April Break

(I wrote this one week ago.  But I just today downloaded photos from the camera!  So here it is, a little late.)

Well we have returned from our Arizona vacation!

It was so nice to catch up with my side of the family, and enjoy warm temperatures for a couple of days.  We started out in Phoenix and Tucson, and they are warm places.  We visited with Grandma ("Nana" to the kids), Mom ("Grandma Kay" to the kids), and my Aunt Joan, and my cousin Jessica and her family.  Kim came down with some of her family, too.

David and Nana :)

In the middle of the week we took a jaunt up to the Grand Canyon.  Amazing.  Stunning.  Surreal.  This is really a painting, isn't it?  I tried to imagine what it would be like to be an explorer, discovering the Grand Canyon for the first time.  What a fabulous place!

The Grand Canyon, however, located in northern Arizona, is NOT warm in the month of April!  Nope.  The south rim is still 7200 feet in elevation or therabouts, so in April it's cold and windy.  We lucked out on our BIG HIKE day, that the wind died down to almost nothing.

It's windy, and we squint into the sun, but here we are!

see our family, tiny in the corner?

We took hundreds of photos.  Of course the pictures cannot do it justice, but it's better than nothing.  I just couldn't believe it was so varied and majestic.  Just breath-taking.

Teresa is happy to drive her own ATV

ATVs.  The first day, we went on an ATV tour.  Lots of fun!  It was a 40-mile trek through desert trails and a box canyon with steep rocks up the sides.  The kind of setting where you think you're in a western movie and any minute there will be an ambush, with cowboys jumping out from behind the boulders up ahead to steal the money box from the stagecoach.

THE BIG HIKE.  We hiked the Grand Canyon on Wednesday, from Rim to River to Rim in one day.  Our timing was good (April) because it wasn't too hot.  I can imagine that July and August are pretty stifling with the heat.  Actually in the beginning of our hike, it was quite cold: we started at 5:25 a.m., and it was 27 degrees outside!  But there was almost no wind.  We layered, and that made a big difference.

We got to see the sunrise, very nice.

Of course at the Grand Canyon, you are hiking down first.  Signs everywhere said, "Down is optional.  Up is mandatory!"

In the beginning you are fresh, and of course you are going down.  We made it to the Colorado River by 9:00 a.m.  Cross the suspension bridge, walk along the river for a little while, cross another bridge and start your way up.  The way up is full of switchbacks.  More and more switchbacks!  The last mile and a half of switchbacks I thought I was going to die.  Frank and I got slower, and ... slower.  The kids felt it, but they weren't as slow as their parents.  Ugh!

But the kids finished by 2:30.  We (Frank and I) were about 15 minutes behind them.  9 hours of hiking!  I was so proud of David, Teresa and Kara.  They did great!

Kara and I stop to take in the view.  Still COLD at this point!

Mind you, NONE OF US COULD WALK the next day!  Ugh!  The park employees call the day-after-hiking-staggering the "Canyon Crawl."  After laying down for the night, you wake up and can't quite move like you know you should be able to!  Your muscles rebel and you step gingerly.

We drove out the east entrance as we left, to get some different views.  Still awe-inspiring.

Kara and her Uncle Ray

SMALL PLANE RIDE.  The last day, we didn't leave to fly home until the middle of the afternoon, so Kathi & Ray had come up in their 2-seater plane from Albuquerque.  Ray took all of us up, one at a time, to loop around and see Phoenix from a different perspective!  It was a treat.

Teresa climbing aboard

So all around, it was a great week for us.  We were saddened to hear of and watch the news about the Boston Marathon bombs and other events of the week back here.  But is is also heartening to hear of the good stories--how so many people stepped up to help people they didn't even know.

Have a good week!  Kari

April Events

I think Spring is officially here, even in New England!

Now remember I did not say it was warm yet, by any means.  But the fat robins in the front yard, and the annuals that are peeking through the ground think it's spring.  I also heard a woodpecker the other morning.

