Been Awhile...Again

Hey! Sorry it's been awhile. I have been doing alot of thinking and praying and have decided to delete my Twitter account and seriously downsize my blog list and cut down my posting to only the very important things worth sharing. The Internet has consumed entirely too much of my time (hi! I'm Karmen and I'm addicted to the Internet! Ha!) But not anymore. I will still post but it won't be as regular and more than likely will be stuff directed at our families who keep up with Ava. I hope you all understand. I have not turned my computer on in 4 days now and amazingly I have survived. I have fiddled around facebook a few times and read a few blogs in my google reader app from my phone but man does it feel good to be free from the bondage o' the Internet! I never realized the amount of time I spent in cyber space until I quit spending that time there...and it's so nice! I can't say that I will miss it because it feels so nice to have my life back!

Talk at y'all soon!

-Karmen

Wordless Wednesday-Indoor Toddler Wrangler

Wordless Wednesday-Big Eyed Silly Goose

sorry for the poor quality...I took this with my iPhone

I Promise...We're Alive!

Y'all...we've had some BEAUTIFUL weather here in the great state of Alabama!  We have spent the last few days outside playing and just having a ball! 

We played "hippity hopscotch" (as Ava calls it)...

Ava rode her bike and had a blast while I enjoyed some sunshine.

We played with chalk...

and played with more chalk..

and we played with some bubbles!

We had a great time!   We are ready for spring!  We can't wait to spend all of our free time outside!

Ava's class passed out Valentines and one little boy passed out Fun-Dips...you know the ones...the little stick that you lick and dip in the powder...Ava loved it!  She ate the sucker before she was finished so she improvised...and used her finger!  See for yourself the mess she created...

That green finger lasted well past Sunday.  Even after multiple baths and hand washings.  Oy!

Hope y'all had a great weekend!

Follow Friday

Thanks for stopping by!

Hop on over to One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades (they're the hostesses of this fabulous carnival) and join in on the fun!

A Little Dose Of Us...

Just an update...boring...I know...but I want to remember these little things.

Ava is still loving school.  She is learning so much so fast.  I am so proud of her.  She amazes me every.single.day with something new.  She is so social!  Which is the complete opposite of me (I'm working on it).  She loves her teachers and friends.  She also is doing very well with dance.  She can't wait to dance on the "big stage".  I can't wait to see her in her too cute costumes. 

Matt and I are still doing "The Love Dare" (TLD).  We got a little slack in it for a few days (about a week actually) but we are back in it as of last night.  It's pretty good so far.  I pray that some of you will give it a try.  Matt and I didn't start doing TLD because we had a problem in our marriage...we started doing it because we wanted to strengthen our marriage. 

I am still sewing.  I am actually working on a couple of tutorials.  I am loving my new machine.  I didn't pick it out for those that have asked.  It was a gift.  So I didn't have to stress over this option or that option...beggers can't be choosers, right?  I love it and it works perfectly for me. 

That's about all for now...I am sure I will update this again soon with something I forgot. 












PS  What do you think of the new look?

The Weathermen Get a Bonus

Y'all!!!  We actually had snow!

The weatherman predicted that last Friday we would have snow...and hot dog if it didn't snow. 

It showed up a little late but we didn't mind. 

We were just glad to have some snow to play in! 

We made snow angels...and rode our make shift sleds down the neighbors hill...and enjoyed the wonderful white blanket that was spread across our state...

And just had the best time!

Valentines

Valentines is not really a day we celebrate too much.  We get each other a card usually and that's about it.  This year, with Ava being in school, I got to have some fun with Valentine's day.  We baked these cookies for the kids in her class, her teachers, and the office staff.  We had so much fun being together and making these yummy treats!

Now Hiring...

I am now excepting applications for a very high paced job.  The appropriate person for this job should possess the following qualities:

1. Responsible
2. Articulate
3. Able to remember things over and over and over...
4. Kind...
5. Yet forceful

Pay for this job is minimal...probably a hug here and there.  Hours are not set...you must be at my beckon call.  You will need to be with me upon exit of my car and remind me accordingly to remember EVERYTHING.  You must possess some car theft capabilities (there will be a test) or at least know of a phone number to call when the need arises.

What's the job you ask?  The keeper of my car keys.  I locked them in my car AGAIN today!!!

A Few Favorite Links

Sharing the bloggy (and internet) love.  Check these out!

Here are a few of my favorite posts and links for this week...

This post by Jennifer over at "Mommy To 3 Blessings" made me laugh SO hard.  And how true it is!

Click this link for some big news about my sister...

I got to meet the fab Beth Moore this week!  Here is my post...

My wonderful bloggy friend Lana lead me to this blog in a weak parenting moment...there is some good stuff in here...

What are some of your favorite links?

Have You Heard?

