Kari Bonadio

Mexico

2008-08-31T18:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months so I figure it's time to post about our trip to Cancun Mexico. Michael parents took us to Cancun for a week. We stayed at one of the most amazing hotels I have ever seen.
I was gorgeous. Our Hotel was right on the beach.

We went four wheeling on beach and horse back riding into the ocean. We went snorkeling and had a blast the entire time.

These are just a few pictures of us having fun in the sun.
This trip was definitely the most unreal vacation I have ever been on.

I love animals. I was siked when Michael committed to going bare back horse riding with me. I thought for sure he would chuckle in my face at the suggestion. He had fun but I had a blast.

I'd say the best part was just being with Michael for 24 hours a day for 7 days strate. I never get to see that much anymore. So it was nice to just play for an entire week.

I tried to convince Michael to let us just pick up and move to Mexico. There are a lot of jobs down there and from the looks of it the economy is doing well. I have always wanted to be a beach bum. He didn't take the bait.

My Home

2008-08-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

My mom keeps saying "I don't know what your home looks like." So I'm trying to show you what my life looks like.

Some of these photos are from X-mas.

This is St. Charles in the Spring.

Do Something Today

2008-08-25T16:30:00.001-07:00

The days turn into weeks and weeks into years and now I find my self celebrating my 3rd year of marriage. I remember the excitement of finally finding my eternal companion. I had ached for my partner for so long. With him by my side, I could really be better.
I watched women like Sister Brown. I took notes on how she left love notes on her kids mirrors and how she posted scriptures in random places we couldn’t avoid. I was one of the kids she dragged out of bed @ 5:00 in morning for family prayer. It was obvious that I could do it. I could be like her someday.
I have this image of a wife and a mother I have always planned on being. Someday when I’m 25, married in the temple, with 2 kids and a little home… I would be there. I will be following Sister Browns example and have that immense capability to love and direct my family.
I went home to Vegas and I sat at that familiar kitchen table, I listened to the sounds of my past. It made me reevaluate my success in my plan. It hit me hard like a smack in the face. I’m not there. I’m 25 in September, and I’m not there.
Have we been guilty of declaring, “I’ve been thinking about making some course corrections in my life. I plan to take the first step—tomorrow”? With such thinking, tomorrow is forever. Such tomorrows rarely come unless we do something about them today.
So I made a plan. A list of things I must do to get there. The hardest is to read my scriptures every night. I speak to God all the time in my thoughts but do I ever give him the opportunity to talk back to me?
How do I become what I want to become? Service… I need to give what I can. So I made a list of things that would be service to my family. Make dinner for my husband, keep the house clean, do the Laundry. All basics, being a wife 101. Listen to spiritual music, go to church for all three hours, do my calling, visit teach.
It’s hard. I’m going on week two. But I feel better. I don’t think I understand a thing more about the gospel. But I find hope. I’m doing all that I physically can to make my life the way I planed. I know God will help me figure it out.

My Garden August 10, 2008

2008-08-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

I would even go as far as to say I was succsesful at my first garden atempt. At this point I have a list of plants that have survived. This purple flower is a Zinnia. I have them every where. They are a huge bush like annual. These yellow one's are black eyed susans. I love them. They are on my next years list. I did well with peppers this year. I learned a new fact about them threw experience. Did you know how/why red peppers turn red? They turn red because they have been left on the plant long enoufe to let the sun change them. I had no clue until my peppers started changing color on me.

Over all I would say I'm a addicted. I thought I was addicted before I started. Now I know I can change things for the better. I love nature. I love the way a seed can become so much more than a seed. Simple but amazing.

I would say we averaged 5 cucumbers a week. We had so many I didn't know what to do with them. I don't even realy like cucumbers. But I had to give them a shot.

I would guestimate that I harvested over 30 this year. At least. We had cucumber in every thing.

These are my Sun Flowers. I was sad to see that I had so few. I planted 2 acre's worth but I only had about 10 survive and flower. But they are breath taking and huge.

Pumpkins! I can't wait until Halloween. I should have a few ready for carving. I have learned that pumpkins rot from the bottom up. So always keep some mulch under them to keep the out of the soggy ground. Japense beatle are also a big problem with these bad boys.

