Happy Easter!!

Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, He has risen.
Luke 24:5

This Easter I hope you believe with all your heart ....

We have exciting baby news!

We are thrilled and excited to announce the newest addition to the Carter Family!!!

"Bentley Carter" has arrived to two adoring parents Travis and Ashlyn. You can imagine the sheer joy we feel at becoming grandparents to this delicious, adorable little guy.We get to meet him face to face on Easter and we can hardly wait...

Darling David...

Even a drive to Target with this brother of mine is so much fun!!!

I am loving having my family here and the laughs and fun never stop! I promise to blog again soon but for now we have places to go,

Dreams really do come true.....

Sara met Tinkerbell! A life long dream...They chatted about pixie dust,angels, fairies, and their matching wings. I loved seeing Disneyland again through her eyes. Life is sweet......

Sunday Six...

I can hardly believe that another week has passed.But it was a week of blessings and fun! Here are six things, The big and the small that I am grateful for. The bible says "in all things give thanks" and I do with all my heart...

1-Easter week...I have always loved Easter and when you stop and ponder the true meaning of this holiday it brings you to your knees. The Greeks always greet you with " Christos Anesti" and then you reply 'Aleithos Anesti" It means "Christ is risen" and the reply is "Surely He is risen" I was raised with this tradition since I was a little girl and it really says it all. Christ came and died but He is risen! And we celebrate this week with humble hearts for all He has done. Palm Sunday, Good Friday and then Easter Sunday. It is all so much more significant than bunnies and eggs. I wish you all a wonderful Easter Week!

2- The wedding video!!! We finally got to see the wedding video with the kids last night and I loved it! How fun it was to re-visit one of the happiest days of my life. It was the most perfect day and Trav and Ash were so blessed. I cried the second it started and cried the whole way through. I am still just overwhelmed with gratitude that the Lord brought them to each other.Like Ashlyn said in her vows, They are not perfect but they are perfect for each other.

3-The kids...Steve and met up with all three of them for dinner and fun. There is simply nothing that makes me happier than time spent with them. Chad looks so healthy and happy and it was great to see my favorite life guard. Travis is the cutest, happiest husband! And Ashlyn is such a sweet homemaker and wife. She made us all homemade strawberry shortcake that was delish. It was a super fun night. Those three are truly my biggest blessings!

4- Steve's company celebrated a Sonic Burger Grand Opening and Steve and I attended. It was his baby and he did such a great job! I was super proud of him and the owners were thrilled that he got it done in record time and under budget. That's my man! There are so many buildings and stores open with his expertise all over them. I probably dont brag near enough about him. But today I will, Good Job You!

5-I am thankful that I have always been able to work part time. I always tease that it takes a lot to run this house well, so part time is all I can do. Well this last week I worked 40 hours while my friend and boss Trish took a much needed vacation week. It was a good reminder how good I have it. Who feels like cooking, cleaning, and errands after working all day? I admire wives and moms who do that every single week.I realize what a blessing my part time job is and I am extra grateful for it this week!

6-Blog comments! I am so thankful that so many of you leave me little love notes on my posts! It means so much to me and is such a encouragement to keep writing. You know how I am about mail and when I see a new comment it feels like mail in my box! I even got a comment from the writer of another blog that I visit. She is kinda 'big time' so I felt like a celebrity had dropped by. I love you all for reading and still wonder how my boring life could be of any interest to you. Maybe it makes you extra thankful for yours!! You can leave thinking 'Well at least I dont have big calves, bushy eye brows, crazy random thoughts and a weird addiction to cupcakes' But no matter the reason you stop by, I am glad you do...

Wishing you all a wonderful week filled with love, joy, and giggles.

Happy!

I got the sweetest email from my friend Paula~ And I just have to share! She is one of my bunco buddies and such a sweetie. We have always asked each other "why are we not best friends?" We dont see each other often but when we do we always have so much darn fun! She is such a ray of sunshine and is always happy! Only Paula would think of putting this much work into making other people smile. This was the context of her email....

It's really no big deal, but I love it. I made it behind my house as you come from Day Middle School. It's on the hill right in front of you as you make the curve. I told Lon it is absolutely ridiculous how happy my Happy Face has made me. I am sad now that it is fading so quick with no rain. When I was home I carried buckets of water with miracle grow to keep it going growing-green. Does it sound like I have too much time on my hands?!!

