....Our Sugarbucket Blog...

.A Downton Abbey Par-tay....

2012-01-29T20:23:00.005-06:00

with a big bowl of carmel popcorn...

.my best day ever!!!

2012-01-24T16:37:00.008-06:00

Spencer has been teasing me about "something special" that he was making for me for about a month and a half now...

I was excited cuz I always love those cute crazy ceramic little thingy that they make,

(and yes, I still have all of them that my kids have made over the years)

so, today when he came home and I closed my eyes for my big surprise,

I.was.truly.surprised!!!

THE CUTEST GREEN APRON!!!

it fits me perfectly, I love the pocket, and I absolutely loooove the crooked white stitching!

thank-you Spencer for the sweetest gift given.

and don't even be fooled....

he's standing on his tip-toes.

.twenty twelve...

2012-01-17T11:58:00.007-06:00

Resolutions...we all have them!

As I think back on this past year there are many thoughts that come to mind...

I will not say that it has been an easy year

but,

I will say, that amidst the many trials we've been through this year there have been many many more blessings!

I've set 3 goals this year, they are simple and sweet goals,

but very powerful at the same time,

doing them and seeing the outcome will and can be powerful...

I didn't do a "word" this year like I've done in the years past,

I've just decided to stick with my goals which would encompass my new word anyway.

I feel good about this new year and my new goals.

so far, so good!

.did I tell ya about the time...

2012-01-14T18:24:00.007-06:00

circa 2004

So,

a few weeks ago when we were walking around Temple Square looking at the lights,

we walked around the corner

and Spencer said "Look mom, remember when we took our picture by that statue,

let's take another one"!

I thought it was so cute that he remembered,

and that he wanted to have another sweet memory together...

but

it wasn't quite as precious this time around,

as Spencer was only 6 years old last time,

this time, not so much....

he's 13 years old and he's taller than me so he tried squatting down

and right when the flash went off he pulls a face,

and I couldn't help but laugh,

he's always doing things that catch me off guard, and making me giggle.

so yes,

we did make a memory,

just in a different way!!!

.Temple Square.

2012-01-13T10:26:00.006-06:00

We went to an early dinner at Olive Garden and then headed to Temple Square

we couldn't have picked a better night to go,

it was a few days after Christmas and the weather was warm!!!

walking around the grounds is a combination between magical and spiritual,

add a little bit of silliness too...

I love when Lynzie says such things as;

"touch everything you can, cuz President Monson has probably touched it too."

I counted 4 other guys, walking around in shorts too!!! ha.

see, Spencer isn't the only hot-blooded boy in Utah!

to be continued...

.Christmas 2011...

2012-01-12T20:39:00.009-06:00

the kids woke up early and we let them open one present and there stockings....

we saved the rest of the gift for later that day.

Each Christmas

is one that holds memories and traditions and each picture is a reminder of both,

I love Christmas', memories, traditions and taking pictures,

but

this Christmas seemed extra special for us,

one, because it was on Sunday

(I wish Christmas was on Sunday every year!)

and two...

BOTH, our parents were able to be with us!!!!

that's never happened!

my mom and dad came up early Sunday morning and came to church with us,

while Kurt was at the airport picking up his mom...

my parents looked so cute in there Christmas clothes,

and I had a hard time just sitting there singing,

my heart was full with the Spirit of Christmas and being able to share it with my parents was almost an over-load...

Lynzie sang with the primary and I sang with the choir again,

the songs we sang about our Savior were so beautiful,

it really was a perfect day.

we came home from church, changed our clothes, some of us back into our p.j.'s

we gorged ourselves on a big turkey/ham dinner,

and finished opening our presents with grandparents....

our big family present this year was a flat screen T.V. hooray, hooray!!!

and we gave the kids $$$ this year,

which the kids loved!

it was fun for them to wake up on Monday and shop all day with there Christmas money.

grandma jean gave each of the kids the cutest jars full of coins,

we had so much fun trying to count all the money.....

who would of thought???

amazingly each jar held $20 bucks.

Spencer got a loft bed, one of the best inventions ever!

wish we had got him one sooner.

Christmas morningALWAYScomes too early for the tired weary parents....

we really had a nice Christmas this year,

as always

but

this year seemed extra special.

to be continued....

.Christmas Eve....

2012-01-12T00:02:00.010-06:00

We live in one of thee best neighborhoods and,

were invited to a Christmas Eve party with a few families in our ward,

we had a delightful time,

fabulous food, wonderful white elephant gifts,

lots of laughter and a phony game of phase ten.

(trophys were even involved)

then....

later in the evening

we snuck back home for the annual opening of the pajama's....

and to wait for Santa, of course...

to be continued....

2012-01-07T13:44:00.007-06:00

We woke up this morning to snow....

(altho, these are all pictures from the last time it snowed)

snow is so beautiful,

and it's been snowing big beautiful snowflakes all morning

it's everywhere except the roads, so it's my kind-of snow...

the weather hasn't scared me yet this year,

probably because it's been the driest December in Utah history....

it's been a nice way to break us Texans in,

especially me cuz I'm not such a big accumulation snowdrift kinda girl.

but this year has been perfectly beautiful and just enough,

and i'm thankful for that!

the kids are still stunned and amazed by snow

and each time it falls its like Christmas morning all over again...

and this little one,

won't step on wet grass to go tinkle...

BUT

loves the snow!?!

Our Christmas week coming soon,

as soon as I finish downloading all my pictures.

18th...

2011-12-19T07:00:00.003-06:00

We love what each of our children "bring" with them when they come into our lives,

we love that they are just born with it...

we especially love what Caitlyn

"brings"

to our family and have loved it now for 18 years straight!

thanks

and

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY!!!

we love you....

planning ahead which takes me back to memory lane...

2011-12-08T20:03:00.012-06:00

With the holidays upon us, I've been thinking...... (I know, right!)

Christmas falls on Sunday this year,

remember last time it fell on Sunday, about 7 years ago....

I do,

I remember it well, it was one of my favorite Christmas'

because,

we called Santa that year and asked if He could come on Saturday

instead of Christmas Sunday,

and of course,

he was happy to do so cuz that would mean one less chimney he had to shimmy down

and he appreciated all the time he saved that night...

and,

we were happy cuz we woke up Saturday morning

and opened all our gifts and played and played all day long,

and then....

when we woke up on Sunday Christmas Morning,

we ate a delicious breakfast

got ready for church

and we were able to feel the spirit all day and enjoy what Christmas is really all about!

so,

yep,

you guessed it,

we are doing it again this year too,

(along with something else we've never tried before).

and we're excited.

I've already made the call into Santa and he's all on board,

he even asked if we could tell our family and friends cuz it makes it so much easier on him,

and then....

Santa will be able to enjoy his Christmas Sunday too!

i like my tree, i do, i do....

2011-12-04T19:50:00.018-06:00

I was just about ready to "pat myself on the back"....

cuz i was liking my decorated tree this year,

(as opposed to other years)

and then,

boom........ 6 balls down!!!

but,

remember our "family word wall" in our old house,

well, I didn't have a wall to do with it again,

so,

I took the black words and spray-painted them white,

and put them up on my tree, it gives it a nice little "pop".

we bought some new ribbon at Tai Pan Trading Co. and decided to go with new colors of

red, lime green and white,

everything else was from last year,

with just a few simple changes.....

and wahla.......

i like my tree,

i do, i really do!

As promised......

2011-12-01T13:07:00.004-06:00

Our first Halloween in Utah!

according to Spencer and Lynzie,

4lbs of candy in a pillowcase

was a total success!

tree lovers...

2011-11-28T21:58:00.007-06:00

For Family Home Evening tonight,

we watched the kids as they put all their ornaments on the

"kids tree".

as parents...

its fun to see 20 years of little ornaments and school memories

as kids...

they are proud to display there own treasures of memories.

4 kids plus 20 years = a tree chuck full o' love!

(and of course, even Sadie has her own little ornament!)

The Giving of Thanks....

2011-11-28T16:48:00.009-06:00

All of my family was able to come together for Thanksgiving this year,

(except Steve, Kurt, Candice, Caitlyn, Kyle and Tanner)

even still, it was nothing short of a miracle.

Having all those people together gets a little crazy sometimes...

but the food was good.

oh, the annual making of the "chop suey"

it was amazing to see the twins again....

no one could tell them apart,

and there mother dressed them the same just to mess with us!

they've grown just a tad bit in the last 3 years huh,

from 4 lbs to over 25....

I made "turkey bread baskets" they turned out pretty cute.

Thanksgiving 2011

thanks Kristen for all the pictures!

Happy 19th Birthday!!!

2011-11-20T06:38:00.003-06:00

We love YOU and miss YOU and we will see YOU soon!!!

Happy Birthday baby girl!

Cardall Cousins...