The calendar fills before I can even turn around, and that's another way I know it's spring.  Here is a summary of the last couple of weeks.

UNIVERSITY.  David has decided he's going to BYU in Provo this fall--this is so exciting!  Especially since Frank and I went there, and it holds so many good memories for us.  He went online and reserved a spot in housing last week, and has a meal plan.  Yesssssssss! :)


PANERA BREAD.  Our little tiny Wayland has finally completed the "Town Center," a complex in the middle of town with a big grocery store and restaurants.  Also condominiums, etc.--it's a pretty good deal for us -- we live about a mile from there.  So Panera Bread is big out here...it may be an "Eastern 1/2 of the U.S." kind of restaurant.  Kind of upscale fast food: panini sandwiches, soups, breads...actually here is a link where CBS News ranks it the Number One of Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food restaurants.

A brand new Panera is opening next week in the "Town Center," just a mile or so from our house.  David applied, and got a job there.  Nice place to work, with a nice commute.  Congratulations, David! :)

DESTINATION IMAGINATION.  Kara has been working hard for 6 months with her D.I. team.  Each team works on a challenge together, and presents first at a regional competition, then the top team in each age level/challenge goes on to state.  Kara's team took first in the region!  So they presented at state last Saturday.  Didn't win there, but they worked so well as a team the whole time.  It's a really great learning experience.

ROBOTICS.  David's High School Robotics team also did really well at their competition in Boston last weekend.  They all participate in qualifying rounds, and the top 8 teams are identified.  Those top 8 then choose 2 other teams to make up their team (it's 3 robots against 3 robots, on the court at one time).  So David's group was not in the top 8, but they were CHOSEN by one of the top 8, so they could compete.  Their combined team came in 3rd!  Very cool.

BIRTHDAYS.  Kara's birthday was 2 weeks ago: 13!! We officially have 3 teenagers now.  My birthday also came on Easter weekend this year.

EASTER.  What can you say about Easter?  It was a lovely weekend, with beautiful music and uplifting messages about the Atonement of our Savior.  He has given us the greatest gift.

And...LAST TEST THIS WEEK.  I took test #5 for the year on Wednesday!  If I passed them all, I won't have to take any more.  I just got the email yesterday giving me results on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tests, that I took in March.  I passed them!  I should find out about the last one in 3 weeks or so.  (This is all to get an ELL certificate, to jog your memory.  I'm already tutoring ELL kids at the elementary level, I just don't have a certificate.  I won't change jobs, if it's up to me.  I just want the official certificate in case they require it of me later.)

It is a busy time of year, but that doesn't always make it meaningful.  I try every day to figure out and do the "important" things, and not just "keep busy."  It's an ongoing challenge :)

Have a great rest of the weekend!  Love, Kari

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Wow, March is officially half over...

And I didn't even remember that it was St. Patrick's Day today!  Like I have any green dresses to wear to church.  At least when it falls on a school day, you have a little more flexibility.

I was happy to look outside to sunshine this morning, but sadly the temperatures are still in the 30s this week!  Ugh.  New England St. Patrick's Day: 3 more months of winter!  :(

Here are highlights of the past week:

inside the display case

KAMP KAOS.  Kara had her Middle School performances of the spring musical this week!  They have been working on this since before Christmas.  They sang and danced Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Frank and I helped with pre-ticket orders far in advance, and then also ticket sales before school the performance week, at the Middle School.

entire display case

bows at the end

Kara is a head camp counselor at Kamp Kaos, a summer camp with a radio station that gets an infestation of mice...really cute and creative, with fun songs and clever lines.  The Middle School Music director is an incredibly talented musician/writer who never ceases to amaze us.

