We survived the Nutcracker

Hey everybody,

First of all, let me apologize for the lack of communication the last little while. We have been eating, drinking and sleeping Nutcracker. However, I am happy to announce that we are done. The kids were so freaking adorable. Sitting in the audience watching them, I actually was thinking this was all worth it. Wow! is all I have to say. I am grateful it is over, Cora is grateful it is over, and Brigham cried all the way home wishing it was not over. Overall, I would recommend this kind of thing for your kids. It is a wonderful experience. Here are some pictures to enjoy.


After Saturday Night's Performance

Brigham being the Nutcracker doll

Cora being a little snow flake

Brigham as a mouse (3rd one down)

Cora being the prettiest party boy in history

Thankful

This will be short and sweet. I just wanted to let each of you know how grateful I am to be a part of this family. Each of you bless my life more than I can express in words. I often think how amazing it is that there are so many of us and yet we are all friends and have love and respect for one another. It is a truly unique thing we have been blessed with as a family and I hope that we never allow personal wants and views to interfere with what we have been blessed with.

I love you all and miss you all so much.

Congratulations McCormack. I'm proud of you and sooooo excited for you to serve your mission. You are in for a treat!

Oh and things are still really great for me :)! Wish me (and Christian) luck during finals -I've been so distracted lately that I need all the luck I can get.

Lots of love,
Kara

My sweet little angel!!

cute Brig loved holding her



I hope you all are doing well! Weare doing great! Carolina is sleeping five hours eating and sleeping for another three hours, HURRAY!! So Peter and I got called as the Activities Chairman for our ward and are in charge of the christmas party! if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! I love you all sooo much...

Love, Eliza Peter & Carolina

The Blacks are Posting!!

Hello Family!! I am so sorry that I am so bad about posting! We don't have a good internet connection at our house and I forget to do it at mom and dads so here I go! Two Sundays ago we blessed Carolina and I cant freaking stand how big she has gotten! I cant wait for Christmas to see you all!! I freaking love you and I hope you enjoy these cute pictures. Lots of love....

Eliza, Perer and Carolina!!

My Darling Family

I just got back from New York City where I had a great time. I stayed in a little apartment hotel on West 73rd. It was very cool. Monday was a beautiful day. After a short meeting at the law school, I worked on office work and then spent the rest of the day seeing New York. It was especially fun to walk around Central Park where your mother and I fell in love. After church on Sundays we used to walk in the park or go to the Metropolitan Museum. I then went to the old LDS building where we used to go to church on West 81st. I took lots of pictures of the park and the church. That evening I went to Lizzie and Marks place. I went to dinner with Liz while Mark went to teach at Columbia.

I did not see a single McCain sign in New York. I would not be surprised if the vote were 5 million to 1 for Obama

On Tuesday I spent a good part of the day working on the Class of '69 reunion. I know you think I am too young, but there you go. In the afternoon I went to a temple session at the New York Temple. It is a very beautiful temple. Lizzies' bishop and his wife were the principal actors in the first temple video (she has dark hair not blonde). That evening I went to the American Ballet Theater at City Center. It was very cool. I thought of Cora.

Not to insult any of my children but I just saw a couple of blonde jokes when I googled to make sure I was spelling it right.

Why do blondes have TGIF on their shoes? A. Toes to in first.
Why do blondes drive BMW'S? A. Because they can spell BMW.

McCormack is on his way to Colorado tomorrow.

Love, Dad

Happy Fall

Hey Everybody,

It has been such a long time since I have communicated this way, that I thought it was time. Life is good in Colorado. We are busy as always, but really happy. Things are going great. The kids are involved in some really good activities.

Cora is sooooo busy, but doesn't seemed overwhelmed at all. She is managing homework, ballet, reading lessons, activity days and 5 hours of Nutcracker rehearsal a week in an amazing way. She is really turning out to be an organized and happy kid.

Linc is doing great too. He is practicing a different story every week in his CDC class and at home and every Wednesday he reads the story with his 2nd grade class. He is participating by reading when asked and answering questions. It is really impressive.

Brig is one of the cutest kindergartners ever. He just loves it and is so serious about it. By friday he will have learned all the letters and the sounds they make. He knows EVERY sound that the letters make. It is really impressive. He starts reading books in November. He also really likes the Nutcracker, although I don't think this will be his life's passion like it is for Cora. He is already asking if next year he can do a tennis team instead. Hmmm .... let me think about it .... YES!

