tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21349805740176306852011-09-16T00:16:12.426-07:00Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-41671369092661618502011-09-08T10:05:00.002-07:002011-09-08T11:40:30.965-07:00

It's been a while since I've last written on here. My life looks a bit different now. My kids are all in school now, I'm "Mom" and not "Mommy" anymore and I actually squeeze in a coherent thought now and then. I eat salads and drink coffee on a regular basis and have traded play dates at the playground for concerts and the occasional trip to the local dive bar. I even did a mud run a few months

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-54841971800587409782011-05-09T10:03:00.002-07:002011-05-09T11:22:12.504-07:00

Since when did we stop being impressed with sunsets? I live in the foothills; from my house, on a good day, I can almost see the ocean. When the sun sets, it does a pretty good job around here. Most days, I pass it by, give it a polite nod as I head home, but the other day, I had to stop. And just stare. Because it literally choked the breath out of me. No words could have done it justice; to

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-35798794146390899302010-11-17T09:57:00.002-07:002010-11-17T11:36:25.314-07:00

I'm embarrassed to say it, but here goes. Since we've moved back to Orange County nearly three years ago, we've been to 8 different churches. Yes, 8. I will begin by emphasizing that there was absolutley nothing wrong with any of them. In each church, I have found kind, loving people, friendly faces, good teaching, great worship, nice kids' programs and even some pretty tasy donuts and coffee.

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-40935976330327101182010-05-02T23:31:00.004-07:002010-05-03T00:20:56.752-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I went to see a woman comedian at a local church with some friends. I had no idea what to expect, but I was up for a girls' night out, and I'm always up for a good laugh, so I figured it would be fun. This woman was beyond hilarious. She spit out one (clean!) joke after another and had us laughing so hard I was sure my side was going to split. She even did a few dances on

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-80403108198050568662010-03-06T23:12:00.006-07:002010-03-07T00:24:11.648-07:00

Wow! I glanced at the last blog date and realized it has been over a year since I've posted on here! Where does the time go when you're uh, having fun?! I started this blog to share lighthearted stories about the adventures in mommyhood, but with the recent events in my life, I thought I'd expand my "genre" in hopes that you might be encouraged, or, perhaps, encourage ME! :)In November of 2009,

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-60743901483156931912009-02-14T23:26:00.003-07:002009-02-14T23:43:45.567-07:00

1. I sometimes hide in the closet, the pantry or bathroom when things get a bit too hairy at my house. These seem to be the only places I am able to make and carry on phone calls as well. I sometimes bring a book in and stay a while, even if the pounding on the door gets louder and louder. I wish my house was bigger sometimes so there were more places to hide...2. I am not very good at playing.

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-27296678396637543642008-10-27T17:33:00.003-07:002008-10-27T17:50:19.175-07:00

The holidays are just around the corner, and as the panic starts to rise inside of me at the thought of digging the Christmas decorations out of the dusty closet in the garage (I never did find the fall ones..is it too late for those?) I refuse to let the guilt get ahold of me this year. Therefore, before any of the madness even starts, I will make myself some guilt-free rules.1. I will not beat

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-70237302036735044912008-09-12T20:51:00.002-07:002008-09-12T21:07:23.505-07:00

I had a small epiphane today in Target, of all places. I was passing the baby aisles, and for the first time in what seems like ages, I kept on going! Yup, no baby wipes to buy, no diapers in bulk, no bibs, baby spoons, teensie rattles, rash ointment...you name it, don't need it! Whew! What a strange feeling! Four kids and one tubal ligation later, my baby years are officially behind me. I should

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-77429616073288603072008-09-08T19:22:00.002-07:002008-09-08T19:43:25.269-07:00

Okay, so I am a bit addicted to Facebook. I didnt think I would ever get caught up in something like that, but it is actually pretty cool! I've found old friends and new alike, and come to discover that it's a great way to stay connected. Plus, it seems a bit more, shall we say, adult? than myspace. Or at least that is what I tell myself when I'm chatting away with my friends at midnight online!