No friend, it sounds like you enjoy bringing other people joy and I adore that about you. And I have to say every time I drive by, I have a big ole smile and think of you! If they still gave out the good neighbor award you would surely win for this one. "Literally" thank you for the smile. ♥ Happy Spring!

Punked...

I just want to preface this post with this: If you think I am a kind hearted auntie or a sweet sister, this post will change ALL that. This has the potential to wipe away any kind thoughts you might have about me. Which is why I have been tempted to never tell this story. But my blog is my real life, and it aint all good. Like Chad says we are not the Cleavers! But I am going to break you in slow with the little stuff first. I am such a kid at heart and still love a April Fools joke. I grew up with prankster brothers and married a huge prankster! So this morning in all seriousness I gave my boss my two weeks notice. I was dead serious and just explained that Steve and I no longer needed the money. He was sweet and then said I couldn't quit (which I love him for, I might have been sad if he reached for the paperwork and had me sign) I had him going for a quite a while, but when I mentioned that I was finally going to be able to live the princess life that I was destined for he began to sense it was a joke. I giggled "April Fools" and cracked myself up! I played a couple little pranks on others too, and thought I was pretty darn funny all day. But now for the joke with the punch, but no punch line!! My family puts lottery tickets in each others stockings every year for Christmas. Well they make these fake ones that look exactly like the real deal. I thought perfect, I will give one to Chloe. We all sat around opening gifts and she calmly scratched off 10,000 dollars! Chloe cried, Kenny cried, there was screaming and joy all around. She said something about paying off her student loans and I began to get nauseous. Then I cried....What did I just do? and to my sweet Chloe. Of course she thought I was crying because I was so happy for her. It was the worst!! It seemed like a funny idea at the mall....but not so much after this reaction.


(video used with permission, evidently time does heal all wounds)

Thankfully I have a great family with a wonderful sense of humor so after a thousand apologies and hugs we did what any other family would do. We began plotting who to get next. So Paul got the next one. He arrived a couple hours later and he too WON 10,000 DOLLARS! Up until then Paul had the worst prank on record for our family but I now have taken the title. I still have two more un-scratched 'pretend' tickets but I have learned my lesson. I have confessed, you have been my group therapy, and I am cured. And most of all I have a niece who surprisingly still loves me!!! But if you should want the tickets?.....

Sunday Six...Things for which I am grateful!

Another beautiful week with spring in the air and blessings galore. And once again I pause to say thank you to a faithful, loving God for ALL things. But here are six to share...

1-My friend Nancy and I met went out for lunch and had such a fun time! We have a new shopping and eating area at our mall and it is just gorgeous. It feels like downtown disney with cute little streets and darling shops. T town is so grown up now. We have a Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, and Sephora. We had such a good time eating outside,chatting and then window shopping the afternoon away. Celebrating her birthday was overdue but worth the wait! Lets go again soon.

2-I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for Steve lately. I always appreciate him, but I realize it more and more. Through all the changes , the passing of my parents, the kids growing up and moving away,and the natural ebb and flow of life. There is one constant and it's him. I know the Lord is truly the only keeper of my heart, but here on earth He blessed me with the best companion and friend ever. The empty nest has always been hard for me to adjust to but thankfully I have a super fun roommate!

3-Another fun surprise from David. That silly boy spends too much time and money sending his sista little love gifts. (but I love it) We were reminiscing about a BBQ place that our Dad would always take us too. And we would be so excited to pick a soda bottle from the chest filled with ice. Soda was such a special treat to us! So Dave sent me a bottle of "Bubble Up" and a Chico Stick. Two of my favorite things when I a little girl. How sweet is he?? In the words of my YaYa who spoke very little english but she always said to him, "Davey you are such a goody boythy"

4-The 'Chateau Le Carter' is shaping up for our guests. Steve and I have been busy getting things ready. With Chad gone we now have two guest rooms. (although one is much cuter than the other) They have fresh sheets and towels, water bottles and mints on the beds, and fun little lotions and soaps. Saturday I will get fresh flowers, and a good magazine and we will be open for business! Dave Sandy and Sara arrive Monday and we are just a wee bit excited!

5-The honesty of good friends. When Brian was here he mentioned how cute the house looked, and said "with all the crown molding and nice updating you've done I cant believe you still have that same old ugly kitchen light" Now seriously I love when people say things like that. That darn light has bugged me for so long but I never could find one that I liked to replace it. Well you can bet after he left it became priority one. So Steve installed a pretty new one and I wonder why I lived with that ugly one for so long.

