Tag Archives: karin

Apr 3 2012

Spring Break in Colorado Day 1 & 2:

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This year, since we are having great weather, we decided to go visit Corey’s parents for spring break.  The first day we spent most of it in the car.  Usually the drive is about 10 hours.  This time we wanted to go through Utah to hand off some baby stuff to Corey’s brother and his wife.  We left at 6:30am and got to Orem by 10:30am.  We got to talk and go out to lunch with Russell and Hannah.  She looks so cute with her little baby bump.  It was so nice to clean out our storage area and get rid of most of the baby stuff.  By 12:30pm we were back on the road.  Colorado here we come.  We stopped in Echo canyon and Corey tells me that his 3rd great aunt was named after the canyon because she was born there while migrating with the pioneers.  So we had to stop and take a picture.  We also got to see some ground squirrels up close.  We did finally make it to Greeley Colorado by 9:30pm.  We were tired and it didn’t take us long to get settled.

Echo Canyon rest area

Ground squirrel

Echo Canyon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day two was a blast.  Corey’s parents had to work for a few hours that day so we decided to go to the family funplex in Greeley.  We didn’t bring the camera because we were afraid it would get wet.  This place had a zero depth water play area, a lazy river, a couple of big slides and a normal swimming area.  We all had a blast playing in the water.  It was easy to spend a few hours there.  When we got back we ate some lunch and walked over to Nammi’s work to pick her up.  We went for a walk around the park.  That is when we noticed how nice and warm it was.  It ended up being in the upper 70s.  By the time we made it back to grandma and grandpa’s we were pooped.   Corey and Sophia took a nice nap in the recliner.  The boys had fun playing with all the old/new to them toys.  These toys were toys that Corey played with when he was a kid.  We thought this was a great day and so much fun.

Preston playing with an old set of bricks (lego type toys)

Levi climbing into the large cabinet full of toys

Sophia playing with an old farm set

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daddy and his little girl taking a nap.

 

 

 

Feb 2 2012

Ouch

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Okay, I kind of have a feet thing.  I hate feet they are gross and disgusting and I normally would never post pictures of my foot.  Today I make an exception.  So if you also don’t like to look at feet feel free to skip.

For a couple of months I’ve been meeting with some friends to play volleyball/basketball on Wednesday nights.  We started playing volleyball and never got quite enough people to play so then we started playing basketball.  I don’t play either sport very well but liked doing it for the exercise and also for the company.  Well last night things turned sour for me.  After I went up for a shot I landed on a friends foot.  That was the end of that.  My foot quickly rolled off and, yep, it’s sprained.  This isn’t the first time I have sprained this particular foot.  Actually it’s the fourth.  It never feels good and takes a long time to get back to normalcy but I have to say that with each sprain it gets a little easier.  Not the pain that still sucks but at least I know what to do about it now.

I remember the first time I sprained my ankle.  I was probably around nine.  We were getting ready to head out for Disneyland.  My grandpa was watching us while my parents were getting some last minute things for our trip.  We were racing back and forth in the front lawn and at some point I rolled my ankle while turning to run the other way.  I went in the house and my siblings convinced me not to tell grandpa, mom, or dad.  I don’t blame them.  We were afraid my parents would cancel the trip.  It wasn’t until about 4 hours into the trip when we stopped at a rest stop and we all got out to “get the wiggles out.”  My siblings again started to race, not wanting to be left out, I also tried and immediately realized I couldn’t walk on it let alone run.  My mom noticed and the story unfolded.  We did end up going to Disneyland where I spent a lot of that time in a baby stroller. Very embarrassing for a nine year old but I suppose I deserved it.  I did ask my mom if we had told her about it before we left if we would have gone and she said probably not.  So my siblings and I were justified in not telling her …right?!.

I’m really thankful that when I sprained it this time that I had great friends who helped me out.  One had a compression bandage in hercar.  We were at the church so another went and got ice from the kitchen.  We got it all wrapped up and they helped me out to a car and drove me home.  Another friend followed in my car.  They were so great and I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish playing.  I’m also grateful for a wonderful husband who was there for me when I got home to carry me into the house.  He also stayed up with me until the pain subsided a little and I could relax.  Well I guess this is one way for me to get a day off.  Not able to do much around here so I just need to learn how to relax and enjoy it.

