Friends

Gretchen and Dan and two of their four kids (Carter and Emma) came for dinner and to hang out last Saturday. It was so fun! They move to Wisconsin June 1 so we're trying to do stuff with them more often because we know we're going to miss them like crazy! It was a super chill night and we had so much fun! We're blessed to have them in our lives!

Sadly these are the only pictures I took while they were here! Emery loved playing with Carter and Emma, so it was like built-in babysitters!

Enjoy the Journey.

[For the Love] of Play Dough

I got some play dough out for Emery to play with for the first time the other day and she LOVED IT. Basically she figured out how to tear it apart and I showed her how to roll it. I'm sure her love for it will grow as she figures out all of the fun things she can do, and I give her more than one color at a time! 

She was trying to open it with her teeth because I put it away! She's too smart!

Enjoy the Journey.

Coach

Jared is coaching a Jr. Jazz basketball team for 9-10 grade boys. His cousin Kayden was playing so he had the opportunity to coach and decided to take it. (He coached Kayden's team the season before we got married) They've had two games so far and the second one was really intense at the end with the final score being 55-54 they won. (the first they lost, it was the best team they'll play all season). 

When Jared went to the "draft" to pick his team he said it was really intense. He was gone for about 3 hours! They did drills and wrote down numbers, and during the drills other coaches kept yelling at Kayden for his number because he didn't have one on his shirt. They were made every time he told them that he wasn't available (he is automatically put on Jared's team). Their game this week (54-55) Kayden had 25 of the point. He is quite the baller. One of the teammates asked if Jared had the first pick at the draft, when Jared responded "no" and asked why the player said "Then how did you get that guy?" referring to Kayden. 

I haven't been able to make it to either game so far but am excited to go next week. Below is the Coach's biggest Cheerleader and the Coach headed off to the first game! (Emery got to go and hang out with Julie and Jill at the game so I could go to book club and she LOVED IT!)

Enjoy the Journey.

Dear Girlie

You're getting so "old" lately. I can't believe how quickly you are learning new things and getting smarter. One of your newest things is to say "Mom, mom, mom, mom" until I look at you and say "Yes Emery?" to which you generally respond in jibberish and sometimes I can at least get a clue as to what you want.

You have also actually started to say "all done" lately and it is adorable. I can ask you to do anything and you completely understand. I'll say "take these toys into your room and come back" and you will, or "take off your coat and then put your shoes away" and you'll do both of them as well!

Friday after lunch you told me you were all done and then said to me "nigh night" explaining that you were ready for your nap! I really can't believe how quickly you are growing but it is so much fun!

You went to nursery again today and didn't look back at me, just in to play and loved it. I can't believe how quickly you're growing!

I love you sweet girlie!

Love,

Mom

Life According to My Cell Phone

I got a bit lazy and didn't post cell phone pictures for a while, so they pilled up in my inbox of my email. "De-cluttering" time came so these are in all sorts of order, but capture some good moments.

The drive home from Idaho on Christmas Day, she was only awake for the first and last 15 minutes of the drive. Thank you Santa again for the car DVD player with dual screens. 

She loves the marshmallows and can pull them out of the bag without even looking! (This picture makes her look so incredibly old)

The benefits of having a food blogger friend=free stuff! She's so kind! Check her out at http://www.ohsweetbasil.com/

When we went to Midway with Tyler and Cassidy in Nov. I made the best $2 purchase at a thrift store. It stayed in the car CD player all December. 

Don't you always look this cute when you iron (while eating an apple).

 [Iron was unplugged and cooled]

This was this week. This is the face of a girl who followed me around screaming/crying while I was on the phone with the dr.'s office. Apparently she wants to know what as bad as we all do about her spots.

We had lots of sick days in Nov/Dec.

Ignore that she is in her undershirt. Sometimes it is a process getting dressed and we have to take a break.

A new sleeping trend with her is her hands up.

Ashley Balmforth and I used to drive by this on our way to Sister Toy's math class. I generally got her because I always remembered where it was. Once we started leaving bruises on each other we quit playing the game. She sent me this picture a while ago because she drove by it and it was still there.

This is the mug I always used at Granma's house when I was sick. When I was super sick in December, I busted it out and it helped make me feel better. :)

If I were a "Hashtagger" #bringingsexyback #plaidflannelshirt

It wasn't hard enough just putting it on her lap so she stood up and used the wall to have it hard behind. (ignore the crazy bed head.) 

Somebody's daddy taught her to eat chocolate chips.