2011-11-19T15:22:00.007-06:00

One thing that I've loved about moving back to Utah is family!

these past 2 weeks I've been able to get together with cousins again,

we've lunched at Cafe' Rio,

we did the Twilight movie thing last Thursday night....

and

today we celebrated the soon-to-be-arrival of Jack!

and they are just as funny as they are cute!

(thanks Chrissy for the picture)

I've loved being able to reconnect with family and friends again.

it's been a month...

2011-11-17T12:55:00.007-06:00

Oh, so much to document!!!

I finally found my camera cord, but for some reason it's not down loading my pictures,

and who can have a post without pictures!?!

but, I will get my pictures up and somehow downloaded....

I have a lot of good ones,

like, Halloween just for starters,

this year was one.of.thee best!!!

we've done a few fun things lately...

like winning the Chili Cookoff last Saturday night in our ward,

have I mentioned we have the best neighborhood and ward? hummm.

Caitlyn had her last Young Women In Excellence night,

it was nice as they had all the girls display things about themselves,

it was fun getting to know the girls and leaders just a little bit better and we had fun putting Caitlyn's display together.

she's an amazing girl, my Caitlyn and a great cookie baker!

(inside joke)

Just getting ready for Thanksgiving and feeling very blest to be able to see family and loved one again, that we only get a chance to see every blue moon!!!

so thankful to my dad who made it all possible.

although,

Candice is still in Texas for this holiday and so it's bittersweet,

but, we have a little surprise in store for her....

I love the holidays and I love traditions....

I'm going to be making "chop suey" candy which is a tradition that we can't live without,

started by my dear grandma Norma B.

in years past, I usually made one big batch,

but this year, I think I'll be up to my eyeballs in chop suey cuz so many of us will be together again,

without saying any names, I've been approached with making a whole batch for one particular person who said he'll even pay me for materials and time!

and that he would just eat chop suey instead of Thanksgiving dinner!!! ha!

bring on the chop suey!!!

a very good day...

2011-10-18T15:45:00.004-05:00

Liz gave me a fabulous birthday gift....
(she always does)
a bath to cook my bottled peaches or what ever i desire,
and a little magnetic stick thingy to get the lids out of the boiling water without burning your little fingers!!!

I love her!

that sight is pure beautiful!

they all "popped" and sealed.....success!

I love Liz
we had fun bottling peaches,
it was fun and relaxing to sit and peel, drink propel, watch a movie with the kids with a fire in the fireplace and snow on the ground, just a little snowstorm!
we had so much fun,
where going to do it again next week and bottle potatoes!

#11

2011-10-10T21:44:00.002-05:00

Lynzie's 11th birthday...

one of her biggest wishes every year is to be able to spend it with her "twin" cousin,

and this year she did!!!

another week...

2011-10-01T13:14:00.004-05:00

I can't believe another week has flown by....

just last Saturday, we were in St. George watching a parade and partying,

and today we are watching the

181st semi-annual General Conference....

and next Saturday I'm going to be participating in a little neighborhood tri-athlon,

swimming, biking and running, oh my!

(did I mention we live in the best neighborhood!)

I love this time of year, there is an excitement in the air, and in the change of seasons,

yesterday, I decorated all day with my fall decor. it felt good to pull it out and put it up!

I love Conference weekends!!!

LOVE THEM....

I love the traditions that we've made as a family,

I love the good food to eat, I love the spirit that is felt in our home and in our hearts,

all through conference this morning I thought about Candice...

I love that we will get together with relatives on Kurt's side of the family,

that we don't get to see often enough,

and we'll eat soup bowls and watch the last session of conference tomorrow together.

I love that we live here in Utah again,

I love to be around family and after being away for so long, it's good to be back!

it's one thing that we don't take for granted.

I bought 3 boxes of peaches yesterday,

and this coming week mom and I will go up to Liz's and bottle peaches and make jam.

it doesn't get better than that!

I am so grateful for my parents...

sometimes saying "thank you" just doesn't seem like it's enough,

my point being is, being without them for 10 years while in Texas,

it's so nice to have them close and to see them a lot,

do you know what a joy it is for me to just have them sitting around my kitchen table.

my dad's day off is Thursday and they have been up every Thursday...

I am so grateful for there love and support.

my blessed mom has been imparting her food storage knowledge on us,

and I intend to learn everything I can from her, she has been a huge help to us!

thanks mom and dad.... WE LOVE YOU!

Swiss Days...

2011-09-26T23:31:00.007-05:00

This past weekend we went to St. George to celebrate Swiss Days

with my little brother and his family....

We rode out with my dad on Friday night, which took us an extra long time trying to get out of town, we got stuck in BYU game traffic...

( Kurt came down the next morning)

St. George is beautiful,

I'm always stunned and amazed at the beauty of the white Temple with the gorgeous red rocks behind it!

Friday night right when we arrived in town the fireworks started going off,

it was a nice warm welcome for us.... Dave said he called them in for us, what a guy!

then, Saturday morning at the crack of dawn, while Caitlyn, dad, and I slept,

the rest of them ran a 5k race,

then, we watched a parade and waved to MaCall and Ella as they threw candy to us,

they were in the parade dressed as cute little swiss kids.

then, we walked around and checked out all the cute booths,

and enjoyed Dave and Kristen's t-shirt booth, it was hard to choose a Santa Clara shirt because they were all so awesome!!!

then, we watched MaCall play soccer while Dave coached,

then, everyone went swimming, (while I rested for the holidays)

then, Kristen and I went to the Relief Society broadcast at her Stake Center where we ate a light dinner and listened to the speakers and laughed at Pres. Uchtdorf, it was nice to feel the spirit again.

then, we took our kids over to see the Temple, have I mentioned how white and beautiful it is?

wow, it was fun to go over in the dark and walk under the lights of the temple and see it glow.

then, the dad's took the kids to Zero Gravity where there are trampolines everywhere, even on the walls and so they had fun running and bouncing off the walls literally, and thats all they have talked about since we left...

Kristen showed me how to download picasa and how to make collages for my pictures so I've been playing around with that, thanks Kristen.

then, on Sunday, we went to their church and watched their wards Primary Program,

Olivia played a violin trio which was so sweet, and MaCall sang with a group of boys his age, he's a handsome young lad that one, and Ella as she was singing caught Kurt's eye and waved to him. cute!

then, we ate lunch at Cafe' Rio before hitting the dusty trail, we picked up Sadie from Red Rock doggie day care where she got a good report card for being her sweet little self and we drove home....

meanwhile, the guys drove down to Las Vegas to go to the gun show but it closed early for the day, so they drove all the way back home.

It was a nice weekend, and of course it always goes by too fast, and of course, I didn't take enough pictures and even at that, I haven't downloaded them yet...

today...

2011-09-15T16:52:00.006-05:00

So today...

(for another little birthday adventure)

I went with my mom and dad to Gardiner Village,

we ate a yummy lunch at Archibald's and then walked around and shopped,

and my mom who doesn't ever buy anything actually bought some really cute decor for her home...

all the little shops had there Halloween stuff out and it was cute,

i got some fun ideas i'm going to try this year...

the weather was absolutely perfect!!!

and

we had fun.

forty5.....9-14-2011

2011-09-15T00:13:00.008-05:00

I have so much that I want to blog about, but, every time I sit down to do it, I don't know where to begin or even how to start.....

how do you begin to tell about the most crazy stressful transition across the country........ exactly!!!

so, I'll just start slow and work my way up...

but,

in the meantime, I can tell you about my forty5th that I didn't really want to celebrate but that we did anyway,

yesterday, all my new friends in the neighborhood threw me a birthday luncheon,

we ordered in Cafe' Rio and had a great get-to-gether,

have I mentioned we have landed in the nicest neighborhood this side of the Mississippi???

well, we really have,

we have hit the motherload of neighborhoods!

and I keep thinking

"I can't believe they are being so nice to the new girl"(me) it's kind-of one of those neighborhoods that you dream about but you don't think exist anymore,

especially after we were already blessed with a great neighborhood when we lived here 10 years ago, so yes, we have hit the jackpot twice!

tonight we went to Sundance and did the "Moon Ride"

(for a little birthday adventure,)

we rode the ski lift up the whole mountain and back down all huddled in blankets and watched the moon come up over the mountains,

IT.WAS.FUN.

something us Texans have never done before!

....and ye shall rest from your Labors

2011-09-04T19:16:00.019-05:00

Torrey, Utah 2011

12018...

2011-09-01T09:32:00.007-05:00

and yes, the the grass is as luscious as it looks...

Lynzie and her new friend Catelyn (enjoying popcorn in the backyard)....

who has a little sister name Candyce,

get it.... I have a Candice and Caitlyn,

and the family across the street

has a Candyce and Catelyn....(it's a sign)

and.... I have so much to blog,

I'll start to update tomorrow....

lucky 13th...

2011-08-31T20:03:00.003-05:00

when asked if he was excited to be a teenager.....

he said,

"I've waited 12 years for this!!!"