This is our cute little swing. You can't tell from this picture but there are huge red zinnias to the left of the swing. My Hollyhawks are behind it and my pumpkins are next to my large ornamental grass on the left. Pictures don't do plants justice. I think I just need a better camera.

I love Holly hocks. These are bieneials. They are so pritty. They stand about four feet tall. I was so surprised to see them blooming. They shouldn't be this full for at least a year or two. I got lucky. These are a must have in every garden.

I have no clue what kind of flower this is. I only know its a suckulent. It was a pleasent surprise to find that they bloom hot pink flowers in the fall. They are so fun. I was so lucky to get them from a nice lady on Freecycle.

I completly endorse Freecycle. Its such a cool resorce.

This is my $6 Hydrangea. Yes that's correct I saed $6.00. I know! It's amazing. I tend to be the best bargain plant shopper. And best of all, it's actually alive. Hydrangea's are the hardest plant to keep alive. They are very tempermental.

This is one of 5 baby watermellons. They all made it with out roting.

These are Elephant Ears. They come as a Bulb and tun into the most unusual mamoth plant. I just love it.

I sunflowers! I found my self disappointed in these big boys though. They are just to huge. They topple over. I think our tallest sunflower got to about 13 ft. tall.

This is how much space I have to fill. I love our big back yard. But I'm used to walls and defined privacy. So It's hard for me to get used to not having a fence. My large garden is the that tiny strip of green next to the red fence in the back. You can barley see it. So I need to fill it all up next year. ... well maybe not all. I don't think I have the energy.

I wont try lettuce next year. It just grossed me out to much to eat it. It just sat there in the dirt. It's not cute... definetly not the funest plant.

This is my baby pear. I have a bunch doing well. I love my pear tree. We have two peach tree's in the works. Some day will have tons of free fruit.

Teton

2008-08-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

I love this DOG. She is my blond baby girl. Teton was named after our FAVORITE Mountains the Grand Tetons. Shes a sweet pure bread Golden Retreiver. She the best $300 I have ever spent.

Teton is so neady. She hast to be touching one of us at all times. She just follows us around the house. She lays on our feet where ever we stop. She has this funny groan when we keep moving, like we are inconvenienceing her. It's so funny.
Teton has a guilty conscience. She is so smart and sneaky. She will get a hold on Michaels socks. But instead of hiding in the corner and enjoying her new toy, she brags about her sneakness by strutting in front of us and growling. It's so funny.

Her best friend is her tail. She could chase her tail for hours. No matter what happends her best friend is there to chew on and chase. I hope she grows out of it. She get a little to ralled up.

Let me introduce you to my husband.

2008-06-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

His name is Michael Bonadio… He’s Italian… and now I am too.

He basically only likes Burgers, Pizza’s, Fries and BBQ Chips. He’s not interested in anything else.

Michael was born in Wooster OHIO. He moved around a lot as a kid. He has lived in Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, Idaho and now Missouri. He’s a country boy.

He’s one of those guys that can fix anything. I can show him just about anything, and he can make it for me with out any directions.

He’s Smart. He knows all the stupid stuff you could possibly think of. If you say something that he’s thinks is incorrect, which is common for me. He’ll research the topic until he can politely prove you wrong.

Michael finds satisfaction in researching his dreams in his free time. He spends every night on the internet hunting for the most reasonable and practical motorcycle, truck or sand rail.

Michael is not a morning person. He’s grumpy for a week when he hast to wake up at 4:00 am for work.

Michael served his mission in Utah.

Michael has never been in trouble. He could be categorized as a goody goody. He gets his rebellion out of by eating food his mother would not approve of for dinner. And that’s the kind of guy I have always wanted.

Michael is Cheap. We save every penny we can. He always finds the best deal, weather it be peanut butter of a camera.

Michael is a home body. He’s great with people but would rather spend the night alone watching a movie and cuddling… yes I said cuddling.

Michaels a mama’s boy. He actually calls his mom … moma.

He only watches the History Channel, the Weather Channel, the News, the Speed Channel and the Discovery Channel.
The best way to get Michael to like you is to join him in what I call a “complaint session.” It’s so funny to watch. If you can both agree on the same complaint he will love you. It’s not really about the topic it’s more the bonding that happens with you both agree to disagree with someone else.

Michaels big on respect. He will do anything for you if you are genuine, respectful and kind to him.