Lydia is a cute and crazy child. She is talking so much. Some of my favorite things she says are, "I'm really hungry" or "I'm really tired" or in response to where is daddy? She says, "Daddy is getting a deer."

Rick went hunting but didn't see any deer. His reasoning for that is because deer are really smart. I am 38 years old now. I welcomed the day by getting Botox the day before. I may have to get older, but hopefully I don't have to look too old before my time. Three cheers for injections of bachilism!!!!

We love you all, Marisa, Rick, Cora, Linc, Brig, Lyds

The kids at a pick your own apple farm


The hunter extraordinaire


At a pumpkin patch


Birthday celebration

Smiling...

It is crazy how attention from a cute guy will just completely change my day around. Not that today was bad; in fact it was a pretty good day (other than sleeping in and not making it my first class). Then tonight I went to a Prop. 8 broadcast put on by the Church and Elders Ballard and Cook spoke. It was really good. Sitting in front of me was a new guy in the ward -a beautiful specimen of a man (looks like Adam Levine from Maroon 5). He talked to me after and, well, sigh.

That was great but the night just keeps getting better because I just checked my email and I had an email from the Kingman, Az doctor in my inbox! He is going to be here in San Fran for Halloween. This is how that communication began. On Saturday I was with the girl who organized the whole mid-singles event and I mentioned to her that I met this guy but didn't get his info. Low and behold, she has all the emails and since I had his first name and his town, she promptly sent me his info. I sent him an email Saturday but thought maybe he wasn't interested since it is now Wednesday and I hadn't heard from him. But I did and now I'm happier.

In the words of a friend in my ward "life is really good, but it is so much more interesting when you have a crush on a boy." (or boys) Here here.

Lots of love,
Kara

what up

hi grandma

From Dad

My Dear Children
This will be short, but at least I a trying. I has been a difficult few weeks with the accident. Kathy is at the hospital every day for most of the day. It has been very hard on her. It is difficult to see how Helen is going to get better. Every solution seems to create another problem. I participated with Elder Oaks in the blessing. He mostly told her she was in God's hands and his will be done.

I am working in the Temple. That is an unusual experience for me, but also a spiritual one. I have many of the parts learned, but it is still a very new experience. So at least for awhile you do not have to bow down to me.

McCormack seems to be doing well. He has his papers all done and is waiting for his doctors appointment. He is more than half way through the Book of Mormon and understands it well. He is also following the campaign closely and watched the first debate. I think he will vote for Obama, but the first debate raised some questions in his mind about both candidates.

The weather is great. The pool is clean and I went swimming yesterday.

I can't figure out how to add pictures and McCormack is asleep. Maybe later.

Love Dad

Mr. Noodle

Even though this is a time of incredible sadness for our family, I think it is important to remember that there is joy in life. After all, our Heavenly Father's Plan is called the Plan of Happiness. In honor of joy and happiness, I am posting this video of Owen dancing to 'Mr. Noodle.' I love his finale pose.

I love you all.

Kara

Pics and Updates

I feel like I am on the phone nonstop with the family and therefore haven't felt the need to update the blog, but then I thought hey, why not post something fun. As most of you heard, this past weekend (aka weekend of feeling desperate) was fun, but I really didn't meet anyone. And the one guy I would like to get to know better, I can't get his contact information because the only person I know who has it is my Italian friend who seems intent on sabotaging the opportunity. Argh.

I have added some pictures -one in front of the Painted Ladies, one is of the Golden Gate Bridge with some people from the conference, and the last is just a cool picture from the boat cruise during the conference -it is of the city skyline. The guy in the bridge picture is a friend of my roommate Letisha and he is exactly what he looks like -total surfer guy, but a nice guy.

School is good and I start my job with Law Career Services tomorrow. I think I will be making a whopping $10/ hr. and will work 10 hours per week. I'll be making the big bucks!

That's about it. I appreciate all of you and love you all so much.

Take care!
Kara

CAROLINA IS HERE!!!

Hello Family!!

As you know Peter and I have a cute new baby in our lives and we could not feel more blessed!! She is perfect in every way. She made such a fast recovery in the NICU that all the nurses were so blown away by her progress! She is an amazing eater and we could not be happier! The basement is working out great for us and the parents ward is being so great about bringing food. I am sorry that it took us so long to post and get you pictures, but I have been so wasted!! I hope you enjoy these pictures. Honestly we are so blessed!! Love you all.

Love The Blacks Just before the surgery!
Carolina with all her tubes! It was so sad!
Peter and I going to visit our cute baby the day after she was born!
She got bath with a new yellow outfit and yellow ribbon!!

