Author Archives: Karin

Jul 1 2011

Gardening

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my garden

I love gardens.  I don’t claim to be an expert on gardening although I would like to be one someday.  I think gardening is a life long project.  You are always learning more.  Everyone has their own opinion on how gardening should be done.  I think it doesn’t matter if you are a patio gardener, square foot gardener, or a row gardener as long as you love what you’re doing and are somewhat successful at it than you’re on the right path to becoming an expert. Every year we try something different in our garden.  Some things work and somethings don’t it is always a learning experience. I love the feeling you get when you walk out into your garden and can see the results of your hard work.  I’m hoping to share with you information about my garden and what I’ve planted this year.  Not only what I’ve planted but how these things can be used when harvested.  Of course I expect you to do the same.  Tell me what works for you and what doesn’t.  Tell me what you’ve done with the produce you get. I think this will be a fun learning experience.  Here are the things we have planted in the garden  so far this year.  I’ll hopefully blog about each one.

 

Vegetables: garlic, peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, green peppers, hot peppers, green beans, carrots, corn, pumpkins, cucumbers, onions

Fruits: tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, apples

Herbs: chives, Italian parsley

 

Jun 30 2011

Tennis anyone

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Okay so about 6 months ago I found out that Idaho Falls has an adult tennis league.  I had a friend call me up and ask if I wanted to join her team.  I was totally psyched about joining their team.  However found out that I couldn’t join because I’m ranked a 1/2 a point higher than their team.  The reason I’m ranked that  way is because I played in high school.  That was 14 years ago and I really haven’t played since.  So I’m really rusty and it doesn’t seem fair.  I ended up joining another team. It was a real hassle. Game play started at the beginning of June.  We have played about 6 or 7 games and I’ve only won a couple of those.  That’s okay because I remember the real reason I like to play.  It’s fun.  It really doesn’t matter if I win as long as I’m having fun with the people we play.  We only have a couple more games left in the season.  I’m a little relieved that it will be over soon because we have had issues with rescheduling rained out games. Also having problems with scheduling issues within my own family.    It is also a little tough on the budget.  We have a membership fee, a league fee, you have to buy your own balls (new can for every home game),  gas (my team is in Rexburg 30 min drive), and recently I’ve had to pay a babysitter.  I’ve easily spent over 100 dollars for playing for only 1 and 1/2 months.  So I’m hopeful that my husband will be willing to take me to the courts on Saturday mornings or afternoons.  That way I can still keep up a level of skill and also still have fun doing something I love.

In the ready position

 

Get that ball!

Jun 29 2011

Summer!!

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Yay!!!  Summer has finally reached South East Idaho.  We have had a very long winter followed by a very wet and cold spring.  It is starting to look very promising.  On Saturday June 25th the sun was out and it was warm.  The kids asked if we could get the slip and slide out.  They ran and got their swim suits on and out they went.  It took them a while to figure out how to slip on the slip and slide, but that didn’t stop them from having fun.  Corey had the idea of pulling them with a rope along the slide and they loved it.  It was nice and refreshing on a warm summer day.  Hope we get a lot more of these.  It’s been cold for too long.

Preston being pulled with the rope (sorry it's blurry)

Levi playing with the water spraying out the end

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia Sliding

Cheeeeese!

Jun 28 2011

Playing at the Park

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One of our favorite things to do in the summer is play at the park.  We are lucky enough to live close to a park.  We do spend a lot of time there but sometimes we like to explore new parks.  This particular day we went to Tauphaus park.  We have been spending a lot of time here lately because Preston also has tennis lessons at this park and instead of just dropping him off.  Levi, Sophia, and I go and explore the different playgrounds at the park(there are 4 just at Taphaus park). There are so many parks around Idaho Falls that I hope we get to explore all of them this summer.

Sophia ringing the bell

The boys monkeying around

Sophia going down the slide

Preston going down the slide

Levi and Sophia in the tube

Jun 27 2011

Levi’s Birthday

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Today was Levi’s 6th birthday.  I can’t believe he is already six.  He is the kid that keeps me on my toes.  Always has and I believe he always will.  Just a couple of weeks ago while at play group we lost him.  Yes that’s what I said lost him.  It was time to go home and we gathered all the kids only to find out that Levi was missing.  We search and called and looked and he was nowhere to be found.  My girlfriend Amy called Corey to see if maybe Levi headed home.  Sure enough there he was at home.  Later I asked him why he left.  He said he wanted to ride his bike so he went home.  That’s the way it is with him.  Once he has made up his mind to do something he sticks to it and does it.

Today we celebrated Levi’s birthday by throwing him a little party.  We tie dyed shirts and hit a pinata.  Then we opened presents had pizza and then ate cupcakes.  It was a beautiful day and the kids loved playing together.  It did get a little hot but luckily our neighbors tree provided enough shade for them to sit and eat.

My little boy is growing up.  I can’t believe he is going to be in 1st grade come this fall.  He is always quick to forgive and very loving.  He is always ready for a hug and isn’t grossed out by mommy’s kisses yet.  I love him so much.  Happy birthday Levi.

gathering the kids for the activity

showing the kids how to tie their shirts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levi pouring the bleach solution over his shirt

Broken Pinata

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levi opening presents

Levi blowing out his candle on his cupcake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Front view of the tie dyed shirts

Back view of shirts

Jun 27 2011

Summer Thunder Storms

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Something about the summer I love are the thunderstorms.  We have a really nice beautiful day and by four or five o’clock the dark clouds move in and the thunder starts to boom.  I like to sit on the porch and smell the fresh rain and watch the lightning.  I know not the safest place to be during a thunder storm and I wouldn’t recommend it.  This particular day the kids came out with me.  It was raining off and on and the lightning was far away.  Levi started to dance around and as soon as he did it started to pour.  I told him he must have a great rain dance.  He just looked at me puzzled.  Sophia joined in the dance and they had a great time.   I love evenings like this.  It’s peaceful and the kids are happy and best of all I’m happy.

