The older my boys get, the more I realize just how much their lives revolve around sports, food and sleep. Repeat. They're also asking me to dial it back a bit in the birthday celebrating department. Eeek. But, I get it. I also realize that dialing it back for me is not the same as it is for other people. Hazard of the love language of birthday party host. When Will turned 17 earlier this year, we really did dial it back. He invited his good buddies - the "lads" they're called at school - to our local H-E-B grocery store meat department. It's also vividly apparent all of his friends are at least 6-foot tall. They picked out the meat they wanted to cook and $4,000 and two pints of Blue Bell ice cream later, we headed home for them to fire up the grill. They were entirely in charge of cooking their own dinner. Thankfully, no meat was harmed and there wasn't a single morsel left. Scott whipped up a huge batch of garlic mashed potatoes and I made sweet tea. There were no cute signs for the food and I didn't even send out an invitation! This is the photo where all his … [Read More...]
A Very Texan Teenage Birthday Celebration
With our oldest daughter's thirteenth birthday on the horizon this spring, I was stumped with how to properly celebrate it. I wanted her to know how special she was, involve the moms of her friends in some way and do something memorable. A providential evening at a Catholic schools event with the First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott, got me thinking. Why not tour the Governor's … [Read More...]
BBQ: It’s a Family Affair
Texas and barbecue go hand-in-hand, kinda like chips and queso or beer and Mexican food or, my personal favorite, vanilla and Dr Pepper. When Texas Monthly came out with its top 50 BBQ joints in the state, our family was all in. Every four years, the BBQ editor (yes, that's a real thing) Daniel Vaughn and his staff scour the state for the best in 'cue. But, this go around, they upped the ante by … [Read More...]
A First Communion Bash
When we sacrament, you can bet there will be a party. Luke's First Communion was a MAJOR cause for celebration. After the big day, we hosted friends and family back at the house. I think there were 30-ish?! A few weeks ago, I shared an Instagram Live about how I prepare for parties and how I believe anyone can be a hostess. It's true! I do! But the main message is this: don't let the … [Read More...]
Clare Turns 11!
Clare will forever, and always, be my Vacation Bible School baby. I was three days into leading the week at our parish, when we had an unexpected surprise. It was a full month before my due date, but after coming home to take a quick nap, my water broke. Actually, I thought I just needed to go to the bathroom - about five times in one hour - and that's when I knew something was up. Her birth story … [Read More...]
Look Who’s 44…Happy Birthday to Me!
I've always written birthday letters to the kids, so when a priest friend of ours suggested I write myself one last year, I did. And I loved it. So here we go again... With every passing year, I'm more grateful for all the little moments. Perhaps it's because the preciousness of life becomes more acute and I become more aware. Either way, through all the good and the bad, I sought … [Read More...]
She’s 13! A Letter to My Teenage Daughter
Boy, the insanity of May really crept up on me. I should know better by now. But, with two first communions, an eighth grade graduation, junior-senior prom, two birthdays and the birth of our niece in the last three weeks, I've *just barely* kept my head above water. Anna-Laura turned 13 on Wednesday, but since we celebrate birthdays your whole month, this letter is still right on time, … [Read More...]
Milestone after Milestone: Luke’s First Communion
I'm not sure my heart was ever, truly, prepared for the beauty of Luke's first communion day. Now that I've had a few weeks to process it all, I'll do my best to capture it in words. You can bet there will be lots of photos, too. Today, I'll share the joy of the sacrament and later this week, you'll get all the party details. A few days before the big weekend, Luke and I trotted up to the … [Read More...]
