You Capture-Colors

So...I have been reading Beth's Blog for quite a while now.  She does this fabulous carnival called "You Capture" and this is my first time to participate.  I am so excited...so here goes!

I hope this is somewhere along the lines of what "You Capture" is all about...I had fun taking pictures for this week and I can't wait for next week.

Where did she go?

Ava started school two weeks ago today.  I'm gonna be honest with y'all...it was the hardest BEST decision we have ever made. I have loved every minute of the 3+ years that I have had her here at home with me.  But we realized her need for socialization and y'all, she is thriving!!!  And I can already tell a difference in her behavior and other important skills.  She has always talked plainly but she is so much better at communicating what it is that she wants or needs.  Her teacher says she's very well behaved (yay! I have done something right!).  She is amazing me every day with questions and concerns and just...growing up way too fast!  I am such a proud Momma. 

Wordless Wednesday-We're Dreaming Of Warmer Days

A Little Q & A

Interviewer:  So, Karmen...what have you been up to?

Karmen:  Oh, a little of this and a little of that...

Interviewer:  Could you be a little more specific?

Karmen:  Well, I've been being a mommy and a wife.  You know...the everyday stuff...laundry, carpool, cooking.  On Saturday I did help with a Wedding Reception and Sunday we celebrated my BIL's birthday.

Interviewer:  Sounds fun.  How's Ava enjoying school?

Karmen:  I'm not gonna lie to you...She loves it but has been having a little seperation anxiety when I drop her off.  Talk about tearing up a momma's heart.

Interviewer:  How's Matt?

Karmen:  He's good.  Working hard to provide for our family.  He's still stubborn but we love him.  ;o)

Interviewer:  Are you still sewing?

Karmen:  Yep.  I got a new sewing machine for Christmas.  I hope to be able to accomplish a lot more now that Ava's in school.  Maybe even sell a few.

Interviewer:  How's....

Karmen:  Well, I gotta run.  My chores are calling out to me...I must accomplish something to do. 

Laugh if you must...I'm out of blog fodder...Help me!  What do you want me to post about?  Do you have questions for me?  What would you be interested in reading right here?  LET ME HEAR FROM YOU!!!

I've got nothing...

so here are a few pictures for you.

Wordless Wednesday-Say Cheese

Shoo...It's Random

What a weekend!  We have had a blast!  Kristen and Zach and Alline and Madyson (sidenote: hop on over to Alline's blog and give her a nudge back into blogging) spent Saturday and Sunday nights with us.  We just had the best time together.  The girls played hard.  We all went to church together and came back home and played some more. 

My little school girl is doing great!  She is just in LOVE with school.  I don't know what to do with myself when she's at school. 

Last night our Women's Bible Study group started a new book.  We are using Joanna Weaver's "Having a Mary Spirit".  So far it is amazing!  My MIL is leading the group through the book and y'all...let me just tell ya that she can teach some Bible.  I am so excited to get closer to having my own Mary spirit.

Big shout out to my dad who helped me with some wedding invitations for a friend!  Thanks a million!  Love you Pop!

I forwarned you that this was random...big props to you for making it all the way through!

Nap Time...

Ava did great at school yesterday!  She had a great time and her teacher said she did wonderful.  Talk about making a momma's heart swell.  I am so proud of her.  I absolutely love the program and concept of her school.  They are NOT a daycare.  There is no before or after school care.  It is strictly a preschool.  I love it!!!

I picked her up around 11:45 yesterday.  I figured that she probably needed to come home after just half a day...I was wrong.  She wanted to stay.  I finally got her ok with leaving and decided to let her stay all day today. 

This is Ava's nap mat that I made her.  (I used this tutorial.)  They take naps at her school since they go until 2:30.  I will let yall know how that goes...

She's Growing Up

Today was the big day. The day I've been dreading since Ava was born. At precisely 7:49 I passed my baby off to her very first teacher. It is such a blessing to stay at home with your child but even more of a blessing to realize their need for socialization and then find the perfect place to send her. This opportunity truely is a God send. We have been praying about whether we should send her to preschool. We got a call from a friend directing us to this place and all the logistics are perfect for us. Location, facility, staff, cost. It truely is a blessing.


Yesterday Matt and I went and met with the director of the school and talked about our concerns and questions. We feel 100% confident that she is in the right place. We loved the facility and we loved the staff. Her teacher is a sweetheart and everyone we crossed paths with not only spoke to us but also bent down and spoke to Ava. The best part is that there is a 3 to 1 ratio in her class. How fabulous!

As for Ava...she is very excited. All she has talked about was school since we left this morning. She can't wait. Also, today is pajama day. What better way to ease her into school than letting her wear her PJ's to school.

As for me...I am ok. I know she needs the socialization. I am already dreaming of the house work I can accomplish while she is at school. :o)

I am picking her up after half a day...I gotta ease us both into it...I will give you a full run down of how the day went soon.

Wordless Wednesday-She Starts School Tomorrow

(Full Post Coming Later)

Mish-Mash

Not much going on around here today...

We're just lounging around in our PJ's, trying to stay warm.

I have a special prayer request.  Will you pray for us as we make a very important decision?  I know in the long run it will be good, but it's hard.  Sorry I'm so vague but hopefully after tomorrow I will be able to give you the details.  But until then will you join me in praying that God's Will is done in the situation?

20+ Questions

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. That would be my twin sister...Chickie

2. Where was your first kiss? First not real Kiss was in 4th grade...my "boyfriend" kissed me on the cheek during a movie in class.

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property? Don't think so...

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? Playfully yes...

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? At church...