I had to add this Sexy picture of michael in High shcool with his jeep. LOL He's too funny.

The garden is the poor man's apothecary. ~German Proverb

2008-05-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Garden Layout
I tend to go way overboard with everything I do. So of course my first garden is about a ½ acre long and 6 ft deep. I’m not a patient person. I want the entire Garden done the way I want it and I want it done yesterday.
So Michael has been more than tolerant and supportive. He let me tear out his beautiful Grass with a Sod Cutter. Well I guess I shouldn’t say me. He tore out the grass with a manual sod cutter... for me. Then we sodded some of our splochy spots. Then I started to till the ground…. Tilling sux. So my neighbor let Michael use his tiller. So he tilled the ground for me…. sound like I have been doing a Lot of work doesn’t it?? 20 man hours later we are left with this. A pile of dirt!

I just had to add how Teton feels about the mud hole. She just rolls in it.

These are my Peonies. They are absolutly huge. They are the size of my head and they smell like roses.

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

2008-05-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

I seeded on the evening of 5.5.08
I ran out and seeded the moment I got home. It only took me about 30 minutes to put all the money I shouldn’t have spent on seeds, in the ground. All that money is just sitting in dirt, waiting. And then it rained for two days straight. That sounds like a good thing but It’s not. My seeds are swimming in water. They could be rotting away. It’s humid, hot and rainy. You would think this the ideal for germination… but I find myself stressing about these stupid seeds sitting in the dirt. These pictures inculed are simply informative. I'm sure you don't speek the crazy garden language yet. Now keep in mind that these are of flowers that have been around for at least 3 years. It takes years to get most flowers to bloom this well.

Seeded :

Zinnias

Moonflower

Lilly

Cannas

African daisy’s

Asstible

Hydrangea

Sun Flowers

Holly Hocks

Sweet pea

Watermelon, Cucumber, Tomato , Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Pepperchiny’s, Squash, Lettucel, Pumpkins an many more flowers.

Arlene and Roses

2008-05-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

"By the time one is eighty, it is said, there is no longer a tug of war in the garden with the May flowers hauling like mad against the claims of the other months. All is at last in balance and all is serene. The gardener is usually dead, of course." ~Henry Mitchell, The Essential Earthman, 1981

I’ve always been a little to interest in flowers. When I was a little girl my grandma would let me help her water the roses.Of corse I always over watered them. She had at least 30 rose bushes.

Then after a long day of gardening on the ranch she would let me sleep in the princess bed. Each morning she would bring me a freshly cut rose in a tiny rose bud vase and put it by the bed while I slept. There is nothing better than waking up to the smell of roses.

I love my grandma … I guess gardening is a peace of her… and I want it to be a peace of me. Her name is Arlene. I have been begging Michael for years to let us name our first girl after her… but her name Arlene is not the most modern… or cute. But when I here her name I think of an absolute saint and the smell of roses in the morning. And I hope my daughter is just like her some day.

Our First Home

2008-04-28T18:02:00.001-07:00

This is our house. Yes I finnaly took a picture of it. It's an Idaho house. We love it. It' s a perfect little peace of country in the middle of Saint Charles MO.

Michael is just an amazing craftsmen. He made these for me.

My first Bulbs.

She's just too cute for me.

Hidden Valley Ski Resort "Winter 07"

2008-04-28T17:52:00.000-07:00

The BIG Mountain... I'm sorry HILL at Hidden Valley Ski Resort where I taught snowboarding this last season.

Mary had a black eye because of nose surgery. Kayla found out she was pregnant and I had the worst flue of my life. Come rain or shine we had fun.

A day in the park

2008-04-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

Supercross

2008-04-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

We went to the supercross at the edward jones dome for Michaels Christmas Present...

The race was on April 19th not 1.1.04 LOL

This is the Best shot I could get at the race. We need a new camera. We had great seats this time. We've decided to make this an annual event. We had a blast.

Next year I'm wearing a Shirt that says " Thunder from down under" for Chad Reed.

Ohio

2008-04-20T06:27:00.000-07:00

I’m a few weeks behind. I’m horrible at this blog.

About a month ago Michael’s Grandma Died. We went to OHIO for the funeral. I didn’t even know Ohio existed until I met Kiana from Ohio. And it’s all she talked about. I never thought I would actually go there. It was beautiful.