Carolina taking a nap on the couch with me! She was
looking so cute I had to get up and take her picture!!

My CRAZY huge belly

So hopefully the following pictures do not make you vomit, but they might!! There are two pictures of this sick dimple in my belly and the other is at Tai Pan with mom and Alecia with me carrying around my freezer bag with my twenty four hour gallon test, you can see how thrilled I am. So I just talked to the doctor on call and she wants me to go in and get my blood pressure tested and all that fun stuff, because my swelling is pretty bad today. So wish me luck!! Love you all....

Love ElizaWhat kind of freaky thing is happening to me?!!

Hope you all are doing well. Kara I told you I would eventually get to posting!!! Love ya!!

Miracles do happen because we were able to get together this summer up in Eden, Utah by Pineview Resevoir. Unfortunately, Savanna, Steve, Bo and Mia, were not able to join us because they had just moved up to Salem, Oregon. We had my Mom join us and we were able to hang out, eat, Play dominoes till the wee hours of the morning and laugh ourselves silly. We went to the lake twice and that was a lot of fun. The hot tub on the back deck kept the kids wet and happy. Being able to be together was such a delight and we feel so blessed that we all actually like each other and have a blast together. This was such a great place to be and having Kara surprise us with a quick trip for part of the time was especially sweet. We now have 11 grand children with two due: Eliza's October 3rd and Kera Boog's December 27th!Mia arrived July 2nd to Savanna and Steve and her brother Bo. We hope to be able to get back to Eden again. All our love ya'll
Kathy

I've been there!

Corm, It was so good to pull up the blog and see your post! I know exactly how it is, I have been there, not only to college, but more specifically Snow College, cause as we all know, I know how it is at all colleges across the country! Like I told you before, it does get better. Make sure to talk to the guy in your room, just invite him to go with you to things. He might say no, but he is in the same boat you are and in fact might be worse off cause he's quiet. He may turn out a lot cooler than you expect and because you have to live in the same room, it's worth being able to talk to him! Good luck and know we are thinking of you! You're awesome!
Love, Savanna

college

hey family, so far college has been an interesting experience. Learning to live away from home is weird, but living with strangers takes it to the next level. My roommates are nice people and i'm sure interaction between us will become more natural and comfortable. I'm sharing a room with a kid named brandon: he is kind of quiet and likes to wear tight jeans. he is good at playing the guitar, he also likes to listen to music that isn't so harmonious in my ears. in the room next to us is cassidy and tyson: who just moved in today. and in the other room is justin and nathan. cassidy and justin are kind of the same, both are trying to be hard, but are just your average kids. justin is easier to talk to though. tyson is huge, and could kick my butt in one punch, he is a boxer from logan whose got a couple tats! other than that i haven't talked to him yet.

i'm sorry if this is boring, but i have no one i can really talk to yet and my phone doesn't have service so the blog is my only way of communication right now. i actually found a glimpse of service today on a bench in campus and i was so grateful. i'm sorry i've missed everyone's calls, but making a phone call is about a seven minute walk away from my apartment.

today we had orientation and it was fine and i fell asleep. the school had a barbeque after it was over and i found someone i actually knew and it was nice cause she had a cute friend. after the bbq, there was a comedy show in the gym and they were pretty funny in an unoriginal way. there is definately something freaky about nothing to do in a small town full of people you don't know. i wish classes started tomorrow, but instead i have to go to another day of monotonous orientation.

i love you guys and i'm excited to move back

love your little buddy corm

Sore muscles

I've got to admit that this year has been such a different San Francisco experience than last year -especially this summer. I've been having so much fun and have been blessed with great roommates.
Yesterday morning I was ambitious and decided to go for a run. I ran/walk a over 3 miles and only walked a small portion of that. A bit much for a body that is only used to walking 1/2 mile or less each day. Then last night my roommates, Laura and Letisha, Letisha's boyfriend and Marc and I decided to go on a night city walk. It was amazing! We walked for 2 hours around the city to places I didn't know existed. I didn't realize how far we were going to walk so I didn't have great shoes on and after my run, my legs were dying.
This morning was painful and the walk to the bus and to school was quite painful. But then I went to a party tonight and worked out the kinks dancing with people from my ward and had a blast.
The picture I posted is from last night's walk. The view isn't really visible but it is of the Bay bridge and the east bay area from Coit tower. The people in the picture are: me, Marc, Laura, Heber, Letisha.
I'll see most of you in a couple of weeks!

