Karen Schneider Photography

I've Moved!!

I have a new blog!!  Check me out here - I have still have quite a bit to work on, but it's up and it's running and I LOVE it . . . so far!! ;)  Please stop by and say "Hi!" when you get a chance.  I'd love to hear from you! :)

She indulged me . . .

for ONE second.  Honestly, it was ONE second and then she was gone!  Good thing my shutter finger was fast. LOL

See ya' later!!

In Her Element

This is Kasen in her element . . . in the dirt. LOL  She is definitely a girly-girl, but she LOVES to play in the mud, sand, dirt . . . really, anything that can make her go from the neat and tidy look of a sweet princess that just had a tea party, to the wild and dirty look of Pigpen in about two seconds flat.

On another note, we decided to treat Kasen to lunch at a restaurant today.  Whew, I forgot how much work THAT was.  She was up and down, running back in forth in the booth, laying upside down, talking about the gum that was so delicately placed under our table (and touching it! Ewwww!!), grabbing the paintings on the wall (over and over), rubbing her hands back on forth on the corners surrounding the table, I'm assuming to find all the dirt she possibly could, dropping her utensils (several times), almost dropping her plate (that was close!), and several time-outs later, we were done!!!  We even got the knowing nod on the way out of the door.  You know the one, where someone has been there, done that, understands what you're going through, but are oh so happy that it's not them!!  Thank goodness the place was not busy, and thank goodness for old people that can't hear that well. LOL  Because in the always endearing Kasen fashion, she was LOUD!

At one point, Brad leaned over to Kasen and said "Your manners are atrocious!  Do you know what atrocious means?  That's a fancy word for awful."  It was all I could do not to bust a gut laughing right then and there.  If you have not had the pleasure of reading the captivating series of Fancy Nancy, it won't be nearly as funny to you as it definitely was to me.  However; it's nice to know that Brad carries his literary skills into every day life with ease. ;)

See ya' later!!

What Happened to the Weather?

Crazy Texas weather.  It was HOT yesterday, but today it was coooooooool.  And I do love a cool overcast day - my favorite! :)

Kasen and I filled our Friday with lots of activities, one of which included taking a LONG shower.  She hasn't wanted to take a shower for weeks now, but for some reason today it sounded appealing.  So, in she went, and she played and played pouring cups of water over and over again.  And here she is, making a silly face.  Oh my funny girl.

See ya' later!!

4th Folder, 4th Picture

I was tagged by my sweet friend, Rayne to post my fourth picture in my fourth folder.  Welllllll, guess what you get???  Fingerprints!!! LOL  Since we are adopting again, we had to get fingerprinted at the police station to prove that we are upstanding citizens and not some criminal trying to adopt a baby.  Makes sense dontcha' think?!  Well, I make copies/take pics of everything that we turn in to our adoption agency just in case.  You can't be too careful in situations like these.  Soooo, just seeing this pic of Brad's fingerprints, makes me slightly anxious, knowing that we are still waiting.  I'm tap, tap, tapping my fingers and wondering when oh when is our next baby going to enter our lives.  We are definitely ready . . . . well, maybe the house isn't *quite* ready, but I can guarantee you one thing, our hearts are definitely ready and that's what really matters!!

 

Don't forget to go here - This Mom Can Shop and enter for a free set of flash cards.  They really are GREAT!!! 

See ya' later!!

Cupcakes

These were the cupcakes that we made yesterday in honor of my nephew, Lucas' 20th birthday!!  Kasen had a blast putting candles in them, blowing them out over and over, and singing "Happy Birthday" to everyone!  She even had one today, but before she would eat it, she held it up proudly and said "Could you put fire on this please?"  Which meant, "Would you please light the candle?" LOL  And I did.  Then, Brad and I sang a nice rendition of "Happy Birthday Kasen" once again.  'Cuz you know, it's all about HER! ;)

We went out front to take these pictures yesterday, and one of our neighbors walked by and was talking to Kasen about her awesome cupcakes.  These cupcakes that you see in her hand . . . they had been licked, poked and prodded by her grubby sweet little hands.  Kasen looked up at our neighbor and sweetly asked if she wanted one.  The neighbor politely declined and I said to her under my breath, "That was a very wise choice!" LOL

See ya' later!!

P.S.  Don't forget about the free flash card giveaway - Click Here  These flash cards are AWESOME, and indestructible.  My dear friend, Shannah, makes these - so go check out this giveaway and then head on over to her site - The Flashcard Zoo

See ya' later!!

The Much Anticipated Red Carpet Pics

LOL  Yeah, I crack myself up.  Good thing too, since nobody else thinks I'm quite so funny.  Actually, the really funny part is the pics.  I have laughed so hard looking back over the four years of "Oscar Party" pictures.  Do you think Kasen will still indulge me with this crazy idea when she's 12, 13, 16??  Yes, I know, I'm sure the excitment of these Academy Award photo shoots will fade well before age 12 . . . but one can only hope right?