Happy Birthday dude.

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!

2011-08-15T21:45:00.004-05:00

boy, time flies when your blogging!

I've so enjoyed blogging these last 3 years,

it's been so nice to scrapbook our lives with pictures and our thoughts,

I'm so glad we have, cuz as I've looked back at some of our post in the last 3 years

there are some things I've forgotten already...

and

I've LOVED to see my kids grow and change right before my eyes!

speaking of change,

we are doing a lot of it around here!

we are packing up and moving, we will be in Utah this weekend,

and when i get there and settled, I'll document and scrapbook more of our lives then.

until then, love to ya all!

"Queen" of the ear candles...

2011-08-04T04:39:00.015-05:00

Diane finally got here safe and sound and sweaty and hot....

the air conditioner went out in the mercedes and so she drove from florida to texas without it, and of course, texas has been at record heat, yesterday it was 110, and today at 109 and then you must factor in the heat index and you have HOT!

It's been fun to see Diane and Winston (her little dog) again,

Madison, E, and Arik came over. It's always fun to have family.

We did some ear candles which was a good thing for Diane,

and she is the official ear candle queen!!! she's had an infection in her tooth and we think it help pull it out...

but, mostly we just laughed and talked, and talked and laughed.

I wish she was staying longer, but I just said "good-bye" to Kurt and Diane as they are off to Utah.

the birthday boy....

2011-07-31T15:42:00.003-05:00

Kurt's 43rd and we have been celebrating all weekend!

It's nice to have him home this year for his big day,

most years he is out and away...

we have been eating all weekend...

but,

we've been all together!!!

Happy Birthday Kurt,

we love you!

oh, for the love of books...

2011-07-28T15:28:00.017-05:00

They are home, (Kurt and Lynzie) and it is nice, just as it should be, when your together with your family!

I had a childhood book when i was little....

well,

I don't remember the book as much as i remember the little record that told the story....

i would listen to it over and over and over again,

up in the bedroom @ 998 South State St.

i had the whole thing memorized,

sometimes I would be Frances, and the the next time I would be Thelma.

I always liked Frances because she sang her little songs, and she wasn't bossy like Thelma was,

i don't remember what happen to that little record...

maybe, it got lost or broken when we moved.

Do any of my brothers and sisters remember this book on record?

but,

it was tucked away in my childhood memories, and forgotten,

until one day a few months ago,

i came acrossed it at the library,

all of a sudden I remembered

"A Bargain For Frances"

all those childhood memories came back, just like it was yesterday.

i checked it out and brought it home to read and tell my kids about this little treasure of a book.

as i read it to them I could still hear the voices on the record playing in my head,

and i could still imitate Frances tying to be sneaky and Thelma being bossy, it was heavenly.

It's funny how some things never leaves you!

So, we decided we needed to try to find this book and the tape on e-bay or amazon,

cuz it's a good little story but, you've got to listen to the tape to really get the true effect!

so, we searched and found it (and I should have bought it then) but, life got busy again and we moved...

then when Lynzie came home last night at 2 am, she said

"mom, I have a surprise for you!"

and she pulled out "A Bargain For Frances"

and two other books in the series that we didn't even know existed,

so,

we sat down right on the spot, and read then, it was so late but we just couldn't help ourselves,

Lynzie was just as excited as i was..

Borders Bookstores are going out of business and that's were she picked them up while in Utah...

I love her for thinking of me.

and so, these are some other good books,

by Russell Hoban, pictures by Lillian Hoban.

Bedtime for Frances.

A Baby Sister for Frances.

Bread and Jam for Frances.

A Birthday for Frances.

Best Friends for Frances.

A Bargain for Frances.

We stopped by Half-Prized Books today but no such luck.....

i'm just going to get back on Amazon and buy the books and tapes, so i can still enjoy then...

so my kids can enjoy then...

and then for sure, my grand babies will love these books just like we do!!!!

One day I was reading one of my favorite blogs and she loved "a Bargain for Frances" too,

and was reading it to her little Piper Jane,

and I felt myself getting a little bit jealous because I thought no one else knew about this book.....

it was just a book in my plain ole' childhood,

and,

how could anyone know and love this book more than me?

but,

they are good enough books to share, so if you get a chance....

oh, and now that i have my own, i'm not so jealous anymore,

go ahead, you can read them!!!

just 2 more hours to go.....

2011-07-27T23:38:00.008-05:00

kurt and lynzie are on there way home!!!

and we couldn't be more happier, they have been gone way too long....

i've been on deaths door and everything in the house is falling apart.....

they'll get in around 2 am, so i'm just trying to hang out until then, it's like hurry up and wait or like christmas.....Oh, it will be so nice to have them back again!

this was the sweetest picture i took of them right before they left to go to Utah, they we studying the scriptures, Lynzie wanted to know more signs of the second coming, so we were studying in 3 Nephi when Christ visits the Nephites and all the signs that happened before He came, and what He did while He was with them, it can give us an idea of what might happen again. sweet little Lynzie wants to be prepared in every way, do you know how guilty you feel when your ten year old daughter is pushing you to get your 72 hour-kits- up-to-date-again......

we've missed them so, but i'm glad they've had nice weather to enjoy, cuz while they've been gone we've been hiding out at home cuz it's too hot to go outside!!!!

it will be nice to celebrate Kurt birthday this weekend together.

and we'll get to plan a get together with everyone when Diane comes, we love having family, i just wished we could have had more family visit while we lived here...

"I'm going to do everything I can to get to the highest kingdom"

she says.

2011-07-18T20:01:00.006-05:00

it seems time goes by so fast....

moving is getting real....i signed our 30 day lease last Saturday...

Caitlyn's fingers are doing better, she is learning to bend them again, she can bend them as much as she wants, she just can't let them go straight because then they will 'pop' and break the tendons...

life is stressful right now....

and it will probably be so until we our all moved and settled....

i've been sick all weekend...

Spencer went to the Dallas Temple for the first time, i loved how he noticed the oxen,

i loved how he came walking into the front door and said; "I baptized Thor!"

then the next day he said " I love how every one wears white shirts, white ties, white shoes and white teeth"!!!

that made me laugh!

2011-07-12T09:55:00.006-05:00

Whilst in Utah a few weeks back,

Camille, Polly and I got the chance to meet up again,

I haven't seen Camille forever,

but, it was fun how we could pick up where we left off,

I loved being able to laugh again,

and laugh so hard!!!

it's amazing that we were even friends in High School because we were all so different,

we still are.

but, I guess, that's what makes it work,

we can see the good in each other and balance out the bad.

Polly does our hair which is thyBESTgift you can give a girl....

and

she only charges us an arm,

(instead of an arm and a leg!)

we did our hair in the evening so we had the whole salon to ourselves,

Kurt stopped by and brought us soda and chocolates...

then after we went to dinner,

Kurt decided to come with us,

(because he's a trooper.)

and I think he saw a side of me that he's never seen,

or at least heard a few stories....

a few times during dinner i looked over at him and he was laughing just as hard as i was.

it was nice to re-connect!

thanks guys, i love ya,

hey, lets do it again in about 6 weeks....when we have re-growth!

getting my craft back on...

2011-07-10T22:07:00.009-05:00

Kurt and Lynzie are on there way to Utah....

Caitlyn is just plugging away with her fingers and therapy and learning how to bend them little babies again...

Spencer got back from Scout Camp yesterday,

and I've heard nothing but stories about snake, frogs, latrines, bugs that were so scary looking, and all the other gross things 12 year old boys see and do at camp,

the first day back he talked himself to sleep with so many stories of trying to recapture his week at camp!

surprisingly enough, we all missed him while he was gone,

but, it only took me about 6 minutes of him being home to get agitated with him while I was trying to convince him that he needed to take a shower!

(what is it with boys and showers?)

it's been a busy week, and a weird one too because in my minds eye, we should be packing up our stuff and making our move across the country,

but, we will stay for a few more weeks for Caitlyn's therapy,

that is the most important thing right now.

I notice I start to get styfled if I'm not being creative, or at least trying to do something for the better good, I haven't really done anything since we've moved here because,

well,

#1- everything is packed away in the garage,

#2- this is only a temporary situation.

but, the last couple days I've really been feeling it, and it's been festering for a while now,

so, I keep putting it off with big dreams of what I could do when we moved to Utah and could get my groove on again!

but,

i've been weepy and feeling sorry for myself for the last couple days and today I'd had it...

so,

I found this cute pillow case (on the left) at a second hand store, and i thought of making a pillow case dress for Lynzie, I've never made her one, but that's exactly what popped into my mind,

and I thought for $1 dollar, I really could not go wrong, right?

so, I started looking through all the pillow cases to try to find a matching piece for shoulder straps or extra material if i needed it, I was just about to resort to going to JoAnne's fabrics to find a matching piece when lo and behold, I found the one on the right and it matched perfectly, it must of been the matching set!

you can't see the cute design of the cases, but, I think when it's all said and done I can get a cute picture of Lynzie wearing it!

so, I came home and threw those puppies in a hot water cycle,

usually pillow cases and linens gross me out and I don't even buy them,

but these didn't....

so, while I had my sewing machine out,

I decided to do a project that has been on my "to do list" forever,

a cute shirt that I like but didn't like the 3/4 length sleeves,

so I cut them, hemmed them, and uses the left over sleeve material to make a flower!

