Big Highs and Huge Lows for mid year 2025

Emilia Josephine Karlsson was born on Natalie's birthday:  July 11, 2025.  Big High.

 

Another high was having Natalie and Jake's family together for a few days.  Colie came up for a bit and we had Cora and Jules for an overnight.  However there is a low:  Noel was not invited to join us so he stayed in SLC.  Natalie served him divorce papers after this trip.  Huge low.  Also I was told by Nicole that I didn't do a very good job with my first cousin sleepover.  More on that low.  We had fun boating with Seth, floating the canal, and hanging out together.

The Nicole/Mats family had family photos right after the gathering of family in Heber.    I love this one with the girls

Shortly after the mini reunion, Tom had work in Monterey with IDARM.  It's always a marvelous time for both of us.  Tom likes the work, and I love the playtime!  It was during this time that Noel called and let me know how serious Natalie was about a divorce.  I think it sucks.

After Monterey, we had a few days in Heber and then went to the East coast.  We helped Steve get his bachelor pad in order and then had a couple of fun days with the boys.  The high is that Steve will stay in his house for at least a year and just commute to get the boys to/from Felicia who is in Chesapeake.  

We enjoyed attending Steve's sunday school class.  He is an awesome teacher.  Truly connects with his kids.  

From Steve's we went to help out at Jake's house.  He we in Germany for back surgery and Mel went to be with him.  Surgery was a success!  Big high!  It was fun to be with the kids.  We did a LOT of driving Kate to band camp, had fun with Lily as she didn't have anything on her calendar.  We popped over to Chick Fil A to see Tommy in his element at work.  We celebrated Kate (15) and Lily (12) birthdays in Princeton at Bent Spoon.  On Sunday Tommy baptized Mat and I attended YW where Lily taught the lesson.

Then we came back to Utah and had a day or two before I was to help Nicole with her girls b/c Mats had a trip to Sweden.  I got there on a Tuesday and was supposed to help for 2 weeks, with Daphne's wedding in between.  She was telling me that they had hired a Nanny....I said, "Maybe Mats should apply for the nanny job".(he has been out of work for 15 months)...I hit a raw nerve and sent Nicole into a full out tantrum.  She said some horrible, mean, and hateful things to me that have obviously been simmering for years.  Decades even.   I have felt like I have been walking on eggshells around her for a long time. She said she hates me, that she wishes she had different parents, among a litany of things I have done and not done for her, and to her, over the years.  I told her I could overlook all that she said, if she still wanted my help.  "I would rather do it myself, than put up with you!"  "Ok, I'll leave."  "Yes!  Leave!"  So I did.  Major low.  The full consequences of that outburst are yet to be seen.  I admit I am shaken up.  That kind of venom and hatred takes a lot of nourishment, which she has carefully and methodically kept simmering  for many years.  If what she said was all true, then I should be banished from society and never heard of, or seen again!  What I fear is that Natalie will back her up and also become 'cold' to me, but I hope not.  Time will tell.  Supposedly none of my kids like me, but luckily Steve, Seth & Heidi, and Jake & Mel have all reassured me that I am a good person and they like me!  Dan was left out b/c he was busy with the wedding.   I do have to ask myself, where have I gone wrong?  Am I really as selfish and unaware as Nicole said I am?  Yes, I still struggle with my feelings and emotions about the whole put down, the attack and the criticism.  It was very severe.

Luckily I get to finish this post with a HUGE HIGH!  Daphne and Braxton's wedding.  It was over the top fabulous in every way.  The couple is stunning.  For the celebration, nothing was spared.  Jake and I love how Dan and Lara's kids are so close and were sad that their sister is now married!  The grandparents were honored to give a toast and that went well.  It was a long drive which also included an extra 6 hours of driving because we were headed to the rehearsal dinner and found out we were not invited so we had to drive back!  It was the wedding planners fault, I wasn't supposed to get the invitation.  We adjusted.  And it was fun to drive there with Jake/Mel and Bryn anyway.  Dan and his partner Dale gave us a tour of Idaho Scientific the next day which we thoroughly enjoyed.  It was an upbeat week-end.  I felt like I had attended the wedding of a princess and prince!

First half of 2025

The goal for 2025 was to slow down. SLOW DOWN.  We have failed miserably.  Our schedule is back-to-back and chock full.  I know I should be grateful.  I AM grateful.  One day I will wish I could go non-stop like we do.

We start the New Year celebrating in Heber with Seth's family and Steve's family.  It was a magical Christmas season with long talks, skiing, spending time together.  

On Jan 9th we were heading to Provo for my eyelid surgery.   I took this photo as the sun was setting.  We stayed in a hotel the night before b/c I was scheduled for 6am surgery!  It has been 6 months since that surgery.  Am I glad I did it.  Kind of.  It has been a long, hard recovery and my eyes are still tender!  For days I was drugged up, wearing ski goggles to keep pressure on my eyes.  But I was back on the slopes after 2 weeks.  

February.  We were back in Monterey for Tom's work with IDARM.  We lucked out with great weather for the entire 2 weeks.  There was an added situation brewing however:  we had talked to Anita/Steve Canfield on Feb 3rd and they told us there was a 'critical need' for Italian speaking couples!  We talked, prayed, thought about it, and interviewed with Frankfurt.  After a few false starts, we did go ahead and submit our mission papers to Bishop Sabey, right there in Monterey before Tom left for work one day, on Feb 17, 2025!  On our last day in Monterey I remember walking on the beach, and knew that the very next day I would be at Park City skiing with Colie and her girls!  Also during February we started teaching a temple/missionary prep class to the Priests.  That also got us pumped to serve a mission!

