Happy Day after Christmas...

Angelo once said to me, 25 years ago today, in the little town of Caltanissetta, Italy
 in the cutest broken English I've ever heard,
 "Happy Day after Christmas!!!

It's one of those sweet memories that will be forever engraved in my heart, mind and soul!

I can still see him standing there in my minds eye, and because he really meant what he said,
 is exactly why it has stayed with me all these years and every day after Christmas,
that phrase pops into my mind, and I smile and cry at the same time! I loved my mission! 

(some times....)

just like every missionary, some days were great and some were not so much!

Anyway,

we had a nice 2013 Christmas...

I have to admit, that I have been feeling quite like the Grinch since Halloween,

I wasn't really ready for all the hoopla that sometime can come with Christmas,

I just wanted it to be as simple and as sweet as it should be.

So, I didn't start decorating immediately,

(as I've done in years past!)

I slowly picked the things I wanted to pull out as decorations,

I wanted it to feel more rustic and more Christ-like, and it did to me!

The kids seem to enjoy what they received,

 Kurt and I have never gone overboard with giving them gifts galore,

so, I feel very lucky because they are always grateful for what they get...

Yes,
I'm sure, they sometimes wish they were getting all the new electrical gadget that all there friends get...
but,
 they don't seem to complain about it, at least not to my face, or they would be adding a new shiner to their list of gifts,
something I'm sure there friends wouldn't even think about asking Santa for! ha, ha.

I got a new phone with big buttons so I can actually see it,
being able to see is kind-of important to me!

which,

was a complete surprise, since I didn't ask for one, I've dropped my old phone so many times that it had these two big black dots on the screen,  but I just thought it added more character to my phone,
it still worked, kind-of, it started dropping calls and text messages...

anyway,
 Christmas morning I hear this phone ringing in the garland on top of the mantle,

all the kids of course, are acting surprised and saying "mom, you better go check it out"

so, of course, I did, and of course, it was a nice nifty new phone,

now,

 it's just going to take me forever to figure it all out!

 but, I ain't complaining!!!! 

I'll leave you with a few photo's of our day!

Lynzie and I had a good story to remember about our p.j.'s this year....
we'll save that story for another day!

Kurt got a lot of clothes that he needed,
but
 lets just pre-tend that he is such a sexy model and sooo photogenic that it just wouldn't be right to show them all to ya. One is enough!

Spencer got some new shoes, 

(will his feet ever stop growing! If anyone needs to barrow some backwoods snowshoes,

 you can barrow his new tennis shoes, they're grey with a beautiful blue color!)

and a gun with a scope...everyone needs one of those, right?

Lynzie gave this to Caitlyn...it said,

"Exercise, I thought you said Accessorize!!!!

Truer words could not have been spoken about our little fashionista!
of course,
our little shoe-horse added a few new pairs of boots to her collection,
and a computer for all the studying that she will be doing in college.

and Candice spent her time with both families, (I didn't get a picture of her)
 we did give her a portable esthetics/message table! HOORAY!!!
and a new vacuum,
Spencer was trying to give her a hint of what it was, he kept saying, "your gift really sucks"!
 I asked her if she wanted to try it out to see if it worked/sucked on my rugs
but
she declined!!!

Lynzie got a real pink basketball, at first I thought Caitlyn was so excited for her,
but,
 then upon further examination....
she is yawning!!!
 hey, don't judge folks,
 apparently it's like really, really early.... like 7:30 am!!!!

she got cute clothes, cuz, #1- she is a girl and
#2- because she keeps growing!
she also got a computer too.

I didn't take a lot of pictures this year, as we were just laughing and enjoying being in the moment.
We hope ya'all had a Merry Christmas with a re-newed love for Our Savior.




P.S. remember how I was feeling a little grinchy this year, well, I didn't get my Christmas cards sent out just yet....
so now, they will be New Years Cards instead!

love ya.

twenty.....

BUON  COMPLEANNO!!!


(and many, many more...)

Steve....

It's been nine years!

and, 

although my heart is not ripped out like it has in the past, 

it's still intact, and beating.

it still hurts....

because, sometimes you want someone here instead of there!

 and sometimes life seems a little unfair because of that.

but,

 that is just my opinion!

I really like this Santa Clause...

one,

 because he is full of detail and he's wearing a green suit instead of a red one, 

he has a lot of character and details and I like that about him.

 One year when Steve and Heather were married they always made the coolest gifts.

they didn't gifted me the Santa but.....