I also sewed another little project...

see what happens when you deprive yourself for so long,

you end up going a little nuts!

I tweeked the flower again after I took the picture, it looks even better now!

does any one need anything sewed while i'm on a roll?

p.s. I can only sew straight lines!

oh, just a little word to the wise...

2011-06-30T11:01:00.006-05:00

Don't let an ice-skate run over your hand!

*we went this morning to her first physical therapy appointment,

it was intense,

they took off the bandage/cast and that was a work-out in and of itself...

it was so painful,

she was sweating and shaking and wincing and i had to walk out before i lost it,

(did i ever mention that i couldn't be a nurse?)

she was suppose to get rubber bands attached to her fingers today to start the bending process

but,

just removing the bandages was so overwhelming that

"Helen the hand lady"

decided that we should go back tomorrow!

ughh..

i took some pictures of her hand and her button that is sewed onto her fingernail,

but,

i'll save you the details....

your welcome!

2011-06-29T10:11:00.005-05:00

It's been a rough 2 days, Caitlyn's been in a lot of pain,

and apparently,

I'm driving her nuts cuz I guess I'm asking too many questions....

like,

how are you feeling? or, what do you feel like eating? or, What can I do for you?

it's all the questions a mother is suppose to ask,

but.....

I'm just her mother, what do I know, right!?

it's just a good thing Dayton is here a lot cuz

when he's here, she's all smiles and pleasant and calm.

he's a good kid and has been a big help to her this last week.

I wish we could take him to Utah with us.

the grandma's left yesterday and Kurt left this morning,

and the house is quiet...

I'm glad the grandma's were able to go home, we gave them a run for there money the last couple of week, I've been grateful for them, but with everything that's gone on,

Peggy and I didn't get to buy our matching p.j.'s and watch a chick-flick....

we are still homeless....

and instead of leaving for Utah in a couple weeks as planned,

we'll be here a couple more weeks because Caitlyn has physical therapy,

which she starts tomorrow (ouch) and will last 6 weeks.

I'm not really freeking out about all this stuff,

like trying to move across the country, being homeless, Caitlyn's finger's,

I'm just taking it one day at a time,

and I have this funny feeling that everything is going to fall into place like it should when the time is right....

button, button who has the button?

2011-06-27T09:42:00.005-05:00

it was worse than they thought...

nerve damage to her pinky,

and tendon damage to all 3 fingers,

and get this....

they had to actually sew a "button" on top of her fingernail

to help pull the tendon down,

so she could bend her finger in the weeks that follow while she does physical therapy....

they will take off the button in 7-8 weeks.

isn't that crazy....a button!

i'm grateful for good dr.s, good modern medicine and good buttons,

I can only hope it's a cute one!?!

i can remember playing "button, button, who has the button"? when i was a little girl.

while you were sleeping..

2011-06-27T07:30:00.003-05:00

~Dayton~

This is what we looked like this morning at 5:45 am while waiting for Caitlyn...

it was reassuring to go back with her while she got all prepped and ready to go,

the happy juice made her giggle,

and all the dr.s and nurses were so nice and kind,

(it made me want to be a nurse when i grow up, if only there wasn't any blood and guts, i'd do it)

the anesthesiologists knelt on a bended knee and said a prayer before he started, it was so sweet,

and his handle-bar mustache was even sweeter!!!

we are just out in the waiting room, waiting.....

it shouldn't take too long, about an hour.

thank you for everyone's support.

i'm glad that this day is here...

and

that she is on her way to recovery and bending her fingers again.

we ate breakfast and laughed while she was sleeping.

a post without pictures...

2011-06-26T10:01:00.006-05:00

Today is Sunday....

it's crazy to think how in just a week everything can change,

last Sunday Kurt and I were in Utah,

we stayed in a hotel and when we woke up it was rainy and cold,

so cold that i stayed in my big black "Harris Siding" hoodie all day and I loved it,

and

it was Father's Day!

now,

we've had a crazy kind-of week....

but,

just about the time i start to get a little crazy,

i think of my niece, who had back surgery with rods and all,

and then 3 little fingers with a few tendon and nerve damage doesn't seem so bad!

tomorrow morning is Caitlyn's surgery.

Today was a nice Sabbath day,

we were invited to dinner with relatives that we didn't even know lived here...

gotta love genealogy!

Last night we went to the Jubilee,

i felt bad for Caitlyn who didn't get to participate after all the time she put into it,

but...

it's been a nice day.

there's no place like home....

2011-06-22T02:07:00.006-05:00

I made it home to Texas with the most AMAZING thunder storm out my airplane window,

I've never flown in a storm before, and I can only say how "amazing" it truly was,

now because we landed safely on the ground....

it sure feels good to be home!

thank you Steph and Jenna for coming to pick me up and putting your lifes in danger to try to get me safely home...

thank you for so many other calls and voice messages.

again, I am so grateful for our ward family,

thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!

it's after 2 in the morning but i've needed time to just unwind and try to soak in my family,

I was glad Dayton was here, so I could give him a big hug and tell him thank-you for taking such good care of Caitlyn, he even went with her and grandma Peggy to the hand specialist this morning, and yes, Caitlyn will need surgery because it looks like the tendons and nerves were damaged, and she only has a small window of 10 days to get it done, so first thing tomorrow morning, i'll call and set up a surgery date....

she is sad that she won't be able to participate in the Jubilee, but we think it will still be a powerful experience to watch...

Caitlyn seems to be in good spirits,

but I'm worried abut this next go around, it will be harder and will be a longer healing process.

please continue to keep her in your prayers and don't be afraid to call or come over,

she's thankful for the distractions...

(Dayton and I laughing at Caitlyn @ Candice's graduation)

Kurt is on his way home,

which is always good cuz he has this way of helping calm our hearts.

I need a calm heart......that's why I'm a cosmetologist and not a nurse!

the skate...

2011-06-20T21:38:00.011-05:00

We found a great house today that we loved...

then while we were eating lunch at Cafe' Rio,

(a most delicious place to eat)

Caitlyn called and was talking to Kurt, by the look on Kurt face I could tell something was wrong at home, and when I heard the word hospital,

i dropped my head and a prayer started pouring from my heart......

while Caitlyn and her hot friend were ice skating this morning, a skate ran over her hand....

5 stitches in her pinky, 4 in her ring finger and 3 in her middle finger!!!! ouch, i have been sick about it all day...

it's the worst feeling of having your child get hurt and you being far from home!

tomorrow morning she will go see a specialist to make sure that there is no nerves or tendon cut or damaged.

I got a flight out tomorrow afternoon, and Kurt will drive his big rig home in a few days.....

I am so, so grateful for Bro. Stimpson and Bro. Boyd who are our home- teachers, who we called and within the hour they were there to give Caitlyn a priesthood blessing, I'm grateful for the ward members who have called to help, thank you, I am humbled.

I am grateful for Dayton,

(her boy-friend) who stayed calm, took her to the hospital and stayed with her through the whole experience!

please send a little prayer Caitlyn's way...

thank-you!

and thank-you grandma Peggy for holding down the fort while we've been gone....

sorry, we've giving you a run for your money!

dad's day 2011....

2011-06-20T00:52:00.010-05:00

I was honored to be able to spend Father's day 2011 with my dad....

i bought him a beautiful plant for his office and then a homemade card...

(what do you buy a dad who has everything?)

we'll celebrate Kurt's day in a day or two when we get home....

i bought him a cool gift!

(a deep pan for making his favorite sauces, did i ever mention he is a great cook?)

we had a great sunday brunch at my sisters,

thanks Jenae and Tom...

Utah

2011-06-18T22:44:00.017-05:00

Oh, How Lovely was the Morning,

Radiant beams the sun above

bees where humming, sweet birds singing...

Kurt and I came out to Utah this past week to house hunt...

we've seen some good ones,

but, I've felt unsettled and anxious since I got here,

knowing that I needed to go to the temple and clear my thoughts,

so thats what we did on Saturday morning,

and after that we ate lunch and looked at another great house that would probably be a good fit for our family...

it's hard to decide....

it's been nice to be here as it always is,

i've loved seeing half my family again...

sorry I missed you Dave!

Our Graduate Graduates...

