Sleeping Beauty!

The other night I went to check on Levi before I went to bed and found him like this. He looked so cute.

Christmas Is Here!

Christmas is on its way. I have been so excited that I have had our Christmas tree and decorations up for 3 weeks. I love having the lights on at night and Levi gets so excited. He wakes up in the morning and tells us to turn the Christmas tree on. Happy Holidays everyone!

Dinner Help!

So I need to preface this with: I really do not like to make dinner. I end up making the same few things and I just really don't enjoy making dinner. Now this is not all the time. There are times that I love to have dinner ready for Michael and I love to have people over and make dinner. I enjoy making dinner with other people, but I have my weeks where I dread the dinner hour approaching.(I do love baking though) My request is this:

If anybody has simple, easy recipes that they enjoy, would you mind sending them my way? I need new dinner ideas that are easy and that are tried and true. I know many of my friends are wonderful cooks and many of you enjoy cooking and so I need your help to get me excited about cooking. Please send any recipes. I would appreciate the help and I know that Michael would also. Thanks! I will be looking forward to trying new things.

My e-mail is mjkarren@comcast.net

What Color Crayon Are You?

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Work, Work, and Play

Michael has been really busy at clinical. Vanderbilt has been working him hard and keeping him late. When he gets home, Michael is so tired and Levi is way past bedtime. I keep him up just so he can see his Daddy. Levi has really missed his Daddy and is getting pretty bored of Mom. Yesterday, Michael had off and so we decided to spend the day together. We took Levi to the Adventure Science Center (one of his favorite places). He had so much fun. They had a huge train track set up for display. It was really fun to watch the trains go around and Levi just loved it. He also loved playing with the trains in the toddler section. Michael and I sat there and talked for over 30 minutes because Levi just ignored us and played. He was so much fun. Michael took him to the top where you have a great view of Nashville. It was a great morning. Levi and I took naps (Michael went to the school to do some work) and then we went out to dinner. It was really fun to play with Levi and give our attention to him. He is our pride and joy. Now Michael is off to work and who knows when we will see him. Love you Daddy!

Michael's Birthday Cake

So for Michael's birthday our good friend, Alex, made this cake. I thought it would be really funny and Michael would be embarrassed, but he wasn't. He did enjoy the cake. Thanks Alex, it was yummy.

Happy Birthday Michael!

I just want to say Happy Birthday to my sweet husband. He doesn't care about birthdays, but I do. Michael is 27 years old. I can't believe how the time has flown by. I remember meeting Michael on a blind date set up by his Grandma. I remember thinking to myself "Wow, he is tall." He was so funny and so much fun to be with that we continued dating. We spent lots of time at families homes and that was great because I got to see how he reacts to my family and how he interacts with his. He proposed in Feb 04 and we were married in June 04. He has been a wonderful friend and husband to talk to and do fun things together.

Michael is also a wonderful father and I love to see him in that role. Levi loves his daddy and is so excited when Michael gets home from school. Michael has always loved children and I am so grateful. I love it when he holds Mia or Desiree at church. They adore him as he does them.

I have been blessed to have a thoughtful husband who loves me and takes me as I am. When I am moody, emotional, angry, and just plain mean, he loves me. I am so excited to spend eternity when him and continue to get to know him.

Michael, Levi and I love you and wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Two Wonderful Moments

I have been thinking about Levi and the baby lately. They both amaze me and I just can't get enough of them. (even though sometimes it seems that Levi is driving me crazy)

The other day I was really enjoying spending time with Levi. I can't believe that he is growing up so fast. He soon won't be my baby anymore and I am having a hard time with that. I love when he gets up and runs to give me a hug. He is polite most of the time, saying "please" and "thank you" quite often. As I was watching him this day I can't help, but think about how much I love him and that I don't want him to grow up. I miss holding him all day and having him be dependent upon me. Now he runs, jumps, yells, and does most things himself. He is such the talker. Michael and I really have to watch what Levi hears, because he repeats everything and remembers everything. He is so fun to watch when he plays by himself. He will have his own conversations and just be content to play alone. I love when he calls me Mommy and I have to laugh when he gets bossy (which is quite often). He is also such a great helper. He loves to help Michael and me with anything. I could write so much about him, but it would take a long time. I feel blessed to be his mother and am just amazed each day with him and what he is learning.

I also have been really excited because the baby is kicking me like crazy. When I was pregnant with Levi, we never felt him kick. My placenta was on top and he wasn't a mover. Well, when this baby started kicking I was ecstatic. Just the past couple weeks he has been much more active and I can feel and see him move. I am in awe at what a wonderful miracle this is. I am super excited to have another baby, but will miss feeling the baby move inside me. I often sit on the couch and just stare at my belly waiting for the baby to kick and communicate with me. I love it and Levi is starting to really like it too. How blessed am I?

I'm Quirky -Tag

Tell about 6 quirks of yours.

1. I sit with my toes curled under a lot. It drives Michael nuts.
2. This also drives Michael nuts. I move my mouth around all the time. I don't know that I am doing it, but apparently I am.
3. I like to have people over and then clean my kitchen. After everybody leaves, it is my time to relax and think. I load the dishwasher a certain way, wash dishes, clean the counters. Sometimes I will dance to music as I am cleaning.
4. After I clean the bathroom I don't want anyone to use it. I want it to stay clean for at least a couple of hours. This does not always happen.
5. I am a worry wart. I have to check to make sure lights are off, everything is unplugged, the door is locked. I will check the same thing multiple times. I know a little OCD
6. I hate when my hair is ratty and full of knots. I want to go and comb my hair and have no one talking to me when I am combing it. I get a little angry.
I tag: Diana, Nancy, Katie, Kristin, Mom, Tauna

Hotel here we come!

These are from the hotel's swimming pool and room. Levi loved swimming. He always wanted to go and never wanted to leave. He really liked playing in the bubbles that were in the hot tub.

Corvette Factory in Bowling Green

While we were up in bowling green we went to Mammoth caves and Michael went on the corvette factory tour. He had lots of fun, so the next day we decided to take pictures with some of the cars. The cars were really nice and so pretty. Levi liked looking at the cars, but didn't like taking pictures.

Mammoth Caves