An Auntie First

Two weeks ago I had a personal Auntie First...I missed my first niece/nephew 1st Birthday Party!

It was a sad sad day in Kara history.

I contemplated how I could be in two places at once, but no luck coming up with any kind of solution.

My sweet little niece, Lauren, was turning one and I was missing it! (Not to mention, she's already walking and I haven't even seen that yet either!...I think a trip to NoVa is in store soon) But two things made the day better...a text from my sister and the pictures of these cuties:

Ryan and Mackenzie more excited to open Lauren's presents than Lauren is :)



I think she loves her TinyTOMS I sent her...at least they pass the taste test!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY MISS MACKENZIE

My baby girl turned TWO! So cute, so smart and so big. I can't believe how fast time has flown, I feel like she was just a little peanut in my arms and now she's my big monkey.

Love her so much.

Kyle and Stephanie had a sweet little family brunch/birthday party for her. It was perfect and intimate. I got a big kick out of watching Mackenzie open all of her presents one at a time like a patient little lady; too funny! 


And for a change I didn't take ANY pictures at the party...so unlike me! And the only two I ended up with were these two from The Mom:

Me and the boy

Notice Mackenzie pulling Pete's armhairs...haha!

(but not a bad two to end up with!)

WOAH BABY

This little thing called LIFE has been keeping me quite busy; and just like that, before I know it - BOOM - it's almost March and warm outside! Yikes. Slow down life. You've been good to me, but you're moving a bit too fast.


Freinds, get ready for a Whirlwind of the past month and a half...


I survived THE CRUISE and it was amazing; I absolutely loved it...Music, Sun, Friends, Food and Icy Cold Beverages; what's not to love??

Sam Thacker

NEEDTOBREATHE

Top of the ship at night

Costa Maya, Mexico (and our ship in the background)

Kara x2 soaking up some mexican rays.

Philly friend,Todd on 'Glam Rock' night

New friends!

Philly friend Matt, playing the Serenity Deck at sunrise...I was unfortunately asleep for this. Me and staying up until sunrise don't mix well.

Green River Ordinance in the Candlelight Lounge

 Yes, on the ship!

Breakfast doesn't get much better than this!

After the cruise, January pretty much went by in a blur...Between work life, social life, family life, and dating life (that's right, I said dating life...!!!!...but don't get too excited, those details are strictly confidential) the days just flew by and clearly the good old blog here took a back seat.


After what felt like a bagillion days in a row of below freezing temperatures and snow that wouldn't stop falling and still refuses to melt, February finally came. And so far has been a great month. The cold is definitely getting old, but I'm keeping my spirits up with thoughts of warmth and some much-needed sweat sessions at the gym (very necessary when you're stuck indoors for months at a time!)


I was able to make a short trip to New Orleans in the beginning of the month. Although it was for work, we were excited to get out and explore the streets at night. I can't believe I've never been there before, the city has such a neat vibe. I was hoping for warm weather, but we didn't let the 30 degree temps phase us; we had a great time. And I got to do the one thing I was looking forward to the whole trip, walk in the streets with an open beer...where else can you order a beer to go?!

Don't mind the beads; I got them legitimately with jacket on and all :)

Second best part of the trip? The layover in Dallas when I had enough time for lunch at Pappasitos to satisfy my constant Mexican food craving.

And most recently, I got to spend a whole evening with the cutest niece ever. It's been a while since we had one-on-one time and as usual we had so much fun - We colored valentines, made mini pizzas together, Mac served me 'coffee' from her new Little Tykes Kitchen, SHE read ME all her books , she showed me how ahe knows all of her letters and numbers, played in the bubble bath and most importantly giggled ALOT at each other. The girl is just so funny, she makes me crack up! And everytime I laugh she starts laughing and tells me I'm silly: "Kia, you silly!"

Cheeeeeeese. (Froggy needed a tissue...)

There you have it...the time you've missed (as a blog reader) in a nutshell...the girl is back! Love you all. Thanks to everyone who's getting my butt into gear and back on the blog train (not to name any names ::cough cough:: Heather, ::cough cough:: The Mom, ::cough cough:: Shannon and Steph).

SATURDAY AT THE PLAYHOUSE

With the cutest little one in her skinny jeans and baby uggs...

Hahah...

The Playhouse! Can you believe it??

Daddy told her to give Aunt Kara a steak...typical Kyle.

OH, AND I'M GETTING ANOTHER NIECE/NEPHEW!

Bring on the babies!

Check out my cute, little, pregnant sis-in-law here.

SO excited...Congratulations Kev and Shan (dad- and mom-to-be)!!

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

AND WHILE I'M HARD AT WORK

So is this little one:

Mowing the grass with Grandpa

In her cute little dress from Aunt Kara

THE GIRL TURNS 1

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MACKENZIE!

My niece turns 1 on Monday, so along with Easter this weekend, we also celebrated her. Her Mom and Dad threw her a sweet Easter-theme birthday party for all her family and friends. So cute.

Easter Egg Hunt

Little Ryan gets in on the hunt (with some help from Mom)

Checkin out the goods

Swing time with Uncle Scott

The professional cake that Steph made! Very impressed.

Cake time!

Mmmmmmm

And some sandbox/pool time to top it all off. 

This got real messy real fast...

Cute cousins

The Birthday Girl

All tuckered out after a long day of partying :)