The egg box

Watching Polar Express with Daddy.

Reading herself a story before bed.

She found a seat when we were waiting for the dr at Primary's.

The coolest toy in the waiting room at Primary's.

Ready for church!

Some days this is the only way I get my hair done.

A morning shave.

Sorry this pic is so so pixilated, this girl gets the craziest bed head!

She also sleeps like a monkey.

After a long day sick she fell asleep in my arms. She's growing way too fast so I enjoyed it!

Enjoy the Journey.

Thanksgiving Via Cell Phone

I just cleaned out my email from cell phone pictures from the last few months. Here are some from Thanksgiving documented by Karissa and her iPhone. :)

Isn't that what the hole in the book is for?

Bathroom trips are always more fun with Emmaline!

Granpa's shoes!

Enjoy the Journey.

Dear Girlie,

Today we went to church with Julie and Jill because Kayden was being ordained. You technically could have gone to nursery in December, but we were sick, out of town, etc. We decided today we would try and take you and see how it went.

Daa-e (as you call him) and I walked you in and you immediately went to the puzzles on the floor and started playing with them with the nursery leader. After about a minute of you ignoring us Dad went to go save me a seat in Sunday School. Someone else brought their granddaughter in and you tried to play with her a little but she wasn't interested so you went back to the puzzles.

I waited around for three or four more minutes but you never looked at me again so I decided to head to class. I told the leader which class we'd be in and I left. I worried a lot about if you were happy and having fun.

Dad peeked in on you after Sunday School and you were sitting at the table having a snack with the other girl. You were the only two in there today! I went to Relief Society and Dad went to Priesthood. After it was done you and Dad met me in the hall. You wanted me immediately which made me feel good! You had freezing arms because the nursery was so cold today, even when they tried to turn the heat up!

Dad told me that the nursery leaders said you were so great for them! You only cried for me once, and they started to blow bubbles and you were happy. You were great sharing your toys, you loved your snack and you danced through the Mormon Message they showed you.

I don't think I was fully prepared for you to go to nursery, or at least adjust that well! I'm so glad it went so well and that you had so much fun.

You're growing up too fast girlie!

Love,

Mom

Christmas Eve

Christmas is a big deal in Jared's family, like a REALLY big deal. Their traditions go on for days and it is a lot of fun, but sometimes I get exhausted because I'm not used to so much going on. :) Things have slowed down a bit during the holidays in the last few years as all of the cousins have started having children and started spending more time in individual families and not all with the extended family. 

When we got to the Kotter's on Christmas Eve I had a prompting to make a video of the day and I'm so glad I listened! This is the reason I don't have many "pictures" from Christmas Eve-but I know there were several other cameras going so I just need to get copies. :) It turned out so much better than I could have imagined. Our Christmas Eve day started at noon and we got home at about 9:30 that night. Here is a short (6 min.) video that I feel captures our day so perfectly. I hope you enjoy it as much as [I hope] our family does.

https://vimeo.com/83397540

Enjoy the Journey.

Pinterest Project "Percentage"

About September/October ish I challenged myself to a project. I needed to take action on my Pinterest. I wanted 10% of the things I had pinned to be things that I had done/tried/etc.

I decided to do this project in two ways: 

1. To delete things that I had pinned that I knew I was never going to do.

2. To actually do things.

I went through my boards and organized them better so that I would find projects easier. I deleted things that I knew weren't "my style" anymore, either sewing, crafting, clothes, etc. I deleted things that I didn't feel had "meaning" etc.  (Besides Jared's board, that one is his, but I still counted it in my overall pin count)

As I went through boards I moved things into "Projects I've Done" or "Recipes I've Tried." Then I started doing. It was actually really fun. I felt accomplished, productive and started feeling like the Kara that I've always been, but have been busy/lazy lately. 

I'm going to keep this challenge going. What's the point in wasting your time on there, dreaming of all of these fabulous things and not actually doing?

I don't have a specific goal in mind yet for my next "Pinterest Project Percentage" but I do plan on coming up with a percentage soon and getting busy for 2014. I already have at least 3 projects underway!

If you have Pinterest why don't you join me?

To see what I've been up to/what I have pinned go to/click:

http://www.pinterest.com/karakreations/

My "Projects I've Done" and "Recipes I've Tried" boards are the last ones. 

(Side note: Future Wedding is Julisa's board that I pin to for ideas for her... I had one wedding and it was fabulous! ;) )

Enjoy the Journey.