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-39919678354332163302008-07-28T15:44:00.004-07:002008-07-28T16:32:53.239-07:00

So I'll be 32 next week. Not a big deal, depending on who you talk to. My "middle aged" friends tell me I'm a baby, my younger friends like to remind me that I'm "getting up there". It does seem hard to believe that nearly 15 years have passed since I graduated high school. I still don't quite feel like an adult, though I suppose I should having four kids! I'm still as carefree as ever, but life

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-52325541806566943762008-07-08T17:04:00.003-07:002008-07-08T17:16:20.536-07:00

If you're like me, you tend to feel sorry for yourself every now and then. You know, the house is in shambles, the kids aren't behaving too well, your hair won't lay flat, your skin looks like it belongs on an adolescent kids' face, and your hubby is grumpy because you're grumpy. To help me get out of my periodic slumps, I began keeping a list on the computer entitled "The Little Things." This

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-68831151636711015972008-06-27T08:47:00.002-07:002008-06-27T08:56:57.048-07:00

Okay, so my house is super quiet right now. We just dropped my oldest son off at summer camp this morning (I only cried a bit!) and my three little ones are at grandma's. In three hours, my hubby and I leave for a rafting trip (yipee!) but for now, I'm all alone in a very quiet, too quiet house! Those of you with little ones know what a precious rarity this is. We are often alone with our kids in

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-64460255165940359972008-06-24T22:50:00.002-07:002008-06-24T23:02:03.953-07:00

Ten Reasons to Love Summer1. Homemade Popsicles. Remember how Mom used to freeze juice in those cute little plastic thingies and we'd sit outside and eat them till our clothes were drenched, then get hosed off in the backyard? My kids still find them much more exciting than the storebought ones.2. The ice cream man! He finally made his rounds on our block yesterday. I still remember waiting with

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-40394607429757438142008-06-21T21:16:00.002-07:002008-06-21T21:36:59.439-07:00

So, it's been four months since we moved, and I'm finally getting out there, trying to meet people after being a so called hermit for so long. Being a hermit, I discovered, has its advantages. No messy relationships, no grouchy, catty mommies to avoid on the playgrounds, you get my gist. But of course, this is not how life was made to be lived. And, because I am a social introvert (yes, that's

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-37114760382074376602008-06-12T21:37:00.002-07:002008-06-12T22:01:12.901-07:00

If you were like me as a young girl, you watched all princess movies, dressed up in plastic high heels, and dreamed about a prince who would one day sweep you off your feet and ride off into the sunset with you on his horse. The blockbuster hit "Enchanted" made us all believe for a few moments that perhaps this fairy tale life really does exist in these modern times. But one look at our crazy,

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-47132642602275231932008-04-18T16:46:00.002-07:002008-04-18T16:58:37.228-07:00

So, I'll be 32 in a few months. This seems sort of unreal to me. I don't feel a day over 25, though my gray hairs would suggest otherwise! My ten year high school reunion has come and gone (I didn't go...it's suggested that one waits until the 20th to see who has gone bald, gray, fat, etc) and I still remember high school like it was yesterday. I've finally decided it's time to be a grown up.

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-88478390127675651622008-03-25T22:24:00.003-07:002008-03-25T22:42:01.216-07:00

A few of my favorite things right now:1. American Idol. No, I don't get tired of it. I used to wonder what all the hype was about, and now I get it. This season is better than ever. David Cook rocks, and that David Archusomething is really a cutie..if I were 16 I would have a crush on him too. Simon looks smashing in his white T shirts, but Paula looks a little strange...her fashion seems to

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134980574017630685.post-90234648346264559602008-01-04T17:01:00.000-07:002008-01-04T17:29:01.930-07:00

I had surgery two and a half weeks ago, and it's opened my eyes to the world of, um, laziness, humility, and a sentimental side I didn't quite knew I had. I've never watched so much TV in my entire life. I've already purchased some make up advertised on TV that I absolutely could not resist (okay, I was on "drugs" and there was a little pressure to buy in the next 12 minutes or the price would

Karenkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02913118048872327206noreply@blogger.com3