !

We love and miss you Steve.

Italia

A picture is worth a thousand words,

OR

18 months of your mission !

Happy Birthday Caitlyn...

Caitlyn we sure do love ya !

When I think of Catie....a lot runs through my mind

and

a lot of memories tug at my heart...

SHE

IS

AMAZING!

She is my organizer.

She is my personal secretary.

She keeps everyone in place.

She is funny.

She sees and does before it needs doing!

She is smart

and

sometimes a smarty pants.

She keeps us laughing,

And makes sure we have a "family laugh" even when we don't want too!

She is the only one that can make Kurt really laugh !

She is adventurous.

She pretends she doesn't like the violin.

She knows how to push everyone's buttons.

She is my best cleaner.

She likes to learn.......she taught herself

to tie her shoe at age 3.

she woke up one morning at age 25 months and decided she wanted to wear "big girl pants"

and she did!

She is beautiful inside and out.

She is amazing at doing hair.

She is trustworthy.

She is a great sister to her siblings.

She is the glue that holds us together!

Everyone needs to have a "Caitlyn" in there family.

But

I am so glad she is in ours!

We love her and we learn from her.

We are so blessed she is part of our family

for now and forever!

Happy 15th Birthday!

I darn near almost

broke my arm trying to

"pat"

myself on the back

after making these cute little fellers!they do look cute over the kitchen window!

Note to self.

(altho, as cute as they are....next year I'll use a smallest icing tip,

so my gingerbread men can be more decoratable )

Each one represents each one in our family...

that's a big family!

ugh mom...

My girls think I blog too much
AND
type too slow
Compared to them.....I DO !

Hmmmm...

I am grateful for my blog......really

I love that we can celebrate that WE are a family...

along with my family, The Harris'

and

The Davis'

I love when I turn the computor on ALL of us are there,

even Landon

I think that's what makes me happiest, having and being able to acknowlege him!

For the longest time, 12 years, no one knew how to deal with the situations or with my feelings and so they didn't!

I had to pretend to forget, for along time I tried...thinking if I forgot it wouldn't hurt so bad...

oh, the silly things we try to do!

Since blogging I have been able to enjoy others blogs, some have lost stillborn babies and they are able to acknowledge them in a healthy way, it has been healing for me to see that it's okay!

and so it's fun to be able to see ALL of us up on my family blog because that is what we are ...

A family.

One day we will be able to hang out with Landon and get to know him and I am sure he will bless Kurt and I's life just like each one of our children have.

(that sounds selfish, I hope he likes having Kurt and I for his parents!)

My heart is a little fuller at this time of year, that's why my thoughts are finding there way to my blog.

I am always so overwhelmed with gratitude as I can personally understand a little better of having to sacrifice and giving up someone that meant so much to me!

I think it has made me better in some ways and in some ways worse.

It has shaken me to the core, because I don't understand, but the magic word is

FAITH

and that's what this life is all about!

(I'm just a slow learner.)

The ringer of the bells was fabulous !!!

Why is it that every time Kurt and I watch our children perform we get teary-eyed !

We are so proud of them...

I wish we could take all the credit for being such great parents, but, dang it we can't....

It's all them...

They are just really good kids with talents that they brought down with them from heaven !!! It's fun to watch them play and let the music touch our hearts...

It's amazing to see what they have accomplished in the lifes so far!

I have so much more life experience than them...

and I still haven't accomplished what they have!

It's going to be fun to watch them continue to grow and develope,

and one day be mother...

they will be amazing mothers !!!

and amazing women to society

and

that's just what this world needs!!!

Hold onto your hats ladies and gentlemen...

Caitlyn just informed me,

that

not only

will she be playing

her

VIOLIN

tonight @ her "Winter Concert"

but

she will also will be

RINGING THE BELL !

my kids and their talents...

I couldn't be prouder!!!

tee-hee...

Lets get ready to .....PARTY!!!

Christmas' past...

There are always a few favorite Christmas memories...

What are yours ?

The stockings are hung...

I enjoy decorating....I started early this year,

everything went well except the little mishap of the Christmas mice !

meaning; eating all my stuff !

I always do something different each year, this year I did a few things differently.

I stuck Kurt's pheasant feathers in my wreath and it actually works!

and I added new funky things to my tree, it works too, I think it's beautiful, and with Christmas Tree that's okay cuz it's just what ever YOU like !

I read in a Christmas magazine to throw some unexpected things in your decorating to make it unique and surprising---which I did!

We decorated more outside this year too.

We did two trees, one downstairs and the kids tree upstairs,

I tried to take pictures of my beautiful trees but they just don't do it justice!

*We're planning to do the 'cookie exchange' on the 18th .....

mark your calenders...

more details to follow !