Where'd the ankle go?

These pictures don't do it justice it really looks gross

 

Dec 24 2011

Christmas Letter

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I think it is sad how more letters are being emailed/posted every year.  I love to display the letters we get on our hall wall.  It has been a really fun tradition that I have carried on from my childhood.  Unfortunately last year we received so few letters that I didn’t even hang the line up.  I made it work this year but it seems it’s starting to look more and more pathetic each year.  I know it’s easier to send via email or other electronical means.  So I really appreciate all those who took the time to send us a card this year.

I did send out letters this year to a select few.  I like to make my own cards and it can be very time consuming.  I had only made 26 this year so I’m very sorry if you didn’t receive one.  I try and send a letter to all those who sent me one the year before but inevitably we always miss one or two people.  So if you didn’t get one from us this year here is the link to a copy of the letter that went out with the cards.  I’m sorry and I’ll try and send one for you next year.  Although if you follow this blog you probably already know everything that is going on in our lives so this might be a repeat.  I hope you all have a very wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Letter 2011

Nov 5 2011

Straw Maze

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One of the things I love about fall are the corn and straw mazes.  Corey and I used to go to corn mazes and we always had fun.  One year we decided to try the local straw maze.  It’s in Archer Idaho near Big Juds (If you’ve ever lived around here you know about Big Juds).  We found that we enjoy the straw maze much more than the corn mazes.  So that’s been a tradition for us for a few years now.  We like the straw because it’s nice and soft to walk on and you don’t have rows that you keep twisting your foot in.  We also like how it muffles the sound and you really don’t feel like anyone else is in the maze until you round a corner and wallah there they are (I bet it’s pretty cool at night).  Also you can’t really tare a part the bails of hay like they do the corn.  So the maze looks the same the last day as it did the first.  This year they had some tunnels built into the maze which the kids absolutely loved.  If you haven’t tried the straw maze you should.  It can be a little claustrophobic at times so if you have trouble with that maybe you don’t want to try this.  Each of us took turns leading the way through the maze getting hopelessly lost and when we got to the finish we started it all over again.  This is a great family activity.

Jul 14 2011

Reed’s Dairy

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We are so fortunate to live so close to Reed’s Dairy.  It’s our favorite place to go on a hot summer day with the family.  Last night was especially great because Reed’s was celebrating that they were voted #1 in the area.  Reed’s gave out free ice cream and cake.  They started to hand out the cake and ice cream at 6:00 pm.  So we headed out after dinner and got there around 5:50.  A line had already started but it wasn’t too long by then.  We got our cake and ice cream pretty quickly and were able to beat the crowd.  We sat down and enjoyed.  I didn’t tell the kids we were going there so it was a nice surprise for them.  I love these moments I have with my little family.

enjoying the cake and ice cream

Having fun

 

 

Jul 5 2011

4th of July

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I hope everyone else had a great 4th like we did.  It ended up being a pretty busy day.  Corey was gone before I even had a chance to wake up.  Every year the city puts on a 5k fun run that runs the parade route.  This is Corey’s second year of doing traffic control for that event.  He was gone by 6:30 am.  He made it back just in time for us to head out and see the parade.  We had a great time at the parade.  Sophia looked so cute dressed all patriotic.  After the parade we went home and packed up a lunch and headed out to meet some friends at Gem Lake.  The kids loved eating and swimming with their friends.  We spent a good 2 hours there.   When we got home we finally had some time to relax.  The kids and I watched a movie while dad took a nap.  After dinner it was time to head out to the firework show.  Idaho falls has a pretty big show.  It’s actually the biggest firework show I have ever seen.  They light them off at the greenbelt and since we don’t live too far from there we only have to go a couple of blocks to get a great view of the fireworks.  By the time we got home it was around 11:00 pm and the kids were beat.  We had such a wonderful day and I feel such a great gratitude for all the men and women in the world who have made it possible for us to have the freedom that we do.

Sitting and waiting for the parade to come

Sophia waving her flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids swimming at Gem Lake

Amy and I watching the kids swim

 

 

 

 

 

 

playing frozen bubble while waiting for the fireworks

fireworks

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!

