Daddy Daughter Ball...

So Allen ISD sponsored a Daddy Daughter Ball and Carter asked Kenzi to escort him. We did Kenzi's hair and got a corsage and boutonniere and they were ready. Carter and Kenzi looking amazing! I have such a beautiful family. Though if you want descriptions, Carter will have to be the one to tell you about it as he was there for it.

Hi everyone. Carter here. Kari had us take these pictures before we went. I think we look pretty good. (OK, this kid looks good, I look OK.) What do you think?

Outside in front of the lights. Pay no attention to the pumpkin in the background.

Kenzi got to wear her tiara out, and she really liked that. The ball was down at the high school cafeteria. Yes, that sounds bad, but the Allen High cafeteria is pretty impressive. The theme was Paris, so there were Eiffel Towers up everywhere. Kenzi and I danced quite a bit. Usually that consisted of me standing in one place and her running around me. About every 10 minutes we would need to stop and get a Rice Crispy treat, then back to the dance floor. This went on for about an hour and a half. Kenzi loved the whole experience, and we had a great time. I will turn it back over the Kari to talk about the rest of the evening.


After the dance, Carter and Kenzi came and got me and we went To Watters Creek for a free Carriage ride. The back story on that is when Carter asked Kenzi to go, Kenzi asked if there was going to be a carriage. To which I said "No you will be in daddy's car." My boss told me about this carriage ride near my work and so Carter and Kenzi got have a carriage ride after all. It was fun!

Kenzi wanted to ride the Goose statue near the creek. She was hitting her goofy point!

Carter and Kenzi in Santa's chair. Santa went back to the North Pole for the night, but I like how nice the setting was so I asked for more pictures.

I LOVE this picture of the two! They have so much fun together!

Enjoy! Kari

WE ARE APPROVED!!!

So as you may know we have doing paperwork for the better part of a year and a half, including the time of doing IVF. As of the 15th we were informed that we were approved and our profile is on the website. Please go and check out at https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/22965027/ourMessage.jsf.

We are very pleased to have the our part done. We know that the next step is up to Heavenly Father and His plan for our family. If we are "stuck" with Mackenzie, then we count our lucky stars and blessings that she fought to come to us! And if it be, that we have another child come to live with us, Carter, Mackenzie, and I will be elated and love that child more than you can imagine. When we found out that we were posted on the website, Kenzi asked what was going on. So I went in told her "Well, you know how we are trying to have another child come to live with us and be apart of our family?" "Yes" "Well, we are approved and so know we can adopt a child!" "You mean I get to have a baby?!?!?!" If I haven't mentioned it before, Mackenize so wants to be a big sister!

So hopefully our wish will come true! Later! Kari

Catch up post...

So as previously stated I would try and catch up so here is an attempt. Back in October we did some yard work and picked our peaches. I have since canned them and they are actually good! Who knew?!?!?!? But here are some pictures that we got. Kenzi loved picking the peaches! She actually helped with that. Usually she says she would help and then ends up playing the whole time. Enjoy! Kari

What I have been working on...

So, as many of you know, we are trying to adopt. Well the last thing we need to do is put pictures on the website that our profile will be on. So I have been doing some digital scrapbooking. I am loving the templates and when I finally figured out how to use them, they have gone quickly. I don't see switching over completely as I have all of the scrapbook stuff, but it was definitely fun to do. This is just a few of what I have done so far. We are suppose to find out this week if we are approved or not. So when we find out I will let you know and point you to the website. In the meantime, if you just keep your fingers crossed that we get approved and let me know what you think of the pages. Just be kind as I am a beginner! Thanks and have a great week! Later, Kari!

Dry spell over!

OK, So I seemed to have dropped off the blog universe for a few months. I am very sorry Grammas and Grampas! Since with the exception of a handful of friends I am pretty sure that you are the ones who read this. So since Kenzi has started school as indicated in the August posts, I got a part time job. So I am currently trying to figure out the working part time in addition to my bookkeeping, and keeping the house in order. I know, most normal people don't need to figure it out, they just do it. I know, I have seen them in action. But not me! Nope, I am going to over analyze and over think what the ramifications of my taking a part time job, and how am I going to keep the kitchen clean when I am ready to drop when I get home!?!?! Thank goodness I have gotten used to standing on my feet for hours at a time. Gram Mac, not sure how you do that for way more hours than me? You go girl! Oh and I forgot I am the secretary for the PTA at my daughter's school. So I am busy. So why am I babbling... I have not forgotten my blog. I yearn every week to inform the world of our adventures. And I think I am finally getting my act together so that I can. I will pick up from here. However, if I can I will try and inform you of what you missed. There is no guarantee, but I will definitely try. We have been having fun! Hopefully you have too! Later! Kari

August wrap up...

So a week after Kenzi started school we had Meet the Teacher night. Kenzi was very excited to show us her room and we had a great conversation with her teacher, Mrs. C.

This is Kenzi showing Carter the "Home Living" area.

Kenzi showing us the calendar board.
Kenzi and her teacher, Mrs. C. Kenzi LOVES her and thinks she is sooo funny!

So far everything is going fine. Of course we have been late twice in 4 weeks and the mornings are rough. That is the problem with being night owls! All of us are! But we are working on it everyday! Enjoy! Kari

Rough Riders Baseball...

So our friends Liz, Briana, and Jake had tickets for a baseball game. They ended up having 6 tickets so they invited us and Ben. We had a great time. The kids seemed to have fun too!

We had great seats, but I really don't think that there is a bad seat in the house!
Ben getting his groove on!

Briana sweet as can be. She was sitting next to me and kept calling me mom as she thought Liz was sitting next to her.