6-As I was writing the sixth thing that I am grateful for,I deleted it and changed it to this! Kenny and Lindsay called and are on their way out. So I am going to make a pot of lentil soup, some fresh bread, and a nice salad. Guess our chores on the house can wait a bit....

This will be way more fun!

Wishing you all a week full of love and giggles. Kisses Karen~

Promise me you'll pluck my eyebrows...

I found myself saying this to Steve the other day in absolute earnest. I dont know how much worse it can get. I used to sit on my counter and tweeze my brows real quick while putting on my make-up. Then I couldn't see them very well so I got a 3x magnifying mirror. Then the light wasn't good enough in the bathroom so I had to take the mirror down to my kitchen table and sit by my sliding door(with my big dining room light overhead ) But after glancing one day in a lighted mirror at Bed Bath and Beyond I realized that apparently wasn't working so well either. Where did these stray hairs come from? and is that a hair on my chin? So I left the store that day with a 9x magnifying mirror which seemed to be great. Just yesterday I actually took that mirror into the backyard and sat in the natural light so I could see what's really up.

So I ask you what's next?

A miners light strapped to my head with a mirror attached ? And this is all just 'upkeep' between my appointments with Kami who waxes and shapes my brows every month. So I obviously needed a firm commitment that Steve is up to the job in case my arm is in a cast or something. So I am trusting you girls to make sure if I get hurt or when I am old, he's living up to his end of the bargain and I don't become a big Greek unibrow. I'm thinking I may even teach him how to give a few highlights. Kinda my own personal emergency plan.

Just thinking....

Some days I don't have anything specific to blog about, but have SO much on my mind.

So I sit still.... and my thoughts pour out. Random and real as they are

*I miss Chloe! We used to talk about our favorite song that day, what purple pen we liked, reality TV shows,Bonnie Hunt and who has the best fountain diet coke. Please hurry home! There is a Chloe sized hole in my heart these days. Your Thia loves you......

*Dannon "light & fit" Blackberry yogurt is the bomb.

*Travis and Ashlyn's sweet friends had the cutest baby girl "Addilyn" this week. I keep opening the photos and just staring at her. She is sooo darling and they are just the cutest little family. There is nothing sweeter than a new baby straight from the lap of a loving God.

*Speaking of Ashlyn, this sweet daughter of mine is so precious. She sent Steve and I the kindest email this week and I will keep it forever. She has the craziest week with her events but in the midst of all she does, she took time out to write us a darling note. Just another thing I adore about her. She truly has become the daughter I have always prayed for.

*My house is too clean and too quiet without Chad

*The very best way to clean the microwave is to put a bowl of water inside and turn on for 5 minutes. Let it sit and steam, and then wipe it clean.

*I only use black pens in my checkbook. Weird but I really dislike blue ink.

*The people at work make fun of me because I wont buy my stamps there. We only sell the 'bells' and they are so ugly. So I drive to the post office to get cute love ones.My mom was the same way,she would NOT mail a Christmas card without Christmas stamps.(and she would very carefully pick out her favorite design) So I blame it on my upbringing.

What's on your mind today? Drop a line in my comments . I would love to know...

Smiles and hugs Karen

Sunday Six...Things for which I am grateful

I have so much to be thankful for this week. We are truly blessed ...

1- I am thankful for my new computer! I know it seems silly but I realized this last week how much it keeps me in contact with the people I love. My new one is so easy to use and fast as a rocket! I love apples, apple pie, apple cider, apple martinis and now my APPLE ♥computer.

2- I am thankful for the "realness" of family. It is so good to have that loving perspective in this crazy life. The bible says "as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another" and that is how it is with my brothers and their wives. We can be so honest and real with one another and always feel safe. It is such a comfort for us all to have each other to bounce things off and get honest criticism or perspective. It is something I welcome and cherish.

3- My dear friend Brian surprised me with a pop in. Chad was out washing his car and said I had a friend here. In came Brian, his wife and darling little boy. They live in Texas now so it was a huge surprise. We had the BEST time laughing and getting caught up. He is a long time Albertsons guy and we had such a blast when we worked together.He always made work so much more fun. His sweet little boy told me I was nice, and I said "no Cameron auntie is skinny and pretty" So he kept saying it over and over.(love that smart perceptive little guy haha) I love your family and hope you come back soon !

