dirt

Some of my friends and family will soon be at the annual TDS off-road safari. When we lived in San Diego, Jesse and I went many many years with my brother, John, who has an awesome monster Jeep. I was a navigator... until Jesse hurt his knee and couldn't drive two years ago. Finally, after all those years of experience and observation, I GOT TO DRIVE! I got some funny looks (most of the drivers there are men) but proved my abilities time and time again.

Until I drove it was really just a desert camping trip which can be really fun or REALLY miserable. My friend Lyn and I always packed for cold, windy weather - in an effort to jinx the universe into providing a warm, calm weekend. It worked some of the time. For now, with little Teddy, I'll take camping with a higher likelihood of good weather - much closer to home. Have fun boys - and be safe!

first haircut

Teddy's hair was so long - hanging in his eyes - that yesterday we decided to trim it. I took one snip at his bangs (he was trapped in his high chair) which is where I would have stopped... but Dada wanted to trim the sides, which he did. All in all it looks good, though not "straight." He looks like such a little boy now instead of a baby! My sis says she misses the comb-over. I kinda do too.

We also went to lunch yesterday before running other errands. We got to test out a new high chair condom that I made (it's a cloth liner for the chair so we don't have to wipe absolutely everything down in our quest to squash public germs). It's not big enough... needs some modifications. Teddy LOVES to pick up his own food and put it in his own mouth. He's very busy. And very hungry. Afterwards, one of our errands was the pet shop where Teddy and I looked at every kitty-cat, fish, bird, dog, etc while Dada filled up the cart with Luna food and cat litter. Very, very busy.

Mom.

Karin (Mom), 61, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Heritage of Emerson Care Center from complications caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).
Karin was born on May 14, 1950, in Sioux City, Iowa, the oldest daughter of Neal and Ruth (Bonderson) Nelson. She grew up on the family farm south of Homer. She attended the one-room schoolhouse at the Combs Country School until the third grade. Then Karin attended school in Winnebago, Neb., and graduated from Winnebago High School in 1968. Karin attended USD in Vermillion, Wayne State College, and received a teaching degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1975.

She married in 1969 in Homer. Karin taught kindergarten in Homer before the family moved to Sioux City, where Karin then taught school and preschool for many years. Karin loved to paint landscapes from photographs taken from the many cross-country trips the family took to California.

Karin was diagnosed with MS in 1988. As her health deteriorated due to MS, Karin continued to paint, write stories about her childhood and enjoy horseback riding. Karin continued to enjoy traveling, including frequent trips to Arizona to visit her siblings. Her parents helped take care of the family as Karin became less able to do so. She moved to Heritage of Emerson Care Center in 1995, where she loved her home and received excellent care from the loving and attentive staff.

Karin was a member of Homer United Methodist Church and Crescent Park United Methodist Church in Sioux City. She was active in her churches over the years.

Survivors include four children, Lauri of New York, Beth (Jesse) of Colorado, John (Carly) of New York, and David (Christina) of California; two grandchildren, Lila  and Teddy; her father, Neal Nelson of Winnebago; a sister, Jenny Susan (Ted); a brother, John (Minh); a niece, Anna (Pete); and a nephew, Eric.

Karin was preceded in death by a daughter, Kristine Ruth, who passed in December 1977; and her mother, Ruth Nelson, who passed in November 2010.