2011-06-11T22:13:00.009-05:00

Out of over 850 students graduating in the class of 2011....

there were 9 from our ward....

after i had a meltdown that morning in the bathroom while she was doing her hair,

I pleaded with her not to graduate, and she said "Mom it's a little too late"..........

so, then i started to plead with her not to go to college, and too just stay with us!!!

but, that girl has this crazy dream of leaving home, living on her own like an adult, and going to better herself with more knowledge and new friends!

whatever!

she graduated successfully!

my favorite parts of the evening;

hearing her name and watching her walk crossed the stage..

(and feeling the same butterflies that she did)

then they ask the parents to stand to be acknowledge in helping there graduates get to where they were.... I thought that was so sweet.

then they asked the grandparents to stand.....that's when I lost it, as i turned and watched Peggy stand, she was there when Cj was born and at ever other milestone in her life.

then,

they ask the great-grandparents to stand! WOW!!!

it was nice to have grandma and the great there!

oh, and it's so nice when little sisters boyfriends come for support too!!!

...and that's what it's all about,

2011-05-15T22:08:00.001-05:00

Spencer's funny...

Caitlyn's funny...

...and i love when they are being funny together!

If nothing else.....

2011-05-13T20:34:00.004-05:00

it's good to have Kurt home so he can yank someones chain!

we just got to spend a day and a half with Kurt...

altho, it was short, it's always sweet!

2011-05-13T20:26:00.001-05:00

she's been talking about it for so long.....

that we finally did it....

she's so sassy and cute, just like her new-do!!!

Amy,

2011-05-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

"Come to me for all that you need."

"Relax in the knowledge that the One who controls your life is totally trustworthy."

"Do not fear what this day, or any day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me...."

"Do not long for the absence of problems in your life...You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth."

thanks for your Visiting Teaching.

i needed this more than you.

2011-04-27T17:21:00.003-05:00

I absolutely love when my child comes home after a long day of taks testing and says:

"I had a lot of conversations with Heavenly Father today."

why, i asked,

"Because I finished early and was bored and needed someone to talk too."

ilovethatgirl.

it's his own personal...

2011-04-05T14:46:00.003-05:00

It's a pillow.............

it's a pet......

it's a PillowPet!!!

Ohhhhh boy.....

2011-04-02T10:49:00.001-05:00

should I say, Ohhhh Justin Bieber!!!

2011-03-27T23:57:00.001-05:00

I've fallen off the blog wagon....

but,

I'll be climbing back on soon!

thanks.

Once upon a time when Dad was still green

2011-02-26T12:02:00.005-06:00

This was my MTC companion (Joe Winther) and I having fun on "P" Day.

over the moon

2011-02-19T14:22:00.002-06:00

guess who got accepted to the college that she wanted!?!

2011-02-16T15:24:00.003-06:00

we are enjoying our little apartment so far,

of course,

first things first,

top of the list of things to do first....

SWIM!!!!

the pool was too cold,

but,

the jacuzzi was perfect!

and to think, this time last week, we were iced/snowed in!

and I.....

just loved sitting by the pool, listening to the water, feeling the wind blowing,

watching the kids play

and

NOT

loading.packing.lifting.carrying.unloading.or.looking.at.another.box!!!

i'm going to miss Texas.

Calgone take me away....

2011-02-14T16:09:00.009-06:00

moving.IS.hard!

the hardest three days of my life, it's physically and emotionally draining.

but

Kurt...... he is amazing!!!

even with all he's been through, he's still a rockstar in my book.

and a cute one at that!

our new apartment is cute, it's just small.

I am really liking the idea of apartment living and just living very simply.

it's amazing and almost ridicules of how much stuff.junk.crap. we've collected over the years and how much of it we didn't need and didn't use,

it's been nice to "clean house", so to speak, and the weird thing is,

I always felt like I was throwing away, and spring cleaning, and I was,

I guess it's just a matter of when push comes to shove, you don't need all the extra stuff, that sometimes you might think you will need, and so you save for a raining day.

I like the lesson I've learned from this move, it feels good.

Valentines Day was a bust,

with moving we didn't do our annual Valentines tradition...

next year....

Kuli

2011-02-12T04:19:00.006-06:00

Kurt rolls in this morning at 9:30,

it's always so good to see him after a long week!

I go pick him up and drop him off at home,

he jumps in the shower and heads straight over to the dentist without a second to spare,

after all this time, he's finally getting his permanent tooth in, it's been a long painful road and we're glad it's over!

Until, it's not!

he has an major infection and for the next 2+ hours they are surgically taking OUT the post in his gum, scraping and cleaning it out.... and then stitching it back up!

he's mouth, nose and eyeball hurts, he says, and I know he means it.

so the saga continues,

and just in the nick of time to start moving in a few minutes.....

Many moons ago,

my sister Diane went to Hawaii,

I handed her some of my hard-earned money and said,

"please get me a Hawaiian ring that says my name on it",

and so, because she is so awesome, she did!

not knowing what my Hawaiian name would be or what it would look like was exciting in and of itself,

better than Christmas,

but...

can you imagine my excitement when I saw what my ring said...

~Kuli~

Kurt+Julie=Kuli

I sure do love Kurt!

I appreciate the sacrifices he makes for our family,

it's going to be so nice to be all together again in Utah,

we just have to get through this season of change,

but, we can do it, and we will, and we'll have fun doing it....

just 6 more months, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

we can do this.

we're not in Kansas ....

2011-02-09T19:08:00.003-06:00

I don't even know where I am anymore....

I thought I lived in Texas,

but

we woke up to ice and snow

and schools cancelled yet again!

but, get this...

this weekend it should be close to 70 degrees

and yippie-hooray

just in time to move...

we're moving!!!

the great ice storm of 2011...

2011-02-01T17:48:00.003-06:00

Yes,

we are iced in!

and so we've made the most of it....

made cookies and cut and colored hair.

the way I look at it is;

the weather is just getting us ready for Utah!!!

thank you, that's so sweet.

so let it be written, so let it be done....

2011-01-30T21:56:00.005-06:00

As I was hugging Spencer today,

I noticed something disturbing....

something felt difference,

he is actually TALLLER than me now!

poof,

right over night,

just like that,

disturbing huh,

he's only 12,

and my third child,

no one else has surpassed me as of yet,

well.....until today!

so let it be written.

so let it be done.

dang it.

2011-01-27T22:50:00.002-06:00

this is one of my favorite pictures....

it's so simple, but it speaks volumes to me,

I had it hanging in my kitchen over my fridge up until a few days ago when I took it down in getting it ready to be packed up and ready to move...

when I pack it away I won't see it again for 6 months or maybe more,

until I unpack it in Utah,

but, I'm sure when I see it again, it will still bring a deep sense of gratitude.

2011-01-26T00:05:00.004-06:00

20 YEARS BABY!!!!

2011-01-25T14:41:00.001-06:00

can you guess what I ate for lunch today?

if you guessed a HOT cheese sandwich, you'd be right!!!

Cujo?

2011-01-20T04:40:00.006-06:00

When we found out Kurt was moving immediately and we weren't...

I said, let's move into an apartment and save a boatload of money!!!

and so we did,

well,

and so we are...

next month or in just a short 3 weeks,

maybe, that's why I'm having troubles sleeping, like right now, it's only 4:37 am

and my mind won't relax, there is so much to do between here and there,

I should just get up and do it, but I don't, I lay here and try my hardest to sleep...

I'm excited to move,

we will take just a few things and put the rest of the stuff into storage,

and by a few things I mean a few things,

cuz the apartments is s.m.a.l.l.

I knew when we moved away from this house anything we move into would seem smaller,

cuz this house is big and we've gotten so spoiled but,

I really had to breathe big deep breathes cuz 1433 sq. feet is a little bit smaller than the 3400 we are use too,

but....

there are so many advantage, that it will be worth it and kind-of fun,

I'll update those advantages later.

Apparently, signing up for a 6 month lease is very serious business,

you almost have to sign over any unborn children and do paperwork...

oh, the paperwork,

I hate it, thank goodness Kurt was here to do it all last week!

I even had to take a picture of Sadie and e-mail it over,

I guess to show them that we aren't lying that she really is a

cock-a-poo instead of a cujo!?!

#9101

2011-01-16T19:12:00.005-06:00

It's been a busy week!

I'm finally able to wrap my mind around moving...kind-of.

and

doing everything I have to do between here and there,

but,

there has been a lot of sleepless nights for me, wow!

So many times my mind has traveled back to

(here I go again, getting weepy just thinking about it)

my mission,

after 18 months in Italy my mission was over and it was time to go home,

you feel stuck between a rock and a hard place,

excited to go home....but so sad to leave a place where you've grown to love!

that's how I'm feeling now,

I've loved Texas, but I love Utah too,

Utah is my home.

my family is there and my kids need family, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles

and growing up in a Mormon community, I did and I loved it!

We've lived here ten years, Lynzie was 5 months old when we arrived,

it's all she's known...

So...

here we go into a new chapter in our lives...

"I said"....