(Thanks Heather)

 Heather had made all of us girls a Christmas swag with unique California pine cones, that she picked up from California.....
these pine cones are flatter like a flower instead of those long tall pine cones that we are use to seeing everywhere everday,
I've always tried to keep mine special and intact. It's quite fragile after all these years.

It reminds me of the good ole' days when Steve was happy with his little family.

He brought a happiest into my life, and into others lives and seemed to lift my burdens by just reminding me "not to sweat the small stuff," that is a gift if you ask me,
 cuz not everyone has that ability!

I like this Santa, it reminds me of Steve

and, 

that makes me smile....

*this is one of my favorite picture of Steve and his little son Arik,

who I think was about 2 or 3 years old at the time.

(we just came across it a couple of months ago!)

Steve traveled a lot all over the world and so when he was home, he was home and enjoyed his family,

I think this picture kind-of says it all.

I can feel the love just jumping off the page.

pictures can speak a thousand words sometimes!!!

don't ya think?

we still love and miss you everyday Steve.

You better watch out, and you better not pout....

 I got the awesome opportunity to sit on Santa's lap a few weekends ago..... 

it was a magical experience, 

one that doesn't happen every year, in fact, I think I sat on ole' St. Nick's lap about 15 years ago,

 but, 

this one was just a little extra special to me....

CUZ, THIS CUTE OLE' ST. NICK JUST HAPPENED TO BE... 

MY DAD!!!

(one is never to old to sit on Santa's lap.)

He's since clean shaven again, dang-it!

Memories!!!

Heads are going to roll...

 Ohhh Thanksgiving...2013

*Lynzie was sick.
*Our fridge hose broke, which caused a water leak in Caitlyn's room. 

*Mrs Pilgrim (aka Martha) head fell off.
and
*Mr. Pilgrim (aka George) can't stand up by himself...(only on hard surfaces)

George and Martha make a good pair, those two.

BUT

all in all

it was a nice day,

the food was delicious and it was so nice to hang out as a family

we were low keyed,

 my mom and dad came up later that evening for a little left-overs....

Cj is Twenty and One!

Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter.....

she's 21 already!

boy, times fly when you're having fun!!!

twenty-one...

perspective....

Life is a learning experience every day.... 

or, 

at least it should be seeing that's what we are here for, right?...

most of the time we are running around doing those really important things like yelling at the kids to hurry up and catch the bus, or reminding them for the 1,000th times to take out the trash, brush there teeth, or only use a few towels during the week, not two a day, ugh.

you know,

 all those REALLY life altering important things that matter most!

and your running around with your head cut off like a chicken cuz there is so much to do that is sooo

important!

and then,

one little minute and a few short words can change all that!

I had the honor of cutting my beautiful cousins'  hair tonight,

I've cut it before so I didn't think anything about it...

but, she showed me a picture of Hallie Berry and said that's what she wanted!?!

now, keep in mind this cousin is a few years younger than I am,

she is gorgeous, she takes good care of herself, she was a model, just to give you an idea,

she's one of those beautiful long thick red-headed brown eyed girls, with the cutest nose and the best smile ever...

I asked her if she was donating her hair again to locks of love?

but, even at that, she's never gone that short.

"no, she said, 

 I have colon cancer and I'm going to lose it next week, 

so, I thought I'd have a little fun and have it short and spiky"!!!

she was so positive about it,

 after I picked my jaw up off the floor, we started cutting and talking.

I just couldn't believe how gorgeous she still looked even with short hair...

my heart just started to swell at her positiveness about her situation,

everything has happened so fast, she just called all her brothers and sister to tell them about it today...

It made me seemed to forget about all those REALLY important things,

you know, like the dirty socks, and all those feelings

that I feel that I need to control to be a good mom,

it was a beautifully spiritual experience cutting her hair and remembering to just focused on what life is really for and all about.

Tomorrow I don't think I'll be too worried about the kids catching the bus or mad because once again they forgot to have me sign one of their school papers.

life is about LOVE and treasuring those whom we do love,

and learning to serve and love others....

not about Spencer's socks constantly on the floor....

 so what,

 if I get to pick them up everyday for the next 4 years, (what's 4 more years, I've already done it for 15, you'd think I'd be a pro at it by now, not a grumpy old women!)

 one day,

 I won't have that awesome opportunity cuz he'll get married and then his wife will get to do that wonderful job, and I might even kind-of miss it...maybe

(after a while, of course)

I'm just so touched by Hiedi,

life is short and fragile and heck, how many times do we forget that during the day.