SENIOR SHOW.  The high school does a traditional "Senior Show" where the kids make up skits and videos, and perform them 2 nights.  There are spoofs and parodies, and this year's theme was Hunger Games.  They also spoofed a few popular song videos, and had skits where they make fun of different events that happen at the high school.  Like "Advisory," a class that's supposedly to build unity amongst the students but they aren't too keen on it.  Like rival games between Weston and Wayland, and the police having to be involved when the fans get ugly.  There are coreographed dances to popular songs onstage with all seniors who want to participate, one with all girls, one with all boys, and one co-ed.

 Anyway, David was part of the co-ed dance, and one other skit.  It's kind of a "bonding week" for the seniors, as they create the whole thing, practice for hours and do dress-rehearsals, and perform the show.  No Photos allowed in there, so here's one of his Senior Pics.

M. RUSSELL BALLARD.  We had a "fireside" or motivational talk for the youth last night, from one of our church leaders in Salt Lake.  Some very good stories and advice!  The adults could go, but they were encouraged to sit in the back or in one of the side rooms of the building, giving prime seats to the youth.  It was Regional, so we had people who drove from all the New England States: Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, etc.  How nice that it was held just 7 minutes from our house.

ANOTHER STANDARDIZED TEST.  I have been trying to get my different teaching certifications (Elementary and Special Education) updated, in Massachusetts.  Ultimately, I'm trying to get an English as a Second Language certificate.  This will "attach" to one of the other teaching certificates.  This means I need to get one or both of them (Elementary or Special Ed. certificates) so there's something for the ESL to attach TO.  They just keep telling me to take more standardized tests, it seems!  Ha.  This school year I have taken 4 of the 5 tests they are requiring of me...these are the marathon 4-hour standardized tests.

Last Tuesday night I took the 3rd one, actually a combination, 2-in-1 test.  Now I have taken three 4-hour session tests.  So far, I only know that I passed the first one.  Still waiting for news on the others!

April 3, I take my (hopefully) last standardized test.  Of course if I don't pass one of them, I have to try again...trying to stay positive about that.  Groan.

Well hopefully you had a good St. Patrick's Day!  Have a great week!

Love, Kari :)

February: Check!

Hola!

I know we are supposed to "Live in the Moment," "Enjoy Today," and "Take Time to Smell the Roses."  And I think I do that, for the most part.  Really.

But there are also times that I am kind of glad to "get through things."  It may be the Type-A Task-Oriented part of me.  Go down the list, get it done, check it off.

So, here are two of those times.

JANUARY 31st is a big accomplishment, I feel.  We "made it through" January, and a nice chunk of winter is under our belts.

Another big accomplishment is FEBRUARY 28!  Yes!  So as of tomorrow, we "made it through" February, and now there really is a light at the end of our tunnel of winter.  Granted, it's frigid here through May.  Those of us in New England still have 3 more months of too-cold temps.  But to get through February is a big deal.  For this, I will shout, "CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY!  YOU MADE IT THROUGH FEBRUARY!"  :)  This would be a little funnier if it wasn't so painfully true...sigh.

NO SCHOOL.  Last week was our "February Break."  There were some lucky people who went to warm places.  I am tempted to make NEXT year's warm vacation in February.  Or maybe we'll take a warm vacation in December, February, AND April.  That decision is still being debated.



Anyway, the kids were out of school and we stayed here.  This made for lots of sleeping in, last-minute plans, sleepovers, and chauffeuring all over creation anyway.  Even without structure, we go through a lot of gas.  Go figure.

RACHELLE VISITS.  We had a treat, having our cousin/niece Rachelle come visit for a couple of days at the end of the week!  The weather was typical Boston cold, but we layered up and went out sightseeing anyway.  Walden Pond, Boston Temple, Freedom Trail... hopefully she can come when it's warm sometime, too. :)


SKIING and SNOWBOARDING.  Frank took Kara and Teresa to the closest ski resort to us, really a smaller "hill."  Teresa wanted to try snowboarding, so she took lessons.  She decided she likes it, but she also likes the speed when she puts skiis on.  1/2 way through the day, she switched back to skis.  It wasn't crowded--that's awesome!  The 3 of them skied together the rest of the day.