2011-01-13T08:34:00.009-06:00

"Lynzie", I said, "I have some bad news"....

What.....we're not moving to Utah?

no, I have other bad news...

what.....I can't do homeschool?

no, I have other bad news...

what.....we have to give our dog back?

no, I have other bad news....

what.....I can't do my horse lessons?

(I'm laughing at this point!)

no, you can't go babysitting with me, cuz Harleigh is sick, I said.

Oh.

It was a huge insight of what her priorities are,

and every so sweet I thought!

2011-01-11T17:42:00.006-06:00

Kurt accepted the job.....

he'll leave and start in a few weeks,

while the rest of us will stay here and finish school.

I have mixed emotions of course,

but

we've been thinking and talking about this for a long time

so, it's not like a surprise and a shock...

it's just weird that now it's reality!

I'm too overwhelmed to say anymore!

the great snowstorm of 2011...

2011-01-09T16:34:00.004-06:00

So,

it rained and then there were a few pellets of sleet,

and then it SNOWED!!!

it's funny, how the whole city shuts down...

and after living here for 10 years,

so do I....

I'm not a bad weather girl!

'accumulation' scares me....

isn't that right, Jamie!?!

What in thee sam hail am

I going to do IF we move to Utah!!!!!

(which by the way, we will know tomorrow if we are!)

What a difference a year makes....

2011-01-05T20:01:00.004-06:00

my boy is growing.....

into a man child!!!

out takes from today....

2011-01-02T20:46:00.023-06:00

In the attempt to take family Christmas pictures this year,

it just didn't happen,.....

between my husband and two teenage daughters,

it's been impossible to be all together at the same time!

really.truly.impossible!

but,

today an hour before church was our only window of opportunity,

so,

I asked Arik (my 17 year old nephew) to just start snapping away,

and snap away he did!

After a cazillion pictures....

we did manage to get a handful of useable photos.

but,

between all the ones we can't use...

we had fun, and made some family memories...

long skirt....not so long skirt.

I'm glad we did bright colors cuz look at the lone and dreary world.

practicing for...................the one day................when their princes' will come!

enjoy a few of the many pictures that won't make the cut for

our 2011 New Year's card this year!!!

Thanks Arik!

a new year, a new word...1-1-11

2011-01-01T03:20:00.007-06:00

Happy New Year!

2011 looks and sounds so futuristic to me, so space-agey!

it's weird to write it, huh?

but hey,

I find it so renewing to start a New Year, it refreshing, it's new, and it feels good,

something like; to clean the slate and start anew, something better, to try harder!

I've been thinking about my 'new word' for this year

and while I'm lying here and can't sleep.....

oh, because maybe someone is SNORING,

I'm thinking upon my word from last year....(which was only 3.5 hours ago)

but 'magical' was my word,

and looking back we did have some 'magical' moments in 2010....

I thought my mom chose a good word for this new year.

~reach out~

So,

my new word for 2011 will be

~Renew~

It all makes perfect sense in my head and it feels very calming to my heart,

cuz each new day will be new,

and I can be renewed, and start fresh,

and if the day before I wasn't perfect, which umm ya!

I won't beat myself up or sweat the small stuff,

I will just remember that with each new morning, there is a clean slate, a renewal...

a renew!!!

sounds good to me!

SOMEONE......IS STILL SNORING!!!

dang-it.

calm.magical.renew.

Lynzie Ilene...

2010-12-29T11:22:00.013-06:00

Lynzie is such a sweetheart...

Did you know her birth certificate still says, Lindsey?

She was born Lindsey, but after a year we changed it to Lynzie,

and I haven't official changed it, as of yet.

(come on, it's only been 10 years!)

She's named after her great-great grandma Elizabeth Lindsey Thomas,

and her great grandma Ilene.

Over ten years ago,

I knew that there was one more person to add to our family and I knew that it was a little girl,

and I knew I wanted to name this little girl Lynzie.

but,

I wanted to name her Lindsey after my great-grandma, I was conflicted as to which spelling I wanted, I loved the spelling Lynzie, but I wanted to honor my great-grandma also,

I ask Kurt and he said he wanted to spell it L.Y.N.Z.I.E. so he could call her "Z"!

but,

at the last minute, I went with the spelling of Lindsey out of love and respect for my great-grandma, because after all that is who she was named after...

but,

with her first year of life, the spelling of Lindsey never stuck,

every time I said her name I always though of the other spelling,

so finally at her first birthday, I said, that's enough,

I'm going with the other spelling and I haven't regretted it since!

she's our LYNZIE.

(great-grandma Elizabeth Lindsey, grandma Ilene, my mom, & me, on my blessing day)

Lynzie always amazes me,

she is a sweet soul, and has always had a strong sense of where she came from and where she's going.

Three days ago, our church magazines came in the mail, and the first thing we always do is;

look in "The Friend" magazine to see if Lynzie is in there yet,

a while ago, a long, long while ago, Lynzie sent in a little story about an experience she had had and a picture of herself,

we know that it takes along time and that there is always a big chance of not getting into the magazine, but, it's always still fun to look!

As she was looking and reading,

she read an article about how to build your testimony in 4 simple step;

1- scriptures

2- prayer

3- worship

4- service

she cut out the page and taped it upstairs in her room,

she first read it to me with great seriousness and was concerned of how she was doing,

because her heart is so open, it touches her deeply,

she talks about it with me a lot and it strenghtens mine too.

This year she tried to read the Old Testament, but it was too confusing to her because of the language, and because hello, it's the Old Testament!

So, I suggested to her to try the New Testament and she,

being the Lynzie that she is, she's jumped into it with her big heart and has loved it,

and get this....

she's even taught me a thing or two about Herod

and how he tried to trick the 3 wise men!

Lynzie is such a sweetheart!

2010-12-28T13:48:00.007-06:00

We are just trying to come down from our Christmas high....

Christmas was great, and I'm so glad Santa actually made it to our house...

altho, as we were sitting around the table eating Christmas dinner we all

(well, all of us except Lynzie, she was having no part of it!)

decided that next year we're going to adopt a Christmas family and fore go some of our presents, and then go shopping after Christmas and hit all the 75 percent off sales and pick up a little something for each other...

my kids are at the age where we can do that now!

Christmas day was a beautiful day with presents, family, food and fun,

then, later that evening we went to a baptism,

Have you every been to a baptism on Christmas day?

well, it just kind-of wraps things up for ya in a nice little spiritual package with a great big red bow on top!

We took Arik with us and it's always nice to share the spirit with others.

then, of course,

the next day was Sunday and we had our Christmas program in church,

I sang in the choir and was so uplifted to sing such beautiful songs all about our Savior and the icing on the cake for me was hearing Candice play the flute as we sang....

let's just say, it really doesn't get better than that!

I've still been humming the songs and get all goosey-bumped,

with a tear in my left eye,

every time I thing about it...

Candice is amazing, and she doesn't even know it.

so, of course,

yesterday was our day of just trying to relax, playing the x-box 360,

riding electric scooters, playing 'just dance2' and of course staying in our p.j.'s all day,

while all the while, smelling really good from all our yummy lotions and sugar scrubs from Santa!

it.was.nice.

but, today we are up and at 'em again,

all showered, shampooed, and shined!

I'm taking down Christmas decorations,

I've taken down 2 of my tree's, but I'll leave the big one up just for a few more days.

Kurt is sitting at Olive Garden in Tennessee, as we speak,

eating lunch with his mom, grandma, and his two sisters,

they drove out from Virginia,

just one of the perks of being able to drive yourself across the country in a big green truck!

wow, it's 2:20, time to go feed my kids lunch!

bye.

a HO, HO, HO, was had by all!

2010-12-25T20:05:00.009-06:00

I got an droid x smart phone,

and all I know, is that it's actually smarter than me!

but, since I'm so blind it's nice to have something so big that I can actually see!

electric scooters...

Oh, just modeling our new Christmas p.j's...

guess what?

try not to be jealous but.....

I got a glass figurine from a truck stop!

yep, that's just one of the many, many blessings of having a husband who is a trucker!!!

a cherish heirloom or a perfect white elephant gift???

Christmas 2010

2010-12-24T17:58:00.003-06:00

Luke 2:15

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Matthew 2:11

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

(this got me thinking of what "gift" I could give the Savior when I see him again,

thats when my missionary memories came flooding back, and just wanting to be that much better as a parent,

remembering that there really is no greater gift than,

helping others come to known their Savior and to feel of His love!)

Luke 2:16

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

I opened my last gift of the baby Jesus this morning,

Isn't it the sweetest manger set, it really is, I wish you could see it up close,

all the expressions on there little faces are so sweet...

Thank you Amy and Shona for the true gift of Christmas.

I'm grateful for the birth of our Savior...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

swaddling...

2010-12-22T22:23:00.010-06:00

Believe it or not....

