Jumping Back Into the Swing of Things

Needed some help with the candles this year.

I mean is she a doll or what?

Hoy boy has it been awhile. That whole NY resolution of updating daily? HA yeah right. But at least I've had some good excuses. Since then Nana went back to the hospital with a nasty infection- she has since been out for almost a month and getting better and stronger everyday! Aunt Blair and I got to see Wicked at the fabulous Fox (ridiculously awesome) but then she had to head back north where the wind chill was 30 below (ouch) for one more semester. We finally put Christmas back in the attic and took control of our living room again (thank God) and oh yeah- I got a new job.

Ha, no big deal right?  It kind of happened so fast. I got a call from this amazing company. I went in for the interview and with Mom's surgery and the holidays, I kind of lost track of time. So when I got the call asking me to take the job I was stunned. Completely caught off guard. I had a lot to think about.

Remember that Super Mom post awhile back? Well it's been on my mind since I wrote it. I had so much support after I came clean and it's been so great. But all the support in the world wasn't getting me more time with Kennedy. This job was a more regular hour 8-5 kind of job. The company is famously known for being family friendly- not that my other job wasn't- it's just sometimes when you work with students you are working on their time. And that's ok. But Kennedy was getting the shaft and I couldn't take coming home one more night with her already in bed. I thought about it all weekend. I talked to friends at the company. I talked to family. Geoff and I had a night full of going back and forth. And I knew what I had to do.

It killed me to turn my two weeks in. It crushed me to tell my best friend. But I knew, after all the tears and sadness, I was making the right move. Of course I worked with awesome people who were nothing but supportive and happy for me which- of course- made it harder to walk out that last day.

BUT- that was a week ago and I've been at the new place for a few days and I am in love. Head over heels haven't felt this way since K was born in love. I love everything about it. I'm back in my roots of journalism somewhat. I'm doing Communications and PR and I can tell it's going to be amazing.

There will be a night or weekend here or there and there will be some travel with this (I'm headed to San Diego in Feb) but for the most part I'm going to be right here with Little Miss and Geoff. And I couldn't be happier.

January was just CRAZY. The end of the holidays, Mom's stuff, Blair leaving, the job switch and today- we celebrated what Mom calls my "first annual 29th Birthday". I can't believe it- 29. Where have the years gone?

I can't believe where my life has ended up but I'm so in love with it all. This next year is going to be my "bucket year". I have a list of things I want to accomplish before I hit the big 3-0.

A sneak peek- get off my butt and kick this baby weight, learn something new (craft, language, hobby, etc), introduce Kennedy to the wonders of an ocean, try new food. That's just to name a few.

These last few weeks have really shown me just how blessed I am and I don't want to just "roll through" life not taking in every moment and memory that I can.

Please hang in there- this blog is important to me and I want to keep up as much as possible. I've got a heck of a birthday party to plan here in the next few weeks (K is 9 months-WHAT?) so there's sure to be some posts on that.

Have an amazing week all- you deserve it!

Changes they are a comin'

Oh boy do we have some changes headed our way. 2013 is the year I get my life in order 100%.

Can't wait to share all the news, still putting some final touches on it but details to come!

Operation Mealtime Fun

I had so many GREAT comments and food ideas from Facebook- thank you for sharing!

I think since I had so many I will take them and make them one by one and let you know how they turned out. You'll all get a little shout out. :)


Just a typical Friday here, Nana Vicki got to come home from the hospital (finally) so we had dinner and Geoff's brother and sister-in-law came to visit. It was a fun night!

We have a PACKED weekend, with one last family Christmas, a basketball game and then on Sunday I'm taking my sister to Wicked! I can't wait.

So let's be honest- there isn't going to be any cooking going on in this household this weekend. We'll start Operation Mealtime Fun next week. Can't wait to share them all with you!

Happy weekend everyone, enjoy it! Wow, I used a ton of exclamation marks, sorry- I'm that annoyingly happy person tonight...

It's Taco Thursday y'all

So one thing I haven't quite gotten down is the whole dinner thing. I know, I know- K is almost 9 months old- how do I not have dinner down?

I have a bit of an unusual schedule. 3 out of 5 days a week I'm working late or something comes up and I don't get home before 7. My husband, though nice to look at, isn't much help in the kitchen. Like, at all. He makes a mean pancake but you can only eat those so much so our dinners tend to be frozen chicken nuggets and if I have some extra energy- some mac-n-cheese. Tonight it was Taco Thursday, last night it was spaghetti with meat sauce. That's only 2 days and I'm already exhausted from browning the meat, making the rest of the meal, washing the dishes...

I need help. I need some quick meals with few ingredients as possible. I got a crockpot for Christmas and I'm excited to use it but I still have those silly thoughts of burning my house down while at work.

I'm just a mess. How do you do it? Do you do a weekly meal planner, a monthly one? Do you do the same few meals over and over? Do you just not care and eat cereal at least twice a week? Shoot me some advice folks- I need all the help I can get! Thanks!!

To a year we'll never forget

It's hard to believe we are already starting a new year. It seems like yesterday I was finding out I was pregnant and now Little Miss will be 9 months old in 2 weeks! 

2012 was a year full of fun, challenges, happy and sad times. I guess that's really any year but this one was special for so many reasons. 

2012 started with a very sweet surprise shower from some of my favorite students.

My Mizzou Spirit students are some of the best kiddos you'll ever meet. They helped Little Miss arrive in style.

After a quick and painless and perfect maternity shoot with Evee Images-

It was time for my hands down AMAZING Wizard of Oz themed baby shower thrown by our awesome families and friends.

You can read all about it in This post

After that shower it was time to get serious about the nursery, we only had another few weeks after all. I LOVE it still!

This was a fun post!

It's a good thing too because on April 17 (10 days before she was due) Miss Kennedy August Karr graced us with her presence. 

I never knew you could fall in love so fast.

We've had so much fun since! 

First photo shoot

First Mizzou Football game!

Baptism 7-22-12

BEAUTIFUL 6-month-old

Happy Halloween!

First Mizzou Basketball game

Cookies for Santa 12-24-12

First Christmas! 12-25-12

The Karr family 2012

Wow- to look back at pictures just makes me smile. As I said, we were very blessed this year, it was amazing. But 2012 also brought some sad times as well including the one year anniversary since Grandpa Gary passed away and the scary news of Nana Vicki's breast cancer. 

BUT- looking back on the last 12 months, I don't think I could change much. We have a happy, healthy, beautiful baby girl. Our family is complete. I don't know what 2013 will hold but I can only hope it's as magical as 2012!

So long 2012 and hello 2013!

I can't even begin to describe what an amazing yet challenging year 2012 was. My goal this year is to blog everyday and I have a few backed up so get excited (or not) for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Update on Nana Vicki and more posts here in the upcoming days.

For now let's leave it simple as this:

                                                                      Happy 2013!!