Lots of love,
Kara

Punch me in the Face!!

So I am super excited to have this baby. I get more and more excited each day. The only kicker is, is that I am not sleeping at all! She loves doing kart-wheels in my stomach, especially at the hours between 1-5am. It is super fun. It is honestly going to be the death of me. I am wasted. I am so freaking tired and I don't know what to do about it. Anyway I was at the doctor on Friday, and she was listening to the babies heart beat, and the baby kept moving away from the ultra sound thing, then she finally got the heart beat and the baby started kicking her away. I think I am going to have a Feisty little girl, which makes me very nervous. Anyways I freaking love you all and can't wait for us all to be together in a couple of weeks. HURRAY!!!

Love Eliza Lou lou

Kara I thought that was the front of your face!!!

Dad

Crazy San Fran birds

Last night I was walking into a restaurant and a bird flew into the back of my head and clawed or pecked me. Crazy. I was sortof freaked out. How often does that happen? At least it wasn't the front of my head/face.

Love you all!
Kara

FUN TIMES WITH COUSINS!

Hey everybody,

We had such a fun time with Alecia's family and Grandma Helen. My kids cried for awhile after they left this morning. Lincoln started summer school this week and is riding the bus now. I was so grateful that Alecia was here because it was soooooo emotional for me. I cried my eyes out and Alecia was there to give me hug. Thanks Alecia! Linc seems to be liking school. The kids played better together than ever before. Alecia and I started to miss Brig and Christian because we didn't see them the entire week.

Cora was in her performance of Tarantella. Grandma, Lauren and Alecia went. Grandma was cute to play smudge with the kids and it was really fun to have her here. Thank heavens for oxygen tanks and the hot tub here at the YMCA!!! The kids were able to take tennis lessons, which they really enjoyed. Sophie and Lydia became great friends too. They loved chasing Clyde around and belly laughing.

I wish I could have been there in Richfield. We miss you all a lot. Love, Marisa and Rick and Cora and Linc and Brig and Lyds and Clyde

Today I flew

Remember that scene in What's Up Doc when they are in the white bug driving through the streets of San Francisco and at one point they fly off the top of a hill and land part way down? Well, today I flew. I was driving a little red Yaris and going a little too fast down a very steep hill. I was quickly approaching a yellow light and knew I wouldn't be able to stop so I gunned it. Little did I know that gunning it would send launch me over the lip of the street and send me airborne down the other side. I landed with a thud and then peeled out. It was hilarious! I went from "oh crap" to laughing as I pictured what it must have looked like for this little red car to fly over the top of the hill.

Too bad nobody was with me to experience the moment. I'm sure it won't happen again; it isn't something I could forcefully recreate.

Love you guys!
Kara

OH LIFE!!

Hey family!!
I freaking love you all. I am so glad that we have this blog. I feel so much closer to everyone, especially when you all post things! So things have been going really well this pregnancy I have been feeling better, no headaches, no throwing up, until the past couple of days!! I have been throwing up in the mornings and last night was my worst NIGHTMARE. I was in so much pain. My head was seriously going to explode. It sucked so bad. I was feeling fine and then I got really dizzy and the next thing I knew I was laying on the ground with my head pounding. I am not sure that labor could be any worse than the pain I was feeling last night. Peter called Chris to bring me some caffeine and to give me a blessing. I am so grateful for the gospel. I was able to relax and fall asleep shortly after Chris and mom left. I have the most amazing husband who is always looking out for me, and knew that I needed a blessing and called Chris and got him over to our apartment so fast. I feel truly blessed to have such a great and loving husband and such a supportive and loving family. You guys are the best. I freaking love you all!!!

Love Eliza

House sitch....

So, to answer all of your questions....we currently are still in the market for a house, but we feel really good about things. The house we put the offer on went to another couple because they offered full cash! I don't know what is so appealing about cash, I don't want it, so I guess I can't relate to their decision! Just kidding....anyway, Steve went up for the weekend to check them all out....hopefully he finds one that we will love!

hey everybody, i graduated

hey everyone, i can't believe i graduated and that i am actually contributing to the family blog. thanks to the family for everything and all your support. i love you so much and i can't believe how lucky i am. i leave for my senior trip tomorrow morning to newport beach. Love you, corm

I'm Going to Broad-way! -Or at least SLC

I thought I would send a little update on my summer travel plans. I just booked my flight home for a few days in June for a fun little trip where I hope I'll be able to enjoy the family and a little R&R. Since I won't be able to swim (again) starting Thursday so I am going to swim until I am a prune the Wednesday night I get home -hope the neighbors don't mind.