We spent about 6 hours in a mini van with Michaels parents, Tracy and Anthony and their 3 year old.
Yes…. I said three year old. Vincent was a really patient sweet kid traped in a car for 6 hours but… this was Michael’s first experience with a toddler in a confined space for 6 hours. LOL it was funny to watch Michael. This is Michaels "I'm being as patient as I can but I'm going crazy face. "
And this is what Ohio looks like in March.

Our family of 2 is now a family of 3

2008-04-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Finally…We have been married for almost three years. That’s three years of begging. Three years of whining, pouting and sulking. It’s time to add to the Bonadio family tree.
Meet our little Girl Teton. She’s was born 11 weeks ago on a gorgeous farm in Cape Girardeau MO. She’s a rambunctious golden retriever who loves to snuggle. We named her Teton after the famous Idaho Mountains we miss so much. She sits, stays, comes and understands no bite. I just love her to death. She sleeps on my lap every night as we watch TV.
The other day she gulped down a baby mouse. Sick, I know. But she’s still alive and well so I guess its ok.
She’s my little blonde baby and we lover her.

Holly Hocks

2008-03-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

I love flowers. The coolest thing about living in Missouri is that things actually grow…. From seed… I know it’s amazing. I have been working on my future cottage garden sense January. I started with a bunch of paper cups, dirt and seeds. That’s all you need.
I have a new found flower! Holly Hocks! I bet that's a new one for you dessert dwellers. I have about 50 growing in my back room. Most of them are only three inches tall but they will be beautiful next year. They are Biennials, meaning they come back every other year. Holly hocks can grow to be over 6 feet tall. They are great plants to create privacy. They are just incredible. I can't wait to plant them along my fence line.

Sweet Peas are amazing too. I was afraid that I was killing them for a while. They were just getting too big for the tiny little cup I planted them in. They are about 8 inches tall and just toppling over. So I did some research and found out that they are a viney plant that climbs up walls like Ivey. It has the sweetest smelling blossoms. I can’t wait.

My First Post- my life in a nutshell

2008-02-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to start a blog for my little family of two....and I'm so excited to finally be able to sit down and do it! The concept of a blog was introduced to me by my old friend Nicole Riggs. It was so nice to see what she was up to... I quickly found links to those long lost friends I have not seen in so many years. So I thought this would be a fun way to let everyone see what's going on in my life. I'm hesitant to start this blog because our little family consists of only two people. We have yet to start the baby thing... BUT I figured I'm on the other side of the freaking country. If I don't do this blog, my family and friends won't know what’s happening.

Life has been good to me...and it just keeps getting better! I'm learning that life is much too short to loose touch with the people you love. Life is meant to be enjoyed, to find happiness with those who love you. It's an experience and I want mine to be a great one! So here's the beginning of my little blog--my life in a nutshell...

Michael and I got married in September of 2005. We moved out to Saint Louis MO after graduating from BYU-Idaho in Dec 2006. We bought our first home last August. It's a little white ranch house with red shutters. I love it. It's my little peace of Idaho in the Middle of Missouri. Our home is on a half-acre lot. My dream is to fill it with ALL the plants and flowers I can muster. I can't wait until spring! I have about 200 seeds germinating as we speak...well as I speak. Come mid-April, I will be spending every free moment creating my English cottage garden around our couple swing. Don't ask me how I will find time to do this. We both work like crazy. My dreams keep me going. I have no greater happy thought than a beautiful cottage garden on my own peace land ... if only I could convince Michael that a puppy would make life a little more complete....

Michael and I love to play outdoors. We love to ride our dirt bikes… but we have found that playtime is hard to come by. The closest sand dune is an hour away but we make it as much as possible.
My black baby (Jeep Wrangler) has been a great source of emotion. I love it!… well I love it in the Spring and Fall, the Winter and hot humid Summers… not so much. She doesn’t have AC and she’s black. But it’s a blast when you can take the top off and enjoy good weather. She’s a gas-guzzler so Michael’s trying to let me down easy. Someday she will need to go and we will have to upgrade to a fuel-efficient family car.

In the meantime Michael and I have fun in the small town of Saint Charles (suburb of STL).This place has great walking and bike riding trails. We are busy but our days revolve around each other. I knew I'd love marriage. Being a wife is my greatest skill and calling. Life is good.