I've experienced enough tragedy in my little 47 years of life that I should have never forgotten, 

and yet somehow I did!

When people asked us where Lynzie got her red hair from,

we always tell them from my cousin Heidi.....

We love you Heidi,

 We will send you our thoughts and prayer during the days and weeks and months that are ahead,

 just to help keep you going during those rough days.

Thank you for being so positive and helping me remember what LOVE and LIFE is all about!

**post note, she just sent me pictures this morning of her cute hair on the way to work!
she looked gorgeous!

F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E.

This is my favorite picture ever!

It just speaks to my heart.

I'm going to blow it up and put it on a canvas...

why is it my favorite?

5 of the people I love most are in it, 

they are all laughing, 

the camera just caught them being them!!!

family pictures 2013...

So,

the other day, we finally did family pictures before our first snow storm hit...

it's always stressful to get everyone together and trying to cloth everyone to kind-of match...

Our colors were grey, blue with a pop of orange,

I had every thing planned out and every single person except Spencer and I changed their clothes right before we were walking out the door, Candice almost didn't even make it....  it was chaos, as a mom, I wanted to lose it..... all my best laid plans gone....
 but,
I just put a smile on my face and just hoped that some how it would work out,
 I was just so thankful that we were actually all together just doing a family picture!

we had a great time, we got some great pictures of us just being us!

our cute photographer did a fabulous job.

 Thank-you!!!

Of course we tried the old pyramid thingy again!
and
still couldn't quite get it!

(2013)

              

                                                                                        (2011)                                       

I'll share more of our pictures later...

but

one thing that was weird to see was this!

.

.

.

just take a look at

 which one of my girls has change from a little girl to a teenager!

LYNZIE

not only has she started wearing mascara, and doing her hair, worrying about clothes, and boys,

you know, all the important stuff,

she's quite our little diva.... 

not to mention that she is now TALLER than both her older sister!

she's changed right before our eyes this past year!!!!

it's been quiet amazing!

(2012)

(2013)

these 3 sweeties have a fun and close relationships as sisters!

we got another one!!!

(Another cute teenager, that is!!!)

Our cute little Lynzie is a teenager!!!
our last teenager.....

she's had a great birthday today.

Candice surprised her with a gel manicure and a pedicure at her Day Spa.

She got a few new outfit for the big day....

she got her ipod fixed, the screen was shattered,
and with a pretty new red case!

we'll get to continue celebrating with her this weekend when the whole family is together.

I can't believe my baby is a 13.....

we love you Lynzie,
Happy 13th Birthday!

the new....

our house...

On Saturday Candice and Tyler brought over there new 4 month old pugle....

which is a pug and a beagle mix.

it was fun for Sadie and Zaylee to run around and play together.

we all just sat around and laughed at their cuteness.

I texted Cj to bring her back over today so that Spencer could met Zaylee,

she is a really cute pup with a lot of energy just like 4 month old little baby pup are.

So today,

Sadie being 4 years old (and being sush the older and wiser/lazier dog) is over Zaylee.... 

she just looks at her like "why are running around you crazy dog?"

but,

 I laugh cuz I remember when Sadie was a crazy baby dog...

I guess Zaylee is our new grand-dog!!!

Tyler's house...

Spencer's 15th...

Happy Birthday

 to my birthday boy who keeps reminding us every chance he gets,

 that he can get his Learner's Permit.... 

and who asked us every chance he gets if he can drive around the neighborhood, 

which we mostly oblige him because it's just one of those fun things to do, and he needs the practice and it makes him feel like a million dollars!!!

(you remember that feeling!?!)

Yesterday, we took him to his favorite sushi restaurant,

today, we took him to Flaming Gorge, were he fished and cliffed jumped, he swore it was like 40 feet......BUT.....?

Tomorrow, we'll get to go to Seven Peaks Water park.

What a nice birthday to have it on a long weekend!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

We love you...

(not included in picture...
Cj just left to go home, and Caitlyn is so sunburned that she went to bed, plus she gets to work tomorrow!)

catch up...

so much to catch up on....

School is getting ready to start next week,
and you all know how I feel about the school schedules....
at least, Spencer and Lynzie will be going to the same school this year, maybe that will help?
he's in 9th grade and she will be in 7th.
I'm excited for Spencer to start seminary this year!

we're had a fun summer, for Christmas one of our presents was a season pass to 7 peaks water park, and I'm happy to announce we got our money out of it and then some, that's been fun...