In march we were able to stay home in Heber.  A nice ski week-end with Colie's family, Tom spent time with Larry making his 4th CD.  We went to the temple many times.  Managed to ski 26times at PC.  Lots of Pickleball with JoAnna.  Even Jake went skiing with me one time as he spent a full week-end with us, which we know was a sacrifice for his family but we loved every single second (in transit from his work trip to Moab).  I started allergy therapy.  Had 2 reactions to the medication, one where my eyes swelled shut!  Seth and Heidi gave us tickets to see Les Miserable at Eccles Theater in SLC.  That was a treat!

We met up with Bryn at her school for lunch/toured her new apartment and one week-end she came out to Heber.(she took our formal missionary photo)  We went to Grandparents day at Cora and Jules school....and found ourselves at the school bookfair!  Tricky school!  Also in March, Seth's family came to Heber for the week-end, and the following week-end we went up to visit Dan in ID.  Dan's house was just freshly renovated, and we helped unload a few boxes for their kitchen.  It's beautiful.  A fun calendar report:  Each week-end in March/April we were with one of our kid's families:  Nicole, Jake, Seth, Dan, Natalie!  Only Steve was left out but we got him in June.

Next is April.  The WHOLE month we were in Hawaii.  Temple, beach, acai bowls, snorkling, hanging out with the PortuGALS, Yoga class overlooking the ocean, card games, time in Honolulu.  It's magical every time. 

We also received our official Mission Call while we were in Hawaii!  Everyone joined us for a zoom call and we opened our letter:  Milan Italy Mission!  We start Sept 15th, however our visa appointments in San Francisco aren't until the beginning of October, so I'm sure we won't be leaving for Italy until mid October.  That's fine, there is LOTS to do to prepare!   

We left Hawaii and that week-end we watched Seth's kids while he and Heidi went to Southern Utah for a get-away.  We did everything, from Dairy Keen to collecting rocks from the river and painting them!  

Then we headed out for our 3 week trip to France.  We spent a few days in Paris on either end and a glorious 2 weeks on the French Riviera in between.  It is definitely a favorite spot, with the walk around the cape, L'Orangerie restaurant, and the olive tree park!   In May you can still swim in the water, and yet it's not too hot.  We went into Monaco for the Monaco Grand Prix.  Then in Paris we went to the Galleries LaFayette rooftop to watch the French Open!   

The whole time we were in France, we were worried about Tom's brother Mike and his quick decline in his health.  We were able to talk to Mike on the phone, although he could only mumble.  He died on May 22, 2025.  We finished up our trip as planned in France, flew home so I could get my eye shot, and flew out that day to attend the funeral.  Both Dan and Steve were able to attend and we were so grateful to both of them for being there. Caitlyn was amazing and did most of the arranging.  Debbie and Cathy had a very hard time.  Caitlyn held it together until the flag was presented to her Mom, and then she couldn't hold it in any longer.  Dan and Steve were pall-bearers.  Tom gave the eulogy and nailed it.  He gave his talk from the perspective of the younger brother, telling stories that most had never heard and highlighted some stories of strengths and characteristics of Mike that even his family didn't know. Steve had to rush back to his boys, but we were able to spend a day with Dan which was a fun treat for us.  We had some 'deep' chats together.  

In June we had my 69th bday celebration in SLC b/c I was there to help Suzanne with her recovery from hip surgery. Tom was able to join Seth's family for a boating day in Eden while I helped Suzanne.  We enjoyed going to Jules dance recital at Kingsbury Hall just before we flew out to Philly.  Colie was good to celebrate Father's Day while we were with her.  

We got to the East Coast with a few days before Rehoboth to go the the Amish Market for pretzels.  Yum.    Rehoboth was amazing as always.  We had so much fun with Zane, who drove up from DC where he is doing a summer internship.  Cool kid in every way.  Also Rach and her boyfriend Zach came up for the week-end.  Tommy came the next week-end.  So grateful to these college/working kids to fit in the time to join us.  Rehoboth is still a draw for all ages!  We had a heat bubble but at the beach it was cool, and the water was so inviting.  We rented bikes and enjoyed biking every day.

We got home from the East Coast with 2 days in Heber then flew to San Diego for a week at our condo in Solana Beach.  Our renters, Jane and Jim Cremer allowed us to stay in the condo while they were traveling.  Isn't that so generous?  It is fun to be in the condo and they have taken really great care of it.  We had fun celebrating the 4th of July on the bluff and watching the firework display set off from the Del Mar racetrack.  We enjoyed fantastic weather and I walked the Del Mar beach every morning.  We ate at our fav restaurants, did some work for the upcoming piping renovations (an assessment of 64K!!) and sat at the beach, and swam in our pool and hot tub.  

Now that concludes the first 6 months of the year 2025.  Why do I have some time to blog?  Because this morning Tom had ENT surgery at Alta View hospital to fix his deviated septum.  This is Day#1.  So far, so good.  He has to heal 'fast' because we have family coming in (Jake and Natalie's families) for visits starting in another week, and Emilia is due to arrive soon!  There is still much to do to prepare for our mission as well.  AND we are going to Monterey again for IDARM and to the East Coast again to help out Steve (to move) and Jake (babysit while he gets back surgery in Germany).  NON-STOP!!!