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 … [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 Mansion? Bingo. A thoughtful and kind friend, who knows the First Lady personally, set up not just any tour, but *the* tour of the mansion. Anna-Laura invited seven of her best friends (and their mamas!) and we enjoyed the loveliest of mornings in downtown Austin in early June, just a few weeks after she … [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 size of your house, your budget, your personality type or your fear hold you back from opening your home to people you love. People come to see you, not how clean you keep your toilets. #truestory We cooked fajitas for the main meal and had those (almost) ready when folks arrived. Mama forgot … [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 is a real hoot. Let's just get to the birthday letter, shall we? Dear Clare Bear, You're a decade +1. This year has been such a joy with you. We are detecting the sliiiightest bit of sass, but with three siblings in front of you, I didn't get blindsided by it. We're starting to figure out … [Read more...]
Happy 14 (!?) John Paul!
John Paul is fourteen. Repeat 5 times. Don't hyperventilate. These are the things I whisper to myself these days. All you mamas of littles, it happens faster than you think. I always love that I get to kick off a new year with a birthday letter to John Paul. Here goes, y'all. Dear John Paul, Since when are you an eighth grader? With Will it seemed like it took so long and with you, BAM, we're here. I must admit, though, I'm loving it. You're still working on getting the sarcasm down (don't worry, it will come), but you really are wicked funny. You have this little head tip, eyebrow raise thing you do without smiling and then we all crack up. You can make anyone in the family … [Read more...]