I'm almost done with Christmas shopping,

the last 2 days I've been able to knock it out,

it's been fun to shop at midnight,

there are enough others shoppers so it's not scary to be there in the middle of the night,

but

not so many people that it's Christmas crazy and your waiting in long lines...

altho, I did have a thought through all the craziness,

we need to start a "movement" and get Christmas back to were it should be....

it's stressful and I'm sure I'm not the only parent that thinks it's stressful in trying to come up with all the extra time, and money....

not to sound like The Grinch' but it's all become too commercialized

just like every other holiday in this country.

I love simple and sweet...

speaking of,

let's end on a simple, sweet spiritual note,

my gift this morning was another

*wiseman,

and I let Lynzie open this one, she was just as touched as I have been,

Luke 2:11-12

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

(I totally got chocked up reading this one.)

I learned something about swaddling this year that I wanted to share with you;

During Biblical times after a baby was born it was washed,
rubbed with salt then oil and lastly swaddled. Swaddling was accomplished by tying strips of cloth together and then wrapping them around the baby to restrict movement. Swaddling kept the child warm, and it was thought that it also ensured that the baby would grow strong without deformity. Because of this a swaddled baby took on the metaphor of being a loved and cared for child. Thus Ezekiel says of Israel,

“And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut,

neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee: thou was not salted at all,

nor swaddled at all” (Ezekiel 16:4).

In other words, because of Israel’s wickedness they have been abandoned and not cared for.

Perhaps the reason Luke gave us this small detail about Mary swaddling her baby was to help us realize how much she loved this child and to let us know He was well cared for.

To learn more about all the symbols of Christmas

and read an amazing blog,

go here.

To all a good night!

days 4, 5 & 6....

2010-12-21T00:49:00.004-06:00

day 4;

Luke 2:8

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

*A little sheppard boy kneeling on one knee, with a satchel over his shoulder,

and he is holding a little lamb.

day 5;

Luke 2:9-10

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

*a beautiful little angel girl in a crimson colored dress.

day 6;

Luke 2: 13-14

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

*one of the 3 kings, bringing a gift for the baby Jesus.

I am still enjoying opening a gift each and every day,

and this morning when I woke up at 2:oo a.m.

I opened my gift for today because it was officially today, right?!

Caitlyn is 17....

2010-12-20T00:35:00.018-06:00

It's actually Monday, but to me it's still Sunday, I haven't gone to bed yet....

Caitlyn's 17th birthday,

she was actually born on a Sunday morning 17 years ago....

I remember being woken up around 7 that morning, cuz something didn't feel right,

and wahla, sure enough, I was in labor,

and so true to a Caitlyn attribute,

I skipped the first stage of labor and was on my way, very fast and intensely, to the second stage,

(it makes me laugh cuz Caitlyn is still like that, she is a fast learner and likes to get thing done, she doesn't mess around!)

she was a few days late, her due date was on the 14th of December,

and I remember I was so ornery and tired of being pregnant and if one more person called me on the phone to ask if I'd had the baby yet... someone was going to get hurt!

Kurt called our Dr. and was relaying information to him,

(because, I was to ornery to talk),

about when labor started and how far apart the contraction were, and he, Dr. Campbell, had the nerve to tell me that he thought it would be awhile and to call him back in a few hours,

(Dr. Campbell delivered both Candice and Caitlyn,

he use to call them, Candi, the dandy and Cate, the great!

he was the best doctor....

Charlottesville, Virginia)

Hint..... don't try to tell a pregnant women her own business!

well, I remember saying to Kurt,

"well, you two can sit and talk on the phone and decide when you want to show up at the hospital BUT I'm going to the hospital now to have this baby"!

that's when I walked out the door, that's when Kurt realized I was serious and ready to go!!!!

When we got to the hospital sure enough, I was ready to go,

but, I had passed the window of opportunity to have an epidural,

I had just had Candice naturally 13 months earlier so my body knew what to do,

so hooray for me, I was having a natural childbirth again!

it really wasn't that bad!

my Dr. did arrive in time, and Caitlyn was born just right after that!

We loved her the moment we saw her...

We had a few names picked out,

both boys and girl names cuz at our ultrasound appt. they told us 90 percent chance it was a girl but don't paint the room pink just yet...

when she was born, unlike Candice, we didn't know what to name her,

our #1 name for her was Miranda, (a family name)

but for some reason, it just wasn't right,

I remember thinking, this girl has a name, I just don't know what it is yet?

The next day after she had spent the morning with me in my room, I sent her to the nursery so I could get some sleep, everything was quiet and my heart was just so full for this new baby,

I had just closed my eyes when I heard "Caitlyn" it was so loud,

I opened my eyes and sat up,

I sat up so fast, I winched in pain....I couldn't believe what I had just heard, and thought someone was in the hall, I sat there and listened to hear where it had come from, but again, everything was quiet and still....

I reached over and wrote Caitlyn on my bedside table, picked up the phone,

called Kurt, and said "come on over, I have her name".

When I said the name out loud to him, he just let the name soak in for a few seconds and then smiled...

Caitlyn is a common name nowadays, but 17 years ago, I had only heard it one other time years earlier from a sister in my mom's ward.

We are so glad to have Caitlyn in our family,

this morning as Kurt was saying our family prayer, he got all chocked up as he thanked our Heavenly Father for giving us the gift of Caitlyn, we are lucky to have her...

Happy Birthday Caity!!!

We love you!

2010-12-18T04:14:00.005-06:00

I know it's only the third day in,

but...

something is happening to me!

Each morning when I open a gift, it's like I'm seeing a piece from the nativity for the first time, first of all, they are about the cutest little figurines ever, I read the scripture that goes along with it and all day long I catch myself thinking about that piece for the day....

like the first day was the little sheppard boy,

he was carrying a walking stick and a lantern to help light his way, I thought about his sweetness and pure humbleness that must of been in his heart to follow the star to meet a baby that he'd never met before but that he probably loved already.

don't we find ourselves in the same situations sometimes?

and don't you find so much symbolism in each piece?

you see, I have about 8-9 Nativity sets, all different and unique,

I try to collect a different one each year,

my mom surprised me and sent me one a few weeks ago,

and the one thing I asked for this year was a big one,

I told Kurt if we played our cards right we could get one the day after Christmas on the big sales, that's beside the point,

but, my point is......

I've never gotten a Nativity one piece at a time and it's really allowing me time to think about each piece, and even maybe some of the thoughts and feelings that each person might have thought or had been feeling who played a role at the time that our dear little Savior was born.

Today I opened number 3....

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

~a donkey~

This gift is doing exactly what my visiting teacher intended for it to do,

it's really bringing me the tenderness of what Christmas is all about!

which is a blessing in itself...

after I had all my decorations up this year,

I thought it looked all pretty and such, but I knew what was missing, I could feel it,

I was missing the spirit and love of what Christmas should be all about, so I made a mental note to myself that I would have to bring that special Christmas feeling and spirit into our home....

Don't ya just love when your prayers are answered!

2010-12-17T19:50:00.008-06:00

On the second day of Christmas,

my visiting teachers gave to me.....

~Mary~

with another scripture that says,

"To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."

Luke 2: 5-6

I am grateful for my visiting teachers,

not only for this gift,

but

a few months ago my vacuum broke,

I hadn't vacuumed for a week, I hate cleaning toilets, but I do love to vacuum,

so not being able to was ugggh---

when my V.T. ask me what she could do for me,

the words, "can I borrow your vacuum" spurted out of my mouth before I even realized what I had said,

a few days later there she is with two vacuums in hand!

she brought hers and even barrowed one from her neighbor,

I vacuumed the upstairs and she vacuumed my downstairs

and we knocked it out in no time at all!!!

see.....

I told you I was grateful for my Visiting Teachers.

I get to see Kurt in a few more hours

and

it's been 6 years today since we've seen Steve...

2010-12-16T23:22:00.006-06:00

It was fun to open my first gift early this morning, and get this....

it was a little shepherd boy, with a scripture from Luke 2:4 that read;

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem"

(because he was of the house and lineage of David)

I have a good feeling about this and it did tug at my heart...

I am indeed looking forward to the next 9 days,

I'll keep ya posted.

I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner, as in next week,

am I the only one who isn't finished with Christmas shopping,

truth be told, I haven't started...

altho, that's a scary thought, I know that next week, I'll be able to knock it all out...

Tomorrow,

the kids get out early for Christmas break,

I got out the card table today and set up the 750 piece puzzle,

it's a crazy puzzle that has so much small details,

we actually started it last year,

we'll see how far we get this season...

doing a puzzle is just one of those fun family traditions,

it's also so tedious that it gives the kids something to do over the break besides fight.

We're still waiting to hear word about the Utah job,

it's still up in the air but I'm feeling calm and content about the whole thing!

which has surprised me...