Our next door neighbors son, finally came home off his mission, we'd never met him but we knew all about him, him and his girlfriend got married last Thursday and I got to help decorate and sit at there book... it was fun to share in their special day.  It made me think of my own two girls and how one day they will be getting married and I want it to be a special day for them as well...

Caitlyn is flying out of here on Tuesday for SVU....
BUT...... after doing her finances she began to realize how expensive it was going to be and decided to go to school here at least for a year... I'm glad she's smart, I wanted to say "we told you so" but of course, we didn't.... it always has to be there decisions! So, she will still go out and spend 8 days visiting her grandma and cousins....

Spencer went to Trek one week and scout camp the next one....
 they didn't pass off a lot of badges, they mostly went just to have fun... and boy, they sure did!

Lynzie went to Girls camp for the first time, she had a spiritual fun time.!

Anyway, we need to have a new family picture taken....
it's been a year already and when I look up at the top of my blog,
we all look so different.... well, not all of us, but the kids are sure growing up, Lynzie is taller than both Candice and Caitlyn now and she is almost taller than me.... I don't know how I feel about that!?

We've been able to hang out a lot with Kurt's cousins, some of them we haven't seen for years, so that be fun...

I'll probably go to some classes at BYU education week, I've never been and have always wanted to go.... Lori one of Kurt's cousin that we haven't seen forever is taking me under her wing and helping me with what classes to take, she's a pro at education week, she goes every year. It's been nice to reconnect with her again.

My mom is getting ready to go on a mission, I think she will live at home and do her mission close by. she's talked about going forever, so I'm glad she is doing it... I told her she needed to go half way across the world to get the full missionary experience ha, ha ....
she'll do good!

I"ll write more sooner next time than later........ I hope!

we have ourselves a "trekkie"...

 Spencer left this morning to go on "Trek" with our stake.

He was just a tad bit excited to go!!!

Our older girls have gone, but they went in Texas....

 This Utah Trek will be a little different, I think.

I'm excited for him, for the experiences and growth that will happen in the next 3 days.

They only do this every four years. 

It's one of those life experiences that you'll always remember

because it connects your head and heart together,

and
 that is one of the most powerful and spiritual of live's lessons. 

(my only worry is the heat, cuz I'm a mom...)

Have fun buddy,  We love you!

kurt's day 2013.....

some of us made it to early morning church, and some of us didn't,

 We did however, eat dinner together and then took a nice family ride up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veils Falls,
 we walked and hiked all over,
 and Sadie probably had the funnest time, she'd go up trails with Spencer like a mountain goat....
 got all wet and was barking at a rock in the river that was half sticking up out of the water, then a wave would come and splash the rock and she's start again, she was pawing at the rock to try to get it to move.... she was determined to help the poor wet rock one way or another!!!!

we made good memories together as a family..... that's what it's all about.

Happy Father's Day to Don Davis,
Happy Father's Day to my dad Lowry.
Happy Father's Day to our dad, Kurt and husband Kurtis!

we had a fun day!

#79

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear ole dad!!!!

change....

the week/month has been a fast one with a lot of emotional changes...

Kurt's surgery went well last Monday,
the tumor that was on his gum that the Dr. was concerned about,
was just a lot of scare tissue from his past 4 bone grafts, so the good news is he was able to get it all cleaned up, the hard part is just trying to heal and keep on top of the pain, and Kurt is the kind that won't take an aspirin for a headache! but, he's done pretty good!!!

Caitlyn and Kurt are going to Virginia this week for a college visit.

My dad has decided to RETIRE!
I'm still trying to process it.....

I'm looking for a new job, our house sold, but an investor bought it and wants to rent it back to us!
which was the biggest blessing because we love our neighbors and ward!

We past Landon's 17th birthday, I actually had to calculate it just to make sure, I couldn't wrap my brain around it....

I'm the proud wearer of new contacts.... it's amazing to actually be able to see again... imagine that!!!!
their is a great eye dr. up in Vernal, and I'm so grateful for my little sister, she's been such a great example and support to me through all of this! (especially trying to put contacts in my eyes for the first time....it was worst than having a baby.... almost!)

a lot of change this month, sometimes I'm okay with it all, and sometimes I'm not!?!

(sometimes it just makes me mad cuz I can't control it!)

by george, he's done it again!

