Saturday, June 03, 2006

Happy Birthday Kari!




Hard to believe our baby is 26!!! Where does the time go?? Now she is a married lady, a pediatric emergency room nurse and a mommy herself!

We are so proud of the woman she is today - loves to cook - can follow recipes and cooks most things from scratch using meat Richard has captured (ok - killed). She is such a dedicated mother - always looking out for Megan, the joy of her life. Where you find Megan you will usually find Kari nearby. People talk about needing to get away from their children while Kari looks for the opportunity to spend time and teach Megan - and it shows.

While dating, Richard introduced Kari to the bow. Kari became quite proficient quickly. She could split arrows easily right in the bulls eye. Karla had a hard time just pulling the bow back much less making it hit the target. Richard also introduced her to deer hunting with a gun. On her first trip out during deer season she called home by 8 a.m. to tell her dad that she had already got 2! Kari grew up with a small lap dog, Cricket. Now she and Richard have 5 big dogs - and Kari is still known to hold them in her lap occasionally.

Kari has given us a few scares - like the time she called from the freeway after hydroplaning into a semi! She was in the ambulance and declining transport to a hospital - she said no need to overburden hospital workers when she was just fine - and could I meet her at a gas station where the police would drive her. Or how about the time she went canoeing with Rich and the canoe tipped and she was caught in the weeds and currents and he pulled her out? Or the time when she was about 2 and managed to slip from her swimming ring and daddy had to jump in a Florida pool to fish her out? That same day she got a fork caught between her teeth and then mommy let a restaurant door hit her in the face. We were spared some nervous times as a hurricane hit their honeymoon spot a week before their wedding - instead they toured Michigan and went to Cabo San Lucas for their one year anniversary.

To know Kari is to love her - and we sure do! We are so glad that Number 4 arrived for us!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

2 comments:

Joelle Lynn said...

You have raised a beautiful and bright daughter and should be proud. We are glad to have known her and you. You have been a blessing.

Denise and Gerry DeVirgilis said...

I can remember a photograph of all 6 kids sitting in the floor and smack dab in the middle was this porcelain doll.... or so everyone thought until I corrected them and said it was KARI! She has always been a doll and her daughter reminds me of her... all bright eyes and smiles... with that perfect porcelain skin. Love to Kari and to all....