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

Nov 16 2008

Karin’s Rantings II

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“All Natural”

I recently received an email from my little sister about how she has been able to lose all her baby fat.  I guess people have been asking her “what is your secret”.  If you know my sister she eats very healthy and exercises regularly.  She is also taking a supplement that she says helps.  My bet is that my sister lost her weight because of diet and exercise and not because of the supplement. Whether or not this supplement helps is not what I’m about to rant about but it is the way that this supplement was presented that makes me a little wary.

I’m sure all of you have heard from time to time the term “All Natural” pertaining to food, vitamins, creams, and many other things.  It bothers me that we take that phrase and immediately think “oh that must be good for me”.  Well someone could sell you a tape worm in a pill form (which has happened) and call it “all natural” and they wouldn’t be lying about it.  Would you take it then if you knew it was a tape worm?  Most of us would pass.  I have a bachelors degree in community health from BYU and one of the subjects we talked about in my training was how dangerous supplements and herbal remedies can be.

Number one warning about supplements and herbal remedies is that they aren’t required by the FDA to pass any kind of test to be considered safe or healthy for you.  In fact the supplement is presumed safe and put onto the shelves for the consumers to use.  If the FDA receives many reports about adverse reactions to a supplement only then will they warn the public.

Another problem with supplements is there is no way to know if it does what it says it will do. I remember back in 2002 my parents were taking echinacea to prevent them from getting colds.  They even convinced me to take it a couple of times.  Echinacea was a popular supplement that people took because it claimed it could prevent and treat colds. In 2005 a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.  It concluded that echinacea did not have any effect on colds.  Those given echinacea and those given a placebo had the same effect. Meaning essentially taking echinacea is the same as taking a sugar pill.

There are also dangerous herbs out there that can actually cause kidney failure, liver problems, and even death.  I’m not saying all herbs are bad, you just need to know what is in a supplement and know what the risks are. Don’t just take something because it says “All Natural”.  Do your research.  Make sure your research isn’t biased.  If you are getting your information from the company that is selling or producing or in anyway connected with the supplement, that information will most likely be biased.  Do the research yourself before you try any supplement.  Don’t just take your friend’s advise.  Also once you’ve done your research then discuss it with your doctor.  Just be smart about taking supplements.  Don’t be duped by the “All Natural” phrase.

Sep 17 2008

Karin’s Rantings

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This section is just a place for me to ask questions.  Get things off my chest.  And just rant.  I don’t expect anyone to reply or for there to be any sort of solution.  But any comments are welcome.

Who Am I?

The age old question Who Am I?  I thought maybe I knew me but somewhere along the way I’ve lost the me in me.  If that makes sense.  Who knows when it happened maybe when I got married or after the first child. Doesn’t matter when it did all that matters is that it did.   If you ask me my favorite color I couldn’t answer.  I know what it used to be.  Ask me what I like to do.  I usually say sew or scrap book.  I really don’t enjoy doing those things it’s just something I do because I feel there is a need for it.  I used to love to ski, play tennis, sing, or hang out with my friends.  After kids those seem to go to the wayside.

So how do you reclaim the me in me?  I’ve read in parenting magazines that you are supposed to set aside some alone time.  Alone what?  When is that supposed to happen at 5:30 in the morning before my kids are awake and I’m a zombie, or maybe after the kids go to sleep and I’m exhausted.  Or do I count the brief half hour I get to run to the store without my kids while my husband takes a turn.

How is it that I have forgotten who I am but my husband keeps discovering who he is?  Since we have gotten married he has discovered that he likes to cook, hike, garden, and fish.  Which of course he always seems to find time for.

Even if I was able to find time for something, what would it be?  If I don’t know who I am how do I know what I would like to do with my alone time?  Also to do some things it cost money.  Where is that supposed to come from.  I know we don’t have a tree out back just waiting for me to unload all it’s gold.  We are still trying to pay off student loans.  We can’t afford a membership to a gym, club, or choir or something else I may or may not enjoy.  So for the moment I’m stuck trying to figure out where I went and how I should be found.