VOLLEYBALL CLINIC.  Teresa took advantage of brushing up on the volleyball skills, specifically setting.  For 3 days she participated in a vball camp.

SAVE-A-DOG.  While we are not getting another pet anytime soon, Teresa does enjoy playing with dogs and puppies.  She has been through Save-A-Dog's orientation training, and now volunteers periodically with the abandoned pups who are up for adoption there.

FOUR for FOUR!  David's big news is, he has now been ACCEPTED to BYU!  The huge accomplishment is that he got 4 acceptances for the 4 university applications he turned in.  Very cool.  He is still considering his top 2 choices: BYU and Northeastern, here in Boston.  It is nice to have choices.  This is a process, and he has until May 1 to officially accept...he has applied for some scholarship help too with Northeastern, and wants to get results from those efforts before making a hard and final decision.  We should know on those scholarships by the end of March.

I better move on with my list...it is raining like crazy today.  Hope you have a fabulous week!

Kari

February and Freezing

Hola!

Nothing like fresh snow to eat!

Sunday again.  The week flew by, but here is a synopsis...

SNOW.  It's been off-and-on sunny, rainy, cold, warm, so the snow from last weekend has "shrunk" a little.  Then, it snowed some more last night and this morning.  That forced a scramble of snow-shoveling before our 9a.m. church!

PIANO RECITAL.  Kara showcased her piano skills for us, along with the other students who take from our teacher.  Every year the teacher has a recital with all of her students at her church.  This is lucky for us, since the building is about 1 mile from our house!  It's so nice to hear the kids play, and to give them some recognition for their hard work on their talents.

VALENTINE's DAY.  Yep, Thursday was Heart Day, or it should be renamed Candy Day, or The Holiday Second Only in Sugar to Halloween.  Hmmm. Somehow quite a few holidays have turned into "Sugar High Holidays!"  Halloween Candy, Christmas Candy, now we're finished with Valentine's Day, and it's on to Easter: Chocolate Eggs, Cadbury, Peeps, Reeses Eggs...  then CVS puts their candy on 1/2 off, the day after.  Needless to say, there has been a lot of chocolate in the house this week!


GAMES NIGHT.  We added to the chocolate, of course, when we pulled out the chocolate fountain and had some couples over to play games, the day after Valentine's Day.  We answered some Newlywed Game questions: Who is the better driver, how many boyfriends/girlfriends before getting married, who is better at finances, what was the first meal your spouse ever made for you.  It is funny to listen to the banter between couples.

ROBOTICS.  David is into crunch time for his Robotics team at the high school.  It's a program/competition put on by NASA.  The team has been working for about 6 weeks, and tomorrow is the last day they can work on the robot.  Every year each team gets a challenge, and a "Robotics Kit" to make a robot that can accomplish certain tasks within the challenge.  It's a neat program.

Hope your week is uneventful, or eventful, whichever you prefer!

Kari

Snow and More Snow

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

BLIZZARD.  We had our first real snowstorm in awhile, this weekend!  The media hyped it up like you wouldn't believe, so we were told we would need to prepare for THE BIG ONE.  Of course, the 'real' BIG ONE was back in 1978, and I looked at photos on the Internet.  It was a doozie, I'll give them that much.

Ours was 24 inches in about 24 hours.  A true blizzard, I think!  Then as fast as it came, ... it went away.  The afternoon was even sunny, so as we began to dig out, it was a really pretty day.  Today, Sunday, had bright blue skies and it was just brilliant with the bright, new snowfall.

Frank gives the car a mohawk

Here are some photos.  Lots to move and re-move, between the driveway and the deck and around the mailbox which the snowplow guy doesn't really pay attention to.

BURIED CARS. The cars were pretty well buried, and Frank gave one a mohawk...

ELECTRICITY.  Best news of the day?  We had power the whole time!!!!!  YES!!!