Billy Bob

 (aka Kurt, my husband....)

 knocked out his teeth AGAIN yesterday up in Idaho,

remember when he did it a few years ago in Wyoming?

This time it wasn't as bad, thank goodness!

but I'm thinking once is enough!!! right?

(originally postdated 6-30 2010)

So....

June 30th to be exact...

We were in Utah....

everyone

except Kurt,

he found himself in Wyoming dropping a load

in his pretty green truck,

while he was unloading a rubber strap flipped off and the metal end flipped him right in the smacker..

and

knocked out two of his front teeth!!!

he called me and was all calm, telling me what just happened....

I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck...

it took him a day to finally get back to us in Utah,

I've never been so relieved to see him as I was then.

meanwhile,

I called our wonderful dentist, Dr. Titensor, back here in Texas, to give us a referral and some info. on what to do or what not to do...

so,

he gives us the name of a great dentist,

Dr. Ellis, if your in the provo/orem area...

who happens to be my sister's dentist and is just a few blocks from where we are staying...

tender mercy,

he even opens his office and comes in to met us there to take care of Kurt!

through out this scary ordeal we felt blessed in so many ways,

blessed that it only hit his teeth, and didn't take out an eye or something worse!

and blessed to have a great dentist both here and there,

so

after some intense dental work,

Kurt was the proud owner of a fake tooth named "flipper",

yep, 'flipper' is what it's really called in the field of dentistry,

so

'flipper' is uncomfortable and it can be 'flipped' in and out easily,

( hence the name)

which is exactly what Kurt would do with it and so therefore,

little 'flipper' would drive me crazy cuz it was always 'flipping' around!!!

so

today was a good day because we got to bid 'flipper' good-bye forever,

and in it's place Kurt got a bone-graft and 5 stitches,

which is ironic cuz thats what I got to go through a few months ago in the same spot...

(it just brings Kurt and I closer together when we have so much in common....

like matching bone-grafts and all.......precious!)

If I do say so myself, his teeth look great again!

In the scriptures it says;

"Mourn with those who mourn

and

comfort those who stand in need of comfort,,,

or

in other words,

put a raisin over your tooth to make it appear like your missing a tooth too!

we love you Dave!

We love you, Dave,
he truly gets the unconditional love thing!!!

guess who had a birthday?

she's 4 years old already.....and we still really love her!

(we ate cake in her honor, cuz we've nice like that!)

the new kid in town...

Candice has a new friend.... his name is Tyler....

for the past 6 weeks they have been connected at the hip ; )...

he's a sweet kid... even our little dog likes him!
Saturday night we had a little smore party....

it was fun!


Sunday after dinner we played the new "clue" game
(per Lynzie)


When Candice is happy....  her parents are happy!

Too Have or too HOLD...

 

It's funny to be able to still feel the weight of them in my arms,

 and always tripping under foot...

I find myself going to the bathroom alone,

 and

calling for them....

I miss the informative conversation.

 funny how they don't want to join me anymore!!?!

I miss there littleness.

Motherhood is still challenging, just in a different way!

I am grateful to be a mom,

there mom.

I was once a streetwalker....

Or rather, 

I would walk up and down the sidewalk of our street to the corner and back!

(see the black telephone poll on the left, that was the corner)

I had this beautiful white slip, it was soft and had a little frill on the bottom,

it made me feel pretty, and so did those shoes! 

Ohh, the shoes.... they were the best!!!

They were my great-grandma Sardoni's shoes,

they had an open back, and a little opening in the top of the toe,

they were too big of course,

but 

I loved them because they made a clicking sound on the pavement with each step!!!

As you can see, my mother was like really pregnant with my little sister,

I think Liz was born a few days later,

I always thought my mother looked so cute pregnant with her 5th child,

(although I'm sure she didn't feel so cute!)

 so, she would sit and watch me walk up and down our street,

I would just walk-n-talk to myself the whole way...

this is one of my earliest memories of childhood.

This is my great-grandma Elizabeth Lindsey Thomas Sardoni,

two of my daughters are named after her,

(I even wanted to name one of my sons' Thomas)

and

 I bet... my grandmother was wearing those fabulous shoes in this picture!?!

it was my blessing day at church.

We lived in Davenport Iowa for 3 years while my dad was going to Palmer Chiropractic School

this is a picture of him when he graduated!

and he's still a chiropractor to this day, he's amazing like that!

*we are standing in almost the same spot!!!

I grew out of my "streetwalkering" days

 but, it was fun while it lasted!