Jul 9 2013

Camping

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Karin

Our family loves to camp but unfortunately we haven’t had too many opportunities this year. Corey got a new job in May and he has been travelling a lot. He’ll leave Monday morning and not get back until Friday evening. This makes planning a camping trip difficult. We decided to let the kids have some fun and camp in the yard. The boys thought that camping in the backyard was awesome. Sophia tried to follow them out there with her pillow and blanket but, to her disappointment, we didn’t think she was old enough to stay out there. So we set up a tent in the living room for her. She lasted about 10 minutes before she ended up in her own bedroom on the floor. The living room was too scary for her. I’m sure that if the living room was too scary than the backyard would’ve been too much for her.

Boy’s in the backyard

Sleeping in the living room.

Jun 28 2013

End of Birthday Season

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Karin

Whew.. it’s been a great birthday season and it’s nice to be done. All of our birthdays happen between march and June. Levi’s is the last on our list. This one was a big one. He turned 8!!! He wanted to have a bowling party like his brother did last year. He invited some friends and they had a great time bowling and hanging out. The rest of the day he spent it with us and playing with his birthday gifts. At the end of the day I asked him what his favorite part of the day was and he said “spending time with my friends and family”. How cute is that? He is such a sweet boy. Next week is another big week for him. He is going to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is really excited and can’t wait to see his grandparents. Boy we really lucked out having this little guy in our life. Love him so much.

Levi and his Friends

Watching his ball hit the pins.

Opening presents

Goofing off and eating cupcakes and ice cream.

Jun 23 2013

A hiking we will go

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Karin

We have gone on a couple of hikes this season. We did Hell’s half acre again but this time we hiked a little further along the red line. Sophia walked about 2 miles but Corey had to carry her for a mile in between. It was a fun first hike.

What a cute group of people

Eating lunch

Family Photo

Corey Hiking with Sophia

Preston Shooting his new BB gun

Another hike that we went on was Palisades creek trail. It is actually a pretty easy hike just really long. In total we hiked about 5 miles (Sophia 4 miles). If you went about 1.5 miles more then we would have made it to the lake. The kids kept complaining all the way hiking in but on the way out they were just fine. On the way back we sang songs to take their minds off of hiking. I wish I had thought of that on the way in. Corey and I are hoping that we can make it to the lake next time. It was a very pretty hike.

The creek that goes along the trail.

Pretty wild flowers

Hiking the trail

More traill

More wild flowers

Corey’s sneeky bouquet. He put flowers in my backpack while I was hiking.

Mid point over look.

Jun 22 2013

Recitals

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Karin

I’m playing catch up again. So much has happened in the last month. Right before school ended we had to recitals to go to. We actually would have had three but Preston’s violin recital was the same night as his piano recital so he had to pick which one to participate in. Since he just had a performance in Orchestra a couple of months before he decided to participate in his piano recital. He did a very good job and loves playing the piano. This is his first year and he has picked it up pretty quickly. I have a recording of one of the songs he did with his dad for his recital but I can’t figure out how to download it. So maybe if I can figure it out I’ll share.

Preston’s Solo

Duet with dad.

All the students and there teacher Mrs. Smith.

Another recital we had was for Sophia. She has participated in the Let’s play music program. This program teaches the basics of music theory through songs and play. This is a program that gets the little kids a head start on playing the piano. It’s a three year program and Sophia just completed her first year. She had a lot of fun with this and she can’t wait to start again in the fall.

Teacher with all the students

Cute kids

Getting her certificate

Jun 21 2013

One of these things is not like the other

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Karin

Can you see the change? He’ll have these on for 12 months. This is phase one of a two phase plan. He just needs more space right now for all his permanent teeth to grow in.

closer look

May 16 2013

Birthday Girl

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Karin

Sophia eating her birthday breakfast.

Five years ago our family welcomed the sweetest little girl into this world. Sophia has been such a blessing in my life. She loves to follow her big brothers around especially Levi. Corey and I often fight over who’s little girl she is. Her response is always “you have to share me” then we both ask why and she says “that’s the rules of me”. Her favorite color is purple and she loves cats. This morning I asked what she wanted for breakfast she said crepes. So she got her special breakfast. She also wanted to get her hair cut. She has very thin fine hair and so a lot of styles are hard for her. She actually wanted her hair to look like the boys cuts. We compromised and cut it just above her shoulders. Tonight for her birthday dinner she wants to go to Arctic Circle ( I know every mother’s dream, right?).

I can’t believe she is 5! She will start kindergarten in the fall. She is the baby and it’s tough as a mom to see that last one start to grow older. She is the sweetest thing in my life right now and I wouldn’t trade her for all the money in the world.

Corey put up streamers

Streamers for her bedroom door.

getting haircut.

New hair cut!

Birthday dinner at Arctic Circle

Birthday cake

make a wish

Opening presents

Present from Nami and Nampa

May 11 2013

A Special Woman

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Karin

My beautiful mom and me on my blessing day.

Well it’s mothers day and I wanted to take a little time and talk about a special woman in my life, yep you guessed it, my mom.

Kathryn A. Fogg (Tiffany) my mom was born February 1st, 1955 to Clyde Ezra Fogg and Velda Anderson. Along with her twin sister Carolyn. She is one of 6 children.

Little did she know that she would also have 6 kids of her own. All of us with strong personalities. We were lucky if we all got along every once in a while. We didn’t make life easy for her. At one time she had 5 kids ages 5 and under. At another time 4 teenage girls living under the same roof. You can imagine what a struggle that was. Back then I didn’t understand what she did for us. Showing our appreciation was far and few between.