6. What's the first thing you notice about the preferred sex? Eyes

7. What really turns you off? Know it all guys...luckily I found one that isn't dominating and arrogant.

8. What do you order at Starbucks? hot chocolate...not a coffee kind of girl

9. What is your biggest mistake? I've made a ton of mistakes...I've learned from them and don't dwell on them.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No.

11. Say something totally random about yourself. I'm slightly undiagnosed OCD. 

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? When I was younger and she was younger Lindsey Lohan.  Like from her parent trap days...

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? Yes...I have a 3 year old...

14. Did you have braces? No.

15. Are you comfortable with your height? Yeah.

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? When Matt surprised me with a beach trip for my birthday!

17. When do you know its love? When you feel totally comfortable with each other.  When you feel like the most special person on earth...

18. Do you speak any other languages? Not well.

19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon? yes...not since high school though.

20. What magazines do you read? Parents

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Yes.

22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away? Yes...

23. Do you watch MTV? No.

24. What's something that really annoys you? my hair

25. What's something you really like? spending time with my hubby and daughter

26. Do you like Michael Jackson? not a huge fan.

27. Can you dance? that would be a big negative.

28. What's the latest you have ever stayed up? I can't remember.  I am sure in high school I probably stayed up way later than I should.

29. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? No.  Never been to the ER

30. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out? Yes.  I think they are interesting.  I like to get to know all of you that I have never met. 

Well...That Was A Let Down!

Ah!  The snow that never showed.  I will admit that I am sad...I had it all ready to go.  Boots, gloves, socks...warm pants and shirts...hats!  I am let down.  It did snow a little but no sticking. 

We did try and make the best out of the day and went outside for a few minutes to catch some snowflakes on our tounges. 

Ava tried to catch a few snowflakes...she wanted Daddy to see them...

And y'all...aren't these the prettiest shaped snowflakes?

The snow was a failure...hopefully the roads won't get too bad tonight...or maybe they will and Matt can be home with us tomorrow.  I sure have missed him this week...having him home for two LONG weekends in a row ruined me.  {sigh}  Oh how I wish it would have snowed.

Wordless Wednesday-Singing In Daddy's Choir

Ignore the Poor Quality...I only had my Phone nearby to capture the moment...

Flip It...Change It...Rearrange It!

That title is me reliving my cheereleading days...I will pause while you get a good laugh out. 

Moving right along...

We're in a redecorating mode right now.  It started when we received our new TV for Christmas.  We were able to rearrange the living room to give us more space. 

That fruit basket turn over led us to finding a new bathroom cabinet since we took the old cabinet to sit the TV on. 

I loved the "new" feel so we flip flopped Ava's room, too.  Next up?  Painting the living room, Ava's room, and Ava's bathroom.  Eventually we will redo our bedroom and bathroom...but in true parent fashion...it can wait. 

Just a quick show and tell...This was the temp yesterday...notice the time...3:48...and that's PM my friends...not AM.  It's freezing here and the temp never really went up.  If you need me I'm under the pile of blankets that is on the loveseat. 

Oh How I Wish It Would Snow...

From Our Personal Photo Session With Santa...

It's January in Alabama...which is usually nothing special...but man is it cold here today!  The highs for the entire week is our normal lows.  AND!!!  They are talking snow for Thursday.  I doubt we actually get any snow (we all know how forecasts go) but oh how I wish it would snow. 

I see all the blog posts about snow that some of you have gotten recently and I am so jealous!  I want to play in the snow with Ava and build a snow man...oh how I wish it would snow!

I've got a pocket full of...RANDOMNESS

*Forwarning:  This post is random...RANDOM!!!  Not much going on around here...just relaxing after the craziness that is the holidays.

One day this week I kept hearing something strange...I got up and looked out the window and saw this...

There were a MILLION birds landing in my yard...it was CRAZY!!!  What was even weirder was when I attempted to open the front door to take a better picture they all flew off and since there were so many of them taking off at once that you could hear them flying...WEIRD!!!

I got these cute glasses at Wally World the other day.  We were in desperate need of some new glasses since over half of ours were broken and trashed.  Best part of this bit o' random?  $9 for the complete 16 piece set.  SCORE!!!

This is a note to self...check the outside spicket...it leaks...obviously.  We saw this we when came back from church this morning.  It was so odd how the water froze making that cool little tower. 

Have you heard?  My sister is trying to give me a niece or nephew!!!  Hope on over to her blog and offer her some words of encouragment and prayers.  They are in battle with the dreaded PCOS and are in the process of working things out with a Reproductive Endocrinologist.   My heart goes out to her...we've been there and I fully understand where she is.  Will you join me in praying for her and her hubby?

Well...I gotta run and get warm...this cold weather stuff isn't for me.  Take Care!!!

New Year...New Me

It's the time where everyone makes their New Year Resolutions.  My resolution this year is a new me...in every aspect.  I want to work on me as a whole person.  My faith...weight...day to day priorities...organization...and the like.  I've really stepped back lately and examined who I am and my life.  While I pray...and try to remember to read my Bible (it's hard as a SAHM with a 3 year old) and my devotional...I want my life to reflect my love for God and His love for me.  And be better about focusing on the important things...

On the whole losing weight issue...I'm still holding onto baby weight...yes, three years later...don't judge me.  I'm generally lazy when it comes to exercise.  I loathe sweating.  But...I need to get this weight off.  I will try and update regularly on my progress...no weight announcements because a lady never discusses her weight.  Be my accountability, will you...I've ordered Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred...pray for me and my nice new TV that we don't get in a fight when Jillian tells me to get my lazy rear in gear. 

What are your resolutions?