I'm a little slow posting these today because I decided to take Kasen to the park this afternoon.  It was a treat for her because she deserved it.  Well, it didn't turn out to be such a treat after all.  First of all, there was one other little girl on the playground.  She and Kasen hit it off and played pretty well together.  She was quite a bit older, but Kasen can ususally hold her own around the "big" girls.  Then another little girl came along.  They all three started playing together and then it happened.  I've seen it happen many times before.  Why oh why is THREE such a terrible number?  Well, the oldest girl got the little girl to start running away from Kasen every time she got anywhere near them.  Kasen was crushed and began to cry.  And being the Mama Bear that I am, I was MAD.  Kasen told me how sad it made her, so I scooped her up in my arms.  I told her that they weren't being nice, and that she was never to exclude anyone like that because she knows how it makes her feel.  The oldest girl overheard me and tried to tell me that they were just playing chase.  Yeah, right.  I was on the playground the entire time and I heard and saw the whole thing, up close and personal.

Well, the oldest girl knew that I was angry, so she put her arm around Kasen and walked her over to the sidewalk.  She asked Kasen if she wanted to play with her scooter.  It really was too advanced for Kasen and she didn't have her helmet anyway.  Well, Kasen started to cry because I wouldn't let her play.  Then she began to cry even louder.  I was thinking, "Oh great, she was finally starting to calm down and now this."  Then I noticed she was grabbing her leg and she started screaming, "It hurts. It hurts.  That bug bit me."  A lady sitting on the bench said that there were a lot of bees and wasps in that area.  So, once again, I scoop up my crying child, and run to the car.  I wanted to get her home to see what damage that stupid wasp did to my baby.  Well, she got stung, and she got stung good!  I felt so bad for her.  On the way home, she kept saying, "I should have run from him. That mean ol' wasp.  He was a mean one." LOL 

After lots of love from Mommy, Daddy, Mae Mae, and Papa, she seemed to be better.  I took her to the store afterwards to get supplies to make cupcakes.  We are now the proud owners of 12 funfetti cupcakes with strawberry icing.  Yum!!!  Cupcakes always make you feel better . . . didn't you know?! LOL

Sooooo, that long rendition of our day is why I'm just now posting the Red Carpet Pictures and if I don't shut up now, they won't be posted until tomorrow. So, here they are.  Notice the drama as she gets older - she is perfecting it down to a science.  I'm scared. Really scared. LOL

2008 ~
 

 

2009 ~

My funny girl.  When I say she's a drama queen, I mean it . . . . in the most sincere and flattering way! ;)

See ya' later!!

No Longer a Teen

WOW!!!!  THE BIG 2-0 - my nephew is 20 today.  It's crazy how old this is making me feel.  I remember when he was born like it was yesterday . . . . . holding him and just marveling at the miracle he was/is.  He was the one that that gave me the title "Aunt" for the very first time.  I used to be "Aunt Taren" LOL instead of "Aunt Karen" when he was about two years old, and I was just a *little* upset when he no longer called me that. LOL  I've admitted more than once and it will definitely be said again, I'm a pretty proud aunt!!!!!!!!!

Here's my handsome, wonderful, terrific, and awesome nephew, Lucas.  Annnnndddd, we are SOOOOO excited, he's coming to visit next month.  Yipppeeeeee!!!!  Well, we know it's not really for us, he's going to hang out with his school chums mostly, but we'll take whatever we can get. ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCAS!!!!!!!!!  WE HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A FANTASTIC DAY!!

P.S.  Hey Lucas, Kasen and I just made funfetti cupcakes with strawberry icing in your honor. ;)

See ya' later!!

P.S.S. I will still be uploading the Red Carpet Pics tonight.  We had a little incident today and that threw us off schedule. :(  Be back later . . . . . .

Flash Cards

My dear friend, Shannah, makes these awesome flash cards and they are being showcased on this blog - Click Here

Go check them out!!  She's giving away a free set.

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I'll be back later tonight with Kasen's Red Carpet pictures. ;)

See ya' later!!

Not the Red Carpet Pics . . . . .

but a cute little girl in a hat picture.  Will that do???  ;)

I didn't get a chance to edit the Oscar party pics just yet, but I promise I will.  They are too cute not to share.  It's been an action packed day, and we were out for the entire afternoon and evening.  All that running around leaves little time to work on pictures.  And now I'm so exhausted, I'm ready to curl up in bed and watch TV until I can't keep my eyes open any longer.  Then, it's on to another day.

Anyway, without further ado, here's the pic.  Isn't she precious???  She's really growing up so quickly - and that in itself is pretty bittersweet.

See ya' later!!