David front-flipping from the deck railing

WORK AND PLAY.  Thankfully the kids pitch in with snow removal.  Tedious, yes, but when you mix it in with a little bit of play too, it becomes more tolerable.

SIGNS OF SPRING? You wouldn't believe it, but I'm looking out at the neighbor's magnolia tree and it has hundreds of buds on it.  Yes, it's probably 15 degrees out and this tree is determined to put forth leaves and flowers!

The trees somehow think it's time to bud

Our little tree by the deck has some on it, too.  Remarkable.  We are so far from spring it's like a century away!  But the trees won't be convinced.

ROOF RAKING.  Remember our insane practice of "raking the roof?" Yep, here's Frank, keeping the ice dams from forming with thawing and freezing, causing leaks to come into the house.  Bleh!  Thanks, Frank, 100 times.  No fun.  Here he is raking the roof, and a photo of the house with 1/2 the roof raked.  He finished it off today.  The whole roof, front and back.

Teresa helped with the flat roof over the sunroom and garage.  She put those metal spikes on her boots.  She likes being up there.


FLYING.  Frank is going to Denver for a few days tomorrow.  The airports should be running all flights by then.  Yesterday they cancelled most of them, but they should be back to normal soon.

Teresa's highlight: working on the roof!

Well, my time is up.  Hope your week is really boring.  (Oh--I mean, that's what I want OUR week to be!  If you, on the other hand, want excitement, I hope you get it!)

Kari :)

A break, involving snow-angels and eating snow

Trying to find the mailbox

Good snow for tunneling!

Saturday Reflections

Hello!

Reflecting on the week a little.

what we all want: happy teeth

TEETH. I had an oral surgery Thursday, the same procedure I had a year and 3 mos ago, just on a different part of my mouth.  Grafting a little tissue from the top of my mouth to the gumline, as I have a few teeth with receding gums.


So, overall it was yukky!  I'll spare you the details and just say that I am thankful it was not painful during the process.  I just wish I had taken the extra sedative and fallen asleep!  But alas, I was awake and heard all the sound effects and felt the pressure and pulling and pushing and eeeewwww. :(

FLAT TIRE.  Frank was in Houston this week, and of course it is never convenient for him to be gone!  It was 8 p.m. and had started to rain, and David comes in the door with "The tire on the highlander is flat."

They were on their way to a youth activity at the church, and so I had him drive his sisters in the other car, to the church.  But we needed both cars the next day!  And I am wimpy on car things...I have no interest, whatsoever, in changing my own tire...

challenges come in different shapes and sizes

My brain bounced around to different neighbors I could ask to help.  But then I thought wait, I have a high school senior.  Shouldn't he be able to do this kind of thing?

Meanwhile David had texted me from the church activity.  "When I get home," he says, "I can google it for any specific details about the Highlander, and I can change it."  He also named 2 neighbors we could ask for help as back-up.  So when he got home, I held the flashlight in one hand and the car manual in the other, and I read out the steps to David.  He went through all the steps, and changed the tire all by himself!  Yes, he did!  I was so proud of him.

Of course it was not speedy.  Or clean.  And it had started to rain.  But he did it!  HUGE sigh of relief from me.  My Hero! :)

GRATITUDE.  I am also especially grateful for my family this week.  Our friend at church has been battling melanoma for 15 months, and she passed away 2 days ago.  Her kids are the same ages as mine.  Our hearts goes out to her family, and we are praying for the support and comfort of her daughters and husband.  They are such a beautiful family.  This made me think of my own kids and husband, and my extended family and friends.  I am so grateful for my support system of wonderful people around me.

my own reasons to be thankful

I hope you have a refreshing week full of people you love, and activities you find fulfilling.  Occasionally we are given experiences that make us stop, and think of the most important things we have.  And they're not the "things we have."  They're the people we can touch, and those who touch our lives for good.

Kari