I think Jake was trying to look serious here. But he is one adorable kid anyway!

Kenzi and I. At first she was not into the game or anything. By the end she was screaming and dancing with everyone else!

Liz and her daughter Briana. What a great looking mommy and daughter duo!

We had so much fun! Thank you Liz for inviting us! Carter didn't go because he had game night with the guys! And Dave was in Cali! Later! Kari

First day of Kindergarten!!!!

Well my baby is not a baby anymore. And I have coming to that conclusion in the past oh about 4 years. But today, I can no longer put it off! It is KEnzi's first day of Kindergarten! She was trepadatious all the way until we could see the school and then she got very excited. She even yelled "School BUS" when she saw one!

I have plans of walking her to school everyday that I can. So today Carter and I walked her.

Us needing to make up some time so she would not be late. She loves to ride on Carter's shoulders. It was there that she spotted the school bus!

Kenzi next to the Kinder"garden" wall.

After we hung Kenzi's backpack up she told me "I am going to go color now." (and if you have a problem with that you will have to work that out on your own!) OK so she didn't say that last part but I could tell she was not asking permission she was just informing me!

At her table putting her name tag on.

So they are doing something different with the Kindergarten classes. They are having the children rotate among all the kindergarten teachers for the first week. By Friday of this week we will know who Kenzi's teacher will be. But for now the teacher that is bending down talking to Kenzi is Mrs. C and she will be Kenzi's "homeroom" teacher.

So this is pick up after Kenzi's school day. On the walk home both Carter and I were able to talk to her about her day. I did ask about her backpack that if they knew it was her backpack. Her reply: "Yes they know it is my backpack. They told me it was a boy backpack. I told them 'So I like boy stuff. That is just the way it is!' and they said 'Oh'!" So now that we have gotten that out of the way! :0)

So this was taken when Kenzi finally fell asleep on Sunday night. I have a great flash! But she was so ready to start school! Can you tell?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Well, now that I have most of my day without a shadow I have to figure out what I need to do. Notice the word need in that sentence. I know that I can fill my time, I just want to make sure that I am doing what my Heavenly Father would have me do. So I will keep you posted and have a wonderful school year everybody! Later! Kari

SoF Week 12

SUNDAY - So since we scrapbooked last week, we still had our stuff out and was able to scrapbook today. Kenzi really seems to like it and wants to do it often!

As part of our Family Home Evening we played Kenzi's Dr. Seuss ABC Stretchy game. She loves to play this game with mommy and daddy as it is funny to watch mommy and daddy try and get in those positions that are required! Here is Kenzi trying to get her ear on a letter. Yep, I said ear!

I understand that I may still be more flexible than some but even I could not get my ear to where it needed to go!
Carter getting an easy one!

TUESDAY - So Tuesdays are gymnastics day and sometimes Kenzi does something new. Today is one of those days. And I have a feeling some of you might sometimes feel a bit like Kenzi looks in this activity. So if you ever feel like you are in the rat race. Just remember, you could be stuck in a wheel! Enjoy!

WEDNESDAY - So everyone here in Allen is gearing up towards the first day of school on Monday. The library was offering a Kindergarten Readiness class so Kenzi and I went. She seemed to have a good time. Though she wanted to sit with me part way through. So I told her I would sit right behind her.

So after the library we went to get in our car for our next activity and it would not start. So we called AAA and they told my battery was bad and jump started my car. I then went home got the tools that I would need and went straight to the parts store. I bought the battery and replaced it. The only trouble that I had was getting the battery out of the area, to which a very nice gentleman helped me out. Of course the whole time Kenzi asked me what I was doing and I got quite a few funny looks from the other customers. Maybe they have never seen a girl work on a car before, but now they can't say never!

So then after the car trouble we went to get swim lessons from Shanette. She is an EMT and a certified swim teacher with Red Cross. She is so awesome with Kenzi and was very thorough. Unfortunately Shanette went to college, but she said that she would be back next summer to continue the lessons. Carter and I think that she will be engaged, married, and possibly pregnant. So we will see! But anywho, Kenzi loved her lesson and did stuff for Shanette that she will not do for me.

THURSDAY - As stated earlier, in preparation of getting ready for school, Kenzi and I practiced on Thursday and Friday morning. We woke up the time we needed to get up and got ready and walked to school. She was totally into it and getting very excited!

Wondering why she can't get in!

FRIDAY - This was a day of randomness. We practiced walking to school. On the way home we stopped at the park and she was very naughty when it was time to go.

...So when we went swimming with our friends she had to sit in a chair and watch. Of course she did not like this, but I told her that if she was not good leaving the park she could not swim!

We then were invited to Ben's birthday party. She had another fit and we had to leave Ben's party before he finished opening presents.

SATURDAY - So today we cleaned up the house a little bit and Kenzi had a make up lesson for Gymnastics. And then we had a Mommy and Me Scrapbook party. Kenzi's friend, Sheridan brought her mom, Stacey. We had a great time talking, scrapbooking, and even enjoyed some cupcakes! The interesting thing is that I gave Kezni the choice of having a End of Summer party with her pool and sprinklers or a Mommy and Me Scrapbook party. And yep, she chose scrapbooking.

Carter and I went on a date tonight and we had Shanette watch Kenzi one more time. We love Shanette very much. We are very happy for her and the wonderful new opportunity she is going to have! We know that Shanette will be extremely successful no matter what she does! Remember who you are girl!

This was a very eventful week and hopefully a fun end to our summer. I know Kenzi will do great in school and learn a lot. Now hopefully I can use my time wisely and not cry too much! Later! Kari.