Here's the plan. I fly in late Wednesday, go in for surgery at the fun hour of 7:30am Thursday morning and the surgery could last from 1 -5 hours (probably closer to 1 though). If necessary I'll be sent to a plastic surgeon on Friday who will make me pretty again. Other than that, I'm going to partay like a slightly wounded rock star until I leave on Tuesday night -so look out family!

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. I know it is going to be just fine but it has been harder than I thought just facing this while away from the family. I have truly been able to feel your love and support for me over the past few days and miracle of all miracles -the surgery has been HUGELY reduced in price for me. Fasting does work.

As for San Francisco, work is good. I am really starting to enjoy it and look forward to some interesting opportunities over the summer such as attending mediations and trials. I am working on a huge case right now and will start pulling together discovery documents and putting discovery requests together in the next couple of weeks. School is also not so bad. This Friday or Saturday I am going to take a super long walk from Crissy Field to Fort Point. It is supposed to be a beautiful 3-hour walk and I hope the weather is good.

That's all. Good luck with everything going on with the rest of you -Savanna and Steve with the almost new baby & move to Oregon, Marisa & Rick with the upcoming deployment, Corm with graduation, Christian with the ladies...

I love you all!!!
Kara

Holy Sheesh....

Heyah everyone! Younga sistah here. I was so sad to read your post Kara....just cry, though, cry until you can't cry anymore. That always works for me when I want to stop! It's almost over and I know you did great! Life is going great over here in job hunting land! Steve has applied to so many jobs, it's ridiculous! But, he's finally gotten some bites and hopefully we see some results. He has been applying for pharmaceutical sales positions all over the west, so who knows, maybe we will be moving a little closer to one of you out of state! You try and figure out who it is going to be! Anyway, Bo had his birthday the other day and it was so much fun! We threw a little "cinqo-de-mayo" fajita party for him. It was a lot of fun and Bo was hilarious! I added a little post with pics to my blog if you are curious! Well, that's about it. Nothing else new, just pray for us that we will be able to get a job!
Love, Savanna

IT"S A FREAKING GIRL!!!!!

First of all Kara, I am so sorry that you have reached your crying point. Just hang in there, you are the freaking smartest girl in the world. We are all praying for you, and can't wait to see you on Sunday. Good LUCK!!!

Well Peter and I are so excited! It was so much fun to see the baby, moving around and seeing how alien-esk she is, but still a really cute alien! Peter made the doctor check the sex again, just in case they had missed something, but there was no mistake, she is all girl! Peter was definitely shocked, but he is actually really glad that we are having a daughter first. He thinks she will help him to be a more patient and loving dad. It is pretty cute. She keeps me up all night, and it makes me nervous, because it is not the kicking yet, so freak I am not going to get any sleep for the rest of my life GHEE!!! We have been really blessed by generous people all around us. A women in our ward gave us the cutest crib, Savanna and Steve gave us a baby swing, even though I think they may want it back now. It has been a great experience so far!! I get more and more excited to be a mom each day. I was telling mom and dad though about how Peter was saying a prayer the other night thanking that we get to be parents, and I had an emotional break down. It is one thing to be a mom, but to be a parent, now that's serious. I was so scared by that statement, it was hilarious, but I am over it now. And we are both super excited.

Marisa that is the cutest picture, I freaking love it, and your study area looks so cute. Nice job. Cute cute kids.

Well guys I freaking love you all and I will post a picture of our cute little girl and one so you can all see my new short hair cut, which is definitely growing on me now. Love you guys!!!

Eliza and Peter

Breaking Point

I can't stop crying. I've hit my breaking point and I can't do that yet. For all you readers, please please please pray that I'll do well on my last two exams and that I'll have the mental and physical capacity to keep studying.

That's all. I love all of you!

Kara

Cute picture

Heya,

Here are our cute kids. They were all sitting around the desk tonight coloring. I wanted to share this picture because it made me so happy. I think I took like 10 pictures. Linc sat at the desk coloring because I put all of the kids art work in frames and he was working on his. He sat there for a long time and really worked hard. I got him to look at the camera by say, "Hey Linc, I'm trying to take your picture." Can you believe that? Life is good.

Savanna, I told Steve I would be willing to commit murder if that would help get you guys to move a little closer. Did I also mention that I would be happy to watch your kids?! Think about it.

Love you guys, M,R,C,L,B,L and C