After becoming a mother myself I have a new understanding. How many diapers did she have to change? How many sleepless nights? How often has she been overwhelmed with worry? How many hours did she give up in selfless service for her children? My mom spent many hours waiting and watching. Waiting for a track event, watching a tennis match(torture in and of itself ), watching a dance performance or choir concert. Going to soccer games, football games, basketball games, softball or baseball games. So many hours of her time that she gave up freely for her children.

A few months ago a very dear friend of mine lost her mother to cancer. That has really opened my eyes. My grandmother passed away when my mom was only 28 years old. My mom has told me on several occasions that she felt cheated. She felt that she missed so much that her mom could teach her. So many moments that she could’ve used her mother’s advice, friendship, or comfort.

I live 14 hours away from my mom and I’m lucky if I get to see her more than twice a year. I was lucky enough to really get close to my mom 9 years ago when we lived in Grants Pass. One of the hardest days of my life was leaving and moving so far away. You can say that I’m a little jealous of my sisters who live 3, 4, and 6 hours away. I try and make every moment last with my mom. Wether she gets to visit or I’m just talking on the phone with her. If anything happened to her I wouldn’t want to feel cheated. So I try and make the best of our time together.

Mom I hope you know how much I appreciate you. I love you so much and miss you everyday. I’m lucky that I still have you in my life. I wish that I could spend more time with you. The time I do get with you is so special and precious. I want everyone to know how great and wonderful you are.

If any of you don’t feel the same about my mom as I do than you need to spend more time with her. One thing I love about my mom is she is open and honest. She will tell you how it is. It can ruffle a few feathers every once in a while but I know that I can always trust her to tell me the simple truth.

Your faith, mom, is so strong. At times that I felt there was no hope you reminded me that I’m not alone in this world. That I have people who love me and a Heavenly Father who watches over me. There have been times in your life that you could’ve simply given up but you didn’t. You stayed strong and have become even stronger in those moments. This is what has made you the great woman that you are. Always remember that you are loved! I’m blessed to have my mom as my best friend. She is there when I need an ear to hear, a shoulder to cry on, and a swift kick in the butt. I love you mom and wish I could be there for mother’s day or for that matter every day.

Happy Mothers Day Mom.

Mom with Angelyca and Preston

Mom and Kesiah

Mom with 2005 grandbabies Teylah, Levi, and Geoffry

Mom with 2005 grandbabies Taylah, Levi, and Geoffry

Mom with Preston, Mackenzie, and Levi

Grandma and Grandpa with Grandkids 2009

Tiffany’s 2011

Apr 23 2013

Birthday time for P.I.E

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Karin

11 years ago I became a mom for the first time. Such a scary but beautiful time in my life. I can’t believe that 11 years has past. I can tell you that I feel very blessed to have Preston in my life. So funny that when he was younger he hated it when people would call him other names. For example his grandpa T. would call him George (he does it to all the kids) and Preston would get so upset. Now he loves it when people call him PIE. Those happen to be his initials. Preston has always been so compassionate toward others. He has a wonderful spirit and I can always count on him to make good decisions. He is a great helper and always the first to tell me how much he appreciates the things I do. I love this guy and wouldn’t trade him for anything. Here is 11 years of photos from ages 0-11. Now everyone can see how much he has grown.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Apr 4 2013

Easter

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Karin

Right before church. Looking pretty all dressed up.

We had a great Easter Sunday last week. We did our traditional Easter egg dyeing on Saturday evening. After church on Sunday we had the kids look for eggs in the backyard. This has become a tradition of ours this is the 7th or 8th year that we have been doing this. We prefer doing the egg hunt in our back yard rather than fight the crowds of people at the public hunts. This year felt a little different than most. I think next year we aren’t going to focus so much on the Easter bunny but rather what Easter is all about our Saviour. I think we might have been missing that a little this year. Corey and I did enjoy singing with the choir at church and when I asked the kids at dinner what they thought Easter was they did tell me all they learned about Jesus Christ. So it wasn’t totally missed. Maybe it was just me but next time we are going to remember a little better.

Dyeing Easter eggs

Preston really getting into the hunt

Levi looking for his eggs

Eggs in a nest. (Corey made the nest for Sophia)

Aren’t they just so cute?

Mar 28 2013

Arrow of Light

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Karin

crossing over and his final goodbye to the pack.

Preston is moving on from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. We had our final pack meeting where he received his Arrow of Light. This is quite a feat for him. His Grandpa Tiffany challenged him a year ago that if he not only got his arrow of light but also achieved all 20 activity pins that he would make him a special arrow of light plaque. At first, I was pretty sceptical that Preston could pass off all 20 pins. After all this is normally a two year program that our church crams into one. One of the pins was aquanaut which to pass off you need to have quite a lot of swimming skill. We had trouble even getting him to float on his back. Last summer we spent 2 weeks at Grandma and Grandpa Tiffany’s and by the end Preston was diving down to the bottom of their 8 foot deep pool. When we came back from their house he went swimming with his scout troop and he was jumping off the 10 ft diving board. This would have been unheard of just a few weeks before. Once he passed off this activity pin I knew that he could do all 20. With a lot of hard work he did it. His Grandpa was pretty upset that he couldn’t present the plaque at the Arrow of Light Ceremony. It would be nice to live near them but grandpa will get to present it to Preston in July when they come to visit.

Receiving his arrow of light

getting his boy scout kerchief

proud family

In A Nutshell

Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together– Elder M. Russell Ballard

Author Archives: Karin