Levi and his rain dance

More rain dance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia joining in

continuing the dance on the porch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 26 2011

Free Fishing Day

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The second Saturday in June is free fishing day in Idaho.  We have made it a tradition and like to take the kids somewhere and fish as a family.  This year we tried a little pond just south of town.  It was pretty crowded and we fished for about an hour and didn’t even get a nibble.  All the while we are hearing the people just down from us whooping and hollering about catching fish, after fish, after fish.  Even though it is fun and exciting to catch a fish it is also nice to sit and enjoy the nature around you.  The kids had fun and it was a nice evening to relax.  We did see a turtle in the water.  I wasn’t quick enough to get a picture but it was pretty exciting.

Levi, Sophia, and I casting out.

Just your average fishermen

May 27 2011

Big Girl Sophia

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Sophia had a birthday last week.  She turned 3 years old.  This was a really fun birthday because it is the first birthday that she really knew what was going on.  I woke her up and sang happy birthday to her and she was so excited.  All day I would spontaneously sing happy birthday to her.  Eventually it got to the point that she would also spontaneously sing happy birthday to herself.  In the evening we had her open presents.  This is also the first year that she really didn’t need help opening the gifts.  She was so excited about everything.  Then it was time for cake.  Don’t look too closely at it.  I had Corey make the cake and frosting and I decorated it.  He used butter in the frosting that wasn’t completely softened and it wouldn’t come out of the tips very well.  At some point one of the tips exploded on the cake and made a big pink mess.  So then I just gave up on making it look decent.  Sophia loved blowing out the candles it took a few tries and a little spit spray but eventually she got them out.  We cut into the cake and something was very wrong.  I asked Corey if he followed the directions and he said “yes”.  We used a boxed cake but I used half of it for Preston’s cake a couple of weeks before.  So we were using the other half for this one.  Corey remembered to follow the directions but forgot to half the recipe.  So we had too much egg, oil, and water.  I didn’t care for the texture and taste of the cake but the kids still liked it so it wasn’t a total disaster.   All in all she had a wonderful birthday and we had fun celebrating it with her.  I can’t believe she is 3, what a big girl.

Money from Grandma and Grandpa Tiffany

Hat and Purse made by Nami Edwards. The cuitest things in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She loves to dress up

It's my birthday raw raw raw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blowing out the candles

 


Cool new cup from Nami and Nampa Edwards

 

May 16 2011

Busy Weekend

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This past weekend we were really busy.  It started Friday night.  Preston had his spring concert with the Eastern Idaho Children’s Choir.  Ever since he was really young Preston has loved to sing.  He was singing “I am an Child of God” in Japanese by the time he was two.  When I found out about the local children’s choir I knew it was a good fit for him.  This has given him an opportunity to meet new people and to develop his talent.  He is learning the fundamentals of singing.  I’ve heard a great improvement from when he started.  He tells me he would like to be in choir again next year.  They had a good concert.  The only thing I would change is that they have a better sound system.  It was difficult to hear the children sing especially the youngest group.  They only had one microphone and that was only used to announce the songs.  It’s a shame because that’s why we go, we want to hear the kids sing.

Prelude Choir

Doesn't he look nice

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday we went on our first family day hike for the year.  We went to Hells Half Acre.  This is becoming a yearly tradition.  It didn’t take us as long as it did last year.  The kids are becoming seasoned hikers.  Next year we think we might do the red trail which is considerably longer.  We were a little worried about Moxie and what the lava rocks would do to her paws but she did really well and by the end she was leading us to the next marking post.  We were only there for a couple of hours and it did start to sprinkle on us a little but it was really fun.  We can’t wait to go on another hike.  Next weekend it is Fathers in Sons camp out.  The boys will get to explore a cave and Sophia and I get to have a fun girls night (princess movies, painting nails).

Hells Half Acre spring 2011

Levi Climbing down the rocks

Levi needed a little help getting down

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preston climbing down

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia, Mommy, and Moxies backside

Me: "Levi watch out" Levi: " I know dad's behind the bush"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Whole Family

Also on Saturday was our 12th anniversary.  It is hard to believe that it was 12 years ago that Corey and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Portland Oregon temple.  He has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.  Saturday night my friend Jenn came over and watched the kids for us.  We went out to dinner and then had a nice quiet drive and walk.  We love our kids but it was really nice to have an evening without them.  We played a game of name what happened to us each year that we’ve been married.  It was fun to reminisce and remember both the good times and hard times.  Really makes you appreciate the here and now.  Thanks Jenn for giving us a great evening.  I’m sure the next  12 years are going to be just as fun.

Twelfth Anniversary

Apr 29 2011

Scouts

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Preston has been in scouts for a year now.  He has now advanced from Wolves to Bears.  We attended pack meeting this week and he received his wolf patch, 1 gold arrow point, and 3 silver arrow points.  You can tell by the smile on his face that he absolutely loves scouting.  He loves being around his friends and getting to do fun stuff every week.  I’m proud of what he has accomplished and I know that this program is teaching him how to be an outstanding citizen.  I wish I could slow down time because I feel like it’s getting away from me.  My son is growing up so fast.