4- The Donatellis are coming for EASTER! We are so excited to have our "new" family here for the day with the Greeks. With David and his family flying in , we will have quite the crowd. Holidays have always been such a precious memory for me with my moms family and they are all so excited to have the Dono's coming to join us.I just hope Ashlyn's family is ready for the barrage of love (and questions)

5- I got more videos from Costco of old home movies. It is so fun to see clips of what sometimes feels like a lifetime ago. My kids were so stinkin cute , and it makes me so happy to have these moments captured. Which is partly why I blog, to capture these days for them to always remember. I have footage of Dave and Paul in what can only be explained as a Battleship WAR. Yes folks the board game, but not to these two grown men. It was so fierce! So you can bet this little sister will be showing them the video and then setting up the game at Easter to let them rematch. Battleship is now on my 'to buy' list.(Dave since you read my blog no practicing!)

6-EVERYTHING in T town is in bloom! Driving up the street to my house are those beautiful white trees filled with flowers. They are so full it looks like trees with snow. Amazing~ And even the flowers my sweet Tietta planted before the wedding are coming back and blooming in full swing. I am thankful to live in such a pretty area, and for a mom that taught me to admire the fall foliage and spring blooms.

Wishing you all a wonderful week filled with love, joy, family, friends, and giggles

Memory Lane~

Just kidding....but he made me smile today ♥

But I'm a good witch...

I don't know what's been wrong with me the last couple days but I have been a crab apple. Chad sweetly told me last night "mom maybe you shouldn't try hooking up a computer when you are in one of these moods" The poor kid at Best Buy looked kinda scared when I came back for the third time after he convinced me that he had sold me the right adapter. First of all words like adapter,cables, and ports stress me out BIG time! But in this situation I was right and the 'best buy brat' was being stubborn. By the third trip at 8:30 pm. I had taken off my makeup and am sure I looked like "throw momma from the train" You know you're email addicted when you go to Best Buy without makeup.

But now I have calmed down and my computer is up and working great.So perhaps I am on the mend? Steve please come home tonight,I will be sweet and I even cooked dinner. I promise there will be no more tuna sandwiches flying your way after a long day at work.I gave myself a "time out" and slept for an hour after work. I love you and the coast is clear.....

I'll be back....with a mac

After what feels like a long wait I am getting a "MAC" and I couldnt be more excited! I have been saving for a new tower and the time has come. But with my new computer at the apple store being loaded with all my old photos and music I am without mine for a few days. So this week no Sunday Six...just a quick update to say I can hardly wait to be back in touch with you all. Hope your week is filled with love, joy and Gods amazing grace...

Conflicted!

I just got a nice invite to a party! And you know how much this girl LOVES a party! There is not much I would rather do than sit around with a bunch of girls,chatting and laughing. I'm sure there will be fun drinks and yummy food. And it's hosted by my fellow book babe Kathy. And those girls are always a blast!

But here is the problem....and its a big one...

Its a "Scrap Booking"party. Ohhhh good Lord. Just typing it makes my heart race and my palms sweat. I get all claustrophobic and I just want to run! I'm a fairly crafty girl. I made my share of "mop dolls" back in the day. I enjoy browsing through Michael's for ideas and am dying to start crocheting again. But these scrappers are a breed of their own. I went to a party once and one of the girls came with a rolling cart filled with photos and she calmly told me that she has organized them all by years and threw away the duplicates. She was "caught up" to 1999. And she was serious! I'm actually ashamed to admit this,but I was a little mad at her.I might have even mumbled some unkind things under my breath about all her cute little pages,hole punches and supplies. I thought back to all my darling photo boxes filled with pictures. I have some in the den, some in the living room and now most are on my computer and not printed at all. I have duplicates and all the rejects where someones nostrils are flaring or my boys are jumping with bunny ears behind the subject.I so admire people who do this. All their photos are in darling books with stickers and notes. I bet when their sons get married they dont have to guess what age they are in some of the pictures. But I have to say its just not me....Going into one of these stores is like going with Steve to Hanks Hardware. I get all fidgety,bug him for quarters for a soda out of the vending machine and really just want to cry. So thank you so much for thinking of me, I would love to have another night on the calendar to hang with you girls. But I am afraid I cant....I have to know my limits and a rash is starting to itch just thinking about it.