Wednesday, June 20, 2012


Dear Family,
Beautify – Dad has been pruning and cleaning up around the yard in the mornings. Mom & Dad purchased, placed and planted the annual array of pink flowers around the house to beautify their small part of the earth. New planters that straddle the deck railing actually look quite nice, and have more room for the flowers to grow. Mom is so happy to see the flowers!

40th – Jim has successfully passed into the next decade of his earthy existence. Only Papa and Nona are older than Jim. (That’s ok, Jim you don’t look that old).  He has enjoyed teaching Seminary this year and is happy for the summer break. Saturday evening was the party with the family – all sorts of favorite eats; Jim game with 40 prepared questions; and a game of Scattergories that Jim won. Congratulations (Parabens). You are awesome, Jim. 

Jim's 40th Birthday
Kulka Kids Kamp Over – Thursday night, the Kulka kids came over to stay the night with Papa and Nona. We watched “Madagascar3” at AMC 30 with Samantha, Joshua and Olivia. Later Papa picked up Tyler from football training and prepared ice packs for his sore and swollen ankle. Papa made a campfire to roast marshmallows for s’mores. Josh and Olivia enjoyed the fire with Papa and they saw fireflies blinking on and off in the back yard.  In the morning, Papa made a waffle with strawberries breakfast to tickle their taste buds and supply energy for the day’s activities.
Father's Day Celebrators
Zoo Buddies at Arctic Ring of Life

Father’s Day – After church, a Lasagna dinner and party was held at Papa and Nona’s to honor the Fathers. Thanks for the calls and gifts

Zoo-ers- Papa’s day at the zoo was attended by Samantha, Joshua, Preston, Olivia, Jacob and Sophia. Thanks to Sam for making the lunches. They all had a great time together walking around, getting an “Edzoocation” (Heavenly Fathers creatures are indeed wondrous) and riding on the new carousel and a Happy Feet Wild Ride on a very warm day. What a joy!  Nona didn’t get to go because the TV was not working and after hours of dealing with someone from “ATT India” on the phone the day before, they decided to send a repair man, sometime between 8-12, Friday morning.  She felt OK staying home since Tyler’s ankle was not ready for the trip to the zoo and she got to spend some precious time one-on-one with him.  After the repair man left they went for a late lunch at Uno’s.  Nona sure loves Tyler!

More Zoo Photos at:  http://gallery.me.com/rcorless#101625
Zoo Buddies with the bronze Tiger
Zoo Buddies
Love y’all, Mom & Dad

Sunday, June 10, 2012


Dear Family,
Depesticated – Michael, the son and
salesman, arranged for, Dan, the Terminex
technician, to apply anti-bug juice and
mouse traps at all the strategic locations to
assure that our home is and will be pest free.

Uncold-Everyone is glad that Mom is
feeling much better from the cold symptoms
she had been suffering through the week.
And the weather certainly warmed up from
the cool 70’s into the 90’s this week.

Home Sweet Home Repairs-Grandma
Nilace, with Dad’s help, replaced the old
leaking dishwasher with a brand new one.
Meanwhile one of her tree branches decided
to split from the trunk and lean onto the roof
of her house. Dad, armed with a pruner, was
joined by her landscaper with a chain saw
and together they made short work of
removing it from the roof and reducing it to
a pile of small branches. In addition, Dad
installed her bird feeder pole in the backyard
and hung a mirror in the second bedroom.
Dad, during the cool of the morning, pruned
some bushes in the back and fertilized the
flowers around the house in an effort to put
a small dent in the never ending to do list.
Next week we hope to plant flowers to add
color and spruce up the home a little more.

Anxiously Engaged-This week’s evenings
were packed with opportunities to serve:
Tuesday-Temple; Wednesday- two Eagle
Board of Reviews; Thursday-High Priest
Group Leadership and a Priesthood
Leadership Meeting; and Friday-ARP
meeting. Six of eight boys in our troop
working on Eagle Scout are now Eagle
Scouts with the remaining two boys
scheduled for their boards of review this
week. Congratulations!

Fitness- After being away from home so
long both Mom and Dad are trying to
recover a healthier life style of eating less
and exercising more. Dad dusted off his bike
and pedaled on the Clinton River Trail a few
times. Saturday morning, Dad picked up
Vanessa & bike and they rode the Trail
together. Good News! -Dad got a clean bill
of health from his Ear Nose and Throat
Doctor, so he is starting to taper off the acid
reduction medicine. If all goes well he will
be completely off the medication in 6 weeks.
Happy Birthday to You !

Reconnecting-Dad took Sam to her soccer
game at Delia Park. Nona took her to lunch
and then met Papa to see “Men in Black 3”.
Taking Sam home was a great opportunity
to visit Jim & Vanessa and Ryan & Maureen
and their tribes. It was good to hear from,
Michael, Lara, Rachel and Grandpa Ross as
well this week. Everyone is doing as well as
expected. Preston’s 10th birthday party
afforded an opportunity for another family
gathering on Sunday evening. Grandma
Sparks wasn’t feeling well so she didn’t go.
Preston choose cold cereal as his Birthday
dinner. Happy Birthday again to Preston!
Clan at Preston's 10th Birthday Party
Love y’all, Mom & Dad