Songs Kate Sang

Your day...

I hope your day is a jump high...

Silly Smiles...

Turn around kind of day!

We took a walk a few weeks ago to the neighborhood green space.  {Yes, in the desert, there is so little green, they call them green spaces}.

Julia pointed out this awesome tree growing into the house on our walk... we've almost been here a year, and I had never noticed!

Nate runs circles around me.... It's amazing.   I will bottle it and sell it.  Then I will retire.  I'll let you know how that goes for me.

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

San Juan Capistrano {Pueri Cantores}

Julia and Nate sang at Pueri Cantores this past weekend.

Pueri Cantores is the national student choral organization of the Catholic Church in the United States. Internationally, the organization is headquartered in the Vatican and involves 60,000 singers from schools and parishes in 30 countries. In the United States, the American Federation is growing at a dramatic rates. This year, nearly 70 dioceses will be served by regional student choral festivals throughout the nation.

 

"You are the little messengers of beauty. The world needs your singing for the language of beauty moves hearts and contributes to the encounter with God." – Pope John Paul II in an address to Pueri Cantores International 

We traveled to California with 29 other kids and families.  {Don't worry!  I received a medal.  Unfortunately, I think I accidentally left my sanity in California}

On Saturday, the kids arrived at Mission San Juan Capistrano at 10:30am.   {Yup, we were even on time!}  They listened, they practiced, they worked so hard.  

When the prelude started at 3:55, our kids were the first up.  The sanctuary was filled with little ones and not-so-little ones singing praise.

They made this momma so proud.

Many years ago, {Jen may be the only one who knows this}, I made a commitment to music ministry.  I had no idea that God was simply preparing my heart to raise up two singers with the love of Praise.  

Some days it begins to make sense.

This was one of those days.

Hugs to you, dear friends!

 

Football and my boys...

Mr. B.

I don't mention him a lot here ~ but sometimes I just have to say...

I am blessed.

I have the husband of my dreams.  

He is my home base and my constant support and encouragement.

Love you forever, Brian.

~ Kate

It was very quiet one night after dinner.

I noticed that the boys were missing.

Since they are usually dragging each other down the hall, sword fighting or rolling matchbox cars down Aunt Leslie's hallway they aren't usually hard to find.

Instead, I found this.  Sweetness.  Reading to each other.

I am so thankful for the closeness I see in them.

I know there are going to be years of close times.

Hugs to you,

Kate

Cake Pops

It was my favorite gift this year.

My mom and I picked out the sweetest purple cake pop maker for Julia.

To know me is to know that I am slightly addicted to the Rocky Road cake pops Starbucks has.  I was ready to try my hand at doing these at home with Julia.

I took Meg and Ashley's advice.  

I had everything ready and prepped before anyone else was allowed in the kitchen ~ huge sanity saving tip.  {I will be repeating this! }

And then, we conquered it.  

The kitchen smelled amazing and the cake pops were working!

They disappeared quickly and that was ok by me.

Oh...

why was it my favorite present this year?  

Well, in December, when Julia opened her Christmas stocking at mom's house, I noticed a tear.   She was looking at the cake pop sticks {they look a little like lollipop sticks}.

It wasn't out of complete happiness, so I wasn't sure what to think.  I tried to quietly distract her with what else was in her stocking.

When I asked her later why she was upset, she told me "You'll see".  All seemed well, so I didn't press the issue.

I had forgotten about that completely and when I opened my present from her after we were home from our trip to Texas, there it was.  

A cake pop maker just for me.

A perfectly O'Henry ending that led to a delicious Saturday morning.

Julia's Room, Fall 2011

One of my favorite things about Julia is that she has complete confidence her in style.

She knows what colors she likes and how she likes things to look.

She cut out about 100 clouds and used painters tape to stick them to her walls, just because.

She loves all colors.  With all of her heart.

She loves all trinkets given to her by her aunts, her grandmothers or great grandmothers.

She decided she'd like a little more color on her walls...

Nope, this room may not grace the pages of Pottery Barn Kids or the sweet ohdeedoh blog, but Julia graces my life every day.

Her sunshine and her confidence spill over into my life and I am so thankful.

Sometimes life doesn't look exactly like the magazines and that is ok!  

Look around and see the beauty!  

Have a wonderful day!

 

Walks with my Babies...

Andrew + Laura {Day 3}

We spent the night in Sedona and woke up to such a beautiful place.

We headed over to Mass at such a beautiful church.

The ground were nestled in the mountains with views everywhere we turned.  There was a garden with sculptures and flowers surrounding you.

We drove up to the Chapel on the Hill.

I still get nervous when they sit there.  I know... they are at least six feet from the edge, but my goodness.  It just feels so high.

Do you see the eagle?

Do you see Mary showing Baby Jesus to the Wise-men?

That rock formation is why she chose to build the chapel in this site... who?  Oh, here you go...

"That the church may come to life in the souls of men and be a living reality--herein lies the whole message of this chapel." -Marguerite Brunswig Staude 

What a generous gift to all of us.  Thank you, Marguerite.  {That was my great-grandmother's name.  I love that name.  Mary Marguerite.}

We walked inside and the kids wanted to pray.

When I asked them what they prayed for, the rattled off a list of what was on their heart:

Great Grandma White's cancer

Great Grandma Thompson and Great Grandpa Thompson

Aunt Leslie's baby

Mrs. Kelly's nephew

Wren and Grace

Sharlie

Revelation 5:8

"...Each held a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, the prayers of the saints."

Who are you praying for this week?

With love,

Kate

 

Andrew + Laura {Day 2.5.5}

I know... I split the day into three parts.  

It was just a really, really good day.

You know?   The kind you really want to remember.

{The kids and Uncle Andrew}

After the Grand Canyon we drove down to Sedona. 

We saw the most amazing bridge driving down 89A and just had to pull over.

I love that kid.

He is so tender hearted and just wants everyone to be happy.

Love him.

The Red rocks of Sedona are amazing.

Everywhere you turn, they are stunning.

This sweetheart.

When did she get so tall?

And smart?

You know those days that the laundry is 400 miles away and you can sit back and relax?

There are no sticky counters to clean.

There are no backpacks to unpack.

There are no reading logs to fill in.

You just have the honor of driving a car full of people around and making sure they are fed at the appropriate times :)  Yeah, that is a great day.

The kids were in great moods and loved having their Aunt and Uncle's attention showered on them.

Happy Monday friends!

Thank you for stopping by.

 

After the Grand Canyon...

When we got back into the car after the Grand Canyon, Aunt Laura suggested ice cream.

There was a Carvel just outside of the North Entrance to the South Rim.

What an amazing idea... 

When was the last time you went out for ice cream?

I mean, really just stopped at let the kids pick out flavors and drank out of tiny water cups?

Thank you, Aunt Laura.

Sometimes it takes someone from the outside looking in to remind us to slow down and really enjoy the journey!

Do something to slow down and really enjoy your journey today.

Hugs to you and thank you for coming by!