First...you need to click this link and read what she has to say....

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...

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.....I'm waiting.....

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I am so excited about becoming an AUNT!!!  My new little niece or nephew should be here in mid-october...sooooo now....I need a cute name.  Ava calls my sister (the preggo one) Chickie...What do you think I should be?

Meeting THE Beth Moore

Yesterday, Beth Moore was in Alabama signing books.  I, of course, had to go meet her and her cute self and let her sign my book.  Y'all...she is just as precious in person as she seems on TV and at her conferences. 

I got to the Books-A-Million a few minutes after 8 and was number 4 in line!!!  I waited with 3 of the most fabulous women for a good bit before the mad rush got there. 

After we got out numbers we went up stairs and waited.  As I sat there talking to one of my new found friends I glanced up and *thought* I saw Robyn (aka @3girlsmom for you twitter girls) and Tait.  Next thing I hear someone saying "hey...are you kmommy?" and I turn around and there was Mary (aka @MaryRSnyder).  Super sweet ladies these two are...and Miss Tait was so sweet and doll! 

Soon it was time for Beth to make her arrival.  She came up the elevator and being number 4 made for some awesome pictures!

She is just too cute!  She acted surprise that so many people had come out to see her!

And here...she was saying "I'm so glad y'all came...I was afraid nobody would show up"...Yeah right!

She signed my book and then posed for a quick picture!

See...This book is great so far!  I can't wait to finish it!

Wordless Wednesday-Because The Lions Will Fall Out

Tweet! Tweet!

Yesterday was filled with errands...ideas being put down on paper for some upcoming invitations that I'm making...running to and fro (is that how you spell fro?)...buying Valentine's Day stuff for Ava's school party...enjoying the sunshine and wishing it was spring already...and making this:

Isn't this the cutest tote bag you've ever seen?  It is my little piece of spring in this cold, cold winter.  I've been needing a bag to carry my church stuff (Bible, notebook, etc) and decided to make me a stylish one...and it was cheap to make...given that I used left over fabric that I had. 

Tweet tweet!  Inspired by the Twitter bird...I think he's cute!

The inside...I even made the cute little pocket.  It is actually two pockets in one...a smaller one for pens and a larger one for other things (I currently have tissues in it).

What craftiness have you been up to?

"So Long Insecurity..."

Who's going to Atlanta to see the always fabulous Beth Moore?  I found out via Twitter that several blog/Twitter buddies are going to be there!  Eek!!!  I can't wait!  I am so excited to go.  So...who all is going?

Lazy Day...

Happy Saturday!  Hope y'all are having a great weekend.  We aren't up to much.  Kristen and Zach are over for hamburgers (that my fab hubby is going to grill in the cold).  Just wanted to drop in and say hello!  I will be back with some great blogs...drop by soon!

I wanna win!

Wanna join me in a chance to win an awesome Rachel Ray dutch oven?  Hop on over to Jenna's Journey!

You Capture-Faces

My Eyes...

His Lips...

Our Precious Little One...

Hop on over to I Should Be Folding Laundry to check out everyone else's You Capture.

Wordless Wednesday-Look What I'm Reading...

Love Really Is Patient

Today started out like any other day.  I woke up and got Ava and myself dressed for the day.  I packed Ava's lunch and we headed off for school.  We were making great time.  I had to carry Matt's grandmother to the doctor today and was very proud of myself. 

We pulled up at the school and I got Ava out of her carseat and grabbed her backpack and lunch box and headed into the school.  I helped her place her things under her teacher's name and gave her some bye-love.  I ran into a lady that I know and was excited to see pictures of her daughter's 4D ultrasound...she has such a beautiful granddaughter on the way.

As we were standing there talking I reached in my pockets...and my heart stopped...my keys weren't there.  I had locked my keys in my car.  There went my good time frame.

For fear of this story getting entirely too long...$40 and one pop-a-lock phone call later...I was on my way to carry Granny to the doctor.  We were only about 8 minutes late. 

*Random side-note...Pop-A-Lock employee took over 5 minutes to open my car and then proclaimed my car as "theft-proof".  He couldn't pop it the normal way and had to use this balloon thing to separate the door from the frame and jiggle his little metal rod in and press the unlock button.

Through all this I kept thinking "Matt's gonna be so mad at me"...It was kind of ironic that this happened though because as I mentioned here, we are doing The Love Dare.  In the first nights reading we read about patience...and it gave the example of the wife locking her keys in the car.  I could just hear Matt wispering over and over "patience, patience, patience".....He was very nice about it.  No harsh words...just a simple "it's ok".  I love that man. 

I didn't let my rough start get me down.  I can feel the changes going on in me...but that's another post for another day.

Love y'all!

Today's Dare (from the book The Love Dare):  Continue to say nothing negative to your spouse and do at least one random act of kindness.