I am seriously thinking about homeschooling Lynzie for the second half of the school year???

she wants too...

there's pro's and con's of course,

but, nowadays it's such a popular thing, that it's made easier to do,

and I don't worry about Lynzie cuz she is a self-starter,

and loves to learn.

Kurt should be getting home in the next day or two,

and everyone is looking forward to Christmas,

of course, getting gifts is the best, but spending family time together is priceless to us these days,

it always makes me laugh cuz Kurt is like a celebrity when he comes home,

even little Sadie bids for his time and attention!

we all miss Kurt so much during the week while he's gone.

Oh, we'll try again sometime this week to do family pictures,

I've had to cancel two times already between every one's busy schedule

and it's killing me not to have them done already,

but....

I'm going to do them no matter what,

so just expect our family Christmas wishes later,

instead of sooner!

Caitlyn's 17th birthday is Sunday,

we'll be celebrating on Saturday and I have a few fun surprises up my sleeve for her!

We sure love her!

I've been having a bit of a maple donut problem the last few mornings....

those things are just toooo good!

yep

2010-12-15T06:28:00.005-06:00

Yesterday,

this little basket of gifts was dropped off at my home,

and was waiting for me when I walked in the door,

with a cute little note that read.....

How fun is that!!!!

I seriously about pee'd my pants with the thought of getting to open a gift for

10 days in a row!

10 days people, how exciting is that!

What other mom gets to do that???

I never have!

10......10 gifts of love....

thank you Amy and Shona!

sweet. sweeter. sweetest.

???

2010-12-14T09:55:00.005-06:00

Oh, don't mind me,

I'm just sitting here looking at homes for sale in Utah...

it.just.might.happen!

....finally.....

2010-12-04T13:46:00.004-06:00

all the stockings are hung....

now, I just hope St. Nicholas can make it!

But,

I do love when 'Barbie' and 'The Wise Men' can hang together outside the stables,

and still love and honour baby Jesus...

Another year of Thanks....

2010-11-25T12:34:00.016-06:00

From our family to your....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I am so grateful for days like today!!!!

it has got to be one of my favorites days

it seems like everything is how it should be...

FAMILY.

my family is home together,

I love my family.

the weather took a chill last night and it feels so good,

the house is warm

I love the Christmas music softly playing,

the little ones are playing games,

I love the smell and lights of the tree,

I set up one of my Christmas trees earlier this week,

I started a new tradition this year,

I'm doing 3 trees,

the big one in the front room,

the kids tree upstairs

and

my new tree,

I did a tree of Christmas cards from past years,

I love receiving family Christmas cards but I can never throw them away,

there always too sweet....

now you all are on my tree,

send me this year's cards so I can add you to my tree,

it's so fun to see you all up there

and especially from year to year....

can you find yourself???

I love making the turkey and after all these years living in Texas,

Kurt and I have it down to perfection....

the turkey smells delicious,

I just love the feel of today...

I love taking a nap after lunch,

and I love watching all the fun movies that come on tv,

I love that it's just a 'family day'

a day for families,

with nothing else happening,

nothing else on the 'to do list'

a day of just being together

happy together.....

.....that's what I'm thankful for.

and

I love to hear the girls laughing and just being sisters.

'the gink'

2010-11-15T09:31:00.004-06:00

It's birthday week for this one....

~Candice J~

I can't believe she'll be turning 18 years old this Saturday.

my head believes it, but my heart can't,

it's too much to take in,

I've been thinking a lot about her and her 18 years of life since last week,

we've been laughing at some of the funny things we remember about her when she was little.

I have mixed emotions,

it's so fulfilling to watch your daughter grow up and yet,

you just want to keep them tiny forever.

she was the cutest little "gink"

somehow Kurt deemed her that a very young age,

it was just her...she was so "ginky" and cute!

Our Attitude of Gratitude...

2010-10-25T17:05:00.010-05:00

Our theme for this month in sacrament mtg. has been

'Gratitude'.

The speakers said a few things that touched my heart....

it seems like I have forgotten to be grateful lately and I really needed to hear what was said....

our bishop stood up at the end of the meeting and encouraged us to make a list of the things we were grateful for, with

sheets of paper or whatever we wanted to use, anything that would work for our family,

(I used a big poster cuz I figured a family of 6,

we should have alot of things to be grateful for....)

the bishop recommended to place it somewhere central where it's very noticable,

so, I went to work and hung it up first thing when I got home

and while we ate our Sunday dinner I explained it to the kids,

they all seemed excited about it,

I just asked everyone to write at least one thing a day,

and then at Thanksgiving we can take down our poster and talk about all the things we have been grateful for.

Being grateful is a commandment and when your happy,

more happiness is added upon you.

and seeing that I've been so sad lately I'm sure this will help us all out of our rut!

my favorite one is;

'I am greatful for edgication'

at last...

2010-10-25T16:06:00.006-05:00

Whilst I was gone last night, Spencer took this picture of the pink clouds,

I'm so glad when he sees something that he thinks is cool, he grabs my camera and captures the moment.

at last,

I'm feeling better.

I'll tell you, when I'm overwhelmed with life it's just too hard to try to write on this blog, because the only thing that comes out is a big fat pity party, and believe you me I know!

I have a private blog that I write in almost daily, you see, I love to write and I think writing down some of your feelings is the best free therapy, and so while I was struggling this past few weeks, I would write, and it wasn't pretty, in fact it was kind-of ugly...

but, it was free ugly therapy and it works for me,

I just didn't want to share all the ugliness on my cute little family blog.

I'm afraid someone would have read it and tried to commit me to the loony bin or something!

in a nutshell,

having Kurt gone so much has been hard, really hard!

it's been emotional and financially and physically hard to start a business, and I guess it's all just been taking it's toll the last few weeks, and I have this crazy problem that I don't like to burden others with my pity party problems so,

I don't talk about it and then that just makes me feel lonely, like I'm the only girl in the whole world with problems, I know that's not so, but sometimes it can sure feel like that!

half the time I feel like a headless chicken, and the other half I feel like a dog just chasing my tail..... pure craziness.

we only have one car right now, do you even know how past crazy it gets to taxi 4 kids around to everywhere they need to go, not to mention that our 2 teenagers aren't to happy about having to be drivin everywhere, and I don't blame them, not one little bit,

but it is what it is right now and I'm sure it won't last forever, right? right!??

I could go on but what's the point?

at least I am feeling a little better about all my craziness,

good enough to try to blog again,

and having an "Attitude for Gratitude" poster hanging in our kitchen has helped,

that was a sweet little answer to a prayer that I didn't even know I needed.

at last,

I'm coming out of my funk.

cutest picture ever...

2010-10-19T09:01:00.006-05:00

(cousin Lauren, Caitlyn, and Cj)

I have so much to blog about,

so many thoughts to write down

and back blogs to publish,

but

I'm in a small rut right now,

and, I'm afraid I won't do it justice.

I'm trying to climb out...

I had a neat experience on Sunday that is helping

and I want to blog about that later too.

but in the meantime,

I'm going to take a little morning nap

cuz

it was one of those nights last night and I was awake until 4.am.

happy napping.

What month is it?

2010-10-16T15:37:00.004-05:00

just one of the things we did today....

(October in Texas)

#10 on 10-10-10...

2010-10-10T13:23:00.011-05:00

Lynzie has been counting down her birthday week,

this was a BIG birthday for Lynzie this year....

Lynzie was turning 10 years old on

10-10-10!!!

(did I ever mention she weighed 10 lbs. when she was born,

10.8 to be exact.)

thankyou.thankyouverymuch!

she was sooo excited that she made us wake up at 6:00 am to open her present from grandpa and grandma........

she loved her present so much that this is a picture of her kissing it!

her grandma and grandpa gave her 10 new $10.00 bills...

do the math people......$100.00 buck-a-roos!!!

singing Happy Birthday to Lynzie and her pathetic cupcake!

(I'm lame, I already know!)

p.s. Abby if you read this, please try not to laugh too hard at my lameness.

thanks to grandma and grandpa we were able to go on a shopping spree.

first order of business...

ear piercing!!!.

then to build-a-bear workshop,

to make a cute puppy that she named McKenzie...

I call her TENzie McKenzie, cuz she got her for her 10th birthday!

then some clothes and shoe shopping at her two favorite stores,

which was a success.

that girl can shop!

my favorite memory of the day:

watching the confidence ooze out of Lynzie

and

listening to her talk like she was a big girl or something!

then, of course, it's always fun to end the day with cousin Lauren....

Happy Birthday Lynzie ,

we love you!

Lynzie had a perfect day!

2010-10-04T08:33:00.007-05:00

Kurt took Spencer to Salt Lake to go to his very first Priesthood session at the Conference Center,

what a memorable experience for Spencer to remember for the rest of his life!

(I'm just impressed that Kurt took pictures with his phone, thanks Kurt!)

ten

2010-10-01T23:11:00.004-05:00

in 10 days....

on 10-